In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore explore how political shifts, from local UK elections to U.S.-Gulf partnerships, are redrawing the map of global energy leadership. They unpack the growing divide between fossil fuel resurgence and clean energy acceleration, the geopolitical weight of AI-powered data centers, and the outsized influence of Gulf capital in shaping America's energy future.

In our Climate Leaders segment, Oliver Libby, Managing Partner of H/L Ventures and CityRock Venture Partners, joins to discuss how his firm is redefining early-stage venture capital with a deeply engaged, mission-aligned model. He shares why impact and diversity are not just values but return drivers, how H/L structures daily active support for founders, and why the firm is betting on pragmatic, scalable climate solutions over moonshot bets.

In the Chasing Unicorns segment, Gianluca Ambrosetti, CEO of Synhelion, shares the journey behind building a game-changing sustainable aviation fuel company out of Switzerland. He explains how Synhelion is turning solar heat into liquid fuel, why Swissair’s early adoption matters, and what it takes to cross the chasm from deeptech promise to gigaton-scale impact.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore break down how shifting geopolitics, from the Canadian election to UK and Chinese climate commitments, are reshaping global climate leadership and energy investment strategies. They discuss how national security, energy sovereignty, and populism are now central to the climate transition, with implications for everything from EV supply chains to investor confidence.

In our Chasing Net Zero segment, we’re joined by Christophe Defert, Head of HSBC Climate Growth Partners, who shares insights on navigating climate investing through political volatility, why software-driven supply chain sustainability may be the biggest overlooked opportunity, and how HSBC is balancing resilience, scalability, and transatlantic growth.

In the Chasing Unicorns segment, Trip Tripician, CEO of Meatable, discusses how cultivated meat is poised to transform the $2 trillion global meat industry. He explains how Meatable is blending scientific innovation with practical go-to-market strategies, navigating global regulation, and building industry partnerships to scale alternative proteins that meet rising global demand while reducing harm to the planet.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore dive into the latest geopolitical shifts affecting the energy transition. They unpack the implications of new U.S. tariff announcements and growing trade tensions on clean energy supply chains, domestic manufacturing, and the accelerating global race for critical minerals. They also discuss what this means for the future of the energy transition and how investors, operators, and governments are responding to an increasingly fragmented global landscape.

In our Chasing Net Zero segment, we’re joined by Greg Wasserman, Head of Private Climate Investing at Wellington Management. Greg shares insights from nearly two decades in climate investing, discussing how capital is moving into later-stage climate solutions, the importance of adaptation, and why overlooked sectors like logistics, automation, and digital infrastructure are central to the decarbonization story.

In the Chasing Unicorns segment, Alexandra Rasch, Founder and CEO of Caban, walks us through how distributed energy infrastructure is evolving across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the U.S. She unpacks the policy tailwinds and headwinds shaping energy storage markets, the importance of local manufacturing and software, and how Caban is building a decentralized power network to fuel the next generation of telecom, data, and AI systems.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore unpack key insights from two major global forums, CERA Week in Houston and the Baku Global Forum in Azerbaijan. From the rise of "energy realism" to the explosive intersection of AI and energy infrastructure, they explore how hyperscalers, oil majors, and grid operators are responding to rising demand, carbon constraints, and geopolitical shifts. They also discuss what this means for climate policy, corporate strategy, and investment across regions.

In our Chasing Net Zero segment, we’re joined by Hampus Jakobsson, General Partner at Pale Blue Dot, who shares lessons from investing in early-stage climate tech. He discusses why behavioral change isn’t a viable strategy, how to back companies that win regardless of climate beliefs, and why storage, reindustrialization, and adaptation are the next big frontiers.

In Chasing Unicorns, Blaine Mathieu, CEO of Pratexo, dives into how edge computing can unlock decentralized energy systems. He explains how their platform enables industrial players to evolve at the speed of software, manage distributed power assets, and build more resilient infrastructure—all while supporting the AI-powered future.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore break down the latest shifts in climate markets, including the EU Omnibus and its far-reaching impact on sustainability reporting and investment trends. They explore what these regulatory changes mean for businesses, investors, and the future of climate finance.

In our Chasing Net Zero segment, we welcome William McDonough, renowned architect and sustainability pioneer, to discuss circular economy principles, Cradle to Cradle design, and how innovative thinking can transform the built environment for a regenerative future.

In Chasing Unicorns, Nicolas Weber, CEO of Voltiris, joins us to talk about the company’s breakthrough agrivoltaic technology, which allows greenhouses to generate solar power without compromising crop yields. He shares insights on scaling clean energy solutions in agriculture and the role of innovative startups in the energy transition.

In episode 11 of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore break down the key takeaways from Davos, analyzing the global reaction to the new U.S. administration’s energy policies, the impact of deregulation on markets, and what it all means for the future of the energy transition. They also examine the growing divide between U.S. and European approaches to climate policy and investment.

This week, in our Chasing Net-Zero segment, we are joined by Simon McWhirter, Deputy CEO of the UK Green Building Council, to explore the critical role of the built environment in achieving net zero. He discusses the urgent need for scaling sustainable construction, the regulatory shifts shaping green buildings, and how new technologies are transforming the sector.

In our Chasing Unicorns segment, Simon Phelan, Founder and CEO of Hometree, shares how his company is reshaping home energy services by integrating financing, renewable installations, and maintenance solutions. He explains how innovative business models can accelerate residential decarbonization and why the shift to a market-driven energy transition presents massive opportunities for growth.

In episode 10 of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore dive into pressing climate and financial news, from the breaching of the 1.5°C threshold to the implications of major financial institutions withdrawing from climate coalitions. They also explore how these developments impact global efforts toward decarbonization and net-zero ambitions.

This week, in our chasing Net-Zero segment, we are thrilled to welcome Julien Villeret, Chief Innovation Officer at EDF, to discuss how one of the world's largest electricity producers is driving the energy transition through groundbreaking innovations, from scaling renewable energy technologies to advancing nuclear and AI-driven solutions.

In our Chasing Unicorns segment, Aurélien de Meaux, CEO of Electra, shares how his company is transforming EV infrastructure across Europe, accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles with cutting-edge technology and an ambitious expansion strategy.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore dive into the significant shifts in U.S. energy policies, reflecting on the new administration's impact on climate and energy strategies. They discuss how these changes are poised to affect both national and global sustainability efforts, from corporate actions to economic policies.

This week, we are honored to be joined by Lord Nicholas Stern, an influential voice in climate economics, who explores the critical role of economic strategies in global climate policy advancements. He offers insights into how policy-driven economic changes can foster sustainable growth and investment in green technologies. For our Chasing Unicorns segment, Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A, discusses how corporations can enhance their sustainability practices through innovative technologies and strategic initiatives, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches to meet environmental challenges.

 In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore discuss the unveiling of the UK's comprehensive Clean Power Action Plan, detailing the ambitious steps the UK government is taking to enhance renewable energy production and grid capacity. From offshore wind targets to significant investment needs, they explore how these strategies position the UK as a leader in the energy transition.

Joining the conversation, David Livingston, Chief Strategy Officer at Galvanize, shares insights into the role of cross-border collaboration and innovative technologies in scaling climate solutions globally. Meanwhile, Valentin Gutknecht, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Neustark, dives into Neustark's pioneering methods of carbon removal that are setting new standards for environmental sustainability and discussing the future dynamics of the carbon credit market.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore unpack the latest developments in global energy markets, including reflections from COP29, the nomination of the new U.S. energy secretary, and emerging EV trends.

Ann Mettler, Vice President for Europe at Breakthrough Energy, discusses tackling regulatory complexity and scaling clean technologies, while Wolfgang Gründinger, Chief Evangelist of Enpal, shares how Germany’s first GreenTech unicorn is transforming residential solar into a virtual power plant.