Beyond Connected

In this powerful episode of Beyond Connected, we sit down with wellness icon Susan Powter for one of the most raw and inspiring conversations we've ever had. After disappearing from the spotlight at the height of her fame, Susan opens up about financial collapse, exploitation, isolation, and surviving rock bottom.   And there's one huge reason why this story belongs on our show: technology did not destroy her life. It helped save it.   This episode is about how digital platforms, technological autonomy, and direct to audience technology allowed Susan to rebuild her identity, income, and voice in a world that had moved on without her.   This is not just a comeback story. It is a survival story powered by the internet.   In this episode, we explore:   • How Susan started her viral infomercial career • Why she walked away at the height of her fame • How gig economy tech was her lifeline for years • The creator economy as a tool for independence and ownership • Turning audience connection into digital ownership • Why technology can be a tool for survival not distraction   Susan shares how she now uses TikTok, Instagram, podcasts, digital storefronts, and direct distribution to own her work, control her content, and rebuild on her terms.   "Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter," executive produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, is now streaming on Amazon Prime. And her new book "And Then Em Died..." is available on Amazon for purchase.    Follow Susan on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/susanpowter/?hl=en Follow Susan on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@susanpowter   Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.   Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.   Chapters 0:30 - Intro 2:00 - Stop the Insanity 3:25 - Welcome Susan Powter 5:10 - How Susan Got Started 7:16 - Behind-the-Scenes Issues 7:55 - Susan Walked Away 8:51 - The Original Influencer 9:36 - Celebrity Encounter 10:57 - Joan Rivers' Influence 12:22 - Susan's New Documentary 15:23 - Hitting Rock Bottom 18:31 - Susan's Energy Saved Her 20:22 - Reclaiming Her Voice  21:39 - New Doc Opening Doors 22:12 - How Susan Stayed Fit 23:51 - New Tech Fueled Comeback 24:40 - Inside Susan's New Book  

Online scams are evolving fast, and everyday people are paying the price. In this episode, we invited Philip Martin, the Chief Security Officer at Coinbase, to chat about cybersecurity best practices and how to avoid the proliferation of scams online. We dig into how modern cybercrime actually works, from password reuse and data breaches to bank impersonation scams and social engineering attacks. You'll even hear a real-world story of a bank fraud scam that used two-factor authentication manipulation, identity theft tactics, and psychological pressure to steal money in minutes. We explore how technology, AI, and cryptocurrency are changing the cybersecurity landscape, and why blockchain transparency is actually a threat to criminals, especially in the highly-publicized kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie.  In this episode, you will learn: • How scammers use leaked passwords and data breaches to access bank accounts • Why reusing passwords is one of the biggest cybersecurity risks today • How bank impersonation scams and social engineering actually work • Why you should never trust inbound calls or texts about your finances • How two-factor authentication can protect you and how it can be exploited • The safest ways to verify calls from banks and financial institutions • Why password managers are essential for online security • How authenticator apps and security keys improve digital safety • How blockchain transactions are traceable and used in cybercrime investigations • The role of law enforcement, data privacy, and digital forensics in stopping fraud This episode is a must-watch for anyone who uses online banking, mobile payments, cryptocurrency, social media, or digital services. If you care about cybersecurity, online scams, identity theft, data privacy, and protecting your digital life, this conversation is for you. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.   Chapters 0:30 - Intro 3:41 - Scams Are #1 Threat 4:18 - Impersonation Scams  6:56 - Everyone is Vulnerable 7:31 - Call Your Bank Directly  9:28 - Good Password Etiquette 10:39 - Use Password Managers 11:24 - Use Authentication Apps 12:04 - Consider a Security Key 13:58 - Authentication Apps 101 14:38 - Antivirus Recommendations 15:41 - Simplify Your Computer 16:10 - Nancy Guthrie Case 16:53 - Crypto is Transparent 18:58 - Is Crypto Traceable?  

What really happens when a school decides to take smartphones out of students' hands? In this episode, we sit down with an education leader who made a bold move 2 years ago: removing smartphones from the school day. What followed was a huge increased in student focus, connection, and a complete shift in student culture. This is a real conversation about technology, attention, parenting, education, and how digital habits are shaping the next generation. If you care about tech, privacy, kids, mental health, learning, or modern digital life, this episode will change how you see screens forever. In this episode, we cover: Why smartphones were hurting learning and focus in school How schools can convince parents and students to get on board How phone-free policies reduce gossip, anxiety, and conflict What changed in student engagement and attention How schools can implement phone-free policies without chaos The impact on student confidence and self-esteem What parents are really saying about phone-free schools How technology can support learning without controlling it  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.   Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.    Chapters (0:30) - Intro (2:45) - Meet Lori Kennedy  (5:15) - Student Engagement Down (5:33) - Researching & Planning (7:55) - Enforcing the Rule (10:30) - How Parents Reacted  (11:20) - How Students Reacted (12:30) - Did it Work? (14:30) - Less Bullying & Gossip (15:50) - Policy Attracting New Kids (16:50) - How Do I Implement This Rule?  

Online scams are exploding and identity theft at an unprecedented rate. In this episode of Beyond Connected, I'm breaking down five common myths about identity theft and explaining how scammers easily manipulate people using personal data, technology, and psychological pressure. This conversation dives into how cybercrime actually works today and why smart, careful people are still getting scammed every day.  In this episode, you will learn:  • Why identity theft usually starts quietly, with personal data you did not realize was public • How data brokers collect, sell, and resell your information without you noticing • Why not being part of a major data breach does not mean you are safe • How scammers use urgency, fear, and familiarity to trick victims into acting fast • Why retirees and families are among the most targeted groups for online scams • The truth about credit monitoring and what it does and does not protect • How strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and data removal services reduce risk • Why removing your information from data broker sites is one of the most powerful defenses • How deepfakes, voice cloning, and AI are making scams more convincing than ever.  If you care about cybersecurity, online scams, data privacy, identity theft protection, or how technology is shaping your digital life, this episode is a must-listen.  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.  Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

This episode is a warning for every family living in the age of AI.   An elderly Southern California woman named Abigail was targeted by a ruthless cyber scammer using deepfake video and impersonation tactics. The scam was so convincing that she believed she was in a real relationship with Steve Burton from General Hospital. What happened next is heartbreaking. Abigail was manipulated into sending money again and again until more than $81,000 was gone. Then the scam escalated even further. She was pressured into selling her paid off home, leaving her evicted and devastated.   Abigail's daughter Vivian joins us to share the story step by step, including the biggest red flags, how scammers isolate victims from family, why these cyber scams are so hard to spot in real time, and how AI deepfakes are changing the scam game forever. If you think you or your loved ones could never fall for something like this, think again. These criminals are using advanced technology, social engineering, and psychological manipulation to target vulnerable people and steal everything.   We also kick off the episode with a look at the future of transportation and technology, including Uber's new robotaxi fleet and what it means for self driving cars across the United States.   If you care about technology, cybersecurity, online scams, data privacy, identity theft, and staying safe from AI powered fraud, this episode is a must watch.   Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.   Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.    (0:30) - Intro (3:30) - Uber Robotaxis (7:00) - The Victim's Daughter Vivian (8:03) - How Vivian Discovered Scam (9:15) - How Scammers Groom Victims (9:47) - Discovering the Scam Cont'd  (11:11) - Scammer Used Deepfake Video (12:29) - Scammer Used Romance Angle  (13:31) - Red Flag #1  (14:36) - Lonely People Targeted (15:15) - The Plot Thickens  (17:08) - Reaching out to LAPD  (19:02) - Scammer Stole Victim's Home (21:41) - Sleazy Realtor Took Advantage (23:54) - Eviction Coming (23:59) - Vivian Gets Legal Advice (24:29) - Vivian Hires Attorney (25:20) - Vivian Hires New Attorney (26:24)  - Vivian Hires 3rd Attorney (27:02) - Power of Attorney  (28:40) - Parents Evicted (29:18) - Court Battle Continues (30:37) - Anybody Can Be Scammed (31:18) - Vivian's Advice (32:47) - Warning Signs (33:25) - Delete Your Data (33:51) - Get Antivirus (34:28) - Dark Side of Tech (35:33) - Prevent AI Phishing  

We've been getting some fantastic messages ever since we opened our call line a couple months back, so this week we're doing a voicemail box special! We cover a great variety of topics here:    How do I transfer my photos and data to my new phone and I have no access to my old phone? How often should I upgrade my phone? Does skipping upgrades affect my safety? Facebook wants to confirm my identity with a video selfie. Is this a scam? I'm not technologically literate at all. How do I get antivirus on all of my devices? I've been told by Aura that all my info is on the darkweb (my phone, email, social) and I'm constantly getting bombarded with scams. What's the best action I can take?   Whether you're currently dealing with a similar scam yourself or not, today's episode is full of helpful tips and tricks so that you'll know exactly what to do if you're ever in trouble. Enjoy!  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail. Please include your email and the city and state you're calling from. Chapters (0:30) - Intro  (2:07) - Isaac Glucose Monitor  (3:31) - Transferring Lost Phone Data (5:17) - Updating Your Phone (8:23)- Facebook Video Selfie ID (11:22) - Antivirus Across Devices (13:47) - Get Info Off Dark Web  (17:08) - Closing Thoughts   

Many tech companies like to start off the year with exciting new product announcements, and 2026 is no different. Last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I was absolutely blown away by the latest and greatest in the tech world. This week on the show, I wanted to break down my favorite picks, including a crazy futuristic new TV, a robotic vacuum that can actually climb stairs, LG's dazzling new play in the humanoid household chore robot race, and lots  I also want to highlight a dangerous new scam involving verification codes. Has a stranger reached out asking you to receive a verification code for them? Tune in to learn how to protect yourself.  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.  Related articles:  10 amazing new tech announcements for 2026: https://cyberguy.com/future-tech/top-ces-products/ 10 exciting new innovations in health tech: https://cyberguy.com/future-tech/10-health-tech-products-spotlight-ces-2026/ Chapters (0:30) - Intro (2:56) - Verification Code Scam (5:45) - LG OLED Wallpaper TV (7:14) - Dreame Cyber X Vacuum Robot (8:01) - Switchbot AI Mindclip (8:56) - LG CLOiD Home Robot  (10:05) - Glyde Smart Hair Clippers (11:24) - LEGO Smart Bricks (12:11) - Autoliv Foldable Steering Wheel (13:12) - TDM Neo Headphones (13:56) - Jackery Solar Mars Bot (14:58) - Timeli Personal Safety Device   

Trucking is a tough job. Driving 10+ hours a day by yourself through long stretches of empty highways. Being away from your family and friends for weeks at a time. It's no wonder that the trucking industry is facing some of the worst turnover rates in any sector. To make matters worse, trucking companies are struggling to find new recruits more than ever before. Now, I know this is certainly a hot-button topic. And I know there are plenty of truckers out there who love what they do. But the future of this industry seems rocky to say the least, and that's why I find myself increasingly interested in AI trucking. I sat down with Dan Goff, the Vice President of External Affairs for Kodiak AI, one of the tech companies leading the AI trucking charge. As he explains it, AI is going to change trucking jobs, but not take them away. And considering the current state of the industry, it might be the exact kind of change it needs! Let me know what you think in the comments!   Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail with your email address. For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter https://CyberGuy.com/Subscribe   (0:30) - Intro (3:12) - Getting Consumers On Board  (5:33) - About Kodiak AI (5:27) - Importance of U.S. Freight  (7:30) - AI Will Cut Costs (9:31) - How Humans Factor In (10:02) - The Trucker Shortage  (11:19) - AI Insurance?  (11:47) - Unreal Safety Records (13:57) - Centralized Command (14:46) - Successful First Deployment (15:53) - Regulatory Progress (18:02) - Under the Hood  (18:41) - The Future of Kodiak AI  (19:10) - Driver-As-A-Service  (20:09) - Scaling Up  (21:14) - Consumer Logistics  (22:02) - Will Truckers Lose Jobs?  (24:16) - A.I. Commercial Flights?  (24:44) - Safety is Required

Many folks think they'd never fall for a malicious financial scam, but the reality is that these bad actors are becoming more and more adept at emotionally manipulating their victims. On this week's episode, I sat down with Joe Allen, a disabled man out of Connecticut who fell victim to a vicious cryptocurrency investment scam. Stuck at home and out of work, Joe got a text message offering him exclusive access to a crypto investment opportunity. It's likely that these scammers knew Joe was in a vulnerable position and knew they could target him relentlessly until they got every last bit of his financial portfolio. Within a matter of weeks, he had sent over more than $300,000, seeing absolutely no return. When we heard Joe's harrowing story, we knew we had to share it in the hopes that we could prevent other vulnerable people from falling victim to similar schemes.  If you want to make sure you don't fall for the same kind of scams, stick around till the end for my tips and red flags to watch out for.  Want to help Joe out? Check out his GoFundMe page here: www.gofundme.com/f/support-carols-son-after-devastating-scam We also wanted to highlight a couple of hopeful advancements in medical technology to add some light to the dark, including the first-ever transplant of a 3D-printed cornea, and new microrobotic technology that's making huge waves in the medical community. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.   Chapters (0:30) - Intro  (3:45) - Swiss Microrobots Swim Thru Veins  (4:32) - 3D-Printed Cornea Restores Sight  (5:14) - Joe's Story  (7:20) - How Scammers Manipulate Us (7:51) - The Crypto Hook (8:35) - Joe's Story Cont'd (11:28) - Scam Was Targeted (12:16) - How Scam Victims Make Mistakes (12:35) - The Breaking Point (14:00) - No Help From the Police (14:26) - Few Signs of Hope (15:48) - Joe's Advice  (17:51) - Joe's Path Forward (19:11) - How to Avoid Scams  

Happy holidays from the CyberGuy team! If you're a regular listener of the podcast and/or reader of our newsletter, chances are you got some fancy new tech gadgets for the holidays! It can be easy to get wrapped up in all of the fun new features and entertaining apps these devices have to offer, but it's also crucial to utilize privacy and security settings. A lot of new phones, computers, and TVs will track and share your sensitive information by default, and it's up to you to protect yourself from cyber threats. If you follow these simple steps, you'll be ready and all set in a matter of minutes. And if you utilize our best practices to keep yourself safe from the get-go, you'll be fully secure when scammers attempt to infiltrate your life down the road!  Stick around for a few tips and tricks to make sure you're fully utilizing all of the handy privacy features and settings your iPhone has to offer. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.   Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.    Related articles:   Got new electronics for the holidays? Here's what to do first: https://cyberguy.com/tech-tips-tricks/new-electronics-holidays-what-do-first/ (0:30) - Intro (2:47) - Setting Up New Tech (3:18) - Phone & Laptop Tips (6:32) - Common Mistakes to Avoid (11:20) - Smart TV Set-Up (13:30) - Amazon Trade-in (15:26) - iPhone Tip - Battery Life (16:45) - iPhone Tip - Safely Share Your Phone  

Wouldn't your niece or nephew like a cuddly teddy bear that could also tell them a bedtime story? That's the idea behind a flood of new AI toys. Powered by ChatGPT, they can have full conversations with your loved ones. So what's the issue? Well as Researcher R.J. Cross explains, there are quite a few issues. In her study with the Public Research Interest Group, she found that these toys would describe sexual and violent information in detail with enough prompting. The longer the conversation, the deeper the rabbit hole would go. And that's not all – the developers behind this tech are deliberately making it as addictive as possible, even making kids feel guilty for switching them off. The icing on the cake? They're also tracking large amounts of sensitive personal data and sending it off to third parties. This was a fascinating, somewhat scary chat, and I know you'll get some fantastic insight out of it.  Plus, tune in to hear about a new Cloud storage scam to avoid this holiday season. Happy Holidays from the CyberGuy team! We hope you're enjoying some nice quality time with the family. If you know someone who got their loved one an AI toy for the holidays, consider sending them this episode!  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.  Related articles:  Learn about the the new Cloud storage scam and get our data removal/password manager recs here: www.cyberguy.com/storagescam Get more info on AI toys: www.cyberguy.com/AItoys  Chapters  (0:00) - Intro (2:12) - Cloud Storage Scam  (4:57) - Interview w/ R.J. Cross (6:24) - The Public Interest Research Group  (7:32) - Are AI Toys Safe for Kids? (9:28) - Kumma Teddy Bear  (11:29) - Curio's "Grok" Toy  (13:33) - Are All AI Toys Bad? (16:00) - Miko 3 Toy  (17:43) - Key Takeaways  (18:06) - Wait for Improvements (18:20) - Don't Replace Real Friends (18:50) - Test the Toys Yourself (19:21) - Supervise Playtime (19:50) - Secure the Toys  (20:00) - Utilize Privacy Settings  (21:17) - AI Barbies  (24:03) - Summary  

2025 was an incredibly diverse and exciting year for technological innovation, so for this week's episode I wanted to highlight 10 of my favorite inventions. Whether you're an aspiring tennis player looking for a high-tech way to level up your game or a water sports enthusiast looking for the next cool boat to hitch to your dock, sports tech innovation is at an all-time high. And if you're into sustainability, Glacier's recycling robot and Karapod's air-to-water-to-coffee machine are huge leaps forward. What about technology that might be able to harness lightning to power your house? Or a satellite that can detect fires before they reach a dangerous size? The list goes on and on! I also wanted to take a second to break down the Digital ID, which essentially replaces the controversial and confusing Real ID. Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail. Related articles:  For the full Top 10 Inventions companion guide: www.cyberguy.com/Top10Inventions How to Install Digital ID: https://cyberguy.com/tech-tips-tricks/apple-lets-add-passport-wallet/ For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter https://CyberGuy.com/Subscribe Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover https://CyberGuy.com/Contact Or Call 877-655-KURT How to delete yourself from the internet https://CyberGuy.com/Delete Chapters (0:00) - Intro (3:20) - Apple Digital ID (6:06) - Top 10 Inventions (6:50) - The Light Phone III (8:20) - 70Mai Dashcam 4K Omni (9:36) - Google FireSat (11:23) - Aurzen ZIP Projector (12:11) - NTT Lightning Drone (14:23) - Phia Shopping App (15:33) - Kara Pod (16:59) - Arc Sport (18:46) - Acemate Tennis Robot (19:44) - Glacier AI Recycling Robot

A couple of big stories caught my eye this week and I wanted to focus on them for this week's show.  For starters, a new report from NordPass revealed the 10 most commonly used passwords today and it was frankly a little crazy to see that so many people are still using such basic passwords! I break down how to create unique, complicated passwords for all of your accounts without losing your marbles in the process. The second big story was the unveiling of XPENG's new humanoid robot, IRON. This robot is so unbelievably life-like that many viewers thought it was a stunt at first. That is, until the engineers literally cut open one of its legs to show just how artificial it really was. I break down how this tech works and what it will likely be used for in the next several years.  To round things out, I also dove into some of the cool new features I've been finding in IOS 26. Want to check out some helpful new texting features? Tune in for my choice of iOS 26 tips & tricks.   Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.   

It's sad to say, but the holiday season is an incredibly active time for scammers and fraudsters out there. More people are buying products online and sending and receiving packages than at any other time of the year, and that means that your vulnerability is multiplied.  In this week's episode, I walk you through some easy steps to avoid popular holiday season scams, including gift card fraud, fake gift exchanges, package delivery ploys, fake charity donation traps, and fake online shopping sites. At the top of the show, I wanted to highlight a super new development in solar energy tech as well. And then to wrap things up, Producer Max cooked up a fun new game called "What's that Sound?" in which I have to guess different technology by just the beeps and bloops it makes. We know these tips and tricks will set you on the right path!  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail. 

Our mailbag is already chock full of questions, so we decided to dive into some more listener questions this week! First, I wanted to touch on an exciting new piece of legislation on the table in Ohio that could create some helpful regulation for AI. Then we dig into the big questions! Is your phone constantly running out of storage, no matter what you do? I've got a handful of iPhone and Android tips to try out today. Are you going on a cruise sometime soon and worrying about your data security on board? I've got you covered in that department too! We also talk about a popular Amazon texting/email scam, a postage stamp hoax going around online, and an awful new trend called Facebook cloning. Make sure to watch the full episode for a detailed breakdown of all of the above, with actionable steps you can take to protect yourself today.  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.  

This week, I wanted to set aside some time to answer some high-priority questions from our readers and listeners. How can I safely charge my phone in public places like airports? How do I avoid the new strain of sophisticated caller ID spoofing scams? How do I keep spam out of my email inbox in today's world? These issues are tricky and require a good amount of attention to detail, so I made sure to explain everything as thoroughly and clearly as possible. If you're willing to set aside some time to change a couple of settings on your phone and buy a few key pieces of tech, you'll be a much more secure person day-to-day. Stick around til the end, where Producer Max and I play a fun game called Name That Tech, where I have to come up with fun names for exciting (and sometimes fake) technology.  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

The first time I visited Dr. Ilan Kedan, I was completely blown away. His office in Beverly Hills is borderline futuristic, and I had 5 million questions to ask him right off the bat. How is AI influencing medical practice in the US? Is ChatGPT going to replace medical care for any number of Americans? Does wearable tech actually do anything? We dig into all of these pressing questions and more! I also take a moment to talk about some cool new Airtaxi technology I've been obsessed with lately. Plus, stick around for a quick game of Startup or Scam. And yes, some of these businesses are past the start-up stage, but they had to start somewhere!   Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

There are vets that specialize in pet fish?! When it comes to crazy-sounding jobs, Dr. Christina Dover of Aquatic Pet Vet takes the cake. With her specialty vet practice, she services a wide variety of pet fish in Southern California. In this exclusive interview, she walks us through the advanced technology she uses in each appointment to check-up on and care for her fishy patients. I also wanted to take a second to address the shocking Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage we all experienced last week and offer up some tips to help you out next time that kind of breakdown happens. Stick around to the end for a fun edition of Fish or Fiction, where I quiz Dr. Dover on a slate of outlandish-sounding fish and aquatic inventions.  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

As much as I appreciate the ways in which technology enriches our lives, I also strongly believe that if we don't keep a close eye on what these tech companies are doing behind-the-scenes, we're in trouble. Today on the show, I talked with Kim W., a grandmother from Kansas whose grandson was recently targeted by a child predator while using Meta's Oculus VR headset. Luckily, Kim was able to swoop in and protect her family, but not every child has such a watchful guardian. Kim walks us through this harrowing story and offers guidance to parents to help prevent these kinds of situations. For our comprehensive guide to VR safety, head over to our website. I also explain the massive AWS outage from last week and what you can do to protect yourself in the future. Plus, stick around for a fun little round-up of viral videos to send you off with a laugh or two.    Statement from Meta: "We want young people to have safe, age-appropriate experiences on our platform, including letting parents set up parent-managed accounts on Quest for their children ages 10-12. Preteens need a parent's permission to create an account, parents can choose what apps their preteen can download, and they can block apps at any time. Parents can also watch their preteen's Quest experience in real time and report anyone who breaks our rules – as we understand happened in this instance. If we become aware of a preteen using an account meant for someone 13 or older, we'll take steps to ensure they're in the right experience. – Meta Spokesperson   Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. 

For our first in-person episode, I knew I wanted to bring in an expert. But I also knew I needed someone who'd be fun to hang out with for an hour. David "The Miles Guy" Fleming checks both boxes, and I'm super excited for you all to dig into this engaging, educational chat. Does airline status actually matter anymore? How much are miles really worth? When should I use my rewards, and when should I save them? David knows all of the answers and more. Plus, we play a fun guessing game called Who's in that Private Jet? Stick around till the end for a bonus segment where I answer a listener question from my old friend Kathy: what smart home upgrades do you recommend? With a few simple installations from my list, your home will level up big time.  Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.