The Power Up Podcast

As electricity demand accelerates driven by AI, data centers, electrification, and economic growth, battery storage is moving from a niche technology to critical infrastructure. In this episode, Tim sits down with Jeff Monday, Chief Growth Officer at Fluence Energy, to explore why energy storage is becoming one of the most important tools for building a more reliable, affordable, and flexible grid...

What if the biggest challenge facing the power industry isn’t technology, but trust? In this episode, Tim sits down with Michael Lee to explore “Retail 2.0,” the rise of distributed energy, and why the future grid depends on flexibility, customer engagement, and smarter orchestration, not just more infrastructure. From AI-driven demand to shifting incentives, this conversation challenges how we th...

In this special Earth Day episode, Tim and Sara take a step back from the headlines to explore one of the biggest levers we have to impact the planet: electricity. Because while Earth Day often brings to mind recycling, planting trees, or driving less, the reality is that nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity and heat production making the power sector central to any...

What if the moment that changed your life also defined your life’s work? In this episode, Sara sits down with emergency management leader Mona Freels, whose career began at just nine years old after surviving a house fire that trapped her family inside. That experience led her to the Red Cross and ultimately to more than three decades of leadership across nonprofit, public, and utility sectors. Mo...

Wildfires are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more complex to manage — especially as communities expand deeper into the wildland-urban interface. In this episode, Tim sits down with firefighter and EMT Dave Uhler for a candid conversation about what really happens in the critical moments after a wildfire ignition. Drawing on his experience responding to emergencies across the Pacific Nor...

As the energy industry turns the page to 2026, Tim and Sara look ahead at what’s coming next for the grid — from rising demand and renewable integration to the growing role of AI. This episode blends forward-looking insights with a little fun, including surprising home energy facts, a lightning round, and a few spirited debates about duck curves, elephant bellies, and “negawatts.” The conversation...

As AI demand surges, so does the world’s need for power. Tim and Sara explore how cloud computing, renewables, and smarter infrastructure are reshaping the energy landscape — and what it takes to keep AI running 24/7. Featuring insights from AWS Executive in Residence Jake Burns. — Hosts:  Tim Stafford & Sara Tupac Topic:  What happens when the world’s fastest-growing technology meets one of i...

The Power Up Podcast is your guide to the people, trends, and technology reshaping the power and utilities industry. In this trailer, hosts Tim Stafford — a longtime energy consultant — and Sara Tupac — the “new kid on the grid” — introduce the vision behind the show: a mix of real-world expertise, fresh curiosity, and just enough humor to keep things energized. Brought to you by Slalom, the serie...