SpaceX—PT1: “It’s About to Get Musky in Here”

Was I In A Cult?

PodcastOne

True Crime, Comedy, Talk Radio

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 September 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

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Summary

An ex–SpaceX engineer asks our favorite question: when does mission become mindset—and then eventually something more? Paige was convinced she was helping save humanity by working at SpaceX.

In Part 1, she traces the seduction: the purpose, the perks, the “Elon Algorithms” plastered on the wall, the complete devotion, the loss of individuality into one group identity, the isolation, the uncompensated labor, the belief that you are better than the rest… it all started to feel less like a workplace and more like… something else.

Today, we follow Paige’s journey into the belly of the rocket factory. And next week? The fallout. When speaking up against the culture didn’t just cost her a job… it made her a target.

———

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	The views, information, or opinions expressed by the guest appearing in this episode solely
0:04.4	belong to the guest and do not represent or reflect the views or positions of the hosts,
0:09.4	the show, podcast one, this network, or any of their respective affiliates.
0:16.0	My name is Paige. I'm a person who used to work at SpaceX. I'm an engineer, so I still work in the
0:25.0	space industry. I was unceremoniously, but somewhat publicly fired from SpaceX for speaking
0:33.2	out about workplace culture. And in the aftermath of all that, I just realized how much my life had been taken over by
0:41.1	this one job to the point where it was way more than just a job.
0:44.9	And so that's why I'm here.
1:01.0	Welcome back to our show. Was I in a cult? I'm Liz Ayakuzzi. And I'm Tyler Meesam. And today's episode, well, it started with an email we received and it read as follows.
1:09.0	I've been hesitant to send this message, but here goes.
1:14.1	I worked at SpaceX for four and a half years as an engineer convinced I was doing something
1:19.5	meaningful to save the world.
1:23.0	Seeing as how dangerous Musk has been in increasing amounts makes it feel like I should speak up at any
1:28.8	opportunity. My only power is my voice. I truly believe SpaceX is a cult. And while it technically
1:36.8	wasn't my choice to leave it, I'm grateful to be on the other side, three years later.
1:43.8	That email was sent to us by Paige Holland-Thieland.
1:46.6	And since most everyone listening to the show right now knows who Elon Musk is, except for maybe those who are actually in cults.
1:55.5	Or those currently mourning the fact that the rapture did not, in fact, happen.
2:01.3	Shocker, on September 23rd, 2025.
2:05.6	And now they're just, I don't know, where they are.
2:08.3	Just floating with no home, no job.
2:10.7	But neither of those groups probably listen to our show list.
	...

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