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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• Chilla is sharing the Google Nest / Home Hub as his Awesome Thing of the Week!
• Sorg has discovered that he can ask Google to play movies on the studio TV through Chromecast!
• We're finding out how dedicated Sorg is to Dr. Mario World.
• Sorg's ACTUAL Awesome Thing of the Week is MyFitnessPal.
• Want a Nintendo Switch without all the bells and whistles?  Nintendo is rolling out a smaller Switch Lite version!
• Google Stadia is leaving gamers underwhelmed and disappointed.
• Just in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, there is an AR app to view the rocket in AR!
• While Katie is still on assignment, we are thinking of her as CES opens to sex tech!
• Ever wanted to be a flying dinosaur? Now you have a chance with Jurassic Flight at the National Aviary.
• Chilla is sharing some news about Windows auto updates.
• Pokemon GO is getting some updates!
• Niantic is shutting down Field Trip.
• Waze has a new toll calculator making it easier to plan.
• Virgin Orbit had a successful first rocket drop test, and a real launch could happen soon!

After the show remember to:

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience?  Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

Follow these awesome people on Twitter:  John Chichilla (@chilla), and Michael Sorg (@Sorgatron)

Have you seen our AwesomeTips videos?

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the River’s Edge (@RiversEdgePGH) and The 405 Media (@The405Radio) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

We’re back with Katie, Chilla, and Sorg as they talk about some tech. This week’s topics include:

Sorg and Chilla are questioning Brian Crawford’s Sosoon bag recommendation (after they both got one).
Chilla’s Awesome Thing of the Week is a cable organizer from Amazon.
Chilla has some Krause tech envy.
Katie is sharing a fighting robot that you can buy on Amazon as her Awesome Thing of the Week.
Speaking of Amazon, Sorg went on a field trip as his Awesome Thing of the Week.
Uber has terminated jobs of self-driving car operators in Pittsburgh.
Electric scooters have arrived in Kansas City.
Will Pittsburgh see scooters as a healthy ride option in the future?
Find yourself frequently working out of your car? There’s a tray that works as a mobile desk or even a great eat-in-your car option.
Rugrats is coming back for a TV series and movie!
Microsoft has added some collaboration tools to the 365 world!
Looking for something to watch? Netflix is making recommendations based on emojis.
Wyze now works with Alexa on Amazon Echo.
There is a Walking Dead game with AR – no it’s not like Pokemon GO.
Magic Leap has a mixed reality headset in the works.
We have no “N” in Alphabet if Nest is gone?
Waze will provide traffic data free to US cities to aid in road congestion and pothole solutions.

After the show remember to:

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience? Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

Follow these awesome people on Twitter: John (@lfgpgh), Katie (@Kdudders), Chilla (@chilla) and Sorg (@Sorgatron)

Have you seen our AwesomeTips videos?

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the River’s Edge (@RiversEdgePGH) and The 405 Media (@The405Radio) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST!

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

Krause returns to the big purple couch this week to show off some of his new toys. He is, of course, joined by our in-house gadget hounds Chilla, Katie, and Sorg. This week’s topics include:

Katie is fresh off the Millvale Music Festival and sharing some quick thoughts about the weekend.
Thanks to PCTV for picking up Awesome Chat as part of their programming!
Krause has an Awesome Thing of the Week – LIVE from McKees Rocks with his Nest doorbell.
Katie is sharing the Nintendo Labo mash-up with Jimmy Fallon and Ariana Grande as her Awesome Thing of the Week.
Microsoft released some information about Surface Hub 2, and it made Chilla’s Awesome Thing of the Week.
Sorg’s Awesome Thing of the Week is just down the block from the studio. He got a sweet tour of the Tolin FX space when he stopped by.
Speaking of local, Sorg is sharing Honeycomb Credit as an option for crowdsource funding for businesses.
Pittsburgh has an eSports team, and we’re learning more about the gaming space because of it.
Boston Dynamics’ creepy robot dog is getting creepier – and smarter.
Ryan Reynolds dressed as a unicorn is almost as amazing as him as Deadpool.
Snapchat is getting started with ads that you can’t skip.
Smellavision is a step closer – with the Sensor Wake alarm clock.
Krause is on the verge of cordcutting – and we’re going to talk him over the ledge!
To DVR, or not to DVR, that is the true question on this week’s podcast.
The show may have turned into an intervention to address Katie’s VHS lifestyle.
After the show remember to:

Eat at Slice on Broadway (@Pgh_Slice) if you are in the Pittsburgh area! It is Awesome! (sliceonbroadway.com)

Want to be part of our studio audience? Hit us up at awesomecast@sorgatronmedia.com and we’ll save you a seat!

Join our AwesomeCast Facebook Group to see what we’re sharing and to join the discussion!

Follow these awesome people on Twitter: Krause (@KrazyKrause), Katie Dudas (@Kdudders), John Chichilla (@chilla), and Sorg (@Sorgatron)

June 5th is a big day for us! It’s our 8-year anniversary PLUS our 400th episode! (We’ll be doing something fun for the occasion. You should join us.)

Have you seen our AwesomeTips videos?

You can support the show at Patreon.com/awesomecast!

Remember to check out our friends at the River’s Edge (@RiversEdgePGH) and The 405 Media (@The405Radio) who replay the show on their stream throughout the week!

Also, check out sorgatronmedia.com and awesomecast.com for more entertainment; and view us livestreaming Tuesdays around 7:00 PM EST!

Support AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk