AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

NFL Draft Tech, Xbox Game Pass Changes & AI Cameras Watching Lines?! | AwesomeCast 777

April 27th, 2026  |  1 hr 1 min

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech news

Sorg and Podnar break down the tech behind Pittsburgh’s massive NFL Draft event, including apps, cashless systems, and crowd logistics. They also explore Xbox Game Pass changes, Apple’s new subscription model, AI-powered line tracking in NYC, and emerging trends in consumer tech.

Tim Cook Steps Down, Game Pass Gets Weird & Can PurePlank Fix the Dad Bod? | AwesomeCast 776

April 21st, 2026  |  1 hr 2 mins

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech news

On this week’s AwesomeCast, Sorg and Dave Podnar talk through tech that hits real life: Sorg tries out the PurePlank fitness board, Dave follows up on the ResMed AirSense 11 CPAP, and the crew spotlights Taher Elgamal’s role in the history of SSL and secure web browsing. They also react to Microsoft’s Game Pass changes, Sorg’s growing interest in Reddit as a better daily feed, DaVinci Resolve’s new still-image color tools, and the big Apple leadership shakeup as Tim Cook steps down as CEO.

Epic Universe Tips, LEGO Smart Blocks & Switch 2 Boost Mode | AwesomeCast 772

March 18th, 2026  |  1 hr 2 mins

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech news

On AwesomeCast 772, Sorg, Katie, and Podnar break down their trip to Epic Universe and Islands of Adventure, sharing practical strategy, favorite lands, standout food, and the rides that were actually worth the wait. Plus, they talk McDonald’s Crocs Happy Meal toys, Chachi’s video game news, Hedy Lamarr’s link to wireless tech history, LEGO smart blocks, a Nintendo Switch 2 display update, and the delightfully weird Payphone Go project.

AwesomeCast 771: Amazon’s New Health AI, ChatGPT for Math, and Mario’s Mystery Goo?

March 11th, 2026  |  1 hr 2 mins

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech news

AwesomeCast 771 features special guest hosts Missy Sorg and Dave Podnar while Mike Sorg is away, and they bring a fun mix of geek culture, health tech, AI, and gaming news. They kick things off with a Mario Day discussion about the mystery goo in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, then dive into Dave’s experience with the WatchPAT ONE at-home sleep apnea test and how healthcare technology is becoming more accessible.

They also unpack Amazon’s new healthcare AI assistant, discuss privacy concerns around medical data, and explore how ChatGPT’s new interactive math and science visuals could help visual learners and change education. Plus, Chachi checks in with video game news on Nintendo tariffs and Microsoft’s Project Helix, and Dave closes things out with a lighter story about a custom Chicago-built hybrid Ford Explorer for the Pope.

Silver Surfer Is the Original Flappy Bird | AwesomeCast 770

March 4th, 2026  |  1 hr 2 mins

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech news

Sorg, Katie, and Dave Podnar hit the week’s tech and geek headlines: Nintendo’s Virtual Boy revival on Switch, Apple’s latest product wave (including iPhone 17e and iPad Air updates), and a troubling report about Meta AI smart glasses and human review. Plus Dunkin’s giant drink bucket, MuppetVision in VR, Adobe’s AI video-editing experiments, Pokémon nostalgia gadgets, Xbox 1440p cloud streaming, a Marvel retro collection, and a Women’s History Month spotlight on Grace Hopper.

Apple Podcasts Adds Video + iPhones to the Moon?! | Olympics Drone Cam, 2XKO & Hatchin’ Yoshi | AwesomeCast 768

February 16th, 2026  |  1 hr 50 mins

2xko, apple podcasts video, apple tv rumors, bad bunny lyrics translation, black history month in tech, browser fingerprinting, cover your tracks, dave podnar, drone cinematography, eff, fighting games, five below block tech, hatchin yoshi, katie dudas, live event production, marian croak, mario wonder, michael sorg, mini arcade builds, national inventors hall of fame, nintendo, olympics drone camera, online tracking, podcasting workflow, privacy, riot games, sorgatron media, spotify translate lyrics, stagecue app, tag fighter, talking flower, tech podcast, ublock origin, video podcasts, voip, vr drone goggles, yoshi toy, youtube music translate lyrics

This week on AwesomeCast 768, Sorg, Dudders, and Podnar dig into the tech and culture behind the headlines: Apple Podcasts bringing video, Olympics drone chase-cam production, and the real-world challenges of taking a smartphone on a lunar mission. Plus: Sorg’s time with Riot’s 2XKO, Dudders’ 6-in-1 air safety monitor, and a wave of Nintendo cuteness with Hatchin’ Yoshi and the Mario Wonder Talking Flower. We also share an EFF privacy self-check with Cover Your Tracks, and a surprisingly useful event tool: StageCue for managing video playback on venue screens. 

AwesomeCast @ Sangawa Project

February 7th, 2026  |  1 hr 1 min

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech news

Recorded live at Sangawa Project, this AwesomeCast panel explores retro tech, Japanese innovation, accessibility-focused design, and pop-culture discoveries — all through first-time impressions, live reactions, and hands-on experiences from the convention floor.

Nintendo Switch 2 First Impressions, Animal Crossing’s Big Comeback & CES Season Begins | AwesomeCast 763

January 7th, 2026  |  1 hr 5 mins

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, sorgatron media, tech news

The new year kicks off with a deep dive into Nintendo’s ecosystem as Michael Sorg, Dave Podnar, and Katie Dudas share hands-on impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2, explore standout games like Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and break down why Nintendo exclusives still hit differently. Plus, Animal Crossing finally gets a long-awaited update—bringing hotels, better crafting, Dream Islands, and a renewed sense of community. All this as CES season begins and tech news ramps up.
AwesomeCast is part of the Sorgatron Media Podcast Network.

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.

Buff Judge Elvis and Other Questionable AI Things. | AwesomeCast 761

December 10th, 2025  |  59 mins 17 secs

90s mall vr, ai b-roll generator, ai gas station tv, ai-generated news anchor, apple tv intro, apple tv liquid glass, butts on things gifts, buzz lightyear robot, cheek-to-cheek card game, dc comics streaming, doom 3 vr, gamestop trade anything, helldivers movie, judge elvis ai images, justin lin helldivers, meta quest vr mods, mortal kombat rights, netflix gaming expansion, netflix warner bros deal, podcast interns, podcast internship, podcast production behind the scenes, polygon gamestop article, practical effects vs ai, quake iii vr, robosen shockwave, robosen transformers, self-transforming robot, sorgatron media, tiktok gift ideas, toy story robotics, transformer robot, vr retro gaming, vr shooter mods, wall-e robot toy, warner bros discovery sale, wb games acquisition, weird holiday gifts

In this episode of AwesomeCast 761, Michael Sorg is joined by Intern Mac and Intern Tony for a wildly geeky night of robots, AI, VR, and very silly holiday gifts.

We kick things off with the new Robosen Shockwave Transformer robot, a $1,000 self-transforming Decepticon boombox that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, then fall down a rabbit hole of programmable Transformers, Buzz Lightyear, and WALL-E robots for STEM-minded kids. From there, Mac highlights Apple’s latest Apple TV “liquid glass” intro, crafted with real glass panes and practical effects instead of AI – a hopeful sign for human artists in an AI-heavy world.