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AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

Sorgatron Media

Everything awesome in the world of technology, social media, and entertainment! Join us as we discuss the latest gadgets, web sites, and talk with people doing awesome things in tech! www.AwesomeCast.net

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  • 28 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 56 min
  • English

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Episodes 28

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  • Thursday · 41 min

    Awesome Chat: Why AI Works in Demos but Fails in Real Life with Victor Coimbra of Artefact

    Why AI Works in Demos but Fails in Real Life — AwesomeChat with Victor Coimbra Artificial intelligence is everywhere. But are businesses actually seeing results from their AI investments? On this special edition of AwesomeChat, Michael Sorg talks with Victor Coimbra, Partner and CTO Americas at Artefact, about what it really takes to transform exciting AI technology into something useful, scalable, and profitable. Victor explains why AI adoption isn't simply about giving employees better tools. It's about rethinking how businesses operate, how they generate revenue, and how humans collaborate with increasingly autonomous AI systems. Topics include: Why employee enthusiasm for AI doesn't always translate into measurable business results. The difference between productivity improvements and AI-powered revenue generation. Why token usage and increasingly complex AI systems can drive up operating costs. How AI agents differ from traditional chatbots and what happens when we delegate work to them. The opportunities and uncertainties AI creates for workers, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Why undocumented institutional knowledge is a major obstacle to successful automation. How small businesses can prepare their processes for AI-powered workflows. The future of hybrid human-AI workplaces and emerging AI capabilities. How AI priorities differ between the United States, Europe, and other regions. A preview of the Adopt AI Summit, taking place December 3–4, 2026, in Paris. The big takeaway: Before attempting to automate your business, start documenting how your business actually works. The experience, judgment, and context behind daily decisions may become your most valuable AI resource. Guest: Victor Coimbra, Artefact https://www.artefact.com/ Adopt AI Summit: https://adoptai.artefact.com/ Host: Michael Sorg More from AwesomeCast: https://awesomecast.com/ Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

  • Wednesday · 1 hr

    ChatGPT Revived My Dead TV Box | AwesomeCast 803

    Can an old streaming box become useful again? This week, Sorg uses ChatGPT to troubleshoot a retired Loop TV Android device and turn it into a potential digital signage solution for the Sorgatron Media studio. Michael Sorg, Katie "Dudders" Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore practical AI experiments, affordable technology, internet nostalgia, and some of the weirdest things happening online. This week's awesome topics: ChatGPT to the rescue: Sorg explores Android developer tools, Mac Terminal, and AbleSign to give an old streaming device a second life. AI as a production assistant: How AI helped discover an overlooked detail in a travel schedule, organize equipment workflows, and create a social media ticker for vMix. Katie's travel backpack: A hands-on look at the L.L.Bean Comfort Carry 32L backpack and features that make traveling easier. Pittsburgh goes viral: Dave celebrates a West Jefferson Hills student whose xylophone performance of "Thunderstruck" attracted worldwide attention. Awesome History: The pioneering aerospace work of Mary Golda Ross during Native American Heritage Month. ChachiSays Video Game Minute: Reports and discussion surrounding BioWare and Mass Effect, plus The Onion's Voting Simulator. LEGO Godzilla: Katie reacts to a massive 5,363-piece collectible monster. AI interviews gone wrong: Job interview technology produces some wonderfully absurd results. Old-school internet fun: A Zelda-themed Google Search surprise and Spelunkr TV's collection of nostalgic television broadcasts. Free video editing: Sorg gets hands-on with ConCat, an open-source CapCut alternative, and explores the cost of creative software subscriptions. AwesomeCast brings positive, geeky technology conversations from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Support the show and get access to exclusive aftertalk: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast Watch and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@awesomecast Thanks to Slice on Broadway, Sidekick Media Services, and our AwesomeCast Patreon supporters! 🔗 LINKS FROM THIS WEEK'S AWESOMECAST Pittsburgh Student Goes Viral Playing Thunderstruck https://triblive.com/aande/music/west-jefferson-hills-senior-mallet-percussionist-goes-viral-for-thunderstruck-performance/ L.L.Bean Comfort Carry 32L Backpack https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/5861628?page=Comfort-Carry-Laptop-Pack-32L AbleSign – Digital Signage for Android TV https://app.ablesign.tv/ Mary Golda Ross – Aerospace Engineering Pioneer https://www.museumofindigenouspeople.org/post/mary-golda-ross-aerospace-engineering Inside Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas/aeronautics/skunkworks/insideskunkworks.html BioWare / Star Wars Battlefront 3 Report https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ea-chose-to-shut-down-bioware-so-it-could-make-star-wars-battlefront-3-instead-its-claimed/ Mass Effect Fan Petition https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/save-mass-effect-petition-cracks-200000-signatures-as-fans-plead-for-the-series-to-continue/ The Onion's Voting Simulator https://www.polygon.com/the-onions-voting-simulator-3d-interview/ LEGO Godzilla https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/godzilla-21375 AI Job Interview Comedy https://www.tiktok.com/@bobongo13/video/7700470127984233758 Google's Zelda Search Easter Egg https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1705258594589272&set=a.556577712790705 Spelunkr TV – Retro Television Channel Surfing https://spelunkr.tv/ ConCat – Free Open-Source Video Editor https://concat.standalones.org/#download 🎙️ SUPPORT AWESOMECAST Patreon – Support the show and get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@awesomecast More from Sorgatron Media: https://www.sorgatronmedia.com/ 00:00 Opening and introductions 02:09 Pittsburgh student goes viral playing Thunderstruck 04:59 Katie's L.L.Bean travel backpack 08:58 ChatGPT helps revive an old Loop TV box 12:30 AbleSign and YouTube digital signage 16:03 Organizing rooms and equipment with AI 17:45 AI catches missed travel details 20:10 Using AI as a second set of eyes 22:05 Building a social media crawl for vMix 23:11 Mary Golda Ross and aerospace history 30:33 ChachiSays Video Game Minute 33:34 Patreon and upcoming interviews 35:08 Dave's Halloween running costume 37:32 LEGO Godzilla: 5,363 pieces! 40:19 AI job interviews get stranger 42:19 Google's Zelda search surprise 43:42 Spelunkr TV and retro channel surfing 48:14 ConCat: A free CapCut alternative 52:10 Adobe subscriptions versus free tools 56:02 LEGO build day and next week's break 58:08 Final announcements Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

  • October 28 · 58 min

    AI Called Me Out on My Missed Deadlines | AwesomeCast 802

    What happens when an AI assistant starts reminding you about the deadlines you've been ignoring? Sorg has been testing Muse, which noticed important emails, offered action plans, and kept following up. Helpful productivity breakthrough or a little too much access to your inbox? In AwesomeCast 802, Michael Sorg, Katie “Dudders” Dudas, and Dave Podnar get geeky about useful security tools, Apple's newest hardware and creator software, retro tech, and the delightfully strange corners of the internet. In this episode: QR-code scams and mobile security: Katie demonstrates Sophos Intercept X for Mobile, including suspicious QR-code checks, network scanning, and device-security warnings. Apple hardware roundup: Dave discusses the new iPad mini, M6-powered iMac, and entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro—and questions the iPad mini's 60Hz display. The next MacBook Pro? The hosts discuss rumors, as of recording, about a higher-end OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro. These are not confirmed specifications. Apple's creator tools: Pixelmator Pro's generative-fill features and changes to Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, and other Creator Studio apps lead to a hands-on AI experiment. AI that nags—usefully: Sorg shares how Muse surfaced ignored messages, built a plan for a looming business deadline, and raised questions about giving an AI access to email. The iPod turns 25: A look back at Apple's original music player, early MP3 rivals, FireWire, and the iPod models the hosts owned. Chachi Says Video Game Minute: A fast roundup touching on the Street Fighter movie, Grand Theft Auto VI, Team Vitality, and BioWare/Mass Effect news discussed on the show. MapQuest is back: Katie revisits its seasonal characters and navigation experiments. Firefox's nostalgia play: A new ad brings back classic internet meme personalities while emphasizing more user choice around AI. IdeaLab AI: The crew tries an AI-assisted startup-idea database that matches possible ventures with people's skills and budgets. Halloween technology and oddities: Roku screensaver Easter eggs, a Ghostbusters-inspired Rivian video featuring Bill Murray, and sidewalk delivery robots. Pittsburgh makers: A quick mention of Katie's recent interview with Protohaven and more videos from local robotics coverage. Have an awesome thing of the week? Join the conversation on AwesomeCast. Support Pittsburgh tech conversations and get access to bonus aftertalk content: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast Find more from the Sorgatron Media network: https://www.sorgatronmedia.com Thanks to our sponsors: Slice on Broadway — https://www.sliceonbroadway.com — and Sidekick Media Services — https://www.sidekickmediaservices.com Episode links from show notes that were discussed Story links mentioned in the episode's show notes Sophos Intercept X for Mobile — https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sophos-intercept-x-for-mobile/id1086924662 M6 14-inch MacBook Pro — https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/27/apple-unveils-new-14-inch-macbook-pro-powered-by-m6/ New M6 iMac — https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/27/apple-launches-new-imac-with-powerful-m6-chip/ iPad mini — https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/26/new-ipad-mini-features-release-date-price/ Rumored OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro — https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/27/last-minute-leak-reveals-new-touchscreen-macbook-pro-details-pricing-new-cooling-system-more/ Apple Creator Studio / Pixelmator Pro update — https://fstoppers.com/news/apples-creator-studio-update-brings-generate-fill-pixelmator-pro-905216 Original MP3 players and iPod-era nostalgia — https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/1ivd67e/the_advent_of_portable_mp3_players/ Firefox's retro-internet ad — https://www.facebook.com/reel/1895455387900133 IdeaLab AI startup database — https://idealab.ai/#database Bill Murray / Rivian Ghostbusters-style reel — https://www.facebook.com/reel/4824461954541951 MapQuest navigation reel discussed — https://www.instagram.com/reel/De0T-AZDB9f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&psln=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 00:32 Welcome to AwesomeCast 802 02:14 QR-code scams and Sophos Intercept X 08:25 Apple's iPad mini and M6 Mac news 10:42 OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro rumors 13:32 Apple Creator Studio, Final Cut, Pixelmator 16:55 Testing new AI tools in Final Cut 21:49 Muse AI calls out missed emails and deadlines 25:03 When an AI assistant feels like an intern 31:15 25 years of the iPod and MP3 nostalgia 37:28 Chachi Says: Video Game Minute 38:46 Patreon supporters and community updates 39:45 MapQuest's seasonal navigation features 43:42 Firefox reunites classic internet memes 45:35 IdeaLab AI finds startup ideas 51:10 Roku's Halloween screensaver Easter eggs 52:48 Bill Murray's Ghostbusters-style Rivian ad 54:47 Sidewalk delivery robots in the wild 57:00 Protohaven, new interviews, and wrap-up Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

  • October 21 · 1 hr 3 min

    AwesomeCast 801: AI Is Making Smart TVs Dumb Again

    AI is no longer just answering questions—it’s starting to rewrite the technology around us. On AwesomeCast 801, Sorg, Katie Dudders, and Dave Podnar look at people using AI to strip ads and bloat from smart TVs, AI conducting job interviews with other AI, Sorg’s first vibe-coded production tool, Google Playgrounds generating a playable custom game, and Xbox exploring AI-assisted software decompilation. The crew also checks out MapQuest’s new surveillance-camera layer and Pittsburgh’s Flock camera map, explores tools for locating data centers and submarine internet cables, and previews the rumors surrounding Apple’s upcoming professional hardware event. Plus: a wearable Guile popcorn bucket, worldwide radio with Somewhere FM, Hello Kitty at Burger King, the Star Wars Super Bowl broadcast, Margaret Hamilton’s legacy, and the ChachiSays Video Game Minute. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast More from Sorgatron Media: https://www.SorgatronMedia.com Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

  • October 14 · 1 hr 5 min

    AwesomeCast 800: 800 Episodes Later: Tech Got Weird

    Eight hundred episodes later, the gadgets are stranger, the software is coding itself, and AwesomeCast is still here. Sorg, Katie Dudas and Dave Podnar celebrate Episode 800 with a look at ArtCraft and the rise of vibe-coded alternatives to Adobe and Microsoft, Apple’s new HomeView smart display, Katie’s discovery of Dropout, and more than 16 years of AwesomeCast tech history—from Google Glass, Pebble and Stadia to ChatGPT, Periscope and Vine. Plus, Chachi has gaming news, an Apple Watch can n

  • September 23 · 1 hr 8 min

    Apple Shortcuts + Fast & Furious Coaster Chaos | AwesomeCast 797

    Sorg and Dave Podnar dive into Apple Shortcuts’ increasingly powerful automation tools, including a shortcut that can generate Instagram captions and hashtags from a photo and prepare the post for sharing. Then Sorg brings stories back from California: a visit to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizzeria in Santa Monica, a wild experience aboard Universal Studios Hollywood’s new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster, and a useful Nissan Rogue CarPlay setup that let him run Waze and Apple Maps

  • September 17 · 50 min

    Awesome Chat: AI Event Marketing That Feels Human | Sam Eitzen from Snapbar

    What happens when the photo booth becomes an AI-powered experiential marketing platform? Michael Sorg and Katie Dudas talk with Sam Eitzen, CEO of Snapbar, about the company's evolution from physical event photo booths to web-based activations that can run on an iPad, touchscreen, QR code, or attendee's phone. Sam shares how Snapbar uses AI photo experiences and AI Stories to build personalized brand activations, what they've learned from major sporting events and conferences, and why understa

  • September 17 · 3 min

    The Robot That Played Renegade at the NFL Draft

    Katie Dudas visits Pittsburgh Robotics & AI Discovery Day 2026 and catches up with Trevor Sibley, Marketing Manager at Pittsburgh-based HEBI Robotics, to meet a robot with a very Pittsburgh story. When the NFL Draft came to Pittsburgh, HEBI had the opportunity to appear on the main stage alongside Carnegie Mellon University. Naturally, they decided their robot needed a local upgrade: “PLAY RENEGADE” displayed right on the robot. HEBI CEO Bob Raida helped get the crowd going as “Renegade” played during the demonstration. Trevor also explains the technology behind the robot, including HEBI’s modular platform and R-Series smart actuators. Their mobile robots are designed to carry tools and equipment into muddy, dirty and hard-to-reach environments while remaining easy to control. Katie also gets a look at HEBI’s industrial robotics work and how the company uses robots to make dangerous jobs safer while keeping skilled human operators in control. It’s Pittsburgh robotics, Pittsburgh football culture and a robot that knows exactly when it’s time to Play Renegade. Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

  • September 16 · 1 hr 3 min

    AwesomeCast 796: The Deepest, Darkest Stats�and Apple’s $2,000 Foldable iPhone Has Us Talking

    Apple’s foldable iPhone is finally here, but is a $1,999 phone actually useful enough to justify the price? Sorg, Katie Dudas and Dave Podnar break down the iPhone Duo, iOS 27 and the Siri AI waitlist, Apple Watch listening features, rising storage prices and what Apple’s latest hardware could mean for creators. Plus, Nintendo brings back more of its past with the Switch 2 Ocarina of Time remake and classic Mario Kart tracks, MapQuest adds new Questies, Chachi reports on the disappearing White

  • September 2 · 1 hr 3 min

    AwesomeCast 794: Xbox Discs Go Digital, Gamescom’s AI Problem, $100K Keyboards & Retro Tech

    Xbox is finding a new way to bridge physical and digital gaming, Gamescom 2026 has restarted the debate over generative AI in game development, and somehow we’ve found a keyboard that costs around $100,000. Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar discuss Xbox’s Discs to Digital program and what it could mean for used games, delisted titles and game preservation. ChachiSays looks at AI use in Gamescom titles and the continuing decline of physical game sales. Katie explores Roku City’s tributes to Dol

  • August 26 · 1 hr 28 min

    Apple M6 Macs, Grogu & RC Racing | AwesomeCast 793

    Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar are back with a packed AwesomeCast covering the latest intersections of technology, gaming, gadgets, and geek culture. The show opens with a remembrance of Dolly Parton and her extraordinary charitable legacy before diving into RC cars controlled through full-size racing simulators and Apple’s updated Mac mini and Mac Studio hardware. Dave explains the M6 chip, Thunderbolt 5 clustering, and why running AI locally could become increasingly attractive for busines

  • August 19 · 59 min

    Apple’s Camera AirPods and an AI Tamagotchi? | AwesomeCast 792

    Could Apple be preparing AirPods with tiny cameras? Can an AI-powered Tamagotchi grow up, develop a personality, and remind you to take a break? Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore those questions in AwesomeCast 792. The crew examines the [Sweekar AI pocket pet](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sweekar/sweekar-the-ai-pocket-pet-that-grows-up-with-you?ref=6o82oi&utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1dennhb6pkdsj), a [possible Apple AirPods camera leak](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/18/apples-

  • August 12 · 59 min

    Xbox Games on Mac & Linux? Freddy Fazbear Goes IRL & Video Stores Return | AwesomeCast 791

    Sorg and Dave Podnar explore what happens when new technology collides with some very old ideas. Binge Buster turns streaming discovery into a virtual video-store experience, Pittsburgh's Lost Lizard is actually renting VHS, DVD, and Betamax again, and disappearing digital movie purchases have Sorg wondering whether physical media deserves another look.

  • July 30 · 31 min

    Awesome Chat: Spotter Global

    In this AwesomeChat, Sorg talks with **Logan Harris, CEO of Spotter Global**, about the technology being developed to detect drones, track their operators, protect critical infrastructure, and give security teams a better picture of what is happening across large areas.

  • July 29 · 54 min

    AI Graphics Get Smarter + Xbox Classics on PC & LEGO Star Trek | AwesomeCast 789

    Can AI make you better at Photoshop instead of replacing Photoshop? Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore that question on AwesomeCast 789 as Sorg shares a workflow for turning AI-generated concepts into editable graphics while keeping control of the final design. The crew also gets into Pittsburgh technology history with plans to preserve Westinghouse’s Atom Smasher, the impressive Commercial Street Bridge replacement, and the accessibility origins of the modern audiobook. Then the geekery kicks into high gear: Xbox expands its classic-game preservation efforts to PC, Hasbro combines Transformers with Jem and the Holograms, LEGO brings Smart Play to Star Trek, Robosen releases an Optimus Prime robot designed to reopen childhood wounds, and Universal plans movies based on ten Atari properties. Plus, Chachi has gaming headlines involving Hasbro, Steam Deck and Atari, and the crew discusses the backlash surrounding a $58,000 humanoid robot proposed for use in a New York school district. It’s Pittsburgh technology, AI creativity, retro gaming, accessibility, robots and pop-culture nostalgia on AwesomeCast 789. Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

  • July 22 · 1 hr 6 min

    AwesomeCast 788: Pew Pew - Retro Gaming on Apple TV, Minimalist Flip Phones & the AI Backlash

    Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore the return of retro technology and the growing demand for digital tools that give users more control. Katie shares the Dungeon Crawler Carl-inspired Mama’s Night Off browser game. Dave introduces Garmin’s new screenless fitness tracker, while Sorg explains how he set up RetroArch on Apple TV to play games from classic consoles and computers. The crew also discusses PlayStation 5 emulation, GameStop’s response to the decline of physical discs, and why

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