Podcast
Comfort Zone
Hosted by Christopher Lawley, Matt Birchler, and Niléane · EN
Comfort Zone is a podcast that pushes its hosts outside of their, well, comfort zone. Every week, each host will bring new technology they've tried to the show to discuss whether it worked and how it pushed them out of their comfort zone.
Then, at the conclusion of each episode, one of the hosts will issue the dreaded challenge to the others to try something new, and perhaps even something they might not like. It's a fun, fresh way to learn something new, along with the hosts every week.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Are You Predicting Doom?
Jan 1501:10:29Tap to summarizeNiléane battles the modern era of smart mice, Chris has a new way of keeping up with everything everywhere all at once, and the whole gang battles it out with the best dang MagSafe accessories you've ever seen. This week's Cozy Zone, we roast you home screens again! This one has bar none the weirdest home screen I've ever seen. You just gotta listen to understand why, but we might be cursed now. Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month or $50/year, which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Main topics BetterMouse Reeder Other things Atkinson Hyperlegible Geist Ben Vallack Swapmod Intricuit Aerospace ROG Xbox Ally X Logitech made an oopsie Mode Anthracite keycaps DOCKCASE Magnetic Visual Clicks Power Keyboard MagicMount Flask Nomatic Wallet VÄSTMÄRKE Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →Mine's Bigger than Matt's
Jan 801:36:13Tap to summarizeMatt needs some help figuring out what browser to use, Niléane has a new game show, and Chris challenges the gang to clean up their desk area. This week's Cozy Zone, the gang discusses their tech white whales. If they had unlimited funds, what would they buy? A nice camera? A beefy computer? A whole company?! Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month or $50/year, which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Main topics Helium Zen Dia ChatGPT Atlas Perplexity Comet Other things Chris' Gridfinity Setup Last.fm HermitCraft desk mat IKEA monitor arm Matt's desk before Matt's desk after Forecast Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →Our 2026 Tech Predictions
Jan 101:37:02Tap to summarizeIt's the annual predictions episode! The gang reflects on their predictions from 2025 and then make their Guaranteed To Be Correct Predictions for 2026. No boring predictions here, we start at Pro predictions and go all the way to Pro Max. This week's Cozy Zone has everyone discussing the tricky business of streaming music and how we actually get artists paid. Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month or $50/year, which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know! Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →Put a Bumper Case on That Thing
Jan 23, 202501:28:15Tap to summarizeMatt has an announcement to make (and a cool app to talk about), Chris brought a bag of goodies, and Niléane brought a fun challenge around using our mice in interesting ways. Weekly Topics Cursor Kobo Clara BW Cal Digit TS4 Dock Tomtoc Shoulder Bag James Brand Folsom Pocket Knife Other Things Discussed HelloQuitX Filter subscribed languages from individual persons you follow Federico is using Superhuman Quick Reviews coming to iOS Wii cursor Wii cursor demo GIF 1 Wii cursor demo GIF 2 Logitech MX Master 3S Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →The Opposite of Snow Leopard
Jan 16, 202501:25:32Tap to summarizeIn this very special episode, the gang makes their “Pro” and “Pro Max” predictions for tech in 2025 and oh my, does it get wild! Who’s best clued into the tech coming this year? Who is just wish-casting their way to third place? We’ll have to wait to find out. Weekly Topics Nothing, just 2025 predictions! Other Things Discussed MacStories left Meta platforms Niléane’s reporting from last year about Meta’s moderation failings DLC podcast Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →
OLED Dreams and Studio Display Realities
Jan 9, 202501:31:32Tap to summarizeNiléane is out, so Chris and Matt are left to fend on their own. Chris steals like an artist and Matt defends a new purchase. Weekly Topics LG 32” UltraGear 4K OLED monitor Other Things Discussed Cortex Episode 162 HabitKit Foodnoms Matt’s video on the LG monitor (retina discussion starts at the 3 minute mark) What is retina? Retina calculator Pixels per degree calculator Matt’s dock setup 1 Matt’s dock setup 2 Matt’s dock setup 3 Matt’s dock setup 4 MacWhisper Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →The California Guy is Cold
Dec 26, 202401:13:14Tap to summarizeChris has his own Mount Rushmore of iPad apps, Matt is trying to get to terms with Discord, and the gang figures out if they’re moving the group chat to WhatsApp. Weekly Topics Obsidian Sequel Overcast Other Things Discussed Music from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Obsidian Web Clipper TV Forecast Up Ahead Remind Me Faster Drafts theme directory Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →I’m Not a Panda Person
Dec 19, 202401:10:25Tap to summarizeNiléane has a new webcam, Chris is drowning in keyboards, and everyone installs some web-ass web apps. Weekly Topics Insta360 Link 2C Keychron Q1 HE Keychron K2 HE Nada Panda 65 Other Things Discussed BusyCal Niláne’s camera setup Photo 1 Niláne’s camera setup Photo 2 The Continuity Camera and ‘Unlock With Apple Watch’ Conspiracy Lemokey L4 keyboard Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →Matt is a Mean Guy
Dec 12, 202401:18:21Tap to summarizeMatt felt like bringing an intentionally controversial topic, Niléane refuses to admit she’s created a sticky note-based task manager, and everyone gives the iPad some much needed love. Weekly Topics Raycast CleanShot X Final Cut Pro Google Chrome Stickies app Audio balance feature Other Things Discussed MacStories Selects 2024 Delta skins commissioned by MacStories Ice development is slowing down Timery Procreate focusedOS Ferrite Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →I’m Knee-Deep in Turkey
Dec 5, 202401:17:01Tap to summarizeNiléane has taken to the skies in Flight Simulator, Chris wants to talk about yet another Mac, and the gang all looks for the best open source app (or web app!) they can find. Weekly Topics Flight Simulator 2024 M4 Mac mini Other Things Discussed [Flight Simulator documentary](URL Shadow PC Gaming BetterTouchTool Accents CleanShot X Klack Ghost Kodi Ice Raindrop.io Readwise Reader Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Bluesky
Transcribe →