Energy Switch

Season 8

2026 · 10 episodes · 4h 30m in all

Energy Switch brings together two renowned experts from government, NGOs, academia and industry, with differing perspectives on important energy and climate topics. Hosted by renowned global energy expert, Dr. Scott Tinker.

Episodes

1. 

   1. Senators Talk Energy

   7 Apr 2026 · 27 min

   Energy and climate have become increasingly partisan, resulting in slow, or no, political progress. Our guests discuss subsidies, climate and energy strategy, recall a time when senators collaborated more than they conspired, and how they might come together again to help solve today’s energy and climate challenges. With former Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Joe Manchin.

2. 

   2. Tribal Energy

   14 Apr 2026 · 27 min

   There are 10 million Native Americans in the U.S. Those on reservations are often the last customers on the power line, getting the worst service at the highest prices. But many tribes are working to fix this, building diverse energy projects on tribal lands that could change their future. With Cheri Smith, CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, and Ken Ahmann, COO of Colusa Indian Energy.

3. 

   3. Public Opinion on Climate

   21 Apr 2026 · 27 min

   Two veteran pollsters tell us not what they think, but what we think -- Democrats, Republicans and Independents -- about the environment, climate and energy. Some of their insights will certainly surprise you. Featuring Ashley Grosse, Executive Vice President at YouGov, and Alec Tyson, Senior Vice President at Ipsos Public Affairs, two leading survey and data companies.

4. 

   4. Efficiency and Conservation

   28 Apr 2026 · 27 min

   Using less energy saves money and can even reduce prices. It also reduces emissions and frees up energy for other uses without building more power plants and power lines. We discuss the benefits to consumers, businesses and utilities with Maggie Molina, Executive Director of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, and Laurie Wiegand-Jackson, CEO of Utility Advantage.

5. 

   5. Energy PhDs

   5 May 2026 · 27 min

   Two very promising PhD candidates discuss their energy research, federal funding cuts and how they may affect the academic and science environments today and tomorrow, and their job prospects and future careers. With Kelsey Richardson, pursuing her PhD in Chemical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara, and Teagan Reasch, PhD candidate in Energy and Environmental Policy at Ohio State.

6. 

   6. Arctic Climate

   12 May 2026 · 27 min

   The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet. Melting sea ice has opened northern shipping lanes but exposes more water to the warming sun. Melting land ice raises sea levels. Changing weather can bring cold air south to the rest of us. We’ll look at these with research scientists Nancy Fresco from the University of Alaska and Twila Moon from UC Boulder.

7. 

   7. Shipping, part 1

   19 May 2026 · 27 min

   Shipping brings us almost every product because it’s the lowest cost of any transport. This makes it extremely important globally, yet it faces many challenges, especially in the U.S., where the shipbuilding industry has nearly stagnated. We’ll hear insider perspectives from Anna Silva, Manager of Cruise Ops at Port Everglades Terminal, and Margaret Doyle, Director of Transparensea Fuels.

8. 

   8. Shipping, part 2

   26 May 2026 · 27 min

   In part 1, we learned the basics of the industry. Now we look at CO2 emissions and the UN’s goals to reduce them, alternative low-carbon fuels and challenges to adopt those. We’ll hear what effects that might have on the industry, again with expert guests Margaret Doyle, a Director of Transparensea Fuels, and Anna Silva, Manager of Cruise Ops at the Port Everglades Terminal.

9. 

   9. Ecomodernism vs Degrowth

   16 Jun 2026 · 27 min

   Degrowth advocates say we’re overusing Earth’s resources, which will degrade living standards and harm the environment, so we must reduce. Ecomodernists say we’re fine: Technology, agriculture and energy will raise living standards while demanding less of nature. We discuss with Ted Nordhaus, co-founder of Breakthrough Institute, and Josh Farley, an economist from the University of Vermont.

10. 

    10. Solar and Wind: Success or Failure?

    23 Jun 2026 · 27 min

    We hear conflicting information about solar and wind energy. They’re the cheapest form of electricity. But they make electricity more expensive. They’re the fastest growing electricity. But they make only a small portion of total energy. Are they the future? Or uncompetitive without subsidy? Dan Kammen, energy scientist from Johns Hopkins, and Robert Bryce, energy author and journalist, debate.