Surprise - It's Not a Toaster

In this very special holiday episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer crack open the shimmering, pine-scented world of modern “smart” gifts — which somehow manage to be both futuristic and profoundly unnecessary. Think of it as a retro 1970s holiday catalog, except every item inside requires WiFi, a firmware update, and a dedicated support group.

First up: the PetLibro smart litter box, a device so advanced it may have opinions about your cat. Then there’s the Ember mug, for people who believe hot beverages should come with patch notes. Add in the Bluetooth pen — the perfect gift for someon...

Hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer face the modern entertainment apocalypse: streaming content. What started as freedom from cable has devolved into a fragmented, confusing, overpriced mess where your favorite show is always on the one service you canceled last month. 

They unpack the chaos behind subscription juggling, studio feuds (yes, YouTube TV vs. ESPN/Disney, we see you), and why your monthly bill now looks suspiciously like 2008 Comcast.

This week’s recommendation is for Cory Doctorow’s new book “Enshitification” - a takedown of how platforms rot from the inside. The hosts then kick-off the offic...

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer open the episode with a semi-rant on the AI marketing hype machine - billions pouring in, big-tech companies tossing money back and forth, and everyone pretending this is about “innovation” rather than feeding the same circular economy of ads, analytics, and inflated expectations.

Together, they debate whether AI will really “kill us,” economically or existentially - or if it’ll just quietly charge us another subscription fee before doing so.

Then Ed gets hands-on, showing how he used the Perplexity Comet Browser to automate vendor management on MarTech.Health - scanning...

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the latest digital annoyance: chatbait. It’s the AI version of clickbait - when chat tools just can’t let go, coaxing you to “keep the conversation going” long after you got your answer. Think of it as emotional manipulation, but with better grammar.

To prove the point, the hosts test ChatGPT with a “simple” NFL trivia question that quickly exposes how chatbots can sound confident while being completely wrong. (Let’s just say logic isn’t their strong suit.)

This week’s recommendation brings things back to the physical world...

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer kick things off with a rant about the subscription economy. From Columbia House record clubs in the 1970s to the boom of Blue Apron, Birchbox, and Stitch Fix, subscriptions once promised convenience and novelty. But today? Fatigue is setting in, boxes are piling up, and companies are scrambling to pivot away from the model.

This week’s recommendation: author Ted Chiang. His short stories pack a punch, sparking big questions about tech, humanity, and the future. Ed swears everyone should be reading him — preferably before bedtime, so your dreams get extra weird.

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer kick off with a rant about vertical video — because nothing says “breaking news” like watching a natural disaster unfold in portrait mode. Sure, TikTok made it trendy and one-handed filming is easy, but what happens when video shifts to massive screens like the Vegas Sphere or into Meta’s glasses? Spoiler: portrait might not age well.

This week’s recommendation: the new season of South Park. It’s fast, it’s vicious, and it shreds GenAI and tech bros in a way no think piece ever could.

And for the GenAI test, it...

Turns out the future of tech might not be sleek voice commands or intuitive design — it might just be one giant button you can’t miss. Ed and Chris debate the glory of the “big hard button,” skim (and snark) their way through Mary Meeker’s annual tech report, and then throw ChatGPT 5.0’s new preset personalities into the ring. Spoiler: “Cynic” might actually be the most honest of the bunch.Mentions from the Show: 

That Dropped Call With Customer Service? It Was on Purpose.

You Can’t Nudge If You’ve Got Sludge

Chris Boyer on Link...

You thought filters were just for photos? Think again. In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer wade through the murky waters of modern digital life, where everything seems to be a filter: restaurant reviews, dating apps, social feeds, even healthcare choices. Have we filtered so much that we've lost the raw, the real, and the reliable? But it’s not all rant - there’s redemption. The hosts offer a solid recommendation: swap out search engines for GenAI tools to explore the web. Why scroll through SEO-optimized junk when you can have an AI actually converse with you? And...

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett step knee-deep into sludge. Not the metaphorical goo clogging your gutters, but the bureaucratic muck that slows down everyday life. Inspired by The Atlantic’s takedown of “customer service sludge,” they rant about hold purgatory, Kafkaesque support calls, and the modern art of being endlessly transferred. If you’ve ever yelled “representative!” into a phone like it was a sacred incantation, this one’s for you.

On the tech side, Ed and Chris explore why AI tools like ChatGPT are quietly replacing traditional search engines. From clearer answers to smarter follow-ups, they show how natur...

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive nose-first into Apple’s latest design offense: Liquid Glass. Or as users have dubbed it, Liquid Ass. A sleek new look, sure — if you enjoy smudges, glare, and interfaces that feel like a fever dream. They unpack the aesthetic outrage and wonder aloud: has Apple finally jumped the shark into a puddle of its own reflection?

The tech rec this week comes from Ed’s deep research into external mass storage, sharing how using GenAI can demystify convoluted tech manuals, translate specs into human speak, and even help pick the right soluti...

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett unravel the oddly powerful pull of digital streaks. Whether it’s Duolingo applauding your 99-day run or the shame spiral from missing one puzzle in the NYT Games app, streaks are everywhere — and they’re working. We explore how streaks mirror childhood sticker charts, why they’re engineered to keep us hooked, and whether rituals wrapped in self-optimization might actually offer comfort in chaotic times.

Our tech tip: hiarthur.com — a GenAI-powered search tool that finally makes Amazon shopping less infuriating.

Then, in our GenAI test segment, we investigate the latest MAH...

In this episode of Surprise, It's Not a Toaster, Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett unleash a technical rant on the UX war crimes committed by modern video apps — with Zoom front and center. They talk about cluttered interfaces, vanishing buttons, and the "where's the dang meeting list?" UI mystery. Spoiler: The most-used features are hidden like Easter eggs.

Our tech reco this week is Pleasant Green — a YouTube channel exposing scammy corners of the web with humor and heart.

Then, in GenAI test segment segment, we run various AI platforms through the ultimate turing test: Can...

This week on Surprise! It’s Not a Toaster, we dive headfirst into the chaotic dumpster fire that is YouTube clickbait. Apparently, Henry Winkler has died 11 times, and there are at least 17 “official” trailers for John Wick 5. Spoiler: none of them are real. Welcome to the golden age of AI-generated garbage.

Annoyance of the Week: YouTube Shorts and algorithm bait are breaking our brains. When even death hoaxes and fake movie trailers are passing for truth, we may be approaching peak unreality.

Tech Rec (that isn’t tech): The new season of Black Mirror is incredib...

In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer unpack the dangers of being good at absolutely everything — which, spoiler alert, means you’re probably not good at anything.

Inspired by Sam Altman’s curious desire to turn OpenAI into a social media empire, they dive into the concept of “everythingism” - a sociopolitical term that describes trying to be all things to all people… and doing none of it well. From Zuckerberg’s Metaverse detour to Bezos’ everything store mission creep, we ask: are today’s tech overlords suffering from a severe case of ambition-without-f...

Surprise! It’s Not a Toaster returns for season 2 with a full-frontal assault on the Internet of (Questionably Useful) Things. 

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett kick things off with a deliciously irritated rant about smart appliances that aren't actually smart. Why does your dishwasher need WiFi and a cloud account just to run a rinse cycle? When your toaster has a firmware update, maybe it’s time to ask... who’s really in control here?

Then it’s time for this week’s Tech Recommendation, and it’s a surprising ge...

Ever clicked on a Facebook video promising something shocking only to watch 10 minutes of filler before realizing you've been played? Welcome to the world of Watchbait—those misleading, overhyped videos designed to manipulate your curiosity (and your patience). In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer break down the worst offenders and share tips on how to avoid the bait-and-switch trap.

Then, they take ChatGPT’s Agentic AI demo for a spin—can AI truly operate autonomously, or is it just a glorified to-do list assistant? And in Gen AI Stump, we challenge ChatGPT to stop being so agr...

In this episode of Surprise – It’s Not a Toaster, Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive into the wild world of online comments—from YouTube rants to Google reviews and Twitter’s never-ending chaos (which is basically just one giant comment section). They trace the history of internet commenting, exploring how we went from early, nerdy UseNet forums to today’s digital free-for-all of trolling, toxicity, and the occasional comedy goldmine.

But are comments good or bad for us? Studies show exposure to negative comments can increase anxiety, impact sleep, and even drive consumer behavior—m...

In this episode of Surprise—It’s Not a Toaster, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer rant (just a little) about the ever-growing paywall problem—because apparently, reading an article online now requires a monthly subscription, your firstborn child, and a secret handshake. While they fully support paying for quality content, they debate whether the web’s overreliance on paywalls is actually helping or just locking great content behind digital fortresses.

Next up: a "tech tip" on AI Tar Pits—the sneaky tools and techniques websites use to block AI models from scraping their content for free. Should AI...

In this episode of Surprise—It's Not a Toaster, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the labyrinthine world of Terms & Conditions (and EULAs)—those digital novels we all “agree” to without reading. From hilarious (and horrifying) examples of what companies sneak into the fine print, to asking the big question: why does signing up for software feel like selling your soul? Then, they shift gears to geek out over better, faster website design, featuring an unlikely but brilliant contender—McMaster.com (yes, the industrial supply site). Finally, the hosts put GenAI through its paces, asking it to "simplify"...

In this episode of Surprise—It's Not a Toaster, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the messy world of social media content moderation (or lack thereof). From platforms hitting the snooze button on moderation to the search for unbiased news with AllSides.com, the hosts tackles today’s digital dumpster fires with humor and heart. And as the cherry on top? They put ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude in the hot seat to see if GenAI can save us all from the chaos. Tune in for insights and some AI-powered solutions—or not!

Mentio...

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer reflect back on the last 30 episodes and share insights on things we’ve learned, how we’re evolving and predict what we’ll be talking about in the new year.

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the history of the annual “Word of the Year” presented by various sources (including the Oxford English Dictionary). They also share a useful Bluesky plug-in to help curate news, and then test GenAI’s ability to create unique pub trivia facts.

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the current state of journalism and the rise of social influencers in becoming primary news sources. They also share their experience with Bluesky as then test GenAI’s ability to create poetry. 

Annoyance: Online influencers and the fall of journalism

Tech Rec: 

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss their frustration with the shifting expectations around achieving AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Ed then shares his personal experience using Apple AirPods as a hearing aid, and Chris conducts an experiment to see if asking GenAI questions politely yields different results compared to using insults.

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the growing trend of artificial online sales events and delve into the potential impact of AI Agents. They also explore a study commissioned by Apple, highlighting the limitations of GenAI’s logical reasoning abilities.

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss how GenAI is starting to replicate natural human language in a frightening way, and ponder how quickly it will fall from the Trough of Disillusionment to bridging the Uncanny Valley. They also take NotebookLM for a spin and share some surprising results. 

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer vent about online user agreements and the universal struggle we all face with them. Then they share how ChatGPT 4.01 can be your secret weapon for conquering those pesky Connections puzzles. Finally, they put AI to the test by asking it to summarize complex book and movie plots. 

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer recap past discussions, and provide a quick update on various annoyances, technology tips and put GenAI to the Turing test.

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the challenges of gamification and wonders if things have gone too far. They also share a great tool to help develop flowchart visualizations using text prompts and then try to stump GenAI to answer a hypothetical question to determine how much it will hallucinate. 

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the world of infotainment, exploring their love-hate relationship with Apple and Android car apps, and why they believe automakers should steer clear of developing their own. They also geek out over the perks of a brand-new widescreen monitor and put Generative AI to the test with a deceptively simple logic puzzle known as the “Alice in Wonderland problem.” Tune in for tech insights, a bit of gadget envy, and some light-hearted AI stumping!

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the challenges with everything being in the “cloud” and then share free tools to help with tracking your presence on the Dark Web. Then, they test Gen AI’s ability to create humorous ways to insult someone in a hypothetical situation. 

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett ask why does everything have to be digital (and if there is still room to have physical copies of music, movies and books). They also share updates on previous tech tips on operating system updates and password protection. Then, they challenge Gen AI by asking a common question that has plagued philosophes and scientists for ages. 

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett address common digital frustrations like Caps Lock mishaps, Copy/Paste issues, and how iOS handles email address forms. They also share powerful Windows tweak tools and other customization hacks to enhance keyboarding experiences. Finally, they challenge AI with thought-provoking questions about resource efficiency. Tune in to elevate your digital know-how and conquer tech annoyances with ease!

In this episode of 'Surprise - It's Not a Toaster,' hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive into the digital world's quirks and innovations. First, they tackle the frustrations of websites that force users to create name/password accounts, exploring why this outdated practice persists and how it impacts user experience. Then, they share a handy tech tip on using iPhone voice search with ARC Search to streamline your daily digital interactions. Finally, they challenge Gen AI with a stump question: 'What question would I ask you that you would have a hard time answering?' Tune in...

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett hilariously tackle the frustration of inconsistent UX/UI across credit card readers, lamenting the lack of standardization. They lighten the mood by suggesting the Cash App as a savior for seamless transactions. Then, in the fan-favorite "Stump GenAI" segment, they challenge Generative AI with the ultimate question: what is the meaning of life? Join us for laughs, insights, and a bit of existential pondering!

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the pros and cons of the new iPad Pro including the design and content consumption capabilities off the tablet but also the limitations of the closed OS and the limitations of the touchpad to use for other software. Lastly, they challenge GenAI in daring it to define a sandwich.

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss how TikTok has changed the landscape of social media (and has secretly made them feel like luddites), how the most life-changing technology also has a potential stigma (hearing aids) and then test GenAI’s ability to pass an IQ test. 

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share frustrations about a future where personal ownership is minimal, and access to goods and services is facilitated through sharing or leasing, leading to a potentially simpler and more content lifestyle. Then, Ed shared how he has optimized video viewing using the Nvidia Shield Pro. Lastly, they test GenAI’s capability to summarize major milestones in human history - in PowerPoint format.

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share frustrations about fake AI-generated content and its impact on small things, cool apps to experience the total solar eclipse, and test to see if GenAI is complicit in encouraging children to lie about childhood magic. 

In this Switcheroo episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share frustrations about surge pricing, share a tool to manage your online footprint and then test GenAI’s ability to create jokes.

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share their frustrations about how everything online is becoming a video, and then discuss the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse and then test GenAI’s quiz making capabilities. 

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett vent about the over-reliance on Powerpoint in business meetings, share Ed’s experience with the Apple Vision Pro and test GenAI’s ability to create music.

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the portrait vs. landscape video battle for our screens, share a favorite daily online game see if AI is up to the task of educating children about God. . 

Follow us online at: 

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the challenges of managing an online community, share an auto-fill tool and test how AI does at writing Ed’s bio. 

Follow us online at: 

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the challenges of password management, a tool that makes it easier, and if generative AI has self-awareness. 

Follow us online at: 

In this Switcheroo episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss influencers and virtue-signallers, the Arc browser, and what are the most influential movies. 

Follow us online at: 

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the overhype of AI products, why mini-PCs are important, and what open GenAI platforms think is the most annoying thing online. 

Follow us online at: 

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss out of control AV tech, a great website auditing tool, and challenge Generative AI’s ethical morality. 

Follow us online at: 

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the importance of double opting-in (and why Ed has a "Bad Bennett" list), the ultimate adblocking software, and ponder if Open GenAI solutions can actually create unique novels.

Follow us online at: 

In the second episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the futility of online ratings, why it's better to turn to UGC for product information, and the favorite music albums (according to OpenAI).

Follow us online at: 

In the inaugural episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the enshitification of the web, share a tool to help universally manage bookmarks, and use GenAI to trace the internet's problems back to common household appliances.

Follow us online at: 

Coming soon: discover the realm where digital expertise meets candid conversations on "Surprise - It’s Not a Toaster" - a weekly podcast led by healthcare digital experts Ed Bennett and co-host Chris Boyer. Together, they venture into the fabric of online experiences, dissecting annoyances and irritations about navigating the modern online world. 

In each episode, Ed will unveil contemporary tools, technologies, and software solutions, providing a firsthand exploration of what's shaping the digital landscape and the hosts challenge the limits of AI with a "stump ChatGPT" segment, where questions are posed to the AI language model, ill...