This week on TechtalkRadio, the crew takes listeners on a fun and surprisingly personal ride through travel tech, aviation apps, retro family discoveries, AI photo restoration, streaming frustrations, and even a little Bubble Pop obsession. Andy Taylor, Shawn DeWeerd, and Justin Lemmy kick things off by talking about Justin’s upcoming trip to Japan and the tech challenges that come with international travel — from voltage differences and outlet adapters to keeping devices charged during a 12-hour flight. The conversation also dives into airline Wi-Fi, Steam Deck gaming on long flights, and useful travel tools like FlightAware and ADS-B Exchange for aviation fans

The show then shifts into the world of live production as Shawn shares stories from producing and directing a massive international chamber music competition livestream, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to manage cameras, streaming systems, and production crews during an 11-hour broadcast event.

Andy also shares a fascinating genealogy rabbit hole after discovering long-lost family history connected to Burma and India through online archives and vintage photographs. The discussion naturally expands into preserving family memories, with the team debating whether AI-powered photo restoration tools are a great way to preserve history or if traditional untouched photos should remain as they are.

Listeners also get a lively conversation about movie search frustrations, the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,” whether it’s finally time to cut the cord from cable television, and why streaming services are starting to feel just as expensive as traditional TV. The crew also touches on the rise of FAST TV, subscription fatigue, and the growing number of ads appearing even on paid streaming platforms

To wrap things up, Andy shares some surprising Walmart tech bargains on gaming PC hardware, Shawn discusses a major cyberattack impacting schools using the Canvas learning platform during finals week, and Justin previews the gadgets and camera gear he’ll be bringing along to Japan. As always, the episode blends humor, tech news, personal stories, and gadget talk into another entertaining edition of TechtalkRadio.