Kicker: Running in circles

NICK EICHER, HOST: You think it’s difficult getting to the airport on time? Unless your name is Mike Johns, I don’t even want to hear it.

JOHNS: JOHNS: OK, why is this happening to me on a Monday? I’m in a Waymo car.

WAYMO: Connected to rider support. This call may be recorded for quality assurance.

JOHNS: This car is just going in circles.

I’m so glad he recorded this.

Johns needed to get to Sky Harbor in Phoenix, and he expected Waymo to take him there.

And points for the calm demeanor. Finally, he got a human from Waymo support:

WAYMO: I’m really, really sorry, Mike….

JOHNS: It’s circling around a parking lot. I got my seatbelt on. I can’t get out the car. Has this been hacked? What’s going on? I feel like I’m in the movies.

WAYMO: I understand, Mike, and I’m really sorry for this. We’re working with this but by any chance do you have access to your Waymo app right now?

After fumbling around with the app for a minute, they were able to get the car under control.

All’s well that ends well, Johns still made his flight, because it was delayed, and the ride was free.

JOHNS: Oh, my goodness!

It’s The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.