David Sparks and Stephen Robles dig into Keyboard Maestro, Shortcuts, and Mac automation weekly.
Mac Power Users treats Apple technology as something to tune, tinker with, and occasionally complain about. David Sparks and Stephen Robles move from desk setups and menu bar chaos to smart homes, keyboard control, AI assistants, backups, and Apple history.
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Mac Power Users is produced by Relay and built around a rotating set of co-hosts — David Sparks, Stephen Robles, and Stephen Hackett — who move between structured single-topic episodes and looser panel-style discussions. Many episodes function as long-form tutorials: one walks through Keyboard Maestro macros and its companion Field Guide, another covers iPadOS 26's new windowed mode and Stage Manager behavior, and another catalogs small AI-driven automations built with Claude and Apple Shortcuts. Other episodes bring in outside guests: Brett Terpstra and Christopher Gambre-Wellencheck of the automation consultancy Bear and Glass discuss keyboard remapping tools like Karabiner Elements and Hyper Key setups, while journalist David Pogue recounts Apple's 50-year corporate history, including the canceled Project Titan car project and internal Face ID testing. Recurring subject matter includes Mac and iPad productivity software, file-automation utilities (Hazel, CloudMounter, Raycast), hardware controllers such as the Elgato Stream Deck, iCloud data security, and smart-home troubleshooting with Home Assistant and HomeKit. Several episodes fold in listener-email segments where audience workflow tips and corrections get read and discussed on air. The tone is practical and instructional rather than newsy, aimed at people who already own Apple hardware and want to configure it more efficiently. Sponsor reads and pitches for the ad-free More Power Users membership typically appear in the show's opening minutes. Guests tend to be either app developers explaining their own tools or writers covering Apple's broader history rather than industry pundits. The format is conversational, often opening with a personal setup change or listener problem before settling into the episode's main topic. Listeners looking for workflow templates, automation walkthroughs, and detailed commentary on new Apple software features are the core audience.
Made for: Apple power users who want hands-on tutorials on Mac and iPad automation, keyboard remapping, and AI-assisted workflows.
What sets it apart: Unlike general Apple news or rumor shows, it walks through specific macros, shortcuts, and keyboard remaps step by step rather than covering product announcements.
Learn about getting the most from your Apple technology with focused topics and workflow guests. Creating Mac Power Users since 2009, one conversation at a time. Hosted by David Sparks and Stephen Robles.
Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Mac Power Users makes Apple workflows legible by testing tools against the stubborn details of daily work.
Mac Power Users turns everyday friction with Apple devices into detailed conversations about how work actually gets done. David Sparks and Stephen Robles trade personal setups, test utilities, and press small annoyances until they produce useful answers, from cloud storage in…
A misplaced window becomes an automation project, and suddenly your tiny Mac annoyances have engineering budgets.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A practical Mac utility episode about keyboard control, shortcut conflicts, and bringing automation habits into real business workflows.
Mac Power Users turns keyboard control into a practical conversation about how much of the Mac can move from pointer to keys before the setup starts fighting back.
A practical Mac tinkering episode about smart-home glitches, Dropbox alternatives, and the compromises behind cloud files on macOS.
Bribing the Fiber Guy finds Mac Power Users in familiar tinkering territory: Stephen Robles and David Sparks drift from smart-home setup headaches into the Mac utilities that make cloud storage less annoying.
A hands-on Mac automation episode about turning repeatable chores into small, useful robot-assistant workflows.
The Robot Assistant Field Guide frames automation as a desk-side helper for the small chores that quietly eat a Mac user's day. David Sparks and Stephen Robles keep the discussion concrete: sponsor follow-up emails, shutdown routines, window resizing, episode folders,…
David Pogue turns Apple's 50-year story into a smart, conversational tour of ambition, engineering, and the car Apple could not ship.
Mac Power Users uses David Pogue's new Apple book as a springboard for a relaxed, detail-rich conversation about the company's first 50 years.
A grounded iPadOS 26 conversation about windowing, full-screen simplicity, and whether an iPad can stand in for a travel Mac.
Life After iPadOS 26 treats Apple's iPad rethink as a practical test: what happens when full-screen apps, windowed mode, Stage Manager, and Slide Over all coexist? Stephen Hackett and David Sparks keep circling back to use, not theory.
Federico Viticci, Stephen Hackett, and Myke Hurley work through the week's Apple news and their own gear problems.
Jason Snell and Myke Hurley debate Apple's product roadmap, leadership, and rumors weekly.
Long-form Apple talk with sharp product judgment and deep tech history.
Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell break down Microsoft's week in Windows, Xbox, and AI.
Bear and Glass is the hook.
At two in the morning, Home Assistant made the bedroom lights go sideways.
David Sparks starts with display banter before the episode turns into a hands-on tour of robot assistants, tiny automations, scripts, and AI tools.
This episode of MacPowerUsers discusses recent Apple purchases, teases setup changes, and explores automating window layouts with Moom through scripting.
David Pogue brings the Apple scrapbook, starting with the iPhone song parody he wrote on a train into New York before filming with people waiting at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store.
The hosts discuss iPhone setup strategies, backup solutions including Parachute Backup for iCloud, and announce video access for members.
The hosts discuss menu bar management on Mac computers, sparked by a previous screen-sharing incident where David Sparks had multiple calendar items cluttering his pro display XDR screen.
David Sparks welcomes Stephen Robles as the new co-host of Mac Power Users, discussing their excitement for the show and teasing a segment called 'The Drawer of Shame' about regrettable tech purchases.
The hosts discuss Stephen Hackett's departure from the show and his search for a new co-host.
Hosts discuss recent AI discoveries by a guest and promote a productivity field guide.
David Sparks interviews Chris Bailey about his new book 'Intentional' and his unconventional use of an iPad Mini.
The hosts discuss Apple's new Creator Studio launch and David Sparks' Apple Productivity Field Guide for 2026, focusing on personal productivity systems.
David Sparks and Stephen Hackett revisit their writing workflows, discussing topics from research and tools to editing and digital legacy, while promoting the Productivity Field Guide.
The hosts discuss personal updates and tease a segment on woodworking gear, with the episode titled about iOS 26 features.
Hosts David Sparks and Stephen Robles discuss their favorite technology that worked in 2025 and promote their membership and video podcast.
Stephen Hackett and David Sparks open Mac Power Users by announcing a Keyboard Maestro episode and a Keyboard Maestro Field Guide sale with code HEARTKM for 20% off through the end of the year.
This episode of Mac Power Users features David Sparks and Stephen Hackett discussing listener feedback and previewing a segment on Apple's recent executive turnover in their ad-free version, More Power Users.
The iPad feels less boxed in.
David Sparks and Stephen Robles discuss their annual holiday gift guide for Apple enthusiasts and announce a Relay FM membership sale.
Hosts discuss iPhone camera improvements with a professional videographer, exploring how Apple's camera technology is used in professional video work.
A roundtable discussion with developers about the state of Apple development in 2025.
David Sparks and Stephen Robles discuss David's new field guide on Apple's productivity suite, covering Notes, Reminders, Freeform, and Calendar.
Hosts Stephen Hackett and David Sparks interview Tyler McRae about his journey from a non-technical background to using Apple technology and automation in his work and personal life.
Hosts David Sparks and Stephen Hackett discuss the 11th anniversary of the Relay FM podcast network and share housekeeping updates before introducing a guest.
Hosts interview developer Brian Webster about his app PowerPhotos and discuss Apple Photos workflows.
Hosts David Sparks and Stephen Robles interview Vlad Prelowitz about the Kagi search service and discuss personal tech topics like pencils and merchandise.
Hosts discuss back-to-school season and interview developer Simon Støvring about his productivity apps.
Hosts discuss Apple technology workflows and preview an interview with Ken Case about managing software products through technological transitions.
Hosts David Sparks and Stephen Robles discuss Apple technology and productivity with guest Jason Snell, previewing WWDC and sharing tips.
Hosts David Sparks and Stephen Robles interview Jamie Finney about her Mac workflows and productivity tools.
David Sparks and Steven Hackett discuss the new Alfred Field Guide, exploring how Alfred enhances Mac productivity through workflows and automation.
Hosts Stephen Hackett and David Sparks interview Chris Lawley about his YouTube channel, iPad workflows, and app recommendations.
Hosts David Sparks and Stephen Robles discuss personal interests and introduce a guest on the Mac Power Users podcast.
David Sparks and Stephen Robles interview author Matt Gemmell about his transition from computer science to writing, and how he uses Apple technology to enhance his creative workflow.