Your Tech Makeover

🎧 The Right Way to Share Wi-Fi with Guests

2025-12-09 05:30:00

The holidays are here and so are the people asking, “Hey, what’s your Wi-Fi password?”

Before you start shouting “capital Q, lowercase x, seven, nine,” take a breath. In this episode, Frank Bravo walks you through the easiest and most secure ways to share your Wi-Fi with guests, without turning into the household tech support desk.

Whether you’re hosting family for the holidays or just want to make it simple for friends to connect, you’ll learn how to keep things quick, friendly, and secure.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• 🔐 How to set up a Guest Network and give visitors internet access without exposing your devices.

• 📱 How to share your Wi-Fi with a QR code, the fastest, no-typing-required way to connect.

• 🤝 How to use tap-to-share features on iPhone and Android for trusted friends and family.

• ⚙️ Myths and must-dos for Wi-Fi security and why hiding your network name isn’t actually safer.

• 🚀 Quick troubleshooting tips for common connection issues and slow speeds.

🏡 Why It Matters

Holiday gatherings often mean a parade of new devices—phones, tablets, smartwatches—all hungry for Wi-Fi.

Learn how to keep your guests happy and your smart home secure with a few simple settings you can change in minutes.

💬 Mentioned in This Episode

• Guest Network settings (available on most routers like Eero, Nest Wi-Fi, Orbi, and TP-Link)

• QR code sharing in iPhone and Android Wi-Fi settings

• Apple’s “Share Password” pop-up for iOS and Mac devices

• Android “Nearby Share” for quick Wi-Fi sharing

• Router firmware updates for better security and performance

💖 Support the Show

Your support keeps Your Tech Makeover going!

If you enjoy the show, please consider contributing at YourTechMakeover.com.

🎁 As a thank-you, listeners who give $25 or more will receive $25 off a one-on-one consultation with Frank to help simplify their tech setup.

📬 Stay Connected

Got a question or an idea for a future episode?

Email Frank at frank@yourtechmakeover.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

📸 Holiday Phone Photos: How to Take Better Pictures with Your Smartphone (with Don Feria)

2025-11-25 06:00:00

This week on Your Tech Makeover, professional photographer and Stanford University instructor Don Feria joins Frank Bravo to share real-world tips for taking better photos with the camera you already own, your phone.

Just in time for the holidays, Don and Frank break down what separates a good phone photo from a great one. From lighting and composition to phone-specific settings, you’ll learn how to capture the moments that matter most, whether that’s a Thanksgiving feast, a Christmas tree glow, or kids and pets who refuse to stay still.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• 📱 Why mobile photography has changed the way we capture memories — and how to use that “studio in your pocket.”

• ⚙️ The real difference between High Efficiency and Most Compatible camera settings on iPhones.

• 🖼️ Simple composition tricks to make your photos instantly better (and what to watch for in the background).

• 💡 Lighting made easy — how to find soft, flattering light indoors and outdoors.

• 🍗 Holiday photo tips for food, family group shots, and fast-moving kids and pets.

• ✨ Editing basics that make photos pop without overdoing it.

• 🗂️ Quick ideas for keeping your photo library organized (and backed up safely).

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Even small changes — like moving a few feet for better light — make a big difference.

• You don’t need fancy gear; understanding your phone’s features goes further.

• Practice before the big day: try shooting scenes with both shadow and light so you’ll know how your camera reacts.
  

💬 Mentioned in This Episode

• Don Feria – donferia.com | Instagram @donferia

• Stanford University Continuing Studies

• Frank Bravo – YourTechMakeover.com

☕ Support the Show

If you enjoy Your Tech Makeover, please consider supporting it with a small donation — listeners who contribute $25 or more will receive a free 30-minute tech consultation to help simplify your own digital setup.

👉 Visit YourTechMakeover.com for details.

So, what’s one photo tip you plan to try this holiday season? Let me know what you think — and, as always, if you have ideas for topics you’d like me to cover, reach out at frank@yourtechmakeover.com.

Thanks for listening to Your Tech Makeover. Don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and visit YourTechMakeover.com for more episodes, transcripts, and show notes.

🎧 Gift Card Scams: How to Spot Them Before You Get Hooked

2025-11-18 06:00:00

Special Alert Episode!

💳 Gift cards make great gifts, but terrible payments.

With the holidays approaching, scammers are working overtime to trick people into using gift cards to pay fake bills, bogus tech support fees, and even phony family emergencies. In this special between-episode of Your Tech Makeover, I share how one simple flyer at Target, and a neighbor’s unfortunate experience, inspired a timely reminder about one of the most common (and costly) scams out there.

You’ll learn how these scams actually work, the red flags to look for, and what to do if you or someone you love gets pressured to “pay” with a gift card.

🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 🎯 How gift card scams really work and the psychological tricks scammers use to create panic.

• 🚫 The biggest red flags that signal a call, text, or email isn’t legit.

• 🧾 What to do if it happens to you, including how to report it and maybe stop the funds.

• 🧡 How to protect family and friends with a “pause plan” before they buy or send anything.

💬 Frank says:

“The IRS doesn’t take Apple gift cards, your power company doesn’t take Target cards, and no tech support person should ever ask for Google Play cards. If someone tells you otherwise, hang up.”

🙌 Support & Resources:

If you or someone you know gets targeted, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. And if you see someone at the store buying lots of gift cards under pressure — say something. You might save them a lot of money and stress.

🗓️ Mentioned in this episode:

• Target’s “Beware of Gift Card Scams” flyer

• The FTC’s official reporting site: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

• Common scam fronts: IRS, utility companies, fake tech support, “grandparent” emergencies

💡 Want to help others stay safe?

Share this episode with family, coworkers, or that friend who always gets “urgent” texts. The more people who know the signs, the fewer will get caught.

💡 Support the Show

If you’ve learned something from Your Tech Makeover, consider supporting the podcast!

🎁 Listeners who contribute $25 or more will receive $25 off a one-on-one tech consultation with Frank to help simplify your digital life.

➡️ Click the link in the show notes or visit YourTechMakeover.com to learn more.

🎧 Listen to the full episodes at: 👉 YourTechMakeover.com/

So, have you ever gotten one of those “urgent” messages asking you to pay with a gift card? Let me know what you think and, as always, if you have any ideas for topics you’d like me to cover, please feel free to contact me at frank@yourtechmakeover.com.