Smart Home Today with Stephen Gasque

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen examines Apple’s new push into great-sounding, yet affordable smart home tech. He and his guest, John Chase, smart home technology editor at Wirecutter, talk about the brand new Apple HomePod Mini…which promises to deliver great audio quality, at an affordable price. Plus, you can use it for listening to music – and also with your TV! Should the Amazon Echo, and Google Home platforms – be nervous?

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen looks making your time at home – better – by using smart home tech! His guest is an expert in both smart home tech and real estate. Realtor Angel Piontek is associate broker and vice president of marketing at Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She's also the author of the “Mostly Smart Home Blog.”

On this week’s edition of Smart Home Today, Stephen examines the new generation of hot water heaters, which use no tank at all! His guest is Mary Farrell with Consumer Reports, who discusses whether these ‘instant-on’ hot water systems are right for your home – or not!

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks about the brand new tech that’s expected to fly off the shelves – literally! Because Amazon’s new in-home drone is coming soon! Stephen’s guest is Andrew Gebhart, Senior Associate Editor at CNET, who discusses the brand new smart home devices from Amazon, Google and Apple. And here’s a preview: different shapes, better audio quality, and lower prices!  

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks about Smart Plugs – with Rachel Cericola of Wirecutter. They explore the ways Smart Plugs can make almost any electrical device – smart! From fans, to coffee makers, to exercise bikes – even outdoor pumps! Smart Plugs allow you to control those devices with your phone, or with Alexa, Googe or Siri. Just another way the best things come in small packages!

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at the huge array of 5G phones on the market – and wonders why hardly any of them, can find 5G service! His guest is Sascha Segan, lead mobile analyst from PCMag.com, who explains just why the actual 5G signals are lagging far behind the rollout of 5G phones. Sascha offers a timeline on when you might finally see your phone’s ‘5G’ indicator light up….yay! And, why getting a 5G phone might be a good move - even without 5G service! Really?

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks about how to get more bars on your cell phone – without switching carriers! His guest is Sascha Segan, the lead mobile analyst at PCMag.com, who describes the dazzling array of cell-phone boosters in today’s market. With a booster, you create a virtual cell phone tower in your home – adding one, two, three, even four more bars of service! They’re not cheap, and they require lots of tweaking, but wow! They really work!

On today’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks smart door locks with Jon Chase, from Wirecutter. With so many brands to choose from - which smart lock is right for you? Plus - can you install one yourself - without a locksmith? And when your WiFi goes down, and your Bluetooth won’t pair - are you locked out of your own house? 

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at smart Thermostats! What they do, how they work, and what what a smart thermostat could mean to your utility bills! Stephen’s guest is Jason D’Aprile, one of the nation’s top smart home technology writers! And they discuss installation, ‘teaching’ a smart thermostat about your temperature needs, and - can it still work without WiFi? 

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at smart bathrooms! That's right! Smart tubs and toilets, mirrors and whirlpools. Can those features increase the value of your home? And make it more attractive to potential buyers if you're going to sell? His guest is an expert in both smart home tech and real estate. Realtor Angel Piontek is associate broker and vice president of marketing at Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She's also the author of the “Mostly Smart Home Blog.”

On today’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks to a national expert about how to save cold, hard cash around your house, using smart technology. As he continues his two-part interview with national expert Rachel Cericola of Wirecutter, about how smart lighting and smart watering devices can help you cut your utility bills! Plus, how smart home tech can help keep little plumbing problems, from becoming major disasters! 

On today’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen continues to search for ways to use smart technology to cut your monthly bills. In the first of a two-part interview, Stephen talks to Rachel Cericola of Wirecutter, Stephen and Rachel discuss smart thermostats, and how they can help cut one of your biggest energy bills. And also – how smart plugs can help you save money too. Who knew?

On this episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at your property – inside and out – and how smart home tech can help you take care of it. From lawn and garden care to interior systems like electrical and plumbing, smart home tech can play a role in keeping it in tip-top shape. Stephen’s guest is Tom Kraeutler, host of the podcast and radio show ‘The Money Pit.’

Safety first! On today’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen examines smart home security! From smart door locks, to smart surveillance systems, to whole house security systems, he examines how to keep your home secure. His guest is Jalesa Campbell, with Safety.com, who explains your options. Including – the one smart system no burglar can cut, snip or disable!

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen examines the newest smart grilling app – the Weber Connect. In short – it does everything but flip the steak for you! Stephen’s guest is Kevin Kolman, Head Grill Master at Weber, who explains not only what the Weber Connect App does – but also, how to cook the perfect steak – on your own grill. Caution: this episode may leave you hungry!

On this week’s episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen examines smart lighting for your home! Stephen’s guest is Mike Deschamps with Philips Hue, and they discuss it all - from the money saving economy of the LED-based bulbs, to the color-changing capability of the high-end smart bulbs, to the ability to control your lighting with your voice and your phone! Mike also tells us about the new products Philips Hue is rolling out…and why their vintage-look bulbs are red hot!

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen continues our special Hot Summer Series on Smart Home Tech, your home, and you, by looking at the huge advances in battery-powered outdoor power equipment! It’s quiet, it’s green and it’s very smart! But – can it really compete with gasoline gear? Stephen poses that question and many others to an expert – Kris Kiser, CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. Kris looks at the pros, the cons and the future – of going 100% battery, when you tackle the lawn-mowing, weed trimming, leaf blowing and tree cutting chores in your yard. 

This week, Stephen tackles a big challenge facing sellers, and other people who just plain need more space – storing their possessions! Getting the clutter, and the big pieces of furniture out – so the house is more open, more airy, and more attractive to potential buyers. Stephen’s guest is Rahul Gandhi, co-founder and CEO of MakeSpace, a technology-based company that allows you to meet your storage needs – with a tap on your smartphone screen.

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen continues our special Hot Summer Series on Smart Home Tech, your home, and you! And this week…Buying Your First Smart Home! All about setting it up – the right way! So that all the devices work together perfectly, efficiently and securely. Stephen’s guest is Sascha Segan, technology expert and Lead Analyst at PCMag.com. And among Sascha’s smart home tech revelations? Having a few Echo devices, a few Google devices, and a few Apple devices? NOT a good idea!

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen begins a special Hot Summer Series on Smart Home Tech, your home, and you! The series kicks off just before the 4th of July, by looking at how smart home tech is helping wounded and disabled veterans and active duty service members live more independent lives. Stephen talks with Melissa Oliver, Occupational Therapist and Program Coordinator the Assistive Technology Program at the Veterans’ Administration’s Central Virginia Health Care System, in Richmond. Melissa explains why smart home tech is a game-changer for our nation’s defenders. 

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at how to avoid wasting water and wasting money – by being smart about watering your lawn and garden. His guest is Chris Klein, the CEO and co-founder of Rachio, which makes internet-connected watering controllers for homeowners. A controller so smart – it knows when it’s going to rain…and when it’s not – and waters your yard accordingly. The result? You save water, money and time! And that – is smart!  

On this week’s edition of Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at just how amazing Smart Home Tech truly is….especially now, when so many of us are still staying at home. Stephen talks about communications, accessibility, Echo v. Google, and the future of real estate – with Bill Lublin, tech expert and CEO of Century 21 Gold, in the Philadelphia area. The world has changed, due to smart home tech, and it’s helping to make our shelters – very special places.

On this week’s edition of Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at a new approach to Smart Home Tech – making it easy to set up, easy to use and easy to afford. His guest is Maximus Yaney, CEO and co-founder of Kangaroo, a new company dedicated to making smart home tech accessible to more people. Find out what they’re doing, how they’re doing it and why Kangaroo has been identified as a major player – in the future of smart home technology.

You might have seen it – a much, much bigger utility bill since staying at home every day. Why? Because you never leave! Today, Stephen talks to Kate Peters, with Eversource, one of the nation’s largest utilities. Kate explains tried and true strategies for staying safe and comfortable at home 24/7, without breaking the bank!

Privacy! Is it a thing of the past in today’s digital world? Today, Stephen explores that question with Bill Lublin, Realtor and tech expert. From smart speakers that always listen, to hackers trying to steal your identity, to mega-corporations who trail you as you surf the internet, Stephen and Bill talk about the problems – and some solutions! And also – do FBI agents really tape over their PC’s webcams?

Can you really catch a snake with duct tape? That and many other zany questions are answered in this week’s episode of Smart Home Today! Guest Tim Nyberg, one of the celebrated ‘Duct Tape Guys,’ tells Stephen how this low-tech tool can have a big impact on your home’s value. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to just relax, and have a good laugh.

On this week's episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen continues looking at ways to stay happy and healthy while sheltering at home. He asks Andrew Gebhart, Senior Associate Editor at CNET: if you had known back in February that in March you'd have to stay in your house 24/7....what tech would you have gathered together to ride it out? Along the way, they discuss video games, WiFi 6, and even a robot vacuum! Plus - Andrew's list of 'must-play' video games...but, which ones are kid-friendly?

Are you sheltering at home? If so, smart home tech can help! On this week's episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen talks with CNET's Senior Associate Editor Andrew Gebhart, about how the tech you love can help make your shelter safer and more fun! From how smart speakers help keep you healthy, to scheduling calls to the outside world, to playing video games - you have more choices now, than ever! 

On this week's episode of Smart Home Today, Stephen looks at sustainable living. Going Green! Using as little energy as possible! He asks Ali Al-Asady, a certified Green Realtor, all about it! How do you find a Green home? What makes one home Green, while another isn't? And if your home is Green, will buyers line up at your door when you sell? You'll find all that and much more on this week's episode of Smart Home Today!

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen - like many of us - is sheltering at home. The connected home! Where the internet is more important than ever. So, Stephen examines the many ways you can ramp up your internet speed - yourself - and create greater bandwidth for the necessities of life. He'll look at WiFi, LAN cables, and the way to get blazing fast internet anywhere in your house, without wires or WiFi! And from Stephen and everyone at Smart Home Today - stay safe.

This week on Smart Home Today, Stephen talks with an expert about staying powered up, when the grid goes down. Kris Keyser, with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, discusses portable generators. What size to buy? How to use it safely? And can it still run - in the pouring rain? All these and more questions - answered! On Smart Home Today.

This week, Smart Home Today examines what smart thermostats mean to homeowners, home buyers and home sellers. Increasing convenience and control, while decreasing utility bills. But...what buyers need to know about 'inheriting' a smart thermostat and other smart devices!

In the debut episode of 'Smart Home Today,' Stephen looks at solar power for your home, and asks national sustainability expert Eileen Oldroyd whether solar is a good move. Will it add value to your home? Will it cut your energy costs? And - will it power your home if the grid goes down? The answers? Might surprise you!

Smart Home Today with Stephen Gasque is a weekly podcast that examines powerful ways the real estate you own, and the smart home tech you love, come together. From making your home more efficient, more fun and safer, to making it more attractive to buyers, more valuable, and more beautiful, smart home tech can help your property thrive. We'll explain how, and how you can do it by yourself.