Podcast appearances and mentions of Molly Wood

This Week In Startups is made possible by: YSecurity https://YSecurity.io/TWIST MongoDB https://MongoDB.com/ai Odoo https://Odoo.com/twist Today's show: AI models can solve PhD-level math equations and code an app in minutes… So why does everything they design look like identical slop? Thais Castello Branco, founder of Taste Labs, raised $18.5M in seed funding to teach frontier models about aesthetics and outputting quality content. She talks to Jason and Lon about why even frontier models regress to the mean on subjective tasks, how paid "TasteMakers" can improve output quality, and whether AI accelerates or destroys the half-life of "what's cool." PLUS Leopold Aschenbrenner's AI hedge fund liquidated its public stock portfolio, but it may be too soon to count this 25-year-old completely out. Google Earth adds AI generation and turns into a misinformation factory. LinkedIn and Substack join the AI slop crackdown. And why does every venture capitalist seem to have an opinion about the Ceuta border crisis? Guest Thais Castello Branco on X: https://x.com/thaiscbranco_ Taste Labs: https://tastelabs.com/ Amplify Partners: "Kill the Slop": https://www.amplifypartners.com/blog-posts/kill-the-slop-announcing-our-investment-in-taste Relevant Links Leopold Aschenbrenner's essay "Situational Awareness": https://situational-awareness.ai/ CNBC on SA fund collapse: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/31/leopold-aschenbrenner-situational-awareness-fund-fire-sale.html Henk van Ess thread on Google Earth + Nano Banana: https://x.com/henkvaness/status/2082912544394498228 Substack CEO Chris Best: "Against Claudefishing": https://post.substack.com/p/against-claudefishing NPR on the Ceuta crisis: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/31/g-s1-136507/morocco-spain-migration Ethan Goodhart's self-driving golf cart post: https://x.com/EthanGoodhart/status/2082136189998682598?s=20 "Wind" app on TestFlight: https://testflight.apple.com/join/zZqmhhwf TechCrunch: "Gritt exits stealth": https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/21/gritt-exits-stealth-with-34-million-for-robots-to-build-solar-plants-then-everything-else/ CA Gov: Project Nexus solar-covered canal announcement: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/04/29/governor-newsom-announces-the-completion-of-first-of-its-kind-solar-covered-canal-in-the-central-valley-piloting-a-new-way-to-save-water-and-reduce-costs/ Molly Wood's "Everybody in the Pool" podcast: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/ Timestamps:   0:00 Coming up on today's show… 1:23 Thais Castello Branco on teaching models to have good taste 10:45 YSecurity - The on-demand security team for startups. Need enterprise-grade security without hiring a $400k CISO? YSecurity gives you 40+ expert engineers, matched to exactly what you need, by the hour, with your first six hours completely free. Go to https://YSecurity.io/TWIST 15:19 The "TasteMaker" community of paid human curators 20:37 MongoDB - AI-assisted and agentic coding is helping you build faster than ever. Start building at https://MongoDB.com/ai 24:40 Jason's personal "cool hunter" prompt 30:16 Odoo - The all-in-one business platform. Get started for free at https://Odoo.com/twist 37:36 Situation Awareness lacked situational awareness 46:59 Claude models hacked three external organizations 50:54 Google Earth adds Nano Banana for some reason 54:24 The AI Slop crackdown spreads 57:54 Too many opinions about the Ceuta migrant crisis 1:04:05 Self-driving golf carts and also cars 1:09:53 Robot arms are installing solar panels   Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp   Follow Lon: X: https://x.com/lons   Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm   Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis   Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/   Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland   Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis   Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com

Philanthropic director Abby Axelrod-Wunderman of Fiduciary Trust International joins Molly Wood to talk about the overlooked role of philanthropy in funding climate solutions. Even though only a tiny share of global giving currently goes toward climate, Abby explains why that definition is expanding to include health, resilience, infrastructure, food systems, education, and community well-being—and how younger donors and the great wealth transfer could shift priorities. They dig into donor-advised funds, private foundations, unrestricted giving, climate as a lens across issue areas, and why philanthropy can act as catalytic capital by taking early risks that government and business often can't.In this episode, we cover:Why climate philanthropy still receives only a small fraction of total global giving, even as climate impacts touch nearly every other issue areaHow wealth advisors help donors connect their values to climate-related giving through health, education, food, agriculture, resilience, and infrastructureAbby's path into climate philanthropy through a family foundation in South Florida, where the conversation has shifted from “is climate change real?” to which solutions can scaleWhy philanthropy cannot solve the climate crisis alone, but can act as catalytic capital by piloting ideas, funding advocacy, and taking early risksHow donor values, timelines, resources, and risk tolerance shape philanthropic strategyFundable climate strategies Abby sees gaining traction, including clean energy, batteries, methane, food systems, conservation, restoration, resilience, public engagement, and educationWhy younger generations are often initiating climate giving conversations—and how those interests can pull older generations into the workHow donor-advised funds work, why they can be simpler than private foundations, and why some donors value the ability to give anonymouslyThe debate over whether donor-advised funds can become “holding cells” for charitable money—and how education and advising can help move funds out the doorThe difference between restricted and unrestricted grants, and why flexibility and long-term support are especially important for climate-vulnerable regionsHow modern philanthropy may be moving toward a hybrid model that combines rigorous due diligence and metrics with trust-based, flexible givingWhy the great wealth transfer, AI wealth creation, and a new generation of donors could create a major opportunity to move more money into climate solutionsHow to tell the broader climate story: climate is not a niche issue, but a lens through which to understand health, education, infrastructure, migration, air quality, heat, and community resilienceLinks:Fiduciary Trust International: https://www.fiduciarytrust.com/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate resilience planner and Earthworks host Marina Psaros joins Molly Wood to talk about why the old climate communication playbook—scary charts, technical jargon, and doom-heavy messaging—so often fails, and how creative mediums can help people imagine and build better futures. They dig into Marina's work with the King Tides project, tabletop games, virtual reality, video games, and artists who are using beauty, play, and storytelling to make climate action feel more tangible, less overwhelming, and maybe even fun.In this episode, we cover:Why one-way climate communication, especially heavy science and “bummer” messaging, can shut people down instead of moving them to actHow the King Tides project helped people see sea-level rise in their own communities through citizen science and local photographyWhy climate models can be useful but incomplete—and how community observations can help validate and improve themWhat tabletop games, classroom projects, and immersive experiences can teach us about making climate resilience more understandableMarina's work at Unity Technologies, including funding games and projects that used real-world action, climate data, and storytellingHow games like Pokémon Go, Ahi Kaa Rangers, Fathomverse, Minecraft climate challenges, and other playful tools can connect digital worlds with real-world conservation and climate actionWhy “not being cringe” matters when adults try to reach younger audiences through games and popular cultureMarina's podcast Earthworks, which highlights creatives using art, games, music, painting, and storytelling for climate solutionsWhy joy, beauty, nature, and creativity can sustain climate work when business and government fall shortThe case for valuing breathable air, weird animals, and a livable world without needing to justify them through a business rationaleLinks:Earthworks podcast: https://www.marinapsaros.com/earthworksMarina Psaros: https://www.marinapsaros.com/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Stuttgart läuft gerade das 23. Indische Filmfestival, das alljährlich vom Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg veranstaltet wird. Dieses Jahr liegt der Fokus auf sogenannten Malayalam-Filmen, auch als „Mollywood“ bekannt – in Anlehnung an das bekanntere „Bollywood“.

Energy Peace Partners co-founder and managing director Sherwin Das joins Molly Wood to explain how renewable energy can do more than cut emissions—it can also support peace, security, and economic opportunity in some of the hardest places in the world to build. They dig into the links between fossil fuel dependence and conflict, why clean power matters differently in parts of Africa where electricity access is still limited, and how a new kind of renewable energy credit is helping unlock investment for solar mini-grids, run-of-river hydro, streetlights, hospitals, and jobs.In this episode, we cover:Why fossil fuels and conflict are so often connected—from global wars and supply shocks to local fuel supply chains controlled or taxed by armed groupsEnergy Peace Partners' focus on countries with low electrification, high climate vulnerability, and conflict risk, including South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Chad, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of CongoHow renewable energy can improve safety, extend business hours, power hospitals, and create alternatives to joining armed groupsThe Peace Renewable Energy Credit, or P-REC: a high-impact renewable energy credit designed to help finance clean power in places traditional REC markets have overlookedWhy off-grid and distributed renewable energy systems in Africa needed a new approach to verification, financing, and impact measurementHow corporate buyers including Microsoft and Google have helped unlock more than $1.6 million through P-REC purchases so farThe new P-REC Aggregation Facility, backed by the African Development Bank and Nordic Development Fund, and its goal of supporting dozens of new projects and first-time electricity access for hundreds of thousands of peopleHow Energy Peace Partners measures peace impact using community-level data, baseline surveys, and the Positive Peace FrameworkWhy renewable energy success should be measured not just in megawatts and carbon avoided, but also in safety, income, jobs, health, education, and stabilityLinks:Energy Peace Partners: https://energypeacepartners.com/Peace Renewable Energy Credits: https://energypeacepartners.com/peace-rec/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate Cabinet founder and executive director Caroline Spears joins Molly Wood to explain why some of the most important climate decisions in America are happening far below the level of Congress—in mayor's offices, public service commissions, land commissioner races, county commissions, state legislatures, and even obscure budget committees. They dig into how Climate Cabinet uses data science, AI, and on-the-ground intelligence to find and support overlooked state and local climate champions, and why data centers have suddenly become the hottest local energy-policy fight in the country.In this episode, we cover:Why state and local offices are often the real bottleneck for clean energy deploymentClimate Cabinet's “Moneyball” approach to climate politics: finding overlooked races and candidates with data science, AI, and local intelligenceThe climate power of local offices people may not think about, from municipal utility mayors and public service commissions to land commissioners, state legislatures, and budget committeesHow Climate Cabinet helps climate and clean-energy champions run, win, and govern with better policy support once they are in officeThe data center explosion: rising electricity demand, possible cost-shifting to families and businesses, opaque deals, and lawmakers signing NDAs with developers (yes, REALLY!)The big picture:The future of U.S. climate policy may depend less on the headline fights in Washington, D.C., and more on the overlooked people and rooms where energy, transportation, land use, housing, insurance, and infrastructure decisions actually get made.Links:Climate Cabinet: https://climatecabinet.org/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Utah Clean Energy climate scientist and energy analyst Logan Mitchell joins Molly Wood to explain how a deeply conservative state can still become a proving ground for clean energy—by focusing on affordability, reliability, and coalition-building. They dig into the rapid rise of next‑generation geothermal in Utah (including the DOE's FORGE project and private-sector follow‑on development), why geothermal could deliver clean firm power faster than new gas turbines or nuclear, and why this is one of the rare climate technologies with real bipartisan momentum.In this episode, we cover:Why Utah has become a surprising clean-energy leader (and why “business-friendly” permitting can accelerate deployment)How Utah Clean Energy works in practice: intervening in utility regulatory dockets, stress-testing long-term resource plans, and advocating for an affordable, reliable, clean power mixThe grid value proposition: geothermal as clean firm power that complements wind/solar—especially during “quiet, cold” post-storm stretches when both wind and solar can underperformA plain-English breakdown of key grid terms:Baseload: power that runs steadilyDispatchable: power you can ramp up/down when neededWhy geothermal may become more dispatchable (turn pumps off midday, produce more during high-price evening hours)Why Utah is the current hotspot:Public-private knowledge transfer from DOE's FORGE research site to nearby commercial projectsStreamlined, iterative permitting that reduces uncertainty for first-of-a-kind projectsStrong geothermal resources across Utah and the broader WestThe scale and speed: a first ~100 MW phase expected to come online quickly, with expansion potential that rivals the footprint of major fossil plants—plus transmission constraints as the near-term limiterThe politics: geothermal's appeal across the aisle—jobs, energy security, reliability, and domestic know-how—and why keeping it “above the partisan fray” mattersThe workforce bridge: geothermal as a near 1:1 skills match with oil & gas subsurface expertise—extracting heat instead of hydrocarbonsWhy this matters (big picture):Next‑gen geothermal offers a credible path to fast, scalable, cost-competitive clean firm power—potentially filling the reliability gap that makes high-renewables grids harder to manage, while staying politically durable in places where climate language alone doesn't land.Links:Utah Clean Energy: https://utahcleanenergy.org/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star Jam Ft. Abhinav Sunder Nayak & Naslen Gafoor | RJ RafiDirector Abhinav Sunder Nayak and actor Naslen Gafoor sit down with RJ Rafi for a high-energy Star Jam conversation about their new film “Mollywood Times,” the pressure of script selection, life after Mukundan Unni Associates, and navigating today's Malayalam cinema landscape. They open up about stardom, audience expectations, how real-life experiences shape their characters, and the story behind Naslen's much-talked-about dance sequence he once feared he'd have to do on screen. Packed with candid stories, craft talk and plenty of fun banter, this Club FM special is a must-listen for every Mollywood fan and aspiring filmmaker

Rigid org charts are quickly becoming a barrier to AI-fueled business impact. Microsoft's CVP of Workforce Transformation joins WorkLab host Molly Wood to share how the most forward-thinking companies are breaking down silos, building teams around skills, and embracing constant change. Discover why adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to reinvent are the new must-haves for leaders and employees alike—and how your organization can unleash human capability for the AI era. Show Notes WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

Rigid org charts are quickly becoming a barrier to AI-fueled business impact. Microsoft's CVP of Workforce Transformation joins WorkLab host Molly Wood to share how the most forward-thinking companies are breaking down silos, building teams around skills, and embracing constant change. Discover why adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to reinvent are the new must-haves for leaders and employees alike—and how your organization can unleash human capability for the AI era. Show Notes WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

AI's promise is real. But the challenge to realizing its value isn't technology—it's people. AI scientist, entrepreneur, and investor Rana el Kaliouby joins host Molly Wood to explore what can stall progress. The conversation explores how emotional intelligence, empathy, and communication are essential for human–AI teams to thrive. Rana makes the case that leaders must foster trust and readiness, rethink workflows, and keep humans at the center to unlock AI's full potential and ensure sustainable adoption. Show Notes WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

AI's promise is real. But the challenge to realizing its value isn't technology—it's people. AI scientist, entrepreneur, and investor Rana el Kaliouby joins host Molly Wood to explore what can stall progress. The conversation explores how emotional intelligence, empathy, and communication are essential for human–AI teams to thrive. Rana makes the case that leaders must foster trust and readiness, rethink workflows, and keep humans at the center to unlock AI's full potential and ensure sustainable adoption. Show Notes WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

Send us Fan MailThe  legends are assembling… and this one looks MASSIVE.

The ever-increasing capabilities of AI have everyone wondering what it means for their career. LinkedIn's Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman joins Molly Wood to explore why curiosity, adaptability, and action now matter more than certainty. Drawing from his new book, Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI —cowritten with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky—Raman makes the case that careers aren't being automated away. They're being reshaped for the AI era, by the people willing to move first. Show Notes WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

The ever-increasing capabilities of AI have everyone wondering what it means for their career. LinkedIn's Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman joins Molly Wood to explore why curiosity, adaptability, and action now matter more than certainty. Drawing from his new book, Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI —cowritten with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky—Raman makes the case that careers aren't being automated away. They're being reshaped for the AI era, by the people willing to move first. Show Notes WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

Economist and public thinker Tyler Cowen joins host Molly Wood to explore why AI adoption is so challenging for many employees, organizations, and educational institutions. As he puts it, "This may sound counterintuitive, but under a lot of scenarios, the more unhappy people are, the better we're doing, because that means a lot of change." Listen in for unvarnished insights on what leaders can expect as they push their organizations to reinvent how they operate and create value with AI.  Show Notes: WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab Newsletter

Economist and public thinker Tyler Cowen joins host Molly Wood to explore why AI adoption is so challenging for many employees, organizations, and educational institutions. As he puts it, "This may sound counterintuitive, but under a lot of scenarios, the more unhappy people are, the better we're doing, because that means a lot of change." Listen in for unvarnished insights on what leaders can expect as they push their organizations to reinvent how they operate and create value with AI.  Show Notes: WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab Newsletter

Listen our latest roundtable interview with the acclaimed directors of Mollywood Tharun Moorthy, Dominic Arun, Jofin T Chacko, Jithu Ashraf, and Jothish Shankar as they offer fascinating insights into the Malayalam film industry and their creative journeysFeatured Directors:• Tharun Moorthy – Thudarum• Dominic Arun – Lokah• Joffin Chacko – Rekhachithram• Jothish Sankar – Ponman• Jithu Ashraf – Officer On Duty Hosted by: Abhilash MohananFrom story development and directorial vision to box-office pressure, creative freedom, and future trends, Directors Club 2025 offers honest, insightful conversations straight from the minds shaping contemporary Malayalam cinema.Program Producer: Manu SatheeshHost: Abhilash MohananCamera: Amaldev PD , Jenson J , Akash Gigi , Albin J PadinjarekeraEdit: Akshay S MenonProduction: Sreekanth MAudio: Vineeth Kumar , Joby Sony ThomasDesign: Vibin RaveendranCopywriters: Arjun A.J , Meenakshy MenonGuest Curation: Manu SatheeshAssistant Producer: Akshay S MenonSales Team: Sreeram A , Mohammed ShibilTeam Lead – Social Media: Abhishek KSocial Media Head: Joseph J Kumpail

EY's Global Consulting AI Leader Dan Diasio joins host Molly Wood to discuss the future of work and how companies can reinvent themselves as AI-first Frontier Firms. Learn how AI is disrupting the consulting industry, why investing in upskilling your employees is now mandatory, and why the right combination of mindset, skill set, and tool set matters more than ever. Listen in to discover practical strategies for leaders to drive transformation and compete with AI-native disruptors. WorkLab | Subscribe to the WorkLab Newsletter

EY's Global Consulting AI Leader Dan Diasio joins host Molly Wood to discuss the future of work and how companies can reinvent themselves as AI-first Frontier Firms. Learn how AI is disrupting the consulting industry, why investing in upskilling your employees is now mandatory, and why the right combination of mindset, skill set, and tool set matters more than ever. Listen in to discover practical strategies for leaders to drive transformation and compete with AI-native disruptors. WorkLab | Subscribe to the WorkLab Newsletter

Paattum Parachilum Ft. Jyotsna Radhakrishnan | RJ Raashi One of the most celebrated singers of Mollywood, Jyotsna Radhakrishnan, guides us through her musical journey as she shares cherished memories of a couple of notable works in her career.

The journey to becoming a Frontier Firm requires leaders to reimagine every aspect of their organization—quickly and without a playbook. Harvard Business School's Raffaella Sadun joins host Molly Wood to explore what makes a Frontier Firm, why reskilling is so hard, and how leaders can build cultures that thrive on experimentation and human–AI collaboration. Discover actionable strategies for navigating uncertainty, driving transformation, and empowering every employee to become an AI-enabled inventor.  WorkLab | Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

The journey to becoming a Frontier Firm requires leaders to reimagine every aspect of their organization—quickly and without a playbook. Harvard Business School's Raffaella Sadun joins host Molly Wood to explore what makes a Frontier Firm, why reskilling is so hard, and how leaders can build cultures that thrive on experimentation and human–AI collaboration. Discover actionable strategies for navigating uncertainty, driving transformation, and empowering every employee to become an AI-enabled inventor.  WorkLab | Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter

Meta announced Thursday it's redesigning Facebook Marketplace with collaborative tools. Spotify is launching a feature for its audiobooks, called Recaps, which will appear once you've listened to about 15-20 minutes of a book. Molly Wood discusses how power is the biggest barrier to AI infrastructure growth, not chips. And has Google recently made an about-face when it comes to how it handles Android apps, especially sideloaded ones? Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

Agents can become essential team members at any organization—if they're deployed thoughtfully. In this episode, Pascal Bornet joins host Molly Wood to share practical frameworks for helping leaders design and implement agentic AI, run high-impact pilots, and build the human skills—creativity, critical thinking, and social authenticity—that set Frontier Firms apart. Bornet is a coauthor of the recent book Agentic Artificial Intelligence: Harnessing AI Agents to Reinvent Business, Work and Life. Show Notes: WorkLab | Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter 

Agents can become essential team members at any organization—if they're deployed thoughtfully. In this episode, Pascal Bornet joins host Molly Wood to share practical frameworks for helping leaders design and implement agentic AI, run high-impact pilots, and build the human skills—creativity, critical thinking, and social authenticity—that set Frontier Firms apart. Bornet is a coauthor of the recent book Agentic Artificial Intelligence: Harnessing AI Agents to Reinvent Business, Work and Life. Show Notes: WorkLab | Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter 

The policy environment in the US at the moment is challenging, but developers, utilities, and investors are still moving forward with decarbonisation goals and climate action; they're just talking about it and approaching it in a different way. As RE+ (North America's biggest clean energy event) kicks off, Sylvia Leyva Martinez talks to veteran climate journalist and cleantech investor Molly Wood, about the ways in which the industry is navigating the uncertainty. Molly talks about the outdated forecasts of 1–2% load growth which are being blown apart by real demand increases of up to 30% in some regions, driven by electrification, AI, and data centers. If you can't make it to the event this year, Interchange Recharged will bring you the key discussions and exclusive insights so you don't miss out. You'll hear why traditional load forecasts are being upended by surging demand from AI and data centers, and what that means for project planning and risk management. Despite policy headwinds, the money is still flowing, but in smarter ways: into scalable tech like batteries, grid modernization, and distributed solutions. Investors are refocusing on scalable, commercial-ready technologies like batteries, grid modernization, and distributed energy solutions. And as the narrative shifts from using terms like “net zero” to the more pragmatic “energy dominance,” the conversation explores how storytelling shapes strategy, and why hyperscalers like Google and Amazon may even build their own small modular reactors or power islands to secure the future of energy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Molly Wood is here to explain how recycling could be the solution to obtaining a critical supply of rare earth metals. Plus, over two-thirds of U.S. consumers have used P2P payment methods like Zelle in the last year. Are we moving inextricably closer to a cashless society? Netflix says it used generative AI for the first time in one of its original series, The Eternaut. And it's Friday. We test your mettle on which thing is a rare earth metal and which is not on this week's Friday fun quiz. Starring Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Molly Wood, Amos, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

Rajesh Jha is Microsoft's EVP of Experiences + Devices, which means he oversees a wide range of products, from Microsoft 365 productivity tools and Surface devices to Copilot. Jha played a pivotal role in integrating AI into the company's offerings, and he joined the WorkLab podcast to share insights on navigating the complexities of becoming an AI-first organization. He also offers actionable advice on how leaders can adapt and compete while bringing their teams (and customers) along. WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter  Click here to watch and subscribe to WorkLab on YouTube.  Microsoft Podcasts – Stay connected, informed, and entertained with original podcasts from Microsoft

This week on "Everybody in the Pool," Molly Wood chats with Josh Dorfman, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Supercool, a media company dedicated to highlighting climate solutions that cut carbon, boost business, and enhance modern life. In this episode, Josh shares insights from his journey in sustainability, from developing carbon-negative building materials to launching Supercool to spotlight scalable climate solutions.Explore how Josh envisions a future where climate initiatives are not just about avoiding disaster but are pathways to a more exciting and innovative world. Discover the critical role of storytelling in transforming climate tech adoption and the surprising innovation layers driving real change.Join us as we dive into the stories of people who are working smartly and tirelessly towards a sustainable future. Whether you're a climate tech enthusiast or a green lifestyle advocate, this episode sheds light on the collective effort needed to drive progress.Listen now and get inspired by the brilliant minds propelling us towards a better, greener future.LINKS:SupercoolLinkedin - supercoolJosh DorfmanAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Please subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The beauty industry is massive, fast-paced, and hard to predict. There are 20,000 brands worldwide, and microtrends can spread around the globe in hours. That's the challenge facing Kalindi Mehta, Global VP for Consumer Foresight Strategy and Predictive Analytics at the Estée Lauder Companies. In the latest episode, she lays out how AI is transforming her industry, and explains how the technology can help all companies be more agile, improve their decision making, and reimagine their workflows. WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter Microsoft Podcasts – Stay connected, informed, and entertained with original podcasts from Microsoft  

Charter is buying Cox to form a cable giant, while Verizon gets FCC approval to acquire Frontier and expand fiber to millions. Meanwhile, Apple and Epic are back at it over Fortnite, OpenAI launches a coding assistant, Microsoft kills the Surface Laptop Studio, and Acer shows off sleek new gear at Computex. Also: Nvidia denies shifting GPU work to China, and Kickstarter gets serious about funding climate tech. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Amos, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

Cassie Kozyrkov created the discipline of decision intelligence, combining the power of AI with data science to enable companies to make better choices. She's now an AI advisor, and she writes the popular Decision Intelligence newsletter. Kozyrkov joined the WorkLab podcast to discuss how leaders can maximize the potential of AI and data, why having too many options is as unhelpful as having too few, and how to avoid falling prey to confirmation bias. WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter  

Molly Wood and Tom Merritt share their text message chat about the ruling against Apple's anti-steering policies, which leads to a prescription for what Apple needs to do. And has elements of a Molly rant as well. Starring Molly Wood and Tom Merritt

AI has crossed an important threshold, says Microsoft CMO of AI at Work Jared Spataro: it now has remarkable abilities to think and reason. What does that mean for organizations? Intelligence is on tap. “You can now buy intelligence like you would purchase a commodity like electricity,” he explains. Spataro joined the podcast to discuss what it means for business, how he already sees agents transforming workflows and team structures, and why leaders need to “hire their first digital employee” now. WorkLab Subscribe to the AI at Work newsletter

A core component of every company's value proposition is its unique expertise. “But AI is lowering the cost of expertise,” says Harvard Business School professor Karim Lakhani, and that will require leaders to rethink every aspect of their organization. Lakhani has spent his career researching digital transformation, and he joins the WorkLab podcast to share insights on how leaders can avoid “falling asleep at the wheel” with AI, and what they can learn from the AI-native generation of MBAs.  WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter 

This week on Everybody in the Pool, bummer news: your bank deposits could be funding the climate crisis? But we'd never give you bummer news without a solution! This week, Molly Wood speaks with Paul Moinester, founder of Topofinance, who reveals the shocking climate impact of conventional banking. Discover how just $10,000 in a major bank generates emissions equivalent to driving 10,000 miles yearly, and why moving your money to climate-friendly banks might be the easiest climate action you've never considered. Paul explains how corporations' banking emissions often exceed all their other emissions combined, and introduces innovative solutions that make greener banking both simple and profitable.LINKS:Topo FinancePaul MoinesterAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! To support the show and get an ad-free listening experience, please jump in and become a member of Everybody in the Pool! https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-pool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, Molly Wood talks with Brad Hartwig, co-founder and CEO of Arbor Energy. Brad shares his remarkable journey from SpaceX rocket engineer to climate tech entrepreneur, developing technology that transforms waste biomass into carbon-negative energy using rocket propulsion principles. Yep, you read that right. A guy who used to want to be an astronaut woke up one day and realized this planet was the place to put his energy. Find out how Arbor's tech could replace fossil fuel plants while simultaneously removing carbon from the atmosphere.Show HighlightsBrad's transition from aerospace engineering at SpaceX to climate tech after witnessing California wildfires firsthandHow Arbor Energy's technology uses "oxy combustion" (inspired by rocket engines) to generate clean electricity while capturing carbonThe system produces no emissions - only pure CO2 (for sequestration) and clean waterPotential to replace up to 60 gigawatts of coal and natural gas plants in the US with carbon-negative powerUses only waste biomass from agriculture, forestry, and potentially municipal wasteEconomic benefits for wildfire prevention through monetizing brush clearingFirst commercial deployment targeted for 2027ResourcesArbor EnergyBrad HartwigMinistry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson - Climate fiction book mentioned by BradAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! To support the show and get an ad-free listening experience, please jump in and become a member of Everybody in the Pool! https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-pool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It's time to replace the old linear model of success with a circular model of growth, in which goals are discovered, pursued, and adapted,” says Anne-Laure Le Cunff. She left a successful tech-marketing career to study neuroscience, and now writes the popular Ness Labs newsletter, which features insights about how our brains work that can help us navigate uncertainty and nurture innovation. She joined WorkLab to discuss what leaders can learn from neuroscience, and how to tap the potential of AI in more creative ways. WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter Microsoft Podcasts – Stay connected, informed, and entertained with original podcasts from Microsoft

In this episode of Everybody in the Pool, host Molly Wood speaks with Mat Dos Santos, co-executive director of Our Children's Trust, about how his organization is using the legal system to fight climate change on behalf of youth plaintiffs — the kids who have the most to lose if we get this wrong. Learn how landmark victories in Montana and Hawaii are creating precedents that could reshape climate policy across America.Key Takeaways:Constitutional Climate Rights: Our Children's Trust secured a historic victory in Montana, establishing that the state constitution's "clean and healthful environment" provision protects young people's right to a livable climate future.Youth-Led Legal Action: Children and teens have standing to sue over climate policies because they face disproportionate, long-term impacts from climate change and have limited political voice.Government Accountability: These cases highlight how fossil fuel development requires government permission and subsidies, challenging the "market-driven" narrative.Recent Victories: The Montana Supreme Court ruling forces the state to consider climate impacts in permitting, while a Hawaii settlement requires complete transportation decarbonization by 2045.Juliana v. United States: Learn about the ongoing federal case arguing that the U.S. government has violated young people's constitutional rights by knowingly promoting a fossil fuel system despite understanding climate dangers.Links:Our Children's TrustMat Dos SantosHeld v. Montana trial videosYouth v. Gov documentary on NetflixAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! To support the show and get an ad-free listening experience, please jump in and become a member of Everybody in the Pool! https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-pool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, host Molly Wood talks with Eliot Brooks, founder and CEO of Cocoon Carbon, about an unexpected climate tech challenge: how decarbonizing steel production is disrupting concrete's path to net zero. Brooks explains how his startup transforms problematic steel slag from modern electric arc furnaces into valuable materials that reduce concrete's carbon footprint while cutting costs.Key Takeaways:Learn how steel's shift to cleaner production methods has unintentionally limited concrete's access to low-carbon materialsDiscover how Cocoon Carbon's modular technology transforms waste into valuable cement alternativesUnderstand why addressing interconnected industrial challenges creates powerful climate tech opportunitiesFind out how this solution makes decarbonization more affordable for both industries, representing 15% of global emissionsMore resources:Cocoon CarbonAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! To support the show and get an ad-free listening experience, please jump in and become a member of Everybody in the Pool! https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-pool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Azeem Azhar's mission is to help leaders stay ahead of the curve at a time when technology, especially AI, is evolving at an exponential rate. He founded the Exponential View newsletter, which offers insights and advice to an eager audience of 116,000+ people who want to get ahead in a rapidly changing world. He joined us to discuss the potential for AI to help business leaders navigate uncertainty and describe some of the ways that AI agents and deep research will fundamentally change the way we work.  WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter 

AI is evolving at a mind-bending pace, reshaping every aspect of business. How can leaders filter out the noise to stay focused on transforming their organizations? How can they leverage the limitless potential of AI, agents, and deep research? How can they harness the latest technology to access untapped value, turbocharge their decision making, and maintain their organization's competitive edge? In the new season of the WorkLab podcast from Microsoft, we'll be exploring all of those questions and more. WorkLab Subscribe to the WorkLab newsletter Microsoft Podcasts – Stay connected, informed, and entertained with original podcasts from Microsoft

Apple will disable its Advanced Data Protection end-to-end encryption feature in the UK. HP forced customers in Europe to wait 15 minutes on the phone to encourage its customers to use chat or social media for support calls. And its Friday. We quiz you on your knowledge of secret codes and messages in history, corporate logos and movies. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

There was a cliffhanger ending to Samsung's announcement, plus Google dominates education tech and Molly Wood tells us how data centers can power themselve sustainably.Starring Tom Merritt and Jenn Cutter.Epsiode show notes can be found here.

As the US government invests in technology to extra data from encrypted communications what should typical users worry about? Plus researchers from the Swiss École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and UC Irvine have developed a drone with jumping legs to leap the device into the air. And red team research published by OpenAI and Apollo Research discover o1 will lie to give answers users are happy with.Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe.Link to the Show Notes.

As the US government invests in technology to extra data from encrypted communications what should typical users worry about? Plus researchers from the Swiss École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and UC Irvine have developed a drone with bird legs to leap the device into the air. And red team research published by OpenAI and Apollo Research discover o1 will lie to give answers users are happy with. Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

Rampant abuse and 'mafia' style intimidations: these are the conditions thousands of women working in one of India's film industries allegedly faced for years. Following a damning report into Kerala's Malayalam-language movie scene, BBC India reporter Sumedha Pal has been talking to actors, directors and producers to understand what's going on, and how the MeToo movement has changed the working environment for women in the wider Indian film industry. Produced by Alice Gioia and Caroline Ferguson. (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

Why are big tech companies talking about building power plants and what does nuclear energy have to do with it? Plus Automattic employees who disagreed with the handling of the WP Engine dispute were offered a severance package to leave the company. And Meta Unveils AI Video Generator and rolls out a redesign of Facebook for Gen-Z.Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe.Link to the Show Notes.

EVs are crucial in the pivot towards a renewable energy future but what do you do with their batteries when they reach the end of their life? Plus the Wall Street Journal's sources say Apple is in talks to invest in OpenAI. And what does Amazon have in store for its version of Alexa?Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe.Link to the Show Notes.