Hi. I'm Michael Sheehan. Most people know me as HighTechDad.
HighTechDad™ is where technology and fatherhood collide.
I started this independent technology blog in 2005 because I couldn’t find what I was looking for anywhere else. Back then, there were parenting sites that barely touched technology, and tech sites that ignored real life completely. Nobody was talking about how technology actually shows up in homes, families, and everyday decision-making.
So I built it myself.
Twenty years later (since 2005), I’m still writing every article as an independent technology journalist and product reviewer. My three daughters are now in their 20s, but the questions around technology, responsibility, usability, and trust haven’t gone away. If anything, they’ve become more important.
At a Glance
- Founded: 2005 (20 years of independent technology journalism)
- Focus: Product reviews, how-to guides, fix-it articles
- Perspective: Where technology and fatherhood collide
- Based in: San Francisco Bay Area
- Content: Hundreds of articles, millions of readers since 2005
- YouTube: 15,000+ subscribers, millions of lifetime views
- Approach: Solo operation, no guest posts, teacher-focused
What is HighTechDad?
HighTechDad is a long-running, independent technology site written by one person: me.
I focus on helping people understand, use, fix, and think critically about technology. Sometimes that shows up as a product review. Other times it’s a how-to guide, a fix-it article, a deeper look at industry trends, or even a reflection on how technology shapes our daily lives.
You’ll find:
- In-depth product reviews focused on usability, value, and long-term ownership, not just unboxing hype
- How-to and fix-it articles designed to empower you to solve problems yourself and actually learn something in the process
- Commentary on technology trends that cuts through marketing fluff and asks what actually matters
- Articles exploring technology and family life, even though my kids are grown (the collision continues)
I write for people who want to understand technology without being talked down to. You don’t need to be an engineer. You don’t need to be a parent. You just need to be curious and willing to try.
Who is HighTechDad for?
HighTechDad is for people who want clarity, not hype.
Many readers arrive here mid-crisis: something broke, a product isn’t working as advertised, or they’re trying to decide if that “must-have” gadget is actually worth the money.
Others stick around because they appreciate honest reviews and practical explanations that skip the marketing nonsense.
The common thread? You want technology explained like you’re talking to a friend who’s already wrestled with it—and won.
Most people are juggling work, family, responsibilities, and limited time. Technology is supposed to help, but it often adds friction instead. My goal with HighTechDad has always been simple: make technology easier to understand and more useful in the real world.
I’m a teacher at heart. I genuinely enjoy helping people figure things out, gain confidence with new tools, and realize they’re more capable than they thought. That’s why I create detailed how-to guides and troubleshooting posts—not just to solve today’s problem, but to help you understand why it happened and how to prevent it next time.
I don’t chase hype. I test things. I live with them. I jump right in without reading the manual because I want to see if something is actually intuitive or just pretending to be. If I’m fumbling through the setup, chances are everyone else will too. (My friends and family like to joke that technology is afraid of me—things mysteriously start working when I walk into the room.) Then I write about what actually happened
How I approach reviews and content
Everything on HighTechDad is written by me. One person. No team. No ghostwriters.
I don’t accept guest posts. I don’t publish third-party content. I don’t insert paid links into existing articles.
If you see an article on this site, I wrote it.
When I review a product:
- I test it myself. I actually use it, not just photograph it
- I write about both positives and negatives (nobody’s perfect, including the gadgets)
- I focus on usability, setup, reliability, and whether it’s worth your money
- I disclose when products are provided as review samples (transparency matters)
But reviews are just part of the story. Some of the most-read content on this site are fix-it guides and troubleshooting posts I wrote simply because I ran into a problem, solved it, and wanted to save someone else the headache. That’s the teacher in me—if I learned something useful, why keep it to myself?
Background and credibility, and track record
A bit about my background
Professionally, I’ve spent my career in the San Francisco Bay Area working in content strategy, storytelling, and technology marketing. I’ve worked inside large technology companies (Intel, HP, Cisco) and with startups, helping translate complex technology into clear narratives that real people can use.
That same skill shows up here on HighTechDad—just with fewer acronyms and more dad jokes.
HighTechDad is independent and personal. The opinions here are mine alone, and they always have been.
YouTube Channel highlights
Visit the HighTechDad YouTube Channel- Over 11.8 million lifetime views
- Over 16,000 subscribers
- Over 580,000 watch time hours
- Two YouTube videos have over 1.4 million lifetime views
- 1st video published in September 2008
Credibility and track record
HighTechDad has been around long enough to outlast platforms, trends, and more than a few “next big things.” That longevity matters.
Quick facts:
- Founded in 2005 — one of the earliest dad blogs focused on technology
- All content written, tested, and published by Michael Sheehan — no outsourcing, ever
- Millions of readers have found the site since 2005, with consistent monthly traffic driven by search
- Several articles have exceeded 500,000 views — turns out step-by-step troubleshooting guides never go out of style
- HighTechDad YouTube channel has over 16,000 subscribers and millions of lifetime views, where I walk through reviews and fixes on camera
- Built on usefulness, not hype — people keep coming back because the content solves real problems
This site exists because people keep finding it useful. That’s the only metric that really matters.
HighTechDad today
The tagline still fits: HighTechDad is where technology and fatherhood collide.
Even though my daughters are grown, the collision is still happening every day. Technology keeps getting more powerful, more complex, and more integrated into daily life. Instructions keep getting thinner. Marketing keeps getting louder. Real answers are harder to find.
I’m still here, writing about what works, what doesn’t, and how to make sense of it all. And yes, still teaching anyone who’ll listen.
If you’ve been reading for years, thank you. If you’re new here, welcome. I hope you find something that saves you time, frustration, or at least a few choice words under your breath.
Learn more
This About page is the front door. Want to go deeper?
- Michael Sheehan – More about my background, career, and expertise
- Editorial Policy – How I work with brands, disclosure practices, and advertising
- Origin Story – The full story of how HighTechDad started and evolved
If you want to reach out, you can always contact me directly.
Thanks for being here.
