SmarterMarkets™

Ben Hunt, author of Epsilon Theory and co-founder of Second Foundation Partners, shares insights on the intersection of language and AI. He discusses the critical need to restore empathy in digital communication, urging a shift back to smaller, trusted conversations. Hunt elaborates on how large language models are reshaping narrative structures and enhancing our understanding in various fields. He also addresses the cultural shift away from meaningful storytelling amidst modern materialism, highlighting the alienation present in today's society.

This holiday weekend on our Inside the Coffeehouse series, we welcome Arjun Murti and Jeff Currie back into the SmarterMarkets™ studio.   Arjun is Partner at Veriten and Publisher of "Super-Spiked" on Substack. Jeff Currie is Chief Strategy Officer of Energy Pathways at Carlyle.   David Greely sits down with Jeff and Arjun, reuniting these two former Goldman partners and colleagues to share their perspectives on the market, economic, and political forces shaping the future of our energy markets.

We continue our Inside the Coffeehouse series where we're introducing you to Coffeehouse, our new social media platform for advancing the conversation on energy, climate, markets, and technology.    We have two guests joining us today. Susan Sakmar is Visiting Professor at the University of Houston Law Center, Board Member at Flex LNG, and Author of Energy for the 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges for LNG. And Eirik Wærness is Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Equinor.   SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Susan and Eirik for a transatlantic conversation on the future of energy following the US elections – and asks them to share their perspectives on what it may mean for the US oil and natural gas industry, LNG, and Europe.

In this fascinating conversation, Alasdair Were, Head of Environmental Markets at Abaxx Exchange, and Joe Raia, Chief Commercial Officer, dive into the complexities of carbon markets and the impact of the U.S. elections and COP29. They discuss the innovative environmental products needed for future market success and how new regulatory frameworks challenge traditional strategies. The duo also explores the intersection of technology and commodities trading, including how weather metrics are shaping risk management tools in the evolving energy landscape.

Dive into a new social media platform called Coffeehouse, aimed at sparking meaningful discussions on energy, climate, and markets. The host reflects on recent U.S. elections, emphasizing how crucial dialogue is for overcoming societal divides. Drawing inspiration from historical coffeehouses, the platform is set to champion thoughtful exchanges. Discover how this initiative seeks to transform conversations during these contentious times and promote smarter markets for a better future.

Brad Hitch, the Director of LNG Trading at EQT Corporation, dives deep into the booming Gulf of Mexico LNG market. He discusses its transformation into a leading exporter and its implications on global pricing dynamics. The conversation highlights the effectiveness of physically deliverable futures contracts in managing risk and enhancing market access. Brad also compares LNG pricing to European benchmarks and shares insights on future trends, emphasizing the importance of adaptive trading strategies in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Robert Friedland, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, discusses the essential role of mining in the energy transition. He highlights critical metals needed for sustainability and debunks myths surrounding resource scarcity. Friedland urges global cooperation to tackle climate change while navigating economic divisions. He emphasizes sustainable practices in mining and critiques current media narratives. With a focus on clean energy sources like nuclear and geothermal, he advocates for significant reforms and public engagement in achieving a greener future.

In this engaging discussion, Josh Crumb, Founder & CEO of Abaxx Technologies, reflects on the journey of transforming market infrastructures. He delves into the challenges of the energy transition, from carbon pricing to innovations in electric vehicles and nuclear energy. The conversation highlights the significance of technology in enhancing market accessibility and competitive dynamics. Josh also shares his vision for integrating systems thinking to create smarter markets, paving the way for future advancements and collaboration.

This week on Markets in Transition, we welcome Sid Jha, Founder & CEO of Arbol, back into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. David Greely sits down with Sid to discuss some of the ways we can improve our insurance markets to meet the needs created by increasing climate risk as we experience what could be a historically devastating hurricane season in the United States.

We present a special mid-week episode of SmarterMarkets™, bringing you exclusive interviews from the IETA North America Climate Summit 2024.   SmarterMarkets™ returned to the Carbon Markets Studio at the IETA North America Climate Summit to take stock of where we are and what we need to do next to harness the power of markets to make net-zero possible.   We partnered with IETA to interview a cross section of conference participants to understand where they see the opportunities and challenges for using carbon markets to support climate action and the most important developments they're following in the carbon markets.   We’ve compiled a selection of those 11 interviews into this Special Episode of SmarterMarkets™. Our guests in order of appearance are:   Alfredo Nicastro, SVP & Global Head of Carbon Markets, StoneX Sandeep Roy Choudury, Director, VNV Advisory Svenja Telle, CEO, Denominator Hugh McAlpine, Partner, GS Environmental Peter Zaman, Partner, HFW Singapore Alex Saer, CEO, Cercarbono Sandra Pinzón, Founder & CEO, Global Zero Waste Juan Durán, CEO, EcoRegistry Steve Zwick, Producer & Host, Bionic Planet Yvan Champagne, Chief Carbon Officer, CarbonAi David Antonioli, Owner, Transition Finance