Tech Faceplants: That One's Gotta Hurt

EPISODE DESCRIPTIONTech companies promise “life-changing.” Then you open the app and meet the unlabeled rectangle of doom.Evan Starnes is joined by Aftersight’s lead podcast producer (and returning BLT co-host) Jonathan Price for a banter-forward reality check on modern tech hype—especially through the lens of accessibility. Inspired by a listener email from Ron in Memphis, they unpack why “AI everywhere” can create more friction than freedom, how subscription creep turns products into monthly relationships, and why companies keep shipping half-baked devices that depend on updates and vague “bug fixes.”Then it’s time for Tech Faceplant: the smart device that can’t survive setup, the app that became a dashboard, and the “next big thing” hardware that doesn’t fit real life. The episode wraps with a practical BLT buyer checklist built around independence, reliability, accessibility support, and exit costs—because if you can’t set it up solo, it’s not premium…it’s dependent.SEND US YOUR TECH FACEPLANTS Email: [email protected] Voicemail: 720-712-8856 Put “BLT Tech Faceplant” in the subject/message so we can find it fast.CREDITS Host: Evan Starnes Co-host: Jonathan Price Producer: Jonathan PriceCHAPTERS 00:02 — Evan’s “overheated co-host” intro + Jonathan’s back for banter 02:25 — Weather whiplash + quick note on seasonal mental health 04:51 — Ron (Memphis) email: “Tech Faceplant” + accessibility truth bombs 07:16 — Evan’s $300 “smart” toothbrush: app required, accessibility fails 09:40 — If it’s not usable day one, it’s not a breakthrough—it’s a project 12:00 — AI everywhere: real value vs. nuisance overlays (and battery hits) 16:31 — Subscription creep: products becoming monthly relationships 18:54 — “Smart” mattress example: app features locked behind a paywall 23:42 — Hotel mini-bar sensors + tactile exploration accessibility barrier 25:58 — Half-baked launches + OTA updates + vague release notes 28:25 — Tech Faceplant #2: the app that became a dashboard 30:49 — Tech Faceplant #3: hardware that doesn’t fit real life 33:12 — The first 5-minute BLV reality check: setup + QR-code traps 35:30 — Buyer rules: “Does it need to be smart?” + reviews + BLV validation 40:21 — Non-negotiables: app dependence + offline access + “paperweight” risk 42:11 — Send your tech fails + next episode tease: tech that actually delivers 46:48 — Outro: “Hope is loud and usability is quiet.” (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 ★ Support this podcast ★