
SmarterMarkets™
SmarterMarkets™ brings you the entrepreneurs, icons, and executives of commodities, capital markets, and technology to rant on the inadequacies of our systems and riff on ideas for how to improve them. Our weekly episodes explore how technology can be leveraged to redesign and improve markets to meet society’s biggest challenges, including climate change and the energy transition.
Latest episodes

Jul 12, 2025 • 40min
Summer Playlist 2025 Episode 3 | Jeff Currie, Chief Strategy Officer of Energy Pathways, Carlyle
Jeff Currie, Chief Strategy Officer of Energy Pathways at Carlyle, shares his insights on the geopolitical landscape's transformation post-World War II. He discusses the urgent need for Europe to balance energy security and affordability while diversifying sources. The conversation delves into the MITE framework for Europe's energy future, connections between military strength and economic stability, and the evolving investment landscape. Jeff also highlights the importance of adapting to new narratives and offers summer reading recommendations to inspire understanding of historical context.

Jul 5, 2025 • 46min
Summer Playlist 2025 Episode 2 | Michael Greenstone, Director, Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)
Michael Greenstone, Director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, discusses groundbreaking policies to combat climate change. He shares insights on establishing cap-and-trade systems for air pollution in India, emphasizing the importance of engaging local stakeholders. Greenstone highlights the challenges of translating academic research into real-world solutions while promoting sustainable economic growth. His reflections on historical cooperation offer a thought-provoking lens on today's climate crises and the need for collaborative action.

7 snips
Jun 28, 2025 • 54min
Summer Playlist 2025 Episode 1 | Michelle Finneran Dennedy, Chief Data Strategy Officer, Abaxx Technologies
Join Michelle Finneran Dennedy, Chief Data Strategy Officer at Abaxx Technologies, as she reveals how CEOs are transforming data from a risky liability to a valuable asset. She discusses the strategic evolution of data in businesses, emphasizing its role as both a commodity and resource. Michelle shares success stories from companies like Amazon, exploring how effective data management can enhance operational efficiency. The conversation also touches on the impact of mobile apps on consumer loyalty, and she shares insights from her recent beach reads, blending mystery with engaging storytelling.

12 snips
Jun 21, 2025 • 37min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 12 | Dan McElduff, Siddiq Farid, David Gornall, and Steve Lowe from Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Spot
In this engaging discussion, Dan McElduff, President of Abaxx Exchange, and Steve Lowe, Strategic Advisor for Precious Metals, share insights from the Asia-Pacific Precious Metals Conference. They unveil Abaxx’s groundbreaking gold infrastructure that promises to streamline trading with co-located spot and futures markets. The conversation covers Singapore's ambitions to become a gold trading hub, the importance of market liquidity, and the evolving dynamics of buyer-seller interactions in a changing landscape. Their vision for a collaborative future in gold trading shines through.

15 snips
Jun 14, 2025 • 41min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 11 | Thomas McMahon, Co-Founder, Abaxx Technologies
This conversation features Thomas McMahon, Co-Founder of Abaxx Technologies, who brings a wealth of experience from the commodity markets. He dives into gold's historical role as a hedge against the US dollar and examines its evolving significance in today’s financial landscape. The discussion highlights the changing perceptions of gold across cultures and regions, particularly between the West and Asia, and explores the implications of new trading hubs. Listeners gain insights into the future of gold in global finance and its potential resurgence in investment strategies.

4 snips
Jun 7, 2025 • 38min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 10 | Greg Sharenow, Managing Director & Portfolio Manager for Commodities and Real Assets, PIMCO
This week on Gold for the 21st Century, we welcome Greg Sharenow back into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. Greg is Managing Director & Portfolio Manager for Commodities and Real Assets at PIMCO. David Greely sits down with Greg to discuss how policy uncertainty and inflation are shaping the investing landscape and the role that commodities and real assets – including gold – are playing in helping investors grow and protect their wealth.

May 31, 2025 • 33min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 9 | Sakhila Mirza, President, Responsible Gold
We continue Gold for the 21st Century this week with Sakhila Mirza, President of Responsible Gold. David Greely sits down with Sakhila to discuss the role of standards, data, and technology in building an ecosystem of trust for responsible and sustainable gold.

5 snips
May 24, 2025 • 1h 1min
Special Episode | A SmarterMarkets Remix: Ideas Worth Repeating
In this special edition, Ben Hunt, author and co-founder of Second Foundation Partners, discusses the evolving role of semantic structures in understanding data. Mark Lewis of Andurand Capital dives into the complexities of the EU emissions trading system and its global implications. Josh Crumb from Abaxx Technologies emphasizes the need for trust infrastructures in today's digital marketplace. Together, they explore the urgent transition to cleaner energy and the transformative impact of technology on market dynamics and sustainability.

May 17, 2025 • 46min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 8 | Steve Lowe, Former Managing Director, Co-Head of Global Base and Precious Metals, Scotiabank
Steve Lowe, former Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Base and Precious Metals at Scotiabank, shares his wealth of experience in the gold markets. He discusses the urgent need for market infrastructure and technology to enhance accessibility and trust in gold investments. Lowe highlights the complexities of gold lease rates and their impact on risk management. The conversation also examines the role of gold as a stable asset amidst geopolitical uncertainties and the potential for innovative technologies to transform the gold supply chain.

May 10, 2025 • 32min
Gold for the 21st Century Episode 7 | Michael DiRienzo, President & CEO, The Silver Institute
Michael DiRienzo, President & CEO of The Silver Institute, delves into the critical role of silver in the green economy. He discusses its surging demand in industries like photovoltaics and how it’s evolving in investor portfolios. The conversation uncovers the dynamics between silver and gold markets and highlights current supply deficits. He also addresses the impact of geopolitical tensions and tariffs on the silver market, emphasizing silver's resilience and its potential both industrially and as an investment asset.