In his business meetings, she stands by him on X, and travels to deliver speeches about how she raised him, the world’s wealthiest individual – but who exactly is the mother of Elon Musk? In today’s episode, we explore the life of Maye Musk, the model, influencer, and author, while examining her recent trips to China and her potential impact on international relations.
You can connect with Michael Calore on Bluesky at @snackfight, Lauren Goode on Bluesky at @laurengoode, and Zoë Schiffer on Bluesky at @zoeschiffer. Reach out to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com.
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Transcript
Note: This is an automated transcript, which may contain inaccuracies.
Michael Calore: Hey, Zoë, what does your mom call you?
Zoë Schiffer: I feel like revealing that would damage my credibility, so I’ll just say many people call me Zoe for short.
Michael Calore: Understood.
Zoë Schiffer: Which is how my name appears.
Michael Calore: Without the umlaut over the E, it simply looks like Zoe?
Zoë Schiffer: Yes, because it lacks the Y, which causes confusion. I’m like, “Oh, no, my parents call me Zoe. It’s all good.”
Lauren Goode: Oh, right, right. Like Zooey Deschanel, she has the Y, correct? Right, okay.
Michael Calore: But isn’t she Zooey?
Lauren Goode: I never considered that before.
Michael Calore: Isn’t she? She’s Zooey, right?
Lauren Goode: No, it’s Zooey.
Zoë Schiffer: Like Franny and Zooey, it’s styled as Zooey but pronounced Zooey, like Franny and Zooey. Anyway, Mike, what did your parents call you when you were young?
Lauren Goode: She’s dodging it pretty hard. She doesn’t want to share her actual nickname.
Zoë Schiffer: I can’t. I already struggle with enough imposter syndrome as it is.
Michael Calore: For a long time, my mother called me by my full name, Michael, and so did my father.
Lauren Goode: What’s your middle name?
Michael Calore: Seth.
Lauren Goode: Did they ever call you Michael Seth?
Michael Calore: Very rarely, yes.
Zoë Schiffer: Seth could almost be your first name as well. It feels like it fits you.
Lauren Goode: Oh, totally. You have a Seth vibe.
Michael Calore: Do I come across as a Seth?
Zoë Schiffer: A bit, yes. Seth rising, if you know what I mean.
Michael Calore: Got it.
