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Everybody in the Pool

Molly Wood

Enough with the "problem porn." We all know the climate crisis is a big deal. This podcast is entirely about solutions and the people who are building them. Entrepreneurs are inventing miracles; the business world is shifting; individuals are overhauling their lives; an entirely new economy is being born. Don't be the last one in.

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 33 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • #152
    Friday · 34 min

    E152: There’s Still Money in the Climate Tech Banana Stand

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, a returning guest is staying the course on climate tech—even as investors and attention pivot toward AI. Mike Schroepfer, the former Facebook CTO and founder of Gigascale Capital, last joined us in episode 77 to talk about the technology trends making a cleaner future possible. Now he’s back with a new $250 million fund and more evidence for his central thesis: the clean option can also be the cheaper, better option. The challenge is getting it built and into customers’ hands. Schrep explains why factory-built technologies like solar panels and batteries keep getting cheaper, and how those falling costs unlock much more than we initially imagine—from electric trucks that cost less to operate to a more resilient, distributed energy system. We talk about simpler solar installations, cleaner rare-earth processing, next-generation turbines, and fusion, along with the determined founders working to turn those technologies into competitive businesses. We also get into the complicated relationship between AI and climate. The data-center boom creates enormous demand for new power, but the rush to build is driving investment in gas generation before cleaner alternatives are ready at scale. Schrep shares why that timing mismatch worries him—and why accelerating deployment matters so much. Plus, he’s getting into the storytelling game with Field Trips, a new YouTube series taking viewers behind the scenes at labs and factories to meet the people building what’s next. Think fusion, electric trucks, robots, and a microreactor that traveled from Los Angeles to Idaho on a truck. It’s a conversation about grounded optimism, real urgency, and making the clean choice the easy choice. Links: Watch Field Trips: https://www.youtube.com/@watchfieldtrips Gigascale Capital: https://gigascale.com/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #151
    October 22 · 36 min

    E151: Turning Climate Concern Into Votes

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, we talk about one of the most direct climate actions available to all of us: voting. Nathaniel Stinnett, founder and executive director of the Environmental Voter Project, explains why the climate movement doesn’t just have a persuasion problem—it has a turnout problem. Millions of people already care deeply about climate and the environment, but don’t consistently vote, even as elections shape decisions about clean energy, pollution, and the future of climate policy. The Environmental Voter Project identifies these infrequent and non-voters using polling, publicly available voter files, and predictive models, then tests ways to help them show up. Stinnett says the organization identified 11.2 million registered environmentalists who did not vote in the 2024 presidential election. Its nonpartisan approach focuses on behavior change rather than changing minds or promoting candidates: randomized trials help determine which messages and outreach—postcards, calls, canvassing, direct mail, and digital ads—actually increase turnout. Some of the most effective messages are also counterintuitive. Instead of arguing that one vote could decide an election, the project uses social cues, reminders that peers are voting, and practical information that makes voting feel easier. Stinnett shares the group’s reported turnout gains in presidential, statewide, and local elections, why local races can have major consequences for climate policy, and how a consistent electorate can signal to politicians that climate leadership matters. We also talk about barriers to voting, the value of showing up in every election, and how listeners can volunteer to help turn climate concern into political participation. Links: Environmental Voter Project: https://www.environmentalvoter.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #150
    October 15 · 29 min

    E150: IONATE and Giving the Grid a Brain

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, let’s talk about the grid—the biggest machine in the world, which we are asking to do a whole lot more than it was built to do. Rooftop solar sends power back. Electric vehicles create sudden spikes in demand. Heat pumps, factories, and AI data centers need more electricity. And the poles and wires in the middle? We can’t exactly unplug them and start over. My guest is Luca Mezossy-Dona, co-founder and chief growth officer of IONATE, which is building hardware and software to give the grid a brain. Its Hybrid Intelligent Transformer takes a familiar, century-old building block and adds the ability to see what’s happening around it and adjust voltage in real time. Luca explains how combining a traditional transformer core with precise power electronics can help grid operators handle the peaks and valleys of modern electricity use—and how a network of these devices can make the whole system more flexible and resilient. We also get into the climate payoff: in IONATE’s modeled grid studies, the technology enabled an average of 33 percent more distributed energy resources to connect, 25 percent more power through existing poles and wires, and a 6 percent reduction in losses compared with traditional technology. The idea is to connect more clean energy and electrified demand, waste less power, and get more out of the infrastructure we already have instead of rebuilding everything on day one. Plus, how a neuroscientist became a grid nerd—and why none of our shiny new technologies work if you unplug them. In the second half, we talk about deployments with utilities in Europe and industrial customers like General Motors, why factories and data centers are essentially mini grids behind the meter, and the difference between seeing a problem and having the tools to respond. We also explore the business case for smarter transformers, what cascading blackouts tell us about resilience, and why the equipment we install today will shape the grid for the next generation. Grid operators don’t necessarily have to buy IONATE’s technology—but they do have to do something. Links: IONATE: https://www.ionate.energy/ About IONATE and the team: https://www.ionate.energy/about All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #149
    October 8 · 37 min

    E149: Shower Beer and the Future of Water Reuse

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, would you drink a beer made from somebody else’s shower water? I did. They cleaned it! Like, a lot. But the beer is just the attention-grabbing headline for a much bigger climate solution: capturing the water our buildings use, treating it, and using it again instead of sending it down the drain. My guest is Aaron Tartakovsky, co-founder and CEO of Epic Cleantec, which puts water recycling systems into large buildings. Aaron explains how the technology works, why drinking-quality water doesn’t need to be used to flush toilets or cool office towers, and how Epic’s system at San Francisco’s Salesforce Tower recycles about eight million gallons of water a year. We also get into the company’s unlikely origin story—from a high-tech pooper scooper to the Gates Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet Challenge—and how Shower Hour IPA and Laundry Club Kölsch became tasty tools for getting people past the “yuck factor.” In the second half, we talk about what it takes to make water reuse standard equipment: why new construction is easier than retrofitting existing buildings, where retrofits already make sense, and how water and sewer bills can drive adoption. Plus, the policies helping this technology spread, the resistance from some utilities, and what the history of elevators, air conditioning, and rooftop solar can teach us about turning an unfamiliar technology into something we wonder how we ever lived without. Links: Epic Cleantec: https://epiccleantec.com/ Shower Hour IPA and Laundry Club Kölsch: https://epiccleantec.com/recycled-water-beers Watch Molly try the shower beer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollywoodpro/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #148
    September 24 · 32 min

    E148: New York City’s Big Bet on Climate Tech

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re heading to Governors Island in New York Harbor, where a new anchor institution for climate solutions is taking shape. The New York Climate Exchange is a nonprofit backed by a coalition of universities, community organizations, corporations, and the City of New York, all working to make the city a front door for climate action and innovation. My guest is Shaina Horowitz, Director of Program Innovation and Acceleration at the New York Climate Exchange. Shaina explains how the Exchange is building both a physical climate campus and a year-round platform for climate tech founders, researchers, students, community groups, and policymakers. We talk about why New York is such a natural home for urban resilience work, how the Exchange’s Climate Tech Fellowship helps very early-stage innovators bridge the lab-to-market gap, and why communication, community engagement, and environmental justice have to be part of a climate startup’s strategy from the very beginning. We also get into what the Exchange is showcasing during Climate Week, including its newest fellowship cohort focused on energy innovation and urban resilience; why New York’s density, financial power, public-sector experience, and very real climate risks make it different from Silicon Valley; and what kinds of technologies are coming next, from long-lived batteries for environmental sensing to modular heat engines and compact turbines. Plus, Shaina shares the vision for the Governors Island campus itself: the largest mass timber project in New York, an undulating solar canopy, and a public invitation to see what climate solutions can look like in practice. LINKS: The New York Climate Exchange: https://www.nyclimateexchange.org/ Shaina Horowitz: https://www.nyclimateexchange.org/shaina-horowitz Governors Island: https://www.govisland.com/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #147
    September 17 · 33 min

    E147: Pila Energy’s Plug-in Home Batteries For Everyone

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re talking about batteries — one of my favorite topics — but not the expensive, contractor-installed, whole-home kind that requires permits, electrical-panel upgrades, and homeownership. Pila Energy is building a plug-in, modular battery system designed to bring backup power, bill management, and grid flexibility to renters, condo owners, small businesses, and basically anyone with a wall outlet. Founder and CEO Cole Ashman, who previously worked on Tesla Powerwall and led product at Span, explains how Pila’s battery “nodes” can sit next to the appliances that matter most — a fridge, Wi-Fi router, sump pump, window AC, or media console — and provide backup power during outages, shift energy use away from expensive peak hours, and even help utilities manage grid stress through virtual power plant programs. We also get into why the product works locally even when the internet is down, how the batteries are designed for durability and safety, and why distributed batteries could become a whole new layer of climate resilience infrastructure. Links: Pila Energy: https://www.pilaenergy.com/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #146
    September 10 · 33 min

    E146: Swift Solar’s Next-Gen Solar for Earth and Space

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re talking about solar: already the cheapest and fastest-growing source of energy on the planet, and still very much a frontier for innovation. Swift Solar is working on next-generation solar technology called perovskite-silicon tandems, which stack two different solar materials to capture more of the sun’s energy and push panels past the efficiency limits of conventional silicon. Founder and CEO Joel Jean explains why even “solved” climate technologies still need to get better, how perovskites could make solar panels more efficient, cheaper, lighter, and easier to deploy, and why Swift is taking a two-step path to market: first building proven, bankable silicon cell manufacturing in the U.S., then using that foundation to scale higher-performance tandem cells. We also get into the geopolitics and supply-chain challenge of domestic solar manufacturing, and why space — yes, space — could become a surprisingly important early market for next-gen solar. Links: Swift Solar: https://www.swiftsolar.com/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 3 · 35 min

    E35 RE-AIR: The Future of Urban Mobility is Flying Trams

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re going way back in time to a company we first interviewed way back in 2024 — it was futuristic then, and still is. Swyft Cities is a startup that spun out of Google and is trying to reinvent urban mobility. And by that I mean they’re developing modular electric tram systems that would take passengers around dense urban areas, hospital or college campuses, or maybe, you know, Google, on a series of cables suspended above buildings and streets. This means reducing the number of cars on the road, sure, but it also means we can build new cities, housing developments, and urban centers that have density without resource-hogging skyscrapers, and which don’t need a ton of extra land for parking and multi-lane highways and such. Wild? Sure. Doable? We’ll see. Interesting? Absolutely. With Swyft Cities founder and CEO Jeral Poskey. Links: Swyft Cities: https://swyftcities.com/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 27 · 34 min

    E82 RE-AIR: Your Banking, Your Climate Superpower

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re revisiting one of the most interesting and impactful tools in the individual and corporate arsenal! The bummer news: your bank deposits could be funding the climate crisis? But we’d never give you bummer news without a solution! This week, Molly Wood speaks with Paul Moinester, founder of Topofinance, who reveals the shocking climate impact of conventional banking. Discover how just $10,000 in a major bank generates emissions equivalent to driving 10,000 miles yearly, and why moving your money to climate-friendly banks might be the easiest climate action you've never considered. Paul explains how corporations' banking emissions often exceed all their other emissions combined, and introduces innovative solutions that make greener banking both simple and profitable. Links: Topo Finance Paul Moinester All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 20 · 30 min

    E91 RE-AIR: Saving Federal Climate Data with Jonathan Gilmour

    This episode is a re-air of Molly’s conversation with Jonathan Gilmour about the urgent effort to preserve federal climate data—and why that data matters even more as climate risks, public health threats, and climate tech needs keep growing. Since our last conversation, Jonathan and team have launched a nonprofit called The Impact Project, and possibly inspired the folks at climate.us to rebuild what used to be the federal government’s home for climate data and resources. In this episode, we cover: Why federal climate data is essential infrastructure for researchers, startups, insurers, policymakers, and communities How government datasets help predict extreme weather, track public health risks, and guide climate resilience planning What happens when long-standing climate data infrastructure is defunded, removed, or made harder to access Jonathan Gilmour’s work with a team racing to preserve vulnerable datasets and keep them available for public use Why protecting climate data is not just an academic concern, but a practical necessity for building climate solutions Links: Jonathan Gilmour - Website The Impact Project: https://theimpactproject.org/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 13 · 32 min

    E99 RE-AIR: Mapping the Ocean Economy with Tim Janssen

    This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re revisiting a conversation about ocean intelligence — especially relevant in light of the US’s recent attempts to dismantle hundreds of ocean sensors around the world. Despite covering more than 70% of the Earth, the ocean remains one of the least understood parts of our climate system — and that knowledge gap has huge consequences for weather prediction, global commerce, and climate resilience. Our guest is Tim Janssen, co-founder and CEO of Sofar Ocean, a company building the world’s largest privately deployed network of ocean sensors. Their inexpensive, solar-powered Spotter buoys collect real-time data on waves, weather, and water conditions — information that fuels better climate models, safer shipping routes, and more sustainable ocean economies. We talk about: The massive “ocean data gap” and why it hinders weather and climate forecasting How Sofar’s 2,500+ Spotter buoys are creating the largest private ocean sensor network Wayfinder, Sofar’s “Google Maps for ships,” and how it saves fuel and cuts emissions Why more ocean intelligence is critical for industries from aquaculture to shipping Partnerships with researchers, governments, and nonprofits to democratize ocean data The bigger vision: turning ocean information into a foundation for climate solutions From global trade to Pacific Island communities, ocean intelligence has the potential to save money, reduce emissions, and protect vulnerable coastlines. Janssen explains why data may be the most important climate solution of all. Links: Sofar Ocean: https://www.sofarocean.com/ All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #145
    July 30 · 36 min

    E145: How Much of the Great Wealth Transfer Could go to Climate?

    Philanthropic director Abby Axelrod-Wunderman of Fiduciary Trust International joins Molly Wood to talk about the overlooked role of philanthropy in funding climate solutions. Even though only a tiny share of global giving currently goes toward climate, Abby explains why that definition is expanding to include health, resilience, infrastructure, food systems, education, and community well-being—and how younger donors and the great wealth transfer could shift priorities. They dig into donor-advised funds, private foundations, unrestricted giving, climate as a lens across issue areas, and why philanthropy can act as catalytic capital by taking early risks that government and business often can’t. In this episode, we cover: Why climate philanthropy still receives only a small fraction of total global giving, even as climate impacts touch nearly every other issue area How wealth advisors help donors connect their values to climate-related giving through health, education, food, agriculture, resilience, and infrastructure Abby’s path into climate philanthropy through a family foundation in South Florida, where the conversation has shifted from “is climate change real?” to which solutions can scale Why philanthropy cannot solve the climate crisis alone, but can act as catalytic capital by piloting ideas, funding advocacy, and taking early risks How donor values, timelines, resources, and risk tolerance shape philanthropic strategy Fundable climate strategies Abby sees gaining traction, including clean energy, batteries, methane, food systems, conservation, restoration, resilience, public engagement, and education Why younger generations are often initiating climate giving conversations—and how those interests can pull older generations into the work How donor-advised funds work, why they can be simpler than private foundations, and why some donors value the ability to give anonymously The debate over whether donor-advised funds can become “holding cells” for charitable money—and how education and advising can help move funds out the door The difference between restricted and unrestricted grants, and why flexibility and long-term support are especially important for climate-vulnerable regions How modern philanthropy may be moving toward a hybrid model that combines rigorous due diligence and metrics with trust-based, flexible giving Why the great wealth transfer, AI wealth creation, and a new generation of donors could create a major opportunity to move more money into climate solutions How to tell the broader climate story: climate is not a niche issue, but a lens through which to understand health, education, infrastructure, migration, air quality, heat, and community resilience Links: Fiduciary Trust International: https://www.fiduciarytrust.com/ Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #144
    July 23 · 27 min

    E144: Climate Storytelling Through Games, Art, and Joy

    Climate resilience planner and Earthworks host Marina Psaros joins Molly Wood to talk about why the old climate communication playbook—scary charts, technical jargon, and doom-heavy messaging—so often fails, and how creative mediums can help people imagine and build better futures. They dig into Marina’s work with the King Tides project, tabletop games, virtual reality, video games, and artists who are using beauty, play, and storytelling to make climate action feel more tangible, less overwhelming, and maybe even fun. In this episode, we cover: Why one-way climate communication, especially heavy science and “bummer” messaging, can shut people down instead of moving them to act How the King Tides project helped people see sea-level rise in their own communities through citizen science and local photography Why climate models can be useful but incomplete—and how community observations can help validate and improve them What tabletop games, classroom projects, and immersive experiences can teach us about making climate resilience more understandable Marina’s work at Unity Technologies, including funding games and projects that used real-world action, climate data, and storytelling How games like Pokémon Go, Ahi Kaa Rangers, Fathomverse, Minecraft climate challenges, and other playful tools can connect digital worlds with real-world conservation and climate action Why “not being cringe” matters when adults try to reach younger audiences through games and popular culture Marina’s podcast Earthworks, which highlights creatives using art, games, music, painting, and storytelling for climate solutions Why joy, beauty, nature, and creativity can sustain climate work when business and government fall short The case for valuing breathable air, weird animals, and a livable world without needing to justify them through a business rationale Links: Earthworks podcast: https://www.marinapsaros.com/earthworks Marina Psaros: https://www.marinapsaros.com/ Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #143
    July 16 · 30 min

    E143: Renewable Energy as a Tool for Peace

    Energy Peace Partners co-founder and managing director Sherwin Das joins Molly Wood to explain how renewable energy can do more than cut emissions—it can also support peace, security, and economic opportunity in some of the hardest places in the world to build. They dig into the links between fossil fuel dependence and conflict, why clean power matters differently in parts of Africa where electricity access is still limited, and how a new kind of renewable energy credit is helping unlock investment for solar mini-grids, run-of-river hydro, streetlights, hospitals, and jobs. In this episode, we cover: Why fossil fuels and conflict are so often connected—from global wars and supply shocks to local fuel supply chains controlled or taxed by armed groups Energy Peace Partners’ focus on countries with low electrification, high climate vulnerability, and conflict risk, including South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Chad, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo How renewable energy can improve safety, extend business hours, power hospitals, and create alternatives to joining armed groups The Peace Renewable Energy Credit, or P-REC: a high-impact renewable energy credit designed to help finance clean power in places traditional REC markets have overlooked Why off-grid and distributed renewable energy systems in Africa needed a new approach to verification, financing, and impact measurement How corporate buyers including Microsoft and Google have helped unlock more than $1.6 million through P-REC purchases so far The new P-REC Aggregation Facility, backed by the African Development Bank and Nordic Development Fund, and its goal of supporting dozens of new projects and first-time electricity access for hundreds of thousands of people How Energy Peace Partners measures peace impact using community-level data, baseline surveys, and the Positive Peace Framework Why renewable energy success should be measured not just in megawatts and carbon avoided, but also in safety, income, jobs, health, education, and stability Links: Energy Peace Partners: https://energypeacepartners.com/ Peace Renewable Energy Credits: https://energypeacepartners.com/peace-rec/ Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #142
    July 9 · 32 min

    E142: The Hidden Climate Power of Local Politics

    Climate Cabinet founder and executive director Caroline Spears joins Molly Wood to explain why some of the most important climate decisions in America are happening far below the level of Congress—in mayor’s offices, public service commissions, land commissioner races, county commissions, state legislatures, and even obscure budget committees. They dig into how Climate Cabinet uses data science, AI, and on-the-ground intelligence to find and support overlooked state and local climate champions, and why data centers have suddenly become the hottest local energy-policy fight in the country. In this episode, we cover: Why state and local offices are often the real bottleneck for clean energy deployment Climate Cabinet’s “Moneyball” approach to climate politics: finding overlooked races and candidates with data science, AI, and local intelligence The climate power of local offices people may not think about, from municipal utility mayors and public service commissions to land commissioners, state legislatures, and budget committees How Climate Cabinet helps climate and clean-energy champions run, win, and govern with better policy support once they are in office The data center explosion: rising electricity demand, possible cost-shifting to families and businesses, opaque deals, and lawmakers signing NDAs with developers (yes, REALLY!) The big picture: The future of U.S. climate policy may depend less on the headline fights in Washington, D.C., and more on the overlooked people and rooms where energy, transportation, land use, housing, insurance, and infrastructure decisions actually get made. Links: Climate Cabinet: https://climatecabinet.org/ Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 2 · 32 min

    July 4 re-air: E55 and the power of climate activism

    This week, in honor of the July 4 holiday and a commitment to the importance of free speech, activism, and the power of a citizenry to determine its own future, I want to revisit a conversation from way back in season 2, with Dana R. Fisher. Fisher is the author of “Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action,” and in this conversation, we talked about the importance of activism in addressing the climate crisis. She explains that while the state and the market have not been able to solve the crisis, civil society has a crucial role to play. Fisher highlights the role of the radical flank, which engages in attention-getting actions to raise awareness and expand the movement (like throwing orange cornstarch on Stonehenge). She emphasizes that these actions are nonviolent and aim to draw more people who are sympathetic to the cause. Fisher also discusses the need for a mass movement that pushes back against fossil fuel interests and works through various channels, including the electoral process and lobbying. And we discuss what it takes to turn attention-getting actions into mass mobilization. Links: Saving Ourselves, the book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/saving-ourselves/9780231557870 Buy from the publisher with discount code CUP20 All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #141
    June 26 · 35 min

    E141: How Utah Might Crack Next-Generation Geothermal

    Utah Clean Energy climate scientist and energy analyst Logan Mitchell joins Molly Wood to explain how a deeply conservative state can still become a proving ground for clean energy—by focusing on affordability, reliability, and coalition-building. They dig into the rapid rise of next‑generation geothermal in Utah (including the DOE’s FORGE project and private-sector follow‑on development), why geothermal could deliver clean firm power faster than new gas turbines or nuclear, and why this is one of the rare climate technologies with real bipartisan momentum. In this episode, we cover: Why Utah has become a surprising clean-energy leader (and why “business-friendly” permitting can accelerate deployment) How Utah Clean Energy works in practice: intervening in utility regulatory dockets, stress-testing long-term resource plans, and advocating for an affordable, reliable, clean power mix The grid value proposition: geothermal as clean firm power that complements wind/solar—especially during “quiet, cold” post-storm stretches when both wind and solar can underperform A plain-English breakdown of key grid terms: Baseload: power that runs steadily Dispatchable: power you can ramp up/down when needed Why geothermal may become more dispatchable (turn pumps off midday, produce more during high-price evening hours) Why Utah is the current hotspot: Public-private knowledge transfer from DOE’s FORGE research site to nearby commercial projects Streamlined, iterative permitting that reduces uncertainty for first-of-a-kind projects Strong geothermal resources across Utah and the broader West The scale and speed: a first ~100 MW phase expected to come online quickly, with expansion potential that rivals the footprint of major fossil plants—plus transmission constraints as the near-term limiter The politics: geothermal’s appeal across the aisle—jobs, energy security, reliability, and domestic know-how—and why keeping it “above the partisan fray” matters The workforce bridge: geothermal as a near 1:1 skills match with oil & gas subsurface expertise—extracting heat instead of hydrocarbons Why this matters (big picture): Next‑gen geothermal offers a credible path to fast, scalable, cost-competitive clean firm power—potentially filling the reliability gap that makes high-renewables grids harder to manage, while staying politically durable in places where climate language alone doesn’t land. Links: Utah Clean Energy: https://utahcleanenergy.org/ Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #140
    June 18 · 29 min

    E140: Inertia Enterprises (Part 2) — Annie Kritcher and the night ignition happened

    In part two of my two-part field trip to Livermore, California, I sit down with Inertia Enterprises’ third co-founder — Annie Kritcher, the chief scientist at Inertia and a longtime physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Annie was the lead designer behind the December 2022 National Ignition Facility (NIF) shot that achieved ignition — a self-heating fusion “burning plasma” that produced more fusion energy out than was delivered to the target. In this episode, Annie walks us through what it took to get there (spoiler: not one magical breakthrough), what “the ignition cliff” actually means, and why Inertia is betting that manufacturing and economics — not brand-new physics — is the fastest path to commercial fusion. We talk about: Annie’s path from nuclear engineering + plasma physics to becoming NIF’s lead designer on ignition platforms Why the historic ignition shot was the result of years of iteration (and a few duds along the way) The “pancake” shot (and the lab’s surprisingly extensive breakfast-food vocabulary for failed plasmas) What it felt like to get the 3:00am text — “I think we got ignition” — and why relief came before celebration Why many in the field had nearly given up on laser fusion ignition — and how close the NIF campaign came to being cut Why other fusion companies pursued different approaches: history, uncertainty, and the (very real) cost problem for lasers + targets The core commercialization challenge: scaling to high-repetition-rate shots (think “engine cycles”) and producing targets cheaply enough to fire millions per day Links: Inertia Enterprises: https://inertia.com/ Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • #139
    June 11 · 46 min

    E139: Make fusion energy, then repeat. Inertia Enterprises, Part 1

    Fusion has been “ten years away” for decades — but one corner of the field just crossed a line that changes the conversation. In December 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s National Ignition Facility achieved ignition: a self-sustaining fusion reaction that produced net energy. And they’ve repeated it. So what happens when you take the only fusion approach that’s proven to work, and focus less on new physics… and more on building the industrial supply chain to do it again and again, cheaply and reliably? You get a field trip! In part one of a two-part field trip to Livermore, California, Molly visits Inertia Enterprises’ “House of Fusion” to meet two of the company’s co-founders: Jeff Lawson (yes, that Jeff Lawson — founder of Twilio and majority owner of The Onion) on the business case for commercializing ignition, and why Inertia thinks the economics are finally ready. Mike Dunne, former Lawrence Livermore power-plant designer and Stanford professor, on what it takes to turn a lab breakthrough into a power plant — from a gigawatt-scale “engine” that can follow renewables on the grid, to building a million precision fuel targets a day. We talk about: What “ignition” actually means — and why it’s different from “fusion someday” Why Inertia is starting with the only physics regime that’s been proven to produce net fusion energy The two big bottlenecks: high-power diode lasers and mass-manufactured fusion targets How scaling semiconductor manufacturing could drive laser costs down (and why “1,000x” matters) What a fusion target is: a tiny fuel capsule inside a miniature “oven” (and why lead beats gold for economics) Why a fusion plant looks more like a high-RPM engine than a one-off experiment — and how that changes everything Potential early markets beyond electricity: high-temperature process heat for steel, cement, and fertilizer What it looks like to build a fusion company in Silicon Valley: Apple/Waymo-style process engineers, high-end metrology, and a Nerf gun used as a stand-in for high-speed target tracking Thunderdome. Yes, really. Links: Inertia Enterprises: https://inertia.com/ Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/ Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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