The WAN Show: "The Hardest Secrets I’ve Ever Kept" – November 14, 2025

Podcast: The WAN Show by Linus Tech Tips
Hosts: Linus Sebastian & Luke Lafreniere
Date: November 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This extra-long WAN Show was an episode for the ages, jammed with game-changing hardware news from Valve, existential rants on rechargeable batteries, a historic visit from Linus Torvalds to the LTT studio (and all the heartbreak of a certain someone missing out), and the usual blend of tech culture banter, audience questions, and deep-dive thought experiments. Linus and Luke navigated a week full of monumental tech announcements, reflected on personal highlights, debated product design choices, and answered some delightfully odd user questions. If you want the full story behind Valve's bombshell hardware launches and a rare behind-the-scenes of meeting the creator of Linux, look no further.

Main Topics & Segments

1. Valve’s Monumental Hardware Launch

Timestamps: [03:47] – [54:43]

Key Announcements & Discussion Points

• Valve’s New Hardware Drop: Steam Machine (mini PC), Steam Frame (VR headset), and (new) Steam Controller.
• Steam Frame:
  • Standalone VR headset powered by 4nm Snapdragon ARM.
  • Lightweight, battery at the back, 16GB unified memory, up to 1TB storage.
  • Dual radios for 5 GHz Wi-Fi and 6 GHz VR streaming.
  • FEX compatibility: allows x86 games to run on ARM via a compatibility layer.
  • Foveated Streaming: Streams highest visual fidelity only to where your eyes are looking.
  • LCD screens instead of OLED for power/cost reasons; “People are hung up about the LCD thing, I get it. But Valve had a reason.” – Linus [10:32]
  • Concerns over AA batteries in controllers—leads to a passionate rechargeable battery rant.
• Steam Machine:
  • Linux-based, roughly 6x Steam Deck performance.
  • AMD 6-core Zen4, 16GB DDR5, 8GB VRAM, up to 2TB SSD (upgradable).
  • Comes with new Steam Controller.
  • Pricing debate: will not follow aggressive console subsidy models; likely $999 for the kit, higher than many expected and not “console-pricing.”
  • “From a performance standpoint... The biggest justification to me is I can take advantage of Steam sales. If it’s more expensive, that’s the most meaningful thing.” – Linus [41:28]
  • Discussion of open/console-like paradigms, Linux as daily driver, and long-term support.

Notable Quotes

• “This is our Apple Vision Pro. No, actually, this is our ‘Whoa, interesting’ in the VR space.” – Linus [06:11]
• “I might actually care about the computer inside the headset—because of that FEX compatibility layer. That’s wild!” – Linus [10:32]
• “Every criticism of Frame, I see why Valve made the choices—even if I’d do it differently.” – Linus [13:59]
• “Go buy rechargeable batteries. Literally, it’s for your own good. People, stop throwing money away!” – Linus, ranting [16:59-19:55]

Memorable Moments

• Linus gets passionately angry at the public for not using rechargeable batteries.
• Luke tries to process his Bigscreen Beyond VR headset now feeling obsolete.

2. Linus Torvalds (the ‘Other Linus’) Visits LTT

Timestamps: [63:30] – [110:59] (and continued throughout after dark)

Summary

• Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, made his first-ever visit to the LTT studio to film a collab, blow the hosts’ collective minds, and apparently, humble Linus S. himself.
• Discussion of Torvalds’ idiosyncratic email habits, deadpan personality, “try anything once” philosophy, and the surreal sensation of hosting one of tech’s most consequential figures.
• Linus and Sammy recount the behind-the-scenes nerves, the surreal hallway wait for Torvalds’ arrival, and how he was a “total Chad, but humble” [69:33].
• The WAN team debates whether any future collab could top it (Gaben and Wozniak are suggested as possible, but not as meaningful, alternatives).
• Linus shares the existential high of being validated by Torvalds: “If he thinks what we’re doing is cool, then it’s cool as far as I’m concerned.” [78:21]
• Personal highlights include Linus getting Torvalds to cringe at dad jokes, and Sammy’s 25-minute one-on-one drive with Torvalds.
• “They say never meet your heroes—meet this one.” – Linus [79:13]
• Linus expresses that the experience may be the highlight of his entire career, recounting previous “breakthrough memories” for comparison. [92:19]
• Linus’s reactions to Torvalds knowing Electroboom and Evan & Katelyn, but not LTT.
• Missed opportunity: Luke's heartbreak at missing the shoot due to a scheduling conflict on his birthday, resulting in a (now iconic) signed floatplane desk sign instead.

Notable Quotes

• “The highlight was that he genuinely thought what we’re doing is cool... That was amazing.” – Linus [78:21]
• “They say never meet your heroes, right? Meet this one.” – Linus [79:13]
• “Consequential is the word for Linus Torvalds. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is more famous, but not more consequential.” – Linus [84:58]
• “Getting him to cringe at my dad jokes... was so fun.” – Linus [79:42]

3. Rant Section: Batteries, Product Naming, and Region Locking

Timestamps: Various; especially [16:59-25:39], [54:44-63:15], [186:05-190:43]

Key Points & Memorable Debates

• AA Batteries vs Rechargeables: Linus berates the world for continuing to buy disposable batteries instead of rechargeables, sparking laughter and chat mayhem.
• Valve’s Reuse of Product Names:
  • Linus rails against Valve reusing the name “Steam Controller” for a new product (“Nothing should ever be named exactly the same!”), citing Apple iPad and confusion for future repair guides. [55:58-62:54]
• Region-Locked Products: Lively discussion on the anti-consumer nature of region locking, with Linus arguing for timed locks at most—or none at all. [186:05-190:43]
  • "Region locks are anti consumer and should always be objected to." – Linus [186:29]

4. Community, Audience, and Tech Culture

Timestamps: Throughout; see [211:03-220:00] for After Dark user Qs/emails

Highlights

• Audience Chat Segments: Twitch and Floatplane chat often become part of the show, sometimes nearly out of control, especially during battery discussions and personal topic tangents.
• LTT Team Dynamics: Amusing behind-the-scenes banter about missed opportunities, prank birthday songs, and office culture (including a serious pitch for a studio cat to control mice).
• After Dark: Extended Q&A; topics included annoying noises (chewing, playing phone audio in public), digital hygiene, and favorite colors for LTT merch.

Notable Quotes

• "[Talking about floatplane merch budget]—'I realized that we actually do try to not be a sh*tty place to work.'" – Luke
• "I don't have rivalry with my siblings. None of us aspire to the same things." – Linus [129:10]

5. Quickfire Tech News & Industry Chatter

Timestamps: After [137:03], sprinkled and rapid-fire

• Microsoft Exec calls Windows “an agentic OS” (AI-powered future); users roast him.
• Ubisoft financial woes—delay in earnings, Tencent’s growing influence, and the Canadian video game industry's contraction discussed in somber tones.
• Google briefly tried to lock sideloading; criticism led to a partial reversal for experienced users.
• AI artist ‘Breakin Rust’ tops Billboard’s country digital chart, but possibly via obvious botting; debate over the reality and future of AI music.
• Jack Dorsey funds Divine, a Vine reboot with a ban on AI content. Shortform video hasn’t changed much, but the platform's decentralization and open-source philosophy draw interest.
• Hardware rapid-fire: memory prices rising due to AI demand, right-to-repair regulations for EOL products, AI misuse in courts, Russian humanoid robot falls on its face, Google Nest hacked back to life by open-source project.

6. Notable, Memorable Moments & Quotes

Rechargeable Batteries Rant

• “Literally, this is for your own good. Go buy some nickel metal hydride batteries. Why is this funny?” – Linus [18:09]
• “Buy once, cry once! ...Actually, no, I'm not gonna let you do the math because you're a f—ing idiot. No, they don't cost 50 times as much. Go buy rechargeable batteries. You can thank me later.” – Linus [19:33]

Valve & VR Hype

• "The wireless streaming, dude. It blew me away. I get to have PC VR wirelessly." – Linus [31:12]

On Missing the Big Torvalds Collab

• "Instead of being here for the coolest shoot we've ever done... I have Linus's autograph on my sign. Worst birthday ever, potentially." – Luke [100:00]

Meeting Linus Torvalds

• "They say never meet your heroes. Meet this one, because he's so cool." – Linus [79:13]
• "Consequential is the word I would use for Linus Torvalds..." – Linus [84:49]

Segment Timestamps

• Valve Hardware Deep Dive: [03:47] – [54:43]
• Naming Rants, Steam Controller Naming: [54:44] – [63:15]
• Linus Torvalds Visits LTT—Full Debrief: [63:30] – [112:03] (with personal recollections throughout)
• After Dark & Audience Q&A: [211:03] – [265:30]
• Quick News Debrief & Discussions: Sprinkled after [137:03]
• Tech Rants (Batteries, Region Locking): [16:59] – [25:39]; [186:05–190:43]

Conclusion & Takeaways

This epic episode captured a momentous week for the tech world and LTT internally: Valve’s most exciting hardware launch since the original 30-series GPUs; historic in-person time with Linus Torvalds; the heartbreak of missing out as a tech nerd; and the passionate (sometimes comical) rants and reflective moments that have come to define the WAN Show.

Key Messages:

• The Valve hardware launches (especially Steam Frame) are a generational leap for PC enthusiasts.
• Linux, open hardware, and user-rights remain at the center of LTT's values—both philosophically and through direct personal interactions.
• Rechargeable batteries, clear naming, and anti-region-locking—just do it!
• Even for seasoned creators, meeting your hero (Torvalds) can be the absolute highlight of a career.
• The WAN Show team—despite being hilariously off-track at times—delivers a deeply entertaining, insightful, and community-driven discussion haven for tech fans.

For More

Check out the LTT main channel for in-depth reviews on the Steam Frame, Machine, and Controller, plus the Torvalds collab video dropping soon (possibly extended cut on floatplane.com)!

End-of-Episode Highlight

“They say never meet your heroes—meet this one. Because he’s so cool.” – Linus Sebastian [79:13]