CleanTalk

About CleanTalk

Career stories & insights from the front lines of the energy transition, hosted by film-maker Luke Harmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Luke Harmer

Category

business · business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Feb 2024

Latest episode

23 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

27 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Feb 2026

   Inside the EV Industry: Leadership, Misinformation and the Future of Transport | Randal 'Tiny' Smith

   In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Randall "Tiny" Smith, a former Royal Air Force senior engineering officer turned EV and renewable energy executive. Randall’s journey spans military aviation, leading 250-person engineering teams, becoming Programme Manager for the revolutionary Jaguar I-PACE, and building EV charging infrastructure across the UK retailer network at Jaguar Land Rover. We explore: - Leadership under pressure and the “Three Ts” framework (Trust, Transparency, Tailoring) - What it really took to bring a premium OEM EV from concept to production - Why EV misinformation spreads, and how narrative shapes adoption - The hydrogen debate: physics vs optimism - Government intervention, behaviour change, and the psychology of resistance - How curiosity, depth of knowledge, and platform-building intersect - Rather than framing this as advocacy, the conversation examines the structural tension between technological innovation, public perception, and political cycles, and what it means for anyone operating in the energy transition. If you work in renewable energy, transport, policy or clean tech communications, this episode aims to help you better understand the human dynamics affecting electric vehicle adoption. Enjoy! __________________ Connect with Randal on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evchargingsolutions/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ ____________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com Many thanks to... Our rental suppliers - O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ ____________________ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - Randal’s Background 04:41 - The 3 T’s of Leadership 11:04 - Entry Into The EV Industry 13:51 - Designing The Jaguar I-Pace 16:28 - The Media’s Negativity EV Bias 22:16 - Understanding People’s Objections 25:58 - Becoming a Thought Leader 29:36 - Curiosity & Continual Learning 34:21 - A Framework for Strategy 36:09 - Macro Forces & Hierarchy 39:34 - The History of Electric Vehicles 41:49 - The Case For Hydrogen 47:34 - Cultural Narratives Blocking Technological Progress 49:09 - Government Influence 53:21 - Purpose, Conviction & Values 57:29 - Quickfire Curiosity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   16 Feb 2026

   The Hidden Politics of Renewable Energy Planning | Peter Elms

   In this episode of CleanTalk, we're joined by Peter Elms, Co-Founder & Director of Alpaca Communications, the UK's leading communications agency for Net Zero infrastructure, to unpack the real mechanics behind winning planning consent for renewable energy projects. Peter explains why lobbying isn’t a dirty word, how behavioural science and loss aversion shape public opposition, and why “net zero” has become a politically toxic phrase in parts of the UK. We dig into how developers should think about stakeholders, why trust is the real bottleneck, and how authentic storytelling, done carefully, could de-risk projects rather than endanger reputations. This is a grounded, honest look at the intersection of politics, public opinion, and renewable energy development, and why better communication may be just as important as better technology. Enjoy! __________________ Connect with Peter Elms on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-elms-89b82748/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ ____________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com Many thanks to... Recording space provider Our rental suppliers - O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ ____________________ Chapters for today's episode: 00:00 - Intro 02:57 - Peter's Background 06:08 - Why Niching Helping The Business 08:56 - Co-Founder Dynamics 11:32 - What Role Comms Plays In Renewables Development 20:04 - How Politics Helps Or Hinders Energy Projects 25:35 - Social Media As A Comms Medium 29:42 - Strengths & Risks of Video Content 35:12 - Reflecting On Developers' Main Challenges 37:44 - Alpaca's 3-Phase Approach 42:12 - Quickfire Curiosity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   9 Feb 2026

   The Brutal Reality of Climate Tech Entrepreneurship | Matt Stedman

   Need help turning an idea into a real product? Work with Hard Stuff to build your MVP today: https://www.hard-stuff.com/ __________________________ In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Matt Stedman, a startup engineer and fractional CTO who helps early-stage companies turn ambitious ideas into real, working products, particularly in climate and clean technology. We explore what founders consistently get wrong when building MVPs, why “perfect” products are often the enemy of progress, and how marrying yourself to a solution instead of a problem can quietly kill a startup. Matt shares hard-won insights from working with hardware founders, from breaking perfectionism to testing whether anyone will actually pay for what you’re building. We also dig into why climate tech isn’t just about big infrastructure and renewables, how niche physical products can make a meaningful impact, and why building “stuff that matters” requires humility, iteration, and the willingness to fail fast. This episode is for startup founders, engineers, climate tech builders, product leaders, and anyone navigating the messy early stages of turning an idea into something real, especially when time, money, and certainty are in short supply. Enjoy! __________________________ Connect with Matt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-a-stedman/ Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/ __________________________ CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: [https://www.harmervisuals.com](https://www.harmervisuals.com/) Many thanks to… Matt Stedman Our rental suppliers – O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/ __________________________ Chapters for today’s episode: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

23

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact CleanTalk

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.