Smart Society Show
Join former UK Energy Minister Chris Skidmore and Venture Capital investor Brynne Kennedy as they explore cutting-edge climate technology and policy. This bi-weekly show features interviews with global climate leaders and innovative tech founders, offering insights on climate and technology markets. Discover the companies and visionaries shaping the world's largest economic opportunity and driving the path to Net Zero. Whether you're a policy maker, entrepreneur, investor, or climate enthusiast, The Smart Society Show brings you the latest in climate innovation.
Recent Episodes
6
June 11, 2026
S2E6: AI Power, Pipeline Energy, and Critical Infrastructure Automation with Freddie Sarhan (Sapphire Technologies) and Vicki Knott (CruxOCM)
In this episode of The Smart Society Show, Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore explore the accelerating collision of AI, data centers, and energy infrastructure, from the growing power bottleneck facing AI to the rise of off-grid, behind-the-meter generation and the renewed importance of transition finance. They are joined by Freddie Sarhan, Founder and CEO of Sapphire Technologies, who explains how Sapphire is turning wasted pressure energy in natural gas pipelines into clean, 24/7 electricity an
6
March 17, 2026
Power Prices, Grid Intelligence, and the Future of Energy with Dave Easton (Generation IM) and Sean Kelly (Amperon)
Electricity has become one of the defining economic and political issues of our time. In this episode, Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore unpack the growing pressure around power prices in the US and UK, the urgent need for grid modernization, and why on-site generation, storage, and smarter forecasting are becoming essential as demand surges. They are joined first by Dave Easton , Partner on the Growth Equity Team at Generation Investment Management , who explains how Generation’s research-led “
Jan. 22, 2026
S2E4: Digital Infrastructure, AI at Scale, and Industrial Robotics with Tomas Lamanauskas (Deputy Secretary General, ITU) and Fredrik Isler (CFO, ANYbotics)
This week, Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore speak with two leaders shaping the future of digital infrastructure, AI, and industrial energy systems: Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the United Nations, and Fredrik Isler, CFO of ETH Zurich spin-out ANYbotics. Brynne and Chris open with a discussion on how geopolitics, energy security, and AI are increasingly intertwined. They explore the shift from carbon-centric narratives toward c
3
Dec. 11, 2025
S2E3: COP30, AI-Driven Power Demand, and On-Site Energy Innovation with Catherine McKenna (Former Canadian Climate Minister) and Shannon Miller (Co-Founder & CEO, Mainspring Energy)
This week, Brynne Kennedy and Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE speak with two leaders shaping global climate policy and the future of on-site power: Catherine McKenna, former Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Chair of the UN Net Zero Expert Group, and Shannon Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of Mainspring Energy. Brynne and Chris discuss the key outcomes from COP in Brazil, the rising strain between AI-driven electricity demand and grid capacity, and the renewed focus on nuclear power a
2
Nov. 18, 2025
Energy Security, Global Infrastructure Capital, and the Rise of Flexibility Markets with Sir Danny Alexander (CEO, HSBC Infrastructure Finance & Sustainability) and John Diklev (Founder & CEO, Flower)
In this new episode of The Smart Society Show , co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore speak with two leaders at the forefront of global infrastructure and AI-enabled clean power: Sir Danny Alexander , CEO of HSBC Infrastructure Finance & Sustainability, and John Diklev , founder & CEO of Flower. Brynne and Chris begin with insights from COP and the rising pressure on global power systems—from AI-driven electricity demand to the growing focus on energy security, sovereignty, and the practica
1
Oct. 30, 2025
S2E1: Energy Leadership and Meeting AI’s Power Demand with Boris Johnson (Former UK Prime Minister) and Greg Jackson (Founder & CEO, Octopus Energy)
In this Season 2 premiere of The Smart Society Show , co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore sit down with two leading voices in policy and energy, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Greg Jackson , founder & CEO of Octopus Energy . Brynne and Chris open the episode with a discussion on the shifting dynamics of global energy, from the surge in power demand driven by AI and data centers, to how industrial policy and energy sovereignty are becoming central to economic strategy. They exp
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