The Making of Musk: Understood
CBC
Understood takes you deep inside the seismic shifts reshaping our world right now. From online porn and crypto chaos to the rise of tech oligarchs, deepfake AI, and the broken promises of the internet — we explore the stories that define our digital age with hosts and characters embedded in the heart of the action.We value your input! Fill out our listener survey here.Season 1 - The Naked Emperor: the rise and fall of bitcoin king Sam Bankman-Fried.Season 2 - The Pornhub Empire: the story of how a Montreal-founded company came to dominate the adult industry.Season 3 - Modi’s India: how one man rose from poverty to the peak of political power.Season 4 - Céline: the surprising cultural, political and business alchemy that created a superstar.Season 5 - Who Broke the Internet? The internet sucks now, and it happened on purpose.
Episodes
Mentioned books
12 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 48min
E2: Technocracy, Inc.
Geoff Leo, a senior investigative journalist for CBC, delves into the intriguing life of Joshua Haldeman, Elon Musk’s grandfather, who made waves in the 1930s Technocracy movement. They discuss how Haldeman's controlling personality and technocratic ideals might have influenced Musk’s own worldview. From the historical context of the Great Depression to the complexities of Musk's early career and his ties to the 'PayPal Mafia', the conversation explores the delicate line between techno-optimism and authoritarianism, raising questions about the legacy of the past in today's tech landscape.
Oct 7, 2025 • 39min
E1: Escape from Pretoria
Rudolph Pienaar, childhood friend of Elon Musk and biomedical researcher, shares unique insights into Musk's early life in apartheid South Africa. He discusses Musk’s privileged upbringing and participation in fantasy role-playing games that shaped his identity. The conversation touches on the complexities of apartheid's impact, the cultural dynamics of Pretoria's elite, and the motives behind Musk's emigration. Was it a moral stance against conscription or a calculated leap toward opportunity? These questions add depth to Musk's formative years.
Sep 26, 2025 • 3min
Introducing Understood: The Making of Elon Musk
What explains Elon Musk? Could his most outlandish ambitions and most toxic qualities trace back to his youth in Apartheid South Africa? Understood: The Making of Musk explores his seemingly insatiable drive for dominance, which connects everything from his birthrate obsession (and fourteen children) to his fixation with colonizing Mars. This four-part series, hosted by Jacob Silverman, reveals a little known side of the polarizing billionaire. Silverman tells the vital beginnings of this story — because the Elon era is far from over.New episodes drop weekly, starting October 7, wherever you get your podcasts.
40 snips
Jul 15, 2025 • 23min
Introducing: Click Here | Citizen Lab is still chasing shadows
Ron Deibert, the founder of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, dives into the complex relationship between technology and privacy. He reflects on the early optimism of the internet and the stranger turns it has taken towards surveillance. Deibert shares harrowing stories of digital investigative journalism, showcasing the risks his team faced while revealing cyber espionage. The discussion also highlights the alarming threats posed by spyware like Pegasus, underscoring Citizen Lab's vital mission to protect citizens in a digital age of shadows.
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26 snips
May 26, 2025 • 41min
Who Broke the Internet? | E4: Kick 'Em in the Dongle
In this engaging discussion, Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa and authority on digital policy, dives into the troubling rise of techno-feudalism and its implications. He warns against stringent digital lock laws while unpacking the challenges posed by Canadian legislation like Bill C-11 and Bill C-18. The conversation explores how these laws impact user rights, especially during crises, and advocates for an internet that prioritizes community-driven solutions and innovation over profit-driven motives.
48 snips
May 19, 2025 • 37min
Who Broke the Internet? | E3: In God We Antitrust
Lina Khan, Chair of the FTC and a leading voice in antitrust law, takes center stage discussing the historic influence of Robert Bork on competition policy. She reveals how his ideas granted tech giants like Amazon unchecked power for decades. Khan dives into the struggles of small business owners facing Amazon's ruthless tactics and the pressing need for renewed regulation. The conversation sheds light on the ethical dilemmas of e-commerce and the fight to restore agency to consumers in a monopolized market.
61 snips
May 12, 2025 • 29min
Who Broke the Internet? | E2: Ctrl, Ctrl, Ctrl
In the vibrant DEF CON hacker conference atmosphere, diverse minds unite to share innovative ideas. A programmer reveals a vulnerability allowing the conversion of restricted eBooks, challenging Adobe's dominance. The arrest of Dmitry Sklyarov highlights the DMCA's chilling effect on internet freedom. Discussions reveal the struggle against corporate control over digital content and the importance of reverse engineering. Teenagers' attempts to reclaim the original Instagram experience underscore the ongoing battle between innovation and the overreach of tech giants.
20 snips
May 5, 2025 • 37min
Who Broke the Internet? | E1: Don't Be Evil
The podcast dives into Google's transformation from an innovative search engine to a revenue-driven giant. It explores the ethical dilemmas faced by the company in prioritizing ads over user experience. The conversation touches on the origins of Google's motto 'Don't be evil' and how it contrasts with current practices. Listeners are taken through the challenges of navigating a cluttered online landscape filled with SEO-driven content, highlighting the frustrations of finding reliable information amidst the decay of quality.
12 snips
Apr 28, 2025 • 4min
Introducing Understood: Who Broke the Internet?
Cory Doctorow dives into the decline of the internet, revealing how commercialization turned a promising platform into a playground of ads and algorithms. He introduces the concept of 'inshittification,' highlighting the deliberate choices of powerful figures that led to today's chaos. The discussion raises critical questions about the accountability of online spaces and presents a roadmap for how we can reclaim the internet. Prepare for an eye-opening journey through the tangled web we've created!
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Nov 5, 2024 • 33min
Céline Episode 4: The Céline-aissance
In the aftermath of René Angélil’s death, a Céline-aissance. But then, illness strikes. In the final episode of Céline: Understood, a look at her recent years, and why her fame endures.
