Mr. Fred's Tech Talks

What does a great college experience actually look like for a technology student today? In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks, I sit down with Gavan Quimby, a senior Information Technology major with a cybersecurity option at Penn State Scranton. Gavan is not only preparing to graduate, he also serves as Student Government Association President and has been deeply involved in campus leadership,...

What if the final exam is not broken because of AI, but because we never redesigned it for a world where AI exists? In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks, I share the story behind a classroom experiment I presented at an international conference. The session earned Best Track recognition, which was encouraging. More important, it confirmed something I almost talked myself out of trying. Instead...

What does it mean when people talk about “vibe coding”? In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , we take a human-centered look at vibe coding.....what the term means, where it came from, and why it resonates far beyond software development. You don’t need to be a programmer to follow along this episode. Vibe coding describes a way of starting with curiosity, trying something small, and learning...

What happens when yesterday’s cutting-edge technology becomes today’s forgotten artifact? In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , Mr. Fred digs through the metaphorical (or maybe not) junk drawer of technology to uncover Lost Tech Treasures, old gadgets, habits, and tools that once shaped how we learned, tinkered, and problem-solved. From floppy disks and dial-up internet to burned CDs and scre...

While cleaning out his office, Mr. Fred uncovers a 3.5-inch floppy disk labeled “Y2K Startup Disk”, a quiet reminder of a moment when computers around the world were about to be confused by time itself. In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , we revisit what the Y2K problem actually was, why it mattered, and how engineers addressed a design decision that had been quietly waiting to fail. From t...

What makes a good coding toy in 2026? Is it flashy tech… or something deeper? In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , I walk parents, educators, and caregivers through the 2026 Coding Toy Idea Book which is a curated guide designed to help families choose tech toys that actually build creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. We talk about: What separates real learning toys from gimmi...

Mr. Fred explains how we’re moving from passwords to passphrases ...and now to passkeys , the future of secure, password-free login. Learn how passkeys are stored, what end-to-end encryption really means, and how special hardware like TPM chips keeps your private keys safe. Plus, find out whether hackers are cracking the system (spoiler: they’re not). Tech Tip: Explore passkeys in your device sett...

This October, as the pumpkins glow and the phishing emails flow, Mr. Fred dives into the spooky side of cybersecurity! In this Cybersecurity Awareness Month special, we explore the Oh Behave! 2025-2026 report from Cybsafe & The National Cybersecurity Alliance revealing how people say they care about online safety but still make haunting mistakes. From zombie passwords and overconfident Gen Z u...

In this final episode of the five part AI mini-series, Mr. Fred tackles three real-world questions: how AI affects learning in schools, what it means for medicine, and whether your prompts actually train chatbots. Hear clear answers about how AI tools are changing our world and how curiosity and creativity keep us ahead of the machines. Download the Prompt Guide and graduate from AI user to AI thi...

In Episode 9 of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , we continue our AI mini-series by tackling one of the most important skills you can build: prompting with precision. Just like following a software specification or a cybersecurity checklist, details matter. Mr. Fred shares a story from his days navigating with topographic maps and a lensatic compass, proving that clarity and focus have always been survival...

How does ChatGPT actually learn ? In Episode 8 of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , we go behind the curtain to explore how Large Language Models are trained and why the process isn’t as magical as it looks. You’ll discover: How Large Language Models train step by step, billions of rounds of “guess the next word.” Why tokens are the LEGO bricks of AI learning. How GPUs, servers, and warehouse-sized data cen...

In Episode 7 of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , I dive deeper into Large Language Models (LLMs) and explore how they’re trained. Using the fun analogy of a parrot that never stops practicing, Mr. Fred explains the 9-step training pipeline: from collecting massive datasets and tokenizing text, to neurons, weights, backpropagation, GPUs, fine-tuning, and safety alignment...but in a LOW TECH JARGON way. I’ll...

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just for science fiction anymore...it’s all around us. From Netflix recommending your next favorite show to Siri answering your questions, AI is already part of everyday life. But what is Artificial Intelligence, really? In Episode 6 of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , I kick off a brand-new AI series that leads straight to ChatGPT. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ The simple...

In Episode 5 of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , we dive into the fun (and sometimes frustrating) world of teamwork with the LEGO Chicken Challenge. This popular activity challenges teams to build a LEGO chicken—but with one big twist: the person who’s seen the design can’t touch the bricks, only describe it . The results are often hilarious, but the lessons are powerful: clear communication, trust, and co...

"Why should you learn to code — especially now, when artificial intelligence can write code for you? In Episode 4 of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , we dig into the real reasons coding matters: ✅ Building problem-solving superpowers ✅ Unlocking creativity ✅ Opening career opportunities in any field I’ll also share my favorite puzzle analogy for why coding is worth learning even if you never become a pr...

Ever wondered what ‘coding’ actually means? In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , we strip away the tech jargon and explain coding in a way that anyone can understand. You’ll learn how coding is like writing a recipe for a computer, discover where it shows up in your daily life, and explore the different ‘flavors’ of coding languages. We’ll also share a Tech Tip of the Week to help you try co...

In this special July episode, I mark two momentous occasions: my own birthday and the anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic Moon landing. Join us as we highlight four surprising “nuggets” from the Apollo 11 guidance computer’s software -things you probably didn’t know. These are based on my deep-dive blog post. Learn how a 64 KB computer and real-time error recovery made lunar history, and discover...

In this kickoff episode, I introduce myself....a college professor-turned-tech tinkerer and introduce Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks , the new podcast from GetMeCoding.com. You’ll learn what to expect from my bi-weekly 10 to 15 minute (a longer from time to time) bite-sized deep dives into coding, AI, and hands-on tech projects—without the jargon. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes peek at our virtual coding ca...