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Episode 468 – Tech, Games & AI: What’s Real Anymore?

This week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd deliver another wide-ranging episode that blends practical tech advice, nostalgic gaming, and real-world perspective—without taking things too seriously.

The show opens with a discussion about content creation, audio gear, and accessibility, as the guys compare microphones, wireless lavs, and mixers while discussing captions, video platforms, and the ongoing challenges of cloud-based workflows. From there, listener questions drive the conversation into mobile video editing, USB formatting, and the never-ending debate over whether thumb drives are outdated—or still essential.

Shawn revisits classic titles through modern retro hardware, sparking a broader discussion about digital ownership, microtransactions, and why older games still feel more complete than many modern releases. Andy also highlights family-friendly, motion-based gaming designed to get kids moving—The Nex Playground which does a great job opening up a conversation about screen time, balance, and growing up in a tech-saturated world. 

The episode wraps with a ook at AI and perception, exploring how viral images, deepfakes, and powerful generative tools are changing the way we trust what we see online. Andy notes that is easy now to just say “It’s AI” as he was seeing in a video from over 5 years ago during the Military Coup in Myanmar. Andy and Shawn reflect on why skepticism can be healthy—but also why it’s important to slow down, verify, and remember that not everything is artificial.

Got a question for the show? Email techguys@techtalkradio.com, and catch more at techtalkradio.com.

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Episode 458 – “The Cloud Crashed: When the Net Goes Dark.”

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For this week on TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor and Shawn DeWeerd tackle the story that shook the web — the massive AWS outage that left millions wondering if their internet had vanished. The pair break down what really happened when Amazon’s U.S. East-1 region went down and how a simple DNS failure can ripple through nearly every service we use. From Coinbase and Reddit to Roku, Robinhood, and even smart-home devices, the hosts explain how so much of our digital life runs through the same narrow pipes — and why that can be a dangerous single point of failure.

With streaming services sputtering and smart devices silent, Andy and Shawn turn their attention to the unexpected hero of the week: physical media. They discuss why DVDs and Blu-rays are making a quiet comeback and share the tools that make it easy to preserve your collection — from MakeMKV for ripping discs to HandBrake for compressing files and Plex for organizing your own personal streaming library. It’s a reminder that having your favorite shows and movies on hand (and not in the cloud) can be both nostalgic and smart in 2025.

The episode also dives into practical Windows tips, including Microsoft’s WinGet — a built-in command-line updater that keeps your apps current with a single command. Shawn tests it live on air and finds nearly half of his software out of date. Andy also fields listener questions about Windows 11 S Mode, breaking down who it’s for, why most users eventually turn it off, and how Microsoft’s locked-down environment compares to the open flexibility we’re used to.

Screenshot of TV.Garden
Screenshot of Windows Package Manager WINGET
Screenshot of Explore.Org

Finally, the hosts spotlight two incredible websites that make technology feel fun again. TV.garden lets you spin a virtual globe and watch free, live television from countries all around the world — a discovery that had Shawn geeking out over obscure motorsport streams. And Explore.org offers a front-row seat to nature through hundreds of live animal cams, from Alaska’s famous Fat Bears to serene ocean sanctuaries. Whether the cloud is crashing or calm, Andy and Shawn remind us that tech should connect, entertain, and inspire — even when the net goes dark.

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New Show Posted Episode 302

EPISODE 302: Wading in the Water and Not Getting Wet

In this Weeks TechtalkRadio Show, its Andy Taylor and Justin Lemme on the show. Shawn is on the Road for a Getaway and the guys talk about doing road trips and the Technology that goes with it. Andy ask Justin if he uses the Apps for Trip Planning or Gas Cost when RoadTripping. The guys talk about the Ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline and what measures companies are taking in protecting their data. Justin and Andy talk about Phishing done to get information and why caution should be used in Social Media Questionnaires.

Justin has been trying out the Oculus Quest 2 and loves it. He tells us some of the fun experiences he has with it. One that he really likes is RealVR Fishing, super basic but a fun relaxing experience. Wear Glasses? Justin talks about how that works with the Oculus Quest 2.

Andy Taylor talks with Doug Little from Wacom about the recent introduction of the One by Wacom and how it fits so well into Education. Justin gives us the Website of the Week, https://www.ghin.com for Golfers that want to keep an eye on the Golf Handicap.

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Recent Show Posting A Nod to Nod32!

In this Weeks TechtalkRadio Show, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, Justin Lemme and Broadway and Amanda the crew is all together after Shawn being out for the previous weeks show. All the show members are now wearing glasses and Justin talks about protecting your eyes when in front of computer screens all day. Amanda shares the 20x20x20 rule of helping to reduce the strain on the eyes. Andy talks about how much he has become a fan of the Mandalorian, and Shawn shares the store of Boba Fett. Justin likes how Bill Burr has become a great part of the series. Andy also likes the Flight Attendant on HBO Max. A new product from Diamond Multimedia allows easy capture of VHS Video and converting them to a digital format.

Broadway talks about the recent news of a Major Tech Breach with more than 425 major companies infiltrated in what is now known as the SolarWinds breach. Justin tells us about the penetration test and tools from fire eye and how these reportedly were used as a part of the breach. With any Security breach, the talk about password management comes up and the crew talks about maintaining your own security. Justin talks about password managers such as LastPass, Shawn mentions OnePass. Justin tells us about the latest with his Xbox Series X and how fast he was able to get a replacement for a problem unit. Justin talks about how the glitches in Cyberpunk 2077 can be funny. Shawn tells us about the new World of Warcraft and the streamer Azmongold.

Andy talks with Tony Anscombe, Chief Security Evangelist at ESET. Tony tells us about the latest products from ESET for Personal and business protection. What is the difference between Malware and a Virus? Those in the Tech world have often recommended ESET NOD32 for a Variety of reasons, Tony tells us about some of those.

This Weeks Website of the Week is a site shared by our Veterans Justin and Broadway – Shopmyexchange.com can allow a service-connected veteran that has been disabled to order online from Military bases Exchange.

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Latest Radio Show! Episode 291 – It’s a Mandalorian Thing…You Wouldn’t Understand!

In this Weeks TechtalkRadio Show, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, Justin Lemme, Broadway and Amanda are all together on the show. We share news that Ryan of RyaStream should be coming back on the show soon to talk about Streaming, Video Games and Simulations and what he’s has been doing since he last appeared on the show. A Couple of Weeks ago, we got word that Broadway testing positive for Covid-19. He is recovering and visits the show to talk about what has happened since that diagnoses, how he discovered it and where he felt it could have been contracted. Shawn tells us about covering the Notre Dame vs Clemson game and how many people ran onto the field and now concerns that the number of people which took to the field on the win have alerted health officials. Amanda tells us about Distance Learning and some of the problems that can arise. Justin gives us a status update about his newly purchased TV and the best show he has watched on it. The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 1. Amanda tells us about AMSR and how calming the channel can be and how to find it. Justin talks about his FireTV device and how lately it seems to be failing.

The Crew pays respect to the passing of Alex Trebek and Andy shares word that Alex’s last project outside Jeopardy was an appearance in Free Guy, and upcoming movie starring Ryan Reynolds. Lots of talk about people checking out Parler. Shawn is still off Social Media and talks about how refreshing the step back has been.

The talk focuses on the Xbox and with the release this week, which one to chose from. A Walk down memory lane has everybody sharing the first console experiences. Andy talks about iOS 14.2 out now and how some have found the Secret Button, Back Tap. Justin shares a website, Nasa’s Interactive Fire Map. A map which shows any wildfires throughout the world.