AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

AwesomeCast 764: Animal Crossing 3.0 Changed Everything?! + Final Cut Updates, Premiere AI, and ChatGPT Health

January 21st, 2026  |  57 mins 58 secs

a little to the left, adobe ai video, adobe premiere pro, ai editing tools, ai safety, animal crossing 3.0, animal crossing switch, animal crossing update, apple creator studio, are you dead app, artificial intelligence news, chatgpt, chill games, chore games, compressor, content creation, cozy games, creator tools, daily check-in app, dave podnar, digital culture, digital safety apps, final cut pro, gaming discussion, gaming podcast, geek culture, indie games, iphone apps, katie dudas, logic pro, mattel sora, media workflows, michael sorg, mobile apps, motion, nintendo switch, openai, openai age prediction, personal safety technology, podcast production, powerwash simulator, skeletor ai, sora ai, tech for creators, tech podcast, technology news, video editing, video game news

This week on AwesomeCast 764, cohosts Michael Sorg, Dave Podnar, and Katie Dudas dive into the week’s biggest tech and creator stories—plus a special Animal Crossing 3.0 update field report from Charlotte. Katie checks in with her Animal Crossing–obsessed niece Charlotte to break down what’s new, what’s addictive, and how “slumber islands” change the way you build and share your island adventures. 

2025 Predictions on AI, 3D Printers and more! | AwesomeCast 762

December 17th, 2025  |  1 hr 49 secs

2025 tech recap, 2026 tech predictions, 3d printers, 3d printing, ai backlash, ai competition, ai ethics, ai health tracking, ai marketing claims, ai podcast, ai productivity, ai regulation, ai tools, ai trust, ai workflow automation, apple vision pro, artificial intelligence, awesomecast, awesomecast podcast, bambu labs, bambu labs 3d printer, chatgpt, consumer 3d printing, content creation tools, creator economy, emerging technology, end of year tech review, everyday ai use, future of ai, future technology, gaming news, generative ai, google gemini, hardware podcast, health tracking apps, human made content, indie games, katie dudas, large language models, macwhisper, maker culture, mental health and gaming, michael sorg, mixed reality, opus clip, podcast production tools, practical ai, productivity technology, professional 3d printing, rapid prototyping, rob de la cretaz, sorgatron media, tech commentary, tech culture, tech discussion podcast, tech hardware, tech news podcast, tech predictions podcast, technology podcast, technology trends, video game awards, video game industry, virtual reality, workflow optimization, xr technology

In this end-of-year AwesomeCast, hosts Michael Sorg and Katie Dudas are joined by original AwesomeCast co-host Rob De La Cretaz for a wide-ranging discussion on the biggest tech shifts of 2025 — and what’s coming next.

Peeping Roomba, Telly TV Hands On and Thankful for Tech | AwesomeCast 759

November 26th, 2025  |  55 mins 37 secs

1992 gadgets, 3dfx voodoo nostalgia, amazon storage bins, awesomecast, cat wars calendar, dave podnar, disney animatronics, disney robot olaf, dual 56k modem, free telly tv, home organization hacks, katie dudas, lasko whirlwind heater, lgbtq gaming pioneer, michael sorg, pebble watch open source, pittsburgh tech podcast, rebecca heineman tribute, retro tech gadgets, robotic olaf, she-ra catra vintage toy, space heater review, tech podcast, telly ad supported television, voltron 40th anniversary set, voltron collector’s set

Free TV, robot snowmen, space heaters, and Voltron nostalgia – we’re packing a lot into AwesomeCast 759.

This week, Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar dive into:

Sorg’s first week living with a Telly free TV and its always-on ad bar

Dave’s emergency Lasko Whirlwind space heater run when his furnace dies

Katie’s Amazon storage bins that completely changed how she organizes clothes

A heartfelt ChachiSays Video Game Minute tribute to game dev legend Rebecca Heineman

Katie’s beloved Cat Wars calendar and a detour into She-Ra villain Catra toy nostalgia

Quick hits on Disney’s robotic Olaf, a 40th anniversary Voltron collector set, and the future of park animatronics & high-end geek collectibles

Simpsons Invade Fortnite + Apple’s Bizarre New Gadget | AwesomeCast 757

November 12th, 2025  |  1 hr 38 secs

ai browser privacy, ai corrosion detection, apple 150 dollar iphone bag, apple design, apple iphone sling, apple news 2025, awesomecast 757, awesomecast podcast, chachi video game minute, dave podnar, fortnite news, fortnite sidekicks update, fortnite simpsons crossover, fortnite x the simpsons, gadget news 2025, gaming news 2025, ipad pro 10th anniversary, ipad pro 2025, iphone accessories 2025, issey miyake iphone pocket, live tech podcast, michael sorg, mobile gadgets, pit airport new terminal, pittsburgh international airport, pittsburgh robotics network, robotics and ai discovery day pittsburgh, simpsons news, ska robotics, smart accessories, sorgatron media, springfield island fortnite, tech podcast pittsburgh, tech trends 2025, wearable tech

Apple turns heads with a $150–$230 knit iPhone “Pocket” sling (yes, really), Fortnite drops a full Simpsons takeover with Springfield Island and Sidekicks, and we recap our live production at Pittsburgh’s Robotics & AI Discovery Day (AI corrosion-detection drones over the Three Rivers). We also mark 10 years of iPad Pro, preview PIT’s new terminal, and run through Chachi’s Video Game Minute headlines.
Links in notes. Subscribe for weekly tech + gadget talk from Pittsburgh’s AwesomeCast.
Segments: Apple iPhone sling; Fortnite x The Simpsons; Robotics demo; iPad Pro at 10; PIT terminal; AI browsers; Chachi’s VGM.
(Hosts: Michael Sorg, Dave Podnar)

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.

Lady in the Dashboard | AwesomeCast 755

October 29th, 2025  |  59 mins 37 secs

24/7 youtube stream, 4k vs 8k, 8k tv study, adobe ai tools, adobe max 2025, ai productivity tools, ai video editing, airport technology, apple accessibility, awesomecast podcast, chachis video game minute, chatgpt atlas, counter strike skins, dave podnar, eb games, halo remaster, indy wrestling stream, ios vehicle motion cues, live streaming setup, michael sorg, motion sickness fix, obs tutorial, obs vlc playlist, openai browser, photoshop generative fill, pit airport terminal, pittsburgh creators, pittsburgh international airport, pittsburgh tech podcast, premiere ai masking, slice on broadway, sorgatron media, taco bell dc 50k, technology news, topaz upscaler

Tech, travel, and a touch of Pittsburgh flair!
Michael Sorg and Dave Podnar take you inside the brand-new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal, share how to build your own 24/7 streaming channel with OBS + VLC, and break down the biggest Adobe MAX 2025 AI announcements. We talk whether 8K TVs even matter, the surprisingly useful iOS Vehicle Motion Cues, and what it’s really like using the new ChatGPT Atlas browser.

OpenAI’s New Browser Changes Everything | ChatGPT Atlas Hands-On! | AwesomeCast 754

October 22nd, 2025  |  48 mins 40 secs

3dfx graphics card, ad-supported tv, ai browser, ai news, ai pet, ai shopping, awesomecast, baby steps game, cable management hack, casio moflin, chatgpt atlas, dave podnar, double fine keeper, free tv ads, gadget news, katie dudas, keeper game pass, michael sorg, netflix gaming, openai browser, pittsburgh tech podcast, pop culture tech, retro pc gaming, roblox games, robotic pet, sesame street roblox, slice on broadway, tech podcast, telly tv, walmart chatgpt, weekly tech show, xbox game pass games

The AwesomeCast crew — Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar — dive into another week of geeky goodness, from AI browsers and robo-pets to nostalgic tech and bizarre cable “hacks.”

Rule 34 | AwesomeCast 753

October 15th, 2025  |  1 hr 1 min

ai avatars, ai tools 2025, ai video generator, ai-generated characters, arachnophobia mode, awesomecast podcast, baby steps game, cat calendar, cat wars calendar, creepy puppet game, dave podnar, five nights at freddy’s, game pass blizzard games, game pass savings, gaming podcast, grounded nintendo switch, katie dudas, living desert zoo, michael sorg, my friendly neighborhood game, netflix tv games, nintendo switch survival game, palm springs zoo, podcast pittsburgh, puppet horror shooter, resident evil parody, rom com ai video, sora ai app, sorgatron media, spooky games 2025, tech podcast, video game accessibility, xbox game pass tip, xbox game pass ultimate

This week on AwesomeCast, we dive into creepy games and cutting-edge tech!
🎮 Katie introduces Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition on Nintendo Switch
🧵 Sorg explores My Friendly Neighborhood—a horror puppet shooter with serious FNAF vibes
🦒 Dave visits The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Springs
🤖 We unleash chaos using the Sora AI app—turning ourselves into rom-com leads, tourists, and caffeine junkies
🎮 Plus: Netflix launches games on TV, and Baby Steps punishes you for skipping cutscenes!

We Built a Livestream Studio in a U-Haul at an Off-Road Motorsport Event! | AwesomeCast 752

October 8th, 2025  |  1 hr 5 mins

ai video generation, alba colon, amazon prime login, awesomecast, baja sae, cancer survivor surfing, dave podnar, event livestreaming, first descents, game pass price increase, gopro crash, hendrick motorsports, katie dudas, meta ai editing, michael sorg, microsoft game pass, minecraft climate change game, mini baja rc, missy sorg, mobile livestream setup, off-road racing, openai sora, podcasting, production tips, romcom sabotage, sae international, santa cruz surfing, sidekick media services, slice on broadway, sorgatron media, streaming cautionary tale, tech podcast, u-haul studio, video production, wireless camera setup, women in motorsports

Surfboards, Baja Cars & Broken GoPros — This Week on AwesomeCast!

Katie returns with stories from the waves as she shares her inspiring First Descents surf adventure in Santa Cruz, designed for cancer survivors. Meanwhile, the team gives a full behind-the-scenes breakdown of their latest wild production at Baja SAE Carolina — from broadcasting out of a U-Haul van to dealing with dusty terrain, wireless camera chaos, and even a GoPro that didn’t survive.

Opus Pro vs CapCut, Mortal Kombat Kollection & Amazon Lens Live Tested! | AwesomeCast 748

September 3rd, 2025  |  56 mins 3 secs

80s cartoons, ai tools, ai video editing, airpods 3, amazon lens live, amazon shopping tool, apple event, apple rumors, awesomecast, baja sae, capcut, content creator tools, dave podnar, grogu movie, he-man game, instagram pip, instagram reels, iphone 17, iphone 17 air, katie dudas, live translation, mandalorian movie, michael sorg, mortal kombat kollection, mortal kombat legacy kollection, motorweek, nintendo movie adaptations, nintendo stars, opus clip, opus pro, pbs baja sae, playstation classic, retro gaming, tech podcast

This week on AwesomeCast 748, hosts Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar break down the latest in tech, gadgets, and geek news