Best Deepak Bhargava Podcasts (2025)

1
Can Green Hydrogen Drive India’s Clean Energy Future? | ft. Vijay Shekhawat 51:16

6d ago51:16

51:16

Hydrogen is gaining significant traction as a key element in the global and Indian transition to clean energy. However, with different types of hydrogen production—green, grey, and blue—there’s much to unpack. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, is widely regarded as the most sustainable option but is very expensive to produce. …

1
Catching the Carbon: India's baby steps in CCUS | ft. Atanu Mukherjee 1:05:00

20d ago1:05:00

1:05:00

As India eyes its net zero targets, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is becoming central to decarbonizing core industries like steel, cement, and petrochemicals. While the technology holds immense promise, its adoption in India remains limited—hindered by cost concerns and lack of policy clarity. To understand the road ahead, we spok…

1
Future-Proofing Indian Businesses: The ESG & Sustainability Imperative | ft. Prarthana Borah 1:02:14

1M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

As India transitions toward a low-carbon future, the private sector’s role in embracing sustainability and ESG is paramount. While top corporations lead with ambitious net-zero goals, many small and mid-sized firms are yet to begin their sustainability and ESG journey — held back by data challenges, lack of awareness, and complex disclosure framewo…

1
Role of State Owned Enterprises in the Energy Transition | ft. Mr. Deepak Tandon 51:17

2M ago51:17

51:17

State-Owned Enterprises (SoEs) in the Oil & Gas sector play a critical role in ensuring energy security for the country. They are among the most diversified entities, spanning the entire oil & gas value chain—from upstream to downstream operations. But as India moves toward its net zero goals, the question arises: Can oil & gas SoEs diversify into …

1
Role of State Owned Enterprises in the Energy Transition | ft. Dr. B. Veera Reddy 1:04:26

2M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

The role of State-Owned Enterprises (SoEs) in India's energy transition cannot be overstated. SoEs, or Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), control majority of India’s fossil fuel production and provide millions of jobs across the country. As India accelerates its energy transition, these enterprises will play a crucial role in scaling the rapid depl…

1
Role of State owned Enterprises in the Energy Transition | ft. Mohit Bhargava 1:14:00

3M ago1:14:00

1:14:00

India's foray into renewable energy (RE) started with its thermal power giant NTPC Ltd.In the mid-2000s, NTPC, which is also the country's largest power generator, formed a division that would bundle RE with thermal and sell it together. Cut to 20 years later, NTPC has become the first public sector enterprise (PSEs) to publicly list its dedicated …

1
Climate Change On Your Plate | ft. Sanjeeb Mukherjee 57:24

3M ago57:24

57:24

Climate crisis unfolding in India will first impact our plates! Farms lands, agri commodities, coastal areas are in ten first line of impact from climate change induced extreme weather conditions. Not only does it spike the cost of food, several researchers say it alters its taste and texture too. Close to 60% of India population is dependent on fa…

1
Global South’s G20 Streak: A Turning Point for Climate and Energy Leadership? | ft. Dr. Prabhat Upadhyaya 51:30

4M ago51:30

51:30

The consecutive G20 presidencies of Indonesia (2022), India (2023), Brazil (2024), and South Africa (2025) has resulted in four consecutive G20 presidencies held by emerging economies. This moment is hailed by many as a grand opportunity for Global South countries to make a push on different topics including on energy transition, and climate action…

1
Donald Trump is back and so are Climate Fears | ft. Anisha Dutta 47:39

5M ago47:39

47:39

With Donald Trump scheduled to take over as the 47th President of the United States of America, there is widespread anxiety on the impact on global climate action. A climate change denier, Trump is a vocal supporter of fossil fuels and in his last tenure made US exit from the Paris Agreement on climate action. It is feared climate financing will ta…

1
Climate Adaptation Challenge for Indian Agriculture | ft. Rishika Pardikar & Rakesh Nannewar 1:05:00

7M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Climate change is already impacting many rural areas of India. Farmers in rural areas of India are facing rise in temperatures and changes in rainfall that negatively impacts production as well as monetary returns. There are many ways to adapt to the impacts of climate change. One way to assist farmers is the District Agro-met Units (DAMUs), a proj…

1
Sweat, Drown, Parch: Why India's megacities can't handle extreme weather? | ft. Jaya Dhindaw 1:00:10

9M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Every year, between May to September, the same images make the rounds. The national capital first sweats and then drowns with even a few millimetres of rain. The city that never sleeps braces water logging every year without fail. The silicon valley of India while facing traffic snarls the whole year dreads the monsoon months which make it worse. W…

1
New Records, New Challenges: Is India's Power Supply System Equipped? | ft. Rajiv Goyal 57:12

10M ago57:12

57:12

This summer was all about breaking records - from temperature to electricity demand. India clocked the highest ever electricity demand of 260 Gw during the summer months, thanks to sweltering heat in all parts of the country. But is it just the heat? Has the electricity usage behavior changed in the country? Are ACs shaping our power demand? Are th…

1
13. Finale: What did we learn? Where do we go from here? 1:12:08

10M ago1:12:08

1:12:08

In this, our final episode of the Practical Radicals Podcast, we hear from over a dozen progressive leaders, including several former students, and reflect with them about what we’ve learned since the book Practical Radicals came out last November and what we make of the path ahead — as the U.S. and the world face a daunting and overlapping set of …

1
India’s Energy Security and the Transition from Coal Power | ft. Dr. Joshua Busby & Deepshika Arora 50:19

11M ago50:19

50:19

Energy security remains a top priority for India as it seeks to balance growth with sustainability. A critical question emerges: Can India ensure energy security while also phasing down inefficient and uneconomical coal power plants? This issue involves not only understanding the current landscape of power production but also strategizing the retir…

1
12. Learning from Opponents with Munira Lokhandwala of LittleSis.org 49:13

11M ago49:13

49:13

Most famous guides to strategy are written for overdogs. (Think of Machiavelli’s The Prince or Sun Tzu’s Art of War.) And overdogs today invest in strategic education at a scale that dwarfs anything on the left. Their commitment is captured in the slogan of the right-wing Leadership Institute, which has trained over 200,000 people: “You owe it to y…

1
11. Abolitionism & the Seven Strategies with Manisha Sinha 55:48

11M ago55:48

55:48

In the struggle to abolish slavery — the social movement that arguably set the template for all that followed — organizers used all seven strategies we identify in Practical Radicals. According to our guest, historian Manisha Sinha, the abolitionists were “radical in their goals . . . but pragmatic in implementation” — the quintessential practical …

1
10. Collective Care in the AIDS Crisis with Tim Sweeney 1:27:25

12M ago1:27:25

1:27:25

Underdogs often respond to systemic oppression through collective care – acts of mutual aid and cooperation with the goal of meeting people’s basic survival needs when the state fails to do so. Some people feel collective care is just what we should do as decent human beings, but that it isn’t a strategy for systemic social change. Others are more …

1
The Right to Save our Future | ft. Shibani Ghosh 58:56

12M ago58:56

58:56

Can political leaders be taken to court over climate change impacts? Can the Indian Constitution recognize climate change under the right to live? A recent Supreme Court hearing explored these questions, sparking a national debate. The case ruled against the livelihood rights of an endangered bird, but what could laws against extreme weather and cl…

1
9. Momentum with Mae Boeve of 350.org 58:23

1y ago58:23

58:23

Sometimes social movements can spread like wildfire. From the sit-ins of the Civil Rights movement to the sea change in support for marriage equality, from the divestment campaign to end apartheid in South Africa to the climate justice movement winning the largest climate bill in history (2022’s Inflation Reduction Act) — the strategy model known a…

1
8. Inside-Outside Strategies with Felicia Wong 1:17:32

1y ago1:17:32

1:17:32

In the right circumstances, progressive groups can work with progressive insiders in government to win big policy changes. In this episode, we consider “inside-outside campaigns,” including what makes them possible and some of the inevitable tensions that they create, for example about when and how to compromise when a coalition doesn’t have enough…

1
7. Electoral Change with Maurice Mitchell 56:40

1y ago56:40

56:40

Episode 7: Electoral Strategies with Maurice Mitchell Many progressives are cynical about electoral politics. But our guest today explains why engaging in electoral politics is crucial for building the kind of society we want. Maurice Mitchell is the National Director of the Working Families Party, a savvy, independent political organization that h…

1
Accelerating Clean Cooking Revolution | ft. Abhishek Kar 57:48

1y ago57:48

57:48

Nearly 2.8 billion people around the world depend on solid fuels such as firewood and biomass for their cooking needs. Majority of such people reside in African and Asian countries including in India. India has made significant progress in enhancing access to modern fuels through policies that support greater use of LPG cylinders. However, several …

1
6. Narrative Shift with Cristina Jimenez Moreta and Alan Jenkins 1:26:54

1y ago1:26:54

1:26:54

In the past two decades, progressives have gotten far more savvy at the strategy we call “narrative shift,” learning how to challenge the dominant story and change the common sense on key issues. For example, on same-sex marriage, activists drove a sea change in public sentiment — from 27% support in 1996 to 71% in 2023. And research shows that Occ…

1
5. Disruptive Movements with Frances Fox Piven 45:34

1y ago45:34

45:34

In this episode, we explore the strategy of disruption and talk with one of its leading theorists and practitioners, the legendary scholar and activist Frances Fox Piven. Stephanie and Deepak begin by distinguishing protest from disruption, two types of action that are often confused. They consider famous instances of disruption, like the mass acti…

1
Going off grid: Greening India's power needs | ft. Dr. Debajit Palit 1:06:11

1y ago1:06:11

1:06:11

Imagine a future where every rooftop is a mini power station, contributing to a cleaner and greener environment. This isn't just a dream—it's the potential of decentralized renewable energy projects. From innovative micrgrids to efficient rooftop solar panels, these solutions are revolutionizing the way we power our lives. To know more, We sat with…

1
4. Base-Building in Community Organizing with Make the Road NY’s José Lopez and Ángeles Solis 55:17

1y ago55:17

55:17

In the Spring of 2021, dozens of immigrant New Yorkers, mostly women, launched a hunger strike that lasted 23 days and was the climax of a campaign to win an unprecedented $2.1 billion relief package for workers who had been excluded from unemployment benefits, federal stimulus checks, and rent relief. At the time, many thought the campaign’s deman…

1
3. Base Building in the Labor Movement with Greg Nammacher of SEIU Local 26 53:35

1y ago53:35

53:35

To succeed, any social movement needs people power. And, as the great Ella Baker preached, that takes a lot of slow, respectful work to forge relationships — what she called “spadework.” Base-building is the first of the “seven strategies to change the world” that we elaborate on in our book Practical Radicals. And base-building is so important tha…

1
Get Ready for India's Clean Energy Boom: Hitting the 2030 Target | ft. Vibhuti Garg 46:09

1y ago46:09

46:09

India has ambitions to install 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. Achieving this target would require large scale finance, sound policies and much more. To understand how India can achieve its renewable energy targets, we interviewed Vibhuti Garg, Director of South Asia at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Vibhuti is an ex…

1
2. What is Power? + Ilyse Hogue on right-wing strategies 1:03:01

1+ y ago1:03:01

1:03:01

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King famously said, “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and . . . love without power is sentimental and anemic.” But many on the left seem allergic to power. This episode starts with a fundamental question: What is power? Drawing on the influential sociologists Michael Mann and Erik Olin Wright, Stephanie and Dee…

1
1. What is Strategy? with Maria Poblet and Alex Hertel-Fernandez 1:02:41

1+ y ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Progressives need a strategy upgrade, and this episode points the way, first by delving into one of the greatest victories of the civil rights movement and the strategic masterstroke of Rev. Wyatt T. Walker. Next, we talk with Maria Poblet, Executive Director of the Grassroots Power Project, who argues that “the way strategy is being developed in p…

1
Practical Radicals Trailer 4:46

1+ y ago4:46

4:46

Deepak and Stephanie welcome listeners and give a preview of some organizers and thinkers who will appear in future episodes: Maurice Mitchell of the Working Families Party, longtime progressive activist Ilyse Hogue, legendary activist and scholar Frances Fox Piven, and historian Manisha Sinha. You can buy the book and find out more about the show …

1
Gazing into the Crystal Ball: What's next for India's energy transition? 52:45

1+ y ago52:45

52:45

Season 4 of The India Energy Hour Podcast is here. To kickstart the season, the hosts are here to give a primer on what all to expect in India's journey towards energy transition. It is the year of general elections in India. A lot of policies and political decisions hinge on that. But there is other exciting stuff too. From India's maiden critical…

1
COP28: Hits, Misses and Vested Interests | ft. Jacob Koshy 1:09:35

1+ y ago1:09:35

1:09:35

This year’s Conference of Parties (COP28), hosted in the oil-rich UAE, was full of ironies. There were apprehensions over the host, which has oil wells in its backyard. The COP28 President was the CEO of the national oil company. It was expected that at least the rich nations would drive more climate finance. But the negotiations that unfolded over…

1
State of the Indian Energy Transition | ft. Aditya Ramji 1:00:02

1+ y ago1:00:02

1:00:02

India’s energy transition is central to global climate action. But where does India’s energy transition stand? What are the key challenges and opportunities in areas such as energy access, clean transportation and critical minerals. To understand the intricate dynamics of India's energy transition journey, we interviewed Aditya Ramji, Director of t…

1
Energy Transition: 1 Nation, 28 Pathways | ft. Ann Josey & Rohit Chandra 1:14:08

1+ y ago1:14:08

1:14:08

India's energy transition currently comprises a set of ambitious targets, the pathway for which is yet to be designed. While at the Central level, there are a variety of policies, the real challenge lies in their execution. And at the execution level there are at least 28 different clogs to be taken care of. States will need to play a larger role i…

1
From Star Rating to Efficient Fans: Why Energy Efficiency Matters? | ft. Saurabh Kumar 52:39

1+ y ago52:39

52:39

Energy efficiency in India has become an important focus due to the country's growing energy demands, environmental concerns, and the need to reduce energy costs. Several initiatives and policies have been put in place to enhance energy efficiency across various sectors in India. In this episode, we interviewed Saurabh Kumar, India Head of Global E…

1
Coding Climate Action: Can AI save the Earth? | ft. Himanshu Gupta 1:14:14

1+ y ago1:14:14

1:14:14

Climate tech is one of the emerging areas in the technology landscape offering a variety of new-age solutions for adapting to changing climate. Largely unexplored, climate tech has the potential to empower even the grassroot sectors with the ability to forecast and adapt to extreme weather and unprecedented climatic events. In this unique episode, …

1
How Green is your Money? | ft. Akshat Rathi 59:48

1+ y ago59:48

59:48

How many trillions would be required to reach zero? Are global dialogues enough to rake up funds? As countries race to meet their net carbon zero targets, it is the technological solutions and entrepreneurial ventures which could make it a reality. Capitalism has always been the antithesis of climate action. But what happens when you marry them bot…

1
India's G20 Presidency: Navigating Complex Geopolitical Waters | ft. Swati D'Souza 57:51

1+ y ago57:51

57:51

As the G20 host, India deftly managed geopolitics, especially Russia-Ukraine, while driving energy and climate discussions. Topics like renewable energy, critical minerals, and sustainable finance took center stage, likely impacting the upcoming COP summit. India's challenge is finding unity among diverse priorities, addressing resource nationalism…

1
India's G20 Presidency: Balancing Energy Security and Climate Goals | ft. Arunabha Ghosh 52:52

1+ y ago52:52

52:52

India's G20 presidency started amidst major geopolitical events, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These events reshaped energy markets and climate policies globally. As energy security considerations took center stage, countries started re-evaluating climate and energy policies. Most countries started looking inward, pushing for policies …

1
G20 Special: Will India change the tone for Global Energy Transition? | ft. Sudarshan Varadhan 1:02:27

2y ago1:02:27

1:02:27

India has taken over the presidency of G20 at a time when the conventional geopolitics around key sectors is witnessing a shift - be it fossil fuels, climate, financing and several others. While it has provided the country an opportunity to lay a ground for a stronger voice of the Global South in energy transition and climate action, the ongoing tu…

1
Tailor Fit Green Energy | ft. Vivek Subramanian 1:00:03

2y ago1:00:03

1:00:03

In this episode, Vivek Subramanian - Co-founder and Executive Director of Fourth Partner Energy discusses the market dynamics and trends in the decentralised green energy industry. He shares his entrepreneurial journey and the growth of his company. He emphasized on long-term contracts in the decentralised space especially with commercial and indus…

1
State of the Indian Power Sector | ft. Abhinav Jindal 50:47

2y ago50:47

50:47

In India, the coal based electricity dominates the power sector. But the country has set ambitious renewable power targets. This will bring about many techno-economic and socio-political changes. For example, Indian state owned enterprises in the power sector may have to redefine themselves, and there will be a need for new financial mechanisms and…

1
Changing face of India's Green Energy sector | ft. Srivatsan Iyer 51:31

2y ago51:31

51:31

India's green energy landscape has witnessed remarkable growth and transformation in recent years, positioning the country as a global leader in the clean energy transition. With a growing population, rapid urbanization, and rising energy demands, India recognized the need to diversify its energy sources and reduce its heavy reliance on fossil fuel…

1
Heat is On! Can India adapt to warming weather? | ft. Aditya Valiathan Pillai 1:00:28

2y ago1:00:28

1:00:28

In recent years, heatwaves in India have become more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting. This increase can be attributed to the larger problem of global warming and climate change. Rising greenhouse gas emissions have led to a rise in average global temperatures, which directly contribute to the occurrence and severity of heatwaves. In order to …

1
Path to Climate Justice in a Net Zero World | ft. Tejal Kanitkar & Rahul Tongia 1:28:50

2y ago1:28:50

1:28:50

For years, multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have relied on integrated assessment models or IAM modelling pathways to achieve global net zero targets. The IPCC reports and IAM pathways have become key drivers of government policy on keeping a lid on global warming in many countries. However, scholars from Global South have a…

1
What will it cost to save the planet? | ft. Varad Pande 1:04:33

2y ago1:04:33

1:04:33

Climate financing in India is crucial for achieving sustainable development and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The government’s efforts to mobilize climate finance, along with support from international institutions are essential for achieving these goals. In order to understand the complexities and challenges of financing climate change…

1
Green Giving: Understanding Climate Philanthropy | ft. Vikas Mehta 58:38

2y ago58:38

58:38

Climate philanthropy globally and in India are starting to play a catalytic role for enabling climate action. They are starting to bet on innovative ideas and projects that enable decarbonisation of key sectors, foster solutions that benefit communities and economies, and bridge the gap between philanthropy and commercial investment. To understand …

1
Riding into Climate Action | ft. Vinay Jaju 42:21

2y ago42:21

42:21

Under ‘Move for Earth’ initiative, co-founder of SwitchON Foundation Vinay Jaju cycled over 3,000 km across different states in East India, connecting with farmers, women and youth to address clean air, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. Vinay Jaju is also the co-founder of ONergy and ONskills. He has collaborated with various ministries…

1
Emerging economy of Critical Minerals: Are countries prepared? | ft. Dr. Seaver Wang 56:01

2y ago56:01

56:01

To meet global climate targets, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will need to be deployed at scale. This will mean large-scale mining and processing of critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements, which form key components of the solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles required for the energy transit…

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Deepak Bhargava Podcasts

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