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

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

01:11:40

Switzerland is at the Top

Comfort Zone ·

2025/02/06

Matt made an app and brings a very, very unbiased take on it, Chris has solved some of his tech paper cuts, and Niléane probably won yet another challenge by bringing a really rad Apple TV remote. Weekly Topics Quick Reviews on the App Store Announcing Quick Reviews AirPods Max charging dock Other Things Discussed Cheerwine Chris’s new USB-C cable Old Salt Apple TV remote New Salt Apple TV remote Matt’s TV GameTrack Linear Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on

en-us

01:35:17

I'm the Pepper Daddy Now

Comfort Zone ·

2025/01/30

Matt is unable to defend himself as he’s on the lam, Chris is exploring that Mac life, and Niléane has some snazzy new headphones. Then Chris edited with AI to pretty good effect and Niléane tried using an AI search engine to much less success. This week’s episode is sponsored by Jelly, a better way to share an inbox. Go to https://letsjelly.com/comfortzone and use code COMFORTZONE15 for 15% off your first year of Jelly. Weekly Topics Samson SR850 headphones SKÅDIS Other Things Discussed Matt was

en-us

01:28:15

Put a Bumper Case on That Thing

Comfort Zone ·

2025/01/23

Matt has an announcement to make (and a cool app to talk about), Chris brought a bag of goodies, and Niléane brought a fun challenge around using our mice in interesting ways. Weekly Topics Cursor Kobo Clara BW Cal Digit TS4 Dock Tomtoc Shoulder Bag James Brand Folsom Pocket Knife Other Things Discussed HelloQuitX Filter subscribed languages from individual persons you follow Federico is using Superhuman Quick Reviews coming to iOS Wii cursor Wii cursor demo GIF 1 Wii cursor demo GIF 2

en-us

01:25:32

The Opposite of Snow Leopard

Comfort Zone ·

2025/01/16

In this very special episode, the gang makes their “Pro” and “Pro Max” predictions for tech in 2025 and oh my, does it get wild! Who’s best clued into the tech coming this year? Who is just wish-casting their way to third place? We’ll have to wait to find out. Weekly Topics Nothing, just 2025 predictions! Other Things Discussed MacStories left Meta platforms Niléane’s reporting from last year about Meta’s moderation failings DLC podcast Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree

en-us

01:31:32

OLED Dreams and Studio Display Realities

Comfort Zone ·

2025/01/09

Niléane is out, so Chris and Matt are left to fend on their own. Chris steals like an artist and Matt defends a new purchase. Weekly Topics LG 32” UltraGear 4K OLED monitor Other Things Discussed Cortex Episode 162 HabitKit Foodnoms Matt’s video on the LG monitor (retina discussion starts at the 3 minute mark) What is retina? Retina calculator Pixels per degree calculator Matt’s dock setup 1 Matt’s dock setup 2 Matt’s dock setup 3 Matt’s dock setup 4 MacWhisper Follow the Hosts Chris on

en-us

01:13:14

The California Guy is Cold

Comfort Zone ·

2024/12/26

Chris has his own Mount Rushmore of iPad apps, Matt is trying to get to terms with Discord, and the gang figures out if they’re moving the group chat to WhatsApp. Weekly Topics Obsidian Sequel Overcast Other Things Discussed Music from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Obsidian Web Clipper TV Forecast Up Ahead Remind Me Faster Drafts theme directory Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky

en-us

01:10:25

I’m Not a Panda Person

Comfort Zone ·

2024/12/19

Niléane has a new webcam, Chris is drowning in keyboards, and everyone installs some web-ass web apps. Weekly Topics Insta360 Link 2C Keychron Q1 HE Keychron K2 HE Nada Panda 65 Other Things Discussed BusyCal Niláne’s camera setup Photo 1 Niláne’s camera setup Photo 2 The Continuity Camera and ‘Unlock With Apple Watch’ Conspiracy Lemokey L4 keyboard Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky

en-us

01:18:21

Matt is a Mean Guy

Comfort Zone ·

2024/12/12

Matt felt like bringing an intentionally controversial topic, Niléane refuses to admit she’s created a sticky note-based task manager, and everyone gives the iPad some much needed love. Weekly Topics Raycast CleanShot X Final Cut Pro Google Chrome Stickies app Audio balance feature Other Things Discussed MacStories Selects 2024 Delta skins commissioned by MacStories Ice development is slowing down Timery Procreate focusedOS Ferrite Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane

en-us

01:17:01

I’m Knee-Deep in Turkey

Comfort Zone ·

2024/12/05

Niléane has taken to the skies in Flight Simulator, Chris wants to talk about yet another Mac, and the gang all looks for the best open source app (or web app!) they can find. Weekly Topics Flight Simulator 2024 M4 Mac mini Other Things Discussed [Flight Simulator documentary](URL Shadow PC Gaming BetterTouchTool Accents CleanShot X Klack Ghost Kodi Ice Raindrop.io Readwise Reader Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on

en-us

01:09:58

This One Time at Bandcamp

Comfort Zone ·

2024/11/27

The gang has so much to be thankful for, including you, dear listeners. ❤️ Oh yeah, and they find new ways to listen to music before being revealing their absolute favorite Apple app. Weekly Topics M4 iPad Pro M2 MacBook Air Libby hoopla Legion Go Steam Deck AirPods Max Sony WH-1000XM5 Peloton Row Other Things Discussed Meross Find a library near you YouTube Music Bandcamp Nintendo Music Spotify Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

en-us

01:22:31

I've Automated My Partner

Comfort Zone ·

2024/11/21

Matt brings his latest obsession, Niléane wants to talk about Bluesky, and Chris challenges the gang to automate something. Weekly Topics Supercharge Bluesky Comfort Zone on Bluesky Comfort Zone Podcast Niléane Chris Matt MacStories starter pack Other Things Discussed Matt’s first Supercharge video Matt’s second Supercharge video Deckblue is Tweetdeck for Bluesky Tech Press Bluesky starter pack Pic of Chris’s “on-air” sign Pic of Chris’s smart plug Tim Cook “Good morning!” shortcut Hyperduck

en-us

01:08:53

What Even is Orange?

Comfort Zone ·

2024/11/14

Niléane has a fancy new way to block ads and annoyances, Chris has our first look at a bunch of Final Cut Pro updates, and then we all judge the best apps on the App Store with Orange icons. Inoreader: Build your own newsfeed with Inoreader Weekly Topics Wipr 2 Apple announced new Final Cut Prto updates Other Things Discussed Chris on AppStories Calendr Mac menu bar app Waterfield’s new Vision Pro case 1Blocker Synology Photos Home Widget HomePaper Comet Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube

en-us

84 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