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.
Site
RSS
Apple
Data updated on 15/07/2026
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Hotel Rooms Affect Your Health & The Planet – JoAnna Abrams, Founder/CEO of MindClick
Monday, September 22, 2025 • Duration 53:29
“We did do a study where we shared the story of the careful thought that went into products that were better for people and the planet … Then we administered the standard guest satisfaction survey, and what we found, Joan, was 150% increase in satisfaction, loyalty numbers… Why?...They equated it to service. They said, a hotel that goes out of its way to choose products that are better for me and the planet is a hotel that I have confidence is going to take better care of me while I'm there.”
JoAnna Abrams on Electric Ladies Podcast
As conference season begins and then the holidays, a lot of us are traveling. The American Hotel and Lodging Assn. (AHLA) says 56% of American adults stay in hotels per year, and 77% of business travellers do. What’s the impact on our health – and the planet of being in those hotel rooms?
Listento JoAnna Abrams, Founder/CEO of MindClick in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. MindClick is a supply chain product intelligence company specializing in the hotel industry. They tell us if furniture, carpets, beds, etc. in hotels have toxic chemicals, were made with renewable materials, if hotels use clean energy, etc.
You’ll hear about:
● How MindClick measures the impact of the furnishings in hotels on our health and the planet.
● How corporate travel buyers decide which hotels their executives and employees need to stay in when they travel – and how MindClick intelligence helps keep their teams safe & sustainable.
● How consumers can find information on hotels verifiably adhere to ESG-related standards.
● Plus, career advice, such as:
“First of all, don't give up on that, wanting to make a difference. I remember early in my career saying that that's something I wanted to do, and the response was, no, you don't. You just want to make money. The truth is, you can find opportunities to make a difference and make money. The key is, being very clear in communicating that out to your network, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how many people actually share that same sentiment. We all want to feel good about the work that we're doing, and by being open about that you'll find that people will be open in return and refer you to those that are on that path.”
New Venture Capital Models For Women & CleanTech – Cecile Blilious, Veteran Venture Investor, Venture ESG, European Women in VC
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 • Duration 01:06:20
“I like to think about ESG not only as a risk management tool, but also as an opportunity. I think the, the flip side of risk is opportunity. So if we think that a diverse team is what will bring more innovation, more ideas, more, let's say different ways of looking at needs and products, then this is an opportunity….What about if we think about the way that people consume, what is the carbon footprint that we have?.... And how do you reduce it? Or maybe build technology that helps reduce your impact on the planet, or helps you reduce the amount of AI or cloud usage that you use? So I, I think that looking at ESG as a risk and, and as an opportunity tool is actually very good.” Cecile Blilious on Electric Ladies Podcast
In 2025 so far, 2.3% of venture capital funding went to companies founded by women, 2.3%. So that means 97.7% of the funding went to men. The percents have been in the same range for decades. Seriously. Think of all the innovations that are not getting funded due to this ridiculous bias. What can we do about it?
Listento Cecile Blilious of Venture ESG and European Women in VC explain new financing models that could work to fund more innovative businesses, especially those founded by women – in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson.
You’ll hear about:
● What venture capital really is and how it works. How male and female VCs differ.
● Insights into ESG investing that address both the risks and the opportunities – reframing both
● New financing models we need and that they might look like.
● Plus, career advice, such as:
“I think being clear about your values is very important. Where would you work and where wouldn't you?... Let's focus on one or two that are the most important things that are like showstoppers... Then in mid-career, what I see happen many times with women is that women don't apply to jobs…but if you don't apply, you're not even considered. So my advice would be, look at the next job that you'd like to have in your career path, and if you think that you're 50% qualified for it, apply because you are grow into the role”
Japan Embraces Climate & Sustainability – Yvonne Burton, Expert On Doing Business In Japan, at Osaka Expo 2025
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 • Duration 58:13
“The theme of the expo is ‘designing society for future lives.’ And it is just that from the foundations, from the buildings to the exhibits, each country showcasing what they're doing for our future, in technology, healthcare, sustainable, living energy…The Japan pavilion's exhibit…is about the circular economy and…the theme is between life and life. So the pavilion, and its circular structure, is about life and how everything is connected and flows, again, the circular economy.”
Yvonne Burton on Electric Ladies Podcast
Japan is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and is also a nexus of coordination between Asia and the West, economically and politically. So today our guest is taking us on a tour of the sustainability and climate-related exhibits at the massive Osaka Expo.
Listento Yvonne Burton, who is an expert on doing business in and with Japan, tell us about the fascinating new technologies and materials that Japan and other countries, including China, are displaying and demonstrating at the Osaka Expo. It continues through October so you can plan your trip today!
You’ll hear about:
● The overall theme of the Expo and how it’s integrated into each country’s pavilions and exhibits.
● Why different materials and technologies are being developed and how they are being used to replace common carbon-intensive or waste-intensive ones.
● Which issues related to climate change the countries choose to focus on tells us a lot about what they are facing, what concerns their citizens and where the country or company is investing
● Plus, career advice, such as:
“It's about how you think about who you are. You can follow the script of what society says you should be thinking, feeling, or doing at this point. Or you can say, ‘I have this certain experience, these skills, and I want to fully utilize myself.’ And that often entails going out on your own and creating something that of course doesn't exist. And it's a risk. …You have to really take a look at yourself and say, ‘I believe in me and I don't want to be limited. I want to use all parts of myself’.”
Artificial Intelligence (A.I) And The Climate - Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., Researcher, Broadcaster and Author of “Technology Is Not Neutral”
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 • Duration 33:54
“(A.I.) is so energy intensive as a technology, and that's the thing that we have to get, the infrastructure of AI… Right now we do not have an electricity grid that is, that is built for this purpose. There's the water requirements of it as well. And we also need to just think about the energy, the actual fuel that's being used to fire up and power the electricity grid.” Dr. Stephanie Hare on Electric Ladies Podcast
Artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous today and advancing faster than we can imagine. It’s being used in many ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change, too, and to develop and scale clean energy solutions, But, it requires enormous amounts of electricity, water and fuel just to run the data centers.
What to do? Listen to this fascinating conversation with Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., on Electric Ladies Podcast with host Joan Michelson. Stephanie is a researcher focused on the intersection of politics, technology and history, the author of the book “Technology Is Not Neutral” and co-presents “Artificial Intelligence: Decoded” on the BBC.
Join them as they explore the promise and pitfalls of AI as a tool to mitigate climate change, and innovate clean energy solutions, and do so in an equitable fashion.
You’ll hear about:
● The hurdles and opportunities of using AI
● Why environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data needs to be treated as a valuable resource.
● How we can ensure that AI is fair, accessible, and inclusive for everyone
● Plus, career advice for being open to great opportunities
“(A.I.) is so energy intensive as a technology, and that's the thing that we have to get, the infrastructure of AI… Right now we do not have an electricity grid that is, that is built for this purpose. There's the water requirements of it as well. And we also need to just think about the energy, the actual fuel that's being used to fire up and power the electricity grid.”
Energy Efficiency Saves Money & CO2 – Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance To Save Energy
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 • Duration 01:04:24
“Energy efficiency…is doing more, using less. The megawatt not used is the cheapest megawatt and there's so many things, either by using technology, old technology like insulation or digitalization, that allows us to really stretch what we can get out every single megawat, a kilowatt electron that we use. And so that's what we're talking about. If we had the kind of massive adoption that we need, we could get to a big 40% reduction.” Paula Glover on Electric Ladies Podcast
With the Energy Star program and other energy efficiency programs under attack and misunderstood, we decided to revisit this enlightening discussion with Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance To Save Energy and Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She also shares insightful career advice.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said energy efficiency should be one of the cornerstones of reducing our carbon emissions to address global warming – and incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment Act were designed to do just that. But now those are being cut or curtailed.
How can energy efficiency really make a difference? Listen to this episode.
You’llhear about:
What the Alliance To Save Energy is and who its members are, the impact they have.
What energy efficiency really is – and is not.
How you can identify and tap the savings to increase the energy efficiency of your home, business, school or community.
What the Roadmap for a Just Energy Transition is and how it works.
Plus, insightful career advice, such as…
“One would be, relationships matter, and you should be feeding into them as much as you want to get out of it. So, it's not about who….Number two, which is that as much as you're looking for a mentor, you should also be a mentor. And that mentorship is not just, I'm at 15 years and so I mentor someone who's at five. But if you really nurture relationship, you could be at 15 years mentoring someone who's at 25 years, right? You have something to contribute….There is so much that we have to contribute at every stage of our career. I think taking the opportunity to do that leads to other opportunities that you may never have known about.”
Career Advice From 5 Women Trailblazers – Hilary Doe, Cong. Chrissy Houlahan, Zara Summers, Tensie Whelan, & Claire Seaborn
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 • Duration 37:42
“For anyone, women especially who are interested in the energy and climate space, I would say that you shouldn't feel that you need to choose between the public sector, the private sector, and the nonprofit sector. I've been able to continue to build my expertise in the energy and climate space, but from multiple different perspectives. My advice would be to just not feel that you need to pick one of those lanes and, and to take the risk to bounce between those different segments of our economy.”
Claire Seaborn on Electric Ladies Podcast
Summer is a good time to think about your next career move. These five women trailblazers have some great advice. These are all women who Joan Michelson interviewed at length on Electric Ladies Podcast over the past year, and who have all broken down barriers to get where they are, blazing a trail for the rest of us.
They each advocate for and/or work directly in energy, climate, sustainability and ESG – environment, social, governance – and share actionable tips that every woman (and man) can apply today.
This episode brings you advice from:
· Hilary Doe, Michigan’s Chief Growth Office on how the state is turning IRA Credits into Growth – and the first person in the U.S. to hold that kind of role.
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, on the politics of energy and infrastructure
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
· , Founding Director of NYU Stern on why sustainable business is good business.
Using Captured Carbon To Make Energy – Bjork Kristjansdottir, Carbon Recycling International
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 • Duration 49:15
“Carbon Recycling International…is converting CO2 into sustainable methanol…(W)e have technology, which takes CO2 as a waste, and it takes hydrogen and turns it into methanol…and it is used today both like into chemicals. So, the chemical sector is a big consumer of methanol, which is a very large known product in the world today. …(and into) a sustainable fuel...playing a pretty big role in the energy transition.” Bjork Kristjansdottir on Electric Ladies Podcast
As the Trump administration sends mixed signals on carbon capture technologies – keeping the tax credits for them while cutting funding – an innovative company in Iceland is converting captured CO2 into energy, in what’s called carbon recycling. How?
Listen to Bjork Kristjansdottir, COO/CFO of Carbon Recycling International in Iceland explain how it works and how it’s used in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson.
You’llhear about:
How they “recycle carbon” – from capture to converting it to how it’s used.
How the chemicals made from carbon recycling are used.
Why methanol is so important in the energy transition and how they make it
How they are making sustainable aviation fuel from carbon recycling
Plus, insightful career advice, such as…
“My advice is first, like it's around decisions. So, we need to make decisions. Postponing making decisions puts you at the risk things will just happen to you.…And remember that, when we do make those decision in our career, it is always based on the best information available at the time. Things may change, it doesn't make it a wrong decision.. (and) You don't need to learn and be the best at everything yourself. What you need to do is to learn how to listen and harvest all of the potential, all of the talent around you… get comfortable with asking the right questions.” Bjork Kristjansdottir on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes article
You Can Make A Difference Where You Are – Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 • Duration 54:08
“There are those individual actions that we can take. But if I can work with my community or work inside of my company, or if I can work inside of my house of worship and we can build some community and some action that way, it will have a much bigger impact than anything that I can do as an individual… The communities that they're already a part of, whether they're residential, like in their neighborhoods, or it's the nonprofits that they're a part of, or the places where they have other kinds of communities like religious communities, and start conversations there. What could we do as a community? What could we do as an organization?” Laur Hesse Fisher on Electric Ladies Podcast
It’s easy to feel powerless as political forces try to dismantle sustainability-climate-clean energy initiatives, levers and economics, BUT we can make a difference anyway. And it matters. Small steps add up. Impact matters. There are steps each of us can take individually to help avert climate change. How?
Listen to Laur Hesse Fisher of MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative and TIL Climate podcast, in this discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson that aired last year and is more relevant than ever. Laur explains how we can leverage the things we do now, the places we already go, and people we currently talk to and make a difference that way.
You’llhear about:
Why reaching people outside the climate-tuned bubble is critical.
How we can leverage the relationships we already have, the local media, and local events to make a bigger difference than we can make on our own.
Why voting is so crucial this year – and not for the reasons you might have heard
Plus, insightful career advice, such as…
“My advice would be, as you're thinking about where you want to go, talk to people about that. So you might not know where you want to go, in which case I recommend informational interviews. Those are great for learning about other people's career paths, what it took for them to get there, what did they learn along the way? I mean, people are really open to having a half an hour conversation.”
Recycled Steel Goes Mainstream - Tabitha Stine, General Manager, Energy Solutions, Nucor Corporation
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 • Duration 01:00:38
“Our job is to recycle so that we can recover all of that scrap and goods that you and I are recycling in our garbage bins every week or recycling as we get new cars. And our job is to recover that because we make steel in a very clean and efficient process through what's called an electric arc furnace. So, we take all of that scrap, we melt it down, and we make new steel. It does not degrade. It has a continuous reusable life.…Depending on the different products of steel, that actually determines the recycled content that goes into them for the finishes and the quality of the steel that's needed.”
Tabitha Stine on Electric Ladies Podcast
With tariffs on steel and the Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel merger back in the news, we wanted to replay this important conversation on the impact of steel on the environment and how “recycled steel” works. “The production and use of materials such as cement, steel, and aluminum have a significant carbon footprint,” according to the UN, with construction 37% of emissions. But is recycled steel safe?
Listen to Tabitha Stine, General Manager of Energy Solutions and Services at Nucor Corporation, which says it’s “North America’s largest steel manufacturer and recycler.” She’ll explain how recycled steel is made and more in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. They also share insightful career advice.
You’llhear about:
How recycled steel is made and where the steel comes from that is recycled.
How structurally sound recycled steel is and how it’s tested to make sure and meet building codes.
Which industries use recycled steel, why, and how the demand and supply line up.
How the steel industry is adapting to ensure automobiles and buildings are resilient to the ravages of climate change, including innovations in the works.
Plus, insightful career advice, such as…
“Usually what holds people back is, people are not willing to raise their hand. And then you go 10 years and you haven't had guidance because maybe you have a manager that doesn't give you feedback. You have to advocate for yourself. You are your advocate. There are no others. You’ve got to assume nobody else will except for yourself and you go for it. And I would also stress that if you're also not mentoring others at every stage along your career, you're missing out on a big opportunity,”
Unlocking Capital For Women And Climate Solutions – Women Leaders In Finance And Investment, The Earth Day Women’s Summit
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 • Duration 50:47
“If you cannot change the system, change the frigging system… Women, when we have our money, are more likely to start an impact fund business or something. So, we have really got to get out of our way and just take the risk. "
Tracy Grayat The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025
Innovative financing models are urgently needed to tackle the climate crisis, but significant gaps persist. Research shows that women and people of color deliver stronger returns yet continue to be underrepresented. Meanwhile, the insurance industry must confront the mounting risks of climate disasters.
So how can our financial systems better support women-led and minority-owned businesses, fund climate resilience and provide high return of investments?
Listen to this live recording of a riveting panel at The Earth Day Women’s Summit at Earthx2025, moderated byKristina Wyatt, Chief Sustainability Officer & Deputy General Counsel, Persefoni.
You’ll hear from
Enya He, consultant with Munich Re and insurance industry expert, on how the insurance sector is confronting escalating climate risks.
Shelly Porges, Managing Partner, Beyond the Billion, who shares strategies for women to access capital and build powerful allyships.
Tracy Gray, Founder & Managing Partner of The 22 Fund, who sheds light on the systemic barriers that women and people of color face in securing venture capital.
Kristina Wyatt, Chief Sustainability Officer & Deputy General Counsel, Persefoni.
“One strategy that I encourage every woman to consider, is to make men your allies because they control most of the assets. Not all men will be your allies. But if you look at the men in your lives who have been supportive of you or know what you're capable of, who have seen how hard you've worked, who've seen your successes, who have seen how much you've influenced other people, all of the above, then you can make men your allies.”
Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to Electric Ladies Podcast, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
· Climate as a Geopolitical Security Emergency, with Svitlana Krakovska, Ph.D. and Mirian Villela, head of Earth Charter, a UN-founded organization and the Center for Education for Sustainable Development.
· The Hidden Power of ESG – with Natalie Jaresko, Managing Director, EY Parthenon, former Finance Minister of Ukraine
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.
· Telle Whitney, Silicon Valley tech veteran, author of “Rebooting Culture,” on building a culture of innovation
· Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., Author of “Technology is Not Neutral,” on technology, A.I. and the climate crisis
· Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine)
· Climate as a Geopolitical Security Emergency, with Svitlana Krakovska, Ph.D. and Mirian Villela, head of Earth Charter, a UN-founded organization and the Center for Education for Sustainable Development:
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous today and advancing faster than we can imagine. It’s being used in many ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change, too, and to develop and scale clean energy solutions, But, it requires enormous amounts of electricity, water and fuel just to run the data centers.
What to do? Listen to this fascinating conversation with Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., on Electric Ladies Podcast with host Joan Michelson. Stephanie is a researcher focused on the intersection of politics, technology and history, the author of the book “Technology Is Not Neutral” and co-presents “Artificial Intelligence: Decoded” on the BBC.
Join them as they explore the promise and pitfalls of AI as a tool to mitigate climate change, and innovate clean energy solutions, and do so in an equitable fashion.
You’ll hear about:
● The hurdles and opportunities of using AI
● Why environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data needs to be treated as a valuable resource.
● How we can ensure that AI is fair, accessible, and inclusive for everyone
● Plus, career advice for being open to great opportunities
“I would look at the problems that you most enjoy solving…What are your dreams? Which is kind of like a positive way of framing a problem. What would your ideal solution look like? Because obviously we're not there.…What are your key pain points? If I could remove one pain point from your life, from your business, from your process, what would that be? And those are so fun to work on.”
Join us at The Earth Day Women’s Summit on April 22, 2025, in Dallas, Texas! Register today with the code “EDWS” for the Women’s Summit and a special rate.
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..
Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future.
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
Melissa Lott, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and the lead scientists in the PBS/NOVA documentary “Chasing Carbon Zero.”
Paula Glover, President, The Alliance to Save Energy, focused on energy efficiency
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers..
Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, The Conference Board, about her new report on buildings, climate change and carbon emissions.
Katie McGinty, Chief Sustainability Officer, Johnson Controls, on the power of buildings.
Anna Siefken, Deputy Director, Federal Energy Management Program, Dept. of Energy, on how the federal government reduces the energy use and carbon footprint of its 350,000 buildings.
Laura Busse Dolan, CEO, Applied Imagination, which designs and builds miniature buildings from plants and botanicals.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers..
Rewriting The Climate Conversation - - from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with top communicators, including a Hollywood producer and conservative voice
Shelly Porges, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Beyond the Billion Dollar Fund, on funding women entrepreneurs
Kristina Wyatt, Chief Sustainability Officer & Deputy General Counsel, Persefoni, on climate disclosure rules.
JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate.
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.
