As a Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and a special advisor to the Business Council of Canada, Heather breaks down the hard truths about Canada’s energy future.

She wasn’t always in energy. In fact, her journey started in international development, working in places like Guatemala and South Africa. But when she came back to Canada, she realized something: the biggest development opportunities weren’t overseas. They were right here, in Canada’s resource sector.

Heather has spent years championing Indigenous partnerships, cutting through misinformation, and pushing for smarter energy policies. In this episode, she shares why Canada has both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead, and what’s stopping us from getting there.

We dive into:

• The biggest challenge Canada faces on the global stage (and how energy security plays into it)
• How Indigenous partnerships are key – not an option – to shaping the future of resource development
• The impact of outdated policies on Canada’s energy sector
• 6 essential changes Canada needs to make to stay competitive
• How resource wealth can be both a blessing and a curse
• Why nuclear energy and uranium enrichment are key to our future

Follow us and our guest on social media:
Stewart Muir on Linkedin
Heather on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-exner-pirot/
Heather on Twitter: https://x.com/exnerpirot

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The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

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🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Are we in a Cold War where energy is the weapon?

Is energy becoming the world’s most powerful strategic asset? As governments refocus on security and affordability, global energy policy is shifting fast. What does this mean for Canada, the US, and the world?

Robert “RJ” Johnston is Senior Director of Research at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and is on the speed dial of CEOs, policymakers, and political leaders navigating energy markets and global strategy.

In this episode, Stewart joins RJ in NYC to discuss:

• Why security and affordability are taking priority over sustainability under the Trump administration
• How the US-Canada Energy Relationship
• The Arctic, critical minerals, and why energy security isn’t just about oil and gas
• How LNG is used as a competitive advantage influencing trade relationships
• The political fate of ESG and DEI initiatives

RJ doesn’t just analyze trends, he’s been in the rooms where these decisions happen. Whether you work in energy, policy, or just want to understand how the world really works, this episode will change how you see the future of energy, economy, and your community as a whole.

Follow us and our guest on social media:

Stewart Muir on Linkedin
RJ on Linkedin

Send us a text

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

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🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

What happens when energy, security, and sustainability come together? Today Stewart sits down with Joe Calnan, energy security expert at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and host of the Energy Security Cubed podcast. Together, they dive into the heart of what Power Struggle is truly all about: the energy trilemma of balancing affordability, reliability, and sustainability to build a more resilient and prosperous world.

We discuss…

• What is energy security, and why does it matter?
• The energy trilemma: Can Canada achieve net-zero goals without sacrificing economic stability or energy reliability?
• Canada’s potential to be a trusted partner in solving global energy crises, from LNG exports to supporting allies like Poland and Japan
• The broad 25% tariff the US wants to impose on Canada and how it could disrupt its economy
• Joe’s take on how geopolitical tensions, like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reveal weaknesses within energy systems and what Canada can do to strengthen its position

Join the conversation in the comments and subscribe for more fact based, expert-led conversations all about modern energy!

Follow us and our guest on social media:
Joe Calnan on Linkedin
Stewart Muir on Linkedin
Energy Security Cubed Podcast

Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

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The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Send us a text

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

What does it take to turn a green chicken into a global voice in energy?

We dive into the world of Doomberg—the #1 paid finance Substack tackling energy, geopolitics, and predictions of what's to come.

Global energy dynamics are more than just economics; they intersect deeply with immigration and social tensions. Doomberg discusses how an energy-rich or energy-poor environment can exacerbate societal issues.

We discuss:

• Why a green chicken became the face for Doomberg
• The dirty secrets of the modern economy and today’s virtue strutting
• Why we take energy for granted and who the real heroes are
• Making Canada the 51st state: a US attempt to take Canada’s oil?
• Why Canadian citizens should be among the wealthiest people in the world
• Betting on human ingenuity - always!
• Why peak oil is a myth
• What the “Church of Carbon” is and what it tells us about climate narratives
• The completion of LNG Canada and its global impact
• How natural hydrogen could be the next big disruptor

Tune in to see why 300,000+ subscribers trust Doomberg for sharp, unfiltered insights.

Mentioned in the show:
The Year of the Dragon - free for Power Struggle subscribers:
https://newsletter.doomberg.com/p/52366083-26e1-4289-899a-9352fb196a53

More and More and More: An All-Consuming History of Energy
https://www.amazon.ca/More-All-Consuming-History-Energy/dp/0241718899

Follow us and our guest on social media:
Doomberg on Substack
Doomberg Website
Doomberg on Linkedin
Stewart Muir on Linkedin

Send us a text

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

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Instagram
Facebook
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🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Happy Holidays from Power Struggle!

As developing nations grapple with rapid growth, we explore the dilemmas surrounding coal consumption and the implications for climate goals.

Send us a text

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

What if the future of energy innovation lies in gaming technology?

In this episode of Power Struggle, we are joined by Valentina Riggins, Senior Vice President of Digital Consulting at Worley. Valentina provides an in-depth look into the challenges and opportunities within the energy industry, bridging the gap between traditional energy practices and cutting-edge digital technologies.

We cover:

• How can we truly innovate in energy?
• Why massive projects today will shape the future
• Dealing with conflicts, critiques and trade-offs in the energy transition
• The importance of early education and critical thinking in sustainability
• Is Hydrogen adoption possible?
• How AI and gaming technology are accelerating decision making and innovation
• Why we need to step out of our comfort zone

Follow us and our guest on social media:

Valentina Riggins on Linkedin
Stewart Muir on Linkedin

Send us a text

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

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Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Dr. Kent Fellows is an economist and assistant professor at the University of Calgary. With expertise in energy, infrastructure, and competition policy, Kent has advised provincial, federal, and international governments on major policy decisions. He’s also a Fellow at the City Hall Institute, contributing to cutting-edge research on energy and infrastructure economics.


In this episode, Kent reveals how energy decisions ripple through households, businesses, and government revenues, exposing the often invisible costs Canadians face from lagging infrastructure.


We dive more into:

• What’s the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion?
• The invisible price Canadians pay without proper infrastructure plus savings opportunities
• Can the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion truly save Vancouverites over $1,000 a year on gas?
• Why Alberta’s oilsands could produce the world’s “last barrel” of oil
• What’s at stake for Canada and the U.S. in energy trade and policy decisions
• Criticism behind the carbon tax, “Ax the Tax” and Kent’s (maybe surprising!) take on it
• Do oil and gas companies actually care about the environment?
• The energy trilemma: Can we balance affordability, reliability, and sustainability?
• How oil sands producers are cutting emissions while staying globally competitive
• How to effectively plan for future infrastructure

Through Power Struggle, we’re giving audiences a holistic and objective view of the modern energy landscape. With Stewart Muir at the helm, listeners are invited into candid conversations with scientists, engineers, analysts, professors, sociologists, economists, and the many diverse voices addressing energy today.

Send us a text

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Bill Tieleman is one of British Columbia’s most seasoned and influential strategists. With decades of experience in political communications, including roles in the B.C. Premier’s Office, for the NDP, and the BC Federation of Labour, Bill has shaped campaigns and conversations across the province. As the founder of West Star Communications, he’s spent 25 years helping labor, business, non-profits, and Indigenous organizations navigate complex political landscapes. From his work overturning the HST to his commentary on today’s pressing political issues, Bill brings a unique perspective on strategy, power, and the challenges shaping our communities.

Send us a text

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod