Episodes

  • Oscar Hedaya with Smart Safes and Reinventing Home Security with Space – HGG668

    Oscar Hedaya with Smart Safes and Reinventing Home Security with Space – HGG668
    Jan 24 2026
    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
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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • Celebrating 15 Years of Home Gadget Geeks with LePro Outdoor Lighting, AI Hardware Shifts, and Crypto Signals – HGG667

    Celebrating 15 Years of Home Gadget Geeks with LePro Outdoor Lighting, AI Hardware Shifts, and Crypto Signals – HGG667
    Jan 17 2026
    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
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Jay Franze Talks Writing Songs with AI: Creativity Without Limits – HGG666

    Jay Franze Talks Writing Songs with AI: Creativity Without Limits – HGG666
    Dec 20 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 58 mins
  • Sammie Collison on Unpacking a Remarkable Year Through Grit, Growth, and Gratitude – HGG665

    Sammie Collison on Unpacking a Remarkable Year Through Grit, Growth, and Gratitude – HGG665
    Nov 29 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Warped Boards & Wired Homes, Catching up with Dave McCabe – HGG664

    Warped Boards & Wired Homes, Catching up with Dave McCabe – HGG664
    Nov 22 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Smart Fridges, Clean Windows and Virtual Fairways: Tech That Simplifies Life – HGG663

    Smart Fridges, Clean Windows and Virtual Fairways: Tech That Simplifies Life – HGG663
    Nov 15 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • The $20K Slate EV, Linux Mint, Recycle PCs and Smart Battery Upgrades with Kevin Schoonover – HGG662

    The $20K Slate EV, Linux Mint, Recycle PCs and Smart Battery Upgrades with Kevin Schoonover – HGG662
    Nov 8 2025
    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,
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Gavin Campbell with Smart Yard Automation, Unraid 7.2 Enhancements, and the Rise of Local AI – HGG661

    Gavin Campbell with Smart Yard Automation, Unraid 7.2 Enhancements, and the Rise of Local AI – HGG661
    Nov 1 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 9 mins