Gear Up and Go

Marty drives Will to the airport and we record a short episode catching up on travels and doing tech trivia to stump the chump.  Email: ThePodTalknetwork@gmail.com Website: ThePodTalk. Net Youtube: YouTube.com/@GUAGPodcast

Will and Marty talk about Will's recent honeymoon trip with a focus on travel photos and how to keep them safe and secure Set up and use iCloud Photos (Apple Support): https://support.apple.com/en-us/108782 iCloud+ plans and pricing (Apple Support): https://support.apple.com/en-us/108047 Access iCloud Photos on the web: https://icloud.com/photos Set up iCloud Shared Photo Library on iPhone or...

Will and Marty talk about luggage tags and luggage apps that help you keep track of your luggage when traveling. Apple Air Tag Apple AirTag product page: https://www.apple.com/airtag/ Apple Share Item Location newsroom: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/11/apples-find-my-enables-sharing-location-of-lost-items-with-third-parties/ How to use AirTags for luggage (The Points Guy): https://thepointsg...

Will brings Marty the problem of what kind of TSA locks work for your travel security needs and a crazy list of what you can and cannot travel with. Recommended TSA Locks  Master Lock TSA 4-Digit: https://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-Combination-Accepted-4696D/dp/B01BH5CVV2   Forge TSA 4-Digit All Metal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0B6C4T/   Tarriss TSA Cable Lock: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KPV...

Marty and Will talk about their experiences and advice for handling flight layovers. The First 10 Minutes After Landing (Layover Triage) • Open your airline app immediately to confirm gate, boarding time, and aircraft• Screenshot key details in case Wi-Fi or apps fail• Check airport monitors for last-minute changes• Decide your layover mode:  – Under 90 minutes: stay close, hydrate, quick snack  –...

Marty and Will talk about the new rules associated with carrying lithium batteries on planes along with what they take when they fly Battery & Power Bank Rules: • Power banks and portable chargers must be in carry-on bags only. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/power-banks • Lithium-ion batteries under 100 watt-hours (Wh) are generally permitted in carry-on lugg...

Lighting is one of the most underrated travel items and the right light can dramatically improve travel work, podcasting, and Zoom calls. Will and Marty share their favorite picks for lighting tech. Our Lighting Decision Process 1. Solve for Lighting Environments First 2. Prefer Portable, Collapsible, or Magnetic 3. Battery or USB-C Only 4. Prioritize Dual Use 5. Test Before the Trip Marty & W...

Every traveler has that short list of items that always make the cut — no matter the trip, no matter the destination. In this episode, we will reveal the process behind choosing those items and the logic that keeps their travel setups light, efficient, and always ready. 1. Start with the Trip Story Before touching a suitcase, we define the story of the trip. Is this business, vacation, or family t...

Marty and Will take on some of the apps people use for local transportation when traveling. Ride-Sharing & Taxi Apps Uber — The global standard for ride-hailing with reliable coverage in over 70 countries. https://www.uber.com   Lyft — Excellent U.S. alternative with clear upfront pricing and good airport pickup integration. https://www.lyft.com   Bolt (Taxify) — Popular in Europe and Africa;...

Will and Marty chat about some of their travel keyboard solutions and how they came to those decisions. What to Look for in a Travel Keyboard Size & Portability - Foldable or ultra-slim designs save space in bags. - Weight ideally under 12 oz for carry-everywhere setups. Typing Comfort - Key travel: shallow (mobile) vs. deeper (laptop-like). - Layout: full vs. compact (watch for missing arrow...

Will and Marty speak about recent travel experience and travel tech jackets and vests 3‑piece system: shell + insulated mid‑layer + vest Shell is breathable & has DWR (water‑repellent) Insulation suits climate: down (dry/cold) or synthetic (wet/cold) Merino/blend liner or odor‑resistant inner fabric Weight goal: shell 10–16 oz; vest 9–14 oz (packable) Zipped, lay‑flat chest pocket (phone/board...

Will and Marty chat about properties and uses of portable power banks for travel (after bacon cooking lessons). Considerations: Capacity (how much charge) Output power (how fast) Ports & simultaneous charging Recharging the bank Wireless vs. wired Size, weight, ergonomics Display & controls Safety & certifications Battery chemistry & lifespan Build quality & warranty Airline &a...

Will and Marty catch up on their travels talk about the range of smartwatches one can get for travel. Durability Versatility Water Resistance : Power Sourc e Time Zone Functionality Readability and Visibility Comfort Security Additional Features Premium Garmin Fenix 8 (~$1000) https://a.co/d/ifEiVKR Pros: Multi-day battery (up to ~12–13 days, longer w/ solar); iOS & Android; deep training metr...

Marty and Will talk about the ins and outs of travel mice and trackpads Why opt for a travel mouse? Portability: compact, lightweight, and easy to slip into a tech pouch Ergonomics: still comfortable enough for work sessions on the go Battery life: long-lasting power or quick-charging keeps you working uninterrupted  Wired vs. Wireless: Wireless offers freedom and less clutter, but introduces late...

Marty and Will cover common travel problems, how to prevent them, and what to do if they happen to you. Points to Consider Delayed or Canceled Flight s Monitor flights in real-time before heading to the airport. Rebook quickly through apps instead of waiting in line. Know airline policies and passenger rights. Lost or Delayed Luggage Track your bags independently of the airline. Pack essentials in...

Will takes lead on entertainment apps you can use while traveling to cover bars and a good cigar, while Marty tells a few stories of places he’s been. Apps for live music Bands in Town https://www.bandsintown.com/ Apps for Bar Lovers BarGlance https://www.barglance.com/ Untappd https://untappd.com/ Apps for Cigar Lovers Cigar Scanner https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?d=com.ionicframework....

Will returns from his Vegas job, we talk about portable power banks, specifications and considerations when getting one. Anker Recalls 1.1 Million PowerCore 10000 Power Banks https://tidbits.com/2025/06/13/anker-recalls-1-1-million-powercore-10000-power-banks/ US Consumer Product Safety Commission   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/More-than-One-Million-Anker-Power-Banks-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-and-...

Marty and Will talk about their experiences and ideas about getting good internet connection while on the road. Connectivity Tips • Use your smartphone as a hotspot but bring a car charger or power bank. • Download offline maps and entertainment ahead of time. • Turn off background data and track usage with your carrier’s app. • Check signal maps with OpenSignal: https://opensignal.com/apps   • Us...

Marty and Will check up on his travels and talk about how and what to download content to take with you when you travel. General Tips for Offline Entertainment • Download Before Departure: Always prep your content the night before traveling while connected to Wi-Fi. • Check Storage: Make sure you have enough storage space—especially for video and map files. • Use Cloud/Device Syncing: Sync across...

Marty and Will talk about Will’s extended stay and how he is managing food on a budget. Apps and ideas for getting good food that is reasonable while traveling. Essential Food Apps for Travelers While Yelp, DoorDash, and Uber Eats are popular choices, consider these additional apps to enhance your food experience: HappyCow : Ideal for vegetarians and vegans seeking plant-based dining options world...

Marty and Will cover packing list apps to assist you putting together your travel gear, but start with Will’s extended stay in a hotel for work. Key Features of Packing List Apps: Customization: Many apps allow you to create custom lists based on your trip details, including location, dates, and activities.  Automatic List Generation: Some apps can automatically generate packing lists based on you...

Will is headed on another trip and he and Marty talk about how to manage hotel wifi safely. Websites Is Hotel Wi-Fi Safe? How To Stay Secure While Traveling https://www.aura.com/learn/is-hotel-wi-fi-safe Stay Safe on Hotel WiFi: Best Practices for Data Protection https://www.getroamify.com/blogs/stay-safe-on-hotel-wifi-best-practices-for-data-protection/ How to use public Wi-Fi safely: 5 things to...

Will and Marty cut another ride home from the airport episode with back-and-forth trivia. ThePodtalk. Net Macstockconferenceandexpo.com "PODTALK50" gets you a 50$ discount

Will is taking another trip so that means a in the car recording. We do travel tech trivia during the ride. The PodTalk. Net Macstockconferenceandexpo.com Use "PODTALK50" for 50$ off registration

Will and Marty talk about headphones and earbuds for traveling situations.  Things to Consider When Choosing Headphones/Earbuds for Travel Noise Cancellation Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Great for flights and loud environments. Passive Noise Isolation: Helps in lower-noise settings. Comfort & Fit Over-ear vs. in-ear: Which is more comfortable for long periods? Do they come with different e...