The Switch - Not Another Podcast

Is it true that EVs pollute more than diesel cars? Can we really balance the grid with renewables alone? Will cutting back on consumption be enough to reach net zero? In this episode of The Switch, Kristina and Alexander face off in a fast-paced quiz on energy, climate, and the biggest myths of the green transition. No guests, no filters - just tough questions, honest reactions. Play along, test what you know, and see who wins.

We travel to Japan to document our partnership with Furusato Netsuden, a geothermal company built on local knowledge, community relationships, and long-term commitment. Want to see the full episode in video format? It's available on YouTube "The Switch - to a green economy" In this episode, we visit their sites, meet the team, and explore what responsible geothermal development actually looks like on the ground. From cultural context to strategic decisions, this is about more than clean energy. It is about how you build it, who you build it with, and why that matters. We also take a step back to look at the global picture. What role will geothermal play in meeting net-zero targets? Why is baseload power so critical to a stable energy future? And how do visibility and trust shape the speed of the transition? This is not a flyover story. It is geothermal, up close.

Step inside Baseload Capital's quarterly strategy week and see how the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is transforming the way they lead, align, and grow. In this episode of The Switch, Alexander Helling and Kristina Hagström-Ilievska share how EOS helps their team focus, make better decisions, and stay accountable — all while staying true to their mission in the green transition. Learn what EOS really is, how it works in practice, and why it's become the backbone of Baseload's operations.

Is it possible to make single-use products truly sustainable? In this episode of The Switch, we speak with Erik Lindroth, Sustainability Director at Duni Group, a leading provider of sustainable food packaging and tableware. We dive into biodegradable materials, compostable packaging, and how the circular economy can reshape the future of single-use items. Whether you're in foodservice, packaging, or sustainability, this conversation offers fresh insight into eco-friendly innovation and the role of design in reducing environmental impact.

With the power of geothermal Friðheimar is producing 700 tones of tomatoes each year, with is 40% of all the tomatoes consumed in Iceland.     Knutur and Helena and their amazing staff are absolutely showing the way for the future of farming, not just in the way they farm but also in their leadership style.     We visited them, got to go behind the scenes, and delved deep into how it works and what they want to achieve.  

 What is actually happening at the World Economic Forum?    We went there to find out if it’s the right spot for us to spread the gospel of geothermal and Baseload. And the conclusion?   You will have to watch our latest episode of “The Switch - To a Green Economy” where you get to tag along during our journey.     🌍 This episode of 'The Switch' podcast explores:    *The key takeaways from the conversations at Davos.  *Get to know our two hosts and who they really are.  *The role of geothermal energy in shaping a sustainable future. 

Starting a business is no walk in the park. It’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows, sleepless nights, and figuring out what truly drives value. In the latest episode of The Switch – to a Green Economy, Kristina Hagström Ilievska and Alexander Helling take you behind the scenes of building and scaling a startup, focusing on sustainability and the green economy.   Top takeaways? Be resilient: Learn from your mistakes. Stay open: Don’t be afraid to fail. Trust the process: It’s not a straight line.  And the hard truth: 90% of startups fail. So, what sets the 10% apart? What are the key do's and don'ts that help them succeed? 

A few months back, we announced the successful closing of our €53M series B round.  While many celebrate such milestones, fewer see the hard work behind them. Have you ever wondered what the secret sauce is for attracting investments to a startup?  In this episode of our podcast, “The Switch – to a green economy”, Kristina Hagström-Ilievska picks Alexander Helling’s brain to uncover what it takes to succeed in raising capital.  What are your thoughts on this topic? Share them in the comments! 

Geothermal energy could grow 80-fold by 2050. 🚀 Yes, you read that right: 80 times! And that’s just in the U.S.  Geothermal energy has been around for thousands of years, and geothermal power plants for over 100 years. But the vast majority of the geothermal potential remains untapped.   Listen to Kristina Hagström-Ilievska and Alexander Helling as they dive into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Liftoff report on geothermal energy in our latest episode of ‘The Switch – to a green economy’.   You’ll learn: what it takes for geothermal to really take off,  the immense opportunities in clean energy and job creation,  the hurdles we need to overcome to get there.  Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts to watch or listen.  How much do you think geothermal will grow the coming years? 

Donald Trump is soon back in office, and his return marks a new chapter for U.S. climate policy. In this video, we dive into the changes already underway and the potential impact on climate action and environmental regulations. From revisiting energy policies to redefining America's stance on international climate agreements like the Paris Agreement, Trump’s administration is shaping a new direction for the climate agenda. What will this mean for renewable energy, fossil fuels, and the global climate fight? Join us as we explore the shifts in policy, the impacts on environmental protections, and what lies ahead in this new era.

Crazy times working the Capitol Hill! 🏃🏻‍♂️‍➡️🏃🏻‍♀️‍➡️🏛️  In our latest episode of our podcast ‘The Switch – to a green economy ‘, Kristina Hagström-Ilievska tells the story of running around, slightly confused, in the corridors of power, speed-dating senators and members of Congress at the heart of the U.S. political system.  You’ll learn:  How you prepare  What you need to know  What you need to do  ... when working in advocacy. In other words, how you get politicians to listen to you - and even get on your side.  Do you also pitch ideas in your line of work? Feel free to share your thoughts and tips in the comments! 

Geothermal is the holy grail of renewables!   Without a renewable energy source that can deliver 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we will not be able to build a decarbonized world.   These are the words of Jerome Cainglet, the President of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the second-largest geothermal energy producer in the world.   He also believes that collaboration and innovation are key to scaling geothermal energy worldwide.  Did you know that geothermal is #alwayson? 

Critical minerals might be flowing underground, right beneath your feet!  That is great news.  Because the minerals we need for clean technologies like electrical vehicles, solar panels and digital screens, often come from dirty, unsustainable mining processes concentrated in a few countries.   John Worth, the CEO of Geo40, extracts minerals like lithium and silica from fluids, either from geothermal plants or other underground resources, without any rock crushing involved.  Hear his story in the latest episode of our podcast, ‘The Switch – to a green economy.’ Watch it on YouTube, listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.  Did you know that these minerals can be found in fluids?

Cutting offshore wind costs IKEA style!  That’s what Sam Kanner and his company Aikido have set out to do.  80% of the world's potential wind energy potential exists over deeper water, where the wind platforms need to be floating.   There’s just one problem: building, assembling and installing large, commercial-scale floating wind farms is costly and takes a long time, up to 10 years.  Aikido’s solution: a foldable, submersible technology that aims to build and assemble offshore wind farms twice as fast, just using a third of the space needed today. Almost like a flat pack from IKEA ...  Watch this episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to hear more.  Did you know floating wind energy held such great potential?  #WindPower #InnovativeTechnology #GreenInnovation #CleanEnergy 

Heat pumps are a key technology to get to net zero and we need an estimated 400 million more of them by 2030. Kensa Group is leading the way in the UK, decarbonizing heating in whole city blocks with networked heat pumps.  Tamsin Lishman, CEO of Kensa Group, is our guest in the latest episode of our podcast 'The Switch – to a green economy'. She says this is a huge opportunity not only to decarbonize, but also to fight fuel poverty, since the end solution is more affordable than traditional gas or electric heating systems.  Watch this episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. How do you heat or cool the house where you live? 

“Carbon is the trash of the climate era”.   Amy Harder explains climate change and climate tech so anyone can understand it. Deciphering those complexities is the overarching mission at Cipher News, where she is the Executive Editor.   We invited her to our latest episode of our podcast 'The Switch – to a green economy', to talk about, among other things, why knowledge about  the energy transition needs to increase.    One major reason, she said, is that we need to be able to get clear and concise answers to questions and concerns around the roll-out of clean  energy.  Cipher News is founded by Bill Gates’ network Breakthrough Energy.   Here are a few links to articles on Cipher News that we mention in the show:  https://ciphernews.com/articles/paper-weighing-down-europes-renewables-push/  https://ciphernews.com/articles/a-treasure-hunt-for-underground-hydrogen-is-on/  https://ciphernews.com/articles/welcome-to-our-wild-and-wonky-climate-future-5/  https://www.latimes.com/newsletters/boiling-point 

28% less greenhouse gas emissions.  That’s what Baker Hughes achieved only three years after committing to a net-zero goal by 2050. Coming from a history of over 100 years serving the oil and gas industry with drilling equipment, they were one of the first companies in their sector to announce such a target.   Allyson Anderson Book is Baker Hughes’ Chief Sustainability Officer and our guest on the latest episode of The Switch – to a green economy.   Three main activities got their emissions down:  Increased energy efficiency   Changing to a low-carbon vehicle fleet  More renewable and zero-carbon electricity  This first step on the road to net-zero has focused on the company’s own operations.  Changing the emissions of their suppliers and customers will be a tougher nut to crack. But to make change happen, you have to start in your own backyard.  Watch on YouTube, listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.  Were you surprised to hear an oil service company having a net-zero goal? 

You drive your electric car to your friend’s place to have dinner. You charge it at your friend's house, but the bill is sent to you. Isn’t that clever? It will soon be a reality.  We have more and more things at home that can produce and/or store energy, like solar panels, electrical vehicles, heat pumps.In this new energy landscape, we will all help offload the grid at times, storing energy in our vehicles or heat pumps and selling it back to the grid when it’s needed.  But for this to work seamlessly, it takes a digital system of trust. For your car to be able to charge at your friend’s house, it needs a digital identity and a safe way of sharing data.  This is what Sebastiaan Coppenholle specializes in. He is the Innovation Project Manager at 50 Hertz in Germany. Hear him describe the future of energy in this episode of The Switch – to a green economy. 

There’s a lot of talk of the green transition. But what does it mean and how far have we come? Kristina Hagström-Ilievska and Alexander Helling share their most important take-aways from the report State of the Transition from Breakthrough Energy, Bill Gates’ innovation fund. Tune in for an overview of where we stand, and what the biggest challenges are in energy, manufacturing, agriculture, transport and buildings. Some interesting facts: Concrete is the second-most consumed material on the planet (second only to water). That’s just one of the reasons it’s both difficult and important to decarbonize.  Cows burp and fart methane, a very strong warming agent heating up the planet. Research is ongoing for a vaccine that could reduce the methane emissions significantly. 80% of the IRA’s (Inflation Reduction Act) emission reductions will not be realized if the US power grid’s transmission capacity isn’t increased by over 60% by 2030. Watch the latest episode of The Switch – to a green economy on YouTube, listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Please share your thoughts and comments about this episode and what you can’t let go of.

Together with his brothers Magnus and Gustaf, Erik Brandberg makes up the investment team behind the Swedish family company Gullspång Invest. They invest to change the world. Today he is here to explain to us how investors can use their money as effectively as possible, to change whole systems. Why? To speed up the switch to a greener planet, of course. Welcome, Erik!