Sorgatron Media Master Feed - Episodes Tagged with “Geek Culture”

AwesomeCast 774: Artemis II Moon Mission, AI Chatbot Risks, Apple TikTok & LEGO Zelda

Sorgatron Media — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This week’s AwesomeCast brought together one of those classic mixes that makes the show so much fun: real tech questions, weird internet discoveries, nostalgic gaming talk, and a strong dose of Pittsburgh personality.

Sorg, Katie, and Dave Podnar kick things off with their Awesome Things of the Week, and the lineup is wonderfully varied. Dave looks ahead to Artemis II, the upcoming crewed moon mission that will send astronauts beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in decades. The conversation covers how the mission works, why the far side of the moon still creates communication challenges, and why “just rebuilding Apollo” is not nearly as simple as some people assume.

Katie’s pick is much closer to home, at least for Pittsburghers: Heinz Verified. The new site helps users find restaurants that serve Heinz ketchup, making it both practical and hilarious for anyone who has ever been personally offended by mystery catsup in a diner bottle. The crew immediately starts checking cities they’ll be traveling to and appreciates that users can nominate restaurants for inclusion.

Sorg’s pick highlights Chachi’s 3D-printing Etsy shop, Plastic Fun Time. From the now-famous bag of Fs to the Rock Lobster and other fun prints, it’s a cool look at somebody taking a maker hobby and turning it into a real side business. It also turns into a broader appreciation for creative small-scale production and clever product design.

The middle of the episode gets more serious with a discussion around a Stanford study on AI chatbot advice. Katie explains how researchers tested large language models against stories from the “Am I the Asshole?” subreddit and found that chatbots often validated problematic behavior more than humans did. That opens the door to a bigger conversation about AI agreeability, emotional dependency, digital literacy, and what it means when people begin treating chatbots like close confidants instead of tools.

The AI thread continues with What’s Up With That, a browser extension built to help readers analyze articles, pull out new signals, simplify jargon, and better connect ideas across sources. For anyone doing research-heavy work, the crew sees real promise in the concept.

On the creative side, Dave shares Adobe Illustrator’s Project Turntable, which can rotate 2D vector art in 3D space. That sparks a discussion about animation workflows, creative accessibility, and the kinds of production bottlenecks tools like this might reduce.

The episode also finds time for ChannelSurfer.tv, a retro-TV style interface for YouTube, plus a look at Apple’s TikTok presence, where the company seems to be leaning into a Finder-inspired mascot to help explain macOS features in a more playful way.

Dave also wraps up Women’s History Month by spotlighting several women who shaped space science, leading to a thoughtful discussion about visibility, representation, and why stories like these matter.

And then, in true AwesomeCast fashion, the crew ends up hyped about LEGO Zelda sets, including Ocarina of Time: The Final Battle and the Great Deku Tree, prompting nostalgia, sticker shock, and renewed debate over whether Sorg finally needs to properly play Ocarina of Time.

If you like your tech podcasts with equal parts curiosity, commentary, and chaos, this is a great episode.

Links from this episode
Chachi’s Etsy shop / Plastic Fun Time
https://www.etsy.com/shop/plasticfuntime/?etsrc=sdt
Heinz Verified
https://www.heinz.com/heinzverified
Artemis II launch article
https://www.wired.com/story/artemis-ii-countdown-how-and-when-to-watch-the-launch-of-the-manned-mission-to-the-moon/
Women who shaped our understanding of space
https://womenshistory.si.edu/blog/five-women-who-shaped-our-understanding-space
Channel Surfer
https://channelsurfer.tv/?ch=14
What’s Up With That
https://whatsupwiththat.app/practice/
Adobe Illustrator Project Turntable article
https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/30/adobe-illustrator-now-lets-you-rotate-2d-vectors-in-3d-space/
Apple on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@apple?_r=1&_t=ZP-959iBFWcaSN
LEGO Ocarina of Time: The Final Battle
https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/ocarina-of-time-the-final-battle-77093?cmp=PSO-FBIG-AMS-EN-RE-PO-LPV-LR_EXCLUSIVE_PRODUCT_LAUNCH-SHOP-HA-LkAd-PRS-Always_On-GAMINGZ_P&utm_campaign=120242713322920054&utm_content=120245958217060054&utm_id=120242713322920054&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_term=120242713322930054
LEGO Great Deku Tree 2-in-1
https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/great-deku-tree-2-in-1-77092

AwesomeCast 764: Animal Crossing 3.0 Changed Everything?! + Final Cut Updates, Premiere AI, and ChatGPT Health

Sorgatron Media — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

This week on AwesomeCast 764, cohosts Michael Sorg, Dave Podnar, and Katie Dudas dive into the week’s biggest tech and creator stories—plus a special Animal Crossing 3.0 update field report from Charlotte. Katie checks in with her Animal Crossing–obsessed niece Charlotte to break down what’s new, what’s addictive, and how “slumber islands” change the way you build and share your island adventures.

Then the crew hits a surprisingly heartfelt app story with “Are You Dead?”, a daily check-in safety app built for modern life when friends and family live far apart. We also get into the rise of cozy “chore games” like PowerWash Simulator and other satisfyingly organized gaming obsessions.

On the creator side, we break down Apple’s new Creator Studio approach—what it could mean for Final Cut, Logic, Motion, and Compressor—and why AI-assisted editing features are starting to matter for everyday workflows. Plus: OpenAI’s push toward age prediction and the complications that come with automated verification.

Show notes + links: (include the link list above)

Animal Crossing
• Animal Crossing video (Katie segment) (no URL listed in the sheet row; included as an on-show segment)

“Chore games” / cozy games
• A Game About Digging a Hole (Xbox): https://www.xbox.com/en-US/play/games/a-game-about-digging-a-hole/9NGLST31DG26
• A Game About Digging a Hole (Nintendo): https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/a-game-about-digging-a-hole-switch/
• PowerWash Simulator (Apple App Store): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/powerwash-simulator/id6477445344

“Are You Dead?” app
• BGR story: https://www.bgr.com/2074610/are-you-dead-top-paid-iphone-app-china/
• DeMumu app listing: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/demumu/id6745099872

ChachiSays Video Game Minute items (from the sheet)
• David Rosen / Sega co-founder (Tom’s Hardware): https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/sega-co-founder-david-r…d-former-us-airman-set-up-sega-after-his-service-ended-in-japan
• Assassin’s Creed Netflix casting (Deadline): https://deadline.com/2026/01/assassins-creed-tanzyn-crawford-cast-netflix-series-1236658813/
• John Wick universe AAA game (Tech4Gamers): https://tech4gamers.com/aaa-john-wick-game-development/

AI / OpenAI / Sora
• Mattel on Sora profile: https://sora.chatgpt.com/profile/mattel
• OpenAI age prediction (Engadget): https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-is-launching-age-prediction-for-chatgpt-accounts-222650340.html
• ChatGPT Health page: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health/

Creator tools
• Apple Creator Studio (Apple Newsroom): https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/01/introducing-apple-creator-studio-an-inspiring-collection-of-creative-apps/
• Adobe Premiere AI updates (Engadget): https://www.engadget.com/ai/adobe-unveils-new-ai-powered-vide…vlq1gStDzB9i-clNMdAMo4O0o4ro8ohtbVXETV41pRXvEFAQZh6nDH-1vO91dYLO

AwesomeCast 695: Put Your Mouth on It

Sorgatron Media — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 03:00:00 -0400

This week’s episode brought to you by Slice on Broadway, and Sidekick Media Services and listeners like you at www.patreon.com/awesomecastIn this episode of Awesome Cast, hosts Michael Sorg, Missy Sorg, Dave Podnar, and Katie Dudas dive into the latest geeky topics, tech gadgets, and Pittsburgh events. Join us as we explore the most exciting stories of the week, including:

Picklesburg Recap:

• Katie Dudas shares her experience at Picklesburg, featuring pickle drinking contests and the fun with the Jagoff crew.

• Highlights include a 32-ounce pickle juice drinking contest and various pickle-related activities.

Lumen Metabolism Tracker:

• Missy Sorg introduces Lumen, a device that helps track metabolism by analyzing breath. She discusses her experience with the device over the past five days, how it helps her understand her body’s fat-burning process, and how it integrates with other health apps.

• Link: https://www.lumen.me/ 

• Guide: AI Tutorial Tool:

• Dave Podnar talks about Guide, a browser-based tool that creates step-by-step tutorials with AI-generated captions and voiceovers. He explains how it simplifies the process of creating instructional content.

• Link: https://app.guidde.com/

Mac Whisper: AI Transcription Tool:

• Michael Sorg reviews Mac Whisper, a transcription app for Mac users. He discusses its functionality, the local processing of audio files, and how it aids in creating accurate transcriptions for podcasts and other content.

• Link: https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper

Brother Label Maker:

• Katie Dudas shares her love for the Brother label maker, highlighting its utility in organizing tech gear and adding a bit of fun to everyday tasks.

• Link: https://www.amazon.com/Brother-P-Touch-PTD220-Label-Maker/dp/B07XV76BQV

Olympic Coverage Innovations:

• Discussion on NBC’s coverage of the upcoming Olympics, including live streaming on Peacock and unique commentary from Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson. Also, learn about AI-generated recaps featuring Al Michaels.

• Links:

• Olympics on Peacock https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/2024-paris-olympics

• Kevin Hart commentary https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/olympic-highlights-with-kevin-hart-and-kenan-thompson/9144924783355040112

• Snoop will carry the torch https://www.wave3.com/2024/07/23/snoop-dogg-will-carry-olympic-torch-paris/

Goblin Tools for Task Management:

• Introduction to Goblin Tools, a set of AI-powered tools that help break down tasks, judge email tones, and formalize messages. Learn how these tools can assist with managing tasks and improving productivity.

• Link: https://goblin.tools/

The Planets Today:

• A quick look at The Planets Today website, a tool for space enthusiasts to visualize the current positions of planets in the solar system.

• Link: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/

Tune in for a fun and informative episode filled with geeky insights and practical tech tips!

Subscribe to the Podcast: awesomecast.com

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Special Thanks to kidmental for the new AwesomeCast Sounds! Visit him at www.kidmental.com

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Wrestling Mayhem Show 918: Around the World with "Technical Assassin" Brandon Lee

Sorgatron Media — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0400

This week’s episode brought to you by Indy Wrestling US, Slice on Broadway, Sidekick Media Services and listeners like you at www.Patreon.com/WrestlingMayhemShow

In this episode of the Wrestling Mayhem Show, we dive into a plethora of professional wrestling topics with our guest, the “Technical Assassin” Brandon Lee. Tune in for an international flavor as we explore the world of wrestling from both sides of the Atlantic. Here’s what you can expect:

News Stories and Topics:

• Introduction and Crew Update:

• Host Mike Sorgat (@Sorgatron) welcomes the regular crew back after a chaotic week, with The Rizz from RizzPlayzGames and Dave Potter from the iPhoneography podcast and Awesome Cast joining the conversation.

• Discussion on how both Rizz and Sorg ended up wearing matching Chocomania shirts, leading to a humorous start.

Guest Introduction:

• Welcoming Brandon Lee, also known as the “Technical Assassin,” who has wrestled for NWA Exodus Pro, Renegade Wrestling Alliance, and Rise Wrestling. He joins to share insights into British wrestling and his experiences in Cleveland.

Dominic Mysterio Angle:

• Analysis of the ongoing Dominic Mysterio storyline, comparing it to the Eddie Guerrero and Chyna angle. Mention of Jey Uso’s humorous involvement, asking Rhea Ripley to Waffle House.

Carlito and Judgment Day:

• Discussion on Carlito’s mysterious involvement with the Judgment Day and his ambiguous status within the group. Comments on Carlito’s AJ Styles-like shirt design.

Wyatt Six and Rowan’s Video:

• Conversation about the Wyatt Six storyline, Rowan’s heartfelt promo discussing the impact of Brodie Lee and Bray Wyatt’s deaths, and the emotional weight it adds to the narrative.

Creed Brothers Teaming with Chad Gable:

• Excitement over the Creed Brothers teaming with Chad Gable, dressed in suits, and the potential for this new alliance.

AEW and Upcoming Events:

• Preview of AEW Dynamite 250, featuring a champion vs. champion match between MJF and Swerve Strickland. Speculation on the outcomes and implications for AEW’s future.

• Brief mention of the finals of the Owen Hart Tournament and how it impacts current storylines.

Ring of Honor and TV Deal Speculations:

• Discussion on Ring of Honor getting dedicated TV taping time and the potential changes in their presentation and reach.

• Broader conversation on AEW’s television deal and its significance in the wrestling industry.

IndyWrestling.us and Upcoming Shows:

• Promotions for upcoming events, including RWA’s show featuring Crazy Steve and the new content on IndyWrestling.us.

What We Learned Segment:

• Host Reflections:

• Sorg reflects on how the Monday night wrestling show with Combat One in Detroit exceeded expectations, highlighting Valenje of ICP’s involvement and the unique venue of a roller rink.

• Discussion on how this promotion is raising the bar for family-friendly wrestling in Detroit.

Conclusion:

• Upcoming Matches and Events:

• Brandon Lee discusses his upcoming matches and bookings in the UK, including the exciting news about the reboot of World of Sport Wrestling in September.

• Hype for the upcoming Exodus Pro show, featuring a 10-man tag match with EC3 and Carson Drake’s teams.

Check out the Indy Wrestling US Network at www.indywrestling.network. For a short time, get a 7-day FREE trial to access a growing collection of content.

**A special shout out to our Manager Level Patreon supporter Bradley Ruthers (@HeelBradley)

AwesomeCast 666: A Reminder Your Phone Is Going To Die

Sorgatron Media — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:00:00 -0500

This week’s episode brought to you by Slice on Broadway, and Sidekick Media Services and listeners like you at www.patreon.com/awesomecast

Dudders was busy “defending” her 2PW Kicking Cancer’s Ass Championship this weekend!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdP0bpNZQF0

Video games: New games announced at The Game Awards like Baldur's Gate 3 winning Game of the Year; updates on games like Sonic Frontiers and Devil May Cry

Sega is bringing back classics like Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Streets of Rage and Golden Axe remakes! https://kotaku.com/sega-new-trailers-game-awards-crazy-taxis-jet-set-radio-1851082994

Gaming tech: Using Steam Link to play PC games on TVs/devices around your house; using Xbox Remote Play app to play Xbox on Android TVshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/353380/Steam_Link/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grill.xbxplay

The end of annual gaming event E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo). But nothing can kill the Adult Entertainment Expohttps://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/video-games/2023/12/12/e3-permanently-canceled/

Raspberry Pi accessories and projects from Vilros websitewww.vilros.com