Mr. Fred's Tech Talks
Claim This Podcastby Fred Aebli
Podcast Overview
<p>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 bi-weekly, 10–15 minute episode breaks down real-world tech topics into bite-sized lessons you can use today.</p><br><p>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:</p><ul><li><strong>Clear, jargon-free explanations</strong> of coding languages, tools and AI</li><li><strong>Behind-the-scenes stories</strong> from tech history (like the 64 KB computer that landed on the Moon)</li><li><strong>Hands-on project ideas</strong> and step-by-step tips you can try at home or in the classroom</li><li><strong>Inspiring interviews</strong> and sound bites from the pioneers who built our digital world</li></ul><p><br></p><p>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.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Language
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Publishing Since
7/31/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Mr. Fred's Tech Talks
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Recent Episodes
July 24, 2026
The AI School Supply List: What Students Actually Need Now
<p>Pencils? Check. Notebooks? Check. Four mysteriously specific black pens? Check.</p><br><p>But as students return to classrooms with artificial intelligence at their fingertips, they need a few important supplies that cannot be purchased at a store.</p><p>In this episode, Mr. Fred explores three skills students need in their digital backpacks: the confidence to solve everyday technology problems, enough healthy skepticism to question polished answers, and the judgment to recognize when AI supports learning and when it quietly replaces it.</p><br><p>You’ll also hear a practical Tech Challenge that turns AI from an answer machine into a learning coach.</p><p><br></p><h3>Full episode description/show notes</h3><p>It’s 11:47 on a school night. An assignment is due at midnight, the document is still blank, and an AI tool can finish the entire thing in minutes.</p><p>Crisis avoided or learning avoided?</p><br><p>As families prepare for another school year, students still need pencils, notebooks, folders, and all the traditional supplies. But succeeding in the age of AI also requires a different kind of preparation.</p><br><p>In this episode of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks, Mr. Fred explores three essential additions to the modern student’s digital backpack:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Digital confidence to organize files, troubleshoot problems, and communicate clearly</li><li>Healthy skepticism when evaluating online and AI-generated information</li><li>Good judgment about when AI supports learning and when students need to work through the challenge themselves</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Mr. Fred also considers a better question for parents and teachers to ask, not simply, “Did you use AI?” but, “Did using AI leave you understanding more than when you started?”</p><p><br></p><h3>Mr. Fred’s Tech Challenge</h3><p>Choose something you genuinely want to understand and give an AI tool this instruction:</p><blockquote>I am trying to understand [insert topic]. Do not give me the final answer. Ask me questions, provide clues, and help me work it out for myself.</blockquote><p>Then notice what changes when AI acts as a coach instead of an answer machine.</p><p>Did it make you think more? Did you understand or remember more afterward?</p><p>Try the challenge with your child, your students, or for your own learning and let Mr. Fred know what happened.</p><br><p>Learn more and discover approachable coding and technology resources at <a href="https://getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GetMeCoding.com</a>.</p><br><p>If this episode made you think, share it with a parent, teacher, or student preparing for the new school year. Follow Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks, subscribe to the GetMeCoding YouTube channel, and leave a review to help more curious families and educators discover the show.</p><br><p><strong>AI can help carry a few supplies. Just don’t let it carry the whole backpack.</strong></p><p><strong>CONNECT</strong></p><p><strong> Website: </strong><a href="https://www.getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.getmecoding.com</a></p><p><strong> Courses: </strong><a href="https://courses.getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://courses.getmecoding.com</a></p><br><p><strong>FOLLOW</strong></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/</a></p><p>Follow, rate ★★★★★, and share!</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
July 17, 2026
From Apollo to Artemis: The Next Giant Leap
<p><br></p><p>On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon.</p><br><p>And then, just a few years later, humanity stopped going.</p><br><p>So what happened?</p><br><p>Did we forget how to get there? Did the technology disappear? And if we could reach the Moon using 1960s technology, why did it take more than 50 years for humans to travel there again?</p><br><p>In this episode of <strong>Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks</strong>, Mr. Fred connects the story of Apollo to the new era of Artemis.</p><br><p>We explore why the infrastructure behind Apollo could not simply be restarted, how Artemis is building a new path back to the Moon, what Artemis II accomplished, why Artemis III is an important step even without a lunar landing, and how each mission builds toward what comes next.</p><br><p>Along the way, Mr. Fred also reflects on another July 20 milestone...his birthday...and how both birthdays and space missions can remind us to look back, learn, and ask an important question:</p><p><strong>What are we going to do next?</strong></p><br><p>You’ll also hear connections to coding, engineering, experimentation, and the idea that progress often comes from taking what someone else built and carrying the mission forward.</p><p><br></p><h3>In this episode</h3><ul><li>Why humans stopped traveling to the Moon after Apollo</li><li>Why returning was about more than simply rebuilding old rockets</li><li>How Apollo and Artemis differ</li><li>What Artemis II accomplished</li><li>Why Artemis III is a critical testing mission</li><li>How future Artemis missions could return astronauts to the lunar surface</li><li>What Moon missions can teach kids about coding, engineering, and iteration</li><li>Mr. Fred’s July 20 birthday connection</li><li>A new Tech Challenge: <strong>Carry the Mission Forward</strong></li><li><br></li></ul><h3>Callbacks and related content</h3><p>Longtime listeners may remember <a href="https://www.getmecoding.com/episode-2-moonshots-milestones/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Season 1, Episode 2</strong></a>, where Mr. Fred explored the technology behind Apollo 11.</p><p>You can also go deeper with Mr. Fred’s GetMeCoding.com article about the Apollo Guidance Computer and his YouTube video explaining the famous <strong>1202 program alarm</strong> that appeared during the Apollo 11 lunar landing.</p><p><br></p><h3>Links</h3><p><strong>YouTube:</strong></p><p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03cSAwOC8X0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Error Code 1202 Explained</a></p><br><p><strong>Related GetMeCoding Apollo article (</strong>The Apollo 11 Software: 4 Things You Probably Didn’t Know<strong>):</strong></p><p> <a href="https://www.getmecoding.com/the-apollo-11-software-4-things-you-probably-didnt-know/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.getmecoding.com/the-apollo-11-software-4-things-you-probably-didnt-know/</a></p><br><p><strong>GetMeCoding:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.getmecoding.com</a></p><p><strong>Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.getmecoding.com/podcast-mr-freds-tech-talks/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.getmecoding.com/podcast-mr-freds-tech-talks/</a></p><p><strong>CONNECT</strong></p><p><strong> Website: </strong><a href="https://www.getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.getmecoding.com</a></p><p><strong> Courses: </strong><a href="https://courses.getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://courses.getmecoding.com</a></p><br><p><strong>FOLLOW</strong></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/</a></p><p>Follow, rate ★★★★★, and share!</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
July 10, 2026
The Invisible Internet: What Happens When You Press Send?
<p>The fastest thing Mr. Fred has ever watched happen had no engine, no wheels, and no wings.</p><p>In fact, he never actually saw it happen.</p><br><p>He only pressed a button.</p><br><p>In Season 2, Episode 21 of Mr. Fred’s Tech Talks, we follow the hidden journey that begins every time you send a message, open a webpage, stream a video, join a livestream, or ask an AI tool a question.</p><br><p>What looks like one simple click sets an incredible process in motion. Information is broken into pieces, labeled, routed through a worldwide network, delivered to the correct destination, and reassembled, often in less time than it takes you to blink.</p><br><p>In this episode, you’ll discover:</p><p>• Why information travels in small pieces called packets</p><p>• How IP addresses help data find the correct destination</p><p>• How routers direct internet traffic from one stop to the next</p><p>• Why DNS works like the internet’s phone book</p><p>• How shared protocols allow different devices to communicate</p><p>• Why the internet can often reroute around slowdowns and failures</p><p>• How modern AI still depends on the invisible internet underneath it</p><br><p>Mr. Fred explains it all with couches, pizza deliveries, phone books, traffic directors, struggling Wi-Fi, and blinking routers that are honestly doing their best.</p><p>The internet is not magic.</p><br><p>It is an amazing system built by people, and once kids understand that, they can begin to see themselves as builders, problem-solvers, and creators too.</p><p><br></p><h2>Tech Challenge: Trace Your Own Route</h2><p>This week’s challenge is to trace the path your data takes across the internet.</p><p><br></p><h3>On Windows</h3><p>Open Command Prompt and enter:</p><p>tracert getmecoding.com</p><p><br></p><h3>On Mac or Linux</h3><p>Open Terminal and enter:</p><p>traceroute getmecoding.com</p><p>You will see a list of hops. Each hop represents another step your data takes on its way to the destination.</p><p>Try running the command more than once. Compare the number of hops and response times to see whether the route changes.</p><p>Parents and educators can ask young learners:</p><p>• How many hops did the data make?</p><p>• Which hop was the fastest?</p><p>• Which one took the longest?</p><p>• Did the route change when you tried it again?</p><p>• What surprised you most?</p><p>You do not need to understand every line.</p><p>Curiosity is the win.</p><p><br></p><h2>Listener Call to Action</h2><p>Take the traceroute Tech Challenge and share what you discover in the GetMeCoding community or on social media using:</p><p>#MrFredsTechTalks</p><br><p>Explore more beginner-friendly coding activities, technology explainers, parent resources, and podcast episodes at:</p><p>GetMeCoding.com</p><p><strong>CONNECT</strong></p><p><strong> Website: </strong><a href="https://www.getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.getmecoding.com</a></p><p><strong> Courses: </strong><a href="https://courses.getmecoding.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://courses.getmecoding.com</a></p><br><p><strong>FOLLOW</strong></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@GetMeCoding</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/getmecoding</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/GetMeCoding</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfred77/</a></p><p>Follow, rate ★★★★★, and share!</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
35 total episodes available
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- What is Mr. Fred's Tech Talks?
<p>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 bi-weekly, 10–15 minute episode breaks down real-world tech topics into bite-sized lessons you can use today.</p><br><p>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:</p><ul><li><strong>Clear, jargon-free explanations</strong> of coding languages, tools and AI</li><li><strong>Behind-the-scenes stories</strong> from tech history (like the 64 KB computer that landed on the Moon)</li><li><strong>Hands-on project ideas</strong> and step-by-step tips you can try at home or in the classroom</li><li><strong>Inspiring interviews</strong> and sound bites from the pioneers who built our digital world</li></ul><p><br></p><p>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.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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