Technically Working Podcast By Damashe Thomas and Michael Babcock cover art

Technically Working

Technically Working

By: Damashe Thomas and Michael Babcock
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"Welcome to 'Technically Working', the go-to podcast for tech enthusiasts and productivity seekers alike. Hosts Michael Babcock and Damashe Thomas take you on a journey through the ever-evolving world of technology and productivity. As Mac OS and iPhone users, they share their personal experiences and tips on staying productive while using these tools. But they don't stop there - they also explore other platforms like Android and Windows to bring you a comprehensive view of the tech landscape. Tune in each episode to hear them keep each other accountable, discuss the latest tools and strategies, and share their journey to reaching their goals. Whether you're a small business owner, freelancer, or simply looking to boost your productivity, 'Technically Working' is the perfect podcast for anyone looking to level up their tech skills and get things done."Copyright 2026
Episodes
  • #157 – This Is Fine, Everything Is Fine

    #157 – This Is Fine, Everything Is Fine
    Apr 4 2026
    Episode 157 opens with a VoiceOver volume bug on Michael's Mac that resets to 100 percent every time he command tabs. Damashe suggests the nuclear option: reset your VoiceOver settings. Back them up first. From there, Damashe gets into his Blindshell Classic 3 experiment. He's been using it as his actual work phone, which means carrying it when he leaves the house, taking calls on it, and finding out what it can and cannot do when theory meets reality. The short version: phone calls work fine, T9 input is usable with a tip Michael drops about the down arrow shortcut, Be My Eyes camera quality genuinely surprised him, and the dual SIM situation does not work. At all. Whatever is in SIM slot 2 does nothing. Switch the cards around and the other one works fine in slot 1. Damashe has a hypothesis. Blindshell, he is sending you this episode. He also paired a Bluetooth keyboard to the Blindshell, got his Meta Ray-Bans connected, and found out phone calls come through the glasses just fine. Screen reader audio does not, at least not by default. That test is still pending. A few other Blindshell notes worth knowing: there is no company name field in contacts, apps access your microphone without asking permission, and the lock screen keypad instructions are printed right on the lock screen, which is not exactly a security feature. Damashe is not bashing the phone. He is just reporting what he found. There is also a broader point he makes about what Blindshell missed. The community already named the product. They call it the shell phone. Blindshell should have listened to that, leaned into it, and used it to market the device beyond just the blind community. A well designed keypad phone with accessible Android underneath could appeal to a lot of people. Instead the branding closes the door before anyone outside the community even considers it. The Clix Communicator gets a mention here as a device that might actually do this right, if it ever ships. Then there is Graphene OS. Damashe has it running on a separate Android device, kept completely isolated, for reasons he will describe only as just in case. If that makes sense to you, run with it. If not, everything is fine. Messaging apps come up next. Damashe breaks down Signal versus WhatsApp in plain terms, including a genuinely useful explanation of metadata using a letter in the mail as the analogy. He also wants Signal to add device linking because it would make recommending it a lot easier. Michael mentions an ACB affiliate mailing list that uses Signal groups, which he did not know was a thing. Michael's OpenClaw setup gets a proper rundown. He is running the assistant named K on his Raspberry Pi, connected through Telegram, using three models depending on the task: OpenRouter free for simple back and forth, GPT-5.4 mini for emails and scheduling, and GPT-5.4 for deeper content work. He burned through $35 in a weekend before the API cut him off at negative two cents. The system now sends him a daily recap at 7:30 PM, manages its own memory, and archives previous days into markdown files. He has not set up the 1Password skill yet but it is on the list. Damashe spent the entire week not using AI and felt strange about it. Not unproductive, just strange. He also has thoughts about the Claude code leak and whether anyone is actually reviewing what gets pushed. He does not have answers. Neither does Michael. Proton Workspace gets a quick mention as a direct competitor to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. If you use Proton Mail already and want to talk about it on the show, email them. The Keychron folding keyboard arrived. Damashe opened it, looked at it, and said it is not what he expected. He has not paired it to anything yet. Full report coming. Episode closes with a shout out to tip jar subscriber number six, whoever that is. Topics covered: VoiceOver volume reset bug and how to back up your VoiceOver settingsBlindshell Classic 3 as a daily work phone: what works and what does notDual SIM on the Blindshell Classic 3: broken, probably by designT9 input tip: down arrow shortcut to speed up letter entryBe My Eyes camera quality on the BlindshellMeta Ray-Bans paired to the Blindshell: calls yes, screen reader noBlindshell's missed opportunity: the shell phone name and broader market appealClix Communicator as a phone that might get this rightGraphene OS: no further questionsSignal vs WhatsApp: features, metadata, and why Damashe is on WhatsApp nowMetadata explained with a mail analogyMichael's OpenClaw setup: three models, one budget, daily recapsGPT-5.4 mini, GPT-5.4, and burning through $35 in a weekendThe Claude code leak and vibe coding concernsProton Workspace as a Google and Microsoft competitorKeychron folding keyboard: first impressions, not great Send feedback: feedback@technicallyworking.show Support the show: technicallyworking.show Follow on Mastodon: Michael: @payown@dragonscave.space Damashe: @damashe@technically.social Show bot: @tw@...
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • #156 – Streaks, Macs, and Smart Locks

    #156 – Streaks, Macs, and Smart Locks
    Mar 29 2026

    Episode 156 opens with some breaking Apple news: the Mac Pro is officially dead. Damashe breaks down why that decision probably came down to Apple Silicon's unified memory architecture and what it means for professionals who relied on the Mac Pro's expandability. We trace the full arc from the original cheese grater to the ill-fated trash can and back again, and talk about why the Mac Studio is likely where Apple thinks that story ends.

    From there, we get into recording setups. Michael is back in the garage with a rug, a mic stand from Damashe, and the Vocaster running into an OWC dock. Damashe is on the Zoom P4 Next, and he breaks down how that compares to the Vocaster for anyone thinking about a step up, including what he likes, what he doesn't, and why locking XLR ports matter more than you'd think.

    We also share a few honest tips for improving your recording environment without buying new gear. Rugs, soft surfaces, and where you point your microphone matter more than most people realize.

    Then: the Todoist situation. Michael came home from CSUN with a 114-day streak that didn't survive the trip. He explains what happened, how he's building back, and what his 7,000-plus completed tasks say about how he actually uses the app. Damashe broke his streak around the same time for a much more relatable reason.

    The back half of the episode is dedicated to a question from Chad, who just closed on his first house. Congratulations, Chad. He wanted follow-up on cameras and smart locks, so we go wide first: start with your ecosystem, know your priorities around cloud storage versus local recording, and think about who else in your home is going to be using this stuff.

    Damashe is using Reolink cameras with a network video recorder for fully local storage, a Level Lock Plus for his front door, and Aqara devices throughout the house. Michael is running Eufy cameras through HomeKit Secure Video and has had mixed results with the Level Bolt. Both of us agree: Aqara makes solid, affordable hardware, and if you own your home, power-over-ethernet cameras are worth planning for even if you can't run the cable today.

    We also make a case for water leak sensors, which are less exciting than smart lights but probably more important once you own the place.

    We close with a tease of something new coming likely by end of April. If you follow Michael on Mastodon, you'll probably hear about it there first.

    Topics covered:

    • Apple kills the Mac Pro: what it means and why it probably happened
    • Mac Pro history: cheese grater, trash can, 2019 refresh, and the M2 Ultra version that didn't save it
    • Apple Silicon unified memory and why it complicates expandability
    • Recording environment tips: rugs, soft surfaces, closets, and mic placement
    • Vocaster vs Zoom P4 Next: comparing two portable interfaces
    • Shure Beta 87A and why condenser vs dynamic matters for your space
    • Todoist streaks, gamification, and what 7,000 completed tasks looks like
    • Smart home ecosystem advice: start with what you're already in
    • Cameras: Reolink, Eufy, Ring (why Damashe won't recommend it), POE vs battery
    • HomeKit Secure Video and what it means for local vs cloud storage
    • Smart locks: Level Lock, Aqara retrofit deadbolts, U-Bolt (avoid)
    • Water leak sensors and why they matter if you own your home
    • New show incoming

    Send feedback: feedback@technicallyworking.show

    Support the show: technicallyworking.show (Support Us link)

    Follow on Mastodon:

    • Michael: @payown@dragonscave.space
    • Damashe: @damashe@technically.social
    • Show bot: @tw@technically.social

    Support Technically Working by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/technically-working

    Find out more at https://technically-working.pinecast.co

    Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/technically-working/4ecaf69e-1b6b-459e-85eb-66b367628ae9

    Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-431b7d for 40% off for 4 months, and support Technically Working.
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • #155 – Walking In With Confidence: CSUN, Braille Displays, and Server Shenanigans

    #155 – Walking In With Confidence: CSUN, Braille Displays, and Server Shenanigans
    Mar 21 2026
    Damashe and Michael are back for episode 155 of Technically Working, and this one is packed. They start by addressing the episode 153 publishing mishap where Michael's audio track was accidentally left out of the Auphonic template, leaving listeners with a two-person conversation missing one of the people. They break down exactly what happened, how their podcast production workflow contributed to the issue, and what they're changing in their Dropbox and Auphonic setup to prevent it from happening again. Next up, the technically.social Mastodon instance went offline after a billing issue with masto.host. Damashe walks through the full story of how a separated email alias caused him to miss payment failure notifications, how the hosting provider cancelled the account with no option to reactivate, and how he rebuilt the Mastodon server on CloudRun. The Technically Working bot is back online, refederated, and ready for followers at @tw@technically.social. Damashe is recording on the Shure Beta 87A, and both hosts take time to explain why this super cardioid condenser microphone is their top recommendation for podcasters and content creators looking to upgrade to XLR. They cover the mic's pickup pattern, durability, price point (typically around $200 on sale), and how it compares to alternatives like the Samson Q2U, the Audio-Technica ATR 2100X, and a brand new Audio-Technica 2500X that neither host has tested. They also discuss the Focusrite Vocaster One and Vocaster Two as affordable audio interfaces with phantom power for anyone building a home podcast studio setup. Michael brings a detailed CSUN 2026 recap from Anaheim. His hands-on impressions cover a wide range of assistive technology and accessibility products including the Dot Pad X multi-line braille display from AT Guys, the Mnemonic portable Bluetooth braille labeler that embosses onto DYMO and metal tape from a phone app, and the Cadence, a 48-cell refreshable braille tablet with four lines of 12 cells, an impressive refresh rate, and the ability to daisy-chain up to four units together. Michael also visited the DOT and LG booth where they demonstrated a fully accessible self-checkout kiosk with speech output, headphone jack, and a 12-cell braille display built into the unit. LG showcased accessible home appliances including a washer, dryer, refrigerator, and dishwasher with braille labels, adaptive features for users with upper body limitations, and the ThinkQ smart home hub with voice control. Samsung's accessibility sticker program for appliances also gets a mention. On the braille display side, the episode covers the Thinkerbell Labs 40-cell braille display running Linux and targeting a $1,200 price point, the Orbit Flow (a USB-only 40-cell aluminum braille display, and the Orbit Strata with combined braille and speech output. Michael also shares his experience with the Orbit Optima and discusses the differences between Piezo and True Braille cell technology. Damashe and Michael discuss braille on business cards, why QR codes linking to vCard contact information should be the standard at conferences, and the challenge of scanning business cards accessibly. Damashe puts out a call to listeners for accessible business card scanning app recommendations. Damashe introduces changedetection.io, a self-hosted website monitoring tool he installed on CloudRun to track product pages for stock changes. He set it up to watch for Ubiquiti mobile routers that were out of stock, got a Pushover notification when they came back, and grabbed them before they sold out again. He explains how he's planning on using the routers with SIM cards to provide cellular Wi-Fi for security cameras at his rest area vending locations, and discusses the tradeoffs between rugged outdoor-rated routers and cheaper alternatives with 3D-printed enclosures. The episode wraps with a podcast download stats update: 31,092 total downloads, 409 in the last seven days, and 142 downloads for episode 154 in just three days. Damashe teases the new Technically Working website, confirms the URL structure will support direct episode links like technicallyworking.show/155, and shares plans to expand the show's social media presence to Blue Sky. They celebrate three years of weekly podcast publishing with no missed episodes and welcome new listeners who discovered the show at CSUN. Links and resources: Technically Working: technicallyworking.showSend feedback: feedback@technicallyworking.showAT Guys Braille Apps for Dot Pad: braille.atguys.comchangedetection.ioSupport the show: technicallyworking.show (tip jar link on podcast page)Mastodon bot: @tw@technically.socialDamashe on Mastodon: @damashe@technically.socialMichael on Mastodon: @payown@dragonscave.spaceHashtag: #TechnicallyWorking Support Technically Working by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/technically-working Find out more at https://technically-working.pinecast.co Send us your feedback online: https://...
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    1 hr and 13 mins
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