Home Gadget Geeks

Jay Franze joins me to talk about how AI is showing up in real songwriting workflows, not just as a toy, but as a tool people are actually using. We unpack how we built the new Home Gadget Geeks theme, what’s happening in Nashville studios, and whether AI makes music more creative or more predictable. Along the way, we hit crypto regret, bourbon country, and the bigger question: what happens when anyone can make a full song in minutes? Thanks for listening! Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Home Gadget Geeks #673 – AI, Songwriting & the Music Industry What is Home

Erin Lawrence from https://www.techgadgetscanada.com/ joins me this week to break down Ring’s new 4K doorbell, the real impact of AI in consumer tech after CES 2026, Amazon’s move into the Art TV market, and Alexa+ early access. We separate meaningful upgrades from marketing hype and talk through where smart home tech is actually headed. Thanks for listening! In Home Gadget Geeks 672, I’m joined by Erin Lawrence to unpack the biggest smart home trends emerging after CES 2026. While artificial intelligence dominated the headlines, our focus is on what’s actually improving products versus what may simply be driving up costs.

Andrew Morris returns to Home Gadget Geeks this week. We revisit the early days of HGG, catch up on his move from Melbourne to Brisbane, and dive deep into solar upgrades, NAS decisions, hardware pricing, Unifi networking, broadband realities, Garmin health tech, and the growing temptation of a Bambu Lab 3D printer. Thanks for listening! Andrew’s Early Contributions to Home Gadget Geeks We open with a throwback to the early HGG days — Friday recordings, weekend syncing, and Andrew’s reputation as the inventor of “world-class show notes.” We reflect on how the podcast team evolved over the years, including familiar

This week I am joined by TJ Huddleston for a wide-ranging conversation that blends real-world winter weather, practical home technology, and insights from CES 2026. From navigating a rare Level 3 snow emergency in Ohio to installing a solar-powered backyard shed using an EcoFlow battery, the discussion stays focused on what actually works. Along the way, Jim and TJ dig into smart irrigation, weather stations, automation strategies, and why CES continues to be more about people and perspective than breakthrough products. Thanks for listening! In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, Jim Collison is joined by TJ Huddleston for a

Marv Bee returns this week for a practical conversation about unified home networking and modern tech habits. The discussion provides a closer look at Ubiquiti’s UniFi ecosystem and why it’s becoming more approachable for home users, along with strategies for simplifying complex networks, utilizing VLANs to enhance security, and managing the constant pressure to upgrade. Along the way, the episode also explores smart home automation, Amazon shopping behaviors, and Marv’s ongoing gadget detox—offering a thoughtful balance between embracing new technology and keeping it under control. Thanks for listening! In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, the conversation explores the real-world

In this episode, I speak with Oscar Hedaya, founder of Space, about how smart safes are redefining home security through modern technology. We explore Oscar’s entrepreneurial journey and how his experiences led to rethinking a traditionally overlooked household product for today’s connected lifestyles. Our conversation highlights the innovative features of the Space smart safe, including a touchscreen interface, motion detection, app connectivity, and the PanicPin emergency alert system. Oscar explains why consumer expectations have shifted toward app-integrated devices and why usability must remain front and center, even as products become more advanced. We also discuss the realities of building and

Christian Johnson joins me this week to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the show while exploring today’s evolving tech landscape. They discuss AI hardware trends, rising consumer component costs, and NVIDIA’s latest enterprise advancements, along with a hands-on look at programmable outdoor LED lighting. We also look into cryptocurrency, comparing Ethereum and Bitcoin, before wrapping up with immersive tech and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Thanks for listening! In Episode 667 of Home Gadget Geeks, Jim Collison is joined by long-time friend and technologist Christian Johnson for a wide-ranging conversation that blends reflection, hands-on experience, and forward-looking analysis. The episode opens with

In this episode, I’m joined by Jay Franze, a seasoned music producer, to explore how AI is transforming music creation. Jay shares his experiment using AI as a virtual studio—producing songs that rival human-recorded tracks and often sound indistinguishable from traditional productions. We compare AI and studio recordings, discuss songwriting, ethics, and ownership, and explore how these tools can empower musicians and podcasters alike. The episode closes with a look toward future collaborations and the potential for AI-crafted theme music. Thanks for listening! In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I’m joined by Jay Franze, a music industry veteran with

Every year on Black Friday, Home Gadget Geeks pauses the tech talk just long enough to look at where life and technology intersect, and this year’s episode with Sammie Collison might be the most grounded one yet. From returning to college as a full-time library para to managing finances, mental bandwidth, and school in the age of cloud tools and tactile hobbies, Sammie gives us a real-world look at what it takes to navigate modern adulthood with limited time and limited money — and still find room for creativity, connection, and growth. Technology is in the mix, but seldom the

Dave McCabe joins me this week to reminisce about 17 years of podcasting, dive into smart home gadgets, and explore Dave’s woodworking journey with Warped Boards. From CNC upgrades and handcrafted cutting boards to candid talk on men’s health, this episode blends tech, creativity, and community. Thanks for listening! In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I sit down with my longtime friend and fellow podcaster Dave McCabe for a conversation that blends technology, woodworking, and community. We kick things off with some lighthearted stories about lawn care and the unpredictable Midwest weather before diving into our shared podcasting journey

I am joined this week by Erin Lawrence and Mike Wieger to explore tech innovations that enhance daily living. They review the Mydea One Touch Autofill Refrigerator, the Ecovacs WinBot W2 window-cleaning robot, and dive into golf simulator technology. The episode wraps with Black Friday deals, hard drive upgrades, battery backup solutions, and camping tech innovations—all with humor and practical insights for the average gadget enthusiast. Thanks for listening! I am joined by Erin Lawrence and Mike Wieger to explore the latest technological innovations and gadgets that can enhance our daily living experiences. Recorded on November 13th, 2025, we dive

In this week’s episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I’m joined by Kevin Schoonover for a packed discussion that jumps from health and fitness to EV trucks, from Windows 10’s sunset to ARM’s rise, and all the way down to the small stuff — batteries, smart home gear, and the realities of modern tech maintenance. Thanks for listening! Episode Summary We open the show by talking about the weather rolling into Omaha and catching up on the World Series, before Kevin dives into something a little different — his personal health journey. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few years ago,

Gavin Campbell joins this week and we covered winter weather, his strong early results with the Segway Navimow robot mower, the improved sound and smart-home functionality of the Echo Dot Max, and his Unraid 7.2 upgrade that boosted responsiveness. We discussed how we are using local AI for automation, troubleshooting, and coding, along with bigger questions around AI’s economics and infrastructure. We closed with notes on CES planning, upcoming guests, and a quick update on Sammy’s library-science studies, plus an invitation to keep the conversation going in our Discord. Thanks for listening! Episode Overview In this episode of Home Gadget

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 practical use cases. We also field live chat questions, talk about Ollama, LM Studio, voice cloning, and more. Thanks for listening! In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I share the latest updates from my ongoing solar power experiment — including new insights from my EcoFlow Delta 3 battery system and a fresh set of Eco-Worthy 100-watt solar panels mounted to the front porch. I break

In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I spent some time diving into a few recent tech updates and sharing a bit of what’s been going on with me. I started with a look at the Lutron PD-150UTB-BL smart outdoor plug — it’s built like a tank and performs great outdoors, but at $85, it’s hard to call it a good value. From there, I talked about Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3, which I recently picked up. The upgraded noise cancellation is noticeably better, and the new translation features are surprisingly effective for multilingual conversations. I also shared a few

In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I’m joined by Christian Johnson. We start with a discussion about the new Apple AirPods Pro 3, which I’ve purchased and am waiting to try once they arrive. From there, Christian shares updates on life as a new father and his progress toward earning a pilot’s license. The second half of the conversation focuses on cryptocurrency and blockchain, with Christian explaining his changing perspective on the space, especially the role of Ethereum and its connection to the growth of AI technologies. Thanks for listening! n this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I’m joined

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 like AOA, Brisk, and Magic School AI that support students in the classroom, to innovations in note-taking, E Ink devices, and even brain-computer interfaces. It was a fascinating conversation about where accessibility meets technology, and how sometimes the simplest solutions end up being the most powerful. Thanks for listening! In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brian Friedlander, an expert in assistive technology and

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 his solar setup, switching to an EcoFlow Delta 3, and they discuss solar power for camping, home use, and RVs, covering costs, efficiency, and practical uses. Thanks for listening! In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I reconnect with Jay Franze, an accomplished podcaster and author, to explore the intersection of technology and personal interests. Our conversation kicks off with a playful

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 brand ecosystems in power tools, and explore must-have car tech like portable jump starters and tire inflators. Erin shares her innovative smart blinds laundry room makeover, reviews fun kitchen gadgets like the Ninja Creami soft serve maker and slushy machines, and talks about her Mazda CX-50 Hybrid test drive. The duo also cover solar power considerations for RVs, portable power stations for off-grid camping, and what’s next

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 setup and how he’s trying to integrate it with Home Assistant for smarter energy use. Gavin brings insights on millimeter wave technology in light switches, POE-powered Zigbee/Z-Wave hubs, and the benefits of RTF grass and robotic mowers. The two also explore smart watering systems, the rise of LiDAR in lawn robotics, and cap things off with a candid chat on Sonos headphones and the ongoing power tool