Smart Thermostat Savings
Smart home tech promises savings, but at what cost? Handy Andy Baryer joins Shane Hewitt to break down how programs like BC Hydro’s Peak Saver work — using smart thermostats to reduce electricity usage during peak times by preheating homes and throttling energy consumption quietly in the background.

The upside: lower bills and incentive cash. The catch? Utilities can trigger subtle changes in your home’s heating. Andy explains how it works, what data is shared, and why it’s sparking concern. From DIY retrofits to smart privacy, this episode asks: how much control are you giving up to save a few bucks?

How Bad is Your Password
It’s 2025, and the most-used password is still “123456.” Handy Andy Baryer joins Shane Hewitt to unpack what leaked data from 2 billion accounts reveals about our digital habits — and the staggering number of people still using dangerously simple passwords.

The conversation covers the top 100 most-used passwords of the year, the growing risks of weak security, and why two-factor authentication (2FA) is no longer optional. But 2FA isn’t perfect — from stranded devices to expired codes, even digital safeguards have pitfalls. Shane and Andy share real-world stories, tech fails, and why we’re inching toward a passwordless, biometric future. This is cybersecurity at street level — practical, flawed, and deeply human.

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Handy Andy Baryer
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Originally aired on2025-11-10