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Solar Sidekicks Podcast

Pat Southwell
Battery Storage
Australia
Solar Victoria
Battery Rebate
Batteries
Solar Industry
Electric Vehicles
Cheaper Home Battery Rebate
Virtual Power Plant
Solar Homes Program
EV Council
Gas Industry
Opensolar
Battery Testing
Sigenergy
Backstop (ausnet Victoria)
Inspections and Compliance
Melbourne, Australia
Goodwe
Sydney

Solar Sidekicks is the go-to podcast for all things solar, serving up essential insights with a friendly, down-to-earth vibe. Hosted by industry professional Pat Southwell and his co-host Lauren Ciconte, each episode explores technical topics, industry regulations, and the real-world challenges faced by solar installers across Australia.

Together they share practical knowledge from the field, tac... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes66Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for Solar Sidekicks Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week we’ve headed north to Castlemaine to sit down with Matt Wilson from Central Spark Victoria — and apparently Lauren thought activewear and shorts were appropriate for a chilly Central Victorian morning.

Matt’s been around solar since the da... more

Pat & Loz are on the road again — this week recording from the brand new Jet Solar HQ on Wellington Road, Rowville. And yes, the signwriting is real.

Jason Dickinson has been quietly running one of the best solar businesses in Melbourne for seven ye... more

After a month off, Pat and Lauren are back for a proper Solar Sidekicks industry catch-up — and there’s plenty to talk about.

First up, they wrap up the first year of the Southwell Solar Installer Nights, from the huge Melbourne opener through to a ... more

Pat & Loz are back in the studio — this time at the new Six Star Plus office in Dandenong South — and they're joined by Nicole Stegmann from Energy Matters.

Nicole's got one of the more colourful backstories we've had on the show — from working at F... more

Pat & Loz are back!!! After a bit of a break (Sydney, then life got busy), the mics are hot again — and we're kicking things off with a big one.

This week on Solar Sidekicks, Pat and Loz are joined by Brendan Laidlaw from CEP Energy for a ripper cha... more

Recorded at the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney, this episode features the brilliant Tiarna Hodge from iStore.

Self-described as the industry’s Wednesday Addams, Tiarna takes us through a 14-year solar career that started as a receptionist at 17 a... more

Recorded at the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney, this episode kicks off a full day of podcasting from the Solar Sidekicks booth.

Pat and Lauren sit down with Kat and Richard from GreenSketch to chat about solar quoting, homeowner education, instal... more

Recorded live at the Solar Cutters networking event in Sydney before Smart Energy Conference, this episode is absolute chaos from the very start.

Pat can’t hear the intro music, Jo accidentally jumps on the mic and does the opening intro herself, an... more

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Recent Guests

Tiarna Hodge
Tech lead at iStore, expert in warranty, site support, and app integrations
iStore
Episode: S3E14 - iStore - Tiarna Hodge
Kat Touchstone
Representative of GreenSketch
GreenSketch
Episode: S3E13 – GreenSketch at Smart Energy
Jack Long
Representing iStore / Longy
iStore
Episode: S3E12 - 2026 Sydney Solar Cutters Networking Drinks
Nigel Morris
Industry leader
Southwell Solar Training / industry council
Episode: S3E12 - 2026 Sydney Solar Cutters Networking Drinks
Ash Bryan
From Percy
Percy
Episode: S3E12 - 2026 Sydney Solar Cutters Networking Drinks
Tish France
From Percy
Percy
Episode: S3E12 - 2026 Sydney Solar Cutters Networking Drinks
Nigel (guest)
Industry leader
Percy / Terrapin ecosystem
Episode: S3E12 - 2026 Sydney Solar Cutters Networking Drinks
Eddie Springer
Owner/leader of Springer's Solar
Springers Solar
Episode: S3E11 - 2026 Excellence Awards Finalists
Lauren (Loz) O'Neill
Representative from Smart Commercial Energy
Smart Commercial Energy
Episode: S3E11 - 2026 Excellence Awards Finalists

Hosts

Pat Southwell
Host of Solar Sidekicks Podcast; experienced solar industry professional.
Lauren O'Neill
Co-host with practical industry insights and engagement with guests; often adds context and industry knowledge.
Lauren Sacconti
Co-host and industry facilitator; engages with guests and shares context on workforce development and installer culture.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S2E21 - George Auchterlonie | REST Energy
Q: What led you to move to a subcontractor model and how has it worked for REST Energy?
George explains moving from full-time crews to a subcontractor model to scale with demand, maintain flexibility, and keep skilled workers engaged, while stressing the importance of on-site leadership, strong relationships with subbies, and responsive client service.
S2E18 - Pat Southwell | Southwell Solar Inspections
Q: What sparked your move from retailer-focused roles to inspections and training?
Pat explains that the industry's flaws—poor training, aggressive sales, and the need for practical CPD—pushed him to create a path where installers could learn from real-world experience, leading to his work with Solar Vic, the CEC, and eventually his training business.
S3E13 – GreenSketch at Smart Energy
Q: How does GreenSketch handle product compatibility and brand variety for installers?
GreenSketch supports a wide ecosystem, with access to around 80 brands; installers can use any product or distributor, while the platform showcases the available brands within its ecosystem for customers and installers alike.
S2E19 – Tom Gay | Origin Energy
Q: Can you give us a high-level explanation of what a VPP is for people who don't understand it?
A VPP is a network of distributed energy resources—like solar, home batteries, EVs, and hot water systems—that are orchestrated to act as a single power plant, optimizing charging and discharging to support the grid when needed and to maximize value for the customer.
S3E10 - Startups at Solar & Storage Live
Q: What does Charge Next Door do and how does it work?
It's a decentralized app where hosts can list their chargers and EV drivers can find, filter, and book them; payments are handled in-app via Stripe or Apple Pay, and hosts receive a 10% cut from charging fees.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Sidekicks Podcast

What is Solar Sidekicks Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, industry-forward show focused on solar installation in Australia, with hosts who unpack technical topics, policy changes, and real-world installer challenges. Episodes frequently explore battery storage, rebates, regulatory shifts, and how to run a professional solar business—from design and quoting to training and workforce development. A standout across seasons is the blend of hands-on technical content (battery sizing, wiring, testing, VPPs) with candid industry culture commentary, conference coverage, and a clear emphasis on ethics, accountability, and high professional standards for installers. The format often features live-event moments, guest experts from supplier ecosystems, and updates on education and CPD, making it ... more

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How many listeners does Solar Sidekicks Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Solar Sidekicks Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Solar Sidekicks Podcast:

1. Just Another Solar Podcast
2. Solar Insiders - a Renew Economy Podcast
3. Everything Electric Podcast
4. Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast
5. SwitchedOn Australia

How many episodes of Solar Sidekicks Podcast are there?

Solar Sidekicks Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 66 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Solar Sidekicks Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Solar Sidekicks Podcast?

Recent guests on Solar Sidekicks Podcast include:

1. Tiarna Hodge
2. Kat Touchstone
3. Jack Long
4. Nigel Morris
5. Ash Bryan
6. Tish France
7. Nigel (guest)
8. Eddie Springer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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