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High Energy Planet

Katie Auth & Rose Mutiso

A podcast on about new ideas to solve global energy poverty — and the people behind them. Hosted by Katie Auth & Rose Mutiso at the Energy for Growth Hub.

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20 episodes
Avg 40 min
English

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S4 · E9
Jul 2, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Matthew Yglesias: Foreign Aid, Climate Politics, and Plastic Straws
For the last episode of Season 4, Rose and Katie are joined by Matthew Yglesias, journalist and author of the Substack, Slow Boring. They cover everything from the value and political future of US foreign assistance, to climate politics and the new “abundance” movement, and how we navigate a rapidly changing media ecosystem.
S4 · E8
Apr 16, 2025 · 39 min
Ken Opalo: Why Growth Must Be at the Center of Africa’s Future
Ken Opalo, associate professor at Georgetown University and author of An Africanist Perspective, joins the show to discuss what’s really behind chronic underinvestment in Africa’s power sector, what US policymakers are missing, and what gives him hope for the future of African development.
S4 · E7
Mar 21, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Katie and Rose on the Future of Foreign Aid
Rose and Katie unpack the fallout from the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID and what it means for global energy investment and energy access. Drawing on their experience in US government, they explore the ripple effects of these cuts, the impact on local and international partners, and the broader shifts in development assistance. They also reflect on the role of public service, the evolving nature of US engagement abroad, and how to navigate this new reality.
S4 · E6
Feb 27, 2025 · 39 min
Kanika Chawla: Clean Energy for Development, Not Just Decarbonization
Kanika Chawla, Chief of Staff at SEforALL, joins Rose and Katie to discuss what to expect from the 2025 SEforALL Global Forum, how SEforALL builds trust with governments, and what’s next for SDG7. Plus, why she calls London her favorite Indian city (yes, really).
S4 · E5
Feb 6, 2025 · 36 min
Faten Aggad: Building Africa’s Policy Negotiation Power
Faten Aggad, the founder and executive director of the African Future Policies Hub, discusses the future of climate diplomacy, Africa’s green industrialization, and how she’s helping build Africa’s policy negotiation capacity. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S4 · E4
Jan 23, 2025 · 31 min
Special Episode: Ramsey Day on the Future of Energy Poverty Under Trump
What might a second Trump presidency mean for energy access and energy investment? In this special episode, we share a recent conversation between Katie and Ramsey Day, former Trump official and current Hub advisor, on the future of US development assistance and energy poverty. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S4 · E3
Jan 9, 2025 · 47 min
Mark Thurber: Renewables Are Changing the Rules of the Game
Mark Thurber, associate director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, comes on the show to discuss the unique challenges of integrating renewables in energy markets, why he believes we should all take bigger risks, and how he uses an online game to teach market dynamics. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S4 · E2
Dec 5, 2024 · 35 min
Kate Steel: On a Mission for Universal Energy Access
Kate Steel, co-founder and CEO of Nithio, a start-up focused on financing clean energy companies and informing climate investments in Africa. In this episode, Kate talks with Katie and Rose about how we can fund universal energy access, the off-grid sector and its trajectory, and what she learned from launching Nithio. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S4 · E1
Nov 14, 2024 · 37 min
Joel Nana: There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Energy Transition
Joel Nana, program manager at Sustainable Energy Africa and Hub fellow, joins the show to talk about climate action planning, the importance of energy planning at a subnational level, and Africa’s solar revolution. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E10
Aug 16, 2024 · 39 min
The High Energy Rewind: Season 3 Highlights with Katie and Rose
Welcome to the last episode of Season 3! Hosts Rose Mutiso and Katie Auth sit down together to revisit their favorite moments from the past season. They share standout clips from this season’s interviews, highlighting conversations with this season’s guests on everything from Nigeria’s net zero model to the importance of humility. Listen in to relive the laughter, lessons, and unforgettable conversations of this season of High Energy Planet. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E9
Jul 10, 2024 · 34 min
Benjamin Attia: Why We Want Climate Finance to Be Boring
Benjamin Attia, energy transition researcher, energy systems modeler, and long-time Hub fellow, joins the show to talk about his career as a professional researcher, explain why blended finance is more than a buzzword, and help us nerd out on climate finance. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E8
Apr 10, 2024 · 40 min
Sheila Herrling: Culture Is Everything
Sheila Herrling, the Energy for Growth Hub’s first Board Chair and expert in international development, US foreign policy, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy joins Rose and Katie for this episode of High Energy Planet. This episode explores challenges in development finance, why supporting diverse entrepreneurship is critical to creating change, and how Sheila approaches building organizational culture. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E7
Mar 13, 2024 · 42 min
Murefu Barasa: Everyone Has a Role in the Energy Transition
Murefu Barasa, founder and managing partner at EED Advisory, comes on the show to discuss starting one of the only Pan-African energy consulting firms, how the energy sector has changed for the better (and worse) in the last decade, and the differences between the energy transition in Africa and the US. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E6
Feb 22, 2024 · 35 min
Hannah Ritchie: From Climate Anxiety to Data-Driven Optimism
Hannah Ritchie, Deputy Editor and Lead Researcher at Our World in Data, joins Rose and Katie to explore why ending energy poverty is a top strategy for adapting to climate change, the role of scientists in activism, and the importance of data quality and availability. Hannah’s book, Not the End of the World, is out now. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E5
Feb 8, 2024 · 53 min
Ask Me Anything with Katie and Rose
Welcome to our first ever Ask Me Anything episode! Hosts Katie Auth and Rose Mutiso sit down together to answer listeners’ questions on topics including Kenya’s role as an African clean energy leader, advice for young professionals working in energy, dream music festival lineups, and much more. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E4
Jan 17, 2024 · 38 min
Tisha Schuller: Bridging Divides on Our Path to Decarbonization
Tisha Schuller, founder & CEO of Adamantine Energy, joins the show for a conversation on her unique perspective as an oil & gas expert working towards decarbonization, how to build trust and common ground in high-conflict situations, and why a soft heart is a super power. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E3
Dec 13, 2023 · 33 min
Habiba Ahut Daggash: The Energy Transition Needs New Ideas
Habiba Ahut Daggash, Senior Associate with the Africa Energy Program at the Rocky Mountain Institute, discusses Nigeria’s energy transition, how climate change is more than a scientific problem, and why we need new ideas to approach development and energy poverty. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E2
Nov 30, 2023 · 29 min
Tim McDonnell: Reporting on Climate and Energy With Empathy
Tim McDonnell, Climate & Energy Editor at Semafor, joins Rose and Katie for a conversation about his approach to climate reporting for varied audiences, the role of renewables in Ukraine’s energy security, and how he went from geotagging rattlesnakes to reporting on all things climate and energy. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S3 · E1
Nov 16, 2023 · 30 min
Vijaya Ramachandran: Every Country Has the Right to Its Own Energy Choices
Welcome to Season 3 of High Energy Planet! Vijaya Ramachandran, Director for Energy and Development at the Breakthrough Institute, explains what sparked her interest in energy, talks rich country hypocrisy, and demystifies climate finance. Visit our website for more information, including the full show notes and transcript. Follow us on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
S2 · E7
May 10, 2022 · 30 min
Ashvin Dayal: We Need to Redefine Energy & Development Progress
Dayal, Senior Vice President of Power & Climate and The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet at The Rockefeller Foundation, discusses how he got into working on energy, why he believes in raising the definition of energy access, and the power of philanthropy.

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