3 Podcasts to Keep You on the Bleeding Edge of the Clean Tech Revolution

It is difficult to overstate the scope of the clean tech revolution these days. If you are looking for it, you can see the signs of change everywhere: from the massive preorder list for Tesla’s fully electric Model 3 vehicle to the explosive growth of renewable chemicals in everyday household products. Even for those who are unaware, disinterested, or even outright hostile to the notion of climate change, it is hard to ignore the increasing number of neighbors with rooftop solar panels or the wind turbines dotting the mountaintops of Pennsylvania and the farms of Iowa. 

This is the thing: there are enough people who believe in the vast body of research supporting anthropomorphic climate change to have a direct effect on the economics of world markets. The Paris climate accord, signed by nearly 200 countries, proves the governments of the world are finally paying attention to the dramatic effects humans are having on the atmosphere and the biome we inhabit. Yet it is the consumers who are demanding change with their wallets and the companies, both large and small, responding to these market signals that are leading the clean tech revolution. The trend toward clean tech has become so pervasive that even the notoriously risk-averse investment sector is starting to take notice of this wealth building opportunity.

In truth, these rapid developments can be a bit overwhelming at the best of times. There is a seemingly endless supply of information available to us from hundreds of television channels to social media to books/magazines/newspapers. Personally, two kids and a job are more than enough to keep up with already. Yet it is crucial for those working in clean tech and sustainability to keep up with anything and everything we can get our hands on. This is when I like to rely on the experts to parse this sweeping tide of data into information I can use. And podcasts are one of the easiest ways to accomplish this in a limited amount of time. I can listen to a new episode while in my car, riding the train to work, or kicking out emails at my desk. What follows are three of my favorite podcasts for keeping up with all of the latest happenings in the green economy:

The Energy Gang

For a highly focused discussion on all things energy, The Energy Gang is my go to. A weekly roundtable of three focused on the latest issues affecting clean tech areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, grid modernization, and electric vehicles, this is the podcast to make you sound smarter than you already are in meetings. Topics are introduced by venerable host Stephen Lacey, editor-in-chief of Greentech Media, who has over 14 years’ experience covering energy and environmental stories. Joining Stephen is Katherine Hamilton, principal at 38 North Solutions, who brings a wealth of public policy experience to the discussion. Katherine helps the forum decode how state, federal, and international governments are or should be addressing an issue. The third member of The Energy Gang is Jigar Shah, co-founder and president of Generate Capital. Jigar is an entrepreneur with a focus on creating market-based solutions to address climate change. He is the author of Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy in which he explains why climate change is the greatest wealth creation opportunity of our time. The contributors play well off of each other and while their thoughts on a topic may not always be popular opinion, they are always insightful and keep you thinking.

Climate One

For a deep dive with those who spark the discussions to begin with, Climate One at The Commonwealth Club is a weekly podcast that brings together top intellectuals and risk takers from business, government, academia, and advocacy groups to advance the conversation around a clean tech future. The host of Climate One is Greg Dalton, who founded the series back in 2007 after traveling to the Russian Arctic on a climate change expedition with scientists and journalists. Some of the shows previous guests include US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly, Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers, and Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune to name just a few. Shows take place in front of a live audience and begin with an open exchange between the host and the guest(s). This is followed by the Lightning Round where Greg asks provocative yes/no questions specific to their area of expertise. The third segment allows members of the audience to ask questions of the featured guest(s). If you want to know the thought processes from those who shape our world, this podcast is worth your time. 

Living on Earth

For those more interested in an ecological perspective on climate change and related matters, Living on Earth is the weekly environmental news and information program of Public Radio International. Hosted by PRI’s Steve Curwood, this podcast focuses more on the effects, whether unintended or not, our modern society has on the natural world. Segments within the hour program include detailed reports on particular topics, little covered stories courtesy of Environmental Health News, and interviews with select guests. Recent episodes include segments on fish farms in China, the Dakota Access pipeline, UN climate negotiations in Marrakech, the creation of the world’s biggest marine reserve, and an excellent two-part interview with journalist/author Tom Friedman on the age of acceleration.

If you are like me and want to keep up with our rapidly changing world, you cannot go wrong with these selections for the green economy revolution. If you have any podcasts that you find particularly insightful, I would love to hear about them. In the words of the great Benjamin Franklin, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”