SmarterMarkets™

For the final episode of our September Sessions, we welcome Evy Hambro into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. Evy is Managing Director and Global Head of Thematic and Sector Based Investing, Fundamental Equity at BlackRock. SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Evy to discuss how to put investment capital to work by investing in companies that are providing the materials we need to support the energy transition at scale, and how to find those companies that are best positioned to profit from the changing energy landscape as we move from brown to green.

Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of S&P Global and author of The New Map, discusses the complexities of the energy transition, the growing demand for critical battery metals, market signals and challenges in permitting processes, the slow flow of finance to the global south, and the approach and roadmap needed for the energy transition to achieve net zero. The conversation also touches on COP 28 and the focus on pragmatic solutions for addressing climate change.

Erik Townsend, host of the Macro Voices podcast and creator of the documentary series Energy Transition Crisis, dives deep into the complexities of our shift away from fossil fuels. He discusses the urgent need for a successful energy transition in light of climate change and rising energy prices. Townsend advocates for advanced nuclear technologies, like molten salt reactors, as sustainable solutions. He emphasizes the importance of public awareness and the broader implications of energy policy on living standards, challenging misconceptions about renewable energy effectiveness.

This week on The September Sessions, we welcome Dirk Forrister into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. Dirk is the President and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Dirk to discuss how IETA and its members are viewing the world’s evolving carbon markets and net zero landscape on the eve of their North America Climate Summit this week in New York City.

The podcast features Robert Friedland, Founder and Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines. They discuss sourcing raw materials for the energy transition, challenges of mining, revolutionizing raw material sourcing, technology solving conflicts, pulse power, and the role of governments in energy transition.

On the final installment of our Summer Playlist, we welcome Frances Haugen into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. Frances is an advocate for accountability and transparency in social media and the author of the memoir, The Power of One: How I Found the Strength to Tell the Truth and Why I Blew the Whistle on Facebook. SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Frances to discuss the algorithms designed to capture our attention, their flaws, and how we can incentivize change and build better social networks.

Our Summer Playlist continues this week with Ted Merz, Founder of Principals Media and the Former Global Head of News Product at Bloomberg. SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Ted to discuss the changing nature of information in our lives and our relationship with it.

Helima Croft, Managing Director & Global Head of Commodity Strategy at RBC Capital Markets, discusses the geopolitics and current state of play in the global commodities markets. Topics include the consequences of the Russia war, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on commodity markets, China's oil imports, geopolitical concerns with Iran, and influences on the commodity markets such as OPEC and investment strategies. The podcast ends with a casual conversation about summer reading lists.

This week on our Summer Playlist, we welcome Samantha Dart back into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. Samantha is Head of Natural Gas Research at Goldman Sachs. SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Samantha to talk about the state of natural gas markets in the aftermath of last year’s European energy crisis and to discuss where the industrial demand for natural gas in Europe has gone.

We continue our Summer Playlist this week with Susan Sakmar, Visiting Professor at the University of Houston Law Center and the author of Energy for the 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Susan to discuss where the LNG market and industry is now following the tumultuous events of last year.