AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

Samsung’s Insane Tri-Fold Phone, Fortnite Chaos & Red Dead on Netflix! | AwesomeCast 760

December 3rd, 2025  |  1 hr 1 min

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

This week on AwesomeCast 760, Michael Sorg (@Sorgatron), Katie “Dudders” Dudas, and Dave Podnar brave the Pittsburgh snow (plus the frozen tundra of Verona) to geek out over:

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Tri-Fold — a three-screen foldable that opens into a 10" tablet and costs about as much as a decent gaming PC. Is this the future of phones or just flex tech?

Cloud gaming from the couch — Sorg uses OneCast, GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming to turn an Apple TV and Chromecast into a console-free living room, streaming everything from Mortal Kombat 1 to Marvel’s Midnight Suns.

Netflix Games leveling up — from Red Dead Redemption (2010) going mobile-only on Netflix to a WWE 2K “Netflix Edition” and Stranger Things puzzle games trying to lure the 99% of subscribers who never touch the games tab.

Marvel arcade goodness & Fortnite insanity — we punch through Marvel’s Cosmic Invasion on Game Pass and recap Fortnite’s giant event featuring Homer Simpson, Godzilla, Kong, Superman, Voltron, K-pop Demon Hunters, Kill Bill, Back to the Future and more.

Weird future tech — Hideo Kojima’s idea for a blood-scented floppy disk, BHaptics VR suits you can actually buy at Best Buy, and why we’re both fascinated and slightly terrified.

Shopping & robotaxis — Amazon’s 30-minute delivery pilot in Seattle and Philly, Katie’s Walmart turning into a gig-worker warehouse, and a Waymo robo-car that casually drives through an active LAPD stop.

Plus: birthday love for long-time supporter John “Diggy” DeGore, vintage Star Wars comics, and interns Tony and Mac discovering just how weird tech can get.

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, AI, Carplay, Google Translate, Katie Dudas, Michael Sorg, Patreon, Siri, Social Media, accessibility tech, 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, 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, home decorating, home design ai, iPhone, icoca card, immersive art, innovation, interior design with chatgpt, japan technology, japan travel, japanese culture, japanese etiquette, lifestyle technology, 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, ska robotics, slice on broadway, smart cities, smart home shopping, 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.

From Blogger to Tech Founder: How Virginia Montanez Created PastFinders | AwesomeCast 750

September 17th, 2025  |  58 mins 9 secs

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

This week on AwesomeCast, we dive into tech, history, and a little pumpkin spice! We’re joined by Virginia Montanez — acclaimed writer, author, and creator of the PastFinders app, which turns everyday walks into immersive historical tours.

Climate Tech That’s ACTUALLY Working (SuperCool w/ Josh Dorfman) | AwesomeCast 746

August 19th, 2025  |  59 mins 49 secs

Social Media, ai for buildings, awesomecast., brainbox ai, climate tech podcast, ev school buses, josh dorfman interview, pittsburgh, podcast, project sunroof, sam’s club pumpkin diorama, sorgatron media, steelton pa, supercool climate solutions, tech news, tmnt hello kitty happy meal toys, youtube gemini ask button

Cohosts Michael Sorg and Dave Podnar welcome Josh Dorfman, Co-founder, CEO, and host of SuperCool, to talk about the adoption era of climate tech—where real solutions are cutting emissions and saving money today. Josh shares insights from BrainBox AI’s energy-saving building systems, Google’s Project Sunroof, and even a Pennsylvania school district saving big with solar and electric school buses. We also dive into Josh’s own startup, Planted Materials, building carbon-negative housing panels.

Ford Bets Big, Hello Kitty Bricks In, and GPT 5 Takes Over Your Terminal | AwesomeCast 745: Ford Bets Big, Hello Kitty Bricks In, and GPT 5 Takes Over Your Terminal

August 13th, 2025  |  59 mins 37 secs

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

Hosts Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar are back with another fun-filled episode of AwesomeCast, bringing their favorite geeky picks and tech stories of the week from Pittsburgh and beyond.

Cat Wars, Retro Macs & the Coolest AI Trick Yet | AwesomeCast 744

August 6th, 2025  |  1 hr 4 mins

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

This week’s episode dives into a mix of tech, toys, and travel adventures. From a Nickelodeon-themed indoor amusement park and the quirky “Cat Wars” calendar to the upcoming Hello Kitty × Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Happy Meal toys, we cover it all. We also explore a retro Macintosh-style USB-C hub, try out live AI object recognition, fold our way through a paper airplane STEM kit, and get nostalgic with the Retro Bowl College Edition mobile game.

Grok This! Google AI, Chainsawed Sandwiches & Mario Paint Returns | Episode 743

July 30th, 2025  |  59 mins 49 secs

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

Join Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar for another wild ride through the latest in tech, geek culture, and digital oddities. From chainsawed sandwiches and pygmy hippos to new AI-powered tools from Google and fun gaming tie-ins, AwesomeCast 743 dives into the fun, weird, and sometimes terrifying world of tech.

Whether you’re curious about Google Search’s AI makeover, craving a McDonald’s-themed Joy-Con fry holder, or wondering why a zoo staged a fake hippo escape with an inflatable costume — we’ve got you covered.

From Sci-Fi to Surgery: Real Holograms with Avalon’s Wally Haas | AwesomeCast 742

July 23rd, 2025  |  1 hr 15 secs

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

This week on AwesomeCast, we’re diving into the future of visual technology with Wally Haas, the founder of Avalon Holographics. From real, light-field holographic displays to the practical applications in medicine, defense, and entertainment, this episode is a glimpse at the future of immersive 3D visualization. We also break down tech updates from the cosplay-packed halls of Tekko 2025 in Pittsburgh, explore camera app alternatives like PostPic, and check out the latest headlines in gaming with the Chachi Video Game Minute.

Gaming on the Go: Backbone Review & Xbox Without a Console | AwesomeCast 741

July 16th, 2025  |  1 hr 2 secs

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

In this episode of AwesomeCast, co-hosts Michael Sorg and Dave Podnar dive into the latest tech trends, gadgets, and geek culture from Pittsburgh and beyond. Sorg shares a hands-on review of the Backbone USB-C mobile game controller, and Dave unveils a jaw-dropping 115-inch Hisense Mini-LED TV that costs as much as a car. We explore tech headlines including the consolidation of ChromeOS and Android, Google’s AI-powered NotebookLM, and how Xbox is pushing console-less gaming with Fire TV bundles. Plus, hear from Intern John about Picklesburgh adventures and travel plans, and enjoy a rapid-fire roundup in Chachi’s Video Game Minute, featuring a major shakeup on Steam and FBI action on ROM sites.

Adulting at Chuck E. Cheese, Pickle Triathlons & Fire Truck Cam Hacks | AwesomeCast 740

July 9th, 2025  |  58 mins 44 secs

Social Media, pittsburgh, podcast, sorgatron media, tech news

🎧 On this week’s AwesomeCast 740, we get geeky with Pittsburgh’s iconic Picklesburgh festival, explore high-tech safety gear for fire trucks, and unbox a McDonald’s Happy Meal inside a Happy Meal. Plus, we chat about Anthrocon’s $89K cat rescue donation, a Chuck E. Cheese arcade just for adults, and whether AirPods Pro 2 can replace hearing aids. Don’t miss Dave’s electric chipper review, Katie’s pickle adventures, and a Pope-signed Pokémon card! 🥒🐾⚡