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Mac Power Users

Relay
Apple
Productivity
Artificial Intelligence
Apple Intelligence
Automation
Ipad
Siri
Squarespace
Apple Technology
Icloud
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Shortcuts
Notion
Apple Silicon
Iphone
Macos
Alfred
One Password
Keyboard Maestro
Vision Pro

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes864Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Mac Power Users

Latest Episodes

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.

This episode of M... more

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.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to... more

We put Spotlight, Raycast, and Alfred head-to-head to find the best launcher on Mac!

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.

• Backblaze: Unlimited, easy data protection. Try it for free... more

YouTube

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.

This episode of Mac Power... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Merlin Mann
Original Mac Power Users guest; writer and podcaster
Independent
Episode: 860: The Friday Incident with Merlin Mann
Ian Byrd
Teacher of teachers; founder of Byrd Seed and Byrd Seed TV
Byrd Seed
Episode: 858: Making Educational Videos for 17 Years with Ian Byrd
Myke Hurley
Co-founder of Relay, host of Upgrade, Connected
Relay
Episode: 852: Designed in California and WWDC Wishlist with Myke Hurley
Patrick Rhone
Apple consultant and author focused on intentionality
Patrick Rhone (author of Enough and Minimal Mac)
Episode: 845: Intentional Technology with Patrick Rhone
Brett Terstra
Developer and founder of Bear and Glass
Bear and Glass
Episode: 843: Bear and Glass Teaches Keyboard Control
Christopher Gambray Wallencheck
Co-founder of Bear and Glass
Bear and Glass
Episode: 843: Bear and Glass Teaches Keyboard Control
David Pogue
Author and tech journalist, author of Apple, The First 50 Years
Author, PBS Nova, New York Times tech columnist
Episode: 839: Fifty Years of Apple with David Pogue
Stephen Robles
New co-host of Mac Power Users, former podcaster with Apple Insider
Episode: 834: I Am The Tardis
Tyler Stalman
Professional videographer and photography expert
YouTube channel Tyler Stalman
Episode: 822: iPhone 17 Photography with Tyler Stalman

Hosts

David Sparks
Host of Mac Power Users; technical writer and attorney with a focus on productivity and Apple ecosystem workflows
Stephen Robles
Co-host of Mac Power Users; experienced tech writer and presenter with a focus on practical Apple workflows and live reporting

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Fantastic podcast

    The fact that I’ve been listening long enough to have experienced three co-hosts should tell you all you need to know. The hosts are congenial, the content is interesting (and often helpful!). What more do you need?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    INALC
    United States21 days ago
  • Weekly Podcast Staple

    Mac Power Users is one of the few podcasts I’ve consistently come back to over the years. What I appreciate most is that it’s not just a show about Apple products — it’s about getting more out of the technology we already have.

    The episodes are always timely and relevant, especially as Apple continues to evolve with things like Apple Silicon, automation, privacy, AI, and the changing role of our devices. The hosts do a great job of going beyond the headlines and explaining how these changes act... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MEM 2014
    United States21 days ago
  • MPU

    I have a wide variety of interest from technology to science to ancient history. I immensely enjoy MPU and the various co host you had over the years.

    The subjects are varied and I take away something new from every show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wolfeman8
    United States21 days ago
  • Weekly Must Listen

    I always listen to this podcast using the Overcast Podcast App, but wanted to hop in here real quick and leave a review. Every week I learn something new to improve my productivity. Thank you for the time and effort to make an awesome show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Werthy Adventures
    United States22 days ago
  • Smart, practical Apple Podcast

    Longtime listener.Learned lots of useful tips to make my work more productive. All the hosts have a unique perspective.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thbone12
    United States22 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise practical, actionable tips and a steady, friendly host dynamic.
The show is seen as a valuable resource for Apple ecosystem optimization and productivity workflows.
Guest lineups and tech focus attract long-time listeners, though some episodes polarize when AI topics trend too far for some fans.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#81
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#54
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#73
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#73
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#115
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#37
Indonesia/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

860: The Friday Incident with Merlin Mann
Q: Can you explain the concept of 'triangulation' and how you use data sources with LLMs?
Merlin describes triangulation as pulling from many data stores (transcripts, photos, subtitles, notes) to cross-check and contextualize information, enabling more accurate and connected outputs, and stresses setting up reliable data pipelines to support this workflow.
860: The Friday Incident with Merlin Mann
Q: How do you decide what tasks to hand to an AI versus doing them yourself?
He emphasizes a clear division of labor, using the AI for mechanical, repetitive tasks and as a helper to organize and summarise, while preserving core creative control and decision-making for himself and trusted collaborators.
850: Overcast Transcripts and 48 Mac minis with Marco Arment
Q: Do you foresee a shift to local models on phones in the future, reducing the need for Mac minis?
Yes, as phones get faster and local models become capable, the need for a large Mac mini rack may diminish; the long-term plan is for devices to handle more processing locally and share results across users, though this will depend on model quality and efficiency.
850: Overcast Transcripts and 48 Mac minis with Marco Arment
Q: What model of transcription are you using on-device versus server-side, and why?
I rely on Apple's built-in speech transcription API on the device for certain tasks because it integrates well with iOS and provides acceptable speed, but for scale I use server-side Mac minis with Overcast Transcription to handle large volumes and ensure consistency across users.
850: Overcast Transcripts and 48 Mac minis with Marco Arment
Q: Marco, how many Mac minis are you running for Overcast Transcription and why that specific number?
I run 48 Mac minis because that many devices are needed to keep up with new podcasts being released daily; it provides enough parallelism to transcribe episodes at scale, given current hardware capabilities and the service's requirements.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Mac Power Users

What is Mac Power Users about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show concentrates on practical Apple-focused workflows, productivity techniques, and deep dives into apps, automation, and hardware, with guests who bring hands-on experience in building tools, creating content, or optimizing workflows. Episodes frequently center on hands-on experimentation (AI-assisted processes, automation, and device ecosystems), vivid explorations of productivity systems, and discussions about future tech trends within the Apple ecosystem. Noteworthy are the steady two-host dynamic, high-frequency sponsor reads, and a penchant for practical tips you can apply immediately, from Shortcuts and AI tooling to hardware setups and content creation workflows. This mix makes it valuable for listeners who want actionable guid... more

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How many listeners does Mac Power Users get?

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What are the audience demographics for Mac Power Users?

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How many subscribers and views does Mac Power Users have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Mac Power Users has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Mac Power Users?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Mac Power Users:

1. Upgrade
2. Connected
3. AppStories
4. Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting
5. The Talk Show With John Gruber

How many episodes of Mac Power Users are there?

Mac Power Users launched 15 years ago and published 864 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Mac Power Users?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Mac Power Users?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Mac Power Users from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Mac Power Users?

Recent guests on Mac Power Users include:

1. Merlin Mann
2. Ian Byrd
3. Myke Hurley
4. Patrick Rhone
5. Brett Terstra
6. Christopher Gambray Wallencheck
7. David Pogue
8. Stephen Robles

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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