Rephonic
Artwork for Volts
Renewable Energy
Climate Change
Community Engagement
Clean Energy Transition
Social License
Clean Energy
Cement
Wind Farms
Solar Energy
Carbon Emissions
Community Benefits
Nonprofit Organizations
Australia
Offshore Wind
Mining
Electrochemical Processes
Low Carbon Technology
Connecticut
Battery Recycling
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 weeklyEpisodes407Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsTech News

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Artwork for Volts

Latest Episodes

It can be stomach-turning, watching the Trump administration torch federal climate policy. But what if some of what's burning wasn't working particularly well to begin with? Hannah Safford and Loren Schulman of the Federation of American Scientists' ... more

The US power grid runs at about 50% capacity on average — built for its worst day, underutilized every other day. As demand surges from data centers and electrification, utilities are racing to build more infrastructure. But Ian Magruder, who heads t... more

In this episode, Dakota Gruener of Reflective walks me through her organization's new project, which maps the gaps in our scientific understanding of stratospheric aerosol injection — currently the leading candidate for directly cooling the planet. W... more

The explosive energy demand from data centers is breaking our grid, pushing desperate developers to build their own on-site gas plants just to get online. To figure out how we avoid locking in decades of new fossil fuels, I’m joined by Camus CEO Astr... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Pete Sikora
Senior advisor for the nonprofit New York Communities for Change and long-time state activist
New York Communities for Change
Episode: The high-stakes battle over energy affordability in New York
Kunal Girotra
CEO of Lunar Energy; former Tesla residential energy executive
Lunar Energy
Episode: A Tesla vet tries to master the VPP market
Jan Sramek
CEO, founder, and long-time advocate behind California Forever
California Forever
Episode: Is the brand new city in California for real?
Emily Grubert
Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy, Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
Episode: The fate of fossil fuel systems in the "mid-transition"
Clara Summers
Runs CUB's Consumers for a Better Grid campaign
Citizens Utility Board
Episode: What is PJM and why is everyone so mad about it?
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

Host

David Roberts
Host of the show and an experienced journalist focused on energy, climate, and policy analysis. He engages with a wide variety of guests to explore in-depth discussions on the clean energy transition and related themes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.3k 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 States2 months 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 States2 months ago
  • Just discovered, now I'll have to deep dive

    Totally Awesome!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Larry the Gnome
    United States2 months 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 States3 months ago
  • Great 😃

    Podcast Addict
    5
    tkoenig
    3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the podcast for its clear explanations of complex energy topics.
The host is recognized for being engaging and making technical subjects relatable.
Many appreciate the thoughtful conversations featuring knowledgeable guests from various sectors.
Occasional criticisms suggest a focus on political themes that some find excessive.
Some reviews highlight the effectiveness of the content in deepening understanding of energy issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#110
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#152
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#153
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#173
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#213
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#227
Germany/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The high-stakes battle over energy affordability in New York
Q: What role do political dynamics and party strategy play in Hochul's approach to the climate law?
The guest notes internal party tensions, the leverage of the budget process, and the influence of industry groups, suggesting Hochul's stance may be driven by political calculations to appear moderate and secure support from key power centers, even as this undermines strong climate action in practice.
The high-stakes battle over energy affordability in New York
Q: Why is there disagreement about how to balance climate goals with energy prices in New York?
There is a debate over whether cap-and-invest would raise prices or ultimately lower them through efficiency, dividends, and investments, with green groups arguing the model shows net benefits for average New Yorkers, while opponents point to higher upfront costs and current price volatility driven by legacy infrastructure and gas reliance.
The high-stakes battle over energy affordability in New York
Q: What happened after CLCPA was passed and how has the administration responded to affordability concerns?
The hosts explain that although the CLCPA set ambitious targets and had a structured implementation process, the Hochul administration effectively paused or rolled back key components like Cap‑It‑Invest, citing affordability concerns and rising energy costs, while the legislature remains hesitant but capable of pushing back in budget discussions.
Is the brand new city in California for real?
Q: How do you address concerns about transparency and potential “land buyout” narratives?
He explains land assembly was conducted in a way common to large institutions, with upfront disclosures, four-times market-value payments, and extended occupancy for sellers, while emphasizing that ownership and long horizon capital are necessary to realize a functional, livable city.
Is the brand new city in California for real?
Q: Why here, why this land, and why not infill or expand an existing city?
The guest argues that infill and existing-city expansion, while important, cannot deliver the scale, job-housing balance, and walkable density needed for a city of about 400,000 people, so a greenfield site with master planning and long-term investment is pursued to create a complete ecosystem.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Volts

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

This podcast focuses on the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy solutions, featuring discussions on various related topics, including the intricacies of energy policies, innovative technologies, and the role of political advocacy in promoting sustainability. It invites a diverse range of guests who are involved in fields such as energy efficiency, electric utilities, and climate advocacy, providing listeners with expert insights and thought-provoking conversations on contemporary energy issues. With a commitment to clear communication, the host strives to make complex subjects accessible and engaging for listeners, offering a blend of education and inspiration surrounding the urgent matter of energy transition.

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?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Volts, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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
2. Catalyst with Shayle Kann
3. Open Circuit
4. Energy Gang
5. Interchange Recharged

How many episodes of Volts are there?

Volts launched 5 years ago and published 407 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. Pete Sikora
2. Kunal Girotra
3. Jan Sramek
4. Emily Grubert
5. Clara Summers
6. Bruce Friedrich
7. Yeh-Tang Huang
8. Seth Frader-Thompson

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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