Front Burner Front Burner Presents: The Making of Musk, Episode 2
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Dec 31, 2025 Explore the origins of Elon Musk's ambitions, tracing back to his influential grandfather, Joshua Haldeman, and his ties to the technocracy movement. Discover Haldeman's adventurous spirit and how his radical ideas mirrored Musk's anti-democratic instincts. Delve into the ups and downs of Musk's early career, from risky ventures to shaping a powerful network in Silicon Valley. The podcast shines a light on the intersection of technology and politics, questioning the implications of technocracy in today's world.
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Technocracy Promised Rule By Experts
- Technocracy argued that experts should run society because democracy was too slow and irrational.
- Joshua Haldeman led Canada's branch and embraced technocracy as order amid Dust Bowl chaos.
Grandfather's Move To Pretoria
- Haldeman left Canada after technocracy was suppressed and moved his family to apartheid South Africa.
- He embraced Pretoria as a model of order and hierarchy that matched his vision.
Control As A Leadership Creed
- Musk inherited a belief that technologists should lead and that the smartest person must decide.
- That mindset shaped his early Silicon Valley leadership style focused on control over collaboration.