Re:Energise from ESB

Can a tiny peninsula in County Kerry solve Ireland's energy crisis? Host Meghann Scully heads to Dingle to meet the local trailblazers proving that rural communities are at the absolute forefront of building a sustainable future. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we discover how local innovation beats global climate anxiety with three incredible guests: Deirdre de Bhailís – Gene...

Is it actually possible to ditch your car in Ireland? Host Meghann Scully hits the streets of Dublin to find out how car-reliant we really are, and heads to Galway city to test out a brand new e-mobility hub as a total non-cyclist. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we explore the massive health, environmental, and financial benefits of active travel with two incredible guests: S...

Can you turn a dead wind turbine into an outdoor bridge? Host Meghann Scully dives into the fascinating world of extreme repurposing and circular upcycling, proving that yesterday’s industrial waste is tomorrow’s ultimate "Grand Design." In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we discover how Irish innovators are breathing spectacular new life into massive structures: Patrick Bradley...

Is our digital obsession fueling the climate crisis? Host Meghann Scully takes a hard look at the technology we use every day, exploring whether the rise of artificial intelligence, gadgets, and data centres will save the planet—or push it over the edge. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we weigh the environmental risks and green solutions of tomorrow's tech with two top Irish b...

How do we translate climate activism into real, measurable corporate and political action? Host Meghann Scully dives deep into how everyday citizens and major industries can work together to tackle environmental apathy and shape a sustainable future for Ireland. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we map out the true path to systemic change with two leading sustainability experts:...

Are extreme storms in Ireland getting worse? Host Meghann Scully looks at the terrifying reality of Storm Éowyn—the historic cyclone that broke 80-year-old national wind records—to uncover what role climate change is playing in our changing weather patterns. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we map the human impact and the monumental response to Ireland's worst storm in decades:...

How can technology and kitchen creativity solve Ireland's food waste problem? Host Meghann Scully chats with three experts who are tackling food waste from three completely different angles—from artificial intelligence to professional sports nutrition. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we get an exclusive look inside the kitchens changing how we eat: Maurice McGeehan – Head Perf...

Want to break free from the fast fashion trap? Host Meghann Scully dives into the massive environmental cost of textile waste and explores how the future of style can be ethical, circular, and incredibly successful in Ireland. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we meet two major figures rewriting the rules of the Irish clothing industry: Aoife McNamara – Founder of her own luxury...

Can Ireland achieve a 100% clean energy future? Host Meghann Scully sits down with one of the country's leading energy experts to explore how we can look back at a massive historical milestone—the building of Ardnacrusha power station in Co. Clare nearly 100 years ago—to solve our modern climate crisis. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we are joined by: Dr. Paul Deane – Senior...

Feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis? Host Meghann Scully dives into how to beat climate anxiety and apathy by using the unexpected power of comedy, stand-up, and the arts to find genuine hope for a sustainable future. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we discover why laughing through the despair might actually be the key to saving the planet: Colm O’Regan – Acclaimed Irish...

Could you throw away 90% of your possessions to live in a tiny home? Host Meghann Scully explores how living with less can solve our housing headache and open up space for an affordable, sustainable future in Ireland. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we meet two experts who abandoned the traditional property ladder to rethink our living spaces: Paul Lawford – Founder of Small C...

Can sports save the planet? Host Meghann Scully dives into the future of sports sustainability in Ireland, looking at how the world of sport can advocate for and implement major climate action. In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we are joined by: Sean McCabe – Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability at Bohemian Football Club (Bohs) Oscar Carolan – Sustainability Consultant and...

Welcome to Re:Energise, a brand new show that looks at sustainability in all its forms, and what we can do to shape a clean energy future. Host Meghann Scully explores sustainability from all sorts of angles, asking the difficult questions, and providing practical advice to change the way you live and influence the world around you for the better.

Think of Dingle, in Co Kerry, and you might be picturing breathtaking scenery, green farmland and sandy beaches, pubs and tourism, ice-cream and Fungie the Dolphin.  What you may not be picturing is a Sustainable Energy Community and hub of activity and innovation, focusing on smart agriculture, sustainable transport, rural regeneration, and bioenergy. So on this, the final episode of the season,...

The many benefits of cycling - for your health, for the planet, for your pocket - are very clear. And yet Ireland is not a country of cyclists. On this episode, Meghann chats to two people who are advocating for a better society by embracing cycling and sustainable travel. In Waterford, lecturer and activist Sadhbh O’Neill has completely ditched her car and fully embraced cycling. She talks throug...

Repurposing and upcycling can be a great way to breathe new life into old objects, but on this episode, Meghann sits down with three people who are repurposing on a grand scale! Patrick Bradley is an architect based in Derry whose designs have reused shipping containers in incredibly creative ways. In fact, his own multi-award-winning house used four of them, and was voted as the “Grandest Grand D...

We can’t escape technology, but how much do we really think about the tech we use every day? Is it repairable, recyclable, reusable? Is it second hand? Is it going to become obsolete with a software upgrade in a year’s time?  On this episode, Meghann asks tech journalist and broadcaster Elaine Burke to walk us through some of the complexities when it comes to technology and sustainability. There a...

In this special bonus episode, recorded with a live audience at ESB Headquarters in Dublin, Meghann sits down with Marguerite Sayers, Deputy Chief Executive of ESB. They chat about Ireland’s changing energy industry and the innovations being rolled out to empower customers and help Ireland’s climate targets. As ESB prepares to celebrate its centenary, Marguerite gives an insight into what is requi...

How engaged are you with climate change and sustainability? What does climate activism look like today? How do we change the world around us as individuals, organisations, and communities? Plenty of big questions on this episode, but Meghann has some help answering them from two guests who have been exploring these issues for a very long time. Dr Tara Shine is a scientist, policy advisor and scien...

Earlier this year, Storm Éowyn left nearly one million homes without power, bringing widespread disruption to towns and communities across Ireland. It was one of the most powerful storms the country has ever seen, but was it a sign of what's to come? In this episode, we ask: are storms like this becoming more common, what role is climate change playing, and what might the future hold? Meghann chat...

Do you ever wonder how much food we as a country throw away each year? It’s easy to overlook what ends up in the bin after dinner or at the back of the fridge. But, with over 750,000 tonnes of food waste generated in Ireland annually, it’s clear we need to change how we think about food. On this episode, host Meghann Scully chats with three guests who are tackling food waste from three very differ...

Fashion plays a huge part in climate change and staggering amounts of textile waste are created every year. It can be difficult to know where to start, and what will really make a difference, when trying to break out of the cycle of fast fashion and poorly made, disposable clothes. So, on this episode, Meghann is joined by two guests approaching sustainable fashion from different angles. Aoife McN...

A century ago, a newly-independent Ireland began a hugely ambitious project to supply almost all of the country’s electricity needs using renewable energy: the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station on the River Shannon. On this episode, Dr Paul Deane, Senior Lecturer in Clean Energy Futures at University College Cork, sits down with host Meghann Scully to look at this remarkable achievement. Ard...

Climate change can be an overwhelming topic, and a cause for anxiety and fear. But for so many people, when there is nothing but despair and hopelessness, it can produce apathy: if nothing can be done, why even bother? Why should I try to live sustainably, why should I advocate for change, if it is not going to make a difference?  Well, on this episode, host Meghann Scully chats to three guests wh...

Re:Build (Tiny Home & Sparking Joy)   What do we really need to live well? From the houses we build to the possessions we buy, our choices have a huge impact on how we live and the world around us. In this episode, host Meghann Scully explores how living with less can open up space for a more sustainable future, and she’s joined by two guests who are approaching this in different, but complementar...