Engaging and enlightening interviews with women leaders on energy, climate, sustainability and corporate responsibility -- ESG, environment,social and governance issues. Business, policy and technology, money, the arts and careers. Topics include driving innovation, leadership, communications and career advice. Inspiration, trends and insights. Hosted and produced by Joan Michelson, acclaimed journalist, business leader, coach and speaker, based in Washington, DC.
Jun 02, 2026
"What are the stories that people can participate in and see themselves in? I think that's one of the keys that we can unlock when it comes to the whole climate narrative is telling stories that build the scaffolding blocks to a larger narrative that people want to be a part of, and we need to make it feel inevitable….The way that justice prevails, whether it's environmental justice or any kind of justice, I think it's that the leaders make it feel inevitable. And that's the climate movement's job. And I think we have every opportunity and ability to do that." Melissa Jun Rowley on Electric Ladies Podcast The movements have been struggling to connect with people to communicate the vital messages about protecting the planet and its inhabitants. How can the climate and justice movements engage people again? Listen to Melissa Jun Rowleg, author of "Beyond the Mic Drop: How Stories Can Shift Culture, Power & Policy" and communications expert and journalist in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How stories and narratives work to engage people of all stripes. ● How emotion is key to connecting with people, helping them see themselves in the story ● Tips on how to develop and tell stories and tie them into a narrative campaign to drive a positive message for the planet and its inhabitants ● Plus, career advice, such as: "You really need to start looking at yourself differently. You're looking at yourself as one thing, but your skills, your assets, your talents, your passion can be so many things to so many other people…Try to look outside yourself a bit.…It's very hard to see ourselves clearly, and I don't know if we ever really do…So, if you're able to, just talk to other people and say…'What do you see in my skillset and in my energy and in what I've accomplished so far and what I could do that maybe I'm not looking at?' Because it is so hard to see ourselves…(and) it's important to celebrate our wins." Melissa Jun Rowley on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · People Leveraging Carbon Markets to Save Their Land - with Stacey Solie, Documentary Producer of "From the Ground Up" - telling stories to show the power of carbon markets · How To Talk 'Climate' To Keep People Safe - with Allison Agsten, USC Center for Climate Journalism & Communications · How to Talk About Climate in a Polarized Culture - with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy · Seek First to Understand - with Jennifer Hough, Advisor, TEDx Speaker, Author · How Do We Talk About Climate? - with Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, nonprofit producing environmental documentaries and media Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:01
May 26, 2026
"While the word 'climate' may be politically charged for some, the need for affordable, reliable, and secure energy is something we can all agree on. Americans are calling for action, and as Members of Congress it's our responsibility to deliver. If we want long-term solutions that address both our constituents' concerns and growing climate risks, we must work together to strengthen our energy and climate security with urgency." Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan to Electric Ladies Podcast As we in the U.S. commemorate Memorial Day this week and express gratitude for the sacrifice of thousands of servicemembers on behalf of our country, we are re-airing a landmark interview from last year with an Air Force veteran and Congresswoman who is working tirelessly and on a bipartisan basis to protect the climate and our energy systems. Listen to Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, who is co-chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, a rare example of cooperation on Capitol Hill. She's also co-chair of the bipartisan Women in STEM Caucus and shares insights into how to build bipartisanship, protect our infrastructure from extreme climate events and provide clean, affordable energy. You'll hear about: · How Pennsylvania's political landscape shapes the path of climate legislation · What the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus is doing to advance the clean energy transition · How extreme weather events can open the door to bipartisan climate action · Why Congresswoman Houlahan's leadership with the Women in STEM Caucus matters · Plus, insightful career advice "Recognize that whatever you choose to do right now is not the end decision for the rest of your life. When you look backwards it's going to make sense, but when you look forward, it's going to be a crooked line. It's not going to be a straight line to somewhere, so do not to be too hard on yourself, do not try to seek perfection." Chrissy Houlahan on Electric Ladies Podcast You'll also like: · Most Americans Want Climate Action, Study Says. How To Bridge The Political Divide, ELP Host Joan Michelson's article that includes Congresswoman Houlahan. · Women Rewriting The Climate Conversation, a panel from The Earth Day Women's Summit moderated by Joan Michelson · People Leveraging Carbon Markets to Save Their Land - with Stacey Solie, Executive Producer of the Documentary, "From the Ground Up" · The State of Energy Today Might Surprise You - with Lisa Jacobson, CEO of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Coauthor of the 2026 Energy Factbook · Hilary Doe, Michigan's Chief Growth Office on how the state is turning IRA Credits into Growth · Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, on why climate change is an issue of national security. · Joan Michelson's Forbes article on Fossil Fuels, War And Climate: Women On The Frontlines Call For A New Security Mindset Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don't forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson
00:00:46
May 19, 2026
"When you look at where families invest across the spectrum of sustainable and impact investing, climate is really at the forefront. They think about that because, look at our environment, look at the food supply… because of environmental issues. Not withstanding the tariffs too….These are issues that have to be segmented and families are doing the work and they're putting their capital in…(F)amilies really are more and more values aligning their investments, and there's a blurring (of the) line between philanthropy and catalytic investing so that they can invest in climate and do things in all their active portfolios. So I feel like this is just going to increase over time in a pretty significant way." Jolyne Caruso on Electric Ladies Podcast The great wealth transfer of $124 trillion will flow into the hands of women, Millennials and Gen Zrs over the next 30 years, and these are hands that value climate, clean energy, sustainability and social causes more than their forebears. What impact might that have? Listen to Jolyne Caruso, Financial Executive, Investor and Wealth Advisor in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How women tend to donate and invest differently than men do and why. ● Impact and climate-related investing the way women, Gen Z & Millennials do it. ● New spins on "risk" and "reward" & why financial literacy is crucial. ● What the great wealth transfer is and how it could dramatically affect the economy. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "One of the things that I recommend women do, Joan, is to join boards as soon as they can. And I'll tell you why. When I was at Barnard, I was very involved as a student in my class. I was reunion chair and raising money for my class. But it wasn't until I got on the alumni board at Barnard, which led to getting on the big board at Barnard when I was 40 years old, that my life fundamentally changed….This isn't about giving a hundred thousand dollars to your alma mater that you don't have. It's finding boards that will all take women of all ages…My daughter's on the board of a dog rescue company, organization. Get on a board and sit around the table and become a change agent in that regard….Because you network, you get hands-on experience without being at work." Jolyne Caruso on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. You'll also like: · New Business Models For Philanthropy - Amy Dornbusch, AtlasDaughters, Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist · Women's Trillions Drive New Economic Values - with Silvia Bastante de Unverhau, LGT Private Bankers International · New Venture Capital Models For Women and CleanTech - Cecile Blilious, Veteran Venture Investor, Venture ESG, European Women in VC · Creativity & Relationships Secure Grants - with Megan Pater, CEO/Founder of Fund Nation and ECE Solutions · Investing in Companies For Social Impact - with Meredith Shields, CEO of Citi Impact Fund Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:01
May 12, 2026
"Atlas Daughters is a social venture that I launched…We create an incredibly experiential, immersive experiences that are related to travel. So travel experiences from mothers, female funders and their children or grandmothers and mothers and their children and grandchildren to go and participate in incredibly impactful work that NGOs are doing, specific tangible projects that are worthy of investment and ripe for scale. We bring families to those projects….We identify NGOs that have these incredible projects that are worthy of investment….They may have a very efficient and effective project that they've developed that has the potential to really change millions of lives or to make a huge impact on sustainability or biodiversity or any climate related or health related issues. " Amy Dorbusch on Electric Ladies Podcast Women invest, spend and donate differently than men do, and with the great wealth transfer putting trillions more money into women's hands over the next 30 years, it's important to understand new models women are using. So, today we're going to hear from a woman at the center of new ways of donating that merge lessons from investing and entrepreneurship. Listen to Amy Dornbusch, Founder/CEO of Atlas Daughters, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Investor in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● The new business models for philanthropy that women, Gen Zrs and Millennials are developing. ● How women tend to donate and invest differently than men do and why ● What the great wealth transfer is and how it could dramatically affect the economy. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "Don't be discouraged by the people that are not your people…Don't seek validation from people's whose values are different than yours. Seek validation in the people whose values are aligned with yours and who you look up to. Those are your people. And find your people because your people will encourage you in every way possible. And I also believe that second acts are often more impactful than the first acts. So when you get to this stage in life and you combine your life experience with your networks, your resources, and your perspective, the amount of impact that you can have later in life will be exponential….I think most middle aged women should feel that they're just getting started." Amy Dornbusch on Electric Ladies Podcast You'll also like: · Women's Trillions Drive New Economic Values - with Silvia Bastante de Unverhau, LGT Private Bankers International · Scaling Donations - with Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet · Philanthro-Activism - with Justin Winters, CEO/Founder of One Earth · Creativity & Relationships Secure Grants - with Megan Pater, CEO/Founder of Fund Nation and ECE Solutions · Climate Philanthropy - with Heather Grady, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · What America's Largest Bottler Thinks About Plastic - Ann Canela, Head of Niagara Cares, the Philanthropic Arm of Niagara Water Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:01
May 05, 2026
"If you don't tell your stories, then no one will ever know, …Basically I just said, I think we should tell the positive stories and we should do it through the people…Let's actually just go and meet the people at all levels from the people that are involved in the projects and organizing them. Also the people that are participating in them and benefiting from them and find out what they say. How does this change your life? Is this actually happening? Did trees actually get planted? Did this well actually get plugged?." Stacey Solie on Electric Ladies Podcast Who are the regular people on the ground saving their land and helping address climate crisis through carbon markets? Today we're going to hear from one of the producers of a new documentary about them, and be inspired to maybe think a little differently. Listen to Stacey Solie, coproducer of "From The Ground Up: Voices From The Carbon Markets" and founder and CEO of Strategic Story Craft, in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How they found these remarkably normal people doing extraordinarily simple things and benefiting from the carbon markets to save their land. ● How these carbon market deals work as creative business models ● How to leverage creativity to reach more people about the climate crisis. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "One thing that I've done is just given myself permission to explore… sometimes saying yes to something for your community that I guess I just learned so much and I met so many people and I got exposed to really amazing artists in ways that are still playing out today. So…being open to exploring… There's different ways to do things. There's a lot of different kinds of people that are trying to make a difference, and they're all intersecting in really creative ways. And I think maybe we can take that model for solutions more broadly. Let's just get creative and work together and try to solve these problems." Stacey Solie on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · How To Talk 'Climate' To Keep People Safe - with Allison Agsten, USC Center for Climate Journalism & Communications · How to Talk About Climate in a Polarized Culture - with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy · Seek First to Understand - with Jennifer Hough, Advisor, TEDx Speaker, Author · How Do We Talk About Climate? - with Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, nonprofit producing environmental documentaries and media · What's a Tech Humanist? - with Kate O'Neill, Speaker, Tech Humanist, Author · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · How Climate Modelling Affects Everything – Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, UK's National Physical Laboratory Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:39
Apr 27, 2026
"We realized early on with our digital transformation that really what we're trying to do is digitize processes and …we really want to transform. But the people that own these business processes are stakeholders, they're in sales, they're in operations, they're in HR, finance, supply chain, so we needed them before we could get started on digitally architecting a solution. So… we take a senior leader from a function and ops or a business unit and ask them to be the business process leader…. and we match you to an IT leader who's also quite senior. So these are VP SVP roles and they're the power couple. So we ask the domain leader on the stakeholder or business side, you define the what and the why, so what is it that you need and why? That's the value part of it….They're a partnership."" Elizabeth Hackenson on Electric Ladies Podcast How do you manage business systems in the middle of an industrial-technology revolution when those very systems are transforming too? They also use massive amounts of energy, water and are made from things like critical minerals, steel, aluminum wires, computer chips, et cetera that are all complicated by climate and energy crises. Listen to Elizabeth Hackenson, Chief Information Officer of Schneider Electric explain how this massive global technology leader transforms itself while helping clients do the same in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: How what a Chief Information Officer's portfolio really is and how they manage it 24/7 across the globe How they are leveraging and managing AI, as well as data centers. How their "power couples" have become a valuable structure for ground up systems transformation with the end user in mind. How they reduce their carbon footprint while helping clients do the same and maintain excellence. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "First you have to find a company that is interesting to you and what you want to do. And then to me, it's always about focus on delivering what you've been asked to and what you can do. And then opportunity, in my view, opens up. Now sometimes it's at the company you're at and other times it's not. And that's okay…When you're at that 15-year mark, you should have by then figured out what you like, what your interests are and where you want to go next. And you've got to take control of your destiny. And again, I think getting to a company that you believe in, you have the same values, can give you that pathway to whatever it is you're looking for is where to start and then deliver." Elizabeth Hackenson on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article about this new report here and more of her articles here too. You'll also like: Microgrids Keep the Lights On - Jana Gerber, President of Microgrids, Schneider Electric Making Infrastructure Resilient - Genevieve Avice-Huet, EVP of Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric (formerly Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer) Critical Minerals 101 - with Abby Wulf, Critical Minerals expert and former head of Critical Minerals in the U.S. Dept. of Energy Business Leaders Bridging the Climate Gap - Top executives from The Earth Day Women's Summit The State of Energy Today Might Surprise You - Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy on their 2026 Energy Factbook Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:44
Apr 21, 2026
"Try as best as you can not to be fear-driven. I think we are so driven by fear that we're never going to be enough, that we aren't going to contribute enough….(Y)ou actually are enough just as you are, right? Take this day, do what you can. Impact the people around you.…Become partners in your career with unlikely people, people who don't think like you, people who aren't doing the same career as you. You'll get a lot more joy out of, I think, your career because of the cross-pollination." Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett on Electric Ladies Podcast This Earth Day, we want to share inspiring career advice for women in mid-career who want to make a difference, which I ask every guest for on Electric Ladies Podcast. No matter what's going on in the economy, you have agency. You can control what you think about, focus on and your emotions. Listen to these amazing women from five different industries who were interviewed on Electric Ladies Podcast recently. Let them inspire you and tell us what resonates with you. Post it to us @joanmichelson on social media. You'll hear from: · Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, professor at Texas Tech University and one of the world's foremost climate scientists. · Dominique Browning, Founder/CEO of Mom's Clean Air Force, on how to pressure elected officials on climate and clean energy issues. · Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, on the new nuclear energy industry and innovations bringing clean, reliable power to many · Maura Hodge, head of U.S. Sustainability Practice at global consulting firm KPMG, on why companies believe sustainability creates long-term value. · Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Dr. Anna Goldman, of Boston Medical Center, on how healthcare systems can protect the planet while providing top medical care to people. Subscribe to our newsletter - and Join the waitlist for our new Membership Group here. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Don't forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Electric Ladies Podcast
00:00:47
Apr 14, 2026
"You see corporate procurement of clean energy, predominantly renewable energy, but there's fleet investments, there are efficiency improvements in buildings and on campuses underway….but it was a little different than what we'd seen in recent years. It wasn't just solar and wind. There was an interest in 24/7 reliable clean energy in particular by the tech industries, which won't surprise you, but things like nuclear, geothermal, other integrated technologies like solar and storage…So that's kind of an interesting set of dynamics because it's really diversifying the players in the corporate for procurement space" Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast With the war Trump started in Iran causing gas prices to soar, we wanted to understand where the energy sector really is today, despite economic and geopolitical pressures. Luckily, the new 2026 Energy Factbook just came out with the answers. Listen to Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) talk about the findings in the new energy report they did with Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) again in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: How AI is affecting energy markets and sources -- beyond just data centers. How the energy supply chain is at risk, not just the energy sources themselves. How reliable the grid is today and what's being done to strengthen it, including increasing transmission, efficiency, and resiliency in the face of $800 billion in climate events last year. Why she said AI is "inertia breaking" in a good way, forcing breakthroughs that are long overdue. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "Reach out, reach out, reach out…We're an expanding sector and so much new innovation, new technology, new focus on us…it's a good time to be in the energy sector …So I think a lot of it's still relationships and putting yourself out there. I think that is key. And certainly I would say to anybody who's listening, don't hesitate to reach out to me.… (and) Be generous with your time." Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article about this new report here and more of her articles here too. You'll also like: Nuclear Energy is Growing Fast - with Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute The Politics of Progress on Climate and Energy - with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and Air Force veteran Energy Efficiency Saves Money - with Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance to Save Energy Critical Minerals 101 - with Abby Wulf, Critical Minerals expert and former head of Critical Minerals in the U.S. Dept. of Energy Why Geothermal is the Next Big Thing - with Marit Brommer, Ph.D., head of the International Geothermal Association Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:54
Apr 07, 2026
"If there are people who are willing to talk to you about it, the first thing you got to do is listen….I grew up in a very rural area and it's very conservative also. And when I go home, I don't talk about climate change. I do talk about what's going on with hunting season. 'Oh, there's no deer this year. Why do you think that is? Tell me about the rain'….It is again about that pivoting and you have to understand what's important to the people you're talking to… I might say, 'I just upgraded my mom's generator. It's great because with all the outages we're having out here, now she can get electricity and I know your husband's been sick, that could be something that could be really beneficial for you.' I do not mention climate change…I am putting out ideas that are going to save somebody's life, I'm responding to the situation of the people that I'm speaking with." Allison Agsten on Electric Ladies Podcast How do we keep people safe and sound in the face of ferocious weather, wildfires and floods, especially when they wince at the words "climate change"? Make it real for their world. How? Listen to Allison Agsten, Director of the Center for Climate Journalism and Communications at the University of Southern California in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. She also curates art at the intersection of art and climate at the Wrigley Marine Science Center. You'll hear about: How to keep people safe with adaptation strategies without talking about climate change. How art and climate intersect and how it helps people stay safe. How to combat disinformation and misinformation…and so much more Plus, career advice, such as: "When I talk to women who are at some point in their careers and they're thinking of joining our sustainability communicator cohort, they always say to me, I just don't know if my skills are translatable. Yeah, they are. I can help you think about the language…It's scary because I've done it myself. I've made a number of career pivots, but to me, even scarier is not taking that chance and having the opportunity to feel really good about the work you do every day….I sleep well at night because I know that I used the skills that I have to do the thing that I think is most important." Allison Agsten on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter here -- and Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: How to Talk About Climate in a Polarized Culture - with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy Seek First to Understand - with Jennifer Hough, Advisor, TEDx Speaker, Author How Do We Talk About Climate? - with Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, nonprofit producing environmental documentaries and media What's a Tech Humanist? - with Kate O'Neill, Speaker, Tech Humanist, Author The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus How Climate Modelling Affects Everything – Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, UK's National Physical Laboratory Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:01
Mar 31, 2026
"What I knew about Carbon Credits having watched them for many years is that they're not always what they seem...So, Calyx Global was founded in 2021 to help companies navigate the space, to really understand….(i)t's a promise that somebody has reduced methane in that landfill or planted some trees thousands of miles away. So that's what Calyx Global is, we're a Carbon Credit Ratings Agency. But really what we're doing is, for every one of these assets, helping buyers understand what's underneath that, what the quality of that asset is. Donna Lee on Electric Ladies Podcast You've probably heard the words "carbon credits" banted about. But what are they exactly and how do they work? Listen to Donna Lee, CEO & Cofounder of Calyx Global (and former climate policy negotiator at the UN and U.S. State Dept.) in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● What carbon credits are, how they're measured and verified, because they are not all equal. ● Where policies and regulations provide stability (or uncertainty) ● Why companies buy and trade carbon credits – the business case. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "One is, follow your passion always. If you are passionate about making a difference, find a job where you make a difference. Don't settle for less and you will succeed more if you feel really strongly and you love what you're doing…The other thing, just being sort of a woman in late career and only maybe in some ways only finding my footing now as a co-founder is, don't underestimate your abilities….What's more important, competence or confidence? It is both in equal measure. Women always underestimate their abilities, right? Men always overestimate and women always underestimate. And so women double down on confidence…You can be authentic and confident and don't undersell yourself… Lean in on the things that come naturally to you." Donna Lee on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter and Join the waitlist for our new Membership Group here and read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Carbon Accounting 101: with Alyssa Zucker, Senior Industry Principal in Carbon at Workiva – aka The Carbon Lady · Carbon Credits 101: with Lucy Hargreaves at Patch (now at Build Canada) · How to Get To Carbon Zero, with Melissa Lott, Ph.D. at Columbia University Center for Global Energy Policy featured in the "Chasing Carbon Zero" documentary. · A Biography of Carbon: with documentary filmmaker, writer and producer, Danielle Ortega of the Australian Film Commission on her extraordinary film "Carbon: An Unauthorized Biography · Using Captured Carbon To Make Energy: with Bjork Kristjansdottir, of Carbon Recycling International Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:52
Mar 24, 2026
"Number one reason that people get denied and they didn't read the eligibility criteria. So yeah, very, very important …If you don't have the qualifications or something for something, you partner with somebody who does and you guys go after it together.… If you don't know something, that gives you a reason to call the vendor and start that conversation and get that personal relationship with them.…Relationships, relationships, relationships. It really is the key to grants. It's really not about what you write, it's about who you're speaking to ahead of time." Megan Pater on Electric Ladies Podcast Nonprofits and mission focused small businesses are facing historic funding threats at the moment due mostly to massive cuts in federal funding under the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress and related political pressures. The good news is that this crisis is also an opportunity for these nonprofits and mission-focused businesses to think differently about how they fund their operations and their goals. How? Listen to Megan Pater, CEO/Founder of Fund Nation and ECE Solutions on how to find and secure grants in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. She also happens to be a member of the Native American Osage Nation. You'll hear about: ● How you don't have to be a nonprofit -- even if the grant criteria requires one. ● How relationships, partnerships and creative strategic thinking are key. ● The magic of Megan's database to help small businesses and nonprofits secure grants ● Plus, career advice, such as: "Relationships. If you are seeking to move even laterally in your career, just making some type of change, you need to know what you're getting into, speak to somebody who's been there, reach out for help.… There's so many programs that are government-funded or city- or county-funded that you can enter into and they will raise you up…There's no reason for you not to feel supported.…But there's so many resources out there that are free and available that we already pay for with our taxes, and if you're not utilizing them, you are hurting yourself….We've already paid for them when we pay our taxes and people don't utilize them enough." Megan Pater on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Creative Leverage for Good -- Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet · You Can Make A Difference Where You Are -- Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative · Scaling Women Climate Entrepreneurs -- Zainab Salbi, Daughters for Earth · Connecting With Curiosity -- with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor · Corporate Philanthropy At America's Largest Bottler – with Ann Canela, Head of Corporate Giving at Niagara Water and Niagara Cares, It's Philanthropic Arm · New Venture Capital Models For Women and CleanTech – with Cecile Blilious, Veteran Venture Capital investor and Co-Founder, Venture ESG Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:52
Mar 17, 2026
"Healthcare Without Harm is more of an advocacy organization that works with clinicians and other healthcare workers to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare and pollution as well as climate impacts. And then Practice Greenhealth advises hospitals on how to get there and they do this awards process…(which is) about having people aware of all these different metrics that impact your operational sustainability…(and) raise awareness among the people who are running the hospital and leadership about how they're using water, food waste, where they're buying their food from, their waste hauling costs and the type of waste they're throwing away, their…carbon emissions…and guides." Dr. Anna Goldman on Electric Ladies Podcast "The climate crisis poses a critical threat to health systems and populations globally with projections of 14.5 million preventable deaths and 1.1 trillion in healthcare costs by 2050," the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine said. How can hospitals care for patients and staff 24/7 every day while also reducing its own carbon footprint and stay safe in extreme weather events? Listen to Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Dr. Anna Goldman of Boston Medical Center in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● Their creative initiatives and systems to reduce food waste, feed patients and staff better, and reduce energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions, and waste. ● How state policies directly affect hospitals and communities and can support systems change, even regardless of federal policies. ● What Practice Greenhealth is and how it's helping BMC and other medical centers manage their unique challenges and reduce their environmental impact and costs. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "You can do it all, but you don't have to do it all at once.…Enjoy each chapter. There are parts where I've absolutely receded based on what matters most. Recently when my father was ill and dying, I needed to step away from some of my career pulls to say, this is what matters to me….Try as best as you can not to be fear-driven. I think we are so driven by fear that we're never going to be enough, that we aren't going to contribute enough….(Y)ou actually are enough just as you are, right? Take this day, do what you can. Impact the people around you.…Become partners in your career with unlikely people, people who don't think like you, people who aren't doing the same career as you. You'll get a lot more joy out of, I think, your career because of the cross-pollination." Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to Joan's Electric Ladies Podcast newsletter here to receive podcasts, career advice, events and articles in your inbox weekly. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · How Hospitals Can Juggle 24/7 Care & Climate Impacts - with Carol Gomes, CEO/COO of Stony Brook University Hospital · Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – with Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – with Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Music, Public Health & Climate Action – with Emma O'Brien, Ph.D., Global Scrub Choir · Connecting With Curiosity – with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor to Leaders · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · Why Our Lives Depend on Women on Boards – with Corinne Post, Ph.D., Lee High University (now at Villanova) Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:01
Mar 10, 2026
"I've been in this industry for 40 years and we have never been at a moment like we are today. …About 10 years ago, a little bit more than that, the narrative at that time was we were closing down plants…. Now the narrative today is, Hey, you know what? Some of those plants you shut down, we've changed our mind. How hard would it be to restart that?... All of these hyperscalers (Google, Amazon, e.g.) are figuring out partnerships and marriages, if you will, with nuclear and trying to help nuclear be brought to the marketplace….I mean, the demand is off the charts, and that's really the biggest game changer." Maria Korsnick on Electric Ladies Podcast We need massive amounts of clean energy to power our electricity-hungry economy while also reducing global warming to keep the ravages of climate events at bay. Solar and wind are great but intermittent. Between new innovations and super-high energy demands, nuclear power is back in vogue. But what are the dangers? Listen to Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute and a 40-year veteran of the industry in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She even operated nuclear reactors. They also share insightful career advice. You'll hear about: How nuclear plants actually work, and why she calls them "essentially a power plant." Why she says nuclear plants are so much safer today than ever before. Why nuclear power is having a renaissance, with demand "off the charts" and 40-60-year lifecycles. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "Honestly, I would say get into nuclear power. Nuclear power is …at a threshold for incredible growth. And the value of that is it really doesn't matter what your background is. You could be an accountant, you could be an HR person, you could be an engineer, you could be a chemist. We need people with four year degrees, no degrees… We're not just building that here, we're building it around the world. Some people might want to do some more travel as part of their job. There's going to be room for that…. There's all kinds of opportunities. You've got startup companies and you have established companies that have been in business for 50 years." Maria Korsnick on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: An Industrial Revolution Unlike Any Other – with Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, EVP and head of Automation at Schneider Electric, from their U.S. Innovation Summit 2025 Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Jana Gerber, President, Microgrids, Schneider Electric Paula Glover, from the Alliance To Save Energy Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada's energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:51
Mar 03, 2026
"We, the people we can definitely keep the pressure on, not only on our lawmakers, our governors, our mayors, our senators, our Congress people. We have to keep reminding them that we care about these issues…There's a real key also to the future reimagining, asking companies to reimagine themselves as energy companies, not oil companies or gas companies, but energy companies. So all of these pressure points are incredibly important. We all have favorite stores, favorite brands that we shop on. If you love Walmart writing to the customer services and to the president of Walmart saying, 'Hey, get those solar panels on all of our Walmart stores. We want to do our part. They care. They care about consumer response. It's important to say that you care. You want them to care." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast This Women's History Month 2026, it's critical that all our elected officials at all levels know that we care about climate change, clean air, clean water and protecting the environment. That pressure is what makes them pass legislation that addresses these issues. How? Listen to Dominique Browning, Founder and head of Mom's Clean Air Force, who is also a Vice President at the Environmental Defense Fund, in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How to pressure your Mayor, Senators, Congresspeople, state legislators, governors, the head of the EPA, the president, and even your School Board members to pass legislation to address the climate crisis and protect our clean air, clean water and environment. ● How states and cities are leveraging Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure Act funding and incentives, still, for a range of clean energy and climate solutions, such as electric school buses and solar panels. ● How important it is to show gratitude when elected officials do the right thing. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "Just say yes, say yes to everybody who wanted you to do a project or consult on something or talk about something, meet, brainstorm, et cetera. And slowly but surely, I started building up a network of people who were interested in the same things I was interested in…Another piece of advice I got …(was) 'you got to go with the love.'…Over time, I began to see that what she was talking about was think about what you love, what you're passionate about, and what you can do… And that's very motivating, especially when things are difficult." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to Joan's weekly newsletter here to stay abreast of episodes, trends, career advice, and events where Joan is speaking. You'll also like: · How to Talk About Climate In A Polarized Culture -- with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Chief Science Officer at The Nature Conservancy & Professor, Texas Tech University · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · How to Rebuild Cities After Disaster – with Majora Carter, Urban Development Expert · How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities – Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 · Unique Practical Climate Solutions For Cities – Joan's panel at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blogs, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:48
Feb 24, 2026
"I believe in the power of people wishing to volunteer for initiatives rather than assignment of duties and responsibilities and having people feel as though it's a chore… (They) serve as champions in their areas to educate their fellow peers on what it means to be sustainable, what they can do that's in their power to contribute to the outcomes….And then as we started to become more mature…we formed structured committees, we leveraged those champions on the units to participate. We made it enjoyable in terms of participating. We actually have contests… (I)t just breeds excitement about sustainability and I think it just allows for a culture where people become engaged and part of the process." Carol Gomes on Electric Ladies Podcast Healthcare is a huge 18% of the economy and uniquely has to be caring well for patients and staff 24/7 every day while also vulnerable to extreme weather events itself. How do they do that, how do they cover those costs, and what can we all learn from them? Listen to Carol Gomes (pronounced like "homes"), CEO and COO of Stony Brook University Hospital in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● Their initiatives and systems to reduce energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions, waste and manage the significant hazardous waste a hospital generates. How "quality" is a mantra. ● How they have engaged their people, building a unique culture, to embrace sustainability. ● What Practice Green Health is and what other industries can learn from their data, analyses and sharing of best practices. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "I would say use your voice sooner than later. And if you see something, say something. If you wish to express yourself and you have an opinion and you're sitting at a table, express it and don't be shy… I think also leveraging networking opportunities is really important and volunteering for a committee or stretching yourself a little more than you normally would, and exploring areas where you may feel you're not as strong and don't be fearful of that… building relationships is not text messaging. It's not leaving voice messages. It's talking face-to-face, getting to know people, what's important to them." Carol Gomes on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – with Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – with Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Music, Public Health & Climate Action – with Emma O'Brien, Ph.D., Global Scrub Choir · Connecting With Curiosity – with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor to Leaders · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · Why Our Lives Depend on Women on Boards – with Corinne Post, Ph.D., Lee High University (now at Villanova) Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:47
Feb 17, 2026
How Utilities Are Changing While Keeping The Lights On – Nicole Pearson & Brad Johnson of Bentley Systems "The really great thing about electric utilities is that they maintain a singular focus almost regardless of what's going on around them. It's safety, reliability, resilience. So they'll adapt and flex…They're not going to take a risk that sacrifices safety, that sacrifices your light coming on….The difference now that I've noticed is their willingness to move forward with technology and change decades, long processes and workflows and legacy built systems……. because they see how they can still maintain and maintain more efficiently, safety, reliability, resiliency." Nicole Pearson on Electric Ladies Podcast Utilities are being transformed even as they keep the lights on. They have to become more resilient to the effects of climate changes and be responsive to new energy sources and technologies and even invent new business models while also regulated – all without dropping a moment of power. How? Listen to Nicole Pearson, Director of Marketing for Energy and Brad Johnson, Industry head of Energy Systems at Bentley Systems in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. It was recorded live at the Bentley Systems "Year in Infrastructure" 2025 conference. You'll hear about: ● How utilities have evolved and are evolving without risking service, safety, reliability and under the regulatory microscope. ● How Bentley Systems' software is reducing risk and increasing resilience of utilities. ● How utilities are leveraging A.I. while monitoring for cyberattacks and hallucinations to keep systems, workers and consumers safe. ● Utilities have to plan decades ahead, even 30+ years ahead, yet technologies evolve so fast. How can they plan that far ahead? ● Plus, career advice, such as: "The first one is own it. Own it. What is it? Your career. And when I say own it, I'm constantly, even today having meetings with people that I don't know, requesting mentorship, reaching out through LinkedIn, going to events. I try to stay very connected and not just people in my close industry or even work type …Every single person you meet is a connection and could have an impact on your life and vice versa….When you meet somebody, keep the conversation going. …So one day if they need something or you need something, you have a connection….My second piece of advice is… you should always have a list of things that you want to accomplish, that you want to put on your résumé. And regardless of what's going on around you in your job, focus on those things." Nicole Pearson on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article on whether A.I. makes our infrastructure safer or not here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities: Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 · 88% of Companies Say Sustainability Increases Long-Term Value: Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer, KPMG · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:38
Feb 10, 2026
Using Software, AI To Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems "For example, if we have a concrete pile, we can change the parameters and use AI to suggest actually a more optimal design with regards to how much concrete is going to be used. So we quite often, as engineers, we are risk averse. So sometimes you can over design to make sure consequences in construction and infrastructure are real. We do need to be precise, but we can use AI to ensure that we have a reduced amount of carbon and concrete in that pile, but still meeting the outcomes that we set out to achieve." Lydia Walpole on Electric Ladies Podcast Infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as buildings today need to be built with strong climate resilience, as well as reduced carbon footprint. Innovative software systems are leveraging AI to increase performance. How? Listen to Lydia Walpole, Senior Director of Global Performance and Chris Bradshaw, Chief Sustainability Officer both of Bentley Systems in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. It was recorded live at the Bentley Systems "Year in Infrastructure" 2025 conference. You'll hear about: ● How Bentley Systems' digital twin technology is reducing risk, waste and CO2 and improving performance. ● How sustainability and climate resilience shift the approach to infrastructure builds from "reactive to predictive," as Chris said, as extreme weather increases. ● How their technologies are transforming infrastructure builds across the globe. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "I often hear about imposter syndrome, and I know it's easy to say, but I've worked in a male dominated environment my whole career, and I've never felt like I shouldn't be here. And it is easy to say, don't feel that, but you deserve to be where you are. You've worked hard and recognize that. …Secondly, be curious and remain curious, and make sure you are continuing to learn and educate yourself every day….Keep abreast of new technologies." Lydia Walpole on Electric Ladies Podcast And Chris Bradshaw added: "My biggest piece of advice would be to be bold. Don't be shy. Diverse groups make better decisions, always…. You are bringing a different point of view." Read Joan's Forbes article on whether A.I. makes our infrastructure safer or not here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities: Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 · 88% of Companies Say Sustainability Increases Long-Term Value: Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer, KPMG · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:46
Feb 03, 2026
"There is value in being able to articulate the qualitative value of sustainability…And yes, obviously revenues can be attached to that, but obviously just the opportunity to open up new markets more broadly and innovate…There's the risk and compliance component, which tend to be more easy to actually quantify. And then there's the brand reputation…So you can make the case qualitatively in any of those three areas…There's this movement from morality to materiality now that CFOs are involved…We actually take that all the way to the financial statements, to the balance sheet, to the profit and loss statement, and identify those specific line items where there could be savings or synergies or increases." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast Companies have to focus on long-term value and returns, and a recent report by KPMG found that 88% of them say sustainability creates both. They also see it as a competitive advantage. Why? Listen to Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer of global management consulting and accounting firm KPMG in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How companies see sustainability as a competitive advantage. ● How sustainability and ESG initiatives drive return on investment and long-term value. ● Why CFO's are on board with ESG, as both a risk mitigation and revenue driver. ● What companies can do to make progress themselves. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "My experience has been looking for those opportunities of new area growth, innovation. Of course, there's risk. There's going to be risk when you move into those areas…I actually pivoted and started working with venture capital backed life sciences companies…then I got to come back to sustainability after that. …I think keeping your eyes open, keeping your ears open, developing your network, and being willing to make those changes and taking those pivots in your career will pay off….(And) the way that you get ahead is actually sometimes by taking two steps back. And so, it's more of a step up, plateau, then maybe take a step down and then start moving up again. And that's how you kind of break into the next level." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article on Maura's panel at the Workiva conference here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Business Leaders Bridging the Climate Gap – Joan's panel at The Earth Day Women's Summit 2025 with four top business leaders. · Sustainable Business Is Good Business – Tensie Whelan, Founding Director, NYU Stern School of Sustainable Business. · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · 6 Ways Sustainability Can Help Businesses Navigate Tough Times and Drive Growth – From Workiva, KPMG and NYU Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:52
Jan 28, 2026
"What is a microgrid?...There's a lot of challenges that folks are dealing with around the grid infrastructure, with weather related challenges and load growth and other elements. And so what a microgrid does is help those customers become not only consumers of energy, but also producers of energy. So we like to call that a prosumer….So a microgrid helps to create that bridge between the building and the big grid…So if the grid's no longer there (e.g., an outage), they can act independently of the grid. It also helps with deploying more renewables on their sites, as well as really energy costs." Jana Gerber on Electric Ladies Podcast Our hearts go out to the many people who are out of power in the current massive winter storm. We wish they had access to a microgrid to give them power when the grid is down, like during this ferocious storm. How does a microgrid work? Can you get one for your home? Listen to Jana Gerber, President of Microgrids at Schneider Electric in this helpful and engaging conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson, live at the Schneider Electric U.S. Innovation Summit a couple of months ago. They also share insightful career advice. You'll hear about: What a microgrid is, how it works and how to use it. How microgrids can serve communities in disaster situations – and are doing so in real time. How facilities as different as military bases to airports to EV charging are using microgrids to keep the power on. How microgrids are powered by renewables and batteries…and so much more Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "I think having purpose in what we do really drives that passion. And so continue to find what your North star is and where your passion aligns with that and keep going at it. So I think that's the important thing….I've had multiple different roles across different elements of the (SE) business and really getting to understand the perspectives and everybody wants to provide value and what they're doing. And so helping to find ways that you can pull folks in to help them bring their value to your customers or through other means is really critical." Jana Gerber on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: An Industrial Revolution Unlike Any Other – with Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, EVP and head of Automation at Schneider Electric, from their U.S. Innovation Summit 2025 Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Paula Glover, from the Alliance To Save Energy Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada's energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:33
Jan 20, 2026
"We have to begin our conversations with what really matters to the person or people we're speaking with. And if we don't know what that is, we have to get to know them and build a relationship and then start the conversation where they're at…The second common misconception I see is that we have to load up our wheelbarrow with the biggest load of scary facts we can possibly find and just dump it on people because not enough people are worried about this.…But if we haven't connected the head to the heart, my life, the places I love, the people I love, the things I love my home, the price of my groceries, the price of my insurance, the quality of the air I'm breathing, or my child's breathing, if we haven't made the head to heart connection, people still see this issue as being distant and remote from them." Katharine Hayhoe on Electric Ladies Podcast Signs of climate change are all around us, from ferocious and more frequent hurricanes, and in unexpected places, to massive wildfires and floods, as well as cracking roads and bridges. But many still don't believe it or don't want to take steps to avoid it or become more resilient. So, how can we reach them, especially in the very polarized culture we have today? Listen to Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D. acclaimed climate scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist of The Nature Conservancy in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. Katharine is also the author of several books, including "Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World." You'll hear about: ● How to talk about climate issues even without even talking about climate. ● What we can learn from the faith-based community about talking about the climate crisis. ● What is happening to the vitally important climate science data that was defunded and taken offline by the Trump administration…and so much more ● Plus, career advice, such as: "(W)hat am I uniquely good at? So there's certain things that I'm a lot better at than other people. So that's the filter that we should apply. But then my favorite's the last filter, which is what genuinely gives me joy, what charges my battery rather than depleting it. Now, of course, don't get me wrong, we all have to do things that deplete our battery every day. But if our work does not give us joy or if it gave us joy at some time in the past but is no longer doing so now, that's a sign to us to think differently about what we're doing….(And invest) in making our own lives sustainable is so important. It's something I feel like we often neglect and it falls by the wayside in our focus on everything else that needs to be sustainable. But really I think it starts with US." Katharine Hayhoe on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Unique Urban Climate Actions – Joan's panel at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona with three top urban leaders from around the world. · How Climate Modelling Affects Everything – Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, UK's National Physical Laboratory · Critical Minerals 101 – with Abby Wulf, Former Head of Critical Minerals at the Dept. Of Energy, & Center for Critical Minerals Strategy · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · Climate Is A Security Emergency – Svitlana Krakovska, top Climate Scientist from Ukraine and Mirian Villela, head of Earth Charter International and the Center for Sustainable Development with Joan Michelson at The Earth Day Women's Summit 2025. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson
00:00:01
