The Datacenter Show

Considering the big E3 video game show wrapped up just last week, now is the perfect time to talk about how there are too many video games.  With me this week is the host of the Chips 'n Bits video game podcast, Matthew Anderson. We chat about Horizon Zero Dawn, Overwatch, getting (and being) old, why free-to-play games suck, whether VR is a fad and which console you should get (spoiler: PS4).     

There are 153 comic book movies coming to theaters this year. Not to mention the 7,249 shows about superheroes on the TV. Even for a lifelong, die-hard comic book nerd such as myself — it’s exhausting. I can’t imagine what its like for everyday people who don't care about OMG THEY ARE PUTTING ADAM WARLOCK IN GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3!!!! ahem. Anyway, to talk about this very important topic, I brought in the most important man on the Internet, Mike Romo. He’s a contributor to the comic book podcast iFanboy, where he does superhero movie reviews — and — he literally just got done helping put on a comic book convention in Houston.   Even if you don’t like superheroes, this conversation is like a gamma bomb of fun exploding in your ears.   Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts   or Stitcher   or follow us on Twitter @toomuchpod   or visit our website at toomuchpod.com

This week, we're talking about robots! Will they take over? (maybe?) Journalist Signe Brewster, who chronicles the robot uprising for publications like the MIT Technology Review and WIRED, stops by the pod to talk about the robots we already have in our homes (dishwashers!), robots that lift kegs, what to expect from robots, and how a Roomba actually makes a great pet.  It's fun and enlightening, and a great way to welcome our soon-to-be overlords.  Subscribe via Apple RSS   You can find us online at: @toomuchpod toomuchpod.com

"Artificial Intelligence" is the buzzword du jour in business, with just about every company claiming they'll incorporate some kind of AI into their product.  But what exactly is artificial intelligence? Will it take over the planet? Am I just a cleverly programmed 'bot that has fooled you into thinking I'm human?  Derrick Harris, founder of the influential Architect.io newsletter and podcast will walk us through what AI is, how prevalent it's become, and whether you should be worried for your job. Check out his interview with Andrew Ng on the economics of AI for more.  As always, if you like the show, you can subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Or Stitcher. Or RSS.   We're online at toomuchpod.com and follow us on Twitter @toomuchpod.  

As a parent, I am inundated with news stories and research and blog posts and listicles that basically say the same thing — I’m doing it all wrong. Man, what a bringdown. So I called up Laura Hazard Owen, Deputy Editor of the Nieman Journalism Lab and creator and writer of the I’ll Be Right Back parenting newsletter for a chat. Unlike other parenting newsletters, I’ll Be Right Back won’t make you feel judged or that you are the worst parent in the world. Quite the contrary, it’s a celebration of the small victories parents achieve on a daily basis. If you’re a parent, listen in for a fun talk that touches on breastfeeding, yoga pants and why I can’t watch Call the Midwife. If you’re not a parent, ehhh, you can probably skip this episode. Go enjoy your freedom.   Subscribe via iTunes   Listen on Stitcher

It’s kind of silly to say there are too many bands, because most will never go beyond a 5 p.m. slot at the local brew pub. However, there are a TON of bands out there, and one man sorting through them is Kyle Ryan, Senior Editor at The AV Club. He stops by to talk about: -His annual list of (bad) band names -What it even means to be “in a band” any more thanks to laptops -How new bands can get noticed And finally, just in time for their upcoming reunion at Riot Fest, I vociferously defend Jawbreaker’s “sellout” album, “Dear You.” Though it turns out, I didn't need to.   Song recommendation: The Night Begins to Shine   Subscribe to the show via Apple