TechtalkRadio

TechtalkRadio

TechtalkRadio is your go-to radio show and podcast for everything computers, technology, and the internet! Hosted by Andy Taylor, Justin Lemme, and Shawn DeWeerd, with contributions from Matt Jones, Slick, Amanda and Broadway, the show has been delivering tech insights and laughs since 1996, originally broadcasting from Palm Springs, California before moving to Tucson, Az.  Each episode of the Radio Show dives into new tech, classic gadgets, and everything cool in between—from websites and smart home tools to mobile devices, health tech, video games, entertainment and even drones. Whether you're a seasoned tech pro or just curious about the latest trends, TechtalkRadio makes technology fun, friendly, and easy to understand.

  1. 11h ago

    Foldable Phones, Digital Hoarders & Rock ’n’ Roll | EP 489

    This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd dig into Apple’s newly announced iPhone Duo, the foldable phone that has Andy intrigued while Shawn remains firmly in the “not for me” camp. They talk about the Duo’s dual displays, multitasking, cameras and fingerprint authentication, along with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, iOS updates and the impressive performance gains Apple Silicon continues to bring to demanding tasks like video editing. Then the confessions begin as Andy and Shawn discover they’re both digital hoarders. From hundreds of thousands of saved messages and overflowing iCloud storage to stacks of backup drives filled with years of files, photos and duplicates, they ask the question many of us avoid: how much digital stuff do we really need to keep? The conversation also includes an important smartphone privacy warning, Shawn’s recap of BlizzCon, World of Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft, plus AI guardrails and just how dependent everyday life has become on the Internet and cloud-based services. Then Andy welcomes Jeff Scott Soto of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Jeff shares how he became part of TSO following his time with Journey, his early reaction to the unusual combination of classical music, Christmas and hard rock, and how founder Paul O’Neill’s vision turned that idea into a worldwide phenomenon. Jeff also talks about the technology behind TSO’s massive live productions, the multi-generational audience, the band’s charitable efforts and carrying Paul O’Neill’s vision forward. It’s foldable phones, overflowing hard drives, gaming, AI and plenty of rock ’n’ roll on this week’s TechtalkRadio!

    Foldable Phones, Digital Hoarders & Rock ’n’ Roll | EP 489
  2. 6d ago

    From Monster Vision to AI Monsters and THE Game Coming Soon | EP 488

    This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd go from the great outdoors to the increasingly strange world of artificial intelligence. Andy starts with the Monster Vision 2, a portable entertainment system with a 15-inch Full HD screen, built-in battery, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB playback, FM radio and more. Could it be useful for camping, backyard entertainment or even emergency preparedness? The conversation then turns to Smart TV privacy as Andy and Shawn discuss concerns over the information connected televisions may collect and what that means for consumers. Andy also rediscovers Tubi and the appeal of free, ad-supported streaming, while a much darker AI topic comes up with an upcoming true-crime production using digital technology to recreate the likeness of Aileen Wuornos. Is that an impressive use of AI, or has the entertainment industry crossed a line? Listener Martin from Sahuarita asks whether switching from traditional cable to YouTube TV could save money while still providing DVR features, local channels and good picture quality. Security cameras are also on the agenda as Andy considers replacing one of his Google Nest cameras, leading to a discussion about Wyze cameras and an important safety recall involving a solar-powered model. Listener Lauren from Tucson asks whether Windows 11 is really taking snapshots of what users are doing, bringing Microsoft Recall and Copilot+ PC privacy concerns into the conversation. Plus, Andy highlights some creative social-media creators, and Shawn shares his latest project using Suno to create World of Warcraft parody songs under his DeWirdy name. From portable TVs and streaming to privacy, AI, Windows 11 and Warcraft songs, it’s another wide-ranging edition of TechtalkRadio with Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd.

    From Monster Vision to AI Monsters and THE Game Coming Soon | EP 488
  3. Aug 20

    Fake Ads, Instant Photos and Dust Bunnies! | EP 487

    This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Justin Lemme and Shawn DeWeerd dive into a little bit of everything—from artificial intelligence to old-school photography and some seriously dusty technology! The guys discuss the explosion of AI-generated commercials, music and images and how difficult it’s becoming to tell what was created by a person and what came from AI. Andy shares how he used Suno to turn original lyrics into a personalized birthday song, while Shawn explains why spending time creating AI music has made him much better at recognizing it. Justin talks about using Grok inside his Tesla, including an amusing encounter where AI becomes a fact-checker in the car. The conversation expands to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot and why choosing the right AI tool depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Then it’s back to photography as the crew discusses restoring old family pictures, the charm—and imperfections—of vintage Polaroids, and the new Pokémon-themed Polaroid collaboration. A listener question launches a discussion about mesh networking, Wi-Fi 7 and multi-gig Internet, along with privacy concerns surrounding connected devices and targeted advertising. Justin also shares his experience with a hand-crank emergency weather radio, while Shawn gets into GMRS, FRS and radio repeaters. And where do the Dust Bunnies come in? Andy cleans up a system while revealing just how much dust can accumulate inside technology!

    Fake Ads, Instant Photos and Dust Bunnies! | EP 487
4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

TechtalkRadio is your go-to radio show and podcast for everything computers, technology, and the internet! Hosted by Andy Taylor, Justin Lemme, and Shawn DeWeerd, with contributions from Matt Jones, Slick, Amanda and Broadway, the show has been delivering tech insights and laughs since 1996, originally broadcasting from Palm Springs, California before moving to Tucson, Az.  Each episode of the Radio Show dives into new tech, classic gadgets, and everything cool in between—from websites and smart home tools to mobile devices, health tech, video games, entertainment and even drones. Whether you're a seasoned tech pro or just curious about the latest trends, TechtalkRadio makes technology fun, friendly, and easy to understand.