Solar Sidekicks Podcast

About Solar Sidekicks Podcast

Solar Sidekicks is the go-to podcast for all things solar, serving up essential insights with a friendly, down-to-earth vibe. Hosted by industry professional Pat Southwell and his co-host Lauren Ciconte, each episode explores technical topics, industry regulations, and the real-world challenges faced by solar installers across Australia. Together they share practical knowledge from the field, tackle important issues affecting the industry, and stand up for what’s right by helping voices be heard on topics that can hit solar installers hard. They also highlight some of the great people working in the industry and help listeners stay across the constant changes in this fast-evolving sector. Whether you’re a solar installer, apprentice, or simply interested in solar, Solar Sidekicks keeps you informed, connected, and up to date with what’s happening in the industry.

Publisher

Pat Southwell

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jul 2024

Latest episode

14 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

68 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Sept 2026

   S3E21 – EcoVantage | Nancy Sanjoto & Arlen East

   Pat and Lauren are back on the road, heading into Abbotsford to sit down with Nancy Sanjoto and Arlen East from EcoVantage — although Pat has a few early attempts at remembering exactly where they are and how to pronounce the company name, despite the rather large sign sitting next to him. Then it’s into the increasingly complicated world of rebates and certificate schemes. STCs, VEECs, ESCs, PRCs, PDRS, battery incentives, commercial solar and the expanded SRES all get a run as Nancy and Arl...

2. 

   10 Sept 2026

   S3E20 - Meagan Blackney | Six Star Plus

   Pat and Lauren are back on schedule and back at Six Star Plus, this time joined by Meagan “Meggsy” Blackney — the Heat Pump Legend. Meggsy’s path into the industry is a good one. She went from eight years at Baby Bunting, to starting in accounts at Six Star Plus, to somehow finding herself right in the middle of the heat pump world — dealing with builders, plumbers, suppliers and plenty of tradie personalities along the way. We get into how heat pumps fit into the electrification push, why ...

3. 

   3 Sept 2026

   S3E19 - Matt Wilson | Central Spark Victoria

   This week we’ve headed north to Castlemaine to sit down with Matt Wilson from Central Spark Victoria — and apparently Lauren thought activewear and shorts were appropriate for a chilly Central Victorian morning. Matt’s been around solar since the days of tiny BP panels, $8,000 rebates, Sharp 167s and smashing out two installs a day. We go right back through his apprenticeship on a questionable $7.60 an hour, the early days of commercial solar at Enviro Group, managing projects he probably was...

Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100

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

Quality

41

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Solar Sidekicks Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Just Another Solar Podcast

• 

  Solar Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

• 

  The Green Room - Greenwood Academy

• 

  Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

• 

  SwitchedOn Australia

• 

  Conversations

Questions about Solar Sidekicks Podcast