Best Embedded Carbon Podcasts (2025)

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Navigating Big Energy Companies: Growth, Challenges, and Success with Richard Chuchla | Energy Sector Heroes 51:42

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1d ago51:42

51:42

💡 Want to thrive in the ever-changing energy industry? This week, I’m joined by Richard Chuchla, a veteran of Exxon and former university professor, as we explore the journey of navigating multiple sectors, from mining to oil and gas, and even into academia. Richard shares practical insights on building a career that thrives on adaptability, mentor…

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#355 The Real Value of Nature 33:55

16h ago33:55

33:55

Green-grey engineering combines nature-based solutions with traditional civil engineering. It can be used in flood protection, with mangroves acting as a first line of defense rather than relying wholly on seawalls or earthen berms. As parts of the world face dual threats of flood and drought, the same systems can incorporate drainage and water col…

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Thriving in a Changing Energy Sector: Rene Jonk on Skills & Networks 52:51

5d ago52:51

52:51

How do you build a long and adaptable career in the energy sector? In this episode, I speak with Rene Jonk, Director at ACT Geo, who brings more than 25 years of experience in geoscience, international project work, and leadership across the industry. Rene shares practical advice on career direction, leadership without micromanagement, and developi…

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#354 AI in Infrastructure: Adoption and Guardrails 30:57

12d ago30:57

30:57

The infrastructure sector is adopting AI with enthusiasm. A new whitepaper from Bentley Systems, Pinsent Masons, Turner & Townsend, and Mott MacDonald, The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Built Environment, surveyed the sector, and found the 48% of the infrastructure companies they spoke to were trialling AI, or had already implemented it.…

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Delivering Mega Projects: A Construction Director’s View with Michael Foucaud | Energy Sector Heroes 25:13

10d ago25:13

25:13

What does it take to deliver some of the world’s largest energy projects? In this episode, I sit down with Michael Foucaud, Construction Director at TechnipFMC, to talk about his career journey and what he has learned from leading major project execution across global construction yards. Michael shares practical insights into how large-scale projec…

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#353 Carbon Assessment in a Time of Housebuilding 28:06

15d ago28:06

28:06

This week, the UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, or EAC, released a report on environmental sustainability and housing growth. The UK government is striving to meet a target of building one and a half million new homes, and has raised concerns about the risk that environmental objections could delay their construction. But, the EAC…

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How Young Professionals Drive the Energy Transition with Dhriti Badami. |. Energy Sector Heroes 32:50

17d ago32:50

32:50

How do graduates turn sustainability studies into real opportunities in the energy sector? In this episode, I speak with Dhriti Badami about starting a career during the energy transition from securing early internships to building confidence when speaking with experienced professionals. We discuss decarbonisation, the continued role of traditional…

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#352 Health Monitoring for Offshore Wind 31:27

26d ago31:27

31:27

From blood pressure monitors and smart watches, to MRIs and step counters, many of us make tracking health metrics part of our daily routine. Armed with data, we can take steps to extend our lives. And this approach can also be used to extend the life of key components of our energy infrastructure. The offshore wind industry is entering a period of…

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Career Pivot to CEO: The Bardasz Story with Pablo Perez | Energy Sector Heroes 36:18

27d ago36:18

36:18

How do you go from writing software in the field to leading a global technology company? In this episode, I sit down with Pablo Perez founder, president, and CEO of Bardasz to unpack the decisions, risks, and lessons that shaped his career. Pablo reflects on his early years as a developer in Venezuela, the leap into entrepreneurship, and the realit…

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#351 Rough Seas and Reliable Defence Partnerships 34:28

29d ago34:28

34:28

Around the world, climate change and shifting alliances are opening up new theatres of geopolitical competition. In the Arctic, Canada must be ready to patrol a new coastline; in the Pacific, Australia faces increased tension with China. Naval defence will be a key component of these nations’ security planning. But the so-called ‘exquisite’ capabil…

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Breaking Into Carbon Capture & Storage: Skills, Careers, and Market Shifts with Henry Morris | Energy Sector Heroes 29:15

1M ago29:15

29:15

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is set to play a major role in reducing industrial emissions but where do the skills come from to build it? In this episode, I talk with Henry Morris about how traditional oil and gas expertise is being repurposed to help the UK and Europe cut millions of tonnes of CO₂ each year. Henry shares how his geoscience back…

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#350 Living in Space: The Next Generation of Astronauts 33:18

1M ago33:18

33:18

Dr Meganne Christian is a scientist and adventurer. In her research, she has studied the performance of novel materials including the use of nanoscale metals for hydrogen storage, and the use of graphene across a diverse range of applications. But her career has taken her far from the traditional university lab. In 2018-2019, Meganne was a member o…

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Vered Shwartz on AI, Job Applications, and the Future of Work | Energy Sector Heroes 41:19

1M ago41:19

41:19

Many of you are already using AI tools in your studies, careers, or job searches — but how do you make sure you’re using them wisely? In this episode of Energy Sector Heroes, I speak with Vered Shwartz, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia and a specialist in natural language processing. We explore how AI is…

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#349 Never Again: Embedding Safety in Engineering 30:15

2M ago30:15

30:15

The tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in west London demanded new ways of thinking about professionalism and ethics in the engineering sector. However, since that awful night in 2017, which saw the loss of 72 lives, fatal incidents and near misses have continued to happen: in Genoa, in Toddbrook, in Miami, and on many more buildings and structures arou…

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Davis Larssen on Leadership, Culture, and Tough CEO Decisions | Energy Sector Heroes 46:24

2M ago46:24

46:24

For many of you aiming to move into leadership roles, the question often comes up: What does it really take to steer a company through cultural and financial challenges? In this episode of Energy Sector Heroes, I sit down with Davis Larssen, CEO and former senior leader at Proserv and Schlumberger, to talk about the decisions and trade-offs that sh…

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#348 Modelling Distributed Energy Storage 25:12

2M ago25:12

25:12

In Europe, and around the world, renewable electricity generation is being built at pace. However, these sources of energy create a new challenge: they are intermittent, and will not generate power on dark, windless days. One solution to the challenge is to install grid scale storage. If you’re building an offshore wind farm, with a view to serving…

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Episode 20 - Soil Depletion, Genetic Loss, and the Exploitation of Labor 34:36

2M ago34:36

34:36

This episode is structured around the three main hidden costs of cheap, uniform, modern produce, starting with the land itself. The first cost is the depletion of the land, as colonial and later industrial practices have treated soil like a mine, taking nutrients without giving back. The invention of the Haber-Bosch process for synthetic nitrogen f…

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Episode 19 - Unpacking the Hidden Costs of the Supermarket Tomato 23:52

2M ago23:52

23:52

This episode deeply investigates the hidden costs and paradoxes behind the seemingly simple supermarket tomato. The journey begins by highlighting the tomato's wild origins in the coastal deserts of northern Peru and southern Ecuador, a stark contrast to where the U.S. winter supply is primarily grown: the humid, pest-ridden climate of Florida. Thi…

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Episode 18 - Reclaiming the Value and Joy of Food Labor 27:57

2M ago27:57

27:57

This episode dives into the "invisible labor" of food production and preparation, arguing that the modern industrial food system has deliberately obscured the true value and cost of getting food to our plates. The discussion traces the historical roots of this disconnection back to early colonial history, specifically the decision in Jamestown to p…

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Monica Collings OBE on Women in Energy and Leadership Lessons | Energy Sector Heroes 38:18

2M ago38:18

38:18

Many of you listening work in environments where change, diversity, and leadership challenges intersect. Questions often come up: How do women progress in male-dominated sectors? What practical steps can organisations take beyond advocacy? And how can young professionals carve out their place in the energy transition? In this episode of Energy Sect…

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Episode 17 - The Kingsolver Experiment: What Happens When Industrial Agriculture Goes Silent 25:56

2M ago25:56

25:56

This episode examines the structural vulnerabilities of the modern food system through the lens of a "natural experiment" where one American family, the Kingsolvers, attempted to eat entirely from local sources for a year. The family's project immediately revealed the systemic dependence on global supply chains and the deep inertia of an industrial…

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Episode 16 - The Political Fight for Food Sovereignty 29:32

2M ago29:32

29:32

This episode traces the history of the global food system as a continuous political and economic struggle for centralized control over essential resources, leading to the current crisis in food sovereignty. The struggle began in the 19th century with the Guano Cartels, which established a highly profitable global trade in fertilizer, controlling th…

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Episode 15 - The Global Food Paradox: Corporate Control and Food Sovereignty 24:20

2M ago24:20

24:20

This episode dissects the Global Food Paradox, illustrating how the same centralized system responsible for the epidemic of obesity is also a primary driver of global hunger. The fundamental structure of the modern food system is characterized by the dominance of a few vertically integrated transnational corporations that control all stages, from s…

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Episode 14 - The Third Plate Revolution: How Choosing Dinner Can Fix the Food System 30:40

2M ago30:40

30:40

This episode advocates for a "Third Plate" revolution in our food choices, arguing that shifting our culinary preferences is a direct, powerful way to fix the structural flaws in the modern food system. The current "Second Plate" model, defined by industrialization and global trade, is centered on an unsustainable emphasis on expensive meat protein…

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Episode 13 - How Global Power, Politics, and Monoculture Shaped Everything You Eat 35:50

2M ago35:50

35:50

This episode traces the history of the global food system, revealing how it was shaped by political power, centralized control, and the inherent risks of agricultural uniformity. The foundations of this system extend back to the earliest agricultural surpluses in Sumer, where the abundance of beer and grain was immediately managed by scribes and a …

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Episode 12 - How Empire, Slavery, and Subsidies Built the Modern Industrial Diet 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

This episode traces the hidden history of the modern industrial diet, arguing that the over-consumption of salt, sugar, and fat is not a natural craving, but a direct, lasting consequence of centuries of imperial and corporate policies. The foundations of this diet were cemented by the Atlantic slave trade and the rise of the sugar-and-slave planta…

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Episode 11 - The Global Food System's Centuries of Centralized Control 35:05

2M ago35:05

35:05

This episode explores the historical development and systemic fragilities of the global food system, arguing that its fundamental structure has been defined by centralized control and the commodification of labor and land for centuries. The foundations of this system trace back to the 16th-century Potosí silver mines in Bolivia, where the enormous …

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Episode 10 - The Conscientious Carnivore 26:33

2M ago26:33

26:33

This episode confronts the ethical and nutritional complexities of meat consumption, particularly challenging the common assumption that a vegetarian diet is inherently more ethical and environmentally sound. The core argument is that the moral status of a food is dependent not on whether it is meat, but on how it is produced. Many industrial veget…

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Episode 9 - The True Cost of Cheap Meat 34:19

2M ago34:19

34:19

This episode investigates the true cost of cheap, industrially produced meat, revealing how the current system relies on externalizing massive costs to the public, the environment, and animal welfare. The key to this system is the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), a structure where millions of genetically similar animals are housed in t…

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Episode 8 - From Fork to Fungus 25:40

2M ago25:40

25:40

This episode begins by challenging the reductionist mindset of the industrial food system, arguing that focusing solely on isolated nutrients strips food of its essential cultural, biological, and ecological context. The industry promotes a narrow, scientific definition of food, ignoring the complex wisdom embedded in traditional diets that are bui…

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Episode 7 - The Deep Dive 27:57

2M ago27:57

27:57

This episode explores the concept of "nutritionism," an ideology that reduces food to the sum of its scientifically identifiable parts—proteins, vitamins, carbs, etc.—stripping away cultural context and leading to massive consumer confusion. This confusion is actively maintained by the food industry, which benefits from the focus on isolated nutrie…

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Episode 6 - The Engineered Crisis 26:16

2M ago26:16

26:16

This episode investigates the systemic forces that have engineered the modern food environment, prioritizing corporate profit over public health, leading to a pervasive "abundance" of cheap, ultra-processed calories. The history of this industrial food system is rooted in the drive for cheap commodities, starting with sugar and the transatlantic sl…

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Episode 5 - The Uncomfortable Truth About Your Plate 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

This episode explores the systemic conflict between corporate profit and public health in the American food supply. The power structure is heavily unbalanced, with a few massive global companies like JBS holding immense financial and logistical power, often exceeding the combined sales of major household names. Food companies prioritize maximizing …

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Episode 4 - Bliss Points and Political Muscle 27:47

2M ago27:47

27:47

This episode delves into the industrial food system, a massive structure shaped by science, marketing, and political influence that impacts nearly every aspect of American life, including diet and public health. The core of this system is an "industrial alchemy" focused on maximizing appeal using the "Bliss Point"—a precise balance of salt, sugar, …

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Episode 3 - The Staggering Hidden Costs of Cheap Food 28:59

2M ago28:59

28:59

This episode deconstructs the illusion of cheap food by exposing the staggering costs hidden behind the industrial food system. The entire machine is propelled by Wall Street Farm Bills and subsidies that guarantee cheap raw commodity inputs like corn and soy, primarily benefiting giant processing corporations over small farmers. The relentless dri…

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Episode 2 - Industrial Organic: Compromise and the Call for Regenerative Farming 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

This episode tackles the "industrial organic" paradox, examining the inherent conflict between the ethical ideals of organic farming and the cold, logistical reality of attempting it on an industrial scale. The drive for efficiency and scale has led to a dramatic simplification of agriculture, resulting in monocultures like corn and soy that push e…

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Episode 1 - The American Paradox 41:55

2M ago41:55

41:55

This episode explores the "American Paradox" of dietary confusion amidst a supermarket "illusion of choice", tracing its roots to the industrial maze of the modern food system. The entire system is built upon heavily subsidized monocultures of corn and soy, driven not by natural market forces but by massive government intervention, such as the fina…

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Trailer - The Price of the Modern Food System 5:57

2M ago5:57

5:57

The episode delves into the profound impacts of the modern food system, contrasting the industrial model with the potential of more local, ecological practices. The discussion begins with the immense power of supermarket giants like Walmart, noting their shift toward becoming top advertising companies by selling premium ad space within their own on…

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#347 Revisited: The Pipeline to Net Zero 42:19

2M ago42:19

42:19

Last week, at the end of September 2025, a study by Regen, commissioned by the MCS Foundation, found that biomethane had a limited capacity to replace natural gas in the UK’s domestic heating. The study emphasised the importance of focusing on electricity and heat pumps to keep our homes warm. This means that much of the UK’s gas pipeline networks …

3M ago45:52

45:52

Today we’re excited to spotlight Simon Seaton, a respected leader shaping the future of the energy industry. Simon is the CEO of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), where he works closely with the Board and senior leadership to drive global strategy, policy, and operations across SPE’s offices in Dallas, Houston, Calgary, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai,…