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The CyberGuy Report

CyberGuy

Welcome to The CyberGuy Report. I'm Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson, and my new podcast explores the surprising ways technology shapes our everyday lives - from the gadgets we trust to the risks we don't see coming. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the breakthroughs, stories, and people redefining how we live, work, and stay safe in a digital world.

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 15 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S1 · E43
    Wednesday · 32 min

    [Ep. 43] I survived Hurricane Katrina (here's what I learned)

    In August 2005, I flew to New Orleans on a trip with my parents and ended up trapped downtown as Hurricane Katrina came ashore. I got my mom and dad onto the last flight out, then checked back into a hotel that promised it was the "model of hurricane preparedness." Within days, the food was gone, the generators were dying, gunfire echoed through the streets, and nine feet of water surrounded the building. Carlos Amezcua, the KTLA anchor who interviewed me while I was trapped in New Orleans, joins me in studio to walk back through it. What I learned in those days became the Hurricane prep checklist I have used ever since, and I share all of it here.What You Will Learn This Episode:- How to find and save your home's exact GPS coordinates in under a minute, and why rescuers cannot reach you without them- Why your cell tower stops working roughly 48 hours after the power goes out, and what still works after that- What belongs in the Ziploc bag Kurt keeps ready at all times- How to choose an emergency radio that wakes you up before a storm arrives instead of after- Why a hotel or building that says it is prepared can still run out of food and water in days- How to set up Emergency SOS by satellite on your phone before you need it, and the one mistake that keeps it from working- What to keep charged, and where to store the backup power everyone forgets- Why the scams coming after a disaster can do as much damage as the storm Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms.

  • S1 · E42
    August 19 · 7 min

    [Ep. 42] Voicemail with no missed call? It's a scam

    Voicemail with no missed call? That silent voicemail scam is how criminals confirm your phone number is real, and blocking the number will never stop it. A viewer named Mike started getting empty voicemails from numbers that never rang his phone. He blocked one. Twenty minutes later, another arrived from a different number. Then another. I explain how ringless voicemail works, why every number you block comes back as a new one, and why the call that comes next is the one that can cost you everything.What You Will Learn This Episode:- Why your phone never rings before these voicemails land- How ringless voicemail gets into your inbox without going through your phone- Why blocking the number does absolutely nothing to stop it- What scammers actually learn the second you open that message- How your phone number gets stamped confirmed and sold to worse criminals- The exact iPhone setting that makes unknown callers explain themselves first- What to ask your carrier for by name, because they will not offer it- How to report these calls to the FTC and get your number off broker lists Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E41
    August 12 · 9 min

    [Ep. 41] This judge spent 16 years on the bench, one ruling ended it

    Jennifer had never even had a speeding ticket. Then she posted on Facebook about the dirty water coming out of taps in Trinidad, Texas, and two police officers showed up at her front door with a felony warrant. She was handcuffed in her own front yard and held in the Navarro County Jail for 23 hours. Before the arrest, her post was mass-reported and wiped off Facebook by a group locals call the Cartel of Trinidad. The one person inside city hall who stood up and said this had gone too far was the town's judge of 16 years, Judge Bivens. What happened to her next tells you everything about how far a small town will go to keep people quiet. What You Will Learn This Episode: How a small group can get your Facebook post erased in hours, even when everything in it is true Why a mom of four with no criminal record was handcuffed in her front yard and jailed for 23 hours What happened to the Trinidad judge who refused to go along with the arrest How a man holding a protest sign outside city hall ended up in the back of a police car Why the city's water clerk lost her job for refusing to sign a statement What Judge Bivens says the police chief told her before Jennifer was arrested Why families in this Texas town say the tap water is burning their kids What Kurt and Judge Bivens would say to Mark Zuckerberg about the takedown that started all of this Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E40
    August 5 · 8 min

    [Ep. 40] Hackers are sending fake birthday party invitations right now

    A phishing email disguised as a party invitation is installing malware on PCs and it arrives from a name you already trust in your inbox. Baby shower. Wedding. Retirement party. These are the emails you've opened a hundred times without a second thought. But this phishing attack hides a remote access tool behind a fake "download invitation" button and one click hands a hacker full control of your computer. I break down exactly what this email scam is hiding, why this malware skips your phone and targets computers only, and how it weaponizes your own contact list to spread to everyone you know. If you already clicked, I'll walk you through how to remove the virus from your PC and whether your computer has been compromised.🔔 Free scam alerts at https://cyberguy.com/subscribeWhat You Will Learn This Episode:- How to spot a phishing email before you click anything- Why the scam email always comes from a name you recognize- What the fake "download invitation" button actually installs- How to check a web address for the fake brand name trick- What to do if you already downloaded the file, and how to remove the virus from your PC- How to know if your PC is hacked after you clicked something you shouldn't have- Why this malware only runs on computers and skips your phone- How scammers use your contact list to send the same email to everyone you know Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E39
    July 29 · 10 min

    [Ep. 39] This humanoid robot hit a child (and it only gets worse)

    Humanoid robot fails caught on camera, and these AI robots are not glitching safely in a lab. One kicks two men out of an office. One punches a stranger in a crowd with a senior citizen standing feet away. One goes into full freak-out mode while the engineers who built it run for the door, held back by nothing but a crane cable. And one hits a small child in the gut at an outdoor event packed with families. I watch all these videos with longtime friend and Emmy-Award-winning TV journalist Lu Parker, who walked out shocked by what she had just seen. What You Will Learn This Episode: Why humanoid robots still in test mode keep ending up in crowds of ordinary people What happens when a robot turns on the engineers standing right beside it Why the missing off button is the most alarming detail in every one of these clips What Lu spotted in the robot's reaction that most viewers scroll right past Why Kurt says a friendly food delivery robot could turn on you over something as small as a barking dog How close that child at the festival came to something far worse than a bruise Why "it's just a demo" stops being a defense the second these machines are near kids Thank you to Lu Parker for coming on to the show. Please check out her: Substack: https://luparkermedia.substack.com/ Instagram: @luparkerla Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E38
    July 15 · 10 min

    [Ep. 38] Your computer, car, and fridge are making MONEY off your screens (here's why)

    Windows 11 ads, Samsung fridge ads, and pop-ups in your Jeep: you paid for all three devices, so why are they still selling to you? You own your computer. You own your fridge. You own your car. Yet all three keep interrupting you with ads on screens you already paid for. In this episode, I walk you through an ordinary morning where your own smart devices start selling to you: from the Windows 11 start menu ads and lock screen promotions, to a widget on your Samsung smart fridge, to a pop-up on your dashboard before you've even left the driveway. One of them is even disguised as a warning. None of it is an accident. And all of it was hidden in the fine print you agreed to. The good news? Today I'll show you exactly how to remove ads from all three devices and take back control of the screens you paid for. What You Will Learn This Episode: How to turn off ads in your Windows 11 start menu and lock screen The fake "action advised" alert on your PC that's really a Microsoft sales pitch How to stop the ads on your Samsung Family Hub refrigerator (the switch is buried three menus deep) Why your car's dashboard started showing pop-ups, and whether they're coming back The line in the fine print that makes all of this legal How you quietly became the product these companies sell to The exact settings to kill ads on your computer, fridge, and car Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E37
    July 1 · 10 min

    [Ep. 37] This DMV scam is costing people thousands

    An audience member named Todd got a text saying he owed the California DMV $160 and his license was about to be suspended. One problem: he hadn't lived in California for over ten years. So he sent it to Kurt with a simple question, is this real? What Kurt found hidden inside that one text reveals exactly how the scam works, and the five red flags that give it away before you ever tap the link. What You Will Learn This Episode: How to spot the one detail in the phone number that proves the text is fake Why the real DMV will never contact you about a violation by text What actually happens in the 48 hours after you fill out that fake form The reason replying with a single letter makes everything worse How to verify a real DMV notice in under a minute, the safe way What to do the moment you realize you tapped a scam link How to block, report, and scrub your info so the texts finally stop Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E36
    June 24 · 10 min

    [Ep. 36] The bank scam stealing your family's savings

    Scam calls are emptying retirement accounts faster than ever, and the scammers behind them aren't who you think. This true crime look at financial fraud could protect your retirement and your family's future.Kurt sits down with Darius Kingsley, JPMorgan Chase's head of scam prevention, to pull back the curtain on the global operation behind those calls, and exactly what you can do to stop it.This is not just another scam alert. It's an inside look at organized criminal networks using forced labor compounds in Southeast Asia, psychological manipulation, and bank fraud to target everyday families. And it's happening at record levels right now.Darius reveals how scammers operate, what JPMorgan's fraud alert systems are detecting in real time, and the steps every family should take before a scam call ever comes through. Whether you've already lost money or want to protect someone in retirement you love, this conversation could save a family's future.What You Will Learn in This Episode:- How scammers coach your family member on exactly what to say before they ever walk into the bank- Why that "law enforcement" call might actually be coming from a forced labor compound in Southeast Asia- What bank tellers are secretly trained to watch for that can stop a scam before the money leaves- How to add a trusted contact to your bank account so the bank can alert someone you trust- What red flags signal that a family member is being targeted by scammers right now- Why acting in the first minutes after a scam is critical, and what your very first call should be- How to file a report with the FBI's IC3 and why it matters more than you might think Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E35
    June 10 · 10 min

    [Ep. 35] Mother arrested after a Facebook post about dirty water

    When Jennifer Combs saw sewage-colored water pouring from her neighbors' faucets in Trinidad, Texas, she did what any good neighbor would do: she spoke up online. She made a Facebook post to gather information from residents who were silenced from speaking up about their water concerns. Days later, two officers arrested her in her own front yard on a felony charge for "causing public panic." Jennifer Combs is a mom of four who'd never even had a speeding ticket. What unfolds next, a fired water clerk, a fired judge, and the real person who made the call to have her arrested, is so unbelievable that Jennifer Combs, a published crime thriller author, says she couldn't have written it herself. What You Will Learn This Episode: - Why speaking up on Facebook about a local problem can suddenly turn you into a target - What to do when your Facebook posts are mass-reported and deleted to silence you - How a small group can quietly control a town and punish anyone who pushes back - Why reporting a problem to the state matters when local officials won't act - The truth about who actually ordered Jennifer's arrest, and why - How retaliation against critics can backfire in shocking ways - What real courage looks like when standing up for your community gets you punished - Why staying silent isn't the safe choice you think it is Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E34
    June 3 · 13 min

    [Ep. 34] Is that Social Security email in your inbox real?

    Candace almost clicked a button that would have handed scammers her Social Security number, bank credentials, and her entire identity. The email looked completely official, but one tiny detail didn't add up, and Candace paused just long enough to forward it to Kurt. In this episode, Kurt walks through the actual email Candace received, breaks down exactly why it almost worked, and gives you five specific things to check before you ever click another link from a government address. What You Will Learn This Episode: Why fake SSA emails are so convincing and what makes them different from the real thing The single red flag in Candace's email that exposed the whole scam What actually happens to your device the moment you click that download button How scammers use your answers on a fake form to call your bank and pretend to be you Why you might not find out you've been scammed until weeks or months later How to check any email address in five seconds to know if it's really from the government The five steps Kurt uses to verify any official-looking email before taking action What antivirus software can actually stop, even if you accidentally click Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to ⁠⁠https://cyberguy.com/podcast/⁠⁠ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • May 27 · 10 min

    [Ep. 33] Is your insurance app tracking you right now?

    Jan emailed Kurt with a question most of us have never thought to ask: why does her insurance app need her location, her health data, and her movement… all day, every day. Turns out, modern insurance apps have quietly turned your phone into a surveillance device, using something called telematics to measure every mile you drive, every step you take, and how well you sleep at night. And in some cases, they're not just collecting that data, they're selling it. Kurt walks you through exactly what these apps are harvesting, why insurers want it, and three specific steps to keep your discount without handing over your entire digital life. What You Will Learn This Episode: How insurance companies use your phone to silently track your driving, health, and daily routines without most people realizing it Why tapping "allow" during a simple app setup may be the most expensive mistake you make this year The difference between car insurer tracking apps and health insurer wellness apps and what each one can actually see How a lawsuit revealed that one major insurance app sold 45 million Americans' driving data without their knowledge How to change your iPhone or Android location settings right now to stop all-day background tracking How to find and revoke the health data your insurance app is quietly pulling from Apple Health or Google Health Connect Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E32
    May 20 · 14 min

    [Ep. 32] Jury Duty scam stole $10,000 from Arizona woman

    What happens when you miss jury duty? Like most normal people, Gale had no idea. She had just finished up work on her 70th birthday when she discovered a voicemail from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be an enforcement officer, informing her that if she didn’t pay the hefty $10,000 fine immediately, she was going to be in even bigger trouble. Within hours, thousands of dollars were gone. But this story does not end there. Thanks to a new law in Arizona, Gale was able to recover her money and turn a devastating situation into a powerful lesson for others. In this episode we explore: • How scammers can easily impersonate law enforcement • The psychological tactics used to pressure victims into acting quickly • Why cryptocurrency ATMs are a common tool in modern scams • The warning signs that indicate you’re being scammed • What to do immediately if you suspect a scam • How new legislation can help recover stolen funds • Steps you can take to protect yourself and your family Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to ⁠https://cyberguy.com/podcast/⁠ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • May 13 · 14 min

    [Ep. 31] How facial recognition put an innocent grandmother behind bars

    A 50-year-old grandmother in Tennessee was babysitting when US Marshals showed up at her door with guns drawn. The charge: bank fraud in Fargo, North Dakota, more than a thousand miles away, in a state she had never set foot in. The only evidence? A facial recognition match from Clearview AI, run against photos pulled from social media. Angela Lipps spent more than five months in jail before her defense attorney, Jay Greenwood, finally got somebody to listen. This is what happens when AI gets treated like proof instead of a clue. What You Will Learn in This Episode: - How a single facial recognition match landed an innocent grandmother in jail for over five months - Why the photos you've posted on social media may already be in a Clearview AI database - What detectives should have done before issuing an arrest warrant - How attorney Jay Greenwood proved Angela was a thousand miles away from the crime - What to say (and not say) if police ever come to your door for something you didn't do - How to remove your photos from facial recognition databases before this happens to you - Why this case is a warning for anyone who has ever shared a picture online - The simple piece of evidence that finally got Angela's case dismissed Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • May 6 · 12 min

    [Ep. 30] SIM card swap scam: How hackers drain your bank account in minutes

    Patricia lost service on her cell phone. The next morning, she was out thousands of dollars. In this episode, we break down a real-life example of how quick and vicious SIM-card swapping scandals can really be. We walk through: What SIM swap scams are and how they work Warning signs to look out for Why banks and carriers sometimes fail to stop fraud quickly The timeline of how the money was stolen What to do immediately if you think you’re being hacked Practical steps to protect your accounts This episode is a must-listen for anyone who uses their phone for banking, social media, or authentication codes. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to ⁠https://cyberguy.com/podcast/⁠ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • April 29 · 11 min

    [Ep. 29] Fake phone numbers on Google are scamming people right now

    Rosette needed to file a travel insurance claim, so she did what anyone would do, she Googled the phone number. Someone picked up immediately, sounded completely professional, and asked for her credit card and date of birth. It wasn't until the pricing felt off and a confirmation email didn't match the official website that she realized she'd been talking to a scammer the entire time. This is called a search result scam, and it's one of the fastest-growing fraud tactics happening right now, and it's hiding at the very top of your Google results.Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E28
    April 22 · 22 min

    [Ep. 28] Florida man loses $200K in PayPal Scam, then helps police catch scammer

    An 85-year-old man receives what looks like a harmless PayPal refund email… and within days, he out $200,000. He was ashamed and lost. But instead of staying silent, he worked with the police to set up a sting operation, seeking at least partial justice for his misfortunes. In this episode, we break down one of the most sophisticated refund scams we’ve seen, how it unfolded step-by-step, and the red flags everyone should know about. In this episode we discuss: How a fake PayPal refund email started the scam The mirrored bank website that made everything look real How crypto ATMs are often used by scammers The moment he realized he was being scammed How scammers isolate victims and create urgency The police sting operation to catch the scammer The multi-million dollar scams this trial cracked open Partial justice – the arrest and 18-year prison sentence Why victims rarely recover their money Common scam variations involving warrants and gold Warning signs everyone should watch for The red flags and top tips the policeman (whatever his title is) suggests people do in these types of scams (“"Do the research yourself and figure out what that real phone number is"”) This story is shocking and unfortunately, not at all rare. Just like Brian, at CyberGuy we feel a duty to share these stories far and wide. If we can help even one person recognize the warning signs and cut off a scam at the pass, we’ve done our job. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • April 15 · 16 min

    [Ep. 27] Your TV, doorbell, and car are spying on you... here’s what they know

    You didn't hand over your life to big tech, but your smart devices did it for you. In this episode, Kurt breaks down the five most alarming privacy clauses buried inside the smart home gadgets most of us already own: your TV, your Ring doorbell, your Amazon Echo, and yes, even your car. The revelations are infuriating — and most of it was turned on by default the moment you plugged in. The good news? Kurt walks you through exactly how to shut every single one of these down, step by step, without getting rid of any of your devices. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How your smart TV is watching what you watch and selling it to advertisers in real time Why your Ring doorbell has built a detailed map of your daily routine — including when you leave for work What it means that real Amazon employees can listen to recordings from inside your home How one automaker was logging your vehicle speed 25 times per second — and selling it to your insurance company Why your Amazon Echo has been saving every conversation you've had since the day you bought it How to turn off smart TV tracking on Roku and Samsung in under two minutes The exact steps to lock down your Ring app, delete your Alexa history, and opt out of car data sharing Why these devices are priced so low — and what you're actually paying with Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • April 8 · 27 min

    [Ep. 26] She drove to the bank with a scammer on the phone… almost lost $15,000

    Dorothy Rhode got a text that looked exactly like a legitimate Apple Pay fraud alert. She called the number in the message, and the man who answered already knew her name, her address, and which banks she used. He told her she'd been targeted by corrupt bank employees, that he was working with the FBI and FDIC, and that she needed to pull $15,000 in cash immediately and tell no one. She got in her car and drove to the bank. What happened next is the reason she's telling this story. Kurt breaks down how this scam works, why even sharp people fall for it, and exactly what to do if it happens to you. What you will learn in this episode: How a text message that looks completely real can be the opening move of a $15,000 scam Why scammers already know your name, address, and bank before they call you — and how to stop that What to say to a bank teller if you ever feel something's wrong, even mid-transaction How to set a daily withdrawal limit on your account so scammers can't drain it even if they get in Why hanging up without saying a word is almost always your best defense How to filter unknown callers and unknown text senders on your iPhone so scam messages never reach you Why the "Do Not Call Registry" does nothing — and what actually works instead What real red flags look like: urgency, secrecy, and any request involving cash Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E25
    April 1 · 24 min

    [Ep. 25] Big Tech knows AI isn’t safe for kids, but they’re cashing in anyway

    In this episode of Beyond Connected, we dive deep into the world of AI-powered toys and the risks they pose for children. AI companies insist their chatbots aren’t meant for kids, yet third-party developers are creating toys that put these chatbots directly into the hands of children. RJ Cross, a researcher from the Public Interest Research Group PIRG joins the show to uncover the loopholes, risks, and what parents need to know. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are not designed for children, yet appear in toys. How third-party developers exploit loopholes to insert AI into toys without proper safeguards. Real examples of AI toys giving dangerous instructions or engaging in inappropriate conversations. The lack of transparency around AI models and privacy policies leaves parents in the dark. How revenue incentives drive companies to allow AI in kids’ toys despite safety risks. The role of legislators, lobbyists, and potential solutions like citizen tech oversight boards. Practical takeaways for parents: how to evaluate AI toys, identify risks, and protect children. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

  • S1 · E24
    March 25 · 19 min

    [Ep. 24] Text Scams, Deepfakes & Outdated Computers: Your Biggest Cybersecurity Questions Answered

    Today on Beyond Connected, we’re answering your biggest cybersecurity questions - from suspicious texts to deepfake scams and outdated computers. Are you unknowingly putting your personal data at risk? Let’s break it all down. Is this text message a scam? Here’s how to find out. Is a dedicated financial computer a smart idea? If you do it right, yes! How do I saved my loved one from a deepfake impersonation or romance scam? This one’s tricky...I’ll walk you through it. Shouldn’t the FTC help with these impersonation scams? Yes, but it’s not that simple. How do I know if my computer is too old? I’ve got a nifty list you can reference to find out if your operating system is too old. And if it is, you may be at risk. Thanks for sending in these fantastic questions! If you have a question about data privacy, technology, cybersecurity, or scams, feel free to leave us a message! Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

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