Prosperity, Not Poverty

Energy is the foundation of prosperity—but the world is getting the energy conversation wrong.

In this episode of Prosperity, Not Poverty, host Magatte Wade sits down with Scott Tinker, founder and chairman of Switch Energy Alliance, to explore the connection between reliable energy, economic development, and ending global poverty.

Drawing on his travels around the world, Scott explains why billions of people still lack access to affordable, reliable energy and why developing nations need a practical, diverse approach to meeting their energy needs. Together, they discuss the limits of relying on wind and solar alone, the role of fossil fuels in economic development, the future of nuclear power, China's dominance in clean energy supply chains, and the contradictions in Western energy policy.

Learn more about Scott’s work advancing global energy education and access through the Switch Energy Alliance here ➡️ https://switchon.org/

What happens when the so-called fight against climate change comes at the expense of affordable, reliable energy and human progress?

In this episode, Magatte Wade sits down with best-selling author and energy and climate policy commentator Michael Shellenberger to explore his journey from the radical left and apocalyptic environmentalism to becoming a leading advocate for nuclear power, human development, and abundant energy.

Shellenberger explains what changed his mind, including his experiences in developing countries, his growing understanding of nuclear energy, and the realization that some of the world's poorest communities are being denied the cheap and reliable energy they need to industrialize and prosper.

In this episode of Prosperity, Not Poverty, Magatte Wade is joined by John Robson, Executive Director of the Climate Discussion Nexus, to examine the unintended consequences of climate policy — from Europe’s heat waves to Africa’s struggle for reliable energy and access to air conditioning.

Robson brings a historian’s perspective to the climate debate, questioning the idea that today’s extreme weather is unprecedented and arguing that political and media narratives often overlook history, evidence and practical consequences.

In this episode, Magatte Wade sits down with Prof. Brenda Shaffer, a faculty member at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and contributor to the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, to explore one of the most misunderstood issues shaping our world: energy.

Why are millions of Africans still being denied access to reliable electricity? How have climate policies made the world less energy secure? And what happens when unelected international organizations begin influencing global markets and taxation?

Professor Shaffer draws on decades of experience in energy geopolitics to explain why energy is at the center of prosperity, national security, and human development. Together, she and Magatte examine the unintended consequences of renewable energy policies, the importance of expanding Africa's natural gas resources, and the growing role of international institutions in shaping economic policy.

In this episode, entrepreneur and advocate for prosperity in Africa, Magatte Wade sits down with Crystal Smith, former Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation and one of the driving forces behind Cedar LNG, the proposed $3.4 billion liquefied natural gas project that is set to become the world's first Indigenous majority-owned LNG facility.

Crystal shares the remarkable story of how the Haisla Nation moved from being impacted by resource development to becoming a leading partner in one of Canada's most significant energy projects. She discusses the challenges, opportunities, and leadership lessons involved in building Indigenous ownership, attracting investment, navigating partnerships, and creating long-term economic prosperity for future generations.

Together, Magatte and Crystal explore what Africa can learn from the Haisla experience as entrepreneurs and communities across the continent seek to lead and own the energy projects that will power their future.

Journalist and former climate activist Lucy Biggers joins host Magatte Wade for a deep conversation about her journey into the climate movement, and the moments that led her to question it.

Magatte explores the emotional pull of climate activism, the role of social media and apocalyptic messaging, climate anxiety among younger generations, and how activism can evolve into identity and community. Lucy also shares her thoughts on Net Zero, ideology within the movement, and where climate activism may be headed next.

In this episode of the Prosperity, Not Poverty podcast, Magatte Wade speaks with former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott about the vital role fossil fuels play in driving prosperity, freedom, and human flourishing across the world.

They discuss the global push for Net Zero by 2050 and its potential consequences—from accelerating deindustrialization in Western countries to preventing developing nations from using their natural resources to achieve prosperity. The conversation also explores the geopolitical risks of restricting fossil fuel financing, including the possibility of increasing the Chinese Communist Party’s influence over natural resources in the developing world.

In this episode of the Prosperity, Not Poverty podcast, Konstantin Kisin shares how growing up in Communist Russia shaped his understanding of ideology, freedom, and economic reality. He reflects on how those experiences led to his widely discussed speech at the Oxford Union, where he argued that the real choice in climate policy is whether we prioritize human flourishing.

We explore his perspective on the climate movement, the push for Net Zero policies, and whether he sees parallels between the ideological thinking he witnessed under communism and some of today’s climate debates in the West.