Chuck Cook Podcast

Chuck Cook

Welcome to The Chuck Cook Podcast where aviation expertise intersects with autonomous technology and sustainable innovation. Hosted by Chuck Cook—a retired US Navy Commander, Airbus A321 Captain, and pioneering Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta tester—this podcast dives into the forefront of aviation, autonomy, and the technologies shaping our world. With over three decades of flying experience and a passion for pushing technological boundaries, Chuck shares unparalleled insights into the evolution of autonomous systems. From his extensive testing of Tesla’s FSD software to tackling real-world challenges like unprotected left turns, listeners gain a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is transforming mobility and safety. But this podcast is about more than just tech. Chuck delves into his diverse passions, including beekeeping, arboriculture, aquaponics, and keto coaching, offering practical tips and thought-provoking discussions on sustainable living and environmental stewardship. Whether it’s advice on maintaining healthy hives, exploring cutting-edge agriculture, or optimizing health through keto, Chuck provides a wealth of actionable knowledge. Each episode brings a unique blend of personal stories, expert insights, and thought-provoking commentary on the intersection of technology, aviation, and nature. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a tech aficionado, or someone passionate about sustainability, The Chuck Cook Podcast is your destination for inspiration, innovation, and exploration. Subscribe Today Embark on a journey through the skies, the autonomous frontier, and the natural world, all guided by Chuck’s expertise and passion for discovery. Follow Chuck Online • Follow Chuck on X: @Chazman • Tesla FSD Testing and Insights: YouTube: Chuck Cook • Beekeeping Adventures and Education: YouTube: Chuck’s Honeybees Join the conversation and stay connected as we explore the future of aviation, autonomy, and sustainable living.

  1. FSD v14.3.2 - First Impressions Dricve

    1D AGO

    FSD v14.3.2 - First Impressions Dricve

    🚗⚡ Buckle up for a raw, unfiltered ride as we put Tesla's FSD version 14.3.2 to the ultimate test! From frustrating UI updates to mind-blowing reaction times, this first impressions drive in the Model Y has a little bit of everything. 🤔 Does the new forced disengagement screen actually create a safety hazard for everyday drivers? Why is the occupancy network seemingly ignoring the front bumper camera during parking? And most importantly, can this new build finally pass the infamous "thin chain" test? 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Deep dive into the controversial new mandatory disengagement pop-up ✅ Real-world tests of FSD's ultra-fast (and sometimes jerky) reaction times ✅ Highway navigation and lane-change behavior in Mad Max mode ✅ The frustrating reality of forward parking without the bumper camera ✅ Watch the system surprisingly attempt to park in a handicapped spot ✅ The ultimate verdict on the notorious "thin chain" obstacle test 🎙️ What are your thoughts on the new forced feedback screen—is it a necessary data tool or a dangerous distraction? Sound off in the comments below, and don't forget to hit subscribe for more unfiltered autonomous driving tests! #TeslaFSD #AutonomousVehicles #TeslaModelY #SelfDrivingCars #TechReview #FSDBeta

    56 min

  2. 2D AGO

    FSD v14.3.2 - Smart Summon Testing with AJ

    🚗💨 Is Tesla's Smart Summon on the FSD 14.3 stack finally the game-changer we've been waiting for, or just a parking lot panic waiting to happen? Join Chuck and AJ from the back seat of a Model Y Juniper as they put this highly requested feature to the ultimate test! 🤔 How well does the new system handle unexpected pedestrians and tricky crosswalks? Can you trick the car into driving itself onto a high-speed public highway? And most importantly, what happens when "Smart" Summon suddenly drops its connection right in the middle of a busy traffic circle? 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Lightning-fast button response times that left us speechless ✅ Impressively smooth pedestrian interactions and stop-sign creeping ✅ Pushing the geofencing limits to see if the car will enter highway traffic ✅ Discovering the system's massive "Achilles heel" with cellular connectivity ✅ The awkward reality of causing a parking lot traffic jam during a system crash ✅ A genuinely scary glitch where the car kept rolling after the stop button was released ✅ Our final, honest verdict on whether this tech is actually ready to be trusted 🎙️ Jump into the passenger seat with us to hear the full breakdown of this wild ride! Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, and let us know in the comments: would you trust your car to drive to you completely unsupervised? 👇 #Tesla #SmartSummon #FSD14 #ModelY #AutonomousDriving #TeslaTesting #EVLife #FullSelfDriving

    21 min
  3. FSD v14.3.1 - Modey Y - First Impressions drive

    APR 15

    FSD v14.3.1 - Modey Y - First Impressions drive

    🚗⚡️ Buckle up for a deep dive into Tesla's latest release! FSD v14.3.1 is rolling out wide, and while the driving logic is feeling butter-smooth, the navigation stack is still proving to be the ultimate "Achilles heel." 🤔 Will Hardware 3 be left in the dust without a retrofit? Why is the car still struggling with "sloppy" parking jobs and ignoring thin chains? And what would happen if Tesla implemented multi-agent AI reasoning to finally fix those frustrating navigation blunders? 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Experience FSD 14.3.1's incredibly smooth reaction times (even dodging squirrels!) ✅ Explore the school zone mystery: why the car chose 30mph in a 15mph zone ✅ Experience real-world navigation snafus and a stressful "wrong lane" bridge reroute ✅ Hear a controversial take on the future of HW3 and true unsupervised driving on HW4 ✅ Watch the system navigate the "urinal protocol" while testing the auto-park stack ✅ Discover an interesting theory on why high gas prices aren't currently spiking EV demand 🎙️ What do you think about the future of Hardware 3 and the quest for true unsupervised FSD? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and don't forget to hit that subscribe button to ride along for all our future updates! #TeslaFSD #AutonomousDriving #EVNews #TeslaModelY #TechPodcast #SelfDrivingCars

    1h 2m
  4. Cybertruck FSD v14.3 - First Impressions Drive

    APR 12

    Cybertruck FSD v14.3 - First Impressions Drive

    🤖⚡️ Taking the Cybertruck out for a spin to test the highly anticipated FSD 14.3! It’s the major under-the-hood rewrite we’ve been waiting for, but is the real-world performance actually living up to the hype? 🤔 How does the Cybertruck handle the notorious "thin chain" parking test? What happens when the truck forces you into a locked "chill mode" with no override? And are we really getting closer to fully unsupervised driving, or are there still too many limitations? 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Testing the limits of Mad Max mode on the highway ✅ The controversial new hydroplaning detection that locks you in "sloth mode" ✅ Putting the auto-park stack to the ultimate "thin chain" test ✅ Unpacking the parking precision issues and questionable spot selections ✅ A perfect drawbridge encounter featuring an incredible hidden 3D voxel UI ✅ The real truth about unsupervised driving and Hardware 4 capabilities 🎙️ Hop in and ride along for the full breakdown! Let us know your thoughts on FSD 14.3 in the comments—are you impressed or underwhelmed by the update? Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss our next drive! #Cybertruck #TeslaFSD #AutonomousDriving #ElectricVehicles #FSD14 #TeslaUpdates #TechReview #Robotaxi

    1 hr
  5. FSD V14.3 - First Impressions Drive

    APR 8

    FSD V14.3 - First Impressions Drive

    🚗⚡️ We're back behind the wheel! After a four-month break, Chuck returns to put Tesla's highly anticipated FSD v14.3 to the ultimate real-world test. With a massive under-the-hood rewrite, is this the efficiency leap we've been waiting for? 🤔 Did the newly rebuilt AI compiler finally fix highway navigation and lane-change planning? Why did the heavily updated parking logic completely miss a "rockstar" parking spot? And what do these massive backend upgrades mean for the future of Hardware 3 and the Robotaxi fleet? 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Deep dive into FSD 14.3's massive AI compiler and vision encoder rewrites ✅ Highway navigation wins: How Mad Max mode is now planning exits 1.5 miles ahead ✅ Flawless U-turns and unprotected lefts in complex, heavy-traffic scenarios ✅ The frustrating "Five Points" parking fail and the dreaded chain test ✅ Smooth, human-like reactions to pedestrians, cyclists, and reversing trucks ✅ Why this efficiency-focused update brings major hope to HW3 owners ✅ A personal update from Chuck on his recent barn fire and beekeeping operations 🎙️ What are your thoughts on the new lane-change behavior in v14.3? Drop your observations in the comments below! Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a test drive of the latest Tesla software drops. #TeslaFSD #AutonomousDriving #TeslaModelY #FSD14 #EVNews #TechReview

    58 min
  6. Beekeeping with Chuck - Cell Builder, Virgin Bank, Swarm Traps and More

    MAR 19

    Beekeeping with Chuck - Cell Builder, Virgin Bank, Swarm Traps and More

    🐝 Welcome back to the apiary! Grab your veil and hive tool because today's episode is an action-packed masterclass in spring hive management. Chuck is taking us along for a busy day of chores, and we are diving deep into the fascinating world of queen rearing, drone maturity, and swarm catching! 🍯✨ 🤔 Ever wonder how to actually test a drone's maturity for instrumental insemination? Did you know that "bald brood" might actually be a fantastic sign that your bees are actively fighting off Varroa mites? Or how about the secret entrance-watching trick to know for sure if a wild swarm has permanently moved into your trap? 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Transform a double-screen board into the ultimate shaker box hack for cell builders ✅ Identify Varroa-fighting hygienic behavior by looking for uncapped "bald brood" ✅ Learn the hands-on squeeze technique to check drones for reproductive maturity ✅ Check in on banked virgin queens and discuss the realities of gravity cases ✅ Use the Demaree method to give your queen laying room and prevent swarming ✅ Discover the "pollen trick" to confirm a swarm has officially claimed your trap ✅ Walk through the process of hiving new swarms and custom-marking wild queens 🎙️ Drop a comment below and let us know which apiary hack blew your mind today! Have a different tried-and-true method for combining your hives? We want to hear it! Don't forget to hit that subscribe button to follow along with all our seasonal beekeeping adventures. 🎧🐝 #Beekeeping #ApiaryLife #QueenRearing #SwarmTrap #Beekeeper #HoneyBees #HiveManagement

    1h 9m
  7. Beekeeping with Chuck - A Hyperdrive of Apairy Updates and Queen Checks

    MAR 12

    Beekeeping with Chuck - A Hyperdrive of Apairy Updates and Queen Checks

    🐝🔬 Ready to take your apiary to the absolute next level? From brilliant DIY yard hacks to high-tech queen breeding, Chuck is taking us on a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the bee yard! Ever wondered if using UV-reflective paint on your mating nucs actually helps your bees navigate? Curious about how a simple kitchen silicone mat can completely revolutionize how you process slum gum? Or maybe you're just wondering exactly when you should actually start panicking about a queenless split? 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Build the ultimate DIY solar wax melter (and learn why your latitude matters!) ✅ Discover why wild swarms might actually be your best source for mite-resistant genetics ✅ Learn how to "listen" to your hive's roaring to decode hygienic behaviors ✅ Get an exclusive look at top-tier instrumental insemination equipment for queen breeding ✅ Steal Chuck’s genius silicone baking sheet hack for perfectly clean, non-stick wax processing ✅ Walk through a real-time hive inspection and learn the true timeline for mating virgin queens 🎙️ Whether you're a backyard hobbyist or an advanced queen breeder, there's a technique in this episode you'll want to try! Hit play to join the apiary tour, and let us know in the comments: what's your favorite DIY beekeeping hack? Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an update from the yard! #BeekeepingHacks #QueenRearing #ApiaryLife #BeeBreeding #HoneyBees #DIYBeekeeping #BeekeepersOfInstagram

    35 min
  8. Instrumental Insemination Training, Mini Mating Nuc Checks and Apiary Chat

    MAR 8

    Instrumental Insemination Training, Mini Mating Nuc Checks and Apiary Chat

    🐝🔬 Spring is heating up in Zone 9B, and we are back in the apiary with some seriously advanced beekeeping updates! Join Chuck as he returns from the University of Florida with official instrumental insemination training and dives into the fascinating (and sometimes tricky) world of early-season queen rearing. Are early-season cold snaps sabotaging your drone populations and ruining natural mating flights? Curious why your styrofoam mating nucs might be leaking bees—and how a little DIY ingenuity can fix it? And the ultimate question: did our Valentine's Day virgins actually make it back with fertilized eggs? 🤔 📍 Highlights in this episode: ✅ Get the scoop on advanced instrumental insemination training with UF and Apes Engineering ✅ Uncover the surprising truth about early spring drone sexual maturity and semen counts ✅ Learn why styrofoam mini mating nucs fail and how to upgrade to custom wooden setups ✅ Discover clever 3D-printed apiary hacks to prevent your bees from chewing through entrances ✅ Tag along for a live mini-nuc inspection to search for freshly laid eggs and returning queens ✅ Hear about Chuck's Master Beekeeper extension program and why your feedback is vital to the channel 🗣️ Drop a comment below and let us know what resonated with you or what you learned today—your feedback directly helps Chuck measure the impact of his Master Craftsman certification project! Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an apiary update. 🍯👇 #Beekeeping #QueenRearing #ApiaryLife #InstrumentalInsemination #FloridaBeekeepers #Zone9B #MasterBeekeeper #HiveManagement

    35 min
See All (79)

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Chuck Cook Podcast where aviation expertise intersects with autonomous technology and sustainable innovation. Hosted by Chuck Cook—a retired US Navy Commander, Airbus A321 Captain, and pioneering Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta tester—this podcast dives into the forefront of aviation, autonomy, and the technologies shaping our world. With over three decades of flying experience and a passion for pushing technological boundaries, Chuck shares unparalleled insights into the evolution of autonomous systems. From his extensive testing of Tesla’s FSD software to tackling real-world challenges like unprotected left turns, listeners gain a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is transforming mobility and safety. But this podcast is about more than just tech. Chuck delves into his diverse passions, including beekeeping, arboriculture, aquaponics, and keto coaching, offering practical tips and thought-provoking discussions on sustainable living and environmental stewardship. Whether it’s advice on maintaining healthy hives, exploring cutting-edge agriculture, or optimizing health through keto, Chuck provides a wealth of actionable knowledge. Each episode brings a unique blend of personal stories, expert insights, and thought-provoking commentary on the intersection of technology, aviation, and nature. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a tech aficionado, or someone passionate about sustainability, The Chuck Cook Podcast is your destination for inspiration, innovation, and exploration. Subscribe Today Embark on a journey through the skies, the autonomous frontier, and the natural world, all guided by Chuck’s expertise and passion for discovery. Follow Chuck Online • Follow Chuck on X: @Chazman • Tesla FSD Testing and Insights: YouTube: Chuck Cook • Beekeeping Adventures and Education: YouTube: Chuck’s Honeybees Join the conversation and stay connected as we explore the future of aviation, autonomy, and sustainable living.

Information

  • Creator
    Chuck Cook
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chuck Cook 2025
  • Show Website
    Chuck Cook Podcast

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