AwesomeCast: Tech and Gadget Talk

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.

Awesome Aftertalk: Floppy Blood, Goldfish Floats & The Church of Arcade: ACast 759 After Show

December 3rd, 2025  |  27 mins 7 secs

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

Welcome to the very off-the-rails Patreon After Show for AwesomeCast 759!
Katie, Dave, Sorg, and the interns dive headfirst into peak holiday chaos — from a $30,000 Pokémon card traded at GameStop, to the tiniest Goldfish-sponsored float in the parade, to a Muppets-in-Space merch drop.

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

December 3rd, 2025  |  1 hr 1 min

pittsburgh, podcast, social media, 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.

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.