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
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Banzuke, Sumo Slumps, and Pollyanna
September 1st, 2021 | 38 mins 5 secs
banzuke, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, pollyanna, slump, slumps, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
The banzuke is out, and it's a slider. Leslie discusses sumo slumps, and Laurie goes with the Pollyanna view.
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Sumo Karaoke
August 25th, 2021 | 42 mins 32 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, karaoke, nhk, podcast, singing, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
Sumo and Singing. They go together like peanut butter and jelly.
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Terunofuji's Inspiration - Doing Sumo with 1 Arm
August 18th, 2021 | 40 mins 28 secs
comedy, disability, fuse, futabayama, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
A sumo wrestler with one arm. A yokozuna blind in one eye.