Welcome to the first INIT HELLO Megapodcast! INIT HELLO is an Apple II conference that debuted in July 2025 at the System Source Computer Museum in Hunt Valley, Maryland. A week later, on August 2, six podcaster attendees gathered to reflect on their experiences at inaugural retrocomputing event. Participants: Kate Szknotnicki ( RetroMetal ) Paul Hagstrom ( Retro Computing Roundtable ) Blake Patterson ( The Byte Cellar ) Megan Lemmert ( 6502 Workshop & Retro RPG Roundtable ) Charles Mangin (...
Aug 16, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to Ron’s Apple Transporter Roundtable , the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest 2025. Participants: Ken Gagne ( Open Apple & Transporter Lock ) Ron McAdams ( Ron’s Computer Videos & Retro Repair Roundtable ) Megan Lemmert ( 6502 Workshop & Retro RPG Roundtable ) Links mentioned in this episode: KansasFest Mike Westerfield’s KansasFest 1998 keynote speech INIT HELLO Skull Island by 8-Bit Shack From Apple to Zilog by Chuck Mauro Dan Bricklin Ryan Suenaga Scholarship Fund The p...
Jul 25, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Ken, Em & Quinn reunite to discuss KansasFest & INIT HELLO, ImageWriter printers, Steve Jobs movies, web-based Apple II emulation, and games we regret buying. Links mentioned in this episode: Intro (00:00 – 11:45) Retro Computing Roundtable podcast Open Apple #81: Remembering Tony Diaz Pictures of people scanning QR codes a2.click URL shortener II News (11:46 – 1:02:43) KansasFest 2025 goes virtual Laine Nooney at INIT HELLO The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal Steve Jobs m...
Apr 13, 2025•1 hr 19 min
In this lost episode of Open Apple , recorded 14 July 2018, Em Maginnis and Quinn Dunki are joined by John Morris, creator of the Applesauce floppy disk controller . The post Open Apple #86 (July 2018): John Keoni Morris of Applesauce FDC first appeared on Open Apple .
Apr 01, 2025•2 hr 2 min
On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the Portland Retro Gaming Expo hosted this panel: The Apple II Origins of Today’s Games The Apple II is known for its impact on the workplace (VisiCalc) and education (Oregon Trail) — but it was also an iconic games machine that launched and inspired franchises that continue to these days. From the early stealth action of Castle Wolfenstein to the strategic depth of Ultima and the revolutionary platforming of Prince of Persia, our panel will delve into how these ...
Feb 09, 2025•47 min
Welcome to Ron’s Metal Roundtable Apple Assembly Lock , the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest 2024, hosted IRL and on StreamYard. Participants: Ken Gagne ( Open Apple , Polygamer & Transporter Lock ) Kate Szknotnicki ( RetroMetal ) Chris Torrence ( Assembly Lines ) Ron McAdams ( Ron’s Computer Videos & Retro Repair Roundtable ) Paul Hagstrom ( Retro Computing Roundtable & Drop /// Inches ) The post Open Apple #84 (July 2024): KansasFest 2024 Megapodcast first appeared on Open Appl...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Welcome to the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest 2023, hosted IRL and on Zoom. Participants: Paul Hagstrom ( Retrocomputing Roundtable & Drop /// Inches ) Ron McAdams ( Ron’s Computer Videos ) Kate Szknotnicki (LadyAiluros) ( Retro Metal ) Javier Rivera ( Retro Repair Roundtable ) Chris Torrence ( Assembly Lines ) Josh Malone ( 48KRAM ) Ken Gagne ( Juiced.GS , A2Central.com & Open Apple ) The post Open Apple #83 (July 2023): KansasFest 2023 Megapodcast first appeared on Open Apple ....
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 37 min
Welcome to Open Retro Chicken Drop Retro Adventure Table Lines Roundup , the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest, hosted IRL and on Zoom. Participants: Ken Gagne ( Open Apple , Polygamer & Transporter Lock ) Charles Mangin ( Chicken Missile ) Chris Torrence ( Assembly Lines ) Javier Rivera ( Adventures in Retro Computing & Retro Repair Roundtable ) Ron McAdams ( Ron’s Computer Videos & Retro Repair Roundtable ) Jeremy Mehrle ( Jeremy’s Retro Bar ) Paul Hagstrom ( Retro Computing Rou...
Jul 23, 2022•46 min
For decades, Tony Diaz held the record of the only person to have attended every KansasFest. Whether at that convention, on the comp.sys.apple2 Usenet newsgroup, or on his livestreams, he would share his comprehensive knowledge of Apple II hardware and demo the rare prototypes in his vast collection. When KansasFest lost its home at Avila University, Tony, then the head of the KansasFest committee, helped find the event its new home at Rockhurst. And as a member of the Juiced.GS staff, he would ...
Nov 06, 2021•41 min
Welcome to Poly Retro Assembly Cast Chicken Missile Drop Grue Museum , the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest, hosted again via Zoom. Participants: Charles Mangin ( Chicken Missile ) Carrington Vanston ( Retro Computing Roundtable & Eaten by a Grue ) Chris Torrence ( Assembly Lines ) Joe Strosnider ( Joe’s Computer Museum ) John Leake ( RetroMacCast ) Kate the Cat ( Chicken Missile & RetroMetal ) Ken Gagne ( Polygamer & Transporter Lock ) Kay Savetz ( ANTIC & Eaten by a Grue ) ...
Jul 25, 2021•54 min
Welcome to Retro Open Poly Roundtable Chicken Missile Lines Drop Museum Gruecast , the annual “megapodcast” from KansasFest, this time conducted virtually via Zoom. Scroll past the links for Open Apple ‘s audio edition, or enjoy the video edition courtesy Chris Torrence’s Assembly Lines podcast: Participants: Quinn Dunki ( Blondihacks , Open Apple , Retrocomputing Roundtable ) Earl Evans ( Retrocomputing Roundtable , Next Without For , Retrobits ) Ken Gagne ( Polygamer , Transporter Lock ) Paul ...
Aug 17, 2020•1 hr 27 min
This month on Open Apple , we bring you the traditional big group podcast that we record every year at KansasFest. Tune in for a casual chat with your favorite retro podcasters, and get a behind-the-scenes peek at what makes KansasFest special. This year we managed to twist the following arms into joining us: Quinn Dunki – Open Apple Carrington Vanston – Retrocomputing Roundtable , Eaten By A Grue Paul Hagstrom – Retrocomputing Roundtable , Drop III Inches Ken Gagne – Retrocomputing Roundtable ,...
Sep 12, 2018•1 hr 12 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston of the Eaten By A Grue podcast. Eaten By A Grue is a game-by-game style of podcast where the intrepid hosts are playing every Infocom game. They both play the game, then discuss it in detail, with and without spoilers. They discuss the amount of cheating required, how mapping was done, the quality of writing and puzzles, and so on. The show has a very nice structure wherein they discuss the show with no spoilers to the...
Jul 17, 2018•1 hr 48 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Ken Gagne and Andy Molloy of Juiced.GS, the longest running continuously published Apple II magazine (that you can still get in your mailbox to this day!). Juiced.GS is in its 23rd year, which has to be a record for magazines of almost any type. Ken and Andy talk about the bloodless coup of the magazine, the long history of same, where things are headed, and why they hates trees. Meanwhile, Quinn and Mike chat about FPGAs, nuclear weapons, and BBSes. W...
Feb 19, 2018•1 hr 41 min
We’re baaaack! Sorry for the unscheduled hiatus folks, but your intrepid hosts had some family matters to attend to. This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Seth Steinberger of 8-bit Weapon . We talk about their new album Class Apples , which was made entirely on an Apple II. Yes, every sound on the album is generated by real Apple II hardware with no add-on cards. Apple IIs can make good sound with the right software and in the hands of a talented musician. After the amazement of Class Appl...
Dec 24, 2017•2 hr
This month on Open Apple , the part of Quinn Dunki is played by RCR Podcast co-host Carrington “Fake Quinn” Vanston. A post-KansasFest Megan Lemmert of 6502 Workshop returns to the show to promote the new Nox Archaist Kickstarter. You should contribute because it’s awesome to support those still developing for the Apple II and not just because you get cool stuff when you do (though that’s a thing that happens too!). There’s lots of news to cover and Carrington has opinions on all of it. Only on ...
Sep 19, 2017•2 hr 37 min
This month on Open Apple , we run the annual group megapodcast that is recorded live at KansasFest! This is a four-year-old tradition whereby all the attending retro podcasters get together and do one big silly show together. It’s clunky, it’s pointless, and the audio quality is terrible because we’re all crowded one microphone in a grungy old basement chapel. Yet it’s one of our favorite things to do every year, so we hope you enjoy listening! Around the table this year we have Quinn Dunki, Pau...
Aug 09, 2017•1 hr 1 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with KansasFest committee member and lifelong Apple II user Peter Neubauer. We talk lots about the upcoming KansasFest, of course, but also Peter’s own experiences with the machine. He has a passion for Logo, and a special place in his heart reserved for the Apple IIc Plus. I think many of us can relate to that. We talk KansasFest, KansasFest, and more KansasFest. Then we talk about KansasFest, followed conversation about a fruit-based retrocomputing confer...
Jul 16, 2017•1 hr 27 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Michael Packard, author of the upcoming new game Alien Downpour. Michael has gone back to teach himself assembly language and make the kinds of games he wished he had made back in the day. The results are indeed impressive, and his first foray into solo Apple II game production is shaping up great. He’s also been very encouraging to the community, having set up the Facebook group Apple Graphics and Arcade Game Design Enthusiasts, dedicated to the book ...
May 31, 2017•1 hr 40 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Megan Lemmert, co-founder of 6502 Workshop. She and her partners (Mike Reimer, Bill Giggie, Robert Padovan, Gordon Mackay, and Galactagog) have been building Nox Archaist, a brand new story-driven tile-based role-playing game in the classical Ultima style. They’re pushing the hardware as far as they can with this new engine, working to break new ground in scope, story, animation, sound, and music. Early builds look great, and we’re really excited to se...
Apr 19, 2017•1 hr 44 min
This month on Open Apple, we sit down with Craig Peterson, who got involved with hardware and software development very early in the life of the Apple II. Craig integrated Apple II computers with a numerical control manufacturing system, producing G-code for the cutting machines in a factory. He was a pioneer in using the Apple II for what computers are actually good at- moving data around in an automated fashion and abstracting away sources of human error in a complex process. Craig wrote techn...
Apr 05, 2017•1 hr 35 min
This month on Open Apple , Mike and Quinn sit down with each other and catch up on all the news they’ve been neglecting lately. Mike and Quinn discuss the disappointing 8BitDo controller, get excited about remanufactured printer ribbons, and pretend to know anything about EDD. Follow along as we review Softalk volume 1, number 3 . The ads are always the best part! Meanwhile, we manage to sneak in one more Kay Savetz reference, and a Boo Atari in the same breath. That’s the Open Apple Way. You wo...
Mar 04, 2017•1 hr 54 min
This month on Open Apple , we round out the year with our annual tradition of sitting around a virtual table with some friends of the show, discussing whatever comes to mind. Mike and Quinn are joined by Jeremy Barr-Hyde, Jorma Honkanen, Kate Szkotnicki & Chris Torrence. We have a really fun mix of Apple II fans from all walks of life and all parts of the world this month. Sit down with us as we discuss our history with the machines and how they fit into our lives today. Can retrocomputers b...
Feb 02, 2017•57 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Glenda Adams, better known on the Apple II as The Atom. She was a cracker of some note back in the 1980s, and she shares great stories with us of her exploits in boot tracing, cracking, and distributing software in the glory days of the Apple II BBS scene. We talk about the journey from programming to cracking, and back to programming again. We talk about the politics of the Apple II scene, and the unique experience of cracking software remotely. Think...
Dec 28, 2016•1 hr 41 min
This week on Open Apple , we run a special piece of extra content, courtesy of friend-of-the-show Mike Whalen. Mike brought his mobile audio production gear to KansasFest back in July, and he captured a series of interviews and biographies during the event. He has graciously agreed to let us run it here on our feed. It’s wonderfully produced, and a great way to get a feel for what KansasFest is all about. If you’re on the fence about attending KFest in 2017, this will certainly sway you into joi...
Dec 13, 2016•1 hr 20 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Alex Lee, purveyor of the canonical IIgs reference site What Is The Apple IIgs? We talk about what it was like being one of the brave few with this machine, and that feeling of living in a secret world of incredible graphics and sound that nobody else seemed to know about. Alex walks us through the history of IIgs emulators, and all the ways that the IIgs Finder was actually better than the Mac. He also talks about the legal challenges of running an ar...
Dec 06, 2016•2 hr 13 min
This month on Open Apple , we share an excerpt of an interview with John Brooks, courtesy of Juiced.GS. John talks about how and why he updated ProDOS, and his experiences getting back into the community. Tune in to hear Quinn lose 20 years of time perception around the Tiger Learning Computer, then pretend to know stuff about power supplies. Meanwhile, Mike waxes nostalgic about high school computer labs and tries to unload his excess Apple IIs on unsuspecting community members. We try out a ne...
Oct 30, 2016•1 hr 32 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Kate Szkotnicki, long time Apple II fan and new addition to the retro community. We chat about her first impressions as a newcomer to the community, and the big splash she made at her first KansasFest. Kate is a cosplayer and frequent attendee of anime and comic cons, so she brought a very fresh set of skills and perspectives to KansasFest. Her presentation on making plastic parts (and candy!) with silicone moulding was very popular. Throw away your 3D...
Sep 26, 2016•1 hr 41 min
This month on Open Apple , we sit down with Mark Pilgrim, one of the most active software preservationists in the Apple II community. Mark has been spending his free time working on Passport, an automated cracking tool. It automatically detects and defeats copy protection schemes on Apple II disks, producing copyable disks that are otherwise completely intact. This is a boon for preservation of software that has only been (poorly) cracked by hoodlums of the past, or is previously uncracked. The ...
Aug 24, 2016•1 hr 29 min
This month on Open Apple , as is tradition, we present the megapodcast recorded live at KansasFest. Most of your favorite retrocomputing podcasters attend KansasFest each year, and we all get together in a basement room to record a giant group podcast. This year’s recording includes, in no particular order: Quinn Dunki of Open Apple Paul Hagstrom of Retrocomputing Roundtable and Drop /// Inches Michael Mulhern and Carrington Vanston of Retrocomputing Roundtable Kay Savetz of Antic Rob McMullen o...
Jul 28, 2016•1 hr 26 min
