Off the Grid, On the Record | With Yarek Matacz from JPM Media

In today’s episode of Off the Grid on the Record, I’m joined by Mike Belliveau, founder and CEO of Song of Solarmen, to talk about what it really looks like to run a values-first solar company — one that doesn’t cut corners, doesn’t chase volume, and doesn’t leave people behind.

Mike opens up about how he built a fast-growing solar company grounded in service and trust — including how they’re helping families with poor credit access solar, and why churches, rural communities, and small businesses are at the center of their expansion plans.

We dive into:

• The surprising story behind the company’s name
• Scaling the right way — not the fastest way
• Their 40kW, 100-panel install after five years of client delays
• How to keep the pipeline full without sacrificing ethics
• The future of battery tech, rural access, and solar education

📍 Serving: NJ, PA, TX, CA, plus rural U.S. communities 🛠️ Tools: GoHighLevel, commission-based lead gen, Facebook ads 🎯 Vision: Open a second office and double the team within five years

——— 🔗 Guest Links

🌞 Mike Belliveau – Song of Solarmen

🔗 Host Links

🎙 Yarek Matacz – https://www.jpmmedia.ca

📸 Instagram – @jpmmediacanada 💼

LinkedIn – Yarek Matacz

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this inspired you! 📬 Got a story for the pod? Reach out at jpmmedia.ca

#SolarEnergy #SongOfSolarmen #OffTheGridPodcast #CleanTech #SolarAccess #FaithDrivenBusiness #RuralSolar #SolarEducation #Podcast

In this episode of Off the Grid on the Record, host Yarek Matacz is joined by Sergej Marojevic, founder and CEO of Q-Charge, one of the most hands-on operators in the EV charging space.

Sergej doesn’t just talk about EV infrastructure—he’s built it from the ground up. From city red tape and cable theft to wireless charging, white-labeled hardware, and smart financing strategies, this conversation dives deep into the real challenges (and opportunities) facing EV adoption today.

Whether you're a developer, fleet operator, or just curious about where EV charging is headed, this one’s packed with insights you won’t get from the buzzword crowd.

We cover:

• Why permitting is the true bottleneck, not tech
• How Q-Charge is innovating with hidden cables and local fallback systems
• The ROI model behind owning vs. leasing chargers
• How to navigate rebate confusion and financing programs
• Why U.S. charging infrastructure can’t copy-paste from Europe or Asia
• What’s next: AI-powered analytics, public charging ROI, and the slow path to wireless

📍 Guest: Sergej Marojevic 🔌

Learn more: https://qcharge123.com

📈 Marketing partner: https://www.jpmmedia.ca

🎙️ Host: Yarek Matacz

👉 Subscribe to Off the Grid on the Record for stories from the front lines of clean energy, infrastructure, and smart mobility.

#EVCharging #Infrastructure #EnergyTransition #EVAdoption #SmartMobility #CleanTech #QCharge #JPMMedia #OffTheGridOnTheRecord

Off the Grid on the Record – Episode: Plug & Play Solar with Samuel Truthseeker

What if you could install a residential solar system in just one hour?

In this episode, Yarek Matacz speaks with Samuel Truthseeker, founder and CEO of Solvari, to explore how his team is simplifying solar from the roof down. With a patented, all-in-one plug-and-play panel system, Solvari is tackling the industry's biggest hurdles: labor shortages, soft costs, and operational complexity.

Samuel brings 20+ years of solar hardware experience to the table, and walks us through how Solvari’s single SKU system reduces material waste, improves install consistency, and increases profitability for solar businesses — especially in regions like Canada where timeframes are tight.

We dig into:

• How a simpler design unlocks faster installs
• The truth behind soft costs in solar
• Why Solvari’s panel is engineered for repeatability and scale
• Tips for cleantech founders marketing a new category
• What's next for solar innovation amid shifting policy

This one’s a must-listen for solar professionals, installation teams, contractors, and anyone building in clean energy.

🔗 Links: Solvari Website: https://www.solvarisolar.com

Solvari YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solvariinc

Solvari Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solvariinc/

Solvari LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solvari-inc/

🎙️ Hosted by: Yarek Matacz

JPM Media: https://www.jpmmedia.ca

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpmmediacanada/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jpm-media-canada/

In this episode of Off the Grid, On the Record, host Yarek Matacz sits down with David Hampson, founder of Hey Solar, to break down how Canadian homeowners and businesses can save on energy bills, boost property value, and access solar incentives—without the headache.

David shares his journey from global solar consultant to local solar advocate, and explains how Hey Solar is making customized clean energy solutions more accessible across Ontario. From federal loans and rebates to real estate value boosts and the evolution of solar tech, we explore what’s working, what’s changing, and what Canadians need to know in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you're curious about going green, cutting energy costs, or entering the solar industry, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Why solar is about taking back control over energy costs
• The difference between net metering and load displacement
• How solar increases property value by an average of 6.8%
• What custom solar design really means for homeowners
• Why solar education is the biggest missing piece in Canada
• The future of solar in Canada: transparency, collaboration, and solar-glass buildings

🎧 Tune in now and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with clean tech founders, operators, and innovators.

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🔗 Links:

• Hey Solar: https://heysolar.ca
• JPM Media: https://jpmmedia.ca
• Instagram: @jpmmediacanada
• Host: @yarekmatacz

In this episode of Off the Grid, On the Record, host Yarek Matacz sits down with Jesse Russell, founder of Hiatus Homes and managing partner at Hiatus Capital Fund, to explore the movement behind small, sustainable housing—and how intentional design and policy reform can radically transform the way we live.

Based in Bend, Oregon, Jesse has grown Hiatus from a backyard tiny house project into one of the country’s most innovative small home developers. But this conversation isn’t just about home size—it’s about urban infill, state policy shifts, creative financing, and a vision for community-centered living that balances environmental consciousness with livability and ROI.

🏡 In this episode:

• Why most homes are built for the wrong demographics
• How Oregon’s “cottage code” and middle housing laws are reshaping cities
• Hiatus’ approach to energy modeling, air sealing, and net-zero readiness
• The tension between permitting red tape and sustainable development
• What “intentional living” really means—beyond marketing
• How Jesse transitioned from TV producer to small-scale developer
• Building the Hiatus Capital Fund and launching investor-ready projects
• Marketing insights, policy gaps, and why visuals sell visionary housing

This is a blueprint for rethinking affordability, density, and design—and how to actually get it done in a world of zoning challenges and climate urgency.

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🔗 Learn more: www.hiatushomes.com

📩 Contact the show: [email protected]

🎥 Full episode on YouTube: @yarekmatacz

In this powerful episode of Off the Grid, On the Record, host Yarek Matacz sits down with Ron Kamen, founder and CEO of EarthKind Energy Consulting, to pull back the curtain on the real bottlenecks behind small solar’s slow growth—and why tech isn’t the problem.

With decades of experience in policy, program development, and large-scale project consulting, Ron explains how local permitting, outdated regulation, and fragmented energy strategies are still holding back otherwise capable developers and communities.

From New York’s billion-dollar NY-Sun program to performance-based incentives and community coalitions, this episode is a masterclass in how clean energy actually gets deployed—and what needs to change to scale it.

⚡ In this episode:

• The #1 mistake small solar companies keep repeating
• Why solar, EV charging, and heat pumps should never be sold in isolation
• The policy trap no one warns new solar installers about
• Real stories from New York’s clean energy battles—including the Indian Point shutdown
• Why energy certainty—not just generation—is key to hitting climate targets
• The silent workforce crisis stalling clean energy adoption
• What EarthKind is doing in Westchester that could become a national model

Plus, Ron shares his take on renewable diesel, battery storage moratoriums, and why grid reliability is now everyone's business—not just the utility’s.

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🌐 Learn more: www.earthkindenergy.com

📩 Contact the show: [email protected]

🎥 Full episode on YouTube: @yarekmatacz

What if urban transportation wasn’t just improved — but completely reinvented? In this episode of Off the Grid, On the Record, host Yarek Matacz dives deep with Andrew J. Cary, co-founder and front-facing voice of SNAAP Transportation, to uncover how this woman-owned startup is building the world’s first personalized, elevated monorail system — one that’s decentralized, autonomous, and actually affordable.

Born out of Atlanta traffic frustration and garage tinkering over 30 years ago, SNAAP is now standing up test pods, raising strategic investment, and building a mobility system that’s not Uber, not a bus, and definitely not mass transit as we know it. Instead, SNAAP’s modular “ribbonway” network uses elevated pods to deliver on-demand, single-occupant transportation with zero emissions, zero debt, and total IP control.

🚀 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why SNAAP is taking transit off the ground (literally)
• The link between equity, design, and autonomy
• How micro-distribution and accessibility power the business case
• What it means to own the software, hardware, AND infrastructure
• Cities and partners they’re in talks with: Dubai, São Paulo, Omaha & more
• Why they're focused on sports venues, campuses, and ports before public streets
• The funding strategy that avoids debt and VC dependency

📱 Bonus: Learn how SNAAP is launching its Android app for real pod testing — and why the team says “The future is here. Take it for a ride.”

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🌐 Learn more: www.ridesnaap.com

📩 Contact the show: [email protected]

🎥 Full video on YouTube: @yarekmatacz

📸 Follow on Instagram: @snaap.transportation

In this episode of Off the Grid, On the Record, host Yarek Matacz talks with Jordan Westphal, founder of Dynamic Solar, about building a boots-on-the-ground solar company that’s bridging residential and commercial solar—without the fluff.

From getting his start in roofing at age 16 to now leading a solar business operating across nine U.S. states, Jordan shares the story behind Dynamic Solar’s rapid growth, his thoughts on how tax incentives are changing the game, and how he's navigating everything from weather-related installs to multi-state commercial projects.

⚡ What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why roofing and solar make a powerful combo
• How investment tax credits can cut your solar ROI to under 2 years
• The truth about battery storage interest and utility “monopolies”
• How Dynamic Solar balances subcontracting with in-house quality
• Why Minnesota solar customers are tired of being left on the hook
• The power of referrals, meta ads, and high-trust sales in scaling up
• What it really means to “own your power”—not just your home

Whether you're a solar startup, property owner, or just curious about where the market’s headed, Jordan’s transparency, grit, and strategy-first mindset will resonate.

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🌐 Find out more about Dynamic Solar: www.dynamicsolarusa.com

📩 Contact the show: [email protected]

🎥 Full video on YouTube: @yarekmatacz

What if solar wasn’t just about panels on rooftops—but a full-blown community-powered, decentralized energy economy? In this episode of Off the Grid, On the Record, host Yarek Matacz talks with David N. Jones, founder and CEO of Lumina Energy, about how small businesses and municipalities are quietly reshaping the clean energy landscape from the ground up.

From virtual power plants to AI-powered micro data centers, Lumina is building energy ecosystems where residents, businesses, and entire cities can trade, store, and vote on how power is used—all without needing to own the infrastructure.

🌐 In this episode:

• What virtual power plants really are—and why they matter
• The three customer types Lumina serves: municipalities, businesses, and individuals
• The rise of trust as a currency in the solar space
• How Lumina builds energy access for renters and non-rooftop users
• Why decentralization and peer-to-peer energy trading are the next big leap
• Creating an AI-powered data center network inside modified shipping containers
• Lumina’s in-house workforce development program for green job training

This episode is a roadmap for how clean energy can become community-driven, AI-enabled, and radically inclusive—without waiting for legacy utilities to catch up.

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🔗 Learn more at luminaenergy.com

📩 Contact the show: [email protected]

🎥 Full video on YouTube: @yarekmatacz

In this episode of Off the Grid, On the Record, host Yarek Matacz sits down with John Carpenter, President of Clearstream Architectural, to explore how next-generation glass technologies are reshaping the buildings we live and work in—from the inside out.

With two decades of innovation behind him, John shares how his team collaborates with architects, designers, and engineers to create architectural glass solutions that go far beyond aesthetics. Whether it’s reducing absenteeism in office buildings, improving safety in public spaces, or enhancing energy performance in ultra-modern construction, Clearstream is pushing glass to do more—psychologically, functionally, and sustainably.

☀️ In this episode:

• How smart coatings, oversized panels, and low-E innovations are changing design
• Real-life case studies from churches, pools, transit depots, and commercial towers
• Why most glass isn’t designed for how people actually use buildings
• How architectural materials impact mental health and productivity
• The psychology behind window placement, glare control, and natural light
• Why traditional “blinds + windows” thinking is outdated
• Why John says his biggest competitor is historical assumptions

This one is a masterclass in material science meets human-centered design, with decades of hard-won wisdom from the field.

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🛠️ Learn more about Clearstream Architectural: clearstream-architectural.com

📩 Contact the show: [email protected]

🎥 Full video on YouTube: @yarekmatacz