Sorg and Podnar open with one of the week’s best feel-good tech stories: Artemis 2 made it home successfully, and Dave shares the unexpectedly charming story of the mission mascot RISE. In a week that needed some good news, the conversation lands on something larger than space hardware alone. This was about optimism, engineering, and a rare moment of collective excitement. 

Then the show pivots back to Earth with the kind of story that feels custom-made for AwesomeCast: yes, someone got early Mac OS X running on a Nintendo Wii. It is not practical. It is not necessary. It is absolutely wonderful. That same spirit carries into Sorg’s hands-on experiment with Mythic, a tool aimed at helping M-series Mac users access Windows games through the Epic ecosystem. The conversation explores how much better Apple Silicon has become for compatibility, even if some rough edges still show up in real-world testing. 

A big chunk of the episode also digs into Amazon Luna’s latest changes. Sorg reacts to the platform ending game purchases and outside store access, and the discussion quickly becomes about more than Luna itself. It becomes a conversation about trust in digital platforms, cloud gaming ownership, and what happens when convenience gets taken away after users have already bought in. It is one of the sharpest segments in the episode because it blends personal use with a bigger industry trend. 

There is also a lighter side this week. Dave shares The Weather Channel’s retro weather experience, which sends both hosts into a funny and surprisingly thoughtful conversation about the old cable era, nostalgic interfaces, and how channels drift from their original purpose. On the more practical side, they also touch on Overcast’s new transcript support and Waymo’s plan to help cities identify potholes using vehicle data. That latter topic turns into a very Pittsburgh-flavored discussion about 311 systems, local government tech, and whether cities are really taking advantage of the tools they have.

Finally, Dave closes with his Arab American History Month spotlight on Tony Fadell, best known for his work on the iPod and Nest. It is a fitting end to an episode that is really about the many layers of tech: breakthrough engineering, strange experimentation, product design, infrastructure, nostalgia, and how all of it shapes everyday life.  Links from this episode:

Artemis / RISE: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/how-artemis-2-commander-reid-wiseman-saved-the-missions-moon-mascot-its-hard-not-to-love-this-little-guy-i-cant-let-rise-out-of-my-sight

macOS on Wii: https://apple.news/AJdU3eghQT2-jfhrGvzI2_g

Mythic: https://getmythic.app/

Amazon Luna: https://www.ign.com/articles/amazon-luna-will-no-longer-allow-owners-to-buy-games-access-game-stores-or-third-party-subscriptions-starting-today?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Manual&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook

Amazon Luna alt link: https://apple.news/A2cb25SwgQX-AuvSPHdRsHw

Waymo potholes: https://apple.news/AnxW6o9QWQJOcCGLqCsW6XQ

Overcast transcripts: https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/08/overcast-launches-podcast-transcripts-in-new-app-update-for-iphone/

Retro Weather Channel: https://weather.com/retro/

Tony Fadell: https://design.mit.edu/community/people/tony-fadell

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We've got Uncle Crappy back in studio to join Katie, Sorg, and Chilla as we talk this week in tech, including:

• When you have the Beer Me guy on the podcast, he brings beer. Tune in to see what we're drinking in studio!
• Uncle Crappy is sharing the Moto Z4 as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• Chilla is sharing the Elgato stream deck as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• Katie is sharing an interesting use of Tesla's auto-pilot feature as her Awesome Thing of the Week.
• Sorg is sharing Mario Kart Tour as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
• PSA - Remember to watch your orientation for video on social media.
• Looking for something bigger and deeper for your vertical garden? There's a wall planter for you on Amazon!
• Queen Elizabeth receives over a million dick pics since joining Instagram.
• VR has been used for lots of things - now it's helping with pain management and opioid usage.
• iPod Touch is still a relevant part of tech conversations.
• Looking to do a home remodel? Modsy allows you to check it out in AR before you commit to something you'll regret later!
• Contra anniversary collection is coming.
• He-Man or She-Ra fan? How about a power sword power strip?
• Katie is sad that her 3-in-1 TV/VCR/DVD combo player died.
• Panic's PlayDate comes with a crank - but at least there's WiFi!
• LEGO is celebrating Geek Pride Day the right way - with PacMan!

After the show remember to:

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