Still TBD PodcastMatt had the chance to chat with Dr. Chris Case, CTO of Oxford PV, about the future of solar energy and their breakthrough perovskite tandem cells. With decades of experience in photovoltaics, Chris shared how this cutting-edge technology is pushing solar panels to unprecedented efficiency levels, all while keeping sustainability and scalability at the forefront.
248: Big Perovskite Solar Panel Advances - Dr. Chris Case InterviewStill TBD Podcast2024-12-17 | Matt had the chance to chat with Dr. Chris Case, CTO of Oxford PV, about the future of solar energy and their breakthrough perovskite tandem cells. With decades of experience in photovoltaics, Chris shared how this cutting-edge technology is pushing solar panels to unprecedented efficiency levels, all while keeping sustainability and scalability at the forefront.
00:00 - Intro 02:09 - Chris Case Interview273: Waste Not, Want NotStill TBD Podcast2025-07-16 | Matt and Sean talk about using digestive waste (yes, it’s what you think it is) to increase sustainability. Yes, poo can be used to make better batteries.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 07:22 - Waste Product Discussion272: A Fungus Among UsStill TBD Podcast2025-07-02 | Matt and Sean talk about using mushrooms for food, packaging, clothing, and more. Can it truly replace bacon and boots?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 14:51 - Mycelium Products Discussion271: Self-Repairing Solar PanelsStill TBD Podcast2025-06-25 | Matt and Sean talk about solar panels that imitate the self-repairing traits of plants. Might this tech take hold, or is it too far away from practical applications?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 10:03 - Self-healing Solar Panels Discussion270: Mini Machines, Major Impact - Polyfloss Brings Plastic Recycling HomeStill TBD Podcast2025-06-18 | The Polyfloss team is back with a game-changer: a mini plastic recycling machine small enough for your workshop. Matt reconnects with co-founders Audrey Gaulard, Émile De Visscher, and Christophe Machet to discuss how they're putting plastic recycling directly into people's hands - and why that matters.
00:00 - Intro 05:07 - Polyfloss Interview269: The Future of Thorium Nuclear Power - Copenhagen Atomics InterviewStill TBD Podcast2025-06-11 | Matt had the chance to chat with Thomas Jam Pedersen from Copenhagen Atomics about their small modular thorium reactor that they’re bringing to the market. It’s an interesting conversation that covers everything from nuclear safety to why thorium may be a positive addition to the future of nuclear power.
00:00 - Intro 01:14 - Copenhagen Atomics Interview268: Biocomputers - The Next Step for AI?Still TBD Podcast2025-06-04 | Today is a very brainy conversation. Matt had the chance to chat with Dr. Kyle Wedgwood and research intern Wiktor Wiejak from University of Exeter in England. Wedgwood’s a mathematician specializing in neuroscience, and he’s using a computer from FinalSpark. Matt just put out a full video on what’s special about these computers, but in short, they’re alive. They’re made up of bundles of neurons, also known as organoids, and Dr. Wedgwood is using them to explore what he calls “the fundamentals” of how neurons work.
00:00 - Intro 02:06 - Dr Kyle Wedgwood & Wiktor Wiejak's Interview267: AI Undermining AIStill TBD Podcast2025-05-28 | Matt and Sean talk about the scramble to develop AI that could undermine the very underpinnings of … well… everything. Don’t panic. (Yet.)
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 10:45 - The AI Paradox Discussion266: Drinking Sea Water - Deep Ocean DesalinationStill TBD Podcast2025-05-21 | Matt and Sean talk about desalination efforts deep under the ocean, and how it may play a part in solving water shortages. Don’t get salty before taking a listen.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 21:25 - Deep Ocean Desalination Discussion265: Is Wave Power Generation the Future of Energy?Still TBD Podcast2025-05-14 | Matt and Sean talk about wave energy converters and power generation, and how in the long run it could outpace solar and wind as a sustainable, renewable energy source.
Watch the Undecided with Matt Ferrell episode, How Waves Could Quietly Overtake Solar & Wind: youtu.be/l1pxV7Nro34
Support the show: https://pod.fan/still-to-be-determined
Follow us on Twitter: @stilltbdfm @byseanferrell @mattferrell or @undecidedmf
Undecided with Matt Ferrell: youtube.com/undecidedmf264: Structural Batteries - A Good Idea?Still TBD Podcast2025-04-30 | Matt and Sean talk about a battery design that is both battery and the body structure of the device being powered. It’s not massless, but is two birds one … battery?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 11:18 - Structural Batteries Discussion263: A Very Magnetic Heat Pump - Julie Slaughter InterviewStill TBD Podcast2025-04-23 | Matt had the chance to chat with Julie Slaughter from the Ames National Laboratory about their research into magnetocalorics (using magnets for heating and cooling). Do you think this is an attractive idea? Or does it repulse you?
00:00 - Intro 01:14 - Dr Julie Slaughter Interview262: No More Lithium Batteries? Looks Good on Paper!Still TBD Podcast2025-04-16 | Matt and Sean talk about a move away from lithium by a major battery manufacturer, and a paper battery that might be the sheet. Why the interest in these new batteries?
00:00 - Intro 02:35 - Paper Battery Discussion 09:04 - Sodium-Ion Battery Discussion261: Sulfur So Good: Talking AI & Lithium-Sulfur BatteriesStill TBD Podcast2025-04-02 | Matt and Sean talk about how AI is impacting us today. As well as a recent change in lithium-sulfur battery research, and how that might change the energy storage market. Stinky sulfur may finally be leaving its mark.
00:00 - Intro 01:15 - AI Ethics 15:56 - Previous Episode Feedback 21:34 - Sulfur Battery Discussion260: Icy Heat - Talking Ice Source Heat PumpsStill TBD Podcast2025-03-26 | Matt and Sean talk about using ice to generate heat. Yes, it’s actually a thing, but does it make sense for the future of heating?
00:00 - Intro 03:24 - Migraine Tracking 06:17 - Previous Episode Feedback 15:33 - Ice Source Heat Pump Discussion259: Flow Battery Developments - Old Tech is Taking OffStill TBD Podcast2025-03-19 | On today’s episode Matt & Sean are talking about flow batteries and how this old tech is finally starting to take off. But does it actually have a shot?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 11:55 - VRFB Discussion258: Recycling Renewables - Problem Solved?Still TBD Podcast2025-03-12 | Matt and Sean talk about how recycling renewable energy tech is a major step forward, and what comes next. Do we have this problem solved?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 13:49 - Renewables Biggest Problem Discussion257: Let’s Talk About Tech - Battery “Breakthroughs”Still TBD Podcast2025-03-05 | Matt and Sean talk about new battery research, potential shifts in cost, and why we’re having this conversation in the first place.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 10:04 - Battery Breakthrough Discussion256: Props to Canada - Building Wind TurbinesStill TBD Podcast2025-02-26 | Matt and Sean talk about the crazy logistics of building a Canadian wind-turbine project. How difficult is it to build a wind farm?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 12:29 - Canadian Wind Farm Discussion255: Ice Source Heat Pump?Still TBD Podcast2025-02-19 | Matt had the chance to chat with Dr. Ramin Mehdipour and Professor Seamus Garvey from the University of Nottingham about their research into ice source heat pumps. They have a novel idea for reusing the UK’s natural gas pipe network to deliver non-potable water into heat pumps for heat. The coolest part of the idea is just that … they turn the water into ice to make the heat.
00:00 - Intro 03:07 - Ice Source Heat Pump Interview254: Unlocking the Lithium Supply Chain - Teague Egan InterviewStill TBD Podcast2025-02-12 | Matt had the chance to chat with Teague Egan, founder and CEO of Energy X, about the latest updates on their progress for direct lithium capture. This process is a much more efficient way to extract the lithium we need from more locations … and with a much better environmental impact.
00:00 - Intro 02:59 - Energy X Interview253: Solid, Solid State Follow-UpStill TBD Podcast2025-02-05 | Matt and Sean talk about Matt’s hunt for the holy grail: a solid state battery definition.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 14:30 - Solid State Discussion252: Zinc BatteriesStill TBD Podcast2025-01-29 | Matt and Sean talk about recent breakthroughs in Zinc batteries, and how it may not be soon that we see any of this on the store shelves.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 23:51 - Zinc Batteries Discussion251: CES HighlightsStill TBD Podcast2025-01-22 | Matt and Sean talk about the items at CES that people should be–but aren’t–talking about. Was there anything you saw that think should have been covered?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 18:37 - CES 2025 Discussion250: Corporate Sustainability - Greenwashing or Not?Still TBD Podcast2025-01-15 | Matt and Sean talk about corporations trying to improve on sustainability efforts. Where are they moving forward, and where are they falling behind?
00:00 - Intro 04:22 - BMW and Apple Discussion249: Making More Reliable EV Chargers - Soheil Akbari InterviewStill TBD Podcast2025-01-09 | Matt sat down with Soheil Akbari, CEO of Teal EV, to talk about the challenges and innovations in EV charging. From rugged, cold-weather-ready chargers to simplifying the user experience, Teal is rethinking what reliability and affordability mean in this space. Soheil’s insights into building better charging infrastructure are a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of electrification.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 02:57 - Teal EV Interview247: A Unique Approach to Electric Trucks - Edison Motors InterviewStill TBD Podcast2024-12-11 | Matt had an opportunity to talk to the co-founders of Edison Motors, Chace Barber and Eric Little, about how they’re electrifying trucks. Not just any kind of truck, but the heavy, workhorse trucks used in everything from deliveries to hauling logs for the timber industry. Their approach is really unique and one that makes you wonder, why haven’t we been doing this all along.
00:00 - Intro 01:54 - Edison Motors Interview246: Solving a Major EV Issue - Josh Charles, Coul St. InterviewStill TBD Podcast2024-12-04 | Matt had an opportunity to talk to Josh Charles about his new company, Coul St., which is developing an on-street EV charging station. It’s a really clever system that could make a huge difference for suburban and urban locations where EV owners don’t have access to a garage. Josh is a fellow Youtuber who is putting his engineering background to work to try and solve a gap in the EV ownership story.
00:00 - Intro 01:54 - Josh Charles Interview245: ELASTOCALORICS! What? Solid State CoolingStill TBD Podcast2024-11-20 | Matt and Sean talk about shape-memory alloys and the future possibility of solid state cooling technology. Don’t get bent out of shape, but could this be the future of cooling tech?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 11:51 - Elastocalorics Discussion244: Solid State Cooling? Dr. Ichiro Takeuchi InterviewStill TBD Podcast2024-11-13 | On today’s episode of Still To Be Determined we’re talking about graphene batteries, as well as an interview with Dr. Ichiro Tak-ay-yuchi about how a shape changing metal alloy could be the future of heating and cooling. Sci-fi or Sci-real?
00:00 - Intro 03:23 - Graphene Battery Discussion 21:24 - Dr. Ichiro Takeuchi Interview243: The Genius of Heat Pumps - Interview with Tom SahagianStill TBD Podcast2024-11-06 | Matt had an opportunity to talk to Tom Sahagian about retrofitting apartment buildings in NYC over to heat pumps. This was covered by Matt in his episode: undecidedmf.com/why-this-window-heat-pump-is-genius
Tom works at the NYCHA, and teaches Analysis for Energy Efficiency at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies Master of Science in Sustainability Management.
He spoke to Matt about retrofitting older buildings with newer heat pump tech, why they landed on the model of heat pump they did, and why cities (not just NYC) are (and should) be looking at tech like this.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 02:33 - Interview with Tom Sahagian242: A Hydrogen Boom?Still TBD Podcast2024-10-31 | Matt and Sean talk about what’s creating a hydrogen boom. Will hydrogen finally find a niche in our renewable energy future?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 21:55 - Hydrogen Discussion241: Shining a Light on Future Solar TechStill TBD Podcast2024-10-23 | Matt and Sean talk about some new and interesting solar panel technology, and what’s happened to some of the weirder proposals. How many pieces of solar panel tech have ended up in the garbage pile?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 16:11 - Interesting Solar Discussion240: Secret Solar - The Next Big Solar Tech is Already HereStill TBD Podcast2024-10-16 | Matt and Sean talk about a solar panel technology that may deserve some time in the sun. Does this solar cell tech deserve the spotlight?
00:00 - Intro 02:36 - Previous Episodes Feedback 10:21 - CdTe Solar Panel Discussion239: Last Year’s Wind Energy BlowsStill TBD Podcast2024-10-09 | Matt and Sean talk about a slow year for wind, and what might be a better future, as well as more feedback on Matt’s net zero home build motivations and results. Does wind energy really blow?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 24:31 - US Wind's HUGE Losses Discussion238: No Regrets! Living in a Net Zero Home (1 Year Later)Still TBD Podcast2024-10-02 | Matt and Sean talk about one year in Matt’s net zero house (with Sean living in the walls). Was it worth it? Plus, a little sidetrack talking about existential dread and AI.
00:00 - Intro 00:53 - AI Podcasters 09:26 - Wind Farm Episode Feedback 14:02 - Matt's House 1 Year Later Discussion237: Wind Farm Woes - China’s Mistake?Still TBD Podcast2024-09-25 | Matt and Sean talk about wind farms, expectations, and corrections. How much wind is too much wind?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 16:31 - Gansu's Wind Farm Discussion236: Matt’s Canada Trip - Everything Electric Show 2024Still TBD Podcast2024-09-18 | Matt and Sean talk about feedback on solid state batteries, and also discuss Matt’s trip to Vancouver to the Everything Electric Show 2024.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 14:05 - Everything Electric Discussion235: The State of Solid State Batteries - QuantumScape InterviewStill TBD Podcast2024-09-11 | Matt spoke to Dr. Tim Holme, Co-Founder and CTO of QuantumScape, about solid state batteries and some interesting news coming out of QuantumScape. Does this sound like a good step forward for solid state batteries’ path to the market?
For more information on the QuantumScape and PowerCo deal: https://undecided.link/QuantumScapePowerCoDeal
00:00 - Intro 02:42 - Dr. Tim Holme Interview234: Under Pressure - Compressed Air BatteriesStill TBD Podcast2024-09-04 | Matt and Sean talk about the pressures of entering the compressed air energy storage market. Is there a market here or is it all full of hot air?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 16:06 - CAES Discussion233: Age Defying Battery - CATL’s Latest NewsStill TBD Podcast2024-08-28 | Matt and Sean talk about the longevity of energy storage and the feedback on CATL’s latest announcement around their energy storage system. It’s not a forever battery, but do you think it is moving things forward?
For 20% off Everything Electric Canada tickets use the code: EEMATT20 https://undecided.link/everythingelectric
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 09:29 - CATL Battery Discussion232: Weird Solar Panel Technology - AlgaeStill TBD Podcast2024-08-21 | Matt and Sean talk about weird solar panel technology … algae. It’s a topic that can really GROW on you. Yeah, I said it. Does this weird type of weird science interest you?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 13:43 - Algae Solar Panels Discussion231: A Closer Look at the O-Wind TurbineStill TBD Podcast2024-08-14 | Matt spoke to Nicolas Orellana, Founder / CEO of O-Innovations, about their O-Wind Turbine. The turbine Nicolas designed can accept wind from any direction, horizontal or vertical, and is meant for chaotic wind in places like urban environments (think tops and sides of buildings!). Do you think this kind of innovation is worth exploring?
00:00 - Intro 01:31 - O-Wind Interview230: Battery Breakthroughs … Oh MyStill TBD Podcast2024-08-07 | Matt and Sean talk about the new models of batteries that might solve our growing storage issues … and what’s taking so long. What batteries would you add to the list?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 07:23 - Battery Discussion229: Plastics and Solar EVERYWHERE!Still TBD Podcast2024-07-31 | Matt and Sean talk about whether we have enough room for solar panels to power the world, and alternatives to plastics like mushrooms. It’s a double duty episode that will really grow on you. Sorry … couldn’t resist.
00:00 - Intro 02:15 - Plastic Alternatives Discussion 21:13 - Space for Solar Discussion228: Solid State Batteries - Or Are They?Still TBD Podcast2024-07-24 | On today’s episode of Still To Be Determined we’re talking about the Yoshino “Solid State” battery and some of the controversy around it. There’s a lot to talk about … and definitely more to come on this topic.
Corrections: 24:15 - The name of the company is TechInsights, not Tech Ingredients.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 09:07 - Yoshino Solid State Battery Discussion227: The Future of Carbon CaptureStill TBD Podcast2024-07-17 | Matt interviews Dr. Sebastian Pohlmann from Up Catalyst about their work with carbon capture to produce products like graphite for batteries in a carbon neutral way. Carbon Capture is a divisive topic, but this approach might change your opinion. Could this be a good path forward?
00:00 - Intro 03:39 - Dr Pohlmann's Interview226: Home Battery Experiences - Are They Worth It?Still TBD Podcast2024-07-10 | Matt and Sean talk about Matt’s new home battery, and viewers share their experiences. Why would you want one?
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 14:00 - Home Battery Discussion225: AMA with Matt FerrellStill TBD Podcast2024-07-03 | Matt and Sean respond to your Ask Me Anything questions. There’s a wide array of topics in this one including, “why did the chicken cross the road?” Why indeed.
00:00 - Intro & Feedback 01:37 - What If You Started Again? 08:21 - Thermal Storage Integration? 10:58 - Hubitat? 13:06 - Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road? 15:16 - Future Engineering Topics? 17:55 - Top 3 Theoretical Investments?224: Quantum Dots QuantumaniaStill TBD Podcast2024-06-26 | Matt and Sean talk about quantum dots, what they’re good for, and the future of solar panel technology. Are quantum dots really the best option?