Climate-Tech Podcasts: Our 10 top picks
By Alicia Hernández
One of my greatest pleasures in life is walking outside. I usually walk for at least an hour a day. It started as a means to improve my focus, and now it has become almost a ritual that helps me stay centered and connected to the world around me. There’s something profoundly therapeutic about the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other, breathing in the fresh air, and getting mental clarity. But in total honesty, and being a little bit obsessed with efficiency, I have found myself realizing that my daily walks are also a great moment to listen to podcasts and stay informed about the latest trends in climate-tech.
Whether I’m exploring the latest insights in the sector, diving into captivating storytelling, or simply learning something new, podcasts add an extra layer of enrichment to my outdoor excursions. So, after a year of incorporating climate-tech podcasts into my daily walks, I would love to share with you those that have become my favorites. For this article I also asked the rest of the Rumbo team to help me curate this list (Thanks, team!)
Here they are. Our top picks and why:
“Catalyst” 🌱 by [Shayle Kann]: Shayle, a partner at Energy Impact Partners, runs this weekly podcast to explore the biggest questions of decarbonization with experts, researchers, and other investors. If you are looking for in-depth insights about the latest climate technologies with a mix of sense of humor and real-life experience, this is the way to go.
“A matter of degrees” 🌞 by [Dr. Leah Stokes & Dr. Katherine Wilkinson]: This is a podcast where I get to fangirl about two amazing female scientists. Dr. Stokes and Dr. Wilkinson bring up bold solutions and groundbreaking campaigns, stories of misdeeds and corruption and efforts to stop them in the climate change regard. Honestly, each episode is enlightening about the big forces behind climate change.
“Climate Tech Cocktails” 🍹 by [Matt Myers]: Perhaps one of the most popular climate-tech podcasts, but a classic! Matt Myers gets together with climate tech founders to exchange perspectives (with brutal honesty) about technological solutions.
“Watt it takes” 🌲 by [Powerhouse]: While I don’t intend to completely understand the day-to-day of climate-tech entrepreneurs, it really helps to get a better idea of the challenges they face as leaders. In this podcast, Emily Kirsch explores the breakthroughs, failures, and risks that founders have gone through when building their companies. Really eye opening and helpful in may daily work with portfolio companies!
“Hardware to Save a Planet” 🌎 by [Dylan Garrett]: As an investor it is super exciting to hear about all the different technologies that entrepreneurs are coming up with to save our planet, but let’s be honest, more often than not, there are some technological solutions that take more than a 30-minute pitch to understand. This podcast by Synapse, helps me stay updated with some of the emerging technologies to keep the planet safe. The best thing is that the creator behind that technology is usually invited, making it much more interesting and exciting!
“Tech 4 Climate” 🍃 by [Guillaume de Dorlodot]: What I really like about this podcast it that it does not only explore the climate-technologies, but also the dynamics in the climate-tech ecosystem, which is very enriching, especially if you are new to the space and want to figure out who the major players are.
“Climavores”🌋 by [Tamar Haspel & Mike Grunwald]: This is a classic for all the food-systems techies. The hosts do a really good job in dissecting the intersections between food and the environment, a place where we can see more and more technologies emerging every day.
“Scaling Climate Tech”📈 by [Florian Fontaine-Papion]: Something I really value in a podcast is to get first-hand perspectives. In this one, Florian interviews entrepreneurs creating and working on solutions that will help us decarbonize the world in the following ten years.
“Bigger than us” 🌊 by [Nexus PMG]: A podcast that constantly analyzes energy topics, but also a wider range of areas. The hosts foster really lively conversations with experts, scientists and best-in-class startups from the climate-tech world.
“TIL Climate”🍂 by [MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative]: For those new to the climate-tech scene, this podcast is the perfect starting point. It simplifies complex concepts and technologies, making them accessible to all.
Bonus
“How to save a planet” 🌿 by [Alex Blumberg]: In this show, Blumberg and co-host Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson take listeners on a journey to explore practical solutions to the pressing challenges of climate change. Through engaging interviews with experts, activists, and innovators, the podcast dives deep into topics such as renewable energy, conservation, policy, and sustainable living.
From in-depth interviews with experts to candid conversations with entrepreneurs, these podcasts have not only enriched my daily walks but also deepened my understanding of the challenges and solutions surrounding climate-tech. Whether you’re a climate-tech investor or enthusiast, I invite you to tune in to these podcasts and join us in the quest for a greener, more sustainable future 🌿🌎 What are your favorite climate-tech podcasts, and why do you love them? Share your recommendations and insights with us in the comments below.
