AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

The Robot That Played Renegade at the NFL Draft

September 16th, 2026  |  3 mins 22 secs

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

AwesomeCast 796: The Deepest, Darkest Statsand Apple’s $2,000 Foldable iPhone Has Us Talking

September 15th, 2026  |  1 hr 3 mins

911th air wing, Apple Watch, Duolingo, Katie Dudas, Metroid, SNES, Super Nintendo, Tetris, apple, apple intelligence, artificial intelligence, banger in the hangar, captcha, carnegie mellon university, chachi says video game minute, dave podnar, foldable iphone, hispanic heritage month, image playground, ios 27, iphone 18 pro, iphone 18 pro max, iphone duo, jimothy questy, luis von ahn, mapquest, mario kart world, nintendo, nintendo switch 2, ocarina of time, pittsburgh robotics, pittsburgh technology, prospect pro wrestling, questies, recaptcha, rufus questy, siri ai, siri ai beta, sorg, sorgatron media, ssd prices, tech news, technology podcast, technology trends, zelda

Apple’s foldable iPhone is finally here, but is a $1,999 phone actually useful enough to justify the price? Sorg, Katie Dudas and Dave Podnar break down the iPhone Duo, iOS 27 and the Siri AI waitlist, Apple Watch listening features, rising storage prices and what Apple’s latest hardware could mean for creators.

Plus, Nintendo brings back more of its past with the Switch 2 Ocarina of Time remake and classic Mario Kart tracks, MapQuest adds new Questies, Chachi reports on the disappearing White House Tetris clone, and Dave celebrates CAPTCHA and Duolingo co-founder Luis von Ahn for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Sorg also takes us behind the scenes of producing professional wrestling inside the 911th Air Wing’s massive hangar.

Support the show at Patreon.com/AwesomeCast and find more at www.SorgatronMedia.com.

Awesome Chat: Spotter Global

July 30th, 2026  |  31 mins 27 secs

avalanche monitoring, awesomecast, awesomechat, counter drone technology, counter uas, critical infrastructure, diy drones, dji drones, dji geofencing, drone detection, drone pilot tracking, drone remote id, drone security, drone technology, drone tracking, event security, fiber optic drones, fish farm security, fly by wire drones, fog drones, ground surveillance radar, infrastructure security, logan harris, military technology, r, radar technology, rc aircraft, remote id, rogue drones, sae aero design, security technology, situational awareness, snaptrack, sorgatron media, spotter global, stadium security, uas security, video ai, video analytics

In this AwesomeChat, Sorg talks with Logan Harris, CEO of Spotter Global, about the technology being developed to detect drones, track their operators, protect critical infrastructure, and give security teams a better picture of what is happening across large areas.

AwesomeCast 788: Pew Pew - Retro Gaming on Apple TV, Minimalist Flip Phones & the AI Backlash

July 21st, 2026  |  1 hr 6 mins

Katie Dudas, Sae, adaptive cruise control, ai ethics, ai image editing, ai video production, apple tv gaming, arduino, artificial intelligence, ask photos, browser games, consumer technology, creative ai, cruise control, data centers, data-center electricity, dave podnar, digital detox, digital ownership, digital privacy, diy electronics, dumb phones, dungeon crawler carl, flip phones, gadget podcast, gamestop, garmin connect, garmin fitness tracker, generative ai, google gemini, google photos, google photos search, gta iii, gta san andreas mod, gta vice city, light flip phone, machine learning, maeve chocolate, maker technology, mama’s night off, mars flyby, mike sorg, minimalist phone, minimalist technology, nasa psyche, nintendo wii remote, openmote, pastfinders, physical media, physical video games, pittsburgh bridges, pittsburgh film office, pittsburgh movie locations, pittsburgh podcast, playstation 5 emulation, ps5 emulator, ralph teetor, retro gaming, retro technology, retroarch, retroarch apple tv, screenless fitness tracker, smart-home controls, society of automotive engineers, sony physical discs, sorg, sorgatron media, space exploration, tech news, technology news, technology podcast, technology regulation, video game emulation, wearable technology, wiimote

Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore the return of retro technology and the growing demand for digital tools that give users more control.

Katie shares the Dungeon Crawler Carl-inspired Mama’s Night Off browser game. Dave introduces Garmin’s new screenless fitness tracker, while Sorg explains how he set up RetroArch on Apple TV to play games from classic consoles and computers.

The crew also discusses PlayStation 5 emulation, GameStop’s response to the decline of physical discs, and why consumers are returning to vinyl, CDs, cassettes, flip phones, and other forms of physical technology.

An extended conversation examines how AI is being incorporated into creative tools, business software, search, image editing, and video production. The hosts consider responsible AI use, the difference between generative AI and other machine-learning features, and the environmental and infrastructure concerns surrounding rapid data-center growth.

Other stories include NASA’s Psyche spacecraft capturing a Mars flyby, Pittsburgh movie locations in the Pastfinders app, the minimalist Light Flip phone, the OpenMote Wii Remote development board, Google Photos restoring classic search, and Ralph Teetor’s invention of cruise control.

Support AwesomeCast at https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast and find more shows at https://sorgatronmedia.com.

Awesome Chat: iTargetGolf

July 9th, 2026  |  27 mins 16 secs

TrackMan, awesomecast, awesomechat, cash cup golf, driving range technology, entrepreneur advice, frédéric guitton, gamified golf, golf business, golf entertainment, golf innovation, golf range, golf startup, golf technology, hole in one challenge, in bay lights, inrange, interactive golf, interactive targets, itargetgolf, pittsburgh podcast, real life video game, rfid golf balls, sorgatron media, sports entertainment, sports tech, startup interview, technology podcast, toptracer, virtual golf

AwesomeChat welcomes Frédéric Guitton of iTargetGolf to talk about the future of interactive golf technology and how driving ranges are becoming more social, competitive, and game-like.

F1 Drone Tech, AI Video Chaos & the World’s Largest Camera| AwesomeCast 725

July 1st, 2026  |  58 mins 41 secs

3200 megapixels, Formula 1, Red Bull, aew, ai glasses, ai tools, ai video, apple price increases, astronomy, augmented reality, dark energy, dark matter, dave podnar, digital games, drone camera, f1 drone, filming drone, five nights at freddy’s 3, gadget podcast, gadgets, game ownership, generative ai, gta 6, gta vi, hover soccer ball, ipad prices, it came from ai, lgbtq tech history, mac prices, martine rothblatt, meta glasses, minions, motorsports technology, nes, nintendo switch game key cards, physical games, pittsburgh podcast, podcast seo, pride month, retro gaming, rubin observatory, sirius xm, snap ar glasses, sorg, sorgatron media, space camera, steam games, tech news, tech podcast, united therapeutics, vera rubin observatory, viral tiktok

This week on AwesomeCast 785, Sorg and Dave Podnar get geeky with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s massive 3,200-megapixel digital camera, Red Bull’s world’s fastest filming drone chasing a Formula 1 car, and the tech legacy of Martine Rothblatt for Pride Month.

Road Trip Tech, World Cup Culture Shock, Strong Museum, and Gemini Pro | AwesomeCast 783

June 16th, 2026  |  1 hr 7 mins

Katie Dudas, Michael Sorg, ai tools, arm processor, chachi says, crazy taxi, dave podnar, electric pickup truck, fifa world cup, ford ev, gemini pro, google gemini, google one, like a dragon, marvel wolverine, missy sorg, nerdvana, niagara falls, ocarina of time, pittsburgh podcast, pride month, qr code camouflage, road podcast, sophie wilson, sorgatron media, stranger than heaven, strong museum of play, super mario bros auction, tech podcast, tmnt the last ronin, travel tech, tupac video game, vibe coding, video game hall of fame, video game news, world cup

Sorg and Katie are back on the road in Michigan, Dave Podnar joins from the Pod Cave, and Missy runs the studio back in Pittsburgh for AwesomeCast 783.

This week’s episode is a road trip mix of tech, travel, gaming, and AI. The crew talks about World Cup fans discovering American stores and food culture, Niagara Falls adventures, a 26th-floor IHOP, Sophie Wilson and the history of ARM processors, Chachi’s video game news, the Strong Museum of Play, Nerdvana, Ford’s hidden QR code in prototype EV camouflage, and Sorg’s surprise discovery of Google Gemini Pro access through his Google storage plan.

Apple WWDC AI, He-Man Movie Reactions & Nintendo Classics Return | AwesomeCast 782

June 9th, 2026  |  1 hr 4 mins

007 first light, Apple Watch, Nintendo Direct, Podcast Gear, ai tools, amazon games, apple developer, apple intelligence, apple wwdc, generative ai, he-man, ios 27, kingdom hearts 4, lynn conway, macos 27, masters of the universe, neewer lights, paramount games, photo editing, pride month, protect our games act, siri ai, skeletor, sorgatron media, star fox, tech podcast, video game news, wwdc 2026, zelda ocarina of time

Sorg and Dave Podnar talk Apple WWDC, Siri AI, Apple Intelligence, photo reframing, device compatibility, and how AI may become more useful inside everyday apps. Plus: He-Man movie reactions, Lynn Conway’s tech legacy for Pride Month, Nintendo Direct news, video game preservation laws, Paramount Games, Amazon’s 007 plans, and practical studio lighting for podcast creators.

AwesomeCast 781

June 2nd, 2026  |  53 mins 37 secs

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

This week on AwesomeCast 781, Sorg, Katie, and Podnar are recording from the road in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while covering the AutoDrive Challenge and breaking down a packed week in tech, gaming, AI, gadgets, and local Pittsburgh creativity.

Stories & Gadgets Discussed:

He-Man movie excitement and Denny’s tie-in menu
https://www.dennys.com/promotions/he-man-movie
Sorg and Katie talk Masters of the Universe hype, themed shirts, Skeletor, nostalgia, and the wild Denny’s promotional food lineup.
USB-C wireless lavalier microphone from TikTok Shop
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP92fEduBXyNW-MWMCM/
Podnar shows off a budget two-pack wireless lav mic with charging case, USB-C receiver, magnetic clips, pass-through charging, and easy phone/computer setup.
Pride History Month: Alan Turing
https://www.alanturing.net
Podnar highlights Alan Turing’s role in breaking Enigma, early computing, artificial intelligence, the Turing Test, and his importance during Pride Month.
ChachiSays Video Game Minute: Steam Deck price increase
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz725d5d1x7o
Chachi covers a reported 40% Steam Deck price jump and the larger conversation around gaming hardware costs.
Modern Warfare’s next story setting
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9q391y5088o
The next Modern Warfare game is discussed with a plot centered around Korea and the North/South conflict.
Unreal Engine 6 announced
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/epic-announces-unreal-engine-6-which-will-run-the-next-era-of-rocket-league/
Epic’s Unreal Engine 6 announcement gets spotlighted, including its connection to the next era of Rocket League.
NVIDIA-linked mini AI data centers for the home
https://www.inc.com/moses-jeanfrancois/nvidia-mini-ai-data-center-house/91340588?brid=YWdncwHdllWCngoYfFZ4UgdFmvNg
The crew discusses the idea of installing small AI data centers at homes, possible monthly compensation, energy concerns, smart panels, solar power, and whether distributed AI infrastructure makes sense.
Virtual Boy games added to Nintendo Switch Online
https://www.vgchartz.com/article/467822/5-virtual-boy-games-added-to-nintendo-switch-online/
Sorg talks about trying the new Virtual Boy library on Switch, including Space Invaders, Jack Bros, Tetris, Mario Clash-style gameplay, and the weird legacy of Nintendo’s red-and-black headset.
Donkey Kong 64 coming to Nintendo Switch Online
https://www.ign.com/articles/donkey-kong-64-confirmed-for-nintendo-switch-online
Donkey Kong 64 is joining Nintendo Switch Online, giving Sorg another retro Nintendo title to revisit.
Google fake call detection for AI impersonation scams
https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/02/google-rolls-out-fake-call-detection-to-protect-against-ai-deepfake-impersonation-scams/
Katie explains Google’s Phone by Google fake call detection, device verification, RCS, and why families may need modern “secret word” safety plans to combat AI voice scams.
Squonk’s Joy Machine at Three Rivers Arts Festival
https://www.wesa.fm/arts-culture/2026-06-02/pittsburghs-squonk-joy-machine-three-rivers-arts-festival
Katie spotlights Pittsburgh performance group Squonk and their interactive Joy Machine street puppet installation at the Three Rivers Arts Festival.
Microsoft Scout AI agent
https://www.wired.com/story/meet-microsoft-scout-your-ai-coworker-that-never-logs-off/
Podnar discusses Microsoft’s move toward smaller AI agents built into Office, Teams, calendars, and workplace tools.
Michigan fireball
https://www.mlive.com/weather/2026/06/bright-fireball-flared-out-over-michigan-monday-night-did-you-find-debris-in-your-yard.html
Podnar shares reports of a bright fireball over Michigan and Ohio, meteor debris, and how these events remind us we are part of a much bigger universe.

Google I/O AI Agents, iOS 27 Accessibility, Fortnite Returns & Retro Camera Apps | AwesomeCast 780

May 20th, 2026  |  1 hr 1 min

1986 transformers movie, USB, aapi heritage month, accessibility technology, agentic ai, ai agents, ajay bhatt, apple intelligence, dave podnar, dave pondar, dazz cam, dungeon crawler carl, epic games, fortnite ios, gadget reviews, google gemini, google i/o 2026, graphic novel, intel, ios 27, iphone accessibility, iphone photography, optimus prime, pittsburgh podcast, retro camera app, sorg, sorgatron media, tech news, tech podcast, transformers the movie, vintage photography, webtoon

Sorg and Dave Podnar host AwesomeCast 780 with tech news, gadget picks, and a big dose of AI conversation. This week’s topics include the Dungeon Crawler Carl graphic novel, Dazz Cam’s retro iPhone photography app, Ajay Bhatt’s role in creating USB, Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 accessibility features, Google I/O’s agentic AI announcements, Fortnite’s return to iOS, and the 40th anniversary Transformers: The Movie “Apology Tour.”

Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/awesomecast