Jim Collison and Gavin Campbell explore AI agents for Home Assistant, comparing OpenClaw and Hermes while covering local vs cloud LLMs, token economics, Mattermost, Docker, Unraid, and home-lab hardware requirements.

Jim Collison and Marv Bee discuss AI in managed services, including virtual agents, automation, memory across conversations and where human experience still matters. They also cover soundbar buying advice, RingConn health and sleep tracking, USB-C cable testers, surge protectors and practical power gear for everyday tech setups.

What happens when technology troubleshooting meets backyard cooking, meal planning, and a growing obsession with grills? This week, Mark Robson returns to Home Gadget Geeks for a relaxed conversation that blends home tech, networking stories, pellet grills, Blackstone cooking, pizza ovens, and the routines that make outdoor cooking such an addictive hobby. From fixing a broken cable that disrupted a mesh network to experimenting with dry brining, reverse searing, and maple syrup in savory dishes, this episode covers the overlap between gadgets, workflow, and food culture. If you enjoy cooking, grilling, home labs, or simply building better systems around hobbies,

What happens when AI stops being just a chatbot and starts to reason, plan, and actually do useful work? This week, Dewain Robinson joins me for a conversation on Copilot Studio, AI agents, reasoning models, vibe coding, and the future of software development. We go beyond the usual AI hype and into the practical side, how these tools are already changing workflows, helping with real tasks, and forcing all of us to rethink what productive work looks like. From Microsoft’s internal shift after ChatGPT to real-world examples like managing email, building demo data, handling calendars, and guiding software creation, this

What happens when a practical conversation about AI tools turns into a deeper discussion about autonomy, cybersecurity, local models, and the future of the internet? This week, Christian Johnson joins me to talk about OpenClaw, the rapid rise of open-source AI agents, and why this new generation of tools feels very different from traditional chat-based AI. From local LLMs and hardware choices to plugin trust, sandboxing, and the risks of giving agents access to real systems, this episode explores both the promise and the danger of the current AI moment. Thanks for listening! Audio Only 0.75x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 2x

Jim Collison and Gavin Campbell review OpenClaw, AI agents, home lab automation, security risks, Docker isolation, and safe ways to experiment.

Paul Braren from TinkerTry.com joins me this week to discuss energy-efficient home technology, including heat pumps, air sealing, and upgrading older homes for modern HVAC systems. They explore the real-world costs of improving home energy efficiency, the role of smart electrical panels and lithium-ion battery backups, and how modern monitoring tools help homeowners better understand their energy usage. The conversation also covers robotics, network upgrades, and the growing role of AI in everyday technology troubleshooting. Thanks for listening! Audio Only 0.75x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 2x 0:00 … Upgrading an Older Home: Heat Pumps, Air Sealing and Smart Energy with Paul

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! Audio Only 0.75x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 2x 0:00 … How AI Is Disrupting Songwriting and the Music Business

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