Everybody in the Pool

This special episode is brought to you by RE+—North America’s largest gathering of clean energy professionals, developed by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).On Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, I gave the opening keynote at RE+ in Las Vegas about where the energy transition is headed—followed by a panel with two leaders building it at scale:Ray Henger, CEO of Copia Power (developing gigawatts of renewables and data-center infrastructure)Pedro Pizarro, President & CEO of Edison International (parent of Southern California Edison)What you’ll hear:Our full panel discussion on the future of the grid, the challenges of accomplishing skyrocketing demand and what that means for net zero goalsData centers, meet reality: AI-driven load growth and how to keep reliability while adding massive new demand.Utility POV: Transmission, interconnection queues, permitting, wildfire risk, and keeping customers whole.Developers at scale: Financing in a higher-rate world, siting tradeoffs, and building projects communities actually want.How this fits:This special drops in the middle of our Smart Grid mini-series:Episode 101: XL Batteries on long-duration, pH-neutral organic flow batteries for utility storage.Episode 102 (airs Sept. 11): Wärtsilä on synthetic inertia and batteries as an “airbag” for the grid.Episode 103 (airs next Thursday): Enzinc on zinc-based batteries that are safer, recyclable, and ready for mobility and stationary use.Subscribe to the newsletter and find every episode at everybodyinthepool.com. Want an ad-free feed and to support the show directly? Tap the link in your podcast app. And send your thoughts—or a voice memo—to in@everybodyinthepool.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing our Smart Grid Series, we zoom in on reliability — because building more solar and wind doesn’t matter if the grid itself can’t stay stable. We’ve seen what happens when it fails: blackouts in Spain and Portugal earlier this year, near misses in Texas, rolling outages in California.My guest is David Hebert, VP of Global Sales & Business Strategy at Wärtsilä Energy Storage. Wärtsilä is a 190-year-old company that now builds integrated storage systems combining hardware + software to keep grids reliable — even in moments of stress.We dive into:Why grid operators need fast, flexible tools beyond just generationSynthetic inertia: batteries mimicking the stabilizing effect of spinning turbinesHow storage can act like an “airbag” — catching a wobble before it cascades into blackoutReal-world deployments: from the UK’s Blackhillock project to island microgrids in Bonaire & GraciosaReliability + resilience: sectionalizing grids after hurricanes, blackstart capability, and non-wires alternativesEnabling more renewables by smoothing intermittency and curtailment issuesWhy batteries are the “Swiss Army knife” of the grid: frequency regulation, voltage support, time-shifting, backup powerCost, customer adoption, and how utilities are (finally) moving past reflexive resistanceLinks & resources:Wärtsilä Energy Storage— https://www.wartsila.com/energyEverybody in the Pool: all episodes & newsletter — https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Become a paid subscriber for an ad-free feed (and my eternal gratitude) — https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolWhat you can do & what’s next:Send me your thoughts: in@everybodyinthepool.com — have you lived through blackouts? Tried a microgrid?Share this episode with a friend who loves geeking out about grid reliability.Smart Grid Series lineup:E101: Safe, long-duration flow batteries with XL BatteriesE102 (this episode): Grid “airbags” & synthetic inertia with WärtsiläE103 (next): A rechargeable zinc sponge anode that solves dendrites — EnzincTogether, we can get this done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the next few episodes, we’re digging into the wild world of energy and the aging global electricity grid. This week, we start where reliability begins: utility-scale storage. The grid we have was built for one-way power plants; the grid we need has to juggle rooftop solar at noon, heat waves at 6 p.m., EVs, and data centers galore.My guest is Tom Sisto, founder & CEO of XL Batteries. His team is commercializing a pH-neutral, aqueous organic flow battery — a non-flammable, salt-water system using carbon-based molecules instead of vanadium. Think: safer, long-life storage you can scale for hours to days, without sulfuric acid or scarce metals.We get into:Why storage is the “time machine” the grid needs (match generation to demand, cut curtailment)Flow batteries 101: engine vs. tank, independent power and duration, and why that matters for utilitiesXL’s chemistry: organic charge carriers in neutral saltwater (no vanadium, no acid), designed for long lifeCost and safety vs. lithium — and why duration + cycle life drive utility economicsReal-world progress: containerized field unit, EPRI duty-cycle testing, and an industrial pilot at Stolthaven TerminalsRetrofit potential: turning existing petrochemical tanks into energy storage tanksStorage-as-transmission: placing batteries on both sides of a bottleneck to double effective flowReliability + resilience: PSPS/wildfire shutoffs, hurricane backup, and data-center load growthWhere decentralization fits, and how industrial customers can de-risk adoption on the way to utility scaleLinks & resources:XL Batteries — https://xlbatteries.com/Everybody in the Pool: all episodes & newsletter — https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Become a paid subscriber for an ad-free feed (and my eternal gratitude) — https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolCall to action & what’s next:Send thoughts & voice memos: in@everybodyinthepool.com — where do you see storage unlocking reliability?If you liked this one, share it with a grid geek friend.Smart Grid Series lineup:E101 (this episode): Safe, long-duration flow batteries with XL BatteriesE102 (next): Grid “airbags” — synthetic inertia & fast frequency control with WärtsiläE103 (after that): A rechargeable zinc sponge anode that solves dendrites — Enzinc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re celebrating our 100th episode with a look at what matters most: your actions.Since this show began a little over two years ago, the goal has been simple — to spotlight innovation, ingenuity, and capital coming together to tackle the climate crisis. Hope is stronger than fear, but hope alone isn’t a plan. This milestone episode is about agency — the choices we make in our own lives, and how together, those choices add up to systemic change.Listeners wrote in and sent voice memos sharing the climate actions they’ve taken:Investing through platforms like Climatize to fund renewable energy projectsMoving retirement savings and banking into fossil fuel–free funds and community credit unionsCutting back on red meat, shifting diets, and sourcing local foodTackling food waste with apps like FlashFood and composting with Mill (our presenting sponsor for this week’s episode)Retrofitting homes with solar, heat pumps, and energy efficiency upgradesRethinking careers, transportation, and even family planning with the climate in mindAlong the way, we revisit powerful clips from past episodes and highlight the ripple effects of these solutions — from decarbonizing finance to building circular food systems.Thank you to everyone who has listened, shared, and taken action. This episode is a reminder that we are not helpless — our feedback, votes, purchases, and investments all send signals that drive change. Drops become a flood.Thanks to Mill for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get $75 off yours with my custom link! https://www.mill.com/lp/mollywood?utm_source=newsletter-sponsorship&utm_medium=partnership&utm_campaign=everbodyinthepool &utm_content=mollywoodAll 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/Please subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re diving into ocean intelligence. 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 forecastingHow Sofar’s 2,500+ Spotter buoys are creating the largest private ocean sensor networkWayfinder, Sofar’s “Google Maps for ships,” and how it saves fuel and cuts emissionsWhy more ocean intelligence is critical for industries from aquaculture to shippingPartnerships with researchers, governments, and nonprofits to democratize ocean dataThe bigger vision: turning ocean information into a foundation for climate solutionsFrom 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/Please subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor: in@everybodyinthepool.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Dyner, CEO of Moleaer, leads the charge in nano-bubble technology, revolutionizing sustainability across industries. He shares how these microscopic bubbles enhance water quality, improve crop yields, and reduce energy use in wastewater treatment. Fascinating applications in aquaculture boost salmon welfare and promote eco-friendly farming. Plus, discover how nano-bubbles are transforming spas into nearly chlorine-free havens and have potential in cleaning and even targeted cancer treatments. The future of climate-friendly innovation is bubbling up!

This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re kicking off a mini-series on the ocean — the world’s largest carbon sink, a source of food for nearly half the global population, home to 80% of animal life on Earth, and heating faster than expected. It’s also a climate tech category full of untapped investment opportunities.Our guest is Kate Danaher, Managing Director at S2G Investments, where she co-leads the firm’s oceans and seafood strategy. S2G is a growth-stage investment firm focused on food and agriculture, clean energy, and the ocean economy — and Kate’s work connects all three for maximum systems-level impact.We talk about:🚢 Why the ocean is more than a philanthropic cause — and how multi-trillion-dollar industries depend on it🌬 Decarbonizing the maritime industry, which moves 80–90% of global goods and emits 3% of total greenhouse gases⚡️ The technologies gaining traction fastest: route optimization, air lubrication, wind-assisted propulsion, and batteries📡 Building better ocean intelligence with satellites, sensors, and unmanned vessels — and why balancing proprietary data with the public good is tricky🐟 How aquaculture can take pressure off wild fisheries, and the tech making it cleaner and more efficient🌍 Why global regulation (with or without the U.S.) is creating momentum for changeFrom high-tech sails ⛵️ to land-based fish farms 🏭🐠, Kate shares how aligning economic value with ocean health could unlock massive climate impact.LINKS:S2G Investments: https://www.s2ginvestments.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/📲 Please subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool!💌 Send feedback or become a sponsor! in@everybodyinthepool.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re continuing Storyteller Summer with a stand-up comic who proves you can turn any job into a climate job — even one that usually involves jokes about socks.Our guest is Stuart Goldsmith, a veteran stand-up comedian and host of The Comedian’s Comedian podcast, who now focuses almost entirely on the climate crisis. But instead of lectures or charts, Stuart brings humor, humility, and a healthy dose of self-deprecation to a topic that’s often overwhelming.We talk about:The long, strange road from Covent Garden street performer to climate comedy evangelistWhy “the problems are the material” — especially when it comes to eco-anxietyThe art of bombing (a lot) while trying to make ocean acidification funnyMaking your own hypocrisy the butt of the jokeWhy climate storytelling needs more action and less guiltAlso: sticky jokes, snow leopards, tariff metaphors, LinkedIn mic drops, and the surprisingly dark comedy of unaffordable insurance premiums.This is climate storytelling at its smartest and most disarming. (And if you’re hiring a climate comic, please drop this man a line — his American clients have all fled!)LINKS:Website: https://www.stuartgoldsmith.comInstagram: @stuartgoldsmithcomedyLinkedIn: Stuart Goldsmith (but only if you’re a decision-maker!)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/Please subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor! in@everybodyinthepool.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re diving into the power of convening — and what happens when global climate leaders, local food producers, indigenous communities, philanthropists, and data nerds get in the same room... and then go mountain biking together.Our guest is Aimée Christensen, a longtime climate champion and founder of Christensen Global, the Sun Valley Forum, and the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience. From negotiating clean energy deals at the Department of Energy to putting Google on the path to carbon neutrality, Aimée has worked at the highest levels of policy, law, business, and philanthropy.She’s now focused on making an impact both globally and in her hometown of Sun Valley, Idaho — where she’s built a powerful hub for innovation and resilience. We talk about:Her remarkable journey from the Earth Summit in Rio to Google.org and beyondThe origins and goals of the Sun Valley ForumWhy gathering people is a critical tool in solving the climate crisisThe incredible ripple effects of partnerships and solutions born at the ForumBuilding resilient communities through food, energy, and investmentDon’t miss the short clip from this year’s Forum to see how nature quite literally stole the show.LINKS:Website: https://www.christensenglobal.comLinkedIn: Aimée ChristensenAll 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/Please subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor! in@everybodyinthepool.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, we explore the pioneering world of rare earth metal recycling with Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and co-founder of Cyclic Materials. This is a a technology with big environmental implications, and a whole lot of geopolitical ones also. Rare earth metals are used to make magnets that are part of electric motors and wind turbines, on the clean tech side, but also kind of everything else electronic, including things like laser guidance systems, missiles, and jet engines. And China controls pretty much the entire market — and, since April, has stopped almost all shipments of metals and magnets!Discover how Cyclic Materials addresses the critical challenge of recycling rare earth metals—essential for a sustainable, electrified future. Ahmad shares his journey from hydrometallurgy to developing innovative processes that extract high-value metals from discarded goods. As electrification accelerates demand, understand why recycling these metals is both an environmental imperative and an economic necessity.Key PointsRecycling Importance: Emphasizing the need to recycle rare earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium, critical for manufacturing electric motor magnets.Technical Challenges: Unpacking the complexities of extracting these metals and how Cyclic Materials develops solutions to overcome these hurdles.Geopolitical and Supply Chain Insights: Ahmad’s perspective on the implications of locally producing these critical metals in North America and Europe, enhancing supply chain resilience.Resources & LinksVisit Cyclic MaterialsConnect with Ahmad Ghahreman on LinkedInListen to all episodes: Everybody in the PoolSubscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletterGet an ad-free experience: Become a MemberHelp us spread the word about sustainable solutions!Please subscribe and share Everybody in the Pool with your friends!We value your feedback and inquiries: Contact usExplore how innovative recycling solutions are vital for a cleaner, sustainable future. Tune in for valuable insights and engaging conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.