Technically Working

Episode 145: Teaching Tech, Tethering Pain, and a Little CES Talk This week we bounce between real life and real tech: why tethering still makes us want a MacBook with built-in cellular, what passkeys look like in the real world, and how Google Family Link pushes you into creating Gmail accounts for kids. We also talk honestly about teaching tech, why we often prefer working with people who are re...

New year, new themes. Michael and Damashe look back at 2025’s themes (education and infrastructure), then set 2026’s themes: build and create. They also dig into vending machine training realities, note-taking experiments with iPad, RSS reader options, subscription cleanup, and what to do when someone asks “Which AI should I use?”

TW 143 Show Notes Testing Our Audio Stack and Rethinking Support for 2026 This episode is a wide-ranging, very on-brand Technically Working conversation that starts with audio workflow testing and ends with bigger-picture decisions about the future of the show. We spend time digging into what actually happens when we record with the Zoom Podtrack P4Next, , how computer audio is handled, and why Vo...

Show notes In this episode (TW142): Michael and Damashe follow up on VoiceOver weirdness, then dig into listener Callum’s question: how to build a portfolio site (with a blog) when you’re blind and do not have strong visual design context. They compare platforms, talk themes and hosting, and share a bunch of practical workflow tips for browsing, tabs, and keeping projects from turning into endless...

In TW 141 , we talk about a whole range of tools and experiences that make or break our workflows. We start with a shout-out to Live365 for recent accessibility improvements, and dive into the limitations of Bookshop.org ’s ebook accessibility — including a real-world accessibility email sent to their team. We then explore using Be My Eyes / Be My AI for on-the-fly visual assistance, tips for usin...

Episode 140 – Tangents, Tools, and Talking Tech In this episode of Technically Working , we start off with a correction from a listener—yep, they were right, you can power the Zoom P4 Next over USB if you just take the batteries out. That kicks off a cable rabbit hole, and from there… well, you know how it goes. We talk about voiceover bugs, fighting with macOS audio, and SoundSource 6’s updated U...

Michael and Damashe talk about how they are actually using AI to get work done, not just write blog posts. They also dig into first impressions of the Zoom P4 Next, an accessible portable recorder and USB interface. In this episode, they cover: Using GitHub Copilot and Gemini 3 in VS Code for real projects. Letting AI help plan features for the Builder tool and solve scheduling headaches like an 8...

In this episode, Michael and Damashe dive into: 🧺 Michael’s new Samsung washer-dryer combo and its surprising accessibility 📱 How Damashe’s using iOS screen recognition to solve real-world app frustrations 💻 Resetting VoiceOver settings on Mac – and the chaos that follows 🎮 Why Ben's gaming experience drove a Wi-Fi upgrade to Eero 🧠 Ramble in Todoist: The AI-powered feature both hosts are now...

In this episode of Technically Working , we sit down with Amanda J. Heal — author, former government lawyer, speaker, coach, and all-around awesome human. This episode is packed with stories about tech, purpose, accessibility, audio production, and the wild evolution of tools blind people used then… and now. 🎙️ What We Talk About Amanda’s background, including: Growing up totally blind in Australi...

Technically Working – Episode 136: Burnout, Barbecue, and Back at It Summary In this reflective and lively episode, Michael and Damashe return to their usual unscripted banter after a series of guest interviews. They dive into confessions, personal updates, and rediscovering balance in life and work. Damashe admits the Technically Working site still isn’t live, citing exhaustion and carpal tunnel...

Episode Notes A relaxed, gear-forward wrap-up with Damashe, Steven, and Michael: we talk favorite portable keyboards, why a tidy desk matters (especially when you’re done optimizing for TV backdrops), and how changing screen-reader pricing/models ripple across the community. Along the way we compare headsets, celebrate NVDA, reminisce about third-party Twitter apps, and poke fun at shipping hacks...

Episode Notes We continue our conversation with Stephen Scott from Double Tap about why unscripted, human-first shows resonate. Stephen shares how he and Sean decide what’s worth airing, why consent and care with guests matter, and how their new newsletter and “Extra” feed create space for deeper, sometimes non-tech discussions. We dig into person-first identity, balancing the social and medical m...

Episode Notes This week's episode is part 1 of a multipart recording featuring Steven Scott of Double Tap . Michael hears voices in his head, Steven and Damashe discuss the aftermath of coping with being in car wrecks, and how Steven got on as a camera man in his youth. Support Technically Working by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/technically-working Find out more at...

Michael and Damashe are back with a mix of tech talk, audio experiments, and laughs. Michael tests out two Shure microphones live on air (can you tell which is which?), shares what he learned from running a hybrid event, and rolls out a smart new feature in his automation tool, Builder —because yes, user feedback really does shape updates. They dive into why investing in your craft (and your gear)...

In this episode, Michael and Damashe dive into a grab bag of experiments, frustrations, and a few eerie surprises in the world of AI and audio. <h4> Topics Covered </h4> 🎤 Mic Talk & Audio Gear Michael tests the Shure Beta 87A and debates keeping his wireless setup, while the guys swap stories about missing adapters, mic stands, and shock mounts. 🤖 AI Voices Gone Rogue Things tak...

Show Notes Michael and Damashe dig into real-world audio and workflow upgrades—why Cleanfeed’s aux routing can quietly reset, how the DJI wireless kit performs (32-bit float, monitoring quirks, accessibility gaps), and when handheld SM58s beat Beta 58s for live/hybrid rooms. Damashe talks through pre-ordering the Meta Oakley Vanguard (and why the Seeing AI partnership nudged him), then shares firs...

• Backup recordings that save the day: Audio Hijack vs. Reaper, why Cleanfeed still sounds great, and how one Safari input setting ruined a “perfect first take.” • Smart glasses roundup: – Meta Display now has a screen reader and an Access API. Why that could open the door to third-party apps and what it might mean for Envision and other niche devices. – Real-world wants: trigger descriptions with...

In this episode, Michael and Damashe kick things off by comparing recording setups with Cleanfeed, Reaper, and Audio Hijack before diving into a spontaneous story about nose injuries and streaming credentials. The conversation shifts to gear talk, including Ben’s upcoming birthday gifts—a Sennheiser Profile microphone, boom arm, and windscreen—and why headset mics didn’t make the cut. Michael and...

In this episode of Technically Working , Michael and Damashe dive into email management frustrations and fixes. From 1Password’s latest quirks with VoiceOver on iOS to hidden keystrokes in Mac Mail, they share practical tips to keep your inbox manageable. Michael experiments with Keyboard Maestro to make the delete key archive instead of trash, while Damashe drops shortcuts you probably didn’t kno...

Michael hunts down a mystery whining noise in his studio and walks through a clean, step-by-step troubleshooting plan: strip the setup to basics, test the Vocaster solo, then re-introduce the mixer and cabling one piece at a time. We talk about when gear isn’t designed for how screen reader users actually use it, and what to do when a board might be internally crosstalking. Backup plan if the mixe...

In this episode of Technically Working , Michael and Damashe dig into the messy world of search, messaging apps, and productivity tools: Search and Safari Limits – Why Safari won’t let you set a truly custom search engine and how paid options like Kagi might be worth a look for cleaner, ad-free results. Keyboard Maestro Adventures – Michael finally convinced a friend to try Keyboard Maestro. The t...

In this episode of Technically Working , Michael and Damashe cover a mix of retro tech, cutting-edge wearables, and coding experiments: Perkins Brailler Talk – Michael’s newly repaired Perkins returns home, and the guys reminisce about fixing braillers, paper jams, and carrying them through school hallways. Smart Glasses Showdown – A deep dive into Solos, Ally, Envision, Meta Ray-Bans, and even AG...

Michael and Damashe are back on CleanFeed, comparing its quirks to past recording tools and sharing detailed backup recording setups using Loopback, Reaper, and Audio Hijack. They swap tips for reliable audio capture, even without pro gear, and reflect on painful experiences re-recording lost segments. The conversation shifts to the launch of GPT-5, how it’s performing in GitHub Copilot, and strat...

TW122: Pocket Casts Juggling, Audio Experiments & Building a Tech‑Savvy Team In this episode of Technically Working, Damashe and Michael dive into practical experiments, tool comparisons and community announcements. Here’s what you’ll hear: 🧪 Audio experiments with Zoom H5 and iPhone 15 Pro Portable recording setup – Damashe connects a Zoom H5 Studio recorder to an iPhone 15 Pro running an ea...

In this episode of Technically Working , Michael and Damashe dive into: 🎛️ Michael’s adventures debugging his custom scheduling tool, lovingly named Builder —including the moment it completely broke everything … and how that led to several much-needed fixes. 🧠 A look at PromptBoost.dev , a slick VS Code extension site to supercharge your AI prompts. 🤖 Comet, the AI-powered browser from Perplexit...