Flipping the Bird: Elon vs. Twitter

Wondery
  • 3.6 (454)
  • BUSINESS
  • WEEKLY SERIES
Flipping the Bird: Elon vs. Twitter

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When Elon Musk posted a video of himself arriving at Twitter HQ carrying a white sink along with the message “let that sink in!” it marked the end of a dramatic takeover. Musk had gone from Twitter critic to “Chief Twit” in the space of just a few months but his arrival didn’t put an end to questions about his motives. Musk had earned a reputation as a business maverick. From PayPal to Tesla to SpaceX, his name was synonymous with big, earth-shattering ideas. So, what did he want with a social media platform? And was this all really in the name of free speech...or was this all in the name of Elon Musk? From Wondery, the makers of WeCrashed and In God We Lust, comes the wild story of how the richest man alive took charge of the world’s “digital public square.” Binge all episodes of Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/flipping-the-bird-elon-vs-twitter/ now.

Episodes

  1. EPISODE 1

    Maximum Amazing

    Twitter is at a crossroads. Its founder, Jack Dorsey, has stepped down from his role as CEO. The social media heavyweight is also under fire for alleged bias, censorship, and the roving army of bot accounts wreaking havoc on the site. In this moment of crisis, the only would-be savior to step up is also one of Twitter’s harshest critics: Elon Musk. Please support us by supporting our sponsors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    29 min

  2. EPISODE 2 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    I Am Supposed to Believe This Man Is a Genius?

    Elon Musk makes the Twitter board an offer they can’t refuse — a $44 billion offer, to be exact. But this won’t be an easy marriage. No sooner does Twitter accept than Elon starts raising doubts. Publicly, Elon can’t help taking shots at Twitter and its leaders, sending their stock into a spiral. And it’s the everyday employees of Twitter who are stuck in the blast radius. Please support us by supporting our sponsors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    33 min

  3. EPISODE 3 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    Chief Twit

    Elon Musk seals his purchase of Twitter with a tweet: "The bird is freed." But everyone inside of Twitter soon starts to worry, will the bird soon be dead? Please support us by supporting our sponsors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    35 min

  4. EPISODE 4 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    Extremely Hardcore

    After Elon decimates the workforce in one fell swoop, chaos reigns supreme. Will Elon's dreams for a free and open Twitter turn into everyone's worst nightmare? Please support us by supporting our sponsors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    34 min

  5. EPISODE 5 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    Assassination Coordinates

    Elon goes on a banning spree. And even his most ardent supporters find themselves asking, is the battle over Twitter worth it? Please support us by supporting our sponsors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    38 min

  6. EPISODE 6 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    Tweets Aren’t Loading Right Now

    Elon changes Twitter's algorithm to make himself king of the hill, but can he protect himself from public opinion? Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    29 min

  7. EPISODE 7 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    #RIPTwitter

    Can Twitter survive? In this special episode, Business Wars host David Brown speaks to Rolling Stone culture writer Miles Klee about what makes Elon Musk tick, his views on free speech, and what’s next for Twitter.  Plus, Abbott Elementary showrunner and creator of the Sh*t My Dad Says Twitter account, Justin Halpern, looks back on how tweeting changed his life and what he misses about Twitter 1.0. Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    29 min

  8. 04/24/2023

    Introducing: Flipping the Bird: Elon vs. Twitter

    When Elon Musk posted a video of himself arriving at Twitter HQ carrying a white sink along with the message “let that sink in!” it marked the end of a dramatic takeover. Musk had gone from Twitter critic to “Chief Twit” in the space of just a few months but his arrival didn’t put an end to questions about his motives. Musk had earned a reputation as a business maverick. From PayPal to Tesla to SpaceX, his name was synonymous with big, earth-shattering ideas. So, what did he want with a social media platform? And was this all really in the name of free speech...or was this all in the name of Elon Musk? From Wondery, the makers of WeCrashed and In God We Lust, comes the wild story of how the richest man alive took charge of the world’s “digital public square.” You can binge all episodes of Flipping the Bird: Elon vs. Twitter exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    4 min

  9. OCT 28

    Listen Now: Criminal Lives

    What drives a regular person to risk it all in the criminal underworld? On Wondery's Criminal Lives, host Danny Gold takes you inside the minds of some of America’s most successful black market entrepreneurs. From a larger-than-life steroids kingpin to the self described "Original Gay Gangster" who had a gift for numbers and an addiction to luxury, each reveals the rules of the game, the adrenaline-fueled highs, and the missteps that brought it all crashing down. Forget what you've seen in the movies. Criminal Lives brings you the unvarnished truth of what it really means to choose a life of crime. Binge all episodes of Criminal Lives exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and get access to this and more Exhibit C true crime shows early and ad free right now. Start Your free trial by visiting www.wondery.com/links/criminal-lives See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    5 min

  10. NOV 12

    Listen Now - REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana

    Behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. Each week, Luke Lamana, a Marine Corp Reconnaissance Veteran, pulls back the curtain on what once was classified information exposing the secrets and lies behind the world’s most powerful institutions. From the hitmakers at Wondery and Ballen Studios, we bring you REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana. The stories are real, and the secrets are shocking. Listen Now: http://wondery.fm/REDACTED See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    7 min

  11. 06/06/2023 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    What to Listen to Next - Business Wars: Tesla vs. Detroit

    The corporate world is full of jaw-dropping tales of cutthroat rivalries. But few are as contentious as the battle waged between Tesla and the big three American automakers in Detroit. At first, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle startup garnered nothing more than eye rolls from the industry. But as its promise to revolutionize electric transportation blossomed, Detroit began to sweat.  Despite a federal investigation into its autopilot and Musk’s controversial takeover of Twitter, Tesla continues to disrupt the industry. But in the battle to dominate the EV market, Detroit won’t roll over that easy. Never count out a city renowned for its scrappiness – with everything on the line.

    7 min

  12. BONUS

    Where to find Episodes 2-7 of Flipping the Bird

    In the first episode of Flipping the Bird, you heard about how Twitter found itself at a crossroads. The once beloved social media site saw its popularity plummet after coming under fire for bias, censorship, and failing to control a plague of bot profiles. But little did anyone expect, the only person who could save the platform from the brink of destruction, was its harshest, most controversial critic, Elon Musk. If you want to hear the rest of Flipping the Bird, you can listen to all 7 episodes exclusively on Wondery Plus. On Wondery Plus, you can listen to all your favorite podcasts early and ad-free. With a library featuring over 50 #1 Apple Podcast hits and 45,000 binge worthy episodes, there’s something for everyone. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or an Apple Podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1 min

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3.6
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About

When Elon Musk posted a video of himself arriving at Twitter HQ carrying a white sink along with the message “let that sink in!” it marked the end of a dramatic takeover. Musk had gone from Twitter critic to “Chief Twit” in the space of just a few months but his arrival didn’t put an end to questions about his motives. Musk had earned a reputation as a business maverick. From PayPal to Tesla to SpaceX, his name was synonymous with big, earth-shattering ideas. So, what did he want with a social media platform? And was this all really in the name of free speech...or was this all in the name of Elon Musk? From Wondery, the makers of WeCrashed and In God We Lust, comes the wild story of how the richest man alive took charge of the world’s “digital public square.” Binge all episodes of Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/flipping-the-bird-elon-vs-twitter/ now.

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