x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Comfort Zone

Christopher Lawley, Matt Birchler, and Niléane

Comfort Zone is a podcast that pushes its hosts outside of their, well, comfort zone. Every week, each host will bring new technology they"ve tried to the show to discuss whether it worked and how it pushed them out of their comfort zone. Then, at the conclusion of each episode, one of the hosts will issue the dreaded challenge to the others to try something new, and perhaps even something they might not like. It"s a fun, fresh way to learn something new, along with the hosts every week.

technology tech news

All Episodes

01:21:08

This Phone’s Got Curves

Comfort Zone ·

2025/06/26

Niléane hosts the next installment of the "Our Tech Stories" series, Chris has an iPad keyboard case with a kickstand, and everyone attempts to replace a cherished app with something from Apple. Main Topics Too many phones to list! Kids, ask your parents! Logitech Flip Folio Other stuff Ticci and John try Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar with Cream Soda BentoBox Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky

en-us

01:09:46

Better Stickies

Comfort Zone ·

2025/06/19

Chris is back in his element in the iPadOS 26 world, Matt just wants to play some games, and Niléane oversees the hardest challenge in ages. The episode is proudly sponsored by [Ecamm Live](https://www.ecamm.live). Coupon code MACSTORIES gives 1 month free of Ecamm Live to new customers [Let us know](https://forms.gle/Hizy8ygsKhGNDUz96) your favorite thing! ## Main Topics - [iPadOS 26](https://www.apple.com/os/ipados/) - [Switch 2](https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch-2/) ## Our Last

en-us

54:58

Touchy Grass

Comfort Zone ·

2025/06/11

Comfort Zone does WWDC! Federico Viticci joins the show to talk about our favorite things revealed at Apple's developer conference. Let us know your favorite thing! Main Topics All things WWDC Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky

en-us

01:15:53

Browser Curious

Comfort Zone ·

2025/06/05

Comfort Zone has completed its first year! Instead of doing a clip show or something, the gang gets right down to business doing what they do best: complaining about browsers, going down an audiophile rabbit hole, and battling to see who has the best Mac background app. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Main Topics Dia Letter to Arc members 2025 Beyerdynamic PRO X USB-C CABLE 1.6 M sad Beyerdynamic PRO X COILED CABLE

en-us

53:57

Niléane’s Favorite Dinosaur

Comfort Zone ·

2025/05/29

The gang goes old school with media apps, Chris and Matt recall tales from their youth, and Niléane reminds everyone how young and hip she is in comparison. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Main Topics (Not that) Meta IINA video player Other Things Discussed Jet Lag: The Game Nebula Michelle Khare Plexamp Dopplr What is HDR, actually? Quick Reviews Letterboxd Sequel TV Forecast SoundSource Follow the Hosts Chris on

en-us

01:19:19

Shake the Keyboard and It Goes Away

Comfort Zone ·

2025/05/22

Chris brings some new apps, Matt defends himself for another hardware purchase, and Niléane's no-dock challenge has brutal results. Then Matt and Niléane really let Chris down with his end-of-show question. Like really, really let down. Today's episode is sponsored by Inoreader. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Main Topics Todoist BusyCal Microsoft Surface Pro Other Things Discussed Calendar 366 2 SwitchGlass uBar

en-us

01:10:04

It’s a French Thing

Comfort Zone ·

2025/05/15

Matt's phone is folding more than usual, Niléane has blown up her window management system again, and the whole gang learns about themselves in the challenge. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Main Topics Motorola RAZR+ Moom Supercharge BetterTouchTool Other Things Discussed Schej Folder Preview Pinning Single-Space Challenge: Trying to Manage My macOS Windows All in One Virtual Desktop Follow the Hosts Chris on

en-us

01:20:34

Raycast Does This

Comfort Zone ·

2025/05/08

The gang gets to work defending their Mac login items. Who has the most minimal startup? Who's got the craziest apps? This episode has more new apps mentioned in any episode of Comfort Zone ever! How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Other Things Discussed Chris's hyper key video Marco Arment is just like Niléane - ATP 637 1Password AirPods Sanity Aqua Voice Bartender 5 BetterSnapTool BetterTouchTool CleanShot X Dato Ethernet

en-us

01:09:46

Everything I Type is Quack

Comfort Zone ·

2025/05/01

Chris achieves a new level of focus on the Mac with a familiar app, Matt finds comfort for his sore fingers, and Niléane leads the hardest challenge ever put forth on the show. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Weekly Topics Raycast Focus MacWhisper Aqua Voice Other Things Discussed Kwack Bluesky is rolling out checkmarks Existing Bluesky "verification" program Wait, how did a decentralized service like Bluesky go down

en-us

01:22:47

Get Off My Turf, Lawley

Comfort Zone ·

2025/04/24

Matt finally found a new use for the action button, Niléane is here to fix your Finder, and Chris raises the bar in the challenge in a way no one saw coming. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Weekly Topics Google Gemini FinderFix Other Things Discussed 2FA Code Finder for Raycast FlohGro on Mastodon Slamming Into Walls Aqua Voice Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on

en-us

01:20:27

Oh My Gosh, I Can Try the Horse Browser

Comfort Zone ·

2025/04/17

Niléane brings a spicy browser extension, Chris works through some iPad feelings, and Matt made the gang decide what app they consider “undefeated”. We want to hear from you! How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Weekly Topics Dearrow Chris’s Changing My Relationship with the iPad video Other Things Discussed Popular Drafts themes Jet Lag: The Game Qobuz Quick Stuff Reeder Classic Fiery Feeds Obsidian Bon Iver’s new album

en-us

01:20:34

You Did Not Put a Lot of Time into This

Comfort Zone ·

2025/04/10

Chris has an external drive faster than you’ve ever seen, Matt has a new email app he swears isn’t his new favorite cult, and the whole gang does their best to redesign iOS and iPadOS. This episode is sponsored by Rogue Amoeba: Makers of incredibly useful audio tools for your Mac. Use the code MS2504 through the end of April to get 20% off Rogue Amoeba’s apps. We want to hear from you! How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know on

en-us

56:11

Maybe I'm Scrobbling and Don't Even Know It

Comfort Zone ·

2025/04/03

Matt has built an Obsidian plugin with a fun name, Niléane is keeping the scrobbling dream alive, and everyone tries to find a great new Raycast extension. We want to hear from you! How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know on Mastodon or Bluesky! Weekly Topics Ghosty Posty Last.fm Other Things Discussed The “meh key” Nintendo Today is Chris’s new “calendar” Ulysses Sleeve Quanta Doppler Obsidian Raycast extension Menubar

en-us

01:19:29

Should We Do a Conclave?

Comfort Zone ·

2025/03/27

Niléane insists she’s not bringing another task manager, Chris has a new e-ink toy he loves, and the whole crew finds interesting ways to add some more text expansion to their lives. We want to hear from you! How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know on Mastodon or Bluesky! Weekly Topics Cortex Sidekick Notepad TRMNL Other Things Discussed Good news from France Niléane’s Qi 2 charger Quinn Nelson’s TRMNL video Notion Mail

en-us

01:10:43

I'm Holding It Wrong? Really?!

Comfort Zone ·

2025/03/20

Darth Chris makes an appearance, Niléane has an exclusive first look at…checks notes… the iPhone 16 Pro, Matt insists on talking about MacWhisper even more, and the crew actually all followed the rules in this week’s challenge (a miracle!). Weekly Topics iPhone 16 Pro MacWhisper Other Things Discussed Niléane’s Nomad case Doppler music app Stephen Hackett’s macOS wallpaper collection Keyboard Maestro Chris’s automated wallpaper Calendar and Reminder Wallpaper shortcut GeekTool Follow the

en-us

01:33:14

This Challenge Escalated Quickly!

Comfort Zone ·

2025/03/13

Matt and Chris have all the new Apple hardware, and Niléane takes the challenge to the next level. Weekly Topics iPhone 16e iPad Air (M3) MacBook Air (M4) Other Things Discussed Niléane’s brilliant Touch ID setup TP-Link Deco Wi-Fi 7 router Goodbye (for now?), Superhuman Raycast Hazel Keyboard Maestro Doppler Calendar 366 II Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky

en-us

01:19:32

I'm Sick, I Have a Sickness

Comfort Zone ·

2025/03/06

Niléane has entered her keyboard era, Chris has a consumer warning as well as a really good macropad, and then we find the best games on the Mac. Weekly Topics Logitech MX Keys Mini Volt Plus+ numberpad (but probably don’t buy it) BNK8 macropad Stream Deck Other Things Discussed Ladies and gentlemen, we got him! Adobe Enhance Speech Crazy weather in France Neva OpenEmu How to emulate on the Mac Civilization VII Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort

en-us

01:08:00

The Son of a U.S. Something-or-Other

Comfort Zone ·

2025/02/27

Chris has a first look at a new iPad stand, Matt is ready to drop out and have some fun, and a our Coldplay challenges pushes some of the gang to their limits. Weekly Topics MagFlött Pro Dropout Other Things Discussed Paul F. Tompkins on Make Some Noise Christmas Lights by Coldplay (YouTube) The Scientist by Coldplay (on YouTube) Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky

en-us

01:17:33

Tot Notch 👌

Comfort Zone ·

2025/02/20

Matt has a lot of feelings about podcast players, Niléane has gone on an adventure where the sounds are just warmer and somehow better but she can’t quite explain why, and Chris tries to make an all-out war break out Weekly Topics Castro, Overcast, and Apple Podcasts Niléan’s MacStories article about vinyl Other Things Discussed Using Tot as sticky notes ChatWise Podcasts app not working well with chapter markers AirFoil Quanta KBD8X MKIII keyboard BCKeys×HMX Gulf Linear Switches Dybox

en-us

01:12:27

The "Blue" Icon

Comfort Zone ·

2025/02/13

Niléane is developing an obsession with remotes, but she swears she’s finally got The One, Chris has found a box that lets him store anything, and another color-based challenge leads to controversy (who saw that coming???). Weekly Topics Deutsche Telekom’s Apple TV Remote Anybox Other Things Discussed “Democracy” The terrible remote Matt & Chris ordered Castro’s blue icon Copilot Discord’s “blue” icon “Files” icon Weathergraph FediFetcher Chris’s Defer Reminders shortcut Follow the Hosts

en-us

76 results

Similar Podcasts

Lead With AI

Tamara Nall

Linux in the Ham Shack

Black Sparrow Media

Data Engineering Podcast

Tobias Macey

Eye On A.I.

Craig S. Smith

Reflections

Livewire Labs