Gavin Campbell is back, and this one turns into a tour of what happens when Home Assistant stops being a dashboard and starts becoming the operating system for the house. We talk through Gavin’s first Tesla, garage-door automation, water and leak monitoring, ESPHome projects, lawn and soil sensors, emergency power, camera systems and the growing role AI can play in making sense of all that home data.

Full show notes at https://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg690

Do kids need a full smartphone just to stay in touch? Mike Wieger joins me for HGG689 with a different answer: push-to-talk-over-cellular radios built around simple family communication. We also dig into practical off-site backups with Unraid, TrueNAS, ZFS and Tailscale, Apollo and Moonlight for using one gaming PC from almost anywhere, and Frigate 0.18 for a much easier local-camera and NVR setup.

Full show notes at https://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg689

Concert photography sounds simple until you realize you may have only the first three songs to get the shots you need. Jay Franze joins me for HGG688 to talk about what actually goes into photographing live music — from carrying multiple camera bodies and shooting RAW files to protecting those images with redundant storage and deciding where AI-assisted editing fits.

Full show notes at https://theaverageguy.tv/hgg688

Jim Collison welcomes Seth Johnson from HomeTech.fm back to Home Gadget Geeks for a wide-ranging conversation about programmable outdoor lighting, home automation, electric lawn care, large-format CNC projects and the growing role of AI in home technology.

Find Home Gadget Geeks episodes, show notes and subscription options at: https://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg687

Phil Hawthorne joins Jim Collison for HGG686 to talk Home Assistant automations, Blueprints, ESPHome, Bluetooth proxies, e-ink dashboards and AI-assisted smart home control. They dig into how Home Assistant is moving from individual entities toward devices, areas, labels and more flexible automation patterns. Phil also shares thoughts on the Open Home Foundation, Works with Home Assistant, Assist and using separate AI roles safely. Full show notes are at https://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg686

T.J. Huddleston from HomeTech.fm joins me to talk about replacing a traditional lawn with a pollinator garden, building a smarter irrigation system, powering a shed with solar and using Hermes to make Home Assistant easier to manage.

Full show notes at https://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg685

Password managers are becoming credential managers as passkeys begin replacing traditional usernames, passwords and authentication codes.

Christian Johnson joins me to talk through what that transition means, whether self-hosting Bitwarden provides a meaningful advantage and where Vaultwarden fits for Docker and homelab users.

We also look at a larger experiment Christian is working on through Maple Grove Partners: managed container hosting for people who want useful applications without maintaining every server, certificate, backup and update themselves.

Full show notes at https://theaverageguy.tv/hgg684

I revisit the LEPRO permanent outdoor lights after nearly six months of real-world use, including the removable wood-shim mounting method, seasonal lighting scenes and the outdoor smart-plug schedule. I also walk through several OpenClaw projects, including the Home Assistant Storm Guard I built for my EcoFlow and BLUETTI batteries and an Amazon Affiliate Manager designed to help me work through years of aging links on TheAverageGuy.tv. Catch the full show notes at https://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg683 

Erin Lawrence joins me for Home Gadget Geeks 682 to talk Ring 4K cameras, the ECOVACS GOAT A3000 LiDAR Pro robot lawnmower, Nespresso Pop+, HoverAir X1 PROMAX, AI workflow lessons, smart home gear and upcoming creator tools. Full show notes and links are available at: https://theaverageguy.tv/hgg682

Full show notes, audio, and video at: https://theaverageguy.tv/hgg681

What happens when AI leaves the demo stage and starts showing up in real work, real home labs, and the gear that keeps a household connected? This week, Mike Wieger returns to Home Gadget Geeks for a practical conversation that moves from AI in a regulated M&A workplace to OpenClaw at home, new symmetrical fiber, mountain e-bikes, and the growing MeshCore/Meshtastic community around Omaha and Lincoln.

Full show notes, transcriptions available on request, audio and video at https://theaverageguy.tv/hgg680

Jim Collison is joined by Gavin Campbell for Home Gadget Geeks 680 to compare OpenClaw and Hermes as AI agents for Home Assistant, with practical discussion around local versus cloud LLMs, privacy, token costs, Mattermost, Docker, Unraid, and the hardware choices that matter in a real home lab.

Full show notes, audio, and video at: https://theaverageguy.tv/hgg679

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.

This episode blends future-facing AI discussion with hands-on gadget experience in a way that fits the Home Gadget Geeks audience especially well. Thanks for listening!

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg678

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, this episode delivers practical ideas and entertaining stories. Thanks for listening!

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg677

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 one is packed with insight. Thanks for listening!

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg676

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!

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #676 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

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Join us for the show live each Thursday at 8pmC/9E at http://theAverageGuy.tv/live

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg675

Is the AI future helpful or just plain dangerous? This week, Gavin Campbell from HomeTech.fm and I take a hard look at OpenClaw, “vibe coding,” and what it really takes to run autonomous AI agents safely in your home lab. I’m trying to find out if you can actually let AI do the work without losing control of your network… or getting roasted by your own creations. Thanks for listening!

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #675 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? http://theAverageGuy.tv/subscribe

Join us for the show live each Thursday at 8pmC/9E at http://theAverageGuy.tv/live

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg674

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!

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #674 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? http://theAverageGuy.tv/subscribe

Join us for the show live each Thursday at 8pmC/9E at http://theAverageGuy.tv/live

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg673

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!

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #673 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? http://theAverageGuy.tv/subscribe

Join us for the show live each Thursday at 8pmC/9E at http://theAverageGuy.tv/live

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg672

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!

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #672 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? http://theAverageGuy.tv/subscribe

Join us for the show live each Thursday at 8pmC/9E at http://theAverageGuy.tv/live

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg671

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!

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #671 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? http://theAverageGuy.tv/subscribe

Join us for the show live each Thursday at 8pmC/9E at http://theAverageGuy.tv/live