Altered Geek ®

Ain't life great... or is it just getting weirder by the minute? In Episode 478 of Altered Geek , host Steve "Megatron" and TFG1Mike dive into a week packed with tech shakeups, viral rage-baiting, and major pop-culture renewals! Over in the headlines, we dissect Netflix’s official launch of "AI Discover" —a new AI-branded recommendation engine rolling out on Smart TVs that promises to fix search a...

When the tools you rely on actively fight your workflow, it’s time to light up the mic and call it out! In Episode 477 of Altered Geek , host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike discuss podcast hosting platforms, breaking down the transition away from Spreaker toward self-reliant, privacy-first open-source workflows and our trusted partners at RSS.com . Steve shares his latest workstation setup...

Episode 476 of Altered Geek delivers a forward-looking deep dive into the changing tech and entertainment landscape. Hosts Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike react to shocking industry reports projecting Microsoft's next-generation Xbox hardware could launch at an eye-watering $1,200 to $1,800 price tag . We break down what this means for console gaming economics, price accessibility, and whet...

We are officially twenty-five episodes away from the big 500 milestone! In Episode 475, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike kick off the march to 500 with a wild week of tech disruption, media shifts, and pop-culture retrospectives. First, we tackle the viral story shaking up the software industry: a solo developer using Claude AI to rebuild the entire Adobe Creative Suite in Rust —releasi...

In this edition of Altered Geek , host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike return to tackle the latest developments across entertainment, tech, and cinema. We kick things off with breaking news in the superhero world, discussing the production pause on The Batman Part II as director Matt Reeves steps away for personal reasons, alongside an honest critique of James Gunn's DCU slate and those unv...

What happens when the end of human agency doesn't come from a dramatic robot war, but through corporate mergers, regulatory blind spots, universal basic income, and sheer societal convenience? Steve "Megatron" Phillips sits down with author, former attorney, and corporate strategist Vincent Ryland to explore his chilling sci-fi thriller, Memoirs of the End (Monarch Hill). Drawing on his extensive...

Let’s get dangerous! Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike kick off the show with massive news for Disney Afternoon fans: Darkwing Duck is officially returning with a brand-new animated series greenlit for Disney+! We break down what this reboot needs to do to capture the magic of St. Canard, Gosalyn, and the Terror That Flaps in the Night. Then, we dive into a heated discussion surrounding the s...

End of an era alert! In Episode 471, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike react to the historic shutdown of Columbia House after 71 iconic years. From vinyl and cassettes to the legendary "8 CDs for a penny" era, we look back at how mail-order music shaped a generation of collectors before streaming officially killed the star. Remember to place your final orders before September 15th, 2026!...

San Diego Comic-Con 2026 came, saw, and completely obliterated our wallets! In Episode 470, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike breakdown the biggest Hall H moments, massive toy pre-orders, and industry-shifting reveals from SDCC 2026. First, we tackle the wild Hall H stunts—from Rick Moranis receiving a standing ovation while donning the giant Dark Helmet cap for Spaceballs 2 , to Ryan Re...

What happens when the digital servers shut down and your "purchased" movie library suddenly vanishes into thin air? In Episode 469, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike tackle one of the most passionate debates in modern geek culture: Physical vs. Digital Media Libraries . We dive into the illusion of digital ownership, the fragile nature of streaming licenses, and why holding a physical Bl...

The consolidation of the media landscape just hit a whole new level of crazy! In Episode 467, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike react to the jaw-dropping news that Fox Corp. is acquiring Roku in a massive $22 billion deal . By purchasing the hardware and interface that sits in over 100 million households, Fox is quietly taking control of the screen menu you see every single day. We break...

Is modern streaming officially taking away what you pay for? In Episode 467, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike tackle the recent outrage surrounding Netflix’s ad-supported tier . While the "Standard with Ads" plan saves a few bucks, subscribers are just realizing that licensing restrictions mean a glaring lock icon is blocking some of the platform's biggest movies and shows. We break dow...

The media landscape is experiencing a massive changing of the guard! In Episode 466, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike tackle a week of historic endings and radical digital beginnings. First, we say a final, bittersweet goodbye to an institution as CBS News Radio officially goes off the air, signing off with Edward R. Murrow’s iconic words: "Good night, and good luck." The end of an era...

Is the "cheap night out" officially extinct? In Episode 465, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike confront the arrival of the $50 movie ticket . But the industry shifts don't stop at the box office. We dive into the massive retail and audio rumors: GameStop eyeing eBay , and the potential powerhouse merger between iHeartRadio and SiriusXM . We also look at the future of "proving you aren't...

The digital landscape is getting messier by the minute! In Episode 464, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike tackle the controversial news that X (formerly Twitter) is handing the keys to your timeline over to Grok . We discuss the implications of letting AI curate your social experience and why the algorithms are making these platforms feel less human than ever. We also dive into the trail...

Is the golden age of streaming and tech convenience officially hitting a paywall? In Episode 463, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike tackle the latest hit to our wallets: YouTube Premium’s US pricing is going up . We discuss the price hike and a "quietly revealed" trick to avoid ads without paying for Premium. Steve also gives us a status update on The Great Desk Upgrade —is the ultimate...

In this episode of Altered Geek , host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike dive into the shifting sands of the tech and entertainment world. First, Steve catches us up on his massive Studio Desk Upgrade —because every geek needs a command center that actually fits the mission. In the news, we discuss the "Walmart-ification" of your living room as Vizio TVs prepare to require Walmart accounts ju...

The final frontier just got a lot smaller, and the walk to the movie theater just got a lot longer. In Episode 461, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike react to the massive news that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been cancelled after only two seasons. With Season 1 barely in the rearview and Season 2 still in post-production, we discuss the "Nielsen math" that doomed the 32nd-century YA...

The landscape of Geekdom is shifting beneath our feet! In Episode 460, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips and TFG1Mike break down the massive industry-shaking news that HBO Max and Paramount+ are officially merging into a single streaming titan. We discuss what this means for your wallet and Paramount’s promise to let the HBO brand "operate with independence." We also dive into a serious local and nat...

Welcome to another high-octane adventure into Geekdom! In Episode 459, host Steve "Megatron" Phillips is joined by TFG1Mike to tackle a week filled with massive industry shifts and somber goodbyes. We start by honoring the legacies of several legends, including Robert Duvall , and James Van Der Beek , as we reflect on their impact on entertainment and culture. The tech world is on fire this week a...

In this action-packed episode of Altered Geek , host Steve "Megatron" Phillips is joined by the legendary TFG1Mike to navigate the highs and lows of modern Geekdom. We kick things off with a heartfelt tribute to the iconic Catherine O’Hara , reflecting on her incredible legacy and passing. Then, strap in for a massive Trailer Roundup as we break down the first looks at Masters of the Universe , th...

Two weeks into the New Year, host Steve Megatron Phillips and TFG1Mike dive deep into the biggest stories in Geekdom! This week on Altered Geek, we recap the 7 Biggest News Stories from CES 2026 across TVs, laptops, and weird new gadgets. Plus, we break down the controversial news that DISNEY+ is adding vertical video —WHY?! And finally, join us for "The Christmas Leftovers" segment, where we shar...

Dive into a massive Geek News Smorgasboard with Altered Geek host Steve Phillips! We break down the biggest pop culture headlines of the week, including the historic news of the Original Power Rangers (Super Sentai) officially ending after 50 years. Get the scoop on the surprising Gremlins 3 announcement, the cosmic teaser for the new Supergirl DCU movie, and Brendan Fraser's latest comments on hi...

Join host Steve Megatron Phillips and guest TFG1Mike on a brand new adventure into Geekdom! This week, we dive into the biggest stories and topics, including a breakdown of iHeartMedia's new "Guaranteed Human" branding and what it means for audio marketing. We also discuss why the Black Friday shopping weekend felt underwhelming, check out the incredible Macfarlane Batman Batcave, and sound off on...

Dive into the latest geekdom with Steve Megatron Phillips! This week, we explore the surprising shift in streaming, where old movies are becoming major moneymakers for platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Max. Discover why licensed library titles are generating two-thirds of movie revenue and how streamers are prioritizing classic films over expensive original series. Plus, we tackle...