Best Asian Development Bank Podcasts (2025)

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E293: Mining, Mobility & Megawatts: SANY Group's Bold Energy Play 42:47

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4d ago42:47

42:47

Description: In this episode, our guest is Stanley Choi, a dynamic leader at SANY Group Australia, a global OEM driving electrification in heavy industry and infrastructure. Stanley shares insights into how SANY is delivering complete energy and transport solutions—from electric mining trucks to autonomous factories producing EVs in under 10 minute…

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E292: Coal to Control: Australia's People-Led Energy Transition 50:58

8d ago50:58

50:58

In this episode, our guest is Stephanie Bashir, Founder and CEO of Nexa Advisory. With over two decades of experience in Australia's energy sector, Stephanie shares a compelling vision for a consumer-driven clean energy future. From rooftop solar and home batteries to commercial-scale renewables and regulatory reform, she unpacks the big shifts res…

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E291: Future of Free Electricity, Rooftop Solar and Batteries 58:20

15d ago58:20

58:20

In this episode, our returning guest is Tim Buckley, Director of Climate Energy Finance, and a leading voice in Australia's clean energy transition. Tim shares a passionate and data-driven overview of how rooftop solar, home batteries, and EVs are transforming Australia's energy landscape. He discusses record-breaking renewable penetration, the gam…

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E290: Power, People, and Partnership: Responsible Development 51:26

16d ago51:26

51:26

In this episode, our guest is Curtis S. Chin, former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank and current Asia Fellow at the Milken Institute. With deep experience spanning diplomacy, finance, and sustainable development, Curtis shares insights on Asia's energy future, the balance of access and innovation, and why responsible development must …

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E289: From Cheap Solar to Green Molecule 45:37

19d ago45:37

45:37

In this episode, our guest is Massimiliano Cervo, who shares clear and practical insights on how the Middle East is approaching the energy transition. He discusses the growing role of renewables, the importance of balancing the energy trilemma, and why diversification—not a single technology—is key. Massimiliano also breaks down where hydrogen trul…

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E288: Clean Shipping with Solar & Biofuels 44:17

23d ago44:17

44:17

In this episode, our guest is Hans-Henning Judek, a German-born, Japan-based lawyer, economist, and energy innovator who has spent over two decades pioneering renewable energy solutions. From early work in maritime wind propulsion and biofuels to his recent ventures in microwave-assisted biofuel production and floating solar technology, Hans-Hennin…

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E287: The Hydrogen Illusion: Real Costs, Real Consequences 51:29

29d ago51:29

51:29

In this episode, our guest is Michael Sura, a passionate engineer and energy expert with decades of experience in gas transit and hydrogen research. Drawing from his time managing large-scale natural gas operations and early hydrogen experiments, Michael offers an honest, technically grounded reality check on the hydrogen hype dominating today's en…

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E286: Driving E-Mobility in the Philippines 1:04:47

1M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Jose Bienvenido Manuel M. Biona, Executive Director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) and the Enrique Razon Logistics Institute at De La Salle University. Dr. Biona dives deep into the current state and future of electric mobility in the Philippines—from key policy breakthroughs like the…

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E285: Smart EV Policies: What's Working and Why 48:29

1M ago48:29

48:29

In this episode, our guest is Jaap Burger, a leading voice on EV smart charging and consumer energy flexibility. Based in Brussels and focused on EU policy on EVs, Jaap unpacks how electric vehicles, bi-directional charging, and automation are transforming consumers from passive users into active participants in the energy transition. We discussed:…

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E284: Diesel to Electric: EV Retrofit Option 48:53

1M ago48:53

48:53

In this episode, our guest is Daisy Vardy, co-founder of ForeseEnergy, a 100% minority women-owned cleantech EPC company based in British Columbia. Daisy shares her company's inspiring journey and mission to decarbonize transportation by retrofitting diesel fleets—from mining trucks and postal vans to tugboats and cranes—with state-of-the-art elect…

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E283: Farming the Future: Climate Tech, Youth & Agripreneurs 1:00:05

1M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, a veteran climate change expert and agripreneurship advocate. With decades of international experience in climate policy, precision agriculture, and energy access, Ancha dives deep into how democratizing clean energy technologies can revolutionize farming—especially for smallholders. He reflects o…

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E282: US Energy Transition: Barriers & Breakthroughs 59:02

2M ago59:02

59:02

In this episode, our guest is Candace Miller, a seasoned global development and public health expert who has spent decades leading impactful programs across Africa, with organizations like the Millennium Challenge Corporation and USAID's Power Africa. Candace shares how her hands-on experience in energy access—particularly through solar mini-grids …

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E281: Sailing Without Diesel: The Battery Boat Revolution 47:15

2M ago47:15

47:15

In this episode, our guest is Angus McDonald, Co-founder and Chair of the Maritime Emission Reduction Coalition (MERC). Angus shares how battery-powered boats are reshaping marine transport, from electric ferries to outboard conversions for island fishermen. He explores the economic, safety, and regulatory challenges of maritime electrification—and…

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E280: ADB, Development Finance and the Big Bets 1:11:25

2M ago1:11:25

1:11:25

In this episode, our guest is Robert Schoellhammer, recently retired from a 25-year career at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Robert shares reflections from his time working across Asia and Europe, highlighting how MDBs can and should lead with bold, transformative investments. From climate finance and energy access in Mongolia to electric vehicl…

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E279: Norway's EV Revolution and Grid Integration 50:41

2M ago50:41

50:41

In this episode, our guest is Jan Tore Gjøby, a seasoned electrical engineer and independent consultant from Norway. Jan takes us through his inspiring journey from setting up one of Norway's first DC fast chargers to shaping national EV and charging strategies with the Norwegian Automobile Federation. He shares insider insights into how Norway rap…

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E278: Reimagining Energy for Rural Australia 59:09

2M ago59:09

59:09

In this episode, our guest is Tim Ryan, a seasoned voice in Australia's energy and digital technology landscape. Tim unpacks the evolving dynamics of energy supply in rural Australia — from community perspectives on wind farms to the transformative potential of batteries, EVs, and smart grids. He explores curbside charging, Distribution Network Ser…

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E277: Solving Water Pollution with Solar-Powered Boats 38:03

2M ago38:03

38:03

In this episode, our guest is Samy Sriram, Head of Marketing and Operations at Clearbot, a pioneering startup building electric, solar-powered boats designed to clean polluted waterways. Samy shares the inspiring journey of scaling Clearbot from a humble prototype into a fleet of smart, autonomous vessels now operating across five countries. She br…

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E276: How Smart Electric Boats Are Cleaning Our Waters 41:29

2M ago41:29

41:29

In this episode, our guest is Sidhant Gupta, the co-founder of Clearbot—a startup transforming how we clean polluted waterways. From a student project sparked by a trip to Bali, Sidhant and his team have built a fleet of unmanned, solar-powered electric boats that remove waste from water bodies in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. C…

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E275: From Diesel Dependence to Solar Resilience: A Journey of Innovation 58:09

2M ago58:09

58:09

In this episode, our guest is Vladimir Abdelnour, an electrical engineer and founder who transformed crisis into opportunity. He shares how Lebanon's chronic electricity shortages led to a surge in rooftop solar adoption and his creation of a smart microgrid startup that integrated diesel, solar, and grid energy. Vladimir also discusses his transit…

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E274: Powering Mongolia with the Sun: From Vision to Reality 41:27

2M ago41:27

41:27

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Enebish Namjil, a veteran solar energy expert and pioneer of Mongolia's renewable energy transition. Dr. Namjil shares his journey from launching early solar research in the 1970s to developing large-scale PV systems, solar thermal heating, and even implementing innovative heat battery technologies in his own home.…

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E273: Batteries on Wheels: The Future of Distributed Energy 46:22

3M ago46:22

46:22

In this episode, our guest is Steven Letendre, an economist and regulatory strategist specializing in distributed energy and vehicle-grid integration. Steven shares his deep insights into the emerging world of bidirectional EV charging, or V2G, a concept he has helped shape for over two decades. From the regulatory frameworks needed to support inno…

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E272: Top 10 Things V2G Can Do for Us 32:30

3M ago32:30

32:30

In this episode, our guest is Sohail Hasnie, host of Energypreneurs, who shares his personal reflections on the game-changing potential of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. Driving through Metro Manila, Sohail explores the "10 things V2G can do for us"—a practical and visionary list that shows how electric vehicles can go far beyond transportation …

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E271: Designing for Circularity: Rethinking Solar and Batteries 53:08

3M ago53:08

53:08

In this episode, our guest is Laura Jones, an electrical engineer, social scientist, and co-founder of the Circular PV Alliance. Laura walks us through the pioneering work behind Australia's first certification scheme for circular solar farms, CPVA Certified. From integrating circular economy principles into planning and operation, to practical reu…

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E270: Why the Future is Distributed, Decentralized, and Solar 55:05

3M ago55:05

55:05

In this episode, our guest is Danny Kennedy, a serial energy entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for distributed renewables. Danny shares his bold vision for a world powered entirely by solar energy and battery storage — a transformation he calls "Solar for Universal Need." Drawing on his experience leading startups and initiatives like the Califo…

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E269: Community Batteries, Flow Tech, and the Future of Storage 54:24

3M ago54:24

54:24

In this episode, our guest is Glenne Drover, a passionate energy professional and currently the Company Secretary at Yarra Energy Foundation. Though semi-retired, Glenne remains deeply active in shaping Australia's energy landscape through consulting, advocacy, and public engagement. We discuss the evolving battery storage landscape, with Glenne pr…

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E268: Batteries, Carbon Capture, and the Future of Energy Systems 49:41

3M ago49:41

49:41

In this episode, our guest is Yongping Zhai, former ADB energy leader and now Senior Advisor at Tencent, leading their carbon neutrality strategy. He shares his journey from early solar projects to driving green innovation in big tech—covering dramatic cost drops in renewables, the rise of AI in grid management, and why mindsets must shift for the …

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E267: Energy as a Service: Rethinking Tariffs and Equity 37:28

4M ago37:28

37:28

In this episode, our guest is Gavin Dufty, National Director of Energy Policy and Research at St Vincent de Paul Australia. Gavin brings decades of experience advocating for consumer equity in Australia's energy transition. He shares valuable insights on evolving from kilowatt-based billing to energy-as-a-service models, rethinking subsidy framewor…

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E266: Navigating Knowledge: From ADB to AI 54:48

4M ago54:48

54:48

In this episode, our guest is Daan Boom, former Knowledge Management Specialist at ADB, who shares how knowledge systems have evolved—from early platforms like K-Map and E-Star to today's AI-driven environments. He reflects on building a culture of learning within development institutions, his current work on climate resilience in Bangladesh, and h…

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E265: Electrifying Heavy Freight at Diesel Prices 39:16

4M ago39:16

39:16

In this episode, our guest is Daniel Bleakley, co-founder of New Energy Transport, who shares how his team is building a vertically integrated, zero-emission road-freight company that can compete at diesel price parity by pairing electric trucks with on-site generation and smart participation in Australia's wholesale electricity market. He explains…

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E264: Rethinking Electricity Like the Internet 55:22

4M ago55:22

55:22

In this episode, our guest is Bruce Nordman, a long-time researcher from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Bruce brings four decades of experience in energy efficiency and introduces his revolutionary vision for transforming how buildings use electricity, drawing strong parallels with the evolution of internet technology. We explore the concep…

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E263: How This Startup is Fixing Online Content Noise 40:06

4M ago40:06

40:06

In this episode, our guest is Cheree Bonnici, a startup founder based in South Australia, and the driving force behind Topicks, a global content platform focused on community, education, and sustainability. Cheree shares the story behind creating a curated digital space where users choose what they learn—free from algorithms and noise. From solving…

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E262: AI in Practice—Tools, Workflows, and What's Next 41:48

4M ago41:48

41:48

In this episode, our guest is Amie Vuyong. She works on AI-powered identity verification, AML, and fraud prevention, areas she frames as "compliance AI agents." She also shares how she used modern AI coding companions to turn a manual spreadsheet into a sleek personal finance web app, with expense tracking, budgets, and net‑worth views, built throu…

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E261: Solar to VPP: Powering the Future 38:43

4M ago38:43

38:43

In this episode, our guest is Clinton O'Neil, a distributed energy veteran whose journey began in Hawaii's rooftop solar boom and evolved into driving innovation in grid modernisation and virtual power plants (VPPs). Clinton shares deep insights into the transition from net metering to non-export solar, the pivotal role of energy storage, and how D…

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E260: Electrifying Everything: The Role of EV Charging and Home Batteries 35:35

4M ago35:35

35:35

In this episode, our guest is Ned Funnell, a test engineer at Lincoln Electric and long-time electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast. Ned shares a decade of personal and professional insights from the EV world—discussing high-power chargers, grid resiliency, home batteries, and the evolving role of electrification in achieving net-zero goals. From transit…

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E259: Australia's Homegrown EV Journey 36:58

4M ago36:58

36:58

In this episode, our guest is Gregory McGarvie, founder of Ace Electric Vehicles—Australia's pioneering homegrown EV startup. Gregory shares his eight-year journey building locally assembled EVs, from trolley collectors for Woolworths to advanced, grid-integrated vans. We explore the challenges of local manufacturing, the innovation behind Ace's en…

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E258: Batteries in a Box: From Off-Grid to Global Energy Solutions 57:32

5M ago57:32

57:32

In this episode, our guest is Marc Sheldon, CEO of Red Earth Energy Storage. Marc shares his journey from solar thermal to leading innovations in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems. He explains how Red Earth's Australian-made, plug-and-play solutions are transforming energy access — from rural off-grid sheds to large-scale commercial inst…

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E257: Charting the Future of Offshore Wind in the Philippines 47:27

5M ago47:27

47:27

In this episode, our guest is Alma Roxas-Aguila, a seasoned renewable energy expert with over two decades of experience in the Philippine wind sector. Alma shares her journey from early project development at Alternergy, including involvement in Southeast Asia's first onshore wind farm, to her current focus on scaling up offshore wind. She provides…

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E256: Energy Abundance, AI, and Human Potential 56:39

5M ago56:39

56:39

In this episode, our guest is Cameron Quin, a serial energy entrepreneur who reconnects with Sohail after years of impactful work across the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. Cameron shares his journey from launching off-grid solar ventures to exploring the deeper aspects of human energy and spiritual well-being. He offers unique insights into th…

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E255: Responsible AI and the Future of Inclusion 50:04

5M ago50:04

50:04

In this episode, our guest is Xiaochen Zhang, a global innovation leader and the driving force behind AI 2030 and FinTech for Good. Xiaochen shares his journey from the World Bank to founding organisations that champion responsible technology. He dives into the six-pillar framework of responsible AI—transparency, accountability, fairness, safety, s…

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E254: Hydropower's Storage Role in a Solar Future 52:53

5M ago52:53

52:53

In this episode, our guest is Mike Westerman, who leads the hydropower team at GHD, a global consultancy with deep expertise in water, dams, and geotech. Mike shares fascinating insights on the evolution of hydropower—from its origins at Niagara Falls to today's high-efficiency, computer-modeled turbines. He explains why pumped hydro remains the do…

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Authentic Communication: Live from Stanford Seed Summit in South Africa 31:27

5M ago31:27

31:27

We're excited to bring you a special cross-over episode from our friends at the 'Think Fast, Talk Smart' podcast. Host Matt Abrahams joined us and recorded this live session at the Stanford Seed Transformation Network Summit in Cape Town, exploring the authentic communication strategies that every entrepreneur needs to master. Real connection means…

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E253: Orchestrating Australia's Home Battery Revolution 46:52

5M ago46:52

46:52

In this episode, our guest is part of a dynamic roundtable exploring the global trends, economic drivers, and regulatory challenges shaping the future of home battery storage. Building on Part 1, this continuation dives deep into the falling costs of battery production, market implications of subsidies, and the technical and policy complexities of …

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E252: Beyond Backup: How Batteries Are Reshaping Australia's Energy Future 1:05:26

5M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

In this episode, our guest is a diverse panel of Australia's energy experts unpacking the rapid rise of home battery adoption. From manufacturing and policy to regulation and consumer behavior, they explore what's driving the boom, including generous government subsidies, rising energy independence, and grid trading opportunities. The discussion di…

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E251: The Virtual Energy Network: Solar Without the Storage 44:21

5M ago44:21

44:21

In this episode, our guest is Andrea La Nauze, an energy and environmental economist at Deakin University. Andrea discusses her research on Australia's Virtual Energy Network, which allows households to trade excess rooftop solar energy. She explains how pricing can shift energy use patterns and reduce reliance on batteries, and explores the role o…

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E250: From 3-Wheelers to Tesla Model Y: Equity and Energy Security 48:34

5M ago48:34

48:34

In this episode, Sohail Hasnie shares a personal monologue, offering an on-the-road reflection from behind the wheel of his Tesla in Metro Manila. He unpacks how electric vehicles—whether high-end Teslas or modest electric tricycles—can drive profound social, economic, and environmental change. From reducing fuel poverty in Bangladesh to transformi…

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E249: Electrifying Mobility with Purpose 54:41

5M ago54:41

54:41

In this episode, our guest is Diana E. Páez, Senior Director of Energy and Mobility, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan. Diana dives into the dynamic role that electric vehicles can play in decarbonizing transportation across emerging markets. She discusses how EVs—when supported by the right policies, financing tools, and loc…

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E248: Bridging the Global Energy Talent Gap 48:24

6M ago48:24

48:24

In this episode, our guest is Jim Salter-Duke, founder of Spark Horizon, a talent solutions company working between Australia and the Philippines. Jim shares how the global clean energy transition is being hindered not by technology but by a chronic shortage of skilled labour. With 100,000 engineering graduates a year, the Philippines is a rich but…

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E247: Private Banking in China's EV Surge 29:00

6M ago29:00

29:00

In this episode, our guest is Sonya Song, a seasoned private banking professional with 17 years of experience spanning Zurich, Beijing, and Singapore. Sonya shares unique insights into China's booming electric vehicle (EV) market, highlighting her views on leading players like BYD and Tesla. She discusses how private banks support ultra-high-net-wo…

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E246: Powering the Future: Rooftops to Electro States 54:38

6M ago54:38

54:38

In this episode, our guest is Grant McDowell, a visionary entrepreneur and advocate for democratizing access to clean energy. Grant shares his 18-year journey—from dreaming of remote solar matching in Marrickville to launching "Adopt a Panel" in Italy, enabling urban households to access cheaper renewable energy. He discusses the technical and regu…

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E245: Beyond Green Labels: Rethinking Agriculture from Soil to Shelf 47:07

6M ago47:07

47:07

In this episode, our guests are Sahil Nair and Pauline Smout, both sustainability consultants based in the Netherlands. They delve into the complexities of sustainable agriculture, highlighting how responsible sourcing, water use, and land conversion are critical to long-term ecological health. Pauline discusses her work bringing together banks, su…