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 (Chicken Missile)
• Ken Gagne (Open Apple & Transporter Lock)

Thanks to Paul for editing this episode’s audio! The original video edition is embedded below.

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

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:

• Retro Computing Roundtable podcast
• Open Apple #81: Remembering Tony Diaz
• Pictures of people scanning QR codes
• a2.click URL shortener

• KansasFest 2025 goes virtual
• Laine Nooney at INIT HELLO
• The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal
• Steve Jobs movies
• Noah Wyle as Steve Jobs
• Chronologically Gaming
• MobyGames
• Glider
• Apple2TS
• Apple II RPG Development Tools (KansasFest 2024 presentation by Megan Lemmert)
• Ivan Drucker’s emulator reviews for Juiced.GS
• Plangman on Steam, Itch.io & IndieSider
• Building an Apple II Newsroom (via Hackaday)
• Rock-a-Fire Explosion LP released for Record Store Day

• Lot of 30 vintage copied game floppy disks
• Retro Game Club
• Blondihacks

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.

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the Portland Retro Gaming Expo hosted this panel:

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 classic titles laid the groundwork for today’s blockbuster games.

Ken Gagne, Kay Savetz, and Ian Baronofsky participated in the 45-minute panel, a video of which PRGE recently made available.

The audio was separately recorded by Kay Savetz, who has made it available for us to share as an episode of the Open Apple podcast.

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)

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)

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 Roundtable, Drop /// Inches)