- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Tech Byte Hosts Reminisce on Favorite Segments
Former Tech Byte hosts Patrick Moates and Emily Cassulo share memorable moments from their time on the show.
Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:40pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A nostalgic look back at the unique tech segments that made Tech Byte a must-watch for viewers over the years.Brainerd TodayIn this week's Tech Byte, host Russell Stroud takes a look back at some of the show's most popular segments as recalled by former hosts Patrick Moates and Emily Cassulo. Moates fondly remembers a showdown between a gas-powered car and an electric vehicle at Brainerd Motorsports Park, while Cassulo enjoyed a lighthearted feature on Harry Potter-themed smart wands.
Why it matters
Tech Byte has been a long-running technology news segment that has provided viewers with the latest updates on consumer gadgets, smart home tech, and automotive innovations. By revisiting some of the show's most memorable moments through the eyes of its past hosts, this story offers a nostalgic look back at the program's history and the unique experiences that made it engaging for both the hosts and the audience.
The details
In the latest edition of Tech Byte, host Russell Stroud reached out to former hosts Patrick Moates and Emily Cassulo to ask about their favorite segments from their time on the show. Moates, a self-described "car guy," highlighted an episode that pitted a gas-powered vehicle against an electric car in a high-speed showdown at Brainerd Motorsports Park. Moates said the behind-the-scenes collaboration and his wife's involvement in the episode made it a particularly memorable experience. Cassulo, on the other hand, fondly recalled a feature on Harry Potter-themed smart wands that allowed her and the crew to "act like just kids" and have fun with the interactive technology.
- The Tech Byte segment aired weekly on WDEF.
- The "gas versus electric cars" episode Moates referenced took place during his time as host.
- Cassulo hosted Tech Byte and worked as an anchor/reporter at WDEF.
The players
Patrick Moates
A former host of the Tech Byte segment who is described as a "huge car guy" and enjoyed features that combined his passions for technology and automobiles.
Emily Cassulo
A former host of the Tech Byte segment and anchor/reporter at WDEF who particularly enjoyed a feature on Harry Potter-themed smart wands.
Russell Stroud
The current host of the Tech Byte segment who reached out to Moates and Cassulo to reflect on their favorite moments from the show.
What they’re saying
“I had a lot of favorite episodes and a lot of really good guests, but I think my absolute favorite was the 'gas versus electric cars'. I'm a huge car guy. The showdown at Brainerd Motorsports Park was amazing. I still maintain that my '71 could beat the electric if we didn't have a fuel issue, but there was a lot of fun behind the scenes. My wife got to be part of the episode. There were a lot of people at the station that helped collaborate and obviously we had a Dodge dealership bring in an electric car that we got to drive ...maybe don't tell the station that we actually did a couple really fast drag race passes. To me that was one of the more fun ones cause that's I'm a car guy at heart, I love tech, I love cars, so combining the two to do a high-tech versus low tech showdown was a lot of fun.”
— Patrick Moates, Former Tech Byte Host
“One of the favorite episodes or segments that we did was on 'Harry Potter Magic Caster Wands' since we got to act like just kids it was something really fun we got to do. They sent us a magic wand for us to play around with. It pairs up with your smart phone or smart devices, and you can cast spells and just have a lot of fun with your friends who have it, or just be silly. And so one of our former nightside producers, Donald, he had a wand (not as high tech) and we were playing around with it for the story. They actually let us keep it but I gave it to Donald, so I don't have it anymore but I just remember that one was a fun one to do because most of the ones we did were just basically phone updates, which everyone cares about those, other different smart home products you might get, but that was a fun one cause it was something different to do.”
— Emily Cassulo, Former Tech Byte Host and WDEF Anchor/Reporter
The takeaway
Tech Byte has provided viewers with engaging technology news and feature segments for years, and the fond memories shared by former hosts Patrick Moates and Emily Cassulo offer a glimpse into the unique experiences that made the show special for both the presenters and the audience. From high-octane car showdowns to lighthearted gadget demos, the program has covered a wide range of topics in an entertaining and informative way.
