Robot Wars, Karaoke Buses & Building the Future: Inside FIRST Robotics 1305

They build robots, win competitions, and sing karaoke on the bus home. Meet 1305, North Bay’s FIRST Robotics Team — a community-based powerhouse that's teaching students way more than how to wire a circuit board.In this episode, we chat with Matthew, Kyla, and James about engineering, leadership, teamwork, and what it's like to compete (and win!) at the provincial level. From building "Monsoon" to launching 120 lb bots at high speeds, these students are literally shaping the future.00:00 – Welcome + What Is FIRST Robotics?05:00 – Community-Based Robotics: Who Can Join10:00 – How Students Get Hooked on Building Bots15:00 – From LEGO to Mississauga: The Journey to Provincials20:00 – The Making of “Monsoon” (This Year’s Robot)25:00 – How Driving the Robot Actually Works (Spoiler: Xbox!)30:00 – Robot Battles, Rules & Olympic-Level Strategy35:00 – Singing on the Bus: The Team Culture That Makes It All Worth It40:00 – Awards, Outreach & How Robotics Builds Kids, Not Just Bots45:00 – How to Join, Compete, and Support Team 1305