Best Ambassador Labs Podcasts (2025)

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Stephen Starring Grant - Author of MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home 1:06:25

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8d ago1:06:25

1:06:25

Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz in conversation with Steve Grant, author of the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home. With rave reviews in The New York Times, the Washington Post, The New Yorker and The Atlantic, the memoir MAILMAN: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finall…

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Petrostates, electrostates, and the energy transition. Gerard Reid of the Redefining Energy podcast visits the Energy Gang 1:03:57

12d ago1:03:57

1:03:57

Is the global transition to low-carbon energy accelerating or slowing down? One answer is that it depends where you look. In the US, energy policy has shifted away from support for low-carbon technologies, but China is continuing with record installations of solar, wind, and batteries, and record sales of EVs. With AI emerging as the central arena …

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Rahm Emanuel - United States of Sweat 32:30

22d ago32:30

32:30

Rahm Emanuel was the U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025. Prior to that, he served as the White House Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2010 under President Barack Obama, and as the Mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019. He also represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. Welcome back to United States of Sweat present…

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Planning the grid to meet future energy demand | A discussion on the future of the grid, AI, energy innovation, and delivering the electricity supply we will need in the coming decades 1:11:07

26d ago1:11:07

1:11:07

The grid “is designed for the core components - supplying electricity - but we are definitely pushing it to its limits,” says Melissa Lott, Partner for energy technologies at Microsoft*. The electricity grid has been described as one of the greatest achievements of human civilisation, because of its complexity, scale, and essential role in our soci…

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What will energy look like 5 years after the 'Big Beautiful Bill?' The Energy Gang report from 2030. 1:14:57

1M ago1:14:57

1:14:57

In this episode, we take a trip in a time machine, five years into the future. 2030 has been set as a deadline for many climate goals, and is a milestone for checking progress towards a low-carbon energy system. Ed Crooks, Amy Myers Jaffe and Melissa Lott imagine themselves five years from now, and look back at how the US energy industry has change…

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Cameron Jones - Unbound Gravel 2025 Champion 1:07:21

1M ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Cameron Jones won the 2025 edition of the 205-mile Unbound Gravel, the most competitive edition ever of the most prestigious gravel race on the planet. Three months earlier, he showed up in America, walked into a used car dealership in the Bay Area, walked off the lot with a used Honda Odyssey and a dream to make this his best season ever. But thes…

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One Hour to Train - What do you do? w/ Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton / WEDU x Andrew Vontz of Choose the Hard Way 19:20

1M ago19:20

19:20

You've got an hour or less to train, what do you do? Spencer Martin of the Beyond the Peloton newsletter & podcast + WEDU's Outcomes / The Move takes a break from the Tour de France to join Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz to talk about what they do when life and work are at max stress and you have little time to workout. Is Zone 2 really t…

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Inside the ‘crazy grid’: why the future of energy needs everything, everywhere, all at once 1:12:37

2M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

Building out the electricity grid was traditionally a predictable and straightforward business. Now it’s like trying to land a jet on a moving aircraft carrier in the dark. That’s a quote from this week’s guest Quinn Nakayama. He’s the senior director of Grid Research and Innovation at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). He joins host Ed Crooks and regu…

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The Big Beautiful Bill is close to passing. What would it mean for clean energy in the US? 1:09:38

2M ago1:09:38

1:09:38

This week the US budget reconciliation legislation, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, squeaked through the Senate on a 51/50 vote. The bill has wide-ranging implications for energy in the US, including an imminent end to tax credits for wind and solar power. To discuss what the new legislation means, host Ed Crooks is joined by regular guest Amy…

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Tom Perriello: Congressman, Special Envoy - United States of Sweat 56:14

2M ago56:14

56:14

Welcome back to United States of Sweat presented by Choose the Hard Way where politicians and policymakers join us to share stories about fitness, health and the sports they love playing. In 2008 Tom Perriello won the election to represent Virginia’s 5th Congressional district by fewer than 1,000 votes. He later ran for governor of Virginia and he …

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EBOS: the unsung hero that’s accelerating clean energy deployment | How Shoals is improving utility-scale solar performance 27:16

2M ago27:16

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Sponsored content from Shoals Technologies Group. EBOS – electrical balance of systems – includes everything that carries electricity from solar panels to the grid: wiring, switches, connector boxes and other components. It might not grab headlines, but it’s the backbone of every solar and storage project, and is essential to performance, reliabili…

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How do we adapt to a warming world? 1:06:10

2M ago1:06:10

1:06:10

The world is experiencing a new reality: infrastructure, agriculture, and supply chains were built for a historical climate that no longer exists. Last year the average global surface temperature was about 1.47° C warmer than in the late 19th century, according to NASA. On current trends we are on course for perhaps 2.7° C of warming by the end of …

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Geothermal, dealmaking, and the future of clean energy finance | live from the ACORE Finance Forum in New York 1:11:40

3M ago1:11:40

1:11:40

In the third and final special episode recorded live from the ACORE Finance Forum, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to industry leaders to explore some key issues in renewable energy technology and finance. Amy starts the episode by speaking with David Ulrey, CFO of Fervo Energy, an innovative geothermal startup. David shares i…

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Energy and the ‘big beautiful bill’ | live from day 2 of the ACORE Finance Forum in New York 1:14:44

3M ago1:14:44

1:14:44

As the US races against China to develop the most advanced capabilities in AI, energy is critical. In this second episode from the ACORE finance forum, we speak to experts about how US energy policy, and in particular the reconciliation bill now being debated in Congress, might affect that race. Host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk…

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Clean energy finance in uncertain times | live from day 1 of the ACORE Finance Forum in New York 59:00

3M ago59:00

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The Energy Gang are at The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Finance Forum in New York City, which brings together industry leaders, investors, and bankers to discuss the hottest issues in clean energy. Host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to ACORE Chief Executive and President Ray Long about the uncertainty hanging over…

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United States of Sweat with Ambassador Jeff Flake - Desert Island Survival, Long-Distance Swimming & More 41:43

3M ago41:43

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During a divided time in America, our love of sports and fitness cross party lines and can keep us healthy as individuals and bring us together as a nation. The United States of Sweat is a new series from Choose the Hard Way that features the world’s leading political leaders and policy makers sharing stories about what they do to stay healthy, fit…

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It’s looking bleak for clean energy in the US as Congress threatens to shred the Inflation Reduction Act 1:15:13

3M ago1:15:13

1:15:13

Legislation with massive implications for clean energy in the US has been making progress in Congress. The Republican party’s “big beautiful bill”, introducing sweeping changes to taxes and government spending, would phase out most of the tax credits for low-carbon energy that were created, expanded or extended in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) …

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From Start up to End up - From The Better Lab to One Real Voice & Beyond - Andrew Vontz x Shannon Jones 2:00:05

3M ago2:00:05

2:00:05

Subscribe to the Choose the Hard Way substack at www.alwaysthehardway.substack.com for a look behind the scenes of this episode and human-generated insights about bikes, zen and life. Walking away from an executive role at a high-growth unicorn to go all-in & start up your own company sounds cool. What happens when a highly promising start up with …

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Can we add dozens of giant new data centers to the electricity grid? New research says yes – if we embrace load flexibility. 1:02:57

4M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

It’s the most talked-about academic paper this year in the world of energy. Rethinking Load Growth, co-authored by Tyler Norris of Duke University has caused a stir in energy circles because it offers a new perspective on the hottest issue of the moment: how to provide power for new data centers and other large consumers. With new sources of electr…

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An energy podcast crossover: Energy Gang and Interchange Recharged join forces to discuss flexibility on the power grid: why it is so important, and how to create it 39:29

4M ago39:29

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They called the film Avengers: Infinity War the most ambitious crossover event in history. We can’t quite make the same claim, but at Wood Mackenzie’s 2025 Solar and Energy Storage Summit, we did record a crossover episode. Ed Crooks, host of Energy Gang, is joined by Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Wood Mackenz’s principal analyst for solar power and host …

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What do the tariff wars mean for low-carbon energy? | Recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit 30:13

4M ago30:13

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“With great uncertainty comes great opportunity”, says Abby Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, in this special episode of the Energy Gang, recorded live at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit. Is she right? And what are those opportunities? To find out, host Ed Crooks welcomed Abby and Shyam Sriniv…

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Keeping cleantech investment alive | With technological, economic and policy challenges mounting, how can we keep energy innovation on track? 53:10

5M ago53:10

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These are hard times for investment in low-carbon energy. The lack of progress in international climate negotiations, threats to policy support, and an increased awareness of the challenges of decarbonization, have created some strong headwinds. Everyone agrees that more breakthroughs in innovative emissions-reducing technologies are essential for …

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How can the power industry meet the challenge of rising demand? | In a special live episode recorded at the American Clean Power association, we discuss how to meet America’s growing need for electricity ... 41:11

5M ago41:11

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If President Trump’s tariff strategy succeeds in sparking a revival in US manufacturing, one consequence will be surging demand for power. We are already seeing electricity demand starting to pick up after 15 years of stagnation, driven by new data centers for AI and a wave of factory-building for semiconductors and batteries that is already under …

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Is the US being left behind in the race to develop new clean energy technologies? BYD is selling EVs that can charge in five minutes | China is streaking ahead of the US in the energy transition race 58:08

5M ago58:08

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The Chinese car company BYD, the world’s top-selling manufacturer of electric vehicles, is launching two models that can charge in five minutes; about the time it takes to fill a tank with gasoline. It’s news that looks like a landmark moment in the energy transition, the way that the release of the DeepSeek model was for AI. It’s another eye-openi…

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Pro Cyclist Chase Wark pt. 1 - Mega Mid South FKT 28:15

5M ago28:15

28:15

Pro gravel cyclist Chase Wark joins me today to talk about setting the fastest known time on the 300-mile Mega Mid South gravel loop after wildfires devastated the Stillwater, Oklahoma area and cancelled the Mid South gravel race. Find Chase @chasethebiker on Instagram. I wrote a story with my thoughts and reflections on the interview you’ll hear t…

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What does financial market turmoil mean for low-carbon energy? 1:13:44

6M ago1:13:44

1:13:44

Investors have gone sour on clean energy. In a troubled time for stock markets in general, where is the capital for energy flowing now? Host Ed Crooks is joined by Shanu Mathew, Senior VP and Portfolio Manager at Lazard Asset Management, and Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU. Shanu returns to th…

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Flexible, fast-responding and reliable – the growth of energy storage seems unstoppable. What could possibly go wrong? 57:00

6M ago57:00

57:00

Charge when it’s cheap, when energy is abundant, and discharge when the energy is needed. The role of energy storage will be critical to the transition to low-carbon technologies. It’s an exciting time in the industry, with spectacular growth in battery storage markets in the US and around the world, and it’s predicted to continue. “We’re in the ho…

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Harry Sweeny - Pro Cycling & High Performance Living 1:01:48

6M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

The #1 thing you can do to support this podcast is to subscribe to the Choose the Hard Way substack. Just go to substack and search for ‘Choose the Hard Way’ or go to https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ and hit subscribe today. That’s where Andrew Vontz writes about bikes, zen and life + shares his reflections on conversations with guests on the…

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What do President Trump’s tariffs mean for energy? | The view from Washington and Canada 1:00:12

6M ago1:00:12

1:00:12

In 2018, President Donald Trump said “I’m a tariff man”, declaring they were the way to make America rich again. Six years on and just weeks into his second term, he is putting that philosophy into practice. President Trump has announced a barrage of new and increased tariffs on imports into the US, including a 10% levy on all goods from China. He …

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What does DeepSeek AI mean for energy? 1:03:25

7M ago1:03:25

1:03:25

It’s a historic moment in energy, with a leap forward in AI technology coming as the Trump administration sets a new direction for the US. The Energy Gang break down what it all means. When they make The Energy Transition – The Movie, the week of 27th January 2025 will be a pivotal scene. The Chinese AI company DeepSeek sent shockwaves through stoc…

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Does clean hydrogen have a future? Finding a role for hydrogen in a low-carbon energy economy 1:08:53

7M ago1:08:53

1:08:53

Hydrogen has been called the Swiss Army knife of energy, because it has so many potential applications, from home heating to heavy industry. But so far, deployment around the world has been slow. And in recent months there has been a series of setbacks for plans to use clean hydrogen to decarbonise energy systems. So what’s the problem? Is it unsui…

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What can we expect from energy in 2025? The people, places and technologies to watch this year 1:03:56

8M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Host Ed Crooks is joined by regulars Amy Myers Jaffe and Melissa Lott to share their predictions for energy in 2025. They discuss the policy changes expected from Washington under the Trump administration, the crucial role for California as a leader in clean energy, the exciting new technologies that may be launched or ramped up this year, and the …

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The Energy Gang’s Review of the Year in energy 1:02:01

8M ago1:02:01

1:02:01

China’s booming EV industry, AI and clean energy, questions over hydrogen, and the other big stories from 2024. To round off a momentous year for clean energy, Ed Crooks is joined by regulars Melissa Lott and Amy Myers Jaffe to reflect on the highs and lows of 2024. The gang revisit the predictions they made in January, share their highs and lows f…

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Bonus episode from COP29: Getting real about methane emissions 36:41

9M ago36:41

36:41

More than 100 countries have pledged to cut methane emissions, with not much to show for it so far. What is being done to change that? Methane – the main component of natural gas – is the second most significant greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide. It accounts for about 30% of all the human-induced warming the world has experienced since the 19th …

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What happened at COP29? 37:05

9M ago37:05

37:05

The climate talks agreed a $300 billion finance deal. Not everyone is happy about it. The COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, finally ended around 5.30am on Sunday morning, almost 36 hours after they had been originally scheduled to close. The good news was that the negotiators representing about 200 countries agreed a deal on climate finance:…

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Live from COP29: One weird trick to solve our energy problem 54:54

9M ago54:54

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As policy changes course in the US, is energy efficiency the key that can unlock a sustainable future? In our latest episode from the COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, host Ed Crooks talks to our guests about the challenges facing the energy transition, including the far-reaching implications of a second Trump administration, as asks whether…

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Live from COP29: Everyone is talking about climate finance. What do they mean? 47:22

10M ago47:22

47:22

How a deal at the climate talks could make a real difference to the energy transition In our latest episode from the COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ed Crooks explores the challenges and opportunities of mobilizing climate finance to support the energy transition in emerging markets. As the "Finance COP", COP29 is under pressure to deliver…

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Live from COP29: Are businesses still driving the energy transition? 57:48

10M ago57:48

57:48

As many nations face challenges in meeting their Paris Agreement goals, some businesses are stepping up to fill the gap. Climate action is not just a responsibility but a lucrative opportunity In this latest episode of The Energy Gang from COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ed Crooks explores the critical role of businesses in addressing climate change. He…

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Live from COP29: How US states will keep up climate action under a Trump administration 53:22

10M ago53:22

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A special COP29 episode exploring the power of states, regions, and cities to advance the energy transition amid uncertain national policies In this special episode of The Energy Gang from COP29, Ed Crooks brings together a panel of expert guests in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss the global implications of the US election and the growing importance o…

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Live from COP29: climate finance at the forefront 26:50

10M ago26:50

26:50

The role of development banks in climate finance The COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, have climate finance at the top of the agenda. As global leaders and experts gather to deliberate on pathways to a sustainable future, the focus is on how funding from richer nations might facilitate decarbonization and resilience in poorer and middle-inco…

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What’s next for energy after the US elections? 1:19:04

10M ago1:19:04

1:19:04

President Trump plans a sharp change of direction The US elections last week are set to transform the energy landscape, with the Republicans now in control of the presidency, the Senate, and likely the House of Representatives. They intend to set a new direction for energy policy, emphasising affordability and reliability over sustainability and cl…

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The trouble with transformers 1:23:21

10M ago1:23:21

1:23:21

Electricity grids rely on transformers. Shortages are slowing down the transition to clean energy. Transformers are such commonplace pieces of local infrastructure that most people barely notice them. In America, they include those dustbin-shaped objects on poles for power lines, and in the UK they are those rectangular boxes on the pavement. But t…

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Why is it so hard to find a charger for your electric vehicle? 1:01:44

11M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

To make the leap from niche products to the mass market, electric vehicles need to reassure potential buyers that they have enough range and enough charging options that they won’t get stranded by the side of the road with a flat battery. Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at New York University, has be…

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The key takeaways from NY Climate Week, with Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson 41:56

11M ago41:56

41:56

The Energy Gang wraps up Climate Week in New York, after six days of debates, discussions, initiatives and pledges. Scheduled alongside the UN General Assembly, Climate Week brought together leaders from business, policy, finance, academia and activism to share ideas and push forward real solutions for climate change. Host Ed Crooks sits down with …

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Climate Week NYC special: Entrepreneurs in cleantech tell their stories 1:07:47

11M ago1:07:47

1:07:47

The transition to a low-carbon energy system will need a lot of people with bright ideas for how to do things differently. It is the greatest business challenge of our time, and also the greatest opportunity. In this latest special edition of the Energy Gang for Climate Week NYC, Ed Crooks and Amy Myers-Jaffe host a live taping of the show in front…

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S4 Ep2: Unlocking Developer Velocity: API Design and Blackbird’s Game-Changing Tools 43:17

11M ago43:17

43:17

We’re pleased to share that the "Livin’ on the Edge" podcast is back for Season 4 after our summer hiatus! We have a special episode for y’all ahead of our Blackbird, generally available release date on October 1, 2024, and with that we have a special guest host, myself (CEO Steve Rodda here).To kick off episode two, I sat down with James Higginbot…

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Climate Week NYC special: Can the US electricity system meet the challenges it faces? 1:14:38

11M ago1:14:38

1:14:38

The US is entering a new era of electricity demand growth, after two decades of flatlining consumption. It is a shift that has huge implications for consumers, the industry and climate goals. Ed Crooks hosts a special live edition of the podcast, recorded at NYU for NY Climate Week, to debate the risks and opportunities in this new world for US pow…

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What is the role that the oil and gas industry should play in the energy transition? Does it have one? 50:35

11M ago50:35

50:35

We kick off our series of podcasts at Climate Week, by looking at the role that the oil and gas industry can play in the energy transition. Host Ed Crooks is joined by Bjorn Otto Sverdrup, who chairs the executive committee of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, a group backed by 12 of the world’s largest oil companies that works on ways to reduce …

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How to stop America’s outdated grid holding back the deployment of clean energy 1:00:00

12M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

There’s no transition without transmission, they say. It’s a cliché because it’s true. The US Department of Energy says that the nation will need to expand transmission capacity by 60% by 2030 to meet growing clean energy demand. A recent study found that delays in transmission development are adding $2.5 billion annually in additional costs to con…

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Christopher Blevins - the World Champion & Olympian on Mindfulness + the Transformative Power of Community & Bikes 51:37

12M ago51:37

51:37

Christopher Blevins is a mindfulness practitioner who builds community and a more inclusive and healthy world through bikes. He’s one of the best professional mountain bikers America has ever produced and one of the best in the world. He has won the Cape Epic and taken gold in the mountain bike world championships in the short track and cross-count…