TechMobility Topics

In this episode, we get hands-on with the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport to separate substance from styling. Bold on the outside and refreshingly calm inside, the Passport pairs a proven 3.5-liter V6 with a 10-speed automatic and drive modes tuned for real-world terrain—not marketing buzzwords. The details matter: General Grabber all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch wheels signal this SUV is built...

Technology is moving faster than the rulebook—and Rivian is betting its future on staying ahead of both. In this episode, we break down Rivian’s survival playbook: the push to make the R2 affordable, the strategic delay of its Georgia plant, and the decision to build an in-house autonomy stack powered by a custom processor and subscription-based features. If EV demand softens, this layered revenue...

In this episode, we tackle housing affordability through a different lens: employment. New master-planned cities promise mixed-income neighborhoods, smarter zoning, walkable design, and built-in transit. But even the most thoughtfully designed community collapses without one essential ingredient—jobs. Employers must anchor growth, or affordability becomes a short-lived illusion. We examine a more...

In this episode, we explore an unexpected revival from the past: chimney sweeps are back in London. Surging energy prices, wood-burning stove installations, and growing concerns about grid resilience have reignited a 500-year-old trade. But today’s sweeps don’t climb soot-covered flues. They use drones, thermal cameras, and industrial vacuum systems—bringing modern tech to an old-world necessity....

In this episode, we examine a Detroit startup embedding EEG-style sensors into vehicle headrests to detect drowsiness, seizures, blackouts, and other medical events—potentially before drivers even realize something is wrong. The safety upside is compelling. Earlier alerts could prevent crashes, reduce fatalities, and give automakers a powerful new differentiator in advanced driver-assistance syste...

For this episode, autonomous driving is back in the spotlight—but the comeback isn’t evenly distributed. We examine autonomy’s second act and explain why the hype now looks very different from the first wave. We begin with Nissan, once a pioneer with the Leaf and now promising a hands-off, eyes-on autonomous system by 2028. But can a bold software roadmap overcome aging core products and an Infini...

For this episode, we connect mobility, money, and the housing market—because the same affordability pressures shaping cars and insurance are now reshaping where and how people live. A recent MarketWatch report highlights a sobering milestone: more than one million U.S. homeowners are now underwater on their mortgages , owing more than their homes are worth.  We also unpack why the trend is hi...

In this episode, we explain how price pressures are reshaping the used-vehicle market. We explain why a growing number of dealers are adding branded or salvage-title vehicles to their lots as insurers total cars for electronics-heavy repairs, not just big crashes. You’ll hear about the risks a test drive won’t reveal, how inconsistent state standards magnify uncertainty, and what questions to ask...

During this episode, we strap into the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona EV to separate hype from hardware. With dual motors, 630 hp, and a 670-hp power shot, the Daytona blends muscle with a grand-touring vibe, delivering tight build quality, confident handling, and a surprisingly practical hatch. We talk tech, comfort, and the few misses—most notably a 270-mile range—so you know exactly who this car se...

In this episode, we explore how Chinese carmakers are lining up to enter the U.S. through joint ventures, Canadian quotas, and Mexican assembly—and why that strategy echoes the Japanese and Korean playbook that reshaped the market decades ago. The core story is affordability: a massive gap below $25K that Chinese brands are ready to fill with high-quality, feature-rich EVs, potentially under famil...

 For this episode, we head to Pescadero, California, where a 100% solar community microgrid with battery storage is being built to keep critical services online during storms and line failures. Schools, a fire station, and essential nonprofits serve as resilience hubs for residents, medications, and communication when the main grid fails. We discuss sizing, storage limits, and why community‑w...

For this episode, we shift to another kind of resilience: the Buy It For Life mindset. Remember when a fridge lasted 25 years and a wrench came with a no‑questions lifetime swap? We explore why durability beats disposable upgrades, how right‑to‑repair and parts availability affect the total cost of ownership, and which design choices—modularity, service manuals, standardized components—turn produc...

More than three years ago, we asked a difficult question: Can AI fight an “ethical” war? A 2023 white paper from the Future of Life Institute brings that question back with urgency, examining how artificial intelligence is beginning to intersect with nuclear weapons systems and decision-making. In this episode, we break down the risks of faster, automated warning systems, compressed human decision...

A city goes dark, and the smartest cars on the road freeze in place. We unpack the San Francisco blackout that stalled multiple Waymo robotaxis, asking the hard questions about fail‑safes, four‑way stops without signals, and how urban autonomy should behave when infrastructure collapses. We contrast tech stacks and claims across Waymo and Tesla, and we specify what accountability, transparent inci...

This episode explores the impact of Ford's recent decision to discontinue the Escape, one of its more affordable vehicles.  Ford’s Escape exit from the marketplace creates an affordability gap that concerns the automaker's dealers.  Ford dealers want an entry-level vehicle that keeps shoppers in the brand; buyers want sensible payments, not just passion projects. Maverick and Bronco Spor...

For this episode, we pivot to a different kind of problem: warm winters and thin snowpack across the West. When snow turns to rain, reservoirs don’t refill; water rushes off, flooding and leaving little for summer. We break down how mid-elevation snowpack drives most runoff, why ski towns and resort jobs feel the pain first, and how agriculture—winter wheat, sugar beets, and more—pushes the impact...

During this episode, we introduce you to the Ford Bronco Stroppe Edition, a nod to the Baja-equipped, off-road performance-infused Stroppe Broncos of the late 1960s-early 1970s.   With its Baja-tuned suspension, GOAT modes, and 315-hp EcoBoost powertrain, it delivers off-road performance but falls short on price, fuel economy, rear-seat design, and daily usability. If you’re weighing a b...

In this episode, we explain how shoppers are speaking with their wallets, and the data speaks loudly. We kick off with a clear-eyed look at why Hyundai and Kia just posted record January sales, driven by hybrids and value-forward crossovers—and how Chevy’s layered lineup of crossovers and SUVs keeps affordable options on the lot. 

This episode begins by taking an elevator into a cost puzzle. Why does installing one in North America cost three to four times as much as in peer countries? The answer lies in fragmented codes, larger mandated car sizes, a concentrated vendor landscape, and a tight, highly unionized technician pipeline. The downstream effects include fewer elevators in small- and mid-rise buildings, reduced acces...

In this episode, we stress-test a headline claim: that AI will reduce crashes more than the seat belt. We examine where advanced driver-assistance systems still fall short—poor speed-limit readings, nagging monitoring, and inconsistent lane logic—and explain why even great software faces slow adoption in a 250 million-vehicle fleet. Add regulatory gray areas, cybersecurity risks, and the need for...

For this episode, forget the hype cycle—let’s talk about what actually moves people and markets. We start with a comeback story no one saw coming: minivans. After years of SUV dominance, buyers are rediscovering why sliding doors and low floors beat lifted ride heights and tiny cargo openings. We break down the latest sales spikes in the U.S. and Canada, explain why Toyota’s hybrid Sienna and Chry...

During this special episode, I explain a bit about the how and why of the stories and features I discuss every week. More than any one topic, I have designed this podcast to cover a wide range of topics over the course of a year to make you aware, keep you informed, and entertain you a bit. 

For this episode, we look to where climate and commerce collide: the Arctic. Melting ice isn’t simplifying navigation—it’s creating a minefield of multi-year ice and deeper, freezing seas. The Northwest Passage remains risky, rescue assets are scarce, and Russia’s Northern Sea Route is doing the heavy lifting. Strategy beats bravado here.

In this episode, we speak the truth about the real impact of DeepSeek AI and the broader Chinese AI industry.  We unpack Chinese AI’s efficiency-first play, from DeepSeek’s open-weight model that spooked markets to the U.S. hyperscalers’ record capex binge. Scaling laws have delivered gains, but an open, lean approach can erode margins and reset expectations about what “enough compute” really...

 For this episode, we conduct a full review of the Lexus ES350 F Sport Handling sedan. The ES still delivers what made it a bestseller: quiet confidence, rock-solid reliability, and a price that feels fair. On-demand drive modes, smooth V6 power, and a whisper-quiet cabin make long trips easy. Yet we call out misses that matter—rear seats that don’t fold, iffy speed limit sign recognition, an...