Robot Rampage Sideline Interview with Team USA's Corey & Johnny on Outside of the Box

Summary

Outside of the Box – "Robot Rampage Sideline Interview with Team USA's Corey & Johnny"

Podcast: Outside of the Box
Host: Christine Giver (Christine G)
Guests: Corey Nason & Johnny Sompas (Team USA)
Date: March 24, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this vibrant episode, Christine G interviews Team USA’s Corey Nason and Johnny Sompas live from Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand at the Robot Rampage World Cup. The conversation dives into their experiences at the event, reflections on fighting international teams, unique event rules, the passion and skill of their Brazilian competitors, and gratitude for the global combat robotics community.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Team USA's Battles and Experiences

• Corey’s Experience vs. Team Australia

  • Corey shares his excitement about competing against Australia, highlighting the welcoming camaraderie between teams.
  • “Going into every single match, we, rather than shake hands, we gave hugs because at the end of the day it felt like we grew more in our family.” (Corey, 01:14)

• Johnny’s Memorable Fight

  • Johnny describes facing “Inator,” a bot with a viral reputation for dramatic knockouts.
  • “I was worried… I don't want to go viral because I got hammersawed. So I ran inverted... First hit, I got stuck right into their side armor... it just blew their cans off, their motors stopped working.” (Johnny, 02:00–02:36)
  • Both express immense value in the friendships and “second family” formed through the event. (02:36–02:47)

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2. Adapting to Robot Rampage’s Unique Format

• Shortened Repair Times (Eight Minutes)
  • Core design and pit strategies shifted to meet Robot Rampage’s unique eight-minute repair limit (versus 20 minutes or hours at US events like NHRL).
    • “Everything has connectors, everything has the fewest screws possible... get it torn apart and back together within the eight minutes.” (Corey, 03:08–03:30)
  • The time pressure creates audience excitement and strategic depth, as teams can’t optimize for specific opponents between rounds.
    • “It gets the audience on the edge of the seat. Are they going to get the robot in time? Are they going to be going in limping?” (Corey, 03:44)
    • “As a viewer, I would want to see that.” (Johnny, 04:38)
  • The faster-paced events are also more accessible, especially for family and casual fans.
    • “NHRL being so long, it’s so much information to take in, whereas they literally saw the whole event… So it’s easier to take in and understand.” (Corey, 05:11)

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3. Transparency and Audience Engagement

• Pit Access for Spectators
  • The audience sees robot repairs up-close, bridging the gap between surface and technical appreciation.
    • “Being a nerd, I feel like that’s one of the most exciting things, seeing what’s inside of the robot… Giving them that one insight is amazing in my eyes.” (Corey, 05:53)

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4. Looking Ahead: Facing Team Brazil in the Finals

• Anticipating the Final Showdown
  • Johnny expresses respect and a bit of apprehension about Brazil’s driving skill and hardware:
    • “They drive their robots really well and the robots are really fast, and that’s a bad combo for someone with a really slow spin-up time like me.” (Johnny, 06:27)
    • “The Brazilian bots are so compact... they’re very formidable.” (Johnny, 06:37)
  • Corey emphasizes Brazil’s legacy and the need to “pay respect,” noting that competing with Brazilians made him a better driver.
    • “Brazil has made the book on how to make a combat robot. They put in the work, they deserve the respect.” (Corey, 07:03)
    • “Watching them fight and actually fighting them back home... has altered the way I drive.” (Corey, 07:25)
  • Prediction: The finals will be tight, likely coming down to the last fight.
    • “It’s not going to be an easy fight... The last match will decide who’s going to win.” (Corey, 07:41)

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5. Celebrating Community and Global Hospitality

• Acknowledging Kiwi Hosts and Worldwide Support

  • Both highlight the hospitality of the New Zealand organizers ("End Game guys") and the Robot Rampage crew.
    • “The fact that they’re taking people... opening their homes... allowing us to live comfortably and be able to do this is amazing.” (Corey, 08:52)
    • “They bring a really, really passionate, competitive vibe in a really good way... when they win, they’re cheering and you can’t help but cheer for them as well.” (Johnny, 08:28)

• NHRL Shoutout

  • Corey credits the National Havoc Robot League (NHRL) for his team’s competitive development.
    • “Without them, I would have a robot that might function, but not perform.” (Corey, 10:08)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On camaraderie at Robot Rampage:

  • “Rather than shake hand, we gave hugs because at the end of the day... felt like we grew more in our family.” (Corey, 01:14)

• On the eight-minute repair format:

  • “You have to set up the robot in such a way that it can fight most people, rather than one specific setup for each.” (Corey, 03:50)
  • “They did a really good job of eliminating what would be dead touch in between fights.” (Johnny, 04:31)

• On Brazilian competitors:

  • “Brazil has made the book on how to make a combat robot. They put in the work, they deserve the respect.” (Corey, 07:03)
  • “The Brazilians also just have such great energy. Any tournament they’re at... becomes automatically better.” (Johnny, 08:29)

• On gratitude to NHRL:

  • “NHRL... gives us the ability to get to the level that we need to to be able to perform at events like this.” (Corey, 10:11)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 01:04 | Corey describes fight against Australia | | 02:00 | Johnny’s viral-worthy fight with Inator | | 03:08 | Designing for eight-minute repair window | | 04:31 | Event pacing and audience engagement | | 06:09 | Upcoming Brazil finals – expectations | | 07:03 | Brazilian combat robotics legacy & respect | | 08:28 | Brazilian spirit and tournament atmosphere | | 08:52 | Gratitude to local hosts and organizers | | 10:08 | Shoutout to NHRL and the importance of leagues |

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Final Thoughts

This episode provides a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes look at international combat robotics, emphasizing not just the technical challenges but the global friendships and evolving spirit of the sport. Whether you’re a hardcore enthusiast or a curious newcomer, Christine G and her guests offer a compelling snapshot of what makes events like Robot Rampage so electrifying, inclusive, and innovative.

Transcript

[A]

On this episode of Outside the Box, we catch up with members of Team USA behind the scenes at Robot Rampage in New Zealand.

[B]

The Brazilian bots are so compact that most of them are just like billet aluminum or you know, integrated chassis of aluminum. And they're very formidable. You know, they're the Brazilians.

[C]

Hello everyone. This is Jedi Trainee live on tape, live from 1 Hunga, Auckland, New Zealand at the Robot Rampage World Cup. And I'm here with Corey Nason and Johnny Sompas who had a great showing yesterday with their own robots. And we're here with them to hear from them what they think about how they did yesterday. So let's start with you, Cory. Since you were the first one who fought against Australia with synthesis 30, can you tell us about how you feel and how you did?

[A]

I feel performance wise. The robot did everything that it had to. I was very excited to fight the Australians because I feel like just coming here since day one they've been so friendly and helpful and very inviting. Literally trying to have us do anything that we can to be included in on the team. And so going into every single match we, rather than shake hand, we gave hugs because at the end of the day it's. It felt like we grew more in our family. But as far as the combat side, I feel synthesis 30 did as well as it could. I could have gone into the fifth

[B]

match but he wanted to let me play.

[A]

I wanted to let Johnny play after flying 16 hours to get here.

[C]

So yeah, it was nice of you to give somebody else a chance, but you almost single handedly took care of Australia's team, so thank you for that. Johnny, you had one fight?

[B]

Yep.

[C]

Okay. How do you feel about that?

[B]

It was good. I fought Inator, which I was pretty scared of because in August they fought a horizontal, pinned it and did a direct hammer saw, shot straight into their batteries and it kind of went viral. So I was worried, I was like, I don't want to go viral because I got hammersawed. So I ran inverted because I have an AR bottom plate and had that on top. First hit, I got stuck right into their side armor, which was really fun. Spun out and I, I hit them really hard and I guess it just blew their cans off. Their motors.

[A]

Their motors stopped working.

[B]

Yeah. So that was pretty cool. But like Corey said, I'm. The thing I'm happy about most is just all the great friends and like almost a second family we're making here.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. It's really great being here. Yeah, it is. I mean, I'm loving it too.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay. One thing I've noticed is the Recovery time is eight minutes. And you're used to like 20 minutes in HRL.

[B]

Yeah. Or like in the beginning of the day hours.

[C]

So how have you adjusted to that?

[A]

So going into this event, knowing specifically that we have to design for eight minutes, just looking down at the robot and looking at every possible thing that could break. Everything has connectors, everything has the fewest screws possible. So that way when we're ready to go, those screws are coming out and not disconnecting and we can get those motors back in place as fast as we can. Or to get into the batteries, it's only three screws. Putting those design considerations into the actual robot. So that way when it comes time, everyone knows what to do and we're able to get it torn apart and back together within the the eight minutes. It is stressful, but overall, I like what Robot Rampage is doing because it gets the audience on the edge of the seat. Are they going to get the robot in time? Are they going to get it how they want it? Are they going to be going in limping and just leading up until that last minute, just very stressful, but exciting at the same time because am I going to get the chance to be able to get it to where I need it to be? But overall, I love it. I honestly, it gives you a sense of, okay, I need a design specifically for it. And it also doesn't allow you to be able to change. I'm gonna fight a horizontal neck, so I'll put my horizontal setup on it. It makes it so that you have to set up the robot in such a way that it can fight most people rather than one specific setup for each.

[B]

Yeah, they did a really good job of eliminating what would be dead touch in between fights of people fixing robots. That's the kind of the downfall of every. Of spectating, at least every tournament is that there is dead time in between fights. And I think they're really going for a long term girl goal of being able to watch a tournament like a soccer match or a football match where you can just sit down and watch it in like one to two and a half hours. I think that's the time frame they're going to. So including the repair times as part of the excitement is really smart because I think people also want to see that. You know, as a viewer, I would want to.

[A]

And not only that, just having a shorter event in general, like my fiance and my family, they. They might watch a little Bit of nhrl, no disrespect to them, but NHRL being so long, it's so much information to take in, whereas they literally saw the whole event watch, watching it from start to finish, so it's easier to take in and understand. And I like that the, the announcers are explaining everything along the way. So at any point when you, you tune in, you're able to understand what's going on.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

And the audience practically have, has front row seat to whatever you're doing to your robot when you're fixing it, changing the batteries and everything, it's practically inside the arena.

[A]

And I feel like that will be being a nerd. I feel like that's one of the most exciting things, seeing what's inside of the robot. And I feel like some of the audience that they look at the outside, they don't know what's going on inside and they don't know what it takes to repair it. So giving them that one insight is amazing in my eyes.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay, so one last question. You are fighting Team Brazil tomorrow for the final championship. How do you feel about that? Are you ready or what are your expectations about tomorrow?

[B]

I was saying I think Cory's ready, but I'm a little scared. They drive their robots really well and the robots are really fast, and that's a bad combo for someone with a really slow spin up time like me. Hopefully I can tune my ESC a bit better and get the spin up faster. But the Brazilian bots are so compact. Most of them are just like billet aluminum or, you know, integrated chassis of aluminum. And they're very formidable. You know, they're the Brazilians. I would be surprised if they won. But I think, I think we have a good shot overall. I would say. Yeah.

[A]

I think first and foremost, we do need to pay respect to Brazil because even though combat robotics was kind of started all over the world, Brazil has made the book on how to make a combat robot. They put in the work, they deserve the respect. They show up any event that they can and they put in their heart. You can tell every chance they are, they're working on the robots, getting it ready. So, you know, they're coming in with 100%. So I want to make sure it's perfectly clear. I respect the Brazilians and you can't underestimate them though. Watching them fight and actually fighting them back home in the United States, it has altered the way I drive. I know they're fast, so I have to be faster. I know they hit hard So I have to hit harder and I know they're going to be dominating and controlling so I have to dominate and control them. So it's not going to be an easy fight. It's not going to be a 5 0. It's going to be probably leading up to the very last match. 1v1. The last match will decide who's going to win. We're going to come in with our all. We're going to have jump rope, we're going to have Spartan 30, we're going to have synthesis 30, we're going to have bad blood and then we're going to have the multi bots pain and panic. We're going to do whatever we can to show team Pandemonium and the rest of the United States and Christine, we're going to try our best to bring home the W and bring home the winning trophy.

[B]

100%.

[C]

You want to say last words?

[B]

Yeah. I mean the Brazilians also just have such great energy. Any tournament they're at, I feel like becomes automatically better. They bring a really, really passionate competitive vibe in a really good way. I say they're competitive in the best way possible where when they win, they're cheering and you can't help but cheer for them as well. They're awesome, they're so kind and the

[A]

very last thing I, and I'm sure Johnny feels the same way. We need to reach out to the end game guys and the Robot Rampage group. We wouldn't be here physically in New Zealand doing this without them, them reaching out, them being there every step of the way to allow us through, to be able to participate in this is just a wonderful thing. The fact that they're taking people that they don't even know halfway around the world opening their homes and everything, that they have to be able to allow us to live comfortably and be able to do this is amazing. So we want to come with our A game so we can kind of pay back in a way to show them a good show. So thank you Jack. Thank you Nick, thank you. The rest of the Robot Rampage crew, seriously. Absolutely.

[C]

Yeah. I want to thank them too because I've been wanting to come to New Zealand for so long and finally now seeing them, seeing what they have achieved in person is incredible. And you know, I hope people keep supporting them because they're doing great things for STEM and great things for New Zealand and for the sport and yeah, I will always support them and, you know, I'm so happy to be here.

[A]

Oh, and one more, one last thing. The only reason I'm at the level that I'm at is because of the nhrl. They have the very frequent events. It allows me to rapidly iterate on getting my robot to where it is today. Without them, I would have a robot that might function, but not perform. So I want to say thank you to Kelly, Sam, Austin, McCord, everyone that's at the NHL. Thank you very, very much. Because NHRL plug, it gives us the ability to get to the level that we need to to be able to perform at events like this, 100%.

[C]

Okay, well, thank you very much, guys, for talking to me. We'll be watching tomorrow and rooting for Team usa. Bye,

[B]

Sam.