Episodes

  • How Energy Policies Contribute to the Housing Crisis // Bill Thielman
    Nov 26 2024

    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.

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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

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    44 mins
  • Poverty Kills Climate Action (with Susan Downie-Gagnon)
    Nov 20 2024

    What if we could align climate action with economic growth while empowering communities?

    Today we welcome Susan Downie-Gagnon, a changemaker in Canada’s natural resource sector.

    Beginning her career in medical science and HIV research, Susie followed her curiosity into various initiatives in sectors like forestry, bioenergy and clean tech. From leading one of Canada’s largest Indigenous equity ownership deals to driving innovation at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry, her journey reflects her commitment to aligning sustainability, economic growth, and social justice.


    Mentioned in this Episode:
    BC Forest Summit 2020
    Mom2Mom

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    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

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    29 mins
  • Unpacking the Energy Landscape with Robert Bryce
    Nov 14 2024

    Today we welcome Robert Bryce, Texas based reporter, author and documentary producer.

    Raised in the oil-rich heartland of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Robert's journey into energy journalism was inspired by early exposure to the industry and guided by his mother’s dedication to making complicated subjects approachable. Our conversation spans the evolution of his career, his compelling book "A Question of Power," and his advocacy for energy humanism, focusing on how these themes impact the lives of women and girls in regions plagued by energy poverty.

    We also get into…

    • Why nuclear energy and natural gas are key to decarbonization
    • The shifting landscapes of nuclear energy
    • The global energy poverty crisis and why 3 billion people live “unplugged”
    • What he’d do if he was named the “Global Energy Tsar”
    • What is Total Bananas Crazy Town?
    • Robert’s take on modern environmental NGOs and their impact on energy policy
    • How attitudes about nuclear power have changed and why it actually benefits us in the long run
    • The real cost and requirements of renewables


    Mentioned in this Episode:
    Juice - The Documentary
    Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future
    Robert’s Substack: Energy, Power, Innovation, Politics

    Follow us and our guest on social media:
    @pwrhungry on X /Twitter
    @sjmuiron on X /Twitter
    Stewart Muir on Linkedin

    Send us a text

    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

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    29 mins
  • Turning Waste into Wealth with Sustainable Technology // Barinder Rasode
    Nov 6 2024

    Barinder Rasode is turning waste into wealth.

    As CEO of Tersa Earth Innovations, she’s pioneering new ways to extract resources from mining waste, all while advocating for her community.

    With experience in government, health care, female empowerment, and environmental solutions, Barinder bridges the gap between thriving economically and being environmentally responsible.

    In this episode we get into:
    -
    The future of mining and Barinder’s mission to turn waste into wealth through Tersa
    - What it was like being selected as a top innovator for the World Economic Forum and UpLink - World Economic Forum Sustainable Mining Challenge
    - Why choosing between industry profit and the environment is a choice we can’t afford to make
    - How SheTalks is empowering 600+ women to lead
    - Her top advice for navigating a start-up in Canada
    - The trend that is a risk to democracy
    - Why young people don’t want to be associated with the engineering field and why it matters
    - Her definition of legacy and the impact she wants to leave behind


    Mentioned in this Episode:

    • Tersa Earth Innovations
    • She Talks
    • 10 International Women’s Day events you’d be crazy to miss (CNN, 2015)

    Follow us and our guest on social media:
    @BarinderRasode on X /Twitter
    @barinderrasode on Instagram
    @sjmuiron X /Twitter
    Stewart Muir on Linkedin

    Send us a text

    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

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    43 mins
  • The First Carbon Tax // Barry Penner
    Oct 24 2024

    At Power Struggle we aim to end the conversation blackout around modern energy.

    Barry Penner is a former park ranger turned lawyer, politician, and BC’s Minister of Environment. Known for major changes including North America’s first broad-based carbon tax, Barry brings tons of experience navigating climate policy, climate action and public trust.

    Barry's tenure as British Columbia's Minister of the Environment was marked by significant strides in environmental policy, including the introduction of North America's first broad-based carbon tax and innovative programs for renewable energy. He shares the triumphs and hurdles of his career, from spearheading emissions reduction initiatives to managing personal health challenges and the emotional closure of a local courthouse. He offers valuable insights into the complexities of climate policy and the persistent struggle to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.

    As we explore the future of energy management in British Columbia, Barry discusses the importance of transparency and accountability in the energy sector.

    In this episode:

    • Barry’s beginnings in Kitimat, Chilliwack and early politics
    • How a rallying campaign secured his first nomination
    • Introducing North America's first carbon tax and the Climate Action Plan
    • Are emissions higher now than pre-Covid?
    • The BC Supreme court call that threatened his career
    • Bringing together an 800 person protest
    • Navigating a cancer diagnosis and career pivot
    • Why BC Energy is a black box…
    • Why is BC importing electricity? And what are the hidden costs?

    🔔 Hit Subscribe for more in-depth discussions on the future of energy.

    Links mentioned:
    Energy Futures Institute: https://energyfuturesinstitute.ca/

    Follow us and our guest on social media:
    @BarryPenner1 on X /Twitter
    @sjmuiron X /Twitter
    Stewart Muir on Linkedin

    Power Struggle:
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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

    Send us a text

    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

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    55 mins
  • Energy, Innovation, and Inclusion // Margareta Dovgal
    Oct 17 2024

    Margareta is the Managing Director of Resource Works. She’s a passionate advocate for pragmatic natural resource policy with a passion for technology, innovation, and Indigenous economic development. Spending time in the UK, the UAE, and Canada shaped her insights on modern energy.

    In this episode we dive into:

    • Is Canada marginalizing itself in the global conversation?
    • Why value differences are important to consider when making policy decisions and changes
    • The question that the UAE is obsessed with right now
    • Is decolonization possible?
    • How to think about polling
    • Have we reached peak oil?
    • Is the future bright? Or just aspirational?
    • Carbon capture as a potential solution to the real and present challenge of climate change?

    From innovative technology solutions to the importance of effective leadership, this episode offers a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic intersection between energy innovation, cultural insights, and economic policy. We discuss what it takes to drive meaningful progress in today's rapidly changing world.

    🔔 Hit Subscribe for more in-depth discussions on the future of energy.

    🎧 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


    #EnergyPolicy #Innovation #IndigenousEconomics #ClimateAction #PowerStruggle


    Send us a text

    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

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • The Last Barrel of Oil // Adam Pankratz
    Oct 9 2024

    Adam Pankratz is a professor at the University of British Columbia with a deep background in banking, energy, and mining. He joins Power Struggle to bring his unique take on the challenge (and costs) that switching from fossil fuels to green energy poses.

    In this episode we discuss:

    • Adam’s start in politics and how that sparked his interest in energy
    • Where responsibility lies when making big change promises
    • His concept of “the energy transition” and how to avoid another Covid 19 scenario
    • The implications of AI and how much energy is needed to power innovation
    • The often-overlooked connection between a green economy and the mining industry
    • Why the last barrel of oil should come from Canada
    • Adam’s $14 wine pick!

    🔔 Hit Subscribe for more in-depth discussions on the future of energy.


    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

    Send us a text

    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

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    46 mins
  • Energy, The Environment, and Polarization // Dr. Emily Huddart
    Oct 3 2024

    Host Stewart Muir speaks with Emily Huddart Kennedy, Professor and Associate Head at the University of British Columbia and author of Ecotypes: Five Ways of Caring About the Environment.

    Emily explores the complex relationships people have with the environment, uncovering how these complex relationships manifest in everyday life.

    Send us a text

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

    Linkedin
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    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

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    59 mins