MacVoices #25296: 2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide #3 (1)

The MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide #3 brings together Jill McKinley, Joe Kissell, Brett Terpstra, and Chuck Joiner to share practical and quirky gift picks. Recommendations range from massage balls and USB-C cable testers to bidets, Matter-compatible smart plugs, lights, multi-tools, pry bars, and more. (Part 1) 

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Show Notes:

Chapters:

[0:00] Holiday Gift Guide #3 introduction and format
[0:26] Panel introductions: Joe McKinley, Joe Kissell, Brett Terpstra
[2:10] Theragun vibrating massage ball and “peanut” back relief
[4:07] Tennis ball wall trick and self-massage discussion
[4:48] BLE CABRE-Q USB-C cable tester and why cable specs matter
[7:00] Testing USB-A to USB-C and active vs passive cables
[8:49] BioBidet Slim Twist: low-cost, cold-water bidet pick
[10:08] Bathroom ergonomics, installation, and daily use
[11:21] Kasa Matter smart plugs and the importance of Matter support
[12:37] HomeKit, Google, and Alexa compatibility considerations
[13:47] Govee strip and neon rope lights for custom wall designs
[15:25] Govee ecosystem, temperature and water sensors at home
[17:20] Tool talk: Leatherman Arc multi-tool and bit driver kits
[20:27] Everyday carry, knife quality, and magnetic locks
[22:41] Mighty Bar mini pry tool as a minimalist multi-tool
[24:34] Echo Glow smart lamp as simple, colorful ambient lighting
[27:32] Using smart lamps for sunrise effects and routines
[28:45] Closing remarks and supporter acknowledgments

Links:

Jill McKinley

Therabody WaveSolo - Handheld Bluetooth Enabled Massage Device, Ultra Portable Vibration Therapy Ball
https://amzn.to/4rcJeyj

AstroAI S8 Ultra 4000A Jump Starter, 24000mAh Car Starter(All Gas, Up to 12L Diesel Engine), 12V Auto Battery Booster Pack, Jump Box with USB Quick Charge and DC/Type C Port, LED Light, Jumper Cable 
https://amzn.to/4if3sn1

Joe Kissell:

BLE CaberQU
https://amzn.to/4ptgYGj

Leatherman Arc: https://www.leatherman.com/collections/bestsellers/products/arc

Hollyland Lark M2S Wireless Lavalier Microphone: https://amzn.to/3KihRSW

Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
https://amzn.to/4iicxM0

Brett

Bio Bidet SlimTwist Bidet Attachment for Toilet, Non Electric, Retractable Dual Nozzles, Adjustable Water Pressure, Splash Guard
https://amzn.to/4ii708c

The Mighty Bar - Heavy Duty Keychain Prybar EDC Pry Bar for Every Day Carry Small Stainless Steel Key Chain Multitool Prybar for Keys
https://amzn.to/486YwvR

Chuck Joiner

Kasa Matter Smart Plug w/ Energy Monitoring, Compact Design, 15A/1800W Max, Super Easy Setup, Works with Apple Home, Alexa & Google Home, UL Certified, 2.4G Wi-Fi Only, White, KP125M (4-Pack)
https://amzn.to/3MfXne5

Echo Glow - Multicolor smart lamp
https://amzn.to/43Vb6gx 

[5 Pack] Flat Plug Short Power Extension Cord - 6inch Black Low Profile Flat Head 3 Prong Grounded Indoor Extension Cord
https://amzn.to/4ogKoq5

Guests:

Joe Kissell is the publisher of  Take Control ebooks, as well as the author of over 60 books on a wide variety of tech topics. Keep up with him if you can on his personal site, JoeKissell.com, on Bluesky, and Mastodon.

By day, Jill McKinley is an IT professional with deep experience in enterprise hospital software, server administration, and digital workflow optimization. With decades of hands-on work—from Windows environments to Apple ecosystems—she combines technology, usability, and human-centered design to make systems work smarter for real people.

Outside of tech, Jill is the creator and host of multiple YouTube channels and podcasts, including Start with Small Steps and Buzz Blossom & Squeak. Her shows explore personal growth, productivity, and the wonders of the natural world—all through the lens of curiosity and exploration.

Whether she’s automating her home, unpacking the meaning of ancient texts, or nerding out over bird migration, Jill brings energy, insight, and just the right amount of geekiness to everything she does.

Brett Terpstra is a coder, writer and web developer. He works behind the scenes at blogs including Engadget, Joystiq and The Unofficial Apple Weblog. He also writes for The Unofficial Apple Weblog, and contributes to Macworld. Brett develops Marked for Mac and recently co-authored “60 Mountain Lion Tips” with David Sparks for the iBookstore. He discusses all things “nerd” on his podcasts, Systematic and Overtired.You can find Brett as “ttscoff” on Twitter, and at his website, brettterpstra.com.

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