TEC310: Google’s search dominance and AI summaries are burying independent voices and pushing clickbait over real expertise. Dom Bettinelli and Joanne Mercier ask: Is the open web dying, and what can we do to save it?





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Links for this episode:




* How Google is killing independent sites like ours – HouseFresh



* HouseFresh disappeared from Google Search results. Now what?



* How independent websites are dealing with the end of Google traffic | The Verge



* Testing Kagi, a premium search engine for a broken internet



* Google’s AI pointed him to a customer service number. It was a scam.



* Windows power users frustrated as Microsoft forces automatic app updates





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Picks of the Week:




* Joanne: Apple Mac mini M4



* Dom: Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)




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Disclaimer: Hosts, panelists, and guests may have a financial interest in the companies discussed through investments or other means. Their opinions and recommendations are not affected and do not present a conflict of interest. We offer this statement in the interest of full disclosure.

TEC309: From apps that outpace airline updates to gadgets that save your sanity, Dom Bettinelli and Fr. Joseph Sund review the tech that worked—and failed—on a 12-day Italy trip, plus debates on AI recreating the dead and killing virtual job interviews.





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Links for this episode:




* TEC305: The Ultimate Travel Tech Guide: Apps, Power, and Security for Stress-Free Trips



* Flighty



* Rome Pilgrim



* Weather on the Way



* Flightaware



* Planefinder



* MyTSA



* Citymapper



* Lyft



* DayOne



* Pedometer++



* Plugbug with FindMy Universal



* Ceptics Travel Power Strip



* Ceptics Italy, Europe Travel Adapter Plug Set – 2 Pack



* JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan



* Gewanolla Portable Waist Fan



* Holafly



* AOL is finally shutting down dial-up | The Verge



* Dead need right to delete their data against AI, lawyer says • The Register



* TEC118: Tech Memento Mori



* Parents of Parkland shooting victim use AI to “bring him back”



* Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro



* AI Is Forcing the Return of the In-Person Job Interview





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TEC308: What’s the best way to make coffee? From Italian moka pots to $600 espresso machines, Dom Bettinelli, Thomas Sanjurjo & Victor Lams debate coffee tech. Does better gear mean better brew—or just more noise? Get all new episodes automatically and for free:Follow by Email | Listen to this episode and subscribe on YouTube. Help us continue to offer Secrets of Technology. Won’t you make a pledge at SQPN.com/give today? Links for this episode: * Mueller SuperGrind Burr Coffee Grinder * Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder * OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder * KRUPS Precision Electric Coffee Grinders * Rhino Hand Grinder – Tall * Airscape® Storage – Vacuum-Sealed Coffee & Food – Planetary Design * Aeropress * Aeromatic: the AeroPress Recipe App * French press – Wikipedia * Moka pot – Wikipedia * Melitta manual pour over coffee maker * Chemex * V60 Pour over coffee kit * Technivorm KBT Coffee Brewer, 40 oz * Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer * BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker * Keurig K-Elite Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker * Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine * De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine * Espresso Wherever, Whenever. * Anthony’s Organic Instant Coffee * Kuju Coffee Premium Pour Over Camping Coffee Singles * Clever Chef French Press Coffee Maker * Keurig® SimpleCafé Milk Frother

TEC307: Windows 10’s end is near—should you upgrade, switch OS, or buy new? Meanwhile, Apple’s OS 26 beta stirs debate over design, features, and privacy. Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Fr. Andrew Kinstetter break it all down.





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Links for this episode:




* PC Health Checkup App



* Download Windows 11



* 6 most Windows-like Linux distros because old habits die hard | ZDNET



* ChromeOS Flex



* Can’t upgrade your Windows 10 PC? You have 5 options and 3 months to act – before EOS | ZDNET



* End of 10



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Picks of the Week:




* Fr. Andrew: Apple Beta Software Program



* Pat: Crucial X10 4TB Portable SSD



* Dom: MOFT Phone Tripod Stand




Want to Sponsor A Show?Support StarQuest’s mission to explore the intersection of faith and pop culture by becoming a named sponsor of the show of your choice on the StarQuest network. Click to get started or find out more.



Disclaimer: Hosts, panelists, and guests may have a financial interest in the companies discussed through investments or other means. Their opinions and recommendations are not affected and do not present a conflict of interest. We offer this statement in the interest of full disclosure.

TEC306: Can we finally say goodbye to passwords? Dom Bettinelli and Jack Baruzzini unpack how passkeys promise a safer, simpler future—and why resistance still exists. Plus, AI job interviews, NASA on Netflix, and a Navy guy uploads the Catechism





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Links for this episode:




* Microsoft Security: Passkeys Are the Future



* AI Is Now Screening Job Candidates Before Humans Ever See Them (MSN)



* NASA Teams with Netflix to Stream Rocket Launches and Spacewalks (Nerds.xyz)



* Navy Guy “Coded” the Catholic Catechism in His Spare Time (Aleteia)



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Picks of the Week:




* Jack: Bitwarden



* Dom: Amazon Basics Magnetic Ratcheting Wrench and Electronics Precision Screwdriver Set, 73 count




Want to Sponsor A Show?Support StarQuest’s mission to explore the intersection of faith and pop culture by becoming a named sponsor of the show of your choice on the StarQuest network. Click to get started or find out more.



Disclaimer: Hosts, panelists, and guests may have a financial interest in the companies discussed through investments or other means. Their opinions and recommendations are not affected and do not present a conflict of interest. We offer this statement in the interest of full disclosure.

TEC305: Can your travel tech survive summer? Dom Bettinelli, Pat Scott, and Andrew Hermiz reveal flight-tracking superpowers, essential power hacks, and the ultimate app toolkit for journeys near and far.





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Links for this episode:




* Flighty



* TripIt



* FlightAware



* FlightAware Mobile



* Plane Finder



* Weather On The Way



* Weather Forecast and Weather Forecast Accuracy for Your City



* Rome Pilgrim



* GetGrab – Locate Food at Gates



* Starbucks App



* Starbucks Hack Article



* My TSA App



* CityMapper



* PlugBug with Find My | Multi-Port USB-C Charger



* TESSAN 100W GaN Universal Travel Adapter



* PowerCord



* AirTag – Apple



* AirTag Security Cable | Elevation Lab



* AirTag Fabric Mount | Elevation Lab



* Tile Trackers | Life360



* EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter



* JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan



* Ceptics Travel Power Strip



* Ceptics Italy, Europe Travel Adapter Plug Set (2 Pack)



* eSIMDB: Find and Compare Best Travel eSIMs for Your Trip



* Holafly

TEC304: Curious about radios beyond Wi‑Fi? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund & Victor Lams demystify shortwave, ham, GMRS and CB—from Cold War code stations to kids’ bike-ride comms. Could this “analog internet” withstand the next blackout?





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Help us continue to offer Secrets of Technology. Won’t you make a pledge at SQPN.com/give today?



Links for this episode:




* Baofeng UV-5R Two Way Radio Dual Band



* Shortwave receivers on Amazon



* GMRS radio license on FCC web site



* The SWLing Post | Shortwave listening and everything radio



* Short-Wave Radio Frequency Schedule for BBC in ENGLISH



* HFU HF Underground – Index



* RTL-SDR.com



* Shortwave Radio – NASWA: The North American Shortwave Association



* The Story Behind the Online Catechism at St. Charles Borromeo



* More than One Million Anker Power Banks Recalled



* Were 16 billion passwords from Apple, Google, and Facebook leaked?



* Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!



* Join the conversation at the StarQuest Facebook page.



* Be part of the StarQuest Discord community at SQPN.com/discord



* Email us feedback or comments to technology@sqpn.com




Picks of the Week:




* Fr. Joseph: Radio Garden



* Victor: Nintendo Switch 2



* Dom: Moom · Many Tricks




Want to Sponsor A Show?Support StarQuest’s mission to explore the intersection of faith and pop culture by becoming a named sponsor of the show of your choice on the StarQuest network. Show more...