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

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 weeklyEpisodes386Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsTech NewsNews

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Artwork for Volts

Latest Episodes

Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz joins me to discuss the energy policy landscape facing Democrats and how they should respond. We touch on the shift in messaging from “climate” to “affordability,” current Congressional Republican efforts on permitting ref... more

Why can Australian homeowners get rooftop solar installed in a week or less, for roughly 50 cents a watt, while Californians pay $3.30/w and wait months for interconnection? In this episode, I ask inimitable Australian energy expert Saul Griffith to ... more

The problem of misinformation in the current age, argues political scientist Samuel Bagg, is not that reliably truth-producing institutions and practices don’t exist, but that people have ceased to trust them. Changing that requires something deeper ... more

Senator Ruben Gallego (AZ) joins me to discuss his new energy plan, which combines elements of the Inflation Reduction Act with a new focus on permitting reform and small modular nuclear reactors. We get into all of it, from the promise of nuclear en... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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?
Samuel Bagg
Political science professor at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
Episode: The cure for misinformation is not more information or smarter news consumers
Aliya Haq
Advocate and policy leader in climate movement, former National Climate Policy Director at NRDC, and founder of the Clean Economy Project.
Clean Economy Project
Episode: Advocating for decarbonization in 2026
Bryan Turner
Leads regulatory engagement in the West for Advanced Energy United and is an expert in California energy governance.
Advanced Energy United
Episode: California warms up to a larger Western energy market
Kathleen Staks
Runs Western Freedom, advocating for a larger Western grid and chairing the Pathways Initiative.
Western Freedom
Episode: California warms up to a larger Western energy market
Cora Stryker
Co-founder of Bright Saver, a non-profit enabling plug-in solar across the U.S.
Bright Saver
Episode: What's the deal with balcony solar?
Kingsmill Bond
Energy analyst and author of 'The Electrotech Revolution' report
Ember
Episode: Clean electrification is inevitable
Dr. Georgia Lagoudas
Senior Fellow at the Pandemic Center, Brown University, advisor on indoor air quality
Pandemic Center at Brown University
Episode: What's the deal with indoor air quality?

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
  • Too heavy on the tribal politics

    After Trump got voted in the second time, the host has just become insufferable, spending so much energy on taking shots at “the other side”.

    I just wanted to hear about energy stuff, I don’t even live in the USA, and this never ending political stuff is so tiring.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ddd996
    Canada3 months ago
  • Great clean tech news source

    Excellent news source for clean tech. As someone in the industry, I thoroughly enjoy the deep conversations of leaders, manufacturers, and innovators.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    swimmer21ado
    United States4 months ago
  • So Interesting

    As a lay person, I often don’t know some of the acronyms or granular specifics that come up, but that’s okay, bc I’m learning and it’s all so interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    horsefeat
    United States4 months ago
  • Must-listen for climate & energy followers

    Have followed since Day One. Go behind the headlines to find real people working on real solutions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PugetBob
    United States6 months ago
  • Indispensable

    Dave Roberts helps us understand aspects of the energy world that are not available anywhere else. Indispensable for people who want to stay current at a level of depth we seldom get elsewhere.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Connorblum
    United States6 months 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
#138
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#221
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#110
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#198
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#48
Denmark/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#110
Colombia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sen. Brian Schatz wants permitting reform, but not like this
Q: How should we think about AI data centers and public policy towards them?
They should reevaluate casting their lot with fossil energy, as there's a need for alignment with clean energy goals.
Sen. Brian Schatz wants permitting reform, but not like this
Q: What will you do about energy affordability?
Lift the solar ban, restore the credits, and do permitting reform.
Advocating for decarbonization in 2026
Q: Is clean energy populism a viable strategy for moving forward?
If we can work with those folks and actually make their lives better today, there's probably some really important political likes to that.
Advocating for decarbonization in 2026
Q: What do you envision doing differently as you start fresh with a new group?
We can be really creative about the way we engage and who we communicate with and who our partners are.
Sen. Ruben Gallego has a new energy plan
Q: Do you still have concerns about climate change?
Yes, I am concerned about climate change and believe it's crucial to fix the problem, irrespective of the terms used to discuss it.

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. Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins
2. Catalyst with Shayle Kann
3. Open Circuit
4. Energy Gang
5. Columbia Energy Exchange

How many episodes of Volts are there?

Volts launched 5 years ago and published 386 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. Brian Schatz
2. Saul Griffith
3. Samuel Bagg
4. Aliya Haq
5. Bryan Turner
6. Kathleen Staks
7. Cora Stryker
8. Kingsmill Bond

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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