Agnes from Zooz shares insights into the quirky world of butt darts, the evolution of her company from a home automation hobby to a leading brand in smart home technology, and the innovative products they are developing. The discussion covers the challenges and successes in product development, the importance of community engagement, and the future trends in the smart home market, particularly the role of Z-Wave technology. Agnes emphasizes the need for user-friendly products and the significance of customer feedback in shaping their offerings.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com


Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:43 The National Butt Darts Championships
02:44 The Genesis of Zooz
09:33 Evolving Product Development
15:33 Expanding into the Alarm Industry
23:25 Navigating the Product Cycle
30:57 Successes and Flops in Product Launches
37:49 Challenges in Home Automation Programming
38:20 The Role of Z-Wave Alliance
40:53 Overcoming Z-Wave Stigmas
43:40 Personal Smart Home Experiences
47:14 Understanding Relays in Home Automation
50:51 Engaging with Creators and Consumers

Guests: @Appmyhome Mark and Valerie

Valerie and Mark from At My Home share their journey into tech reviews and the evolution of their YouTube channel. They discuss the challenges of living in a smart home filled with various devices, their philosophy on product reviews, and the importance of maintaining a balance to avoid burnout. The conversation also touches on funny smart home fails and the impact of technology on everyday life.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:35 Journey into Tech Reviews
03:34 The Evolution of Smart Home Technology
05:50 Challenges of Smart Home Integration
08:38 The Future of Smart Home Products
11:54 The Role of Voice Assistants in Smart Homes
14:04 Reflections on Early YouTube Experiences
19:04 The Clutter of Smart Home Devices
21:06 Living in a Franken Home
24:06 Managing Notifications and Alerts
25:51 The Challenge of Product Reviews
34:06 The Review Process Explained
45:22 Exciting Innovations from CES 2025
50:28 The Importance of Network Infrastructure in Smart Homes
53:50 Choosing the Right Networking Solutions
56:38 The Role of Smart Home Devices and Automation
59:57 The Creator Economy and Community in Smart Home Tech
01:03:18 Avoiding Burnout in Content Creation
01:08:41 Epic Smart Home Fails and Lessons Learned

Guest @AutomatedHouse Jimmy Hawkins

Jimmy Hawkins shares his journey into the world of smart home technology, detailing his experiences with various devices, content creation on platforms like TikTok, and the challenges of automation. He discusses the evolution of his smart home setup, the impact of AI, and the balance between content creation and a full-time job. The discussion also touches on underrated and overrated smart home devices, unique automations, and personal anecdotes that highlight the joys and frustrations of living in a smart home.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
03:31 Yarbo Day: Snow Blowing Experience
06:12 Jimmy's Smart Home Journey
08:55 Content Creation on TikTok
11:46 Challenges of Growing a TikTok Channel
14:20 Transitioning to Long-Form Content
17:08 Content Creation Process and Tools
19:54 Monetization and Influencer Challenges
22:03 Jimmy's Smart Home Setup
24:47 Unexpected Viral Videos and Their Impact
26:40 Home Assistant Experience and Insights
32:53 Navigating Home Assistant's Complexity
35:09 Smart Home Devices: Overrated and Underrated
38:21 The Role of AI in Smart Homes
42:49 Jimmy's Journey: From Atlanta to Smart Home Expert
47:57 Favorite Automations and Notable Fails

Today's Guest: ‪@simonsayshomeassistant‬

In this engaging conversation, Simon discusses his passion for home automation, the challenges and joys of content creation, and the evolution of voice control technology. He shares insights on balancing his full-time job with his YouTube channel, the importance of community engagement, and his experiences in China exploring smart home products. The discussion also touches on the most overrated and underrated smart devices, as well as the technical challenges faced in home automation.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com

In this episode of the Technical Difficulties Smart Home podcast, we talk with Rohan and Phil from the Home Assistant Podcast. They discuss the evolution of Home Assistant, the challenges faced with smart home devices, and the importance of community contributions in open-source development. The conversation also touches on personal experiences with home automation, accessibility features, and insights from CES. Additionally, they engage in a light-hearted cultural exchange about the game Duck Duck Gray Duck versus Duck Duck Goose, and reflect on their first smart home devices and their impact on their journeys into home automation.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com

Home Assistant Podcast youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCIZrM2IwzgoXjKd6atiqJ6g
website: https://hasspodcast.io/

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Tech With Brett shares his journey from a tech enthusiast to the most viewed smart home YouTuber, discussing his experiences with various smart home devices, automation, and the challenges of content creation. He emphasizes the importance of user-friendly technology and the role of community in his success, while also exploring the future of AI in smart homes and the evolution of his YouTube channel.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com

Guest ​ @ShaneCreates

In this episode of the Technical Difficulties Smart Home Podcast we interview Shane Watley, a prominent YouTube creator in the smart home space. Shane shares his journey into smart home technology, his experiences building a community through live streams, and his insights on the future of smart home ecosystems, particularly Apple Home and the Matter protocol. The conversation also touches on Shane's creative process, his favorite smart home devices, and the challenges of working with brands. Shane emphasizes the importance of having fun with smart home technology and offers valuable advice for beginners.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com

Follow Shane Whatley:
https://youtube.com/@ShaneCreates
https://instagram.com/shanecreates
https://shanewhatley.com


Brandon's YouTube:
​⁠ @BrandonDoyleMN ​

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
04:35 Shane Watley's Journey into Smart Home Technology
07:27 The Evolution of Shane's YouTube Channel
10:19 Engagement and Community Building through Live Streams
13:14 Exploring Smart Home Ecosystems: Apple vs Others
16:22 The Future of Apple Home and Smart Home Solutions
19:00 Matter and Its Impact on Smart Home Devices
22:04 Reflections on CES and Smart Lock Innovations
24:16 Working with Brands and Audience Engagement
27:14 Passions in Smart Home Automation
30:12 Favorite Devices and Automations in Shane's Home
32:00 Smart Home Aesthetics and Lighting Innovations
33:06 Navigating Apple Home Automations
37:31 Creative Projects and Video Production Insights
52:59 Starting Your Smart Home Journey
55:32 Smart Home Fails and Lessons Learned

Steven Robles shares his experience building his smart home from scratch in his new house. Steven also gives us his top Apple products and provides valuable insight on making life easier with Apple Home and Apple Shortcuts. Aspiring youtubers and podcasters will enjoy the story of his podcast career and rise to youtube success.

Thank you to Zooz for sponsoring this podcast! For the best deals on Z-Wave smart home products you'll love:
https://www.thesmartesthouse.com

Stephen Robles
https://youtube.com/@beardfm
https://bsky.app/profile/stephenrobles.com
https://instagram.com/stephenrobles