Home Gadget Geeks (Audio MP3)

Do kids need a full smartphone just to stay in touch? Mike Wieger joins me for HGG689 with a different answer: push-to-talk-over-cellular radios built around simple family communication. We also dig into practical off-site backups with Unraid, TrueNAS, ZF

Jay Franze joins HGG688 to discuss concert photography gear, Nikon cameras, RAW workflows, redundant backups, AI photo editing, mastering and spatial audio.

Seth Johnson from HomeTech.fm joins Jim Collison to talk about programmable pixel lights, holiday displays and the hardware behind thousands of individually addressable LEDs. They cover HolidayCoro, QuinLED, WLED, Xlights, Home Assistant and why electrica

Phil Hawthorne joins Jim to explore Home Assistant Blueprints, area-based automations, ESPHome Bluetooth proxies, e-ink dashboards, AI integration and the Open Home Foundation.

T.J. Huddleston joins me to talk pollinator gardens, smart irrigation, a solar-powered shed, and using Hermes to build safer Home Assistant tools.

Christian Johnson joins Jim Collison for Home Gadget Geeks 684 to talk about passkeys, Bitwarden, Vaultwarden, managed container hosting through Maple Grove Partners and the guardrails needed when AI agents begin doing real operational work.

Jim revisits the LEPRO permanent outdoor lights after six months, then walks through two OpenClaw projects in depth: a DIY Home Assistant Storm Guard for EcoFlow and BLUETTI batteries — tested during a real severe-weather event — and an Amazon Affiliate M

Erin Lawrence joins HGG682 to compare Ring 4K cameras, robot mowers, coffee gear, travel cameras, smart lighting and review workflows.

Mike Wieger joins me for HGG681 — AI at work in a regulated M&A environment, OpenClaw and Hermes at home, new fiber internet, mountain e-bikes, and a real update on MeshCore and Meshtastic in the Omaha/Lincoln mesh community.

Jim Collison and Gavin Campbell compare OpenClaw, Hermes, Home Assistant agents, local LLMs, Docker isolation, and safe approval workflows for home-lab automation.

In this episode, we discuss the latest with my solar setup (EcoFlow battery, Eco-Worthy panels) and take a deep dive into local AI — exploring LLMs you can run at home, privacy implications, and pract

In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I spent some time diving into a few recent tech updates and sharing a bit of whats been going on with me. I started with a look at the Lutron PD-150UTB-BL smart

In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, Im joined by Christian Johnson. We start with a discussion about the new Apple AirPods Pro 3, which Ive purchased and am waiting to try once they arrive. From t

On this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Brian Friedlander to talk about how AI is changing the landscape of assistive technology. We covered everything from tools l

Jay Franze is back, and we talk about his new book, Stand Out or Fade Out. Jay considers upgrading his Mac Mini and shares updates on home projects and a new service dog for his daughter. Jim updates

Erin Lawrence joins me this week for a wide-ranging conversation on home, lawn, and automotive gadgets. We dig into the future of lawn care with the Segway Navimow robot lawn mower, discuss battery br

Gavin Campbell joins me this week for a deep dive into smart home automation, solar experimentation, and the latest in robotic lawn care. Jim shares updates and lessons learned from his Bluetti solar

I recently kicked off a solar power project at home to test the efficiency of two 100-watt, 18-volt bi-facial panels I picked up for $99 each during Prime week. The goal is to see how they perform in

Dave Hamilton joins me this week. After a quick Mac lightning round, Dave shares how he uses ChatGPT for long-form conversations while driving and discusses his Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15, which naviga

This week, I experiment with integrating AI into podcasting by introducing Microsofts Co-Pilot, Mick, as a co-host. I dive into the real-world challenges of blending AI with human conversation. Cover

Mike Wieger joins me to talk through the latest in home tech and personal gadgets. We cover his switch from Cox to MetroNet fiber and compare Omahas evolving internet options, including T-Mobile and

Kevin Schoonover is my guest this week as we look into the growing fix-it movement, exploring how repairing everyday itemslike lamps, sewing machines, and coffee makerscan save money and reduce wa

This week, I am joined by T.J. Huddleston, a home automation pro from HomeTech.fm. We discuss how smart home gear has become significantly more affordable and easier to use, especially compared to the

Doug Milburn, co-founder of 45 Drives, joins me as we talk about the evolving storage server industry. We discuss the shift towards efficient data management solutions for both enterprises and home la

Mark Robson joins me this week to explore the world of grilling and smoking food. We discuss the excitement of grilling season, advancements in pellet grill technology, and share our personal grilling

Gavin Campbell from HomeTech.fm joins me this week to explore the latest innovations in home technology. From robotic lawn care with the Segway Navimow to smarter energy management through electrical

Ed Sullivan is my guest this week. We discuss Eds new 2025 Cadillac Lyric EV, which he has driven 3,500 miles without major issues. Ed shares his experience with Paintless Dent Removal and a recall r

Erin Lawrence from Tech Gadgets Canada joined me this week to look at the latest tech trends, and not even stormy weather could slow us down. We started with highlighting the Ecovacs A2500 RTK with sa

Marv Bee joins me this week to talk tech, podcasting, and the wild world of the Florida Man Games. We kick things off with some seasonal banter, then dive into his take on electric vs. gas vehicles, h

Ed Sullivan joins me this week to talk about his move from Tesla to the Cadillac Lyriq. A long-time Tesla owner, Ed shares what prompted the switch, including service challenges and what ultimately dr

Gavin Campbell, co-host of HomeTech.fm joins me this week. We discuss how unpredictable weather affects tech and the importance of automation for preparedness. Gavin shares his latest upgrades, includ

Jeff Sieh joins me this week. This week we explore the impact of AI on content creation. Jeff and I share our experiences with AI tools like Descript and LM Studio, while we ponder ethical questions a

Jay Franze from joins me this week as we talk about the latest tech gadgets and trends in the automotive world. We discuss Jays podcast, which focused on behind-the-scenes stories from musicians and

Mike Wieger joins me this week. We explore tech gadgets and personal experiences together, starting with a light-hearted chat about Nebraskas cold weather. Mike shares updates on his board game devel

Christian Johnson joins me this week as we talk about several tech topics, starting with our unusual winter weather and community snow clearing efforts. We discuss his transformational experience with

Mike Wieger joins me this week as we talk about the latest in home technology, focusing on 3D printing and virtual reality (VR). We start with Mikes transition from printing random objects to creatin

Erin Lawrence from TechGadgetsCanada.com joins me this week as we discuss her review of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, focusing on their comfortable design and unique sound quality, although noting some

Jon Biggs joins me this week as we talk about enhancing daily life through tech gadgets and healthier living. He shares his experiences with MeshTastic, a local mesh networking technology, and his eff

Dave McCabe joins me this week as we talk about the fascinating realm of home tech gadgets, exploring his custom 3D-printed creations and the journey of running an Etsy store. We discuss the impact of

Christian Johnson joins me this week. After looking back at 14 years of Home Gadget Geeks, we focus on security and privacy concerns, particularly around using SMS and RCS messaging protocols. The FBI

Sammie joins me this week to reflect on her eventful year. We discuss her recent car accident and lessons learned from navigating the car-buying process, focusing on reliable options like Honda Civics

Just me this week! I explore the latest home tech gadgets while reflecting on my daughters recent car accident (she is okay) and our vehicle search to replace the 2006 Honda. I share my experience wi

Gavin Campbell joins me this week to discuss home automation, focusing on the Home Assistant platform. We explore seasonal impacts on automation, the importance of using entity IDs for easy device rep

Bob Buskirk and Ryan Kerschner from ThinkComputers.org join this week as we discuss the latest consumer technology. We review Intels new Core Ultra processors and their efficiency compared to AMD, wh

Mike Wieger is my guest this week! Mike shares his experience with MeshTastic, a mesh networking system, noting a significant increase in nodes in Omaha and their use for local communication. He also

Dan LeFebvre from the Based on a True Story podcast about the benefits of using teleprompters, specifically the Elgato model. Dan shares insights on technologys evolution in video production, the sig

This week, I share my journey in questioning my personal data management, spurred by an unexpected failure of my Morrow Data Box. This experience pushed me to prioritize valuable data and confront the

Marv Bee joined me this week as we discussed backup solutions, with Jim considering using a Synology box to access data on Backblaze B2. Marv recommends Synology for its performance and ease of use. W

Christian Johnson joins me this week as we talk about home technology trends, starting with seasonal changes and their effects on our gardens. We discuss AIs role in enhancing podcast show notes and

Jay Franze is my guest this week. We talk about smart home technology and the benefits of energy-efficient gadgets, particularly in air conditioning. We share personal experiences with DIY home wiring