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A tiny AI hologram that sits on your desk and smiles back at you sounds futuristic… until you realize how fast novelty slides into cringe. We kick things off by roasting the CES gadget everyone will meme, then pivot to the ideas underneath: why ambient AI is sneaking into our workspaces, how customization keeps us hooked, and where the line sits between companion and coach. From there, we dig into LEGO’s new interactive bricks, the promise of light and sound in creative builds, and the practical headaches around price, collectibility, and what happens when electronics age inside once-timeless sets.

The conversation shifts gears into the car world, where Sony teases an EV and manufacturers keep pushing paid features. We talk about the trade-offs between convenience and control, why cars now feel like subscription platforms, and how that changes what “ownership” means. That spirals into a passionate riff on real-life utility: sedans vs SUVs vs minivans, hauling space for gear and pets, and choosing vehicles that match how we actually live—not just how they’re marketed.

Then we get personal. We lay out goals we’ll track this year: getting back to lifting with a home rack, rebuilding a 1992 Volvo wagon, and opening our anime queue to genres we usually skip for fresh creative fuel. On the career side, we map a clean path to the CompTIA trifecta with Network+, and we get candid about money literacy—HYSA vs savings, CDs, brokerage accounts, T-bills, and starting the investing journey without the fluff. We also confront a tough truth: turning a hobby into a business can kill the joy. Photography paid, but it drained us. Barbecue tastes amazing, but meat prices crush margins. Gourmet mushrooms, though, thread the needle—science, repeatability, and steady demand with a lean setup and real market interest.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to set goals you’ll actually keep, consider this your cue. Write one down, make it smaller, and start today. If you enjoyed the show, follow the podcast, share it with a friend who loves tech and real talk, and leave a quick review so more curious listeners can find us.

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