{"podcast":{"title":"Earthlings 2.0 Podcast","slug":"earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078","podcast_index_feed_id":4600078,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/earthlings-podcast/","website_url":"https://earthlingspodcast.com","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/9634c355-9fe4-4214-93e5-7bb3143ec38a/4WlaceVSNYbn5pHhDYQz2w3E.jpg","author":"Lisa Ann Pinkerton","episode_count":170,"summary":"The Earthlings Podcast takes a look at the big issues facing humanity in the early 21st century and our relationship to our environment, technology, and each other. Each episode, award-winning journalist, and former NPR reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton hosts experts, scientists, and leaders working to solve the world’s biggest challenges. Together, they cover wide-ranging topics including environmental solutions, emerging technologies, what the future might look like, and more. Support us on Patreon and receive exclusive content and benefits.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T16:17:47.073068+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078"},"episode":{"title":"#164: How the Grid Could Survive the AI Boom with Solid State Transformers With DG Matrix","slug":"164-how-the-grid-could-survive-the-ai-boom-with-solid-state-transformers-with-dg-matrix","published_at":"2026-06-09T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078/164-how-the-grid-could-survive-the-ai-boom-with-solid-state-transformers-with-dg-matrix","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078","url":"https://resourcelabs.co/earthlings-episodes/164-how-the-grid-could-survive-the-ai-boom-with-solid-state-transformers-with-dg-matrix","audio_url":"https://op3.dev/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/62f42e99-8978-4a82-a2de-eee7fd15984a.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Michael Wood III, Director of Commercial Development at DG Matrix, about one of the biggest challenges behind the AI boom: aging electrical infrastructure. As AI, data centers, manufacturing and electrification drive unprecedented demand for electricity, utilities and developers are increasingly constrained by a grid architecture built around technologies that have changed little in more than a century. Michael explains how DG Matrix is developing the world's first commercially available multi-port solid-state transformer, a power electronics platform designed to simplify energy systems, accelerate access to power, integrate multiple energy sources, and support the growing energy needs of AI data centers and electrified industries. The conversation explores grid modernization, data center energy demand, power system flexibility, and why the future of electricity infrastructure may require a fundamental rethinking of how energy moves through the grid. Key Points: AI data centers are creating unprecedented demand for electricity – The rapid growth of AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure is placing new pressure on an electrical grid originally designed for predictable demand patterns. Solid-state transformers could modernize power delivery – DG Matrix's multi-port solid-state transformer replaces complex power conversion chains with a flexible platform that integrates AC, DC, batteries, renewables, generators, and data center loads. Grid flexibility is becoming as important as grid capacity – As electrification accelerates across transportation, manufacturing, buildings, and computing, future energy systems will need to be smarter, faster, and more adaptable to changing power requirements. Michael Wood III, Dire…","meta_description":"In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Michael Wood III, Director of Commercial Development at DG Matrix, about one of the biggest challenges b…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1777,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078/episodes/164-how-the-grid-could-survive-the-ai-boom-with-solid-state-transformers-with-dg-matrix/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078/164-how-the-grid-could-survive-the-ai-boom-with-solid-state-transformers-with-dg-matrix.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}