The WAN Show: The Future Of WAN Show – January 2, 2026

Podcast: The WAN Show (Linus Tech Tips)
Hosts: Linus Sebastian, Luke Lafreniere
Date: January 3, 2026
Episode Title: The Future Of Wan Show

Episode Overview

This episode marks a pivotal moment in the history of the WAN Show. Linus and Luke open with hints about major changes to the show’s ownership structure, which they reveal and discuss in detail. Alongside that big news, they cover several key tech headlines: the persistent rise in GPU and RAM prices, the controversy surrounding Grok’s misuse for generating non-consensual sexual images, the U.S. drone import ban, adventures in “tech house” renovation, media preservation efforts for cult CGI TV shows, and a lively discussion of used PC hardware strategies in today’s market. The episode is characteristically irreverent, packed with memorable moments and candid opinions, and it closes with the promise that, despite "big changes," the WAN Show’s spirit is here to stay.

1. Major Change: WAN Show Becomes a 50/50 Partnership

Timestamp: 22:42 – 29:44

• Revelation: Ownership of the WAN Show has changed. Linus officially "abdicated half of my ownership stake" and made it a 50/50 partnership with Luke. They’ve incorporated a new company, Adequate Media Inc.

  • “I have abdicated half of my ownership stake of the WAN Show.” – Linus [23:14]
  • “It’s official. The WAN Show is a 50/50 partnership between me and Luke.” – Linus [23:31]

• Impact: This does not immediately affect the content, platform, or operational structure. Day-to-day, nothing will change, but it’s designed to guarantee “the WAN Show can continue forward for, indefinitely basically however long.” – Linus [28:35]

• Future-Proofing: The move ensures both hosts have equal incentive and security in the show’s future, regardless of what happens with Linus Media Group or their personal careers.

• Notable Quote:
  “The change, then, the big change is that the WAN Show is safe and that the WAN Show will not change.” – Linus [25:06]
  “However, starting soon we will start streaming the WAN Show on a different channel and... over time we will ... stop streaming the WAN Show on the LTT channel and it will move to a dedicated channel.” [28:44]

2. Media Preservation: “Reboot” & CGI Nostalgia

Timestamp: 03:37 – 08:29

• Linus explains LTT’s long-running involvement in preserving the Canadian CGI classic "Reboot" through technical support—providing drives, paying for repairs on rare D1 tape decks, etc.
• The original “Reboot” episodes have now been fully captured from D1 tapes; efforts are underway to restore other vintage CGI shows like "Beast Wars."
• Discussion of why media preservation matters, especially for referencing historical context in tech.
  • "When you're in the thick of it, it's hard to think about these things." – Linus [08:29]

3. Hardware Economics: GPU and RAM Prices, The Scrapyard Strategy

GPU and RAM Price Increases

Timestamp: 26:26, 132:02, 171:04

• Bad News Repeats: Linus and Luke lament continued (and increasing) GPU and RAM price hikes.

  • “GPUs are supposed to go up in price… We already lived through this one multiple times. This is double jeopardy.” – Linus [00:26]

• Rumors: NVIDIA and AMD are prepping for further GPU price hikes; RAM prices are surging, driven partly by AI/data center demand (Micron news segment, [132:02]).

• Discussion: The economic context—a combination of manufacturing monopolies (TSMC, ASML, NVIDIA) locking in high margins and supply issues—means relief is unlikely.

• Notable Quote:
  “It’s kind of a frustrating thing because ... there’s this pressure... for us to be more outraged, for us to like demand Nvidia lower their prices. As if they’re going to listen to us.” – Linus [16:51]

“Scrapyard Warrior” Mindset: Used Hardware Hacks

Timestamp: 09:38 – 21:29

• Workaround: Linus stresses that riding out bad pricing cycles by snagging used, slightly older hardware ("scrapyard wars") is honorable—and often just smart.

• Examples: A friend’s teenage son is playing Valorant and Arc Raiders at high FPS using a GTX 1080 and older Intel CPU. “If it plays the game you want at 80 FPS, why not?” – Luke [11:15]

• Math: Used GPUs’ depreciation slows down as they age, making them good stopgap buys—“It’s already gotten very low on its depreciation curve.” – Linus [15:49]

• Real-Life Builds: Discussion includes stories of jury-rigged computers, DIY fixes, and the joys of making something out of nothing. Inspired moments from the community subreddit lauded.

• Quote:
  “Making stuff work is cool. When did that not be cool?” – Linus [13:56]

4. User Hardware Tips & Market Insights

• Entry Level Builds: Even entry builds now have dedicated GPUs (e.g., A580) and are more capable than ever, despite price pressure. Linus critiques some suboptimal build guides but points out that with careful shopping and mixing old/new/used, gaming is still accessible below past peaks. [178:29+, 179:32+]
• Buying Used Cautions/Stories: Detailed discussion about checking GPUs on local marketplaces, strategies to avoid shipping scams, advantages of depreciation curve.
• Community Learning: The used hardware process builds troubleshooting skills and community know-how.
  • “You learn a lot more about your craft… you’re learning stuff, which is kind of fun and cool.” – Luke [19:31]

5. Spotlight: Other Key Tech News & Hot Topics

AI Slop and Grok Controversy

Timestamp: 05:05, 106:25, 108:48 – 116:36

• Grok (X/Twitter’s generative AI) is being used to create non-consensual sexual images, including of minors.
  • “Grok is being used to generate non consensual sexual images of both adults and children. And it’s, like, actually as bad as it sounds.” – Luke [01:05/106:25]
• Outrage over how easily these guardrails were bypassed and the broader social/ethical issues, including disturbing possible training sources for the model.
  • “What the hell was Grock trained on to be able to do that?” – Linus [109:03]
• Debate over what true “consent” means in these AI use cases; discussion of the failure of available safeguards and lack of responsible moderation.

US Ban on Foreign Drones (e.g., DJI)

Timestamp: 30:44 – 38:10

• Policy: New rules ban non-American drones and critical components from U.S. market, claimed to be for national security.
• Industry Backlash: No strong U.S. competition; commercial users say there are no affordable alternatives.
• Political Angling: Linus and Luke discuss “who benefits” (domestic drone companies with lobbying connections).
• AI, National Security Angle: Empathy for defense concerns but criticism of how the ban favors special interests and will raise costs/hurt progress.

Tech House Project: Renovation Adventures

Timestamp: 40:13 – 54:53

• Linus updates on the acquisition and renovation plans for a dedicated LTT “tech house”—a testbed for smart home, AV, and general tech experiments.
• Hilarious anecdotes about the bizarre wiring and previous owner’s tech shortcuts (e.g., phone jack beside the toilet, DIY 240V garage extension cord). [47:00–49:36]
  • “This guy’s idea of safety first was the four fire extinguishers that he had in his garage rather than … not starting a fire in the first place.” – Linus [48:52]
• Anticipated content: wiring for spouse-approved hidden tech, media setups for tabletop gaming, creative automation, etc.

6. Merch, LTT Announcements, and Audience Engagement

Timestamp: 63:03 – 72:33

• Launch of new "Crash Out" t-shirt, and teased upcoming “True Spec” LTT USB cables—emphasizing real tested performance, clear labeling for speed and power, and a variety of sensible lengths.
  • “I just want to eliminate uncertainty from my life… I know that whatever I’m holding is the best cable it could be for that.” – Linus [67:07]
• Audience engagement via “merch messages” (interactive Q&A for those buying from LTT Store), and several discussions about future cable types, home/server labs, and self-hosting projects in the After Dark segment.

7. Short Takes & Memorable Moments

• Media preservation gets passionate defense:
  “If we don’t keep the media from that time, then we don’t have it. It’s that simple.” – Linus [08:29]
• Humorous banter about Canadian housing and wiring oddities (e.g., illegal home upgrades in Australia).
• Riffing on cereal/milk etiquette and “deep cut” slang:
  “Bit of a deep cut refers to a significant wound... No, really, it’s slang for an obscure reference!” [42:48–43:40]
• Luke’s used hardware stories: Rubber band plus pencil as a power button; using a car mudflap for a pump mount.
• Tech culture touchstones: The community’s DIY ethos celebrated through “Scrapyard Wars.”
• Movie Rating Tangents: Noting how some “bad” movies (e.g., Boondock Saints) are still beloved [157:19].

8. Noteworthy Quotes & Characteristic Tone

• “Making stuff work is cool. When did that not be cool?” — Linus [13:56]
• “You just ruined all the...” — Luke (on Linus’s dramatic announcement) [00:14]
• “I keep cats in bags. I’m like a cat bag kind of guy.” — Linus (theoretical, not literal, cats) [22:05]
• “You can’t live through a GPU apocalypse twice. These are fundamental laws.” – Linus [00:51]
• "Is this a new shorts format? ... Is this thing on the left just Subway Surfers?" – Linus [91:20] (as they try out YouTube Shorts as a new user)

9. Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening and News Preview: 00:00 – 03:05
• Reboot & Media Preservation: 03:35 – 08:29
• Hardware pricing and Scrapyard advice: 09:38 – 21:29
• WAN Show Ownership Announcement: 22:42 – 29:44
• Drone Import Ban: 30:44 – 38:10
• Tech House Adventures: 40:13 – 54:53
• Hardware economics, builds & price hikes: 132:02, 171:04 onwards
• AI & Grok Misuse Controversy: 106:25 – 116:36
• Audience interactions, cables, merch: 63:03 – 72:33, 135:46 – 137:46
• After Dark/Community Messages: 217:35 and onwards

10. Closing Thoughts

While the “big change” headline of the episode turns out to be a behind-the-scenes formalization (not a radical shift in the show’s DNA), the episode stands out as a densely packed, classic WAN Show—with real talk about the state of PC hardware, a heartfelt plea for DIY and media preservation, hands-on anecdotes, and unmistakable Linus/Luke banter.

Summary Statement:
Despite ongoing upheaval and price anxiety in the tech world, the WAN Show leans into knowledge-sharing, humor, and building an even more collaborative future between its two legendary hosts. As Linus says:

“The WAN Show is safe and… will not change. … Today, nothing’s really changing, honestly, internally or externally.” [25:06–28:38]