THE BEST CLIMATE PODCASTS NOW INCLUDE SOLAR SMART!
Updated March 6th, 2026
By Morgan Pierce
I have said from day one, that I wanted SolarSmart to be a thought leader in our industry. Sure, I want us to punch above our weight in innovative customer service and leading technologies – but I also want us to be blue sky thinkers. To constantly push the boundaries of the “practical” with what is “possible” and what is “imaginable”.
I have also said from day one, that I understood that that goal was not something I could achieve on my own. I’ve been lucky to surround myself with an incredible team, and they contribute things as diverse as the musings on this blog, to judgements on how best to incorporate cutting edge products into our installations.
It’s a team wide ethos. We in turn are sustained by the broad ecosystem of the global environmental community. Darting all over the country on sales and installations the way we do, many of the SolarSmart team are hooked on podcasts. There are some terrific ones available, among which include climate and solar podcasts.
It will surprise nobody to learn that – as a total business geek – I love the Harvard Business School’s “Climate Rising” podcast. It puts together professors from Harvard with business leaders to exchange ideas on what businesses can and should do to address climate change. In one of the most thought-provoking recent episodes Acumen founder Jacqueline Novogratz shared insights from two decades of investing in poverty alleviation programmes that include climate resilience measures like off-grid solar.
The “Outrage & Optimism” podcast is co-hosted by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, who oversaw the Paris Agreement on climate change, and CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) founder, Paul Dickinson. Every Thursday the hosts explore the latest news from science, business, finance, politics and culture. One recent episode includes an interview with former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern about what inhibits political leadership on climate action, and a deep dive into the science behind “solar geoengineering” – the controversial technologies designed to cool the Earth by reflecting a percentage of sunlight back into space.
What if instead of being on the brink of disaster, we’re on the cusp of a better world? Each week, Progress Network’s “What Could Go Right” podcast covers some of the most pressing issues of our time with a dash of hope. While not strictly speaking an “environmental” podcast, the show has covered subjects like the huge increase in solar uptake across Africa, and the fact that the Vatican is now powered by solar.
“No one can deny the challenges the world faces, from pandemics to climate change to authoritarianism.” the show’s hosts explain, “But pessimism and despair are too easy a response.
Inspired by these amazing shows, my colleagues and I concluded that we might be able to contribute to the climate discussion, from our position within the solar energy industry in Ireland, with the Solar Smart podcast. We recognise that while ours might be a niche audience, there are also important stories to be explored by us and heard by that listenership.
Solar Smart Podcast Episode 2
Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down with David Mullins, Founder of AgriData Ltd. David’s company provides on-farm inspections and verification for the Sustainable Assurance Scheme – putting him at the very centre of Ireland’s sustainability drive.
Ireland’s agriculture sector must find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without jeopardising the economy. Simply reducing herd numbers, Mullins told me, is not the answer. The real solution lies in strategic measurement, verification, and the adoption of new energy solutions like solar power. You can listen to our conversation here (Spotify) or here (Apple).
Feel free to follow along and get updates on future episodes of our Solar Smart podcast.
Or simply listen to Solar Smart podcast episodes here (Apple) or here (Spotify).
Join us as we try to make sense of all things solar.
Why Choose Solar In Ireland?
Investing in a solar panel systems in Ireland can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system in Ireland, it is also worth exploring the different grant options and green business loans available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.
