Sorgatron Media Master Feed: AwesomeCast 793: Apple M6 Macs, Grogu & RC Racing

About this Episode

Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar are back for another round of geeky tech, gadgets, games, collectibles, and Pittsburgh happenings. The episode opens on a somber note with a tribute to Dolly Parton and the impact of her philanthropy, including her work supporting childhood literacy.

Then the crew gets into everything from simulated RC racing and Apple’s latest Macs to a life-size Grogu, Linux history, Pokémon fossils, GTA VI leaks, and gaming at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Topics discussed include:

Remembering Dolly Parton – The crew reflects on Parton’s passing, her charitable legacy, her support of literacy programs, and the positive impact she made far beyond entertainment.
RC racing meets full-size driving simulators – Sorg discovers first-person RC car racing setups that combine tiny vehicles, onboard cameras, and full simulator rigs. The conversation explores CloudRC, RC aircraft, and whether experiences like this could become the next arcade, mall, or Dave & Buster’s attraction.
Apple updates the Mac mini and Mac Studio – Dave breaks down Apple’s new Mac hardware, including the M6 chip, pricing, local AI performance, and the ability to combine machines over Thunderbolt 5. The crew discusses why local AI processing could become increasingly important for businesses dealing with cloud costs, privacy, and sensitive data.
Pokémon Fossils invade Chicago – Chachi reports from the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum, where fossils inspired by the games are compared with real paleontology. The exhibit even includes Pokémon GO bonuses and limited merchandise.
Dungeon Crawler Carl and 3D printing – Katie opens her mysterious box of 3D-printed creations from Chachi’s Plastic Fun Time shop, including Dungeon Crawler Carl characters, ornaments, magnets, Pokémon-inspired pieces, the infamous Rock Lobster, and more.
Linux turns 35 – Dave traces the unlikely chain of events connecting AT&T antitrust action, UNIX, GNU, Linus Torvalds, and the operating system that became one of the foundations of modern computing. There’s even a bonus discussion about Linux running on a Sega 32X.
Kingdom Hearts expands – Chachi’s Video Game Minute covers a 2027 release window for Kingdom Hearts 4 and a planned animated Kingdom Hearts series for Disney+.
Mattel builds its own game studio – Mattel is expanding its internal video game operation with hundreds of developers and new games based on properties including UNO and Hot Wheels.
GTA VI leaks and the digital ownership fight – The show looks at reported leaks of Grand Theft Auto VI material tied to protests over digital-only game distribution and the broader debate over whether players actually own their digital purchases.
Transformers comes to Minecraft – Sorg and Katie explore the Transformers content available through the Minecraft Marketplace, including G1-inspired characters, story-based gameplay, combat modes, and plenty of temptation for Transformers fans.
A nearly life-size Ultimate Grogu – Hasbro Pulse has a roughly 14.6-inch animatronic Grogu featuring movement, sounds, multiple interaction modes, cosplay-friendly settings, and a $599.99 price tag.
Nature Calls restroom finder launches – The crowdsourced restroom-finding app discussed on an earlier AwesomeCast is now available, helping users locate bathrooms, water fountains, porta-potties, and other facilities.
Gaming at Pittsburgh International Airport – Sorg checks out Gameway, a gaming lounge at Pittsburgh International Airport offering video games, snacks, drinks, and another option for travelers with time before a flight.
Disney characters meet NFL teams – Disney and the NFL have teamed up for team-specific character merchandise. The Pittsburgh Steelers get Pete, while other combinations include Captain America with the Patriots, Thor with the Vikings, Darth Vader with the Raiders, and more.