SouthGeek News

Welcome back to SouthGeek News, where we talk tech with a drawl and a dose of common sense! In this week’s episode (October 29, 2025), Donovan, Ben, and Samuel saddle up for another round of geekery, southern humor, and a few good-natured rants about the state of technology — and humanity.

This episode kicks off with Samuel diving headfirst into Sora, the new AI video social platform that’s got the internet buzzing. He’s having a ball remixing videos, while Donovan and Ben shake their heads like two uncles watching TikTok for the first time. Turns out, all those AI creat...

In this week’s SouthGeek News, the guys dive deep into tech, AI, aliens, and all things absurdly geeky. Donovan’s upgrading networks like a mad scientist, Ben’s turning his studio into a low-budget EDM lab, and Sam’s exploring Fallout 76 because apparently the apocalypse is more relaxing than real life. They geek out over Wi-Fi 8 (“faster, but not that fast”), real estate agents using AI to catfish homebuyers, and Georgia Tech launching drones that’ll “respond in 90 seconds or less—whether you called them or not.” We also learn that your gaming mouse might be spying on you, SpaceX satellites ar...

Donovan and Ben hold down the fort without Sam, who’s apparently still wrestling zoo alligators. Ben drops a hard drive (RIP 10TB of forgotten MP3s), debates whether $1,300 iPads are just overpriced sketchpads, and confesses his Bitcoin stash started as free Monero mining. Donovan rants about Windows 11 upgrades, registry hacks, and Microsoft’s uncanny ability to make File Explorer even worse.

The duo also roast Amazon’s latest “who asked for this?” gadgets, DoorDash’s delivery robots frying in the Phoenix sun, and the rise of AI-generated actresses like Tilly Norwood—because Hollywood definitely needed Scarlett Johansson without the sa...

This week on SouthGeek News, the gang dives headfirst into the holiday creep—yes, it’s already pumpkins, turkeys, and Christmas lights all battling for shelf space at Lowe’s. Donovan shares how his house has become a year-round “holiday tree zone” while Ben and Sam confess their own festive quirks (spoiler: seven Christmas trees might be too many).
 
Sam plugs his new voice-acting project Everly Heights Tales, which sounds like if Parks and Rec and Twilight Zone had a baby and raised it in Ohio. Donovan flirts with the idea of using AI voices for screenplays, only to get roas...

This week on SouthGeek News, the crew goes full nerd. Samuel dives headfirst into “building a second brain” with Notion and the PARA method—because apparently one brain isn’t enough when you’re juggling classes, jokes, and memory gaps. Ben battles Proxmox and GRUB with GPT’s help, proving that even Linux admins occasionally pray to the AI gods. Donovan and Tyler reminisce about running enterprise-style phone systems on Intel Atoms (yes, really), before diving into the absurdity of subscription-based cars—pay extra if you want to accelerate faster, or worse, keep your steering wheel. 

From there, it’s a ride thr...

After an extended hiatus (because life, DNS, and jury duty happen), Donovan, Ben, and Samuel return with a jam-packed episode full of geekery, Amazon horror stories, and deep philosophical questions like: “Do you have a butt?”

This week, the trio dives into:
🧻 ChatGPT Haikus from Hell – A 2600 Magazine piece turns the Terms of Service from Big Tech into poetry that hits a little too hard.💨 Amazon’s Nose Knows – Donovan’s air purifier screams “ODOR,” but Amazon cancels his filter order faster than you can say “quality control.”💻 Tech We Can’t Live Without – From Adobe A...

The show is on hiatus until the end of July.

Thanks!


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Where to Find Us:
SouthGeekNews.comLeave a voicemail: VoicecastDonovan: SocialsSam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socialsBen:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)---Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.---

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This week on SouthGeek News, we’re not entirely sure which episode number this is (19-ish?), but Donovan and Ben bravely press on without Samuel, who’s out for this one. The guys kick things off with a recap of Apple’s WWDC, where Apple Intelligence still isn’t quite intelligent, iOS 26 looks suspiciously like Windows Vista with Liquid Glass, and the iPad continues its identity crisis as a wannabe MacBook. Ben also discovers the joy of trying to find the Do Not Disturb button on a Mac—because apparently "it just works"... after a treasure hunt. They then marvel at Amazon...

This episode marks a milestone—our first with four hosts—and naturally, things spiral into glorious tech chaos, mountain tales, and existential dread about encryption. Tyler returns from a mountain cabin in Gatlinburg where the Wi-Fi was literally duct-taped to a stick, proving once again that satellite internet is just hope with lag. Donovan descends into full-blown network madness trying to understand why HP laptops refuse to connect to Wi-Fi unless you bribe them with a separate SSID and some emotional support. Ben, on the other hand, is apparently the internet’s Golden Boy, receiving a surprise $132 via Venmo for a birt...

In this episode of SouthGeek News, Donovan, Ben, and Samuel dive headfirst into the absurd and the technical, starting with a cash drawer that connects via Ethernet—because apparently, your money needs its own IP address now. Samuel goes full tabletop nerd, wrangling the chaotic card sprawl of Munchkin into a collector's box roughly the size of a microwave, while also recommending a book called How Minds Change, which argues that screaming facts at people is a great way to make them never, ever change their minds. Georgia’s new social media law gets the trio talking: minors will soon need...

In Episode 16 of SouthGeek News, Donovan and Ben are joined once again by guest co-host Samuel Lewis for a wide-ranging and often hilarious dive into the week’s tech, life, and pop culture happenings. Sam kicks things off by sharing his deep love for Disney Dreamlight Valley, especially the latest Alice in Wonderland update that adds fan-favorite characters and surprisingly emotional storylines to the whimsical life sim. Ben talks about surviving a wild week that included long commutes, a solo network install in a crawlspace, and narrowly avoiding a possible tornado that tore through part of town. Donovan shares his re...

Episode 15 of SouthGeek News kicks off with Donovan and Ben catching up on their recent tech trials and domestic adventures. Ben dives into ongoing frustrations with sluggish Hyper-V VMs running on a weak RAID 5 setup and discusses experimenting with open-source surveillance tools like Shinobi and ZoneMinder, both of which fall short of expectations. Donovan shares his own camera setup woes, eventually conceding that consumer-grade NVRs like Lorex might be the way to go. They swap updates about property searches, lawn rehab, and an ailing Ford Explorer with a famously finicky sealed transmission. A trip down memory lane follows, from the...

In Episode 14 of SouthGeek News, Donovan, Ben, and guest host Sam Lewis return with a low-energy but content-packed discussion on recent tech happenings and personal adventures. Donovan opens with an update on the podcast’s move from Substack to Spreaker, triggered by a frustrating account suspension that Substack blamed on a false spam flag. An accidental annual payment to Spreaker sealed the deal, and now all of Donovan's podcasts—including Call Me Donovan and Tifton Talks—are hosted there, complete with dynamic ad insertion. Sam brings the gaming spotlight with a deep dive into inZOI, a new hyper-realistic life sim game p...

SouthGeek News has moved to Spreaker due to an irritating issue I’ve had, for the 2nd time, with Substack. Please make sure your RSS feeds have updated in your favorite podcast app.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:
SouthGeekNews.comLeave a voicemail: VoicecastDonovan: SocialsSam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socialsBen:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)---Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.---

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In this episode, the hosts dive into various tech topics, starting with Samuel’s experience as a beta tester for the Bee wearable AI assistant, a device designed to summarize conversations and transcribe notes in real-time. He shares how it has helped him with podcasting and studying, despite its early-stage quirks. He also introduces Brick, a physical device that locks down distractions on an iPhone by utilizing Apple's Screen Time settings, requiring users to physically tap it to unlock access to apps.Ben discusses his ongoing tech projects, including fixing and breaking his article summarizer tool (used for SouthGeek News) an...

After a few weeks off, Donovan and Ben are back with stories of surprise houseguests, home repairs, and getting pulled over for expired tags. From leaking windows to the rising costs of cars, they share their latest life updates before diving into the tech news. This episode covers Twitter/X blocking Signal links, Windows 11’s latest update headaches, Starlink’s growing pains, and the growing role of AI in government. Plus, they say a not-so-fond farewell to Skype and debate just how much worse the internet can get. It’s classic SouthGeek News—a little bit of tech, a little bit of r...

A quick note on why we haven’t repleased an episode recently. Thanks for for your patience.



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:
SouthGeekNews.comLeave a voicemail: VoicecastDonovan: SocialsSam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socialsBen:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)---Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.---

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In this episode of SouthGeek News, Donovan and Ben catch up on the unpredictable South Georgia weather and discuss recent IT projects, including network setups and dealing with frustrating Wi-Fi hardware. Ben shares his unexpected recognition with a Volunteer of the Year award for his hands-on work at a nonprofit.They dive into major tech stories, starting with OpenAI's launch of ChatGPTGov, designed for government agencies, sparking discussions on AI security and efficiency. Congress’s outdated tech is also a topic, with their new flag-tracking app finally catching up to technology Pizza Hut had in 2017.AppleCare’s shift to a subs...

I screwed up and put the wrong content in the wrong feed. Oops, and sorry.

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South Geek News - Episode 10🎙️ Recorded January 22, 2025In this episode of South Geek News, Ben and Donovan cover a winter storm surprise in South Georgia, tech news highlights, and some personal stories. Here's what we discuss:❄️ Winter Wonderland in Georgia?* Winter Storm Enzo left South Georgia with 4–6 inches of snow! Ben and Donovan recount their snowy adventures and how rare this is for the area.🔧 Tech Talk & News Highlights* Apple Privacy Lawsuit: Details of Apple’s $95 million settlement over Siri privacy violations.* Mac Malware Alert: New Banshee Stealer malware targeting 100 million Apple users—what you need to know.* Affordable Internet Debate: AT&T halts...

The latest episode of SouthGeek News dives into a mix of tech updates, personal anecdotes, and lighthearted banter. Ben and Donovan share their experiences with hardware upgrades, such as testing WireGuard VPN on high-speed networks and experimenting with budget-friendly equipment. They discuss the rising costs of gaming PCs and the challenges of balancing performance with affordability. Nostalgia also takes center stage, with reflections on outdated tech like Blu-ray players and Commodore 64 computers still in use. The conversation touches on the evolution of streaming services, frustrations with modern platforms, and the enduring appeal of physical media. Throughout, the tone remains casual...

In this episode of SouthGeek News, recorded on December 18, 2024, Ben Rehberg and Donovan Adkisson were joined by guest host Samuel Lewis. The show opened with Ben calling in remotely due to COVID, while Samuel shared updates on his life, including his recent upgrade to a custom-built computer for streaming and gaming. Samuel detailed how the new setup has significantly improved his workflow and performance, sharing amusing anecdotes about quirky extras included with the build.The conversation also turned to Ben’s recent travels to Florida and North Carolina for Thanksgiving and soccer, during which he unknowingly had COVID. Meanwhile, Donovan re...

Episode 7 of South Geek NewsIn this episode of South Geek News, Donovan and Ben cover a wide range of topics, blending tech insights, personal anecdotes, and current events. They kick things off with Thanksgiving reflections, including travel woes, fuel economy talk, and a shared disdain for Black Friday crowds.The hosts dive into the evolving landscape of holiday shopping, noting how Cyber Monday has transformed into a week-long event and the broader shift to online purchasing. They also explore the economic implications of tariffs on Chinese goods, highlighting how these policies could drastically impact tech prices and availability.On the...

In this episode, Ben and Donovan talk about holiday scheduling and how it impacted their recording plans, personal projects, and reflections on their decade-long careers. They delve into their experiences with client behaviors during the holiday season, technical challenges such as Wi-Fi performance and hardware configuration, and their thoughts on Microsoft's Office 365 and Outlook's new iterations.Further discussions include explorations of software development using AI tools like ChatGPT for coding assistance, reviews of modern apps like Earnify for fueling, and cybersecurity concerns involving phishing and malware tactics. They also touch on current events like Google's potential antitrust measures, Netflix's streaming...

Parts of the main show that were edited out as we felt it didn’t really fit the flow of the show. Enjoy!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit southgeeknews.substack.com/subscribe

The latest episode of *South Geek News* covers a range of tech-related topics, including updates about platforms like Blue Sky and X (formerly Twitter), reflecting on user shifts and preferences on these social networks. There's also mention of an amusing tech issue involving an old printer containing a surprise—a dead mouse—which led to further printer replacements. The episode touches on recent updates from Apple regarding new M4 Mac devices, Microsoft's plans to start charging for Windows 10 updates, and ongoing security concerns with IoT devices, specifically Ecovacs robot vacuums. Discussions expand into policy and security topics, like the U.S. g...

Due to Ben and I both being very busy today (not to mention a very disappointing election, at least on my part), we’ve decided to push our next episode to next week. We do apologize for the wait.

Hosts

Donovan Adkisson

Ben Rehberg

Contact

podcast@southgeeknews.com

VM/Text: 229-234-1307

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit southgeeknews.substack.com/subscribe

Content not included in the main episode, episode 4, recorded October 23, 2024.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit southgeeknews.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Donovan and Ben dive into their recent internet troubles with half the internet being down, and a frustrating experience with their provider, TruVista. They recount how a botched router upgrade caused outages. Ben discusses his experiments with large language models, image generation, and his exploration of the Hugging Face community. They debate the implications of AI advancements like Claude 3.5's computer control abilities, and what the future holds for AI's role in automation and network security.More topics covered in this episode:Internet Archive Hack; Internet Domain Disappearing; Lost HHD with Bitcoin; Cybersecurity Burnout; Air Taxis; New...

Outtakes and whatnot from episode 3 of SouthGeek News.

Hosts

Donovan Adkisson

Ben Rehberg

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Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit southgeeknews.substack.com/subscribe

The latest episode explores technology topics, including machine learning, AI tools in podcast hosting, and the impact of emerging tech like Meta's smart glasses with facial recognition. The hosts share personal stories about handling tech repairs after a hurricane and the challenges of aging equipment, blending humor with insights. The episode highlights how technology shapes daily life, and the privacy concerns tied to new innovations.Takeaways:
The hosts discuss the importance of managing expectations for podcast production timelines, especially around holidays.Donovan shares a personal story about sending a hammer to his son in Seattle, which got delayed due...

Ok, so I was a little off - Sam said "SouthGeeks" but I'm changing it to "SouthGeekers". Anyway! This episode is telling you how to support the show and what you get for that support!

Oh, and it's "Spark AI", not "Sparkle AI". LOL

Thanks!

Hosts

Donovan Adkisson

Ben Rehberg

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Try Visible and get $20 off!

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Bonus episode content from episode 2 of the SouthGeek News podcast that didn't make it into the final published episode.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit southgeeknews.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Donovan from SouthTech Network Solutions and Ben from Tifton Tech Works cover a variety of tech topics and share personal anecdotes. They monitor Hurricane Helene's expected landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm via Zoom.Earth, sharing humorous commentary on its impact on personal plans like golf cancellations.The hosts discuss spending excessive time on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the chaotic conspiracy theories present on the platform. Donovan recounts a personal story about his son, whose Twitter handle was stolen and recovered twice, criticizing Twitter's support under Elon Musk's leadership.The conversation then shifts to emerging AI...

X, formerly known as Twitter, is changing its blocking feature to allow blocked users to see public posts, though they still cannot interact with the account that blocked them. This is causing controversy as many users rely on blocking to avoid harassment or abuse. Meanwhile, Apple is delaying the release of its full AI-enhanced Siri update for the iPhone 16 until early 2025, with key features rolling out gradually throughout the year. The company also introduced a new battery removal process for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, using low-voltage electrical current to loosen the adhesive, making the phone easier to repair. Finally, Appl...

In the maiden episode for the relaunch of the SouthGeek News podcast, hosts Donovan Adkisson and Ben Rehberg are joined by Donovan's son, Tyler to discuss the Apple event, cars that use outdated technology to perform software updates along with other features on the car, some Apple TV+ stuff, OpenAI and AGI, issues with a local Internet/VoIP provider (TruVista), the Chase Bank "glitch" and the stupid people that fell for it, and a Navy Ship, Starlink, and a WiFi named STINKY.

Hosts
Donovan Adkisson
Ben Rehberg

Guest Host
Tyler Adkisson
Everything...

Relaunching of the SouthGeek News podcast. Maybe. Hopefully. We'll see. LOL




Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southgeek-news--6576669/support.

Where to Find Us:
SouthGeekNews.comLeave a voicemail: VoicecastDonovan: SocialsSam: tscn.tv // @tscnsam on socialsBen:  Instagram  / Twitter(X)---Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.---

Want an ad free version?  Become a supporter by visiting Patreon!