Tax season is scary, especially this year with the new codes. Meet accountant Howell Cheek with Sigrist, Cheek, Potter & Huyser who can talk about the philosophy of taxes dating as far back as Plato (but don’t worry, he doesn’t). Kim talks with Howell, who offers easy-to-understand, concise tips about medical and charitable deductions, as well as the increase in the standardized deduction. He also talks about which business-tech deductions have been eliminated and why. Howell breaks it all down for us.
Don't (completely) fear the tax man
Cyberwar: How the U.S. is under attack right now
In today’s quickly changing world, war is no longer defined by bullets, bombs, and bloodshed. There isn’t even an enemy you can always identify. It’s called Cyberwar. The United States is under attack right now. No one knows exactly where some of the attacks are coming from. Listen for proof of these attacks and how they could lead to a much bigger war in the near future.
Are robots taking over pilots' jobs?
Consider this: A robot might be flying your next flight home. Will you want to be on that flight? We talk to Jeremy Straub, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at North Dakota University, who talks about his findings and what we should expect in the future. Kim also talks to Stephen Lapoint, former instructor and pilot with the United States Air Force and veteran pilot of American Airlines for almost 20 years to get his perspective on robots replacing human pilots.
Is YouTube promoting sex, drugs and violence to your kids?
There is a disturbing movement on YouTube that targets young children. Renowned psychologist Dr. Christine Davidson joins Kim Komando to talk about Elsagate. Listen to this fascinating conversation and learn how to protect children from adult content that’s disguised as safe for kids. Dr. Davidson is founder of Davidson Learning Center and DrDavidson.com. She specializes in education for autistic children, a population that is especially vulnerable to disturbing online video content.
Want a smart home? Try these expert tricks
You’ve decided to upgrade your home to a smart home but, where do you start? Should you use an Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home Pod to connect your devices? Kim and her cohost Andrew Babinski talk about the latest trends in smart home tech, and Andrew shares the trial and error he went through when he started “smartifying” his home. They also talk about some pretty weird smart tech like smart diapers, smart toothbrushes, coffee makers, and… Jim Beam? Kim and Andrew break it all down.
Facebook's fake-news fact-check fail
What’s real? What’s fake? Facebook’s AI algorithms can’t answer these questions, so it hired outside firms to do it. These human “content moderators” decide what’s fake, real, satire, inappropriate and illegal. It’s not working. Hear from Brooke Binkwoski, former Facebook fact-checker, about the real story, and learn how Facebook’s content moderators watch the seedy side of life all day, so you don’t have to. BONUS: Listen for the secret password in this episode for a chance to win an En
Digital smell technology could mean sending odors through virtual reality and the internet
What if you could smell any odor during a movie you’re watching? Technology has focused on our sense of sight and sound. But what if you can sense, transmit, and receive smell through the internet? Technology like Smell-O-Vision is making a comeback in applications ranging from virtual reality to movie watching. Listen to what the future of your digital life holds for your nose. Will you love it or hate it?
"Internet of things" connected cars will invade your privacy
Cars have become part of the “internet of things.” They are connected to our devices, the internet as well as big tech companies. Car makers are taking advantage of this new technology to know as much about us as they can. Our cars will be able to track our behaviors, allow advertisers to send us targeted ads, and track our driving habits. What will your new car know about you? And more importantly, what does that mean to your privacy? Kim gives us an inside look at our future behind the wheel.
3 things that every Apple fan needs to know
Every year we wait in anticipation to hear what new Apple products are coming. We talk to expert Rob Walch with Libsyn about the latest Apple rumor mill. Expect to see new AirPods with rumored health benefits, not to mention that men over 45 will particularly love them, and you won’t believe why! You’ll hear about the new MacBook Pro, the 6K display, a service they are calling the “Netflix of News” and other new gadgets from Apple. Plus – we give advice on how to become a successful podcaster.
New radiation treatments give cancer patients a second chance at life
Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the scariest things that can happen to a person. Thankfully, radiation treatments have come a long way. We talk with Dr. Cullen Taniguchi, radiation oncologist with MD Anderson Cancer Center, about the latest advancements in treating cancer with radiation, side effects and success rates. We uncover the unbelievable connection between the body temperature and the ability to heal. Listen to success stories of cancer patients who fought against the odds and recovered.
Privacy and data protection in the "internet of things" age
The “things” in the internet of things are getting smarter: We have smartphones, smart light bulbs, smart appliances, smartwatches — all connected through the internet. That’s cool and convenient, right? There’s one big problem: They’re designed to be connected, but not to be secure. We talk to Steven Teppler, a renowned privacy and cybersecurity attorney from Mandelbaum Salsburg, about how connected devices put people at risk for not only stolen data, but data we unwittingly share with big tech companie
How downsizing brought a couple closer together than ever
After retirement, Hal and Jackie decided to downsize, live in an RV and travel the country. What started out as a fun idea became a new lifestyle and the adventure of a lifetime. Their love grew stronger and they are now inseparable. Listen to their story, their day to day life on the road, and what they learned along the way.
Dark Web crimes: Catching father-daughter drug dealers
We take a peek into the Dark Web, where people can hire hitmen, buy poison and hack your computer. Criminals lurk within the dark alleyways of the internet, trying to take advantage of you and those you love. We talk to former FBI special agent Lawrence Wolfenden and take you behind the scenes of true Dark Web crimes. Learn what went into tracking a father and daughter who sold Xanax disguised as organic fitness pills. You’ll find out how they were caught and uncover the truth behind the Smiley Face Killers.
Can you get cancer from what you eat?
What’s in your gut? We have been hearing so much about gut bacteria. Recent innovations in DNA research have helped doctors uncover the link between gut health and many diseases, including cancer. Kim talks with Dr. Cullen Taniguchi, a radiation oncologist with MD Anderson Cancer Center about the connection between gut health and cancer. Learn about your microbiome and how you can arm it to fight disease. BONUS: Listen for the secret password in this podcast for your chance to win an Amazon Echo Dot!
Best apps to manage what you watch on TV
Streaming services have completely changed the way we watch TV. Long gone are the days when new programs launch in the fall, run for 22 weeks, wrap in the spring and go into reruns over the summer. With networks, premium cable channels and streaming services producing original content, there’s no longer a set schedule. It’s hard to keep track of when your favorite shows air. Kim and her co-host Mike James have five apps to help manage your binge watching so you don’t miss a thing.
Time travel the internet with Wayback and Internet Archive founder
Join Kim as she talks with Brewster Kahle, founder of the Wayback Machine and Archive.org, a free online digital library that has been archiving web pages since the mid-1990s. After earning a fortune by selling technologies to AOL and Amazon, Kahle set out on a mission to create an archive of web content. Hear about his goal to create the world’s largest free online public library, and find out how you can contribute your family’s history to the archive of the internet.
Best Google search alternatives
Google has become the go to search site but have you ever googled a word only to be bombarded by targeted ads and links that had nothing to do with your question? In this podcast, we will share with you alternatives to Google that will give you the desired results. Whether you’re looking for movies to stream or fabulous photos from space, and anything in between. These browsers will give you less ads, and in many cases, won’t track you like Google does!
Make 30% more in revenue using this secret strategy
We are all familiar with online display ads. They are those ads that jump at you when you are browsing a website. What you may not know, is how these ads end up on a particular page or why you are seeing them. Kim talks to specialist Heath Shaffer, owner of boutique AdOps firm NicheREV, for an insider scoop on everything that goes into the ads that you see, from advertisers who bid for the spot to the details that go into serving the ad on the website, and most of all, how to make money as a publisher.
Apps that are tracking you and stealing your data
Have you ever had an app ask you to access your phone’s location? How about the app that wants access to your smartphone camera and contact list. It has become second nature to share this info with the app, but did you ever stop to think: where does all this data go? Our lives are being tracked and sold to companies. In this podcast you will learn who is tracking you, how they can get to your personal information and most importantly where your data is being sent.
Morning routines of the super successful
Do you know what the main key ingredient to success is? Habit! Get ready for some truly life-changing stories and tips from highly motivated movers and shakers. You’ll learn from their habits how they stay on top of their game. We talk to VU Dream founder and podcaster Mark Metry as well as CEO and renowned attorney Joseph Harary about how they became successful and what they did to get there. By the end of this podcast, you’ll be loaded with tools to guide you on your own transformation.