The Polycrisis

The Polycrisis
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Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie on  how geopolitics has been driving a quiet revolution in clean tech, and how the energy transition is in turn reshaping world power. 

Episodes

  1. 02 | Electric World Order | Rest of World

    6D AGO

    02 | Electric World Order | Rest of World

    What does the US dollar have to do with energy access in Africa?  Mark Blyth explains why countries are so keen to cut back their US dollar dependence; and how that’s connected to the way they get energy. Also, why Germany is afraid of Chinese EVs. Then we talk to Adjekai Adjei about how these constraints actually play out in the African continent.  Guests:  Mark Blyth - professor of international economics at Brown University.  Naa Adjekai Adjei - Nigeria-based expert in Chinese energy projects in Africa from SE4All, and a fellow at the China Global South Project.    Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate MacKenzie, and Tim Sahay from the net zero industrial policy lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry.  Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany Stewart Contact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com

    29 min
  2. 01 | Electric World Order | The Quiet Revolution

    MAR 25

    01 | Electric World Order | The Quiet Revolution

    The second wave of the energy transition is already happening: Since 2022, developing countries have been rapidly ramping up their use of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles. And the subsequent energy crisis of 2026 makes cleaner, electrified energy even more compelling. This episode explores how a surge of affordable, high quality clean tech is rewiring global energy; and why China is making all of this happen. Guests:  Haneea Isaad (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Pakistan) Kyle Chan (Fellow at the John L. Thornton Center for China Studies, Brookings Institution; author of the newsletter, “High Capacity”) Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate MacKenzie, and Tim Sahay from the net zero industrial policy lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry.  Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany Stewart Contact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com

    31 min

  3. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Introducing: Electric World Order | The geopolitics of the energy and technology transition

    This first season of The Polycrisis podcast tells the story of the clash between new and old energy regimes. Just like other energy transitions before it, this is a geopolitical story - not a climate one. Developing countries are leapfrogging their wealthy counterparts by rapidly deploying cheap solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles imported from China. This gives them a low-cost supply that’s immune to wars and other disruptions.  This energy transition is deeply connected to shifts taking place in the world, especially since the US-Israel attacks on Iran: the reconfiguration of world power, US-China rivalry and the deterioration of US hegemony.  Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate MacKenzie, and Tim Sahay from the net zero industrial policy lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry.  Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany Stewart Contact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com

    3 min

  4. MAR 6 ·  BONUS

    Original theme music

    The Polycrisis Podcast original theme music. Composed by Russell Stapleton

    3 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie on  how geopolitics has been driving a quiet revolution in clean tech, and how the energy transition is in turn reshaping world power. 

Information

  • Creator
    The Polycrisis
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Polycrisis
  • Show Website
    The Polycrisis

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