Podcast Summary: Bubba On the Lake #49 – "Tesla Cybertruck Field Trip with Stuart Brockwell"
Host: Bill “Bubba” Bussey
Guests: Stuart Brockwell (Surge Technologies), Betty Lou Bussey, Hunter Bussey
Date: March 11, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Bubba and his crew take listeners on a high-energy, in-depth journey through the process of acquiring and experiencing the Tesla Cybertruck. Technology consultant Stuart Brockwell, now a Cybertruck owner, is the featured guest. Discussion focuses on living with the truck, first impressions, futuristic technology like self-driving, and what sets Tesla apart from the competition. The episode includes real-time reactions recorded by Bubba’s son, Hunter, during the pickup and first drive home from Kennesaw, GA.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Introduction and Episode Setup

(01:12 – 05:25)

• Bubba sets the stage, explaining how this episode was pieced together due to his laryngitis at the time of the field trip.
• The format combines post-trip reflections (in studio) with live reactions (Hunter riding with Stuart on the first drive home).
• Bubba praises Stuart as a "titan of tech" and outlines plans to focus on the Cybertruck field trip.

2. Living With the Cybertruck: First-Hand Impressions

(05:25 – 17:14)

Stuart’s Experience After a Week

• Sleek, Futuristic Feel:
  “It feels like you’re stepping into, you know, a hundred years from now when you get in the vehicle.” (Stuart, 05:51)
• Drivability:
  Smooth ride, sporty handling; even with self-drive available, Stuart enjoys driving it manually due to responsiveness.
• Cost Analysis:
  The expense is high but competitive with other trucks, especially duallys:
  “We don’t live in the world anymore where you can go out and get a, you know, a decent pickup truck for 39,000. It doesn’t exist.” (Stuart, 06:51)

Family and Guest Reactions

• Betty Lou’s Take:
  Sees the truck as "futuristic" and “wild,” reminiscent of Batman movies.
• Self-Driving on a Steep Driveway:
  Betty was impressed: “...even up our steep driveway was really cool. You know, it stayed right in the middle where it should.” (Betty, 07:02)
• Vehicle Versatility:
  Discussion of how Teslas can fit various lifestyles (family, hauling, commuting).

Technical Details

• Motors and 4WD:
  Cybertruck has a dual-motor setup (one front, one rear, 600 hp total), providing all-wheel drive.
• Traction and Performance:
  Industry-leading traction control; dual motor offers best balance of range, fun, and practicality.

On Self-Driving’s Potential

• A Game-Changer for the Elderly and Disabled:
  Bubba: “You can see how this will just open somebody’s life up. It’s like they have their own dedicated driver all the time.” (09:48)

  • Stuart recounts Tesla’s video of a 95-year-old woman using Cybertruck’s self-driving feature.
  • Potential for transforming driver’s licenses, creating “automated” or “supervised” licenses.

• Handling Medical Episodes:
  If the driver is incapacitated, “it will find a way to get off to the side of the road and pull over and stop.” (Stuart, 11:22)

• Beyond the Individual:
  Bubba imagines a future with self-driving ambulances and broader use cases: “We haven’t even really thought about what all we can do with this stuff.” (11:58)

Tesla’s Industry Lead

• Tesla’s decade of data collection and refinement is key; other brands like Rivian are years behind in software and self-driving advances.

The "Cybertruck Look" Debate

• Betty: “It’s boxy... I can see how guys like it. It’s more y’alls cup of tea.” (15:20)
• Both are impressed with storage features and practicality.

Financing

• Tesla’s 0.99% rate: “Even Dave Ramsey would admit that's free money.” (Bubba, 16:46)

Lighter Moments:

• Stuart reveals he failed his driving test nine times due to nerves and various errors: “That would be nine.” (18:33)
• Bubba teases about self-parking Teslas making driver’s tests obsolete.

3. The Field Trip: Hunter and Stuart’s Real-Time Cybertruck Pickup

(22:27 – 39:48)

Pickup Experience

• Hunter takes over hosting as Bubba is out with laryngitis.
• Immediate Reactions:
  “I am elated right now, Hunter... We just picked up my new 2026 Tesla Cybertruck.” (Stuart, 22:47)
• Interior & Design:
  Hunter: “Reminds me of a game I used to play when I was younger. And the interior honestly is very, very spacious. It is very minimal as you can imagine with Teslas.” (22:58)
• Delivery Process:
  Efficient—“…like 10 minutes max, maybe, to get it…think of an Apple store, but with a car or two in there." (27:16)

First Drive (Kennesaw, GA to Birmingham)

• Self-Drive Mode:
  The truck handles most of the drive, including heavy rain and complex traffic.

• Operating System:
  “It is a geek’s paradise... the operating system in the car is very smooth. I’m very impressed.” (Hunter, 23:56)

• Software Superiority:
  Stuart compares Tesla to Apple’s influence on Android: “...when you're basically driving what is a computer on wheels, that software is what matters. And I think Tesla currently has the lead.” (24:31)

• Polarizing Looks:
  “The bizarre looks is exactly the kind of thing I'm into. I drive an orange Jeep. Come on now.” (Stuart, 26:02)

Driving Performance and Efficiency

• Charging and Range:
  Real-time updates on charge and range; the truck arrived with 100% battery, used about 50% for the 150-mile journey, managing rain, hills, and obstacles with "buttery smooth" lane changes and rerouting.

• “Bottom line is if you don’t drive more than 300 miles in a day, you got nothing to worry about.” (Stuart, 33:24)

• Reactive Driving:
  “It monitors activity on the roads very, very well even before we even notice anything.” (Hunter, 31:26)

  • Truck handled merging lanes, weather, debris, and school buses with ease.

• Enthusiastic Endorsements:
  Hunter: “...the word I keep using is impressed.”
  Stuart encourages test drives to dispel skepticism, sharing how seniors in his family became interested after trying a Tesla.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Cybertruck’s Drive:
  “It feels like you’re stepping into, you know, a hundred years from now when you get in the vehicle.” (Stuart, 05:51)

• On Self-Driving Potential:
  “You can see how this will just open somebody’s life up. It’s like they have their own dedicated driver all the time.” (Bubba, 09:48)

• On Tesla’s Industry Lead:
  “That software is what matters. And I think Tesla currently has the lead.” (Stuart, 24:31)

• On Tech Change & Test Drives:
  "Just get your butt in the seat and see if you like it... you won’t know unless you try." (Stuart, 38:21)

• On the Self-Driving Experience:
  "It is exactly... Butter smooth. This is really cool. Like, I, I can't get over, like, I'm kind of geeking out over here..." (Hunter, 32:14)

• On Failing the Driving Test:
  “That would be nine.” (Stuart, 18:33)
  “…I don’t have to worry about it. My truck just drives me.” (Stuart, 19:49)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Introduction and Setup: 01:12 – 05:25
• Cybertruck Ownership Impressions (Studio): 05:25 – 17:14
• Driving Test Humor & Reflections: 17:14 – 20:19
• Hunter and Stuart Pickup/First Drive – Initial Reactions: 22:27 – 27:50
• Driving Performance & Efficiency Discussion: 30:09 – 39:48
• Studio Close-out and Reflections: 42:07 – End

Conclusion

This episode serves as both a firsthand testimony and an enthusiastic exploration into the future of automotive technology. Stuart’s week-long experience, combined with Hunter’s excitement and Bubba’s seasoned curiosity, illustrates the real-life impact—and wonder—of Tesla's Cybertruck and its self-driving capabilities. The episode is filled with humor, deep dives into tech, and plenty of memorable moments. It’s a spirited and engaging listen for tech fans, EV skeptics, or anyone curious about what the future of driving feels like.