In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Randall "Tiny" Smith, a former Royal Air Force senior engineering officer turned EV and renewable energy executive.

Randall’s journey spans military aviation, leading 250-person engineering teams, becoming Programme Manager for the revolutionary Jaguar I-PACE, and building EV charging infrastructure across the UK retailer network at Jaguar Land Rover.

We explore:

- Leadership under pressure and the “Three Ts” framework (Trust, Transparency, Tailoring)

- What it really took to bring a premium OEM EV from concept to production

- Why EV misinformation spreads, and how narrative shapes adoption

- The hydrogen debate: physics vs optimism

- Government intervention, behaviour change, and the psychology of resistance

- How curiosity, depth of knowledge, and platform-building intersect

- Rather than framing this as advocacy, the conversation examines the structural tension between technological innovation, public perception, and political cycles, and what it means for anyone operating in the energy transition.

If you work in renewable energy, transport, policy or clean tech communications, this episode aims to help you better understand the human dynamics affecting electric vehicle adoption.

Enjoy!

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Connect with Randal on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evchargingsolutions/

Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/

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CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com

Many thanks to...

Our rental suppliers - O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/

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Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

02:02 - Randal’s Background

04:41 - The 3 T’s of Leadership

11:04 - Entry Into The EV Industry

13:51 - Designing The Jaguar I-Pace

16:28 - The Media’s Negativity EV Bias

22:16 - Understanding People’s Objections

25:58 - Becoming a Thought Leader

29:36 - Curiosity & Continual Learning

34:21 - A Framework for Strategy

36:09 - Macro Forces & Hierarchy

39:34 - The History of Electric Vehicles

41:49 - The Case For Hydrogen

47:34 - Cultural Narratives Blocking Technological Progress

49:09 - Government Influence

53:21 - Purpose, Conviction & Values

57:29 - Quickfire Curiosity

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of CleanTalk, we're joined by Peter Elms, Co-Founder & Director of Alpaca Communications, the UK's leading communications agency for Net Zero infrastructure, to unpack the real mechanics behind winning planning consent for renewable energy projects.

Peter explains why lobbying isn’t a dirty word, how behavioural science and loss aversion shape public opposition, and why “net zero” has become a politically toxic phrase in parts of the UK. We dig into how developers should think about stakeholders, why trust is the real bottleneck, and how authentic storytelling, done carefully, could de-risk projects rather than endanger reputations.

This is a grounded, honest look at the intersection of politics, public opinion, and renewable energy development, and why better communication may be just as important as better technology.

Enjoy!

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Connect with Peter Elms on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-elms-89b82748/

Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/

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CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: https://www.harmervisuals.com

Many thanks to...

Recording space provider

Our rental suppliers -

O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/ | Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/

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Chapters for today's episode:

00:00 - Intro

02:57 - Peter's Background

06:08 - Why Niching Helping The Business

08:56 - Co-Founder Dynamics

11:32 - What Role Comms Plays In Renewables Development

20:04 - How Politics Helps Or Hinders Energy Projects

25:35 - Social Media As A Comms Medium

29:42 - Strengths & Risks of Video Content

35:12 - Reflecting On Developers' Main Challenges

37:44 - Alpaca's 3-Phase Approach

42:12 - Quickfire Curiosity

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Need help turning an idea into a real product? Work with Hard Stuff to build your MVP today: https://www.hard-stuff.com/

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In this episode of CleanTalk, we sit down with Matt Stedman, a startup engineer and fractional CTO who helps early-stage companies turn ambitious ideas into real, working products, particularly in climate and clean technology.

We explore what founders consistently get wrong when building MVPs, why “perfect” products are often the enemy of progress, and how marrying yourself to a solution instead of a problem can quietly kill a startup. Matt shares hard-won insights from working with hardware founders, from breaking perfectionism to testing whether anyone will actually pay for what you’re building.

We also dig into why climate tech isn’t just about big infrastructure and renewables, how niche physical products can make a meaningful impact, and why building “stuff that matters” requires humility, iteration, and the willingness to fail fast.

This episode is for startup founders, engineers, climate tech builders, product leaders, and anyone navigating the messy early stages of turning an idea into something real, especially when time, money, and certainty are in short supply.

Enjoy!

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Connect with Matt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-a-stedman/

Join the CleanTalk community on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12991627/

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CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a film & media company specialising in brand & case study storytelling for organisations across the renewable energy and clean technology sector. To find out more about how we can help you, visit:

[https://www.harmervisuals.com](https://www.harmervisuals.com/)

Many thanks to…

Matt Stedman

Our rental suppliers –

O'RIORDAN | https://oriordan.io/

Sunipa Pictures | https://www.sunipapictures.com/

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Chapters for today’s episode:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.