Sumo Kaboom

Leslie and Laurie Collins, Texan sisters and diehard sumo fans, talk about all things sumo.

About the show

Sumo Kaboom!

A weekly podcast dedicated to our favorite sport - sumo wrestling. We chat about tournaments, current events, history and our favorite wrestlers.

We are performers, improvisers, and creators and have absolutely no sumo training. But, we are huge sumo fans.

Having lived in Japan, Leslie loves the history and traditions of sumo. She also has a deep love for sumo karaoke singers. Laurie is fascinated by sumo wrestler fandom, the sumo training regimen and physicality of the sport.

Together, we serve up exciting sumo treats for sumo-curious fans. We share an enthusiasm for sumo and like all sisters, we work amazingly well together. All of the time. There are never any issues. Ever.

We also occasionally send out sumo related content. It is NOT hard-hitting sumo journalism and is usually very silly. If you want to receive our writing about all things sumo or receive notification when Sumo BINGO cards are available, join our Substack below. We won't ever share your info, because we hate spam, too.

Sumo Kaboom on social media

Episodes

  • January 2021 Basho Days 1-3

    January 12th, 2022  |  34 mins 8 secs
    2021, basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, january, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Sequins! Sumo! Sweet Close Ups!

  • The Stories of Wakamotoharu and Oho

    January 5th, 2022  |  41 mins 21 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, oho, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, taiho, takatoriki, tournament, wakamotoharu

    Why the new guys to the top division are so darn interesting.

  • 2021 North American Sumo Championship

    December 15th, 2021  |  46 mins 44 secs
    american, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, kaboom, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, ussf

    2021 North American Sumo Championship Results

  • John Jacques and the History of American Sumo

    December 8th, 2021  |  55 mins 17 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, john jacques, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    John Jacques has been involved in American sumo for about 50 years as sumo wrestler, coach, and educator. Hear what he loves about the sport and what he hopes to see in the future.

  • End of the November Basho and BINGO winners

    December 1st, 2021  |  44 mins 23 secs
    basho, bingo, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, november, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament

    Leslie and Laurie discuss the end of the November tournament, which was a beauty!

  • Sumo is back! Days 1 - 3

    November 16th, 2021  |  42 mins 18 secs
    2021, basho, comedy, december, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    We're discussing days 1 - 3 of the December basho.

  • Kiribayama and Shohozan

    November 10th, 2021  |  38 mins 1 sec
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kiribyamababes, mongolia, nhk, podcast, shohozan resting face, softie, sumo, sumo babes, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Want to know more about these two wrestlers? This is your episode.

  • November Banzuke

    November 3rd, 2021  |  36 mins 45 secs
    banzuke, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, november, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    The banzuke - from the lone yokozuna at the top to the guy who needs a new mawashi at the bottom. Who is back and ready to rumble? Who is on his way out?

  • Colton Runyan

    October 27th, 2021  |  59 mins 42 secs
    colton runyan, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Colton Runyan was in the room where it happens. Teacher, sumo wrestler, and historian, Colton has a wealth of info about sumo and Japanese history to share.

  • Mawashi

    October 20th, 2021  |  34 mins 28 secs
    comedy, fundoshi, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, mawashi, naked, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    We start with mawashi and end at the Naked Man Festival.

  • Sumo Nicknames

    October 13th, 2021  |  42 mins 49 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, nickname, nicknames, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Almost every wrestler has earned a nickname, and they are bloody brilliant.

  • News, Myogiryu and the Abacus

    October 6th, 2021  |  48 mins 23 secs
    abacus, comedy, goeido, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, myogiryu, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Lots of sumo news and a deep dive into Myogiryu, which brings us right to the abacus.

  • Aki BashoDays 10-15 and BINGO winners

    September 29th, 2021  |  35 mins 52 secs
    aki, bingo, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament

    Aki Basho Days 10-15 and BINGO winners

  • Aki Basho Days 3 - 9

    September 21st, 2021  |  1 hr 3 mins
    aki, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, september, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament

    Sandwiches, butts, tonsils, the Kiribyama Crush, and sumo burlesque. It's a normal basho episode around here.

  • Grand Sumo Breakdown and Days 1 and 2 of the September Basho

    September 14th, 2021  |  44 mins 32 secs
    aki, basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo breakdown, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, september, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    We cover days 1 and 2 of the September basho and talk with Grand Sumo Breakdown guys (Ryan, Mak and Jake) about their predictions for the basho.

  • BINGO, Yutakayama and bigSUMOfan

    September 8th, 2021  |  52 mins 16 secs
    big sumo fan, bigsumofan, bingo, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, march, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, yutakayama

    A spotlight on BINGO, Yutakayama, and sumo merch in the US.