Senators Talk Energy

S08 E01 • Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 • Apr 7 • 27m

Energy and climate have become increasingly partisan, resulting in slow, or no, political progress. Our guests discuss subsidies, climate and energy strategy, recall a time when senators collaborated more than they conspired, and how they might come together again to help solve today’s energy and climate challenges. With former Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Joe Manchin.

Tribal Energy

S08 E02 • Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 • Apr 14 • 27m

There are 10 million Native Americans in the U.S. Those on reservations are often the last customers on the power line, getting the worst service at the highest prices. But many tribes are working to fix this, building diverse energy projects on tribal lands that could change their future. With Cheri Smith, CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, and Ken Ahmann, COO of Colusa Indian Energy.

Public Opinion on Climate

S08 E03 • Tuesday, Apr 21, 2026 • Apr 21 • 27m

Two veteran pollsters tell us not what they think, but what we think -- Democrats, Republicans and Independents -- about the environment, climate and energy. Some of their insights will certainly surprise you. Featuring Ashley Grosse, Executive Vice President at YouGov, and Alec Tyson, Senior Vice President at Ipsos Public Affairs, two leading survey and data companies.

Efficiency and Conservation

S08 E04 • Tuesday, Apr 28, 2026 • Apr 28 • 27m

Using less energy saves money and can even reduce prices. It also reduces emissions and frees up energy for other uses without building more power plants and power lines. We discuss the benefits to consumers, businesses and utilities with Maggie Molina, Executive Director of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, and Laurie Wiegand-Jackson, CEO of Utility Advantage.

Energy PhDs

S08 E05 • Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • May 5 • 27m

Two very promising PhD candidates discuss their energy research, federal funding cuts and how they may affect the academic and science environments today and tomorrow, and their job prospects and future careers. With Kelsey Richardson, pursuing her PhD in Chemical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara, and Teagan Reasch, PhD candidate in Energy and Environmental Policy at Ohio State.

Arctic Climate

S08 E06 • Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • May 12 • 27m

Unreleased

The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet. Melting sea ice has opened northern shipping lanes but exposes more water to the warming sun. Melting land ice raises sea levels. Changing weather can bring cold air south to the rest of us. We’ll look at these with research scientists Nancy Fresco from the University of Alaska and Twila Moon from UC Boulder.

Shipping, part 1

S08 E07 • Tuesday, May 19, 2026 • May 19 • 27m

Unreleased

Shipping brings us almost every product because it’s the lowest cost of any transport. This makes it extremely important globally, yet it faces many challenges, especially in the U.S., where the shipbuilding industry has nearly stagnated. We’ll hear insider perspectives from Anna Silva, Manager of Cruise Ops at Port Everglades Terminal, and Margaret Doyle, Director of Transparensea Fuels.

Shipping, part 2

S08 E08 • Tuesday, May 26, 2026 • May 26 • 27m

Unreleased

In part 1, we learned the basics of the industry. Now we look at CO2 emissions and the UN’s goals to reduce them, alternative low-carbon fuels and challenges to adopt those. We’ll hear what effects that might have on the industry, again with expert guests Margaret Doyle, a Director of Transparensea Fuels, and Anna Silva, Manager of Cruise Ops at the Port Everglades Terminal.

Ecomodernism vs Degrowth

S08 E09 • Tuesday, Jun 16, 2026 • Jun 16 • 27m

Unreleased

Degrowth advocates say we’re overusing Earth’s resources, which will degrade living standards and harm the environment, so we must reduce. Ecomodernists say we’re fine: Technology, agriculture and energy will raise living standards while demanding less of nature. We discuss with Ted Nordhaus, co-founder of Breakthrough Institute, and Josh Farley, an economist from the University of Vermont.

Solar and Wind: Success or Failure?

S08 E10 • Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 • Jun 23 • 27m

Unreleased

We hear conflicting information about solar and wind energy. They’re the cheapest form of electricity. But they make electricity more expensive. They’re the fastest growing electricity. But they make only a small portion of total energy. Are they the future? Or uncompetitive without subsidy? Dan Kammen, energy scientist from Johns Hopkins, and Robert Bryce, energy author and journalist, debate.