The Awakening

Elon Musk has spent his career turning improbable ideas into companies that reshape the world. To some, the entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX is an engineering genius whose ambitions have transformed electric cars and space travel. To others, his politics and extraordinary influence raise serious questions about the future he is building. Either way, the world’s first trillionaire is betting Tesla’s future on AI and humanoid robots, and SpaceX’s on life beyond Earth. In this season’s debut episode, Walter asks Musk about DOGE regrets, why he believes robots will solve America’s national debt, and the dark politics that have consumed his own platform, X. Along the way, Musk shares why living in a simulation demands that we all be less boring. A candid conversation about the imagination, drive and contradictions of a man determined to turn his vision into our future. Interview taped August 6, 2026. And be sure to pick up Walter Isaacson’s The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, wherever fine books are sold. ABOUT THE HOSTWalter Isaacson is the bestselling author of biographies of Elon Musk, Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein. He is a professor of history at Tulane University and previously served as CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair and CEO of CNN, and editor of Time. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2023. IN THIS SEASONElon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, xAI)Peter Thiel (Founders Fund, PayPal, Palantir)Mustafa Suleyman (Microsoft AI, DeepMind)Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei (Anthropic)and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A young radio producer in Afghanistan is given an impossible task: to create a brand new, revolutionary talent show in just two months. To purchase original Afghan Star artwork visit www.awastudios.com/afghanstar — proceeds go to support The Noor Initiative, who are on a mission to ensure every Afghan girl has access to education and opportunity. Music at the end of this episode from Afghan musician Qais Maroof, contestant on The Voice of Afghanistan. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miles and the team learn how Vassilis and his gang pulled off the biggest bank robbery in Greek history without firing a single shot. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this new series from Kaleidoscope co-founder Mangesh Hattikudur, we journey into the weird, wonderful world of astrology with a little help from: Mangesh's mom, a science writer, a famous musician, and one very sneaky author! But when an ominous prediction suddenly comes true, his life turns upside down.   We made you a mixtape! Listen Sounds from Skyline Drive here!  A transcript of this episode is located here.     Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Instagram and Twitter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the final chapter of Wild Chocolate! This week, we dive into the actual experience of eating REAL chocolate. Why does it have an almost drug-like effect on so many of us? And what can a chocolatier do to make that experience pop? And, you know, where can I get me some? (To start go to www.stettler-chocolate.com)  For seven weeks, we’ve dragged you past floods and jungles, electric eels and narco traffickers and this week, we’re not gonna do any of that. No dangers, no scandals, just bliss. So kick back and relax. This is desert. Want some of this god-level chocolate? Kaleidoscope has joined forces with Luisa Abram and Stettler Chocolate to make a special box to go along with this very podcast.. Just visit: www.stettler-chocolate.com to order your wild chocolate today. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Volker continues his quest for the perfect bean, police stage a stake out on his property to snare local cacao thieves. Want some of this god-level chocolate? Kaleidoscope has joined forces with Luisa Abram and Stettler Chocolate to make a special box to go along with this very podcast. Just visit: www.stettler-chocolate.com to order your wild chocolate today. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a Brazilian prodigy discovers a wild new strain of cacao, she can’t tame the flavor, until a mysterious fixer shows up at her door with a plan. Want some of this god-level chocolate? Kaleidoscope has joined forces with Luisa Abram and Stettler Chocolate to make a special box to go along with this very podcast. Just visit: www.stettler-chocolate.com to order your wild chocolate today. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the edges of one of the world’s most stunning nature preserves, an ancient Mayan secret has been hiding in plain sight. Want some of this god-level chocolate? Kaleidoscope has joined forces with Luisa Abram and Stettler Chocolate to make a special box to go along with this very podcast. Just visit: www.stettler-chocolate.com to order your wild chocolate today. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember the Mast Brothers scandal? Think you are eating sustainable, small batch chocolate? It's way more complicated than that. Plus: when three idealists try to tackle the evils of Big Chocolate, they realize treacherous roads, nails and bullets are just the beginning of their problems.   Want some of this truly bean to bar chocolate? Kaleidoscope has joined forces with Luisa Abram and Stettler Chocolate to make a special box to go along with this very podcast. Just visit: www.stettler-chocolate.com to order your wild chocolate today. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one should be murdered over some cacao beans. But as the world gets a taste for wild chocolate, competition becomes cutthroat.  Want some of this god-level chocolate? Kaleidoscope has joined forces with Luisa Abram and Stettler Chocolate to make a special box to go along with this very podcast. Just visit: www.stettler-chocolate.com to order your wild chocolate today. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.