Rephonic
Artwork for Hands-On Tech

Hands-On Tech (Audio)

TWiT
Apple
Apple Vision Pro
Apple Watch
Iphone
Icloud
Windows 11
Linux
Usb-C
Multi-Factor Authentication
Windows 10
Gmail
Iphone 16 Pro Max
Google Photos
Technology
Siri
Windows
Macos
Iphone 17 Pro Max
Android Auto
Apple Silicon

Welcome to Hands-On Tech, where host Mikah Sargent turns tech troubles into tech triumphs. Each episode zooms in on a specific theme, unpacking listener questions with expert analysis and easy-to-follow advice. From decoding the latest gadgets to simplifying everyday tech, Mikah's got you covered.

Submit your tech queries through email at HOT@twit.tv or via TWiT's social media. You might hear your... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes257Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Hands-On Tech

Latest Episodes

On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Bill writes in to ask what cookies actually do, whether rejecting them on every site's banner accomplishes anything real, and whether there's a way to stop being asked dozens of times a day.

Send in your questions f... more

On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers a question from Otis, who relies on the 6-digit text-message codes his bank sends at sign-in but has started to worry about SIM swap attacks, and wants to know whether those codes are still worth anythi... more

On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers a question from Lyle who wants to know whether a coworker can really tell when he has opened her emails.

Send in your questions for Mikah to hot@twit.tv, and he'll answer them in a future episode!

Hos... more

On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Clyde, who is shopping for a new phone after his last one died in a sink full of dishwater, asks what an IP68 water resistance rating actually promises, whether it wears off as a phone ages, and what to do in ... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Dick DeBartolo
Mad's Maddest Writer and gizmo expert
Mad Magazine
Episode: ATTG 2026: Swedish Death Cleaning - Doge Meme, WiFi 6e vs WiFi 7, Photo Tagging
Rod Pyle
Editor of Ad Astra magazine, author, and space expert.
International Space Society
Episode: ATTG 2025: Bitcoin Pizza - iPad Pros, Safari Photography, Multiple Emails
Chris Marquardt
Photography expert and host of This Week in Space.
discoverthetopfloor.com
Episode: ATTG 2025: Bitcoin Pizza - iPad Pros, Safari Photography, Multiple Emails
Sam Abuelsamid
Principal researcher at GuideHouse Insights
GuideHouse Insights
Episode: ATTG 2024: Exhaust Holes - Tesla, iMessages, Mechanical Keyboards
Scott Wilkinson
Home Theater Geek and expert on home cinema technology
TWiT.tv
Episode: ATTG 2023: Choco Tacos for Cinco de Mayo - Sony 2024 TV's, HDMI Cables, Safari Browser
Anthony Henderson
Author and Self-Publisher
Self-published
Episode: ATTG 2014: Picasa Es Su Casa - Bob Heil, Password Managers, Anker
Father Robert Ballecer
Digital Jesuit and tech commentator
TWiT.tv
Episode: ATTG 2007: I'm In the Mood for Pasta - CES 2024 Recap, Equalizing Music Files, WMIC
Johnny Jet
A travel expert and journalist.
JohnnyJet.com
Episode: ATTG 2003: Beware the Cannibal Solar Storm - Focus Mode, Apple Podcasts, eero Routers

Host

Mikah Sargent
Host of Hands-On Tech

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 491 ratings
  • Leo was far FAR left but decent on tech

    New guy hides his far left-ness BUT gets the tech wrong. 5 minutes of ads even mid sentence to push nonsense unread by the host ads.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    boyfromthedwarf9
    United States2 years ago
  • Ads With A Little Tech Talk

    Just listened to the latest episode. At least half of it was ads plus the obligatory plug for Club TWIT. I don’t blame Mikah but the format is awful and way too short with way too many ads.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MichaelHarmon
    United States2 years ago
  • Not good since the format change

    This used to be my go-to podcast for weekly tech news - it had a good mix of news, “live” troubleshooting, and interesting tech topics. New format is too troubleshooting focused. I used to be excited about what I would discover in the next episode…now, I look at the show notes before I play it. I have skipped a lot of these episodes in the recent months.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NHW1055
    United States2 years ago
  • Not a subscriber

    Some good information but making everything subscriber after a certain amount of time is lame.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sometimesbeard
    United States2 years ago
  • Not hands on

    The new format without Leo and call- ins just doesn’t have an exciting listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CNS1978
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Opinions about politics and host dynamics are polarized, with some long-time fans missing the old show.
Positive feedback highlights clear, actionable guidance and hands-on troubleshooting that's helped listeners solve issues.
Many praise the depth and practicality of tech tips when the format stays on topic.
Listeners note an ad-heavy format and multiple sponsorship plugs in recent episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#170
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#168
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#201
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#155
Philippines/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#157
Indonesia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#170
Mexico/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

HOT 290: Protecting Yourself From Sim Swapping - Are Text Message Codes Safe?
Q: If someone can take over my number, are those text codes worth anything? And is there something I can do at the carrier to lock my number down?
Text codes still protect against password-only break-ins, but SIM swaps and port-out fraud can redirect them. Set a carrier account PIN and enable SIM and port-out protections; switch to an authenticator app or passkey when the bank offers one.
HOT 289: Understanding Email Tracking Pixels - Are Tracking Pixels in Emails Real?
Q: Can a coworker tell when I've opened her emails, and is there something I can turn on to stop it?
Yes. Invisible tracking pixels and email-tracking tools can record when an email image loads. In Gmail, setting images to ask before displaying external images can block those pixels, but the setting must be enabled on every device. Tracked link clicks and workplace read receipts may still reveal activity.
HOT 288: Understanding What IP68 Means - Is Your Device Truly Water Resistant?
Q: Clyde from Kelowna asks what IP68 actually promises and whether it degrades with age, and if it means you can swim with the device.
IP68 is not a guaranteed promise to swim or survive all water exposure; it is a lab rating that tests a device in controlled water conditions. The depth and duration vary by manufacturer, and the rating can wear off over time due to normal wear, repairs, or damage. Always check the device's specific spec sheet for the exact depths and times and consider an accidental damage plan for real-world protection.
HOT 287: Are There Risks to Scanning QR Codes? - The Security Concerns Behind Scanning a QR Code
Q: Barry from Charleston asks if scanning a QR code can hack a phone and what to look for before scanning in the wild.
The host explains that QR codes don't hack devices themselves; the danger comes from the destination page and what you enter there, with practical steps to verify links, avoid rushed decisions, and use the camera's built-in scanner for safety.
HOT 286: Shutting Down vs. Restarting Your Windows PC - Windows Fast Startup
Q: Lorraine writes, Mikah, my husband shuts down our Windows desktop every single night and has for years. He says that's impossible because the uptime shows 41 days, but my daughter says shutting down isn't the same as restarting. Is there really a difference between shutdown and restart, and how often should we be restarting our computers?
The short, practical answer is that your daughter is right about the difference: shutdown and restart serve different purposes. Windows 8 and later use a fast startup feature that saves the kernel state to disk during shutdown, so the system appears to shut down while actually preserving a session to boot quickly. Restart, by contrast, ends the kernel session and re-enumerates hardware, loading everything fresh, which is the only option that truly starts from a clean state. For everyday reliability, use restart (or a true full shutdown if you suspect issues) and consider a weekly reboot to keep things from accumulating sluggishness. If you want to force a true full shutdown, you can use a Shift+Shutdown in the Start menu or a shutdown command that bypasses the hybrid state.

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 Hands-On Tech

What is Hands-On Tech about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Hands-On Tech focuses on practical tech troubleshooting and explanations, answering listener questions with clear, actionable guidance. Episodes center on real-world device performance, setup optimization, and how-to solutions for everyday tech, from networking and storage to privacy and software tools. Noteworthy is the blend of hands-on demonstrations, guest-free formats, and sponsor or club reads that keep content approachable while encouraging deeper engagement through premium feeds. The show often ties technical topics to measurable steps, making it helpful for both enthusiasts and IT professionals seeking reliable, repeatable tips.

Where can I find podcast stats for Hands-On Tech?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Hands-On Tech. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Hands-On Tech and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Hands-On Tech get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Hands-On Tech, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Hands-On Tech?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Hands-On Tech, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Hands-On Tech have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Hands-On Tech 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 Hands-On Tech?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hands-On Tech:

1. iOS Today (Audio)
2. This Week in Tech (Audio)
3. Rich On Tech
4. MacBreak Weekly (Audio)
5. Windows Weekly (Audio)

How many episodes of Hands-On Tech are there?

Hands-On Tech launched 21 years ago and published 257 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 Hands-On Tech?

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 Hands-On Tech?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Hands-On Tech from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Hands-On Tech?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Hands-On Tech. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Hands-On Tech?

Recent guests on Hands-On Tech include:

1. Dick DeBartolo
2. Rod Pyle
3. Chris Marquardt
4. Sam Abuelsamid
5. Scott Wilkinson
6. Anthony Henderson
7. Father Robert Ballecer
8. Johnny Jet

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days