You are listening to Curiosity Curated. I am Zong.

In our rapidly changing world, energy and geopolitics have become deeply intertwined. Nations now view energy not just as a resource but as a critical component of power and security. This interconnection manifests in three key trends: the resurgence of great power competition, the global shift toward clean energy, and the increasing electricity demands of artificial intelligence. Throughout this season, we'll examine how both established and emerging powers navigate these evolving dynamics, highlighting how energy resources fundamentally shape the emerging global order.

Our journey is guided by Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize winner and leading authority on energy and geopolitics. His book, "The New Map," along with his co-authored seminal Foreign Affairs article on energy realism, meticulously analyzes the monumental shifts shaping our modern existence—revealing a compelling narrative of power, innovation, and disruption.

In our first episode, we plunge into the most fundamental disruption of all: an unexpected American energy revolution that utterly changed the global balance of power.

00:35 Episode Intro

02:12 Vulnerability: America’s Energy Psychology in the Late 20th Century

04:46 The Unlikely Hero: George Mitchell

07:38 The Shale Revolution: A Technological Breakthrough

10:05 The Discovery of Shale Oil

11:57 Economic Impact: A Manufacturing Renaissance

14:48 Environment Considerations

18:07 The US as a New Energy Exporter

21:19 Geopolitical Rebalancing

27:25 The Big Three (US, Russia, and Saudi Arabia)

29:36 Conclusion

Sources:

The New Map by Daniel Yergin

The Troubled Energy Transition: How to Find a Pragmatic Path Forward, Daniel Yergin et al, www.foreignaffairs.com

Music:

“Hold On” by Alabama Shakes

“Who Am I” by Dario Lupo

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