Technology
Hardware, software, networking, and development
#241: Your UPS as a Mini Power Plant
Transform your UPS into a mini-generator. Herman and Corn explore sustainable battery tech and the future of home energy resilience.
#238: Who Decides What You Can Record?
Ever wonder why your phone won’t let you record calls anymore? We dive into the legal and technical shift killing this essential feature.
#237: Beyond the 404: Building a Permanent Web with IPFS
Tired of 404 errors? Explore how IPFS and content addressing are solving the internet's link rot problem to preserve digital history.
#236: How ECC Fixes Your Data: From QR Codes to Cosmic Rays
Discover how the brilliant math of ECC allows damaged QR codes and distant space probes to transmit perfect data across noisy channels.
#235: Digital Fingerprints: The Secret Math Saving Your Data
Learn why those random strings of characters on download pages are the only thing keeping your files safe from corruption and hackers.
#234: Building a Data Bridge Underground
Learn how to bypass thick concrete walls and bring high-speed internet into deep shelters using portable mesh networks and Starlink technology.
#232: The Command Line Resurgence: Why the Terminal is Back
From punch cards to AI agents, discover why the command line remains the ultimate power tool for modern developers in an AI-driven world.
#231: When the Internet's Trust Model Betrays You
Explore how BGP hijacking allows governments to reroute the web, threatening privacy and exposing metadata despite encrypted apps like Signal.
#226: Why Your Label Maker Fails: The Physics of Sticky Paper
Stop using labels that fade in the sun. Herman and Corn explore thermal transfer printing, heat shrink tubes, and the best labelers for Linux users.
#225: The Death of the VPN: Moving Toward a Zero Trust Future
Is the classic corporate VPN a dying dinosaur? Explore why the "castle and moat" model is failing and how Zero Trust is taking over.
#224: Designing a Home Network for the Next Blackout
Keep your internet alive for 24 hours. Learn the math of UPS systems, the "inverter tax," and why fiber optics are a digital survival superpower.
#223: The Myth of Unblockable Tech
When the grid goes dark, how do you get the truth out? Explore the high-stakes world of BGP hijacking, satellite jamming, and mesh networks.
#222: Your Life for Sale: Navigating the Data Broker Economy
Discover how a $430 billion industry tracks your every move and learn the steps you can take to reclaim your digital privacy in 2026.
#221: Why Your GPU Can't Drive a Fifth Monitor
Hit the four-monitor wall? Herman and Corn explore how to drive massive display arrays using DisplayLink, daisy-chaining, and hidden GPU features.
#220: Beyond HTTPS: Securing Your Digital Shadow with Private DNS
Think HTTPS protects everything? Think again. Learn how Private DNS hides your browsing habits from ISPs and advertisers in this deep dive.
#216: From Silos to Swarms: Crowdsourcing Cyber Defense
Discover the hidden plumbing of the internet, from the global CVE catalog to how tools like CrowdSec create a digital neighborhood watch.
#215: Why Your Headphones Don't Play a Stranger's Music
Ever wonder why your headphones don't pick up a stranger's music at a busy airport? Herman and Corn dive into the magic of frequency hopping.
#214: When Encryption Meets the Ocean Floor
Think the internet is in the cloud? Think again. We explore the 1.4 million kilometers of undersea cables and the global race to protect—or tap—them.
#211: The Portable Fortress: Moving Your Network Like a Pro
Learn how to build a "portable digital fortress" using military tactics and roadie discipline to make your next move tech-stress-free.
#209: How States Kill the Internet and Satellites Bring It Back
How do regimes turn off the web? Herman and Corn explore BGP hijacking, sovereign networks, and the satellite tech fighting back.