(Austin, Texas) Episode 186 and 187 are a two-part conversation with actor Iba Thiam (@IbaAwaThiam), who lives here in Austin. We recorded in the car while Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) handled the roads, this was Iba’s first time experiencing it.
He is known for roles in Alita: Battle Angel, Queen of the South (Bilal), The Chosen, The Leftovers, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga. What I loved about this episode is that it is not only a first-FSD reaction. It is also the story of how he came to America from Senegal, how he got started as an actor, and how he learned to belong in a new place.
We split it into two parts because the conversation kept opening up.
Watch Part 1 here (first FSD ride, acting career, coming to America):
Episode 186 of Gail’s podcast with @IbaAwaThiam He tries Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) for the first time and is amazed. We also talk about his acting career, coming to America, and how he got started. This is Pt. 1 of our conversation! pic.twitter.com/0GMVNT2A76
Watch Part 2 here (the conversation continues and gets even more interesting):
Episode 187 of Gail’s podcast with @IbaAwaThiam We continue the conversation in Austin and it gets even more interesting. He tries Tesla FSD Supervised and is amazed. This is Pt. 2. pic.twitter.com/Aoc6SIg5jH
Iba sat in the passenger seat for his first supervised FSD ride and was genuinely amazed watching the car take over. That first-time reaction never gets old. You can see it on his face: the car is the captain now, and we get to talk.
While FSD moved us through Austin, Iba talked about:
How he got into acting and the grind of finding representation (including those “speed dating” sessions with agents)
Coming to America and what it takes to feel like you belong
How easy it is to take ordinary things for granted
Why he likes being a little uncomfortable — that is often where the next chapter starts
Phones as one of the biggest causes of accidents, which landed differently while the car was driving itself
Part 2 stays in Austin and goes deeper. Same warmth, same curiosity, more of the story.
Why This One Matters
This is the kind of episode I want more of. A working actor who lives in this city, experiencing Tesla FSD for the first time, talking honestly about craft, risk, and starting over. The technology is the setting. The person is the point.
If you have ever wondered what it feels like to hand the wheel to FSD with someone seeing it for the first time, start with Part 1. If you want the rest of Iba’s story, go straight into Part 2.
Join the Conversation
Have you watched Episodes 186 and 187 yet? What stood out — Iba’s first FSD reaction, his path into acting, or the conversation about belonging?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. I read every one.
Stay curious. Stay adventurous. And keep enjoying the ride ahead! 🚕✨
Previous on the blog: Episode 172 – Zuby
Had such a great time meeting Iba Thiam and recording a podcast with him today! Can’t wait to share the episode tomorrow ( he just started a new account here on X. Please follow him @IbaAwaThiam ) pic.twitter.com/vWnv6JND9l
Episode 185 is two unsupervised Robotaxi rides through Austin on a brutal Texas afternoon — and then a second ride from the Four Seasons to pizza.
The first cab was sitting at 66°F while it was 106°F outside. That alone felt like the future. Then the car did two things that still make me smile: it accepted a last-minute destination change, and it cut through a gas station the way only a veteran Austin driver would.
Watch Episode 185 here:
Gail’s Podcast Ep 185: Two Robotaxi rides in Austin. The cab is cool at 66°F while 106°F out! It made a last-minute destination change and a clever gas-station cut-through that only a veteran driver would pull off. The other took me from the Four Seasons to Austin’s best pizza! pic.twitter.com/odIV7sGfr7
Ride One — Availability, A/C, and That Gas-Station Cut-Through
I was surprised how many Robotaxis were available. In that same part of Austin, the wait used to stretch toward 20 minutes. This time it was about two minutes. I even posted about it, and Elon reposted it.
Once I was in, I didn’t have to keep diving in and out of the app. The cabin was already cold. The screen showed the outside temperature in the mid-100s and the cabin locked at 66. That contrast — melting on the sidewalk, then stepping into quiet, cold air with no driver — never stops feeling historic.
The routing was the real star. I changed the destination late, and the car handled it. Then it did that clever gas-station cut-through. Nobody on the lot even looked twice. The vehicle just took the efficient line, the way a local would, and kept going toward Northwest Hills.
That is the difference between a demo and a product. It is not only staying in the lane. It is solving Austin in real time.
Ride Two — Four Seasons to Pizza
The second ride started at the Four Seasons Hotel. The Robotaxi pulled into the driveway, the screen was clean — no fingerprints, dark mode, “Start Ride” — and we rolled out toward pizza.
Leaving a hotel porte-cochère with no driver in the seat still looks like science fiction against those columns and downtown streets. Then it is just… a ride. Dinner. Ordinary life, except the car is doing the work.
That is what I want people to see in this episode. Not a lab. Not a press event. A hot Austin day, a last-minute change, a shortcut through a gas station, and a hotel-to-pizza trip.
Why These Two Rides Matter
Robotaxi is getting useful. Shorter waits. Cabin already comfortable before you sit down. Destination changes that stick. Local routing that looks like judgment, not a rigid map line.
Every one of these rides is a small public record of what unsupervised autonomy feels like on the streets I actually use.
Join the Conversation
Have you taken a Robotaxi in this heat yet? What impressed you more — the wait time, the cold cabin, or a routing move you did not expect?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. I read every one.
Stay curious. Stay adventurous. And keep enjoying the ride ahead! 🚕✨
See other Episodes 186 & 187 – Iba Thiam’s First Supervised FSD Ride
Episode 172 with the one and only Zuby (@ZubyMusic) has already surpassed 1 million views on X — and for good reason. Fresh off a flight from Dubai, Zuby hopped into my Tesla for his very first supervised FSD (Full Self-Driving) experience in Austin. What started as an in-car chat quickly became one of the most engaging and widely shared conversations we’ve had.
We split it into two parts because the discussion was so rich. Part 1 covers his global perspective, culture shock, and a powerful take on the biggest myth about masculinity. Part 2 dives into free speech, what it was like meeting Elon Musk in the early days after the Twitter acquisition, and why he keeps his rap music “squeaky clean.”
Watch Part 1 here (the viral ride):
Episode 172 Part 1 is live! Fresh off the plane from Dubai, Zuby (@ZubyMusic) has his first supervised FSD ride in Austin. He discusses his global experiences and the biggest myth about masculinity. Drop a listen ❤️ (Pt 2 soon!) pic.twitter.com/6n5SkhIR7q
Watch Part 2 here (free speech, Elon, and clean rap):
Episode 172 Part 2 is live! Zuby (@ZubyMusic) breaks down free speech, what it was like meeting Elon Musk in the early months after he bought Twitter, and why he keeps his rap music squeaky clean. Full episode (Pt 1 + 2) now complete ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vmCSCI7ljX
Zuby brought a truly global lens to the table. Having lived across the UK, Saudi Arabia, and traveled extensively, he shared how different cultures shape our views — and how travel can be the ultimate cure for ignorance and narrow-mindedness.
His first reaction to FSD was priceless: pure amazement at watching the car drive itself while we chatted. “This would have been considered impossible even within our own lifetimes,” he noted. It was a beautiful reminder of how far the technology has come and how it feels to experience it for the first time.
The conversation on masculinity was especially powerful. Zuby challenged the modern narrative that masculinity itself is a problem. Instead, he argued that many issues attributed to “toxic masculinity” actually stem from an absence of healthy, channeled masculinity — and that boys need strong, positive male role models to thrive.
In Part 2, things got even more fascinating as he opened up about meeting Elon Musk shortly after the Twitter acquisition and his philosophy on creating clean, positive rap music in a genre often filled with negativity.
A Conversation That Hit Different
This episode felt special from the start. Zuby’s wisdom, humor, and no-nonsense perspective combined perfectly with the unique setting of cruising Austin streets on FSD. Listeners clearly felt it too — the views exploded, and the comments poured in with people loving the mix of tech wonder and deep life insights.
Whether you’re here for the FSD ride reactions, the cultural wisdom, or Zuby’s refreshing take on masculinity and free speech, this one delivers.
Join the Conversation
Have you watched Episode 172 yet? What stood out to you most — Zuby’s first FSD experience, his thoughts on masculinity, or his stories about meeting Elon?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I read every single one!
And if you haven’t subscribed or followed along yet, now’s the perfect time. This is exactly why I love doing these in-car podcasts — real conversations with remarkable people in remarkable settings.
Thank you to everyone who watched, shared, and engaged. Over a million views is wild, and I’m incredibly grateful.
Stay curious. Stay adventurous. And keep riding with us. 🚕✨
What a treat it was to spend time with the wonderful @TechOperator! I’m thrilled to share our complete conversation across two engaging drives in my Model Y here in Austin. Part 1 dropped as Episode 170 and we continued seamlessly into Part 2 in Episode 171 — it felt so natural and relaxed chatting while the car confidently handled the roads.
The Full Experience
In this inspiring two-part interview, @TechOperator (a passionate Tesla owner, former IT executive, and active voice in the X community) joins me for fast-paced, authentic discussions during real-world FSD rides in my Model Y.
We covered:
His inspiring life transition away from corporate life and the overwhelmingly positive support from the X community.
Building an authentic presence online.
His deep appreciation for Tesla’s performance, handling, acceleration, and how he uses FSD for a significant portion of his driving (~30%).
Highlights from his recent Giga Texas visit, including seeing the Cybercab up close (and getting to test a Robotaxi!).
The rides in my Model Y provided the perfect backdrop — smooth, confident, and freeing. It allowed us to have a real, flowing conversation without any stress about driving.
Episode 171 Podcast is live! Tech Operator rides with me on FSD in Austin, reflecting on leaving the corporate LinkedIn world, and why he loves posting on X. He shares a few of his approaches along the way. Drop a listen when you’re on the road ❤️ @TechOperatorpic.twitter.com/C4yi90KUYy
There’s something truly special about holding a genuine conversation while your own Model Y navigates Austin’s busy streets on FSD. These experiences highlight how far autonomous driving has come and why it feels so capable and natural today.
The car sees the world through its cameras alone — clean, elegant, and remarkably human-like perception without bulky extra sensors. That vision-only approach shines in Austin’s varied conditions: traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, changing light, and all the everyday surprises.
Behind that capability is an enormous amount of real-world learning. Tesla’s fleet has driven billions of miles, training the system on countless variations of the exact scenarios we encountered. You feel that depth in how proactively and smoothly the car handles intersections, merges, and dynamic situations — giving us the freedom to focus entirely on the conversation.
The intelligence comes from end-to-end neural networks that turn raw camera input directly into fluid, context-aware actions. No brittle rule-based layers guessing at every possibility — just holistic, intelligent driving that feels natural and reliable.
None of this scales without massive dedicated compute power turning fleet data into rapid improvements. Purpose-built training infrastructure keeps pushing the models forward at an impressive pace.
It also benefits tremendously from tight vertical integration. Hardware and software evolve together through seamless over-the-air updates on the same platform, delivering consistent, responsive performance that improves ride after ride.
What stands out most is the bold commitment to true FSD operation on public roads — not limited demos, but real confidence in complex city environments. Experiencing that while chatting comfortably turns “someday” into something you can live today in Austin (and soon more places).
And because it’s a living, learning system, every mile driven makes the whole fleet smarter. The Model Y we rode in continues to improve with each update, pulling lessons from millions of other vehicles.
These rides carry that forward-looking “gold Cybercab energy” we felt seeing the purpose-built robotaxis at Giga Texas. They’re the bridge to the exciting autonomous future we’re all watching unfold.
Join the Conversation
If you haven’t watched the full two-part interview yet, grab a drink, settle in, and come along for the rides! These episodes capture personal stories, community, factory insights, and the simple joy of a car that just handles it.
Drop a comment below and let me know:
What stood out most to you from the conversation with @TechOperator?
Have you taken a FSD ride in a Tesla Model Y yet?
What are you most looking forward to with Cybercab and the next chapter of autonomy?
I read every comment — this community makes the journey so much richer.
Stay curious, stay adventurous, and keep enjoying the ride ahead! 🚕✨
Episode 169 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is live, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you!
This time I climbed back into a Tesla Model Y running in full unsupervised Robotaxi mode for my second journey through Austin streets. Camera rolling the whole way, I captured my genuine, moment-by-moment reactions as the car took care of everything on its own. Downtown Austin energy, a stop at Starbucks on Riverside Drive, smooth navigation through real traffic — it felt like another chapter of living history. And the vibe? Straight-up gold Tesla energy all the way.
Watch the full ride and my unfiltered real-time commentary here:
Ep 169 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is here! 🚕 My second unsupervised Model Y Robotaxi ride through Austin with real-time thoughts on this wild piece of history. Super excited to keep sharing the journey. Loving the gold Cybercab energy today 💛 pic.twitter.com/3RiATQU4jm
In the episode you’ll hear me chatting away as the car handles downtown streets, eases through traffic, and elegantly solves a specific maneuvering situation near the coffee shop. One feeling kept coming up for me: “I just feel really safe and relaxed.” No stress, no hovering over imaginary pedals, only the simple pleasure of being a passenger in a vehicle that clearly understands its world.
What This Ride Revealed About the Technology We’re Actually Living With
There’s a special kind of wonder that comes from experiencing autonomy not in a polished demo video, but on the exact streets you drive every day. What made this second ride feel so capable, so natural, didn’t happen by accident. Several deep, compounding strengths showed up in quiet but powerful ways.
The car perceives everything through its cameras alone. No bulky extra sensors, no spinning LiDAR on the roof, no radar arrays like Waymo, just a clean, elegant vehicle reading the visual world the way humans do. That choice creates a system that feels integrated rather than bolted-on, and it performed beautifully in the mixed lighting, tree cover, and urban clutter of Austin.
That visual intelligence is trained on something no one else has at anywhere near this scale: billions of miles of real driving data collected from Teslas all over the world. The situations I saw today — busy intersections, pedestrians, cyclists, tight spots — aren’t rare edge cases in a simulator. They’re variations the AI has already studied thousands of times in similar real-world conditions. You can feel that collective experience in how confidently and proactively it drives.
Equally important is how it makes decisions. The autonomy stack uses end-to-end neural networks that map raw camera input straight to smooth vehicle controls. There’s no layer of brittle if-then rules trying to anticipate every possibility. The result is driving that feels holistic and context-aware — exactly what you want when the car has to resolve a real parking or departure challenge on the fly, the way it did for me near Riverside Drive.
None of this capability appears without serious computational horsepower dedicated to training on massive video datasets. Purpose-built infrastructure for processing driving data at enormous scale has made it possible to turn raw fleet experience into rapidly improving intelligence. Every unsupervised mile contributes to the next leap forward.
It also matters that this intelligence lives inside a vehicle platform that was designed for deep, continuous integration. The Model Y has evolved alongside the autonomy software through years of over-the-air updates. That tight coupling between hardware and software — refined on the road, not just in the lab — is what lets the car feel responsive and reliable instead of hesitant or overcautious.
What stands out most is the clear destination the work has been pointed toward all along: genuine unsupervised operation on ordinary public roads. Not perpetual supervision, not limited geofenced zones, but the confidence to let the vehicle handle complex, dynamic city driving without a safety driver present. Feeling that trust validated in practice — relaxed in the passenger seat while the car just… handles it — turns “someday” into something you can experience today.
And because the system keeps learning, the car I rode in yesterday is already smarter than the one from last month. Fleet-wide updates roll out regularly, folding lessons from rides just like this one into every vehicle. It’s a living technology that gets better with use rather than one that ships and then slowly ages.
As I finished this ride, that forward-looking excitement was everywhere — the same gold Cybercab energy that has me genuinely counting down to purpose-built robotaxi vehicles designed from the ground up for joyful, efficient, autonomous mobility. The unsupervised rides we’re taking right now in current models are the essential bridge to that next chapter.
These in-car episodes aren’t just tech demos for me. They’re a way of documenting a transformation I get to live inside my own city and sharing the real wonder (and occasional delighted “wait… it just did that?!” moments) with all of you who are following along.
If you haven’t watched yet, pour yourself something nice and take the ride with me. Then come back and tell me in the comments:
What stood out most to you in this episode?
Did any particular moment make the progress feel especially real?
Have you tried an unsupervised Robotaxi ride yourself, or are you as excited as I am about where this is all heading?
I read every single comment and I’m grateful for this community. The journey is so much richer when we share it.
Stay curious. Stay adventurous. And keep watching the road ahead — it’s getting more interesting every single week. 🚕✨
A clip from this episode showing the unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi (with no safety driver) going down a narrow street and performing a multi-point U-turn in a tight spot was reposted by Elon Musk and has been seen over 75 million times. As of today, it might be one of Gail’s most viewed posts. It also has over 6.5K comments.
In this full episode, I take my first ride in an unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi through Austin and share my real-time thoughts and impressions while the car drives itself.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Ep 168 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is here! First time in an unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi through Austin. Real-time thoughts and impressions. pic.twitter.com/UxVeYwLOHN
These in-car rides and conversations highlight the steady real-world progress Elon and the Tesla team continue to deliver every day.
Leave a comment
What stood out most to you in this episode? Have you had a chance to ride in a Tesla Robotaxi yet? Drop your thoughts or share your own Tesla story below.
In this episode, Captain Eli joins me inside the car while we drive using Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD). We have a fun conversation about how he first started supporting Elon Musk on X, how he stays current with all things Elon and Tesla, and his brand new clothing line.
This is Part 1 of our conversation, with more to come soon. The discussion delivers a real-time, in-car perspective while Full Self-Driving handles the road.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Ep 166 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is here! Captain Eli joins me in the car on FSD in Austin. Hear how he got started supporting Elon Musk on X, staying current with all things Elon, and check out his new clothing line. @TheCaptainElipic.twitter.com/xBeRN63nWt
Gail Alfar and Captain Eli in-car on Tesla Full Self-Driving FSD – Episode 166 Gail’s Tesla Podcast – discussing supporting Elon Musk on X, staying current, and his new clothing line in Austin
These in-car rides and conversations highlight the steady real-world progress Elon and the Tesla team continue to deliver every day.
Leave a comment
What stood out most to you in this episode? Have you checked out Captain Eli’s new clothing line yet? Drop your thoughts or share your own Tesla story below.
In this episode, I hopped into a Robotaxi and rode straight to SXSW in Austin. The autonomous drive was smooth and confident as we moved through city streets, delivering another strong example of Tesla’s real-world FSD progress in Texas.
At the event I spent time with both Optimus and the Cybercab. The displays looked impressive under bright Texas sunshine during the day and equally striking with starlight views at night. I also recorded rare interviews with David Moss and Josh West — two dedicated voices in the Tesla community who shared their perspectives on autonomy and the future of abundance.
This episode captures practical Robotaxi use, up-close looks at Tesla’s latest robotics and vehicle tech, and thoughtful conversations about where the technology is headed right now.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Ep 164 is here! Jump in Robotaxi to go to SXSW and hang with Optimus & Cybercab for this podcast. The best sunshine and starlight views! Plus rare interviews with David Moss & Josh West. In a world racing toward abundance, are you rooting for Tesla? ❀・。・✿・゜✭・。・❀ pic.twitter.com/tIoXtJ5p60
These clips show the steady advancements Elon and the Tesla team continue to deliver every day — from everyday autonomous rides to next-generation robots and vehicles already appearing in public.
Leave a comment
What stood out most to you in this episode? Have you taken a Robotaxi ride yet or seen Optimus in person? Are you excited about Tesla’s push toward abundance? Drop your thoughts or your own Tesla story below.
Tesla Cybercab Robotaxi open door view during Gail’s autonomous ride to SXSW in Austin, Texas. Real-world FSD in action – spacious interior and sunny downtown streets captured in Episode 164 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast.
My heart is full after putting together Episode 163: officially titled “If You’re Not on FSD What Are You Doing!?”
This one is packed with real-life Tesla magic happening right now in Austin, Texas. I took you along for the ride (literally!) as we spotted coal miners in Austin, cruised through downtown, and enjoyed three smooth, confident, unsupervised Robotaxi rides that show exactly why the future of abundance is already here.
From heading out to catch a Robotaxi (“check it out we’re heading to go catch a robo taxi i hope”), soaking in those pretty Texas roads, napping in the back seat like it’s the most natural thing in the world, to navigating busy city streets with zero interventions — the autonomy is buttery smooth and getting better every day. You’ll see thoughtful little touches too, like the open-the-trunk button right in the app (Tesla really does think of everything). And yes, we even had a moment wondering why certain features weren’t showing up yet on the screen — classic real-world FSD adventure!
These aren’t just clips. They’re your moments in a world of coming abundance ❀・🎶・゜✭・。・✿・。・゜✭・。・❀ — everyday freedom, joy, and proof that if you’re not on FSD yet… what are you doing!? No driver, no stress, just Tesla delivering safe, fun, life-changing rides.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Gail’s Tesla Podcast Ep 163: If you’re not on FSD what are you doing!? Coal miners in Austin. Downtown and 3 Robotaxi rides Your moments in a world of coming abundance ❀・🎶・゜✭・。・✿・。・゜✭・。・❀ pic.twitter.com/x6ddX1ThNN
These clips are glimpses of the abundance future Elon and the Tesla team are building every single day. From family adventures to downtown errands, Robotaxi (and FSD) is already making life easier, safer, and way more fun.
Leave a comment
What did you think of the episode? Are you on FSD yet? Have you taken a Robotaxi ride? Drop your favorite moment or your own Tesla story below.
My heart is full after putting together Episode 162 — officially titled “Robotaxi We Love You!”
This one is a celebration of real, unsupervised Robotaxi rides happening right now in Texas. I’ve pulled together 10 minutes of pure Robotaxi magic captured from June 2025 all the way to the present, smooth, confident, life-changing autonomy that just keeps getting better. No driver, no interventions, just Tesla delivering freedom and joy ride after ride.
Here’s the breakdown of the 8 segments so you can jump to your favorites (video is linked in the X post below!):
0:00 – Part 1: Intro where I explain the journey — 10 minutes of Robotaxi footage spanning from June 2025 to now, showing how far we’ve come with unsupervised rides!
2:09 – Part 2: Riding with the amazing LilHumanBigImpact in a Robotaxi, then heading over to Giga Texas to soak in the majestic sight of those three flags waving proudly: Tesla, Texas, and USA! 🇺🇸🤖
2:36 – Part 3: Two Robotaxis rolling together — plus one brilliantly avoiding a bird mid-flight. Talk about awareness and grace! 🐦
5:10 – Part 4: Sweet moment with Captain Eli taking his very first Robotaxi ride — the excitement on his face says it all!
6:10 – Part 5: Owen Sparks having fun pretending to “steal” a purse from the trunk of a Robotaxi — hilarious and totally wholesome Tesla kid energy!
7:32 – Part 6: Back with LilHumanBigImpact, this time she’s ordering a Robotaxi herself — watching the next generation take control of the future is everything!
9:02 – Part 7: A gorgeous, very very old BMW 2002 rolls by — I adore classic cars like this one too, what a beautiful contrast to the cutting-edge Robotaxis around it!
9:25 – Part 8: Cybertruck nailing parallel parking in Austin, then cruising in San Francisco while we spot the vibrant flower market — that little mini Cybertruck sighting made my day! 🌸🚜
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Gail’s TESLA Podcast Ep. 162: Robotaxi We Love You! 8-Segment Rides in Texas Plus mini Cybertruck spot in SF 🥰 timestamps for reference:⁰0:00 Part 1 and 2:09 Part 2⁰2:36 Part 3 and 5:10 Part 4⁰6:10 Part 5 and 7:32 Part 6⁰9:02 Part 7 plus 9:25 Part 8 pic.twitter.com/jIXn4ROrDy
These clips aren’t just rides; they’re glimpses of the abundance future Elon and the Tesla team are building every single day. From family adventures to everyday magic, Robotaxi is already here making life easier, safer, and way more fun.
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