BattleBots S5E1 Recap (Plus, our “Swift” Interview with End Game’s Nick Mabey and Jack Barker)

<p>This week on the podcast, we head to New Zealand to talk all things End Game with 2020 captain Nick Mabey, and 2019 captain Jack Barker. Nick and Jack both attended the University of Auckland, where they built robots through the Auckland University Robotics Association, winners of the 2017 VEX U Robotics World Championships. Jack later traveled to Australia and won the 2016 Australian RoboWars Nationals and appeared at the Chinese competition Fighting My Bots before earning a rookie spot at BattleBots in 2018.</p> <p> </p> <p>Now entering their third season, we learn what’s new with End Game this year, how they planned for their fight with Tombstone, and whether End Game is a reference to Taylor Swift or the punk band Rise Against.</p> <p> </p> <p>Plus! Rusty captain Dave Eaton joins us to discuss the matches from Episode 1 and his experience competing in his first match.</p> <p> </p> <p>This week’s combat robotics news stories:</p> <p> </p> <p>> BattleBots Bounty Hunters: <a href='https://popculture.com/reality-tv/news/battlebots-bounty-hunters-launches-new-series-with-legendary-bots-discovery-plus-exclusive/'>https://popculture.com/reality-tv/news/battlebots-bounty-hunters-launches-new-series-with-legendary-bots-discovery-plus-exclusive/</a> </p> <p>> Rating for week 1: <a href='http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-12-3-2020.html'>http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-thursday-cable-originals-network-finals-12-3-2020.html</a> </p> <p>> BattleBots on Amazon: <a href='https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08PL1WM9F/'>https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08PL1WM9F/</a></p> <p>> BattleBots on Discovery Go: <a href='https://go.discovery.com/tv-shows/battlebots/full-episodes/return-of-the-bots'>https://go.discovery.com/tv-shows/battlebots/full-episodes/return-of-the-bots</a> </p> <p>> BattleBots coming to Discovery Canada on Dec. 20: <a href='https://twitter.com/DiscoveryCanada/status/1333491081833570308'>https: