AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

How ChatGPT Helped Plan a Dream Trip to Japan (+ AI Life Hacks You Can Try Now!) | AwesomeCast 756

November 4th, 2025  |  1 hr 1 min

3d cat billboard, accessibility tech, ai, ai accessibility, ai art, ai automation, ai creativity, ai diet log, ai event pittsburgh, ai health tracker, ai innovation, ai integration, ai life hacks, ai planning, ai productivity, ai tools, amazon links, apple, artificial intelligence, avatar robot cafe, awesomecast, awesomecast 756, backyard baseball animation, brian crawford, bridge inspection drone, bullet trains, call of duty movie, carplay, chachi says, chatgpt, chatgpt projects, creative ai, cultural respect, digital art museum, digital lifestyle, drones, fitness automation, formula sae, future tech, gaming adaptation, gaming news, gemini, godzilla hotel, google, google translate, home decorating, home design ai, icoca card, immersive art, innovation, interior design with chatgpt, iphone, japan technology, japan travel, japanese culture, japanese etiquette, katie dudas, lifestyle technology, michael sorg, patreon, peter berg, pittsburgh, pittsburgh city podcast, pittsburgh robotics community, pittsburgh tech, podcast aftershow, podcast technology, podcasting pittsburgh, pop culture tech, robot cafe tokyo, robotics, robotics and ai discovery day, robotics expo, shinjuku, shinkansen, sidekick media services, siri, ska robotics, slice on broadway, smart cities, smart home shopping, social media, sorgatron media, suica card, sustainability, taylor sheridan, teamlabs borderless, technology podcast, technology trends 2025, tokyo tech tourism, transit tech, translation apps, travel tech, university of pittsburgh, youtube podcast

In this week’s episode, Sorg and Dudders get geeky about AI in everyday life — from redesigning homes with ChatGPT to tracking calories with conversational AI. Then guest Brian Crawford takes us on a deep dive through Japan’s advanced transit tech, immersive art museums, and cultural quirks.
We also preview Pittsburgh’s AI & Robotics Demo Day and catch up with Chachi’s gaming news minute.

Perfect for fans of AI tools, travel tech, and real-world innovation.

Big Floppies and Working on the Soft Core | AwesomeCast 669

January 10th, 2024  |  56 mins 10 secs

accessories, ai, amd, ces, displays, engagement, entertainment, fashion, fitness, gaming, giveaways, humor, ice cream, iphone, laptops, media conversion, patreon, pets, podcasts, processors, screens, shoes, social media, technology

On this AwesomeCast podcast, the hosts highlighted several new innovations showcased at the recent CES tech show. AMD revealed a new processor able to run graphics-heavy games smoothly without requiring a separate graphics card. Automaker Shift introduced Moonwalker X shoes that allow wearers to glide along motorized wheels embedded in the soles. Asus displayed a foldable OLED screen for on-the-go use with laptops or gaming devices. The Klix iPhone case adds a convenient physical keyboard for easier typing. Cold Snap demoed a home ice cream maker that can create customized flavors in just 2 minutes. And startup Flappy presented a smart cat door designed to block pets from bringing prey indoors by using AI to assess what they are carrying in their mouths.

In terms of social platforms, they talked about Stimulus, which facilitates giveaways to drive brand engagement. And they praised updates to the Patreon app for simplifying podcast listening. Other topics included encoding old media onto modern computers, Apple Fitness add-ons, and injecting some humor regarding the show’s penchant for inadvertent double entendres. Overall, it highlighted innovations designed to enhance entertainment, convenience and creativity.

Pulling Cords Out Of Crevices | AwesomeCast 665

December 5th, 2023  |  56 mins 51 secs

amazon, cables, cameras, cloud storage, gadgets, graphics, headphones, iphone, licensing, live events, loop deck, media, mma, playstation, stats, storage, technology, video production, vmix, wrestling

On this week's AwesomeCast tech podcast, host Mike Sorgatron is joined by media guru Katie Dudders, photography podcaster Dave Podnar, and musician kidmental. Topics include new Amazon gadgets like cable organizers and Bluetooth headphones, innovations in iPhone storage and camera capabilities, backups for purchased digital content, and production tricks with software like the Loop Deck and vMix. There's also discussion around the episodic nature of digital media libraries. The cast also touches on some upcoming entertainment events like the Jagoff parade, an MMA benefit show, and prospects for integrating stats into live wrestling production

Fill All the Holes | AwesomeCast 663

November 21st, 2023  |  54 mins 8 secs

apps, authentication, cases, chess, duolingo, gadgets, games, giveaways, guitar, iphone, magsafe, math, news, passwordless, podcasting, podcasts, public transit, sd cards, security, technology, transportation, wallets, yubikey

AwesomeCast is a weekly tech podcast hosted by Sorgatron, Dudders, and Chilla. They discuss new gadgets and apps, share their "awesome things of the week," and cover tech news stories. Recent topics have included Dudders' new Hello Kitty iPhone case, Chilla's MagSafe wallet stand, Pittsburgh public transit improvements, using guitar picks to remove SD cards, YubiKeys for passwordless authentication, Duolingo adding chess and math lessons, and the hosts sharing what technology they are thankful for this year. The hosts bring humor and personality to their commentary on the latest consumer tech and apps.

iPhone 15 Cat Pics | AwesomeCast 662

November 7th, 2023  |  54 mins 12 secs

ai, amazon, chatbots, geeky, google, google glass, instagram, iphone, iphone 15, messaging, meta ray-ban, movies, nasa, pittsburgh, podcast, pop culture, safety, smart glasses, social media, sorgatron media, tech, tech news, video games, waze, youtube

The AwesomeCast is a fun, geeky podcast hosted by Katie "Dudders" and Mike Sorg. In this episode, they discuss new tech like the iPhone 15, Meta smart glasses, AI innovations from companies like Google, Amazon, and YouTube, and upcoming movies based on video games. Dudders shares her experience with the new iPhone camera while Sorg is excited about the Ray-Ban Stories glasses. They also talk about new AI features like chatbots, generated ads and reviews, and safety alerts in apps like Waze. Other highlights include NASA's new free streaming channel NASA Plus launching soon and changes to Instagram messaging. The hosts keep things lively with their energetic banter about the latest in tech and pop culture.

Hollywood iPhone Style | AwesomeCast 661

November 1st, 2023  |  53 mins 38 secs

aew, apple, conversations, electric vehicles, health, honda, injuries, iphone, jon moxley, macbook, physical therapy, pittsburgh, podcast, podcasting, professional wrestling, rey fenix, social media, sorgatron media, summaries, tech news, technology, wwe

Michael and Dave discussed new tech products like Honda's electric scooter and Apple's latest MacBook Pros. They were impressed by Apple using iPhone 15 Pros to film their recent event. Michael used his iPhone 13 for concert footage.

Raspberry Pi Face | AwesomeCast 657

October 3rd, 2023  |  53 mins 28 secs

apple, apple park, apple watch, audio tours, battery life, breakage, bugs, computer history museum, fcc, fear-mongering, firing ranges, freezing, guidego, heating, iphone, islands, laggy, manufacturing, navy, os, raspberry pi, satellites, tesla, unboxing

Looking Fly in My Aldi Pajamas | Awesomecast 656

September 26th, 2023  |  54 mins 26 secs

accessibility, ai, aldi, apple, auction, chatgpt, clothes, dinosaurs, email, fitness, fossils, fundraising, gadgets, google, health, iphone, money, pajamas, pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech, tech news, youtube

This episode of AwesomeCast dives into the latest tech gadgets and news with hosts Sorg, Dudders, and Podnar. They discuss new iPhone features like live voicemail transcription, voice isolation for clearer calls, and creating custom stickers from photos. Sorg reviews the Wellitory app which analyzes Apple Watch data to provide health ratings and recommendations for better sleep, exercise, and reducing stress. The hosts also explore iOS accessibility features that allow you to record your voice before potential speech loss, and then use it for text-to-speech. Plus, updates to ChatGPT like new voice and image capabilities, though concerns remain around impersonation and fraud. Podnar demos Google's Bard AI extensions which summarize your personal info and activities from Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and more. And the gang chats about the complexities of purchasing dinosaur fossils, after Dudders learns skeleton "Barry" is being auctioned for over $1 million. They get tips from ChatGPT on fundraising ideas. Finally, Dudders raves about the new cozy Aldi-branded apparel line with sweatshirts, tees and pajamas perfect for working from home.

AI In My Atari 2600 | AwesomeCast 654

August 30th, 2023  |  51 mins 39 secs

ai, apps, atari2600, digitalphotography, entertainingtech, gadgets, iphone, learnsomethingnew, pittsburgh, podcastproduction, relatabletech, techaficionados, techtalk, videogames, wittybanter

The AwesomeCast brings you insightful and entertaining technology talk from right in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hosted by the enthusiastic Michael Sorg and his knowledgeable sidekick Dave Podnar, each episode delves into the latest gadgets, apps, and innovations. Whether it's diving into new AI capabilities, evaluating the upcoming iPhone models, or reliving nostalgic game consoles like the Atari 2600, Mike and Dave approach each topic with awe and humor. Their conversational style makes you feel like you're hanging out with two wisecracking friends who also happen to be tech aficionados. From video games to digital photography to podcast production tips, the hosts draw from their diverse backgrounds to provide context and personal anecdotes that make the tech talk relatable and engaging. If you want an enjoyable take on technology that doesn't get too geeky or overwhelming, tune into AwesomeCast for Mike and Dave's perceptive and witty banter. You're sure to come away entertained while also learning something new.

A Rapid Unscheduled Deassembly | Episode 637

April 25th, 2023  |  56 mins 22 secs

awesomecast, capcut workflow, cloud, dave podnar, debris, dust, efficiency, generative ai features, hosts, iphone, katie dudders, mac, michael sorg, opera one, pittsburgh marathon app, productivity, spacex starship launch, spacex., steam, tech news, texas, trends, untitled goose game, video editing tool

Welcome to the latest episode of AwesomeCast, where we dive into the latest and greatest tech news and trends. Join hosts Katie Dudders, Dave Podnar, and Michael Sorg as they explore a range of interesting topics.

In this episode, Dudders shares her experience playing the popular game "Untitled Goose Game" on Steam, while Podnar talks about how he's using the Pittsburgh Marathon app to stay updated on the latest news and events related to the marathon. Sorg also shares his brand new CapCut workflow between Mac, iPhone, and the cloud, and our hosts discuss the benefits of using this powerful video editing tool.

Next up, our hosts talk about Opera One, a new browser that's designed for generative AI features. They explore how they've been using the browser and share their experiences of responding to articles as a grumpy cat.

In the next segment, our hosts discuss how they're using AI in their daily workflows, and how it has impacted their productivity and efficiency.

Finally, the hosts explore the recent SpaceX Starship launch that went wrong, leaving a Texas town covered in debris and dust. They share their thoughts on what might have gone wrong and what SpaceX could have done differently.

Join us for this exciting episode and stay tuned for more awesome tech news and trends.