PODCAST · technology
Mac Power Users
by Relay
Learn about getting the most from your Apple technology with focused topics and workflow guests. Creating Mac Power Users since 2009, one conversation at a time. Hosted by David Sparks and Stephen Robles.
Episodes
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870: The Full Sparky
David is READY, launcher follow-up, Stephen tries Tailscale, new iOS 27 Shortcuts Actions, David's new gadget, and listener feedback!
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869: It Was Basically a Wash
David and Stephen compare the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12, discuss David's move to an M6 Mac mini for local AI and server work, and test Siri AI on everyday tasks.
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868: Tyler Stalman Reviews iPhone 18 Pro Camera
Photographer and filmmaker Tyler Stalman joins us to go in-depth on iPhone 18 Pro camera, including the faster main lens, variable aperture, and the new Pro Controls, and why they matter more than the marketing suggests.
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867: Deep Dive on macOS 27 and Siri AI
David and Stephen compare iOS 27 and macOS 27 after a summer of daily use, covering Liquid Glass, Safari extensions, Spotlight, Siri AI, HomeKit, AppleCare One Family, Apple Watch improvements, and the apps adopting Apple's new tools.
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866: The Ternus Doctrine
The torch is passed to John Ternus who beings his first Apple event as CEO, espousing a new doctrine of the "intelligent personal hub." Then we dive into all the hardware announcements, iPhone Duo, Apple Watch Series 12, and more.
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865: Harvard Professor Teddy Svoronos on AI in the Classroom
Teddy Svoronos returns to the Mac Power Users. Teddy explains how he uses tech to teach at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the challenges of teaching in the age of A.I.
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864: Marked Safe from Buying M5 Ultra
Apple announced a brand new M6 chip, their first with 2nm process, plus upgraded Mac Studio. Does David regret his recent MacBook Pro purchase? Then we launch into listener feedback, Stephen's second new app, Raycast v2, and more.
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863: 20 Years of Things with Werner Jainek
Werner Jainek of Cultured Code on nearly 20 years of Things: implementing Siri AI, building a custom sync engine, and staying independent and unfunded since 2007.
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862: Mac Launcher Showdown
We put Spotlight, Raycast, and Alfred head-to-head to find the best launcher on Mac!
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861: Stephen Builds a New Task App
In search of the perfect kanban-style project management app, Stephen couldn't find what he was looking for. So, he built his own! We discuss the current landscape of tasks apps, where Kan Do differs, and how it was built.
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860: The Friday Incident with Merlin Mann
Merlin Mann returns to Mac Power Users 16 years after being our very first guest to break down the AI system he's built — Codex, "triangulation," 31 cross-indexed data sources, and the infamous "Friday Incident."
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859: Tangential Gadgets
David and Stephen turn the show on themselves: bags, chargers, MagSafe batteries, and fitness trackers. No tangential gadget is left behind.
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858: Making Educational Videos for 17 Years with Ian Byrd
Teacher of teachers Ian Byrd returns to share how he's created thousands of videos using an unlikely stack: Keynote for visuals, Descript for editing, and iPad Pro for using AI remotely.
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847: Actually Useful AI Tools
David and Stephen take stock of where AI is actually useful right now. They cover dictation, browsers, agentic workflows, MCP, and Apple Intelligence, plus the real projects each runs today, including email triage and a customer-service robot.
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846: State of Apple Watch 2026
After brief thoughts on John Ternus becoming Apple's next CEO, we dive into the current state of Apple Watch. We explore our setups, faces, complications, apps, and what we hope to see improve.
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845: Intentional Technology with Patrick Rhone
Patrick Rhone returns. The gang discusses Apple Silicon rewriting the Mac upgrade cycle, the Apple Refurb Store, and minimalist phones.
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844: Building the Ideal Apple Smart Home
A comprehensive look at the state of Apple Smart Home in 2026. David and Stephen share their setups, cover the latest standards, new devices of interest, helpful automations, and how to get started with Apple Home.
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843: Bear and Glass Teaches Keyboard Control
Brett Terpstra and Christopher Gamblée-Wallendjack introduce Bear & Glass, their human-focused Mac automation consultancy. Brett shares his ultimate keyboard-driven workflow, previews Marked 3 and BlogBook. Then the gang geeks out on keyboard utilities.
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842: Bribing the Fiber Guy
Stephen and David dig into listener feedback on iCloud security, Dropbox alternatives, AI robot assistants, Apple Intelligence Shortcuts, Claude computer control, and more!
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841: The Robot Assistant Field Guide
David walks through the AI robot assistant he built with Claude Cowork, from file management and email to invoicing and podcast production. Plus, why managed AI agents finally solve the memory and access problems that held chatbots back.
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840: Finder is More Powerful Than You Think
We break down Finder workflows, Hazel automations, Alfred shortcuts, and the systems that keep us organized on macOS.
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839: Fifty Years of Apple with David Pogue
Author and broadcaster David Pogue joins the Mac Power Users to talk about his new book, 50 Years of Apple, and his tech stack.
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838: iPhone Setup Showdown
We break down our entire iPhone setups including Home Screens, widgets, Focus Modes, Control Center, Action Button, and more! Stephen *may* have inspired David on this one.
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837: Menu Bar Mayhem
David and Stephen go deep on the Mac menu bar, comparing their contrasting philosophies and walk through their favorites. They also explore how macOS 26's multiple Control Centers are changing the game.
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836: Welcome, Stephen
David officially welcomes Stephen as co-host, exploring his background in music, podcasting, and his Mac setup. Then, rapid-fire questions, putting Stephen on the spot for some Apple hot takes!
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835: Farewell, Stephen
David and Stephen celebrate the last seven years of Mac Power Users, reflecting on the topics, episodes, and community that make MPU so special. Then, Stephen Robles joins to accept the baton before his first episode as David's new cohost.
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834: I Am The Tardis
Stephen starts the episode with an announcement, then he and David revisit writing workflows, Keyboard Maestro, notifications, and more. At the end, the guys attempt to answer some questions as quickly as possible... something they aren't great at doing.
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833: Chris Bailey and His Battle-Scarred M1
Chris Bailey shares his unconventional tech stack: TextEdit for writing, SimpleNote for tasks, and printing research on paper. He also tried using an iPad mini as his phone to create friction with distraction.
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832: All About Apple Weather
After talking through the new Apple Creator Studio bundle, Stephen shares his notes with David after switching to the Apple Weather app for a month.
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831: Revisiting Our Writing Workflows
From fancy pens to blank screens with a blinking cursor, there are more ways to write than ever. This week, the guys discuss several of them, weighing their pros and cons, and share how they get the words out.
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830: iOS 26: Focus Modes & Notifications
Our phones are constantly vying for our attention. This week, David and Stephen discuss strategies for managing notifications and regaining control.
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829: Tech That Worked in 2025
With the year winding down, Stephen and David reflect on what went well in their tech stacks, touching on Apple silicon, the company's default apps, AI tools, home automation, and networking.
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828: Revisiting Keyboard Maestro
David and Stephen talk through their uses of Keyboard Maestro, diving deep into automation, text expansion, and more.
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827: Every Two Months or So
On this feedback episode, the guys revisit the smart home, iPadOS 26, the lack of a big iMac, charging stations, and much more.
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826: 2025 State of the Platforms (Part 2)
The guys wrap up their review of Apple's 2025 with a look at the iPhone, Apple TV, iCloud, and Apple's other services. They then zoom out and look at the overall ecosystem.
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825: 2025 State of the Platforms (Part 1)
This week, Stephen and David start their annual tour of Apple's products, beginning with the Mac, then they consider the Apple Watch, the Vision Pro, and the company's lineup of audio products.
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824: Life After iPadOS 26
iPadOS 26 introduced a new windowing system, improved audio recording, and more robust background tasks, making the iPad feel more Mac-like than ever. This week, David and Stephen discuss a range of workflows that benefit from these changes.
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823: The 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
The end of the year is nearly upon us, so the guys are back to share their gift ideas. Stephen then goes on to share a new life philosophy, only to learn that David is already a master of it.
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822: iPhone 17 Photography with Tyler Stalman
Tyler Stalman returns to the show to discuss the camera gains Apple has made with the iPhone 17 line. The guys also talk about the limitations of the iPhone Air and some of the apps Tyler uses to edit his images and videos.
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821: Developer Roundtable 2025
Casey Liss, Charlie Chapman, and James Thomson join Stephen and David to discuss the state of software development on Apple's platforms in 2025. Topics include Liquid Glass, SwiftUI, documentation, subscriptions, and Apple Intelligence.
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820: The Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide
David has published a new course covering Apple Reminders, Calendar, Notes, and more. This week, he and Stephen walk through those apps and how they can be used together. Then, a conversation about the M5 and iOS 26 changes.
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819: The User Interface at 60 MPH
The guys discuss a bunch of listener feedback, the return of Slide Over, the state of iCloud Family Sharing, and check in on David's Rivian experience.
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818: "Recreational Math," with Dr. Drang
Everyone's favorite engineer-turned-blogger returns to the show to discuss the state of iPhone cases, the argument for LLMs, and his go-to automation tools — and why Shortcuts on the Mac isn't one of them.
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817: macOS Tahoe, visionOS, & watchOS 26
From Liquid Glass to a stronger Spotlight, macOS Tahoe reshapes the Mac. Spotlight now remembers your clipboard and taps into App Intents, while Apple’s apps gain updates to match their mobile counterparts.
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816: iOS & iPadOS 26
iOS and iPadOS 26 bring many changes, including Liquid Glass, updated first-party apps, and new multitasking features for iPad users. This week, the guys talk through these changes and share impressions of Apple's latest iPhones, AirPods, and Watches.
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815: Automation Update with Sal Soghoian
While Stephen is busy with the Podcastathon, Sal Soghoian joins David to talk about the state of automation and the best way to get started with automation in 2025.
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814: The iPhone 17 Event
Just hours after Apple's iPhone event, David and Stephen gather their notes and thoughts to discuss the company's latest hardware.
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813: Spending All Our Time Saving Things
On this feedback episode, the guys talk about backing up iCloud data, read-it-later services, automation trigger conflicts, travel tech, converting Markdown, the No List, and a lot more.
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812: AV & Vibe Coding with Tyler McRae
Tyler McRae joins the program to talk about the role of AI in coding and his work in the world of church AV and technology.
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811: Apple in Education with Steve Benner
Apple has been in the education market for decades, and over that time, Apple's position and offerings have significantly changed. This week, educator Steven Benner joins the show to talk about how his school district is using Apple gear in the classroom.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Learn about getting the most from your Apple technology with focused topics and workflow guests. Creating Mac Power Users since 2009, one conversation at a time. Hosted by David Sparks and Stephen Robles.
HOSTED BY
Relay
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Mac Power Users have?
Mac Power Users currently has 848 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Mac Power Users about?
Learn about getting the most from your Apple technology with focused topics and workflow guests. Creating Mac Power Users since 2009, one conversation at a time. Hosted by David Sparks and Stephen Robles.
How often does Mac Power Users release new episodes?
Mac Power Users releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 848 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Mac Power Users?
You can listen to Mac Power Users on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Mac Power Users?
Mac Power Users is created and hosted by Relay.
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