Episodes

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore explore the accelerating collision of AI, data centers, and energy infrastructure, from the growing power bottleneck facing AI to the rise of off-grid, behind-the-meter generation and the renewed importance of transition finance. They are joined by Freddie Sarhan, Founder and CEO of Sapphire Technologies, who explains how Sapphire is turning wasted pressure energy in natural gas pipelines into clean, 24/7 electricity a...

Electricity has become one of the defining economic and political issues of our time. In this episode, Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore unpack the growing pressure around power prices in the US and UK, the urgent need for grid modernization, and why on-site generation, storage, and smarter forecasting are becoming essential as demand surges. They are joined first by Dave Easton, Partner on the Growth Equity Team at Generation Investment Management, who explains how Generation’s research-led “r...

This week, Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore speak with two leaders shaping the future of digital infrastructure, AI, and industrial energy systems: Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the United Nations, and Fredrik Isler, CFO of ETH Zurich spin-out ANYbotics. Brynne and Chris open with a discussion on how geopolitics, energy security, and AI are increasingly intertwined. They explore the shift from carbon-centric narratives toward ...

This week, Brynne Kennedy and Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE speak with two leaders shaping global climate policy and the future of on-site power: Catherine McKenna, former Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Chair of the UN Net Zero Expert Group, and Shannon Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of Mainspring Energy. Brynne and Chris discuss the key outcomes from COP in Brazil, the rising strain between AI-driven electricity demand and grid capacity, and the renewed focus on nuclear power ...

In this new episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore speak with two leaders at the forefront of global infrastructure and AI-enabled clean power: Sir Danny Alexander, CEO of HSBC Infrastructure Finance & Sustainability, and John Diklev, founder & CEO of Flower. Brynne and Chris begin with insights from COP and the rising pressure on global power systems—from AI-driven electricity demand to the growing focus on energy security, sovereignty, and the practical ...

In this Season 2 premiere of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore sit down with two leading voices in policy and energy, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Greg Jackson, founder & CEO of Octopus Energy. Brynne and Chris open the episode with a discussion on the shifting dynamics of global energy, from the surge in power demand driven by AI and data centers, to how industrial policy and energy sovereignty are becoming central to economic strategy. They explo...

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, Managi...

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 joi...

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...

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 s...

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, ...

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...

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 dis...

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 critic...

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 Galvan...

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 transformin...

Get the latest insights from COP 29 as Chris Skidmore shares updates from the ground in Baku with co-host Brynne Kennedy. Dive into how the insurance industry is evolving to tackle climate and cybersecurity risks with Anthony Hobley, Deputy Chair of Climate Risk & Resilience at Howden, and Tanguy Touffut, CEO of Descartes Underwriting. From carbon markets to cutting-edge risk modeling, this episode explores the intersection of climate innovation and insurance.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore explore the post-election landscape and its implications for Europe’s climate leadership and green innovation. Joined by Rhian-Mari Thomas, CEO of the Green Finance Institute, they discuss pioneering financing solutions to tackle the climate crisis across sectors, from green mortgages to nature-based solutions. Later, Tommy Ricketts, CEO & Co-founder of BeZero, reveals how data and transparency are reshaping the c...

In this special episode of the Smart Society Show, co-hosts Former UK Energy Minister Chris Skidmore and Smart Society Ventures Managing Partner Brynne Kennedy dive into the UK's recent autumn budget, the first Labour budget in 14 years.

Sustainable standards and the latest trends in climate tech; interviews with Lauren Smart (Chief Commercial Officer, S&P Global Sustainable1) and Casper Rasmussen (Co-Founder and CEO, Monta), co-hosted by Smart Society Ventures Managing Partner, Brynne Kennedy and Former UK Energy Minister, Chris Skidmore.

New York Climate Week, the closure of the UK's last coal plant, and the evolving landscape of clean energy. This week features interviews with Anton Kotov, Head of Corporate Strategy and M&A at ABB, and Franklin Servan-Schreiber, Co-founder and CEO of Transmutex.

A rate cut, Microsoft nuclear deal and bright future ahead for carbon markets; interviews with Rachel Kyte (UK Climate Envoy & Co-Chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative) and Allister Furey (Co-founder and CEO, Sylvera). VCMI - Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative - https://vcmintegrity.org/ Sylvera is a carbon data provider that helps organizations ensure they're making the most effective investments toward net zero - https://sylvera.com/ Microsoft nuclear energy deal - htt...

Welcome to the Smart Society Show - where hosts Brynne Kennedy (Managing Partner, Smart Society Ventures) and Chris Skidmore (former UK Energy Minister) break down what's happening in climate tech - talking to thought leaders, investors and unicorn founders that are helping deliver the path to Net Zero.