Beyond Oil: The Rise of Critical Metals

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, Justin Manley — one of the foremost experts in underwater and marine technology — delivers a sweeping update on the state of uncrewed maritime systems (UMS). From small AUVs to extra-large underwater vessels, from Ukraine’s robot navy to billion-dollar defense contracts, Justin unpacks the technology landscape, the defense and commercial drivers accelerating...

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, Eric Macris, CEO of Viridian Biometals, joins Oliver Gunasekara to explore a radical approach to critical mineral processing — using bacteria that literally breathe rocks. The conversation covers the environmental toll of conventional mining and processing, the mounting pressure on the industry to find cleaner alternatives, and how Viridian’s bio-based techn...

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked dimension of cultural heritage in deep-sea mining. Matthew joins Oliver Gunasekara to examine how tangible and intangible cultural heritage intersect with seabed development. From shipwrecks and paleontological remains to Indigenous cosmologies and ancestral ties to the ocean, the conversation highlights regulatory frameworks,...

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, Travis McLing discusses the growing importance of critical and strategic minerals to the U.S. economy, energy transition, and national security. Drawing on more than three decades of experience at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Travis explains how global supply chains for minerals such as rare earth elements, copper, lithium, and cobalt have become increas...

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, Jason Gillham, CTO/COO and Co-Founder of Impossible Metals, walks through Version 7 of the company’s Techno Economic Model (TEM), explaining how it simulates autonomous polymetallic nodule collection from seafloor to shore. Jason describes how engineering design choices, site conditions, and market inputs flow through the model to determine cost per wet ton,...

Moderator: Eric Young, Host of the Elements of Deep Sea Mining Podcast For : Oliver Gunasekara, CEO & Co-Founder, Impossible Metals Against: Victor Vescovo, Founder and CEO of Caladan Capital 🎙️ Episode Overview In this debate, Oliver Gunasekara and Victor Vescovo examine whether deep sea mining is necessary to meet rising global demand for critical minerals. Moderated by Eric Young, this discussi...

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, Oliver Gunasekara speaks with Bob Galyen , one of the foremost experts in battery technology and electrification, to unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the global energy transition . Bob discusses the evolution of modern batteries, the materials that power electric vehicles, and how innovations in manufacturing and automation are reshaping the s...

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, we dive into the intersection of artificial intelligence and deep-sea mineral exploration. João Carvalho, CEO of DeepFocus, shares how his team is leveraging AI-driven data processing and geological analysis to support responsible exploration of critical minerals. From demand pressures to environmental challenges, João highlights innovative methods, real-wor...

Episode Description Today on the podcast, we welcome Lucia Fogler , a University of Virginia student researcher in public policy and global security. Lucia shares her research on how China is positioning itself as a leader in deep-sea mining —and what that means for U.S. national security. From mapping China’s ISA contract areas and tracking research vessel movements, Lucia highlights key trends i...

Episode Description: In this episode, Impossible Metals hosts a forward-looking conversation with Shane Tragathon , Head of Business Development and Partnerships at ReElement Technologies . Shane explains how ReElement’s breakthrough refining technology provides a modular, scalable, and environmentally friendly alternative to China’s solvent extraction dominance. He unpacks how chromatographic sep...

Episode Description: In this episode, Impossible Metals hosts a timely and candid conversation with Frank Fannon, one of the most prominent voices on energy geopolitics and critical mineral strategy. Drawing on his July 2025 Congressional testimony, Frank unpacks how China’s dominance in mineral refining poses a national security risk, why the U.S. needs to reframe its mineral strategy around powe...

Welcome to the latest episode of Beyond Oil: The Rise of Critical Metals . In this episode, Holly Nielsen from Impossible Metals Marketing presents the company’s newly released Annual Report and shares key insights. The conversation then shifts to a live Q&A with CEO and Co-Founder Oliver Gunasekara, exploring in detail topics such as environmental impact, stakeholder engagement, and economic mode...

Episode Description: Welcome to another episode of Beyond Oil: The Rise of Critical Metals . Join us as Tom LaTourrette and Fabian Villalobos from RAND Corporation review their report on seabed mining, covering the drivers, study design focused on nodule extraction, and potential implications, especially concerning battery metal demand and China's supply chain dominance. They also discuss seabed m...

Episode Description In this episode, we take a deep dive into the newly released Version 6 of Impossible Metals’ Techno-Economic Model. Jason Gillham, Co-founder and CTO/COO, walks through how the selective harvesting system for deep-sea mining is engineered for scalability, sustainability, and economic efficiency. Learn how Version 6 compares to earlier models, the assumptions behind the data, an...

Welcome to another episode of Beyond Oil: The Rise of Critical Metals . Today, we're sharing this episode of The Elements of Deep Sea Mining, which features host Eric Young and Impossible Metals CEO and co-founder Oliver Gunasekara discussing how Impossible Metals designed its nodule mining technology from scratch to mitigate harm and avoid costs. Find it on Spotify (https://lnkd.in/dU_kkhFB), Sub...

Episode Description: Welcome to another episode of Beyond Oil: The Rise of Critical Metals . Today, we're exploring the fascinating realm of seabed minerals and the complexities of onshore processing. Join us as we host Niels Verbaan, Technical Services Director at SGS, who shares his expertise on the various flowsheets, the importance of risk management, and the journey towards sustainable extrac...

Episode Description: Join us as we dive into the ocean's depths with Jake Russell, CEO of Orpheus Ocean. In this episode, we explore Orpheus Ocean's innovative approach to deep ocean exploration using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Discover how Orpheus is changing the game for seabed surveys, environmental assessments, and mineral exploration. Guest: * Jake Russell, CEO of Orpheus Ocean Ho...

To fulfill the requirements for testing Eureka III within the BGR contract area in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a plume modeling study is submitted to the International Seabed Authority as part of the Environmental Impact Statement. Tom Foster outlines the key assumptions and methodologies behind the sediment disturbance modeling for the proposed Eureka III test and presents the results of this an...

Impossible Metals CEO and Co-Founder Oliver Gunasekara recaps the Eureka II Demo Day results. We have transparently published the Demo Day presentations and video This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit impossiblemetals.substack.com

Oliver Gunasekara, CEO and Co-Founder of Impossible Metals, launches "Beyond Oil: The Rise of Critical Metals," a podcast exploring the critical role of minerals in the 21st century's electrification revolution. He discusses the growing demand for these metals, the challenges of sustainable sourcing, and how Impossible Metals is developing innovative underwater robotics to address these issues. Ke...