Austin, Texas. Episode 193 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is now live.
This is a conversation with Alexandra Merz, known to many in the Tesla community as @TeslaBoomerMama. We talked about what people would gain if they understood Elon Musk better. This is one of my favorite conversations.
In the episode we cover her perspective as a long-time retail shareholder, her background, and the practical value of looking past the noise to see the actual work.
Outline summary:
Opening conversation while riding in Austin
Alexandra’s path and interest in Tesla
Discussion of what clearer understanding of Elon Musk changes for people (retail shareholders, the public, and the mission)
Reflections on Tesla beyond the car company framing
Personal notes and shared observations from the ride
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video with captions):
Gail’s Tesla Podcast Ep 193: Alexandra Merz (@TeslaBoomerMama). Beloved by all in the Tesla community! We talked about what people would gain if they understood Elon Musk better. This is one of my favorite conversations! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/stDoeXrGzA
These two short clips are from my recent conversation with Alexandra Merz.
In the first, we talk about what we wish more people understood about Elon Musk. Alexandra says it breaks her heart that he is misunderstood by a large portion of the population, often because of basic resentment toward someone who is rich. She notes that Elon does not appear to care about being rich and shows that every day. If people set that aside and looked closer, they could learn from him about manufacturing, space, and how to handle difficulties. He does not want sympathy or admiration; he wants to be heard. We also touch on his sense of humor and the fact that comedy is legal on X.
Watch that clip here:
Alexandra and I discuss what we wish more people understood about Elon Musk. This was my favorite and most heartfelt question.
In the second clip, I ask what she would want the next group of shareholders to understand if they could grasp only one thing about why the mission matters. Alexandra points to the larger direction: Mars eventually, and in the meantime Terafab, chip production, and Orbital AI. She acknowledges that some who bought into a car company may feel the scope has grown larger and later, but the execution so far has been strong enough that the goal deserves support. We also discuss data center opposition, the inconsistency of wanting fast AI tools while opposing the infrastructure that makes them possible, and the need for communities to be properly compensated. She notes that Elon learned in California to think carefully about where to build, and that the move to Texas was the right one.
Watch that clip here:
I asked @TeslaBoomerMama, if the next group of shareholders only understood one thing about why Elon Musk’s mission matters, what would you want that to be?
Thanks to Elon for this ride. Cybercab takes us through Austin past a clumsy bus and a double-parked truck (the kind of things that used to require human intervention and mild swearing). The windows open and close on the way to the Singularity Thought House and Rainey Street. Grok sends the drop-off option straight to my iPhone.
In this episode I share the real-time ride while Cybercab handles the everyday obstacles and gets us where we’re going.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Gail’s Tesla Podcast Ep 192: Thanks to Elon for this ride. Cybercab in Austin: past a clumsy bus and a double-parked truck. The windows open and close on our way to the Singularity Thought House and Rainey Street. Grok sends the drop-off option to my iPhone. pic.twitter.com/9xz260Z3IZ
This is Jessica Tetreau’s first-ever Cybercab ride in lovely Austin. The complete interview is filmed inside the Cybercab as we move through the city. She calls the ride “amazing” and shares her honest first impressions.
Here’s my summary of the episode:
As we ride through Austin’s bar district; Jessica’s immediate reaction that it feels like the Jetsons and the future
We discuss no steering wheel, no pedals, and no mirrors; her suggestion for a four-seater Cybercab
Our arrival is fast (~10 minutes at night) and we had the ability to change the destination
People on the street notice the Cybercab, giving thumbs-up, and getting excited
Recap of the day’s stops: Allen’s Boots, walk down Congress, Four Seasons (valet curiosity about the vehicle), Mount Bonnell (winding hills handled smoothly), and dinner at Elon’s brother’s restaurant (gnocchi, bolognese, Indian puffy tacos)
Jessica’s comments that the ride is smooth, quick, and “sassy”; the vehicle closes doors and drives away efficiently
Closing reflections that Austin feels like a Disneyland or fantasy city with Cybercab access, and that this was “the best day ever”
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video with captions):
Gail’s Tesla Podcast Ep 191: @JessicaTetreau’s first-ever Cybercab ride in Austin. Complete interview filmed inside the Cybercab. Honest first impressions of an incredible ride she calls “amazing”. pic.twitter.com/i2F6rOEXbm
This is an interview with Jessica Tetreau of Brownsville. She shares the story of Mary Yturria, the longtime Brownsville philanthropist and matriarch who once owned a portion of the land SpaceX recently acquired.
That acquisition is part of the agreement in which SpaceX is contributing up to $220 million toward major water and wastewater infrastructure projects for the city and its people, expected to add roughly 18 million gallons of pure, healthy water per day of capacity.
In this warm conversation, Jessica talks about her friendship with Mary Yturria (who lived into her late 90s), visiting the landfill area herself, and her perspective as a local business owner (Car Wash Plus) on the changes and the water solution for Brownsville.
Outline summary of the episode:
Opening in the Cybercab / ride context
Jessica’s personal connection to Mary Yturria: friendship, lunches, and admiration for her as a Brownsville matriarch
Mary Yturria’s ownership of part of the land near the landfill / Port of Brownsville area that SpaceX acquired
Jessica’s own visit to the landfill site and observations
Local viewpoint on SpaceX’s water infrastructure commitment (wastewater reclamation + Southmost Regional Water Authority expansion) in exchange for the jurisdictional change
Discussion of the practical impact on Brownsville’s water future and community response
Closing reflections on Elon/SpaceX engineers and excitement about the outcome
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video with captions):
Podcast Ep. 190 In this amazing interview with @JessicaTetreau she tells the story of Brownsville matriarch Mary Yturria. She once owned a portion of the land that SpaceX recently acquired in exchange for bringing miraculously clean water to the city of Brownsville. pic.twitter.com/fvQHROUwpp
Episode 188 is the day I sat inside a Tesla Cybercab.
No steering wheel. No pedals. Just joy.
Thank you, Elon. The future is real, and it is this beautiful.
This episode was filmed on Cybercab launch day in Austin. I climbed into the two-seater, looked at that empty dash with the CYBERCAB script across it, and felt something I have been waiting years to feel in person: a car built from the ground up for riding, not driving.
Watch Episode 188 here:
Gail’s Tesla Podcast Ep. 188 I sat inside a Cybercab at Austin Fairgrounds today. No wheel. no pedals. Just joy. Thank you Elon. The future is real and it is this beautiful ♥️ pic.twitter.com/SZpaTIUnsO
I have taken a lot of unsupervised Robotaxi rides in Model Ys here in Austin. Those rides already feel like history. This was different.
Cybercab is not a regular Tesla with the driver controls left unused. There is nothing left unused. The front of the cabin is open. The seats face a clean interior, a wide screen, and that little CYBERCAB mark where a steering wheel would have been for more than a century.
I was wearing my I ❤️ ELON shirt and red pants, sunglasses on, gold nails catching the Texas light, and I kept reaching out to touch things the way you do when your brain is still catching up with your eyes. The leatherlike seats. The cupholders. The speaker grille. The simple controls on the door. Every detail said: this vehicle was designed for people, not for a person who has to keep a hand near a wheel.
My daughter Grace sat beside me. Two seats. That is the whole cabin. It feels intimate and calm, like the car already knows the job is to carry you, not to ask you to work.
What the Video Shows
Episode 188 is short on purpose. About three and a half minutes. I wanted you to sit there with me.
You will see:
The first look from outside, with the cabin inset so you can see the empty dash and the Cybercab lettering
The two of us buckled in, laughing, taking in a vehicle with no driver controls at all
Close looks at the seats, cupholders, door controls, and speakers
Downtown Austin moving past the windows while the cabin stays quiet and bright
That last beat of me sitting there, hand on my face, trying to put a feeling into words
I did not need a long speech. The car is the speech.
Why This One Matters
For years I have covered Tesla Full Self-Driving, unsupervised Robotaxi rides in Model Ys, and the promise of a purpose-built robotaxi. Episode 188 is the moment that promise became a seat I could sit in.
Model Y Robotaxi proved the software on streets I actually use. Cybercab is the next chapter: a vehicle that does not pretend a human might grab the wheel. That absence is not a missing feature. It is the point.
Launch day in Austin was noisy in the best way with people circling the gold two-seaters, phones up, lambo doors up, the feeling that the city had just been handed a new kind of gold Roman chariot. I wanted this episode to keep the human part. As a woman from Austin sitting in the car and telling you the truth: it made me happy.
If you have followed this podcast from the early FSD drives through the unsupervised Robotaxi rides, this is one of the episodes we were driving toward.
Watch Next
Episode 189 was filmed entirely inside a Cybercab here in Austin with Grok answering fast, a simulated job-interview coaching moment, and Ashok Elluswamy from Cybercab launch day. Episode 188 is the sit-down. Episode 189 is the ride that follows.
Join the Conversation
Have you sat in a Cybercab yet, or taken one through the Robotaxi app in Austin?
What hits you first, is it the the missing wheel, the two-seat cabin, or the feeling that the future finally has a door you can open?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. I read every one.
Stay curious. Stay adventurous. And keep enjoying the ride ahead! 🚕✨
Previous on the blog: Episodes 186 & 187 – Iba Thiam’s First Supervised FSD Ride
(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! 🚕✨
