Rephonic
Artwork for Volts
Renewable Energy
Climate Change
Clean Energy Transition
Community Engagement
Social License
Clean Energy
Cement
Solar Energy
Wind Farms
Carbon Emissions
Electric Vehicles
Community Benefits
Australia
Nonprofit Organizations
Offshore Wind
Mining
Electrochemical Processes
Low Carbon Technology
Connecticut
Sustainability

Volts is a podcast about leaving fossil fuels behind. I've been reporting on and explaining clean-energy topics for almost 20 years, and I love talking to politicians, analysts, innovators, and activists about the latest progress in the world's most important fight. (Volts is entirely subscriber-supported. Sign up!) www.volts.wtf

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes397Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsTech News

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Artwork for Volts

Latest Episodes

PJM is the largest wholesale power market and transmission planning region in the US. Currently, it is stuck between a rock and a hard place: on one side, rising demand from data centers; on the other, a choked and congested interconnection queue tha... more

Meat is responsible for roughly a fifth of climate change, the lion’s share of deforestation, 70% of our antibiotic use, and quite possibly the next pandemic — and consumption is going up every single year, with no end in sight. In this episode, Bruc... more

Utilities and their regulators are often protected by a "force field of tedium," but in this episode, I pierce the veil to discuss the complex machinery of utility profit-making. I’m joined by Joe Daniel of RMI to unpack the critical distinction betw... more

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Sarah Kapnick about the core of climate science and the wild variables that have emerged in the last decade. We discuss the “accidental geoengineering” experiment of reducing shipping aerosols, the newfound ability to... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Bruce Friedrich
Founder and runs the Good Food Institute
Good Food Institute
Episode: Can fake meat help solve climate change?
Yeh-Tang Huang
Founder of Climate Era Catalyst, a nonprofit advocating for clean electrification in Taiwan
Episode: Taiwan's energy dilemma
Seth Frader-Thompson
Founder and CEO of EnergyHub, a leading VPP management company.
EnergyHub
Episode: Let's dig a little deeper into virtual power plants (VPPs)
Jonas Birgersson
Tech entrepreneur and pioneer in internet and electricity distribution systems.
Via Europa
Episode: Making the electricity grid work like the internet
Jeanine Vany
Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Eavor
Eavor
Episode: What's the deal with closed-loop geothermal?
Mark Fitzgerald
CEO of Eavor
Eavor
Episode: What's the deal with closed-loop geothermal?
Kate Slevin
Executive Vice President of the Regional Plan Association
Regional Plan Association
Episode: NYC's congestion pricing has been running for a year now. How's it doing?
Brian Schatz
U.S. Senator from Hawaii
United States Senate
Episode: Sen. Brian Schatz wants permitting reform, but not like this
Saul Griffith
Energy expert, author, and scientist
Episode: What's the real story with Australian rooftop solar?

Host

David Roberts
Host of Volts, an expert in clean energy and climate policy with extensive experience in reporting on energy issues.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • One of my favorites

    One of the best podcasts on climate and energy I’ve found. David Roberts explains complicated topics — utilities, electrification, heat pumps, grid policy — in a way that’s clear without oversimplifying. The conversations are thoughtful and genuinely educational, and I always come away understanding why things work the way they do, not just the headlines.

    It’s informative, realistic, and surprisingly reassuring about the clean-energy transition.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Love it !!$!!
    United States3 days ago
  • Fantastic Information

    Love the show; the information provided, for one thing, makes me sound a little less like a raving anti big utility maniac (though just a little…)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kyoung21b
    United States11 days ago
  • Just discovered, now I'll have to deep dive

    Totally Awesome!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Larry the Gnome
    United States17 days ago
  • Favorite podcast!

    Thank you, David. I absolutely love this podcast. I look forward to it every week. I aim to be a paid subscriber very soon. Starting with this five star review.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rossssssssseriously
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great 😃

    Podcast Addict
    5
    tkoenig
    a month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express frustration at any perceived bias, particularly moments of political commentary, although many recognize the importance of the relevant discussions.
Overall, the podcast is viewed as indispensable for anyone interested in staying current on climate and energy matters.
Listeners appreciate the podcast for its in-depth exploration of clean energy solutions and the engaging discussions with knowledgeable guests.
There is a consensus that the content is intellectually stimulating, resonating well with professionals in the field of energy and sustainability, who find it both informative and inspiring.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#120
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#147
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#225
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#131
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#157
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#41
Taiwan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Taiwan's energy dilemma
Q: What are the dynamics surrounding nuclear energy in Taiwan?
The majority of the population supports nuclear power, but previous campaigns by the government have heavily stigmatized it, leading to widespread public opposition.
Taiwan's energy dilemma
Q: How does energy security play out in Taiwan's politics?
Energy security is seen as vital, and while many advocate for distributed renewable energy, there's also pressure to import American gas due to geopolitical considerations.
Taiwan's energy dilemma
Q: What is the breakdown in the electricity sector currently?
As of 2025, Taiwan's electricity generation is approximately 50% gas, 36% coal, and 11% renewables, with 2% from hydro and no nuclear.
What's the deal with enhanced rock weathering to store CO2?
Q: So back to this, you're spreading it on the soil, on agricultural soil, and the idea here is that it forms bicarbonates, and then the bicarbonates end up through the natural cycle filtering down into rivers, and then ending up in the ocean. And it is them ending up in the ocean that vouchsafes their permanent storage, basically. So one of the questions that came up when I was talking about this online earlier is that there seems to be some new research that shows that they're staying in place in the subsoil, basically, which risks, I guess, them losing their carbon again if they encounter the wrong kind of material. So I'm just curious about recent research. How confident are we that these things are actually making it to the ocean, which is kind of the whole premise?
We're quite confident that they'll eventually make their way to the ocean, with some regional dependencies and ongoing research to monitor the process better.
What's the deal with enhanced rock weathering to store CO2?
Q: Are people mining olivine for other reasons, or is it just a sequestration thing?
Olivine has some industrial uses, particularly in steel processes, but global production is relatively small and historically not particularly valuable.

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 Volts

What is Volts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content primarily centers around the critical transition away from fossil fuels, highlighting innovations in clean energy and the political landscape surrounding climate policies. Episodes routinely feature discussions on the latest advancements in renewable energy technology, shifting regulatory frameworks, and the intersection of energy policy with societal issues such as housing, transportation, and public health. A distinctive aspect is its emphasis on community-driven initiatives and the engagement of influential figures from various sectors, including energy analysts, activists, and policymakers, providing a deep and varied exploration of the energy transition and its implications for the future.

Where can I find podcast stats for Volts?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Volts. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Volts and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Volts get?

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What are the audience demographics for Volts?

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How many subscribers and views does Volts have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Volts has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Volts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Volts:

1. Catalyst with Shayle Kann
2. Zero: The Climate Race
3. Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Odd Lots

How many episodes of Volts are there?

Volts launched 5 years ago and published 397 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 Volts?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Volts?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Volts from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Volts?

Recent guests on Volts include:

1. Bruce Friedrich
2. Yeh-Tang Huang
3. Seth Frader-Thompson
4. Jonas Birgersson
5. Jeanine Vany
6. Mark Fitzgerald
7. Kate Slevin
8. Brian Schatz

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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