Best The Christian Science Monitor Podcasts (2025)

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Saturday, October 25, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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Argentina votes Sunday in midterm legislative elections that serve as a report card for President Javier Milei’s economic policies. He tamed inflation, but now the economy is stalled, many are worse off, and corruption has emerged as an issue.Also: today’s stories, including why the daylight robbery of jewelry from the Louvre has shocked Paris, a l…

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Friday, October 24, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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U.S. sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies place new pressure on President Vladimir Putin. But, evidenced by President Donald Trump’s frequently shifting positions, it’s still unclear where he will land on how to end the war in Ukraine.Also: today’s stories, including why one U.S. Representative-Elect has yet to be sworn in after a month, why…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: Blue Moon – After the Hunt – Mr. Scorsese 16:12

1h ago16:12

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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867: How Energy Aid Is Rescuing 185,000 Orphaned Solar Homes | Nick Sherman 1:37:05

2h ago1:37:05

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Did you know that more than 185,000 solar customers in the US have been abandoned by their installers? How will we take care of these “Orphaned” solar systems? Is this a golden opportunity or fool’s gold? Nick Sherman sees opportunity where most see chaos. As CEO of Energy Aid, he’s building a national brand in solar service—scaling faster than any…

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Thursday, October 23, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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The world's second-largest economy, China, is deciding its economic strategy for the next five years, a decision with high global stakes.Also: today’s stories, including how a ceasefire could help Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban lessen the tension; a look at the challenges facing those seeking to reestablish democracy in Venezuela; and commentary o…

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Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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When President Donald Trump hiked the cost of H-1B visas, Indian professionals looked to be the hardest hit. But with the West shunning immigrants, India may also be the beneficiary of the new pool of job seekers.Also: today’s stories, including how Pittsburgh wants to be a hub for artificial intelligence that makes a difference in peoples' daily l…

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866: Are Batteries the New Substations? | Wärtsilä’s Bold Vision for Grid-Scale Storage 25:17

3d ago25:17

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Storage Isn’t Backup—It’s Infrastructure Wildfires, heat waves, and AI-fueled data centers are pushing our grid to the edge. The question is no longer whether we need storage—it's whether we're going to unlock its full potential. In this live episode from RE+, Nico is joined by two global leaders from Wärtsilä Energy—Tamara de Gruyter, President of…

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Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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Democrats and Republicans are at odds nationally, as the continued government shutdown shows. But in Three Rivers, Michigan, local leaders are setting aside differences for the common goal of real problem-solving.Also: today’s stories, including how one scientist is turning marshes around in India, how the docuseries “Mr. Scorsese” probes the inner…

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Paul Goode: Implantable Glucose Monitoring—and a Neural Interface Twist 18:26

3d ago18:26

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In this episode, Paul Goode (Glucotrack) dives into the next wave of continuous glucose monitoring: an active, fully implantable CGM designed to deliver long-term, pacemaker-style reliability without external wearables. We discuss first-in-human progress, why implantables may change diabetes care at home, and a fascinating neural angle—how similar …

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Saturday, October 18, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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The volume of U.S. military hardware headed to Puerto Rico suggests an escalation of the Trump administration’s military campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The president says land strikes might follow.Also: today’s stories, including a look at the state of Indigenous rights in Bolivia; how some French voters still have faith in g…

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Asking the ‘Why’ Questions

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You can’t go home again. Except maybe you can, for an open-hearted second look that applies lessons in listening gained during years of immersion abroad. Scott Baldauf, a Monitor staff reporter who’s been operating at a distance for decades, talks about the early days of his new U.S.-based gig as America correspondent, about his philosophy and proc…

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Friday, October 17, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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As the Justice Department moves to indict people President Donald Trump says have done him wrong, the weaponization of the legal system is pushing the country into uncharted waters.Also: today’s stories, including how Donald Trump is trying to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after his success with a Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal, whether Turkish Pre…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: Koln 75; Lurker; Cloud 16:04

7d ago16:04

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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865: This Could Unlock Solar for 23 MILLION Property Owners (and Renters) 1:06:56

9d ago1:06:56

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Why are millions of apartment rooftops still empty while single-family homes cash in on solar savings? Turns out it’s an accounting problem – a technicality known in industry jargon as the “split-incentive” and it’s keeping renters and property owners sidelined from benefiting from distributed generation on-site. In this episode, we sit down with D…

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Thursday, October 16, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a case asking whether using race as a factor in congressional maps violates the Constitution. If the justices decide it is, the decision could open the door for Republican politicians to redraw maps to eliminate a number of Black and Hispanic districts.Also: today’s stories, including whether tungsten minin…

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Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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With harvest under way, China’s response to President Trump’s tariffs has frozen America’s soybean farmers out of the huge Chinese market. A soybean deal could lead to a broader agreement on trade.Also: today’s stories, including how Estonian women are aiding in their country’s defense through volunteer reservist forces, how U.S. immigration enforc…

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864: Michael Chanin: Building a 100-Year Clean Energy Company 20:29

9d ago20:29

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From firehouses to jails to major manufacturing hubs, Cherry Street Energy is redefining what it means to build a distributed power plant—and they’re just getting started. CEO Michael Chanin returns to SunCast to unpack Cherry Street’s explosive growth across the Southeast, including why customers trust them more than their actual local utilities, …

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Saturday, October 11, 2025 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

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The organization Shakespeare Behind Bars has helped violent offenders rediscover their humanity. In this story, two murderers come to “be wise hereafter / And seek for grace.”Also: today’s stories, including how China’s new climate pledge marks a modest step forward for one of the most populous countries in the world, whether Europe can retain its …

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: Among Neighbors; If I Had Legs I’d Kick You; Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale 14:48

13d ago14:48

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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863: Unlocking Tesla's Secrets to Battery Firefighting: An Insider's Story 1:01:03

15d ago1:01:03

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Landfill explosions, lithium-ion firestorms, and CIA briefings—today’s guest has seen it all - or so she thought! Kathleen McCaffery’s illustrious firefighting career includes crawling through rubble in Haiti, leading battalions as one of the first female fire chiefs in North America, and even rewriting Tesla’s global fire safety strategy. This epi…

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862: Debunking Battery Myths: How Software-Driven Innovations Will Power the Future 24:46

16d ago24:46

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More batter density = more value, right? Not so fast. In this episode, we challenge the hype around energy storage density—and reveal what really drives value for battery storage assets. At RE+ 2025, Nico Johnson got to connect with two powerhouse product leaders from Wärtsilä Energy Storage: Neha Sinha, Head of Hardware Portfolio, and Ruchira Shah…

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861: 1 in 5 Solar Panels Are Failing — Here’s Why 7:42

19d ago7:42

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1 in 5 solar panels are failing—and it’s not because of hail. A quiet reliability crisis is cracking open across the industry, and it starts with glass. In this eye-opening conversation, Nico Johnson sits down with Tristan Erion-Lorico (Kiwa PVEL) and Dr. Teresa Barnes (NREL) to uncover why glass breakage has become the #1 cause of solar module fai…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: One Battle After Another; Strange Harvest; AKA Charlie Sheen 16:19

21d ago16:19

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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860: Why Natural Gas is Surging Again (and What It Means for Solar); Justin Locke | Global Energy Monitor 1:03:00

21d ago1:03:00

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Is the world’s most powerful energy data set hiding in plain sight? Justin Locke, former RMI leader and now Executive Director of Global Energy Monitor, joins Nico to uncover how real data—not just rhetoric—is shaping the future of global energy. If you've ever looked at a chart on coal retirements, gas pipelines, or solar growth, chances are it ca…

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Ep. 47: Dr. Christian Groth – Orthodontist on Lab Innovation, Deep Bites & Aligner Brand Agnosticism 1:07:46

26d ago1:07:46

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Dr. Christian Groth is a Detroit-area orthodontist and innovator helping lead the charge in digital orthodontics. As co-founder of Motor City Lab Works, he’s made waves in 3D printing, aligner therapy, and lab–practice integration — all while maintaining an independent approach to innovation. On this episode, you will discover: How a forward-thinki…

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New World Screwworm with USDA's Dr. Rosemary Sifford 30:48

22d ago30:48

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Send us a text This month we sat down with Dr. Rosemary Sifford - Deputy Administrator and Chief Veterinary Officer for USDA-APHIS to discuss a zoonotic health threat that is creeping closer to the United States: New World Screwworm. Dr. Sifford explains what New World Screwworm is, why it is a threat to US livestock, and what veterinarians should …

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859: Patrick Crane’s Plan to Cut Solar Costs in Half 48:46

23d ago48:46

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The $2/Watt Challenge: Can We Get There? Is $2/watt solar a pipe dream—or a real target we can hit in the next few years? Patrick Crane, Global Head of Growth at OpenSolar (and solar pioneer since Sungevity), says not only is it possible, but we already know how to get there. In this conversation, Patrick breaks down the most bloated parts of the c…

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858: This Nonprofit is Revolutionizing Solar Permitting | Nick Josefowitz 32:42

27d ago32:42

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Why is solar so expensive in the U.S.? Nick Josefowitz has the receipts—and a plan to fix it. In this episode, we dig into one of the largest hidden reasons rooftop solar costs $35,000+ for the average American homeowner (while in Australia it's closer to $6K). Spoiler: It’s not the panels—it’s the paperwork. Nick is the founder of Permit Power, a …

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: Spinal Tap II: The End Continues; The Baltimorons; Listers: A Glimpse into Extreme Birdwatching 15:59

28d ago15:59

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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857: The Unofficial Playbook to NYC Climate Week | Silas Mähner & Steven Zhang 44:00

30d ago44:00

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Planning to attend NYC Climate Week? Already there!? When Nico realized he had to make a last-minute trip to NYC this week during climate week, he reached out to two friends who could give him a solid education on what to expect (and where to focus) for this week’s NYC Week. Whether you’re flying in from the West Coast or crossing borough lines, th…

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You Can’t Sneak Up on a Wolverine

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We’re back from our hiatus! In this episode, we talk with Mark Sappenfield, the Monitor’s former top editor turned roaming Europe reporter and watcher of global trends. Find out what that shift has been like, and what went into the framing of his highly readable recent story on Finland’s grassroots defense strategy – a talker in the newsroom and be…

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856: Ending Energy Poverty: Nedjip Tozun’s Vision to Reach 1 Billion Lives 53:55

1M ago53:55

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Nearly 1 billion people still live without reliable electricity. Nedjip Tozun co-founded d.light to change that—starting with a $10 solar lantern and growing into one of the world’s most influential off-grid solar companies. Today, d.light has already impacted hundreds of millions of lives and aspires to reach 1 billion by 2030, bringing affordable…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: Robert Redford, 1936-2025 16:05

1M ago16:05

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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855: Jigar Shah on 25:15

1M ago25:15

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The Wake-Up Call We Can’t Ignore Clean energy isn’t losing the economics game—it’s losing the political one. Jigar Shah returns to SunCast live at RE+ 2025 with an urgent message: the energy transition will stall unless we, as an industry, stop underestimating the role of political power. The economics are there. The technology is there. What’s mis…

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854: RE+ Day 3: Dean Solon, American-Made Inverters, Clean Tech for Native Americans, and More! 47:58

1M ago47:58

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Straight from Day 3 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up wraps up an incredible week of insights from the clean energy leaders driving the industry forward. Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, and Sylvia Leyva Martinez close out the final day with bold takeaways, surprising perspectives, and a few laughs. From …

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: The Roses; The Thursday Murder Club; She Rides Shotgun 15:59

1M ago15:59

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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853: RE+ Day 2: SEIA Politics, Long-Duration Storage, Future Homes, String Inverters & More 58:15

1M ago58:15

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Straight from Day 2 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up continues our mission to bring you insights from the leaders shaping the clean energy transition. Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, and Sylvia Martinez welcome industry voices who share fresh perspectives on the policies, technologies, and strategies pu…

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852: RE+ Day 1: Jigar Shah, Storage Tech, New EVs, Steel Manufacturing and Much More 1:03:21

1M ago1:03:21

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Straight from Day 1 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up brings you a fast-moving mix of leaders shaping the clean energy transition—from domestic steel to EVs, hydrogen, DG, big-grid storage, and much more. Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton and Sylvia Martinez welcome leaders, influencers and clean tech podca…

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Producer Spotlight: Heritage Sheep Breeds & On-Farm Research with Richard Marlar 43:41

1M ago43:41

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Send us a text This month we sit down with Richard Marlar, a physician and president of the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association to talk about heritage livestock breeds - specifically the Navajo-Churro - which have been integral to the settlement and development of the US. Richard also discusses Split Upper Eyelid Disorder (SUED), a developmental disord…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley; Honey Don’t!; Caught Stealing 16:03

2M ago16:03

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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851: Batteries vs. Peakers: [Revisiting] How Fluence Is Redefining the Grid 41:26

2M ago41:26

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“Storage Was Never Just an Add-On” What if we’ve been thinking too small about batteries? In this rebroadcast from RE+, Kiran Kumaraswamy, former VP of Growth at Fluence, makes a bold case for reimagining energy storage—not just as a renewable add-on, but as a foundational tool for grid transformation. Kiran breaks down how the energy storage secto…

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850: RE+ 2025 Survival Guide: What You Need to Know Before You Get to Vegas (with 6 expert insiders!) 1:08:30

2M ago1:08:30

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Heading to Las Vegas for RE+ 2025? This episode is your ultimate field guide. We’ve got the inside scoop from SunCast host Nico Johnson and some of the industry leaders shaping this year’s event—from Abby Hopper’s optimistic industry outlook to Jigar Shah’s no-nonsense advice for finding your tribe in the midst of uncertainty. You’ll also hear from…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: Relay; Night Always Comes; Caught by the Tides 15:58

2M ago15:58

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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849: From Solar to Storage: Jigar Shah’s VPP Vision Revisited 40:58

2M ago40:58

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"You're not in the solar industry anymore." That bold declaration from Jigar Shah at RE+ 2023 sparked debate, shifted mindsets—and now, two years later, is being realized. Nico Johnson recently revisited the discussion with Jigar for a current-day check-in before diving into the full, original conversation that started it all. As the then-Director …

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848: Can America Lead Solar Cell Manufacturing? Arndt Lutz, EliTe Solar 13:36

2M ago13:36

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Is the U.S. solar manufacturing boom standing on a hollow foundation? In this live episode from PV ModuleTech USA, Nico sits down with solar industry veteran Arndt E. Lutz, a global exec who’s seen it all—from Germany’s early solar rise to hydrogen innovation and now leading EliTe Solar’s manufacturing efforts. Despite America’s massive build-out o…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: Highest 2 Lowest; Superman 15:02

2M ago15:02

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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847: The Startup Disrupting HVAC Like Tesla Disrupted Cars | Stephen Lake of Jetson 1:05:51

2M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Heat pumps are the EVs of HVAC—so why aren’t we all using them? Stephen Lake, a highly successful engineer turned climate-tech entrepreneur, is here to explain why heating and cooling is the most overlooked piece of the decarbonization puzzle. After selling his last company to Google, Stephen founded Jetson to tackle one of the biggest—and slowest-…

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846: Balancing State Energy Goals with Federal Uncertainty | Doug Scott, Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Chair 22:08

2M ago22:08

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A new wave of power demand is here. Is the grid ready? And can States keep up? Doug Scott, now in his second term as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, joins Nico to share how Illinois is navigating the accelerating pace of the energy transition. From integrating energy storage to regulating gigawatt-scale data centers, the ICC isn’t mov…

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Fabio Boi on Corticale’s Ultra-Dense, Minimally Invasive Brain Interfaces 28:43

2M ago28:43

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In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, I speak with Fabio Boi, Co-Founder and CSO of Corticale, an Italian neurotech company that is redefining the landscape of brain-computer interfaces. Corticale is pioneering a new generation of minimally invasive, CMOS-based neural implants that can record from thousands of neurons simultaneously—introd…

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David Sterritt with Films in Focus: East of Wall; Weapons; Harvest 15:45

2M ago15:45

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David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›