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
-
Sekiwake: Mitakeumi and Shodai. Mushroom Hunter and Enigma.
August 26th, 2020 | 41 mins 4 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, mitakeumi, nhk, sekiwake, shodai, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
We take a deep, kinda serious look at our current two Sekiwake: Mushroom Hunter Mitakeumi and The Enigma Shodai.
-
Komusubi: Spitball of Fire and Hotpants Magee; Daieisho and Okinoumi.
August 19th, 2020 | 43 mins 3 secs
comedy, daieisho, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, komusubi, nhk, okinoumi, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
We take a deep, not too serious look at our current two komusubi: Spitball of Fire and Hotpants Magee.
-
All About Abi
August 12th, 2020 | 36 mins 33 secs
abi, comedy, escape, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, heya, improv comedy, japan, jsa, nhk, resignation, sumo, sumo wrestler, sumo wrestling, takayasu, tournament
Lots of news happened this week in the sumo world, from baby announcements to daring escapes and Abi. We break it all down and try to understand from an outsider's point of view.
-
July Basho Wrap Up Days 10 - 15
August 4th, 2020 | 42 mins 57 secs
asanoyama, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, mitakeumi, nhk, onosho, ozeki, shodai, sumo, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament
So much emotion all wrapped into one basho! The matches that made us laugh. The fights that made us jump from our chairs. The storylines that made us cry.
-
July Basho Day 3 - 9
July 28th, 2020 | 41 mins 22 secs
basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
Exciting times! This is sumo greatest hits from Day 3 - 9 of the July basho 2020.
-
The Basho Begins with Sumo Mainichi
July 22nd, 2020 | 1 hr 1 min
basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july basho, nhk, sumo, sumo breakdown, sumo mianichi, sumo wrestling, tournament
A 3-part episode: current events, a breakdown of basho day 1 and 2, and a talk with Dave and Amy from Sumo Mainichi.
-
Getting Excited
July 15th, 2020 | 47 mins 24 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july basho, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, training
Texas gals gone wild for sumo. We're getting too, too excited for the July basho.
-
Do Fans Affect Sumo Wrestlers?
July 8th, 2020 | 31 mins 26 secs
comedy, corona virus, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sports, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
News, corona virus funk, and some science behind how fans affect sports.
-
The Dohyo, COVID-19, and Staying in Sumo Shape
July 1st, 2020 | 36 mins 59 secs
abi, basho, comedy, covid, covid 19, dohyo, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july basho, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
What kind of prep goes into a professional sumo tournament? And, what's happens differently when we're in a pandemic? How are the wrestlers staying in sumo shape?
-
Akebono, Cellulitis, and Tochinoshin's Bandaids
June 24th, 2020 | 44 mins 16 secs
akebono, cellulitis, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, skin infections, sumo, sumo wrestling, tochinoshin, tournament, yokozuna
Leslie focuses on the great American yokozuna, Akebono while Laurie focuses on sumo and skin infections.
-
The Banzuke. What's a banzuke??
June 17th, 2020 | 34 mins 40 secs
banzuke, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
What the heck is a banzuke? We help you make sense of it, from the way it's created to how a wrestler moves up or down within it.
-
Injury, Healing, and Singing
June 10th, 2020 | 48 mins 54 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sumo, sumo folk singing, sumo folk song, sumo wrestling, tournament
Sumo and injury. We talk about the prevalence of injury in the sport and what it takes to heal after one. We also manage to talk about John Gunning, Mariah Holmes, Tamawashi's baking prowess and sumo folk singing.
-
Shikona, Sumo Ring Names
June 3rd, 2020 | 33 mins 33 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, ring names, shikona, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, wrestlers
What's in a name? A LOT, it turns out.
-
Wonder Woman of US Sumo, Mariah Holmes
May 27th, 2020 | 49 mins 36 secs
comedy, female wrestling, find a friend, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, mariah holmes, mawashi, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, training, women sumo
Let's talk female trailblazers and hear from one of America's most badass sumo athletes and advocates, Mariah Holmes.
-
Sumo and Comedy
May 20th, 2020 | 30 mins 28 secs
byamba, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, shobushi, shokkiri, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
Sumo and comedy are a good match. This is the perfect week to honor two wrestlers who excelled at them both, Shobushi and Byamba. Also, we explain the comedy sumo routine - shokkiri.
-
Yokozuna in the Shadows
May 13th, 2020 | 47 mins 31 secs
comedy, google translate, google translator, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kakuryu, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, yokozuna
This week, Laurie and Leslie talk about yokozunas in the shadows (insert echo effect here). We talk about great and not so great yokozunas throughout history who have been overshadowed by other great yokozunas. We take a deep dive into the awesomeness that is Kakuryu and TRY to pronounce his real Mongolian name. Ya'll, we are terrible at pronouncing Mongolian.