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Episode 446 – The Good Old Floppy!

This Week on TechtalkRadio:

Justin, Shawn, and Andy tackle the buzz around Epic Games’ $126 million Fortnite refund settlement as listed in this link for the FTC for unauthorized in-game purchases and account locks. The conversation dives into the psychology of microtransactions, with Justin sharing personal experiences from PGA Tour 2K25 and Clash of Clans, and Andy reflecting on mobile games that he plays like Toon Blast which also has come under scrutiny. Shawn breaks down jaw-dropping revenue numbers for these games, highlighting the lucrative—and addictive—nature of in-game purchases.

The discussion pivots to the shifting landscape of operating systems, as the crew critiques Microsoft’s pushy tactics with Edge, Bing, and Copilot, and sings the praises of Linux Mint as a cleaner, ad-free alternative. They explore how Linux is becoming a go-to OS for users tired of bloat and complexity, with helpful resources like Alternativeto easing the transition.

From BIOS repair using a CH341A programmer to Reddit-sourced tech fixes, the show is packed with DIY insights. Justin tells us about and swears by Driver Easy for driver updates which has Shawn signing up during the show for a special deal.  We are also reminded on one of Matts favorites, NiNite while Shawn also suggests regular reformatting every couple of years to keep machines healthy.

The Yellow Mark Shows Where Shawn Clamped to Fix the Bios

Listener questions lead to a conversation about USB drives—form factors, brand reliability, and best practices for storage and backups, including the 3-2-1 strategy. Plus, Shawn shares his ham radio experience connecting with the International Space Station and recommends the Next Spaceflight app, just as NASA gears up to stream live on Netflix.

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Episode 445 – A.I. in Your Toys? Good or Bad Idea?

Rated M for Mayhem: The True Story Behind Postal!

For this Week’s TechtalkRadio Show  – Andy, Shawn, Justin, and Matt welcome documentary filmmakers Tad Sallee and Jason Sikorsky, the creative minds behind “Going Postal: The Legacy Foretold”. This five-year passion project chronicles the rise, controversy, and legal battles of Mike J. and Vince Desi, the duo behind the infamous Postal video game series.

The filmmakers—who first met handing out Clinique samples at the University of Arizona—in  Tucson initially set out to make a short YouTube series, but the story of the Journey of Running With Scissors and Postal pulled them into a 5 years-long journey involving crowdfunded production, learning of the legal drama, and the fight for free speech in gaming. The guys discuss the cameras used to put it together ranging from Canon C100s to Red and Sony A73s, which delivered a mountain of 24TB in footage, the project evolved dramatically—especially when they migrated from Adobe Creative Suite to DaVinci Resolve for post-production to have it needed to be rebuilt. 

Over the years, Andy Taylor was able to guest Vince and Mike in the Studios while doing Morning Radio at KLPX and TechtalkRadio when it was on KTKT. TechtalkRadio also broadcast live via Ustream from the Screening of the Postal Movie which is also discussed in the Documentary.

The team dives into the technical challenges of editing a documentary full of archival footage and interviews—including chats with friends in the Radio World that provided the various voices of The Postal Dude like Rick Hunter, Corey Cruise, and Jon St. John. The film premiered to a sold-out crowd at the 2025 Phoenix Film Festival, even sharing a time slot with Platoon. Talk about epic timing!

Tad also shares insights into his production company Playtest Network, dedicated to video game specials and documentaries. With Postal done, new ideas flew fast: Justin pitched a future film on Project Zomboid, and Andy floated the idea of a History Channel-style series on video game history in America similar to The Food That Made America. 

The crew also caught up on gaming news and memories:

🎮 Justin is hunting down a Nintendo Switch 2 (but why?!)

🎮 Shawn breaks news about Mattel teaming up with OpenAI for AI-powered toys—which could be a bad idea and whether we’re raising the next-gen or dumbing them down.

🎮 Favorite Games are discussed and Matt gets nostalgic with Final Fantasy VIII and Legend of Dragoon, Justin shouts out GoldenEye and Sea of Thieves, Shawn reps Diablo II, and Andy remembers the pure joy of Intellivision Baseball with his late son .

This episode is packed with game history, tech challenges, AI toys, and some heartfelt moments that went beyond the Games.

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Available on Audacy, iHeart, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google, Spotify and Spreaker!

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Are Your Old Gadgets a Fire Risk? And a Look at a New Device!

In this week’s in-studio segment for News 13 KMSB Fox 11, we kicked things off by talking about something many of us are guilty of — hoarding old tech. Whether it’s that trusty old iPhone, a forgotten Android tablet, or an action cam that’s seen better days, these devices often end up tossed into a kitchen or garage drawer. We forget about them, but what we don’t realize is that they still pose a risk.

Most of these devices contain lithium-ion batteries. Even when not in use, these batteries can degrade over time, swell, and — in rare cases — catch fire or even explode. It’s not just about clutter anymore — it’s a safety issue. The takeaway? Check your drawers, safely recycle unused electronics, and always dispose of batteries properly.

Enter the Mudita Kompakt — A Phone That Helps You Disconnect

In a world filled with super-powered smartphones from Samsung, Apple, Google, and others, it’s rare to find a device that goes in the opposite direction — simplifying the experience for the sake of wellness and mental clarity. That’s exactly what the Mudita Kompakt sets out to do.

Designed with mindfulness in mind, the Mudita Kompakt features a 4.3” E-Ink screen that’s easy on the eyes and helps reduce screen fatigue. It doesn’t connect to the usual app stores, which means no doom-scrolling social media apps, addictive games, or push notification overload. Instead, this phone is built to calm, not to distract.

Key features include:

  • Offline Mode – Disables WiFi, Bluetooth, and the camera for complete focus and privacy
  • Extended Battery Life – Up to 6 days on standby
  • Dual SIM + eSIM + microSD – Great for flexibility and travel
  • Fingerprint Sensor – Quick and secure access
  • Minimalist OS – Streamlined, distraction-free experience
  • Wireless + USB-C Charging – Modern convenience without the clutter
  • Onboard Apps – Includes tools for meditation, SMS messaging, offline maps, notes, and music playback (with 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth)

The phone’s clean, compact design and security-first software make it a solid pick as a secondary phone, a travel device, or even a full-time alternative for users looking to reclaim their time and attention.

At under $450, with optional add-ons like a screen protector and phone case, the Mudita Kompakt is priced competitively while offering something truly different in the mobile device market.

Learn More

For more details or to order, visit: https://www.mudita.com

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio

Episode 444 – Look! That Stick Came Back!

We had some great fun on this Show and decided to share this Episode since we are in the Season Again! In Case You Missed it, here is what we covered!

This Week on TechtalkRadio: Pixels, Plex, and the Perils of Camp Wi-Fi

On this episode of TechtalkRadio, Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, Matt Jones, and S!ick take a tech-fueled trip into the wild—literally and digitally. From RV-ready Raspberry Pis to AI that’s maybe a little too smart, it’s a gadget-packed adventure you won’t want to miss.

🎒 Shawn’s Camping Tech Survival Kit
Shawn, the Bear Grylls of bandwidth, breaks down his must-have gear for camping: DSLR cameras (because phone pics are so mainstream), a solar charger, a power inverter, and a custom Plex server running on a Raspberry Pi—because heaven forbid you’re without Star Trek: Voyager in the forest.

S!ick asked the obvious: why shoot on film when AI can fake it just fine? This launched a debate on AI vs. human creativity—Shawn’s worried it’ll steal art’s soul, while Andy’s ready to let the robots handle his taxes and emotional baggage.

🤖 AI Adventures & The Dead Internet Conspiracy
Matt shared how he’s using ChatGPT to write job cover letters that don’t sound like a robot—ironically. Shawn’s using it to spice up his Dungeons & Dragons campaigns (roll for initiative and grammar).
Andy introduced Google’s Notebook LM, an AI tool that summarizes notes faster than you can say “attention span.” But things got weird when the AI voice kicked in—cue Matt, warning us all about the uncanny valley, where robots sound almost human… but not quite. That led to the Dead Internet Theory, which says most online content is now written by bots. So if this summary feels oddly robotic… blame the Matrix.

🖥️ Gadget of the Week: Mon Duo
Matt unveiled the Mon Duo—a triple-monitor extension for MacBooks. It folds out like a transformer, shines at 500 nits, and refreshes at 144Hz, perfect for folks who need three spreadsheets open just to order lunch. At $750, it’s not cheap—but neither is neck strain from leaning too far left.

📱 Pixel Panic & iMessage Mayhem
Andy finally did it. He left his beloved iPhone for the Google Pixel 9 XL Pro. The AI assistant Gemini wowed him, and the call screener was a dream—until he realized his text messages were lost in the digital void. (Pro tip: turn off iMessage before switching or risk entering SMS purgatory.)

📡 Listener Questions & Hotspot Hangups
Listener Kerry asked about unlimited hotspot connections. Spoiler: “unlimited” is a marketing word, not a magical reality. After a certain point, your speed drops to potato quality.

S!ick chimed in with his streaming wisdom, and the team chatted about ditching cable for cheaper fiber services like Ting or Wyyerd—because who doesn’t want to pay less to buffer more?

🎬 Ending with LOST & Laughs
Finally, the team got nostalgic about LOST being back on Netflix and the Documentary Getting Lost on Rental or Purchase at Amazon. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth the re-watch—yes but maybe keep a whiteboard handy to track the timelines. Season 3, one of Andy’s Favorites!

Tune in for the show with personality, perspective, and just the right amount of pixel-powered sarcasm.

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio

News13 Segment – Gaming and Grooming: What Parents Need to Know Now

In this week’s Talking Tech segment, we explored a growing concern that many parents may not even realize exists — the hidden dangers lurking in the chat features of popular online games.

To help shed light on this issue, we spoke with Tom Arnold, a former law enforcement officer and cyber education instructor, who recently authored a new book titled Digital Detective. Aimed at kids ages 9 and up, the book follows two young sleuths as they learn how to navigate the digital world safely. But this isn’t just a fictional adventure — it’s a much-needed conversation starter for families about online predators, scams, and the often-overlooked loopholes in today’s tech.

“Giving a child a smartphone or tablet while we’re distracted is like letting them play alone at a park with strangers,” Tom warns. “We wouldn’t do that in the real world — so why do we do it online?”

Arnold wrote Digital Detective after years of seeing just how vulnerable kids can be online, especially through in-game messaging systems. These systems are often lightly moderated — if at all — and can serve as entry points for individuals with malicious intent. While parental controls and device monitoring can go a long way, they’re not foolproof. According to Tom, the first line of defense is open and ongoing conversation.

During the segment, I shared a recent personal experience that reinforces this point. While testing out a seemingly innocent mobile game, I received an unsolicited message urging me to “continue the conversation” on a different social media platform — a classic tactic used by online predators to isolate and exploit potential victims. If it can happen to an adult, it can certainly happen to a child.

Tom’s advice? Make digital safety a part of regular parenting conversations. Teach children to recognize red flags, understand the risks, and feel safe coming to you if something doesn’t seem right. Digital Detective is a great tool to start that journey.

You can find the book now on Amazon and AppleBooks, and the full interview with Tom Arnold is available on our main website TechtalkRadio.com.

Top Tips for Parents

  • Monitor the games your kids are playing — especially those with chat features.
  • Talk early and often about online safety.
  • Encourage kids to report suspicious behavior or messages.
  • Use parental control tools — but don’t rely on them alone.
  • Remind kids: never share personal info or photos with strangers online.

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