Mr. Fred's Tech Talks

About Mr. Fred's Tech Talks

Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks is your backstage pass to the world of coding, tinkering and technology made simple, fun, and family-friendly. Hosted by Mr. Fred (a former Marine officer turned college professor and lifelong tech tinkerer), each weekly, 10–15 minute episode breaks down real-world tech topics into bite-sized lessons you can use today. Whether you’re a parent trying to understand what “JavaScript” really means, a teacher looking for fresh STEM activities, or a kid who dreams of building your own game or robot, Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks delivers: Clear, jargon-free explanations of coding languages, tools and AI Behind-the-scenes stories from tech history (like the 64 KB computer that landed on the Moon) Hands-on project ideas and step-by-step tips you can try at home or in the classroom Inspiring interviews and sound bites from the pioneers who built our digital world Come for the “Tech Tip of the Day,” stay for the celebratory sound bites and community call-outs. Subscribe now on Acast and join a growing community of curious minds because at GetMeCoding.com, I believe that everyone can learn to code, explore technology, and build confidence…one byte at a time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Fred Aebli ("Mr. Fred")

Category

education · kids & family · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Jul 2025

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

43 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Oct 2026

   AI Can Do It for You. Should You Let It?

   An AI assistant that can organize your plans and handle tasks sounds pretty helpful. But when it asks for access to your email, calendar, or credit card, how much permission should you give it? This week on Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks, we explore AI assistants and agents in plain English. What’s the difference between suggesting something and actually doing it? How can an assistant work inside an account without seeing your password? And why doesn’t a hidden password mean your information is out of reach? With familiar examples and a little humor, Mr. Fred explains how to put these tools to work while keeping yourself involved in the decisions that matter. No computer science degree required. You’ll learn: How AI agents go beyond answering questions. Why account access matters as much as password protection. What to review before an assistant sends, changes, or buys something. How to start small and explore with your family. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and GetMeCoding is proud to participate as a Cybersecurity Awareness Champion through the National Cybersecurity Alliance. This week’s Tech Challenge: Pick one task you’d like an AI helper to handle. Decide what information it would need and which actions should require your approval. Explore more at GetMeCoding.com (https://www.getmecoding.com). What would you hand over to an AI assistant, and what would you keep firmly in your own hands? Tell me at GetMeCoding.com. If this episode helped, follow the show and leave an honest rating or review wherever your podcast app supports it. CONNECT Website: https://www.getmecoding.com (https://www.getmecoding.com) Courses: https://courses.getmecoding.com (https://courses.getmecoding.com) FOLLOW YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding (https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding (https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding (https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/) Follow, rate ★★★★★, and share! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   25 Sept 2026

   Code Girls: The Women Who Helped Break WWII Codes

   What happens when a classroom codebreaking challenge leads to a remarkable piece of history? Mr. Fred explores Code Girls by Liza Mundy, the story of American women whose secret work helped break German and Japanese codes during World War II. Meet teacher-turned-codebreaker Dot Braden and discover Genevieve Grotjan’s contribution to solving the Japanese diplomatic cipher known as PURPLE. Along the way, we make sense of encryption, connect wartime secrecy to everyday privacy, and celebrate the people behind the technology. It’s a conversation for parents, educators, history fans, and anyone who enjoys a good puzzle. This week’s Tech Challenge: create and decode a secret message with someone using a simple Caesar cipher. All you need is paper, a pencil, and a little curiosity. Read Mr. Fred’s Code Girls book review: https://www.getmecoding.com/book-review-code-girls/ (https://www.getmecoding.com/book-review-code-girls/) CONNECT Website: https://www.getmecoding.com (https://www.getmecoding.com) Courses: https://courses.getmecoding.com (https://courses.getmecoding.com) FOLLOW YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding (https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding (https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding (https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/) Follow, rate ★★★★★, and share! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Blocky to Beautiful: How Video Games Went From Pixels to Worlds

   How did video games go from a handful of colored blocks to worlds filled with realistic faces, reflections, shadows, and light? In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks, we follow the evolution of video game graphics from early Atari-era pixels to sprites, 3D polygons, textures, GPUs, and ray tracing, all without turning this into a computer science lecture. Along the way, we discover something even more interesting: better technology doesn't automatically make a better game. Early game designers had very little memory and processing power, so every pixel mattered. Those limitations forced programmers and artists to become remarkably creative. Today, games like Minecraft and modern pixel-art titles can look blocky by choice rather than necessity. That leads to a bigger lesson for kids, parents, educators, and anyone who likes to build things: Constraints can create creativity. This Week's Tech Challenge: The 8-Bit Challenge Create an 8×8 grid that has just 64 squares and try to make a picture someone else can recognize. Use graph paper, LEGO bricks, colored pencils, sticky notes, or whatever you have nearby. Don't add more squares. The limitation is part of the challenge. Then show your creation to someone without telling them what it is. Can they figure it out? If not…debug it! In this episode: What a pixel actually is Why early video games looked blocky How sprites became 3D models What polygons and GPUs actually do How textures and lighting create realism Ray tracing explained simply Why Minecraft doesn't need to look realistic How limitations can make designers more creative The 8-Bit Tech Challenge What was the first video game that made you stop and think, “Wow…that looks amazing”? Come find me at GetMeCoding.com and tell me. Follow Mr. Fred's Tech Talks wherever you listen so the next episode shows up automatically, and share this one with somebody who remembers spending a few too many quarters at the arcade. CONNECT Website: https://www.getmecoding.com (https://www.getmecoding.com) Courses: https://courses.getmecoding.com (https://courses.getmecoding.com) FOLLOW YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding (https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding (https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding (https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/) Follow, rate ★★★★★, and share! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.