Energy Switch

Switch Energy Alliance

Energy and climate are intertwined, two of the most important topics in the world today. Yet listeners know very little about them. This podcast aims to change that. Energy Switch brings together two renowned experts from government, NGOs, academia, and industry, with differing perspectives on important energy and climate topics.These lively discussions are moderated by renowned energy scientist and communicator Dr. Scott Tinker. The podcast is produced, written, and directed by Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Harry Lynch.

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20 episodes
Updated Thursday

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Episodes20

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Thursday · 25 min
S8 E6: Arctic Climate
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. FOLLOW US ▷ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SwitchEnergyAlliance ▷ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SwitchEAlliance ▷ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/switchenergyalliance/ ▷ INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/switchenergyalliance ▷ WEBSITE: https://switchon.org/ About Switch Energy Alliance: Switch Energy Alliance is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to inspiring an energy-educated future that is objective, nonpartisan, and sensible. With over 300 energy education videos and resources, Switch Energy Alliance engages students and general viewers in a positive conversation to work collaboratively on energy challenges. Learn more: https://switchon.org/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SwitchEnergyAlliance
Thursday · 25 min
Arctic Climate
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.
Tuesday · 25 min
Energy PhDs
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.
July 23 · 25 min
Efficiency and Conservation
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.
July 21 · 25 min
Public Opinion on Climate
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.
July 16 · 25 min
Tribal Energy
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.
July 14 · 25 min
Senators Talk Energy
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.
February 17 · 25 min
King Coal
Coal is still the dominant source of electricity worldwide. That’s because it’s available domestically in many countries, and is cheap and easy to mine, transport and burn. But those benefits come with serious downsides: local air pollution and global CO2 emissions. We discuss with Dr. Rahul Tongia from the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, and Dr. Mark Thurber from Stanford University.
February 10 · 25 min
Investing in Alternative Energy
Twenty years ago, wind, solar, grid-scale batteries, and the powerlines to connect them were rare. Now they’re mainstream. Our two guests have been there since the beginning. We’ll hear how they’ve led alternative energy development and investment companies with great success. With Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy, and Michael Harrington, Chief Investment Officer for Actis.
February 4 · 25 min
Fertilizers
Fertilizer drives modern agriculture, to feed the world. It turns natural gas, nitrogen from the atmosphere, and mined minerals into plant nutrients, which end up on our plates to nourish our bodies -- but with large energy and greenhouse gas footprints. We’ll discuss benefits, challenges and potential solutions with Chrystel Monthean from Yara and Dr. Jason Haegele from ICL Group.
February 2 · 25 min
Air Quality in America
The Clean Air Act has reduced particulate matter pollution, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides, ushering in capture technologies that have improved air quality and health. Further improvements, however, may be difficult to achieve. With Dr. Tracey Holloway, from the University of Wisconsin and NASA, and Emily Schilling, a law partner at Holland & Hart.
January 29 · 25 min
Russian Energy
Russia’s energy exports fund its government and war efforts. It’s the world’s 2nd largest producer of oil and natural gas, behind the US, and has avoided energy sanctions through careful maneuvering. Because of its energy, Russia will continue to play an outsized role in global politics. With Dr. Margarita Balmaceda from Seton Hall and Harvard, and Dr. Caroline Kissane, Associate Dean at NYU.
January 26 · 25 min
Air Conditioning
Air conditioning has changed the world, allowing hot regions to develop, with increased comfort, health, and productivity. But these benefits come with challenges -- greater electricity demand and emissions. There are new ideas that could bring cooling to more people, with less impact. With Dr. Daniel Betts, CEO of Blue Frontier, and Dr. Chiara Delmastro from the International Energy Agency.
January 21 · 25 min
Extreme Weather part 2
Last episode, our experts referenced IPCC data to explain that heat, heat waves and precipitation are trending up. While floods, fires and storms are flat or down. However, in this episode we’ll see that risk and damages from these events have increased, and we’ll look at potential solutions. Again with acclaimed environmental journalist Andrew Revkin and climate scientist Dr. Patrick Brown.
January 19 · 25 min
Extreme Weather part 1
We often hear that climate change is driving extreme weather. To understand the trends, our guests dug into the IPCC data for heat waves and cold spells. Historic rainfall and current patterns. Storm frequency and intensity. What they reveal will surprise you. With Dr. Patrick Brown, climate scientist from Breakthrough Institute, and acclaimed environmental journalist Andrew Revkin.
January 14 · 25 min
Data Centers
Every text, email and social media post. Every digital photo, web search and credit card transaction. Every online purchase. Every streaming show. Nearly everything in our lives involves data coming in and out of data centers, with incredibly huge electricity demands. We discuss with Dr. Ayșe Coskun, from Boston University, and Josh Fluecke, who builds data centers for Syska Hennessy Group.
January 12 · 25 min
Unconventional Wisdom
Our guests argue against conventional wisdom, that oil companies must be part of decarbonization. That solar and wind will never replace them. And that we don’t value our environment enough to take meaningful action anyway. You may not agree, but you’ll still want to hear from Dr. Nate Hagens, of the Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future, and Tisha Schuller, CEO of Adamantine Energy.
Sep 25, 2025 · 25 min
Energy Subsidies
Subsidies support energy infrastructure and development to benefit consumers. And we pay for them. In tax credits for producers and investors. Direct payments and mandates for low carbon technology. Accelerated expense schedules for oil and gas. And R&D funding. We explore with Jonathan Lesser, President of Continental Economics, and Ryan Kellogg, Professor at the University of Chicago.
Sep 23, 2025 · 25 min
Grid-Scale Batteries
Large-scale batteries on our power grid could balance the intermittency of wind and solar, along with the normal irregularities of the grid. And they’re becoming ever more affordable. I’ll discuss the potential benefits and challenges with John Zahurancik, President of the Americas for Fluence, a battery storage company, and Paul Denholm, a Senior Energy Analyst at National Renewable Energy Lab.
Sep 18, 2025 · 25 min
Energy Justice
Energy is so intertwined with the functioning of society that it’s a basic need. Yet not all Americans have equal access to safe, reliable, affordable energy. We’ll discuss energy justice initiatives that aim to spread the benefits of energy to more Americans, with Margo Weisz, Executive Director of Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, and Monisha Shah from the EPA’s Solar For All program.

Energy Switch

Support the show

S8 E6: Arctic Climate

Arctic Climate

Energy PhDs

Efficiency and Conservation

Public Opinion on Climate

Tribal Energy

Senators Talk Energy

King Coal

Investing in Alternative Energy

Fertilizers

Air Quality in America

Russian Energy

Air Conditioning

Extreme Weather part 2

Extreme Weather part 1

Data Centers

Unconventional Wisdom

Energy Subsidies

Grid-Scale Batteries

Energy Justice