Podcasts
About the Podcast
Hosted by Jack Doueck of the Energy Marketing Conferences, The Energy Insider Podcast brings candid conversations with the CEOs and innovators shaping the competitive energy market. The podcast delivers unfiltered insights from the leaders driving the US retail energy revolution. Hear how successful firms navigate disruption, regulations, innovation and opportunities for US retail energy and competitive power markets. The Energy Insider Podcast will provide direct access to the leaders redefining energy in America.
Power at the Point of Use: Gabe Phillips on Reinventing Energy for Independent Businesses
In Episode 13 of The Energy Insider Podcast, Jack Doueck sits down with Gabe Phillips, Founder and CEO of Catalyst Power, for a timely conversation about how independent businesses can take a smarter, more active approach to energy. Drawing on decades of experience across wholesale trading, retail energy, and distributed generation, Gabe shares practical insight on commercial solar, micro-CHP, battery storage challenges, and managing risk in today’s volatile market environment. The episode explores how businesses can reduce costs, improve resilience, and regain more control by rethinking what energy procurement looks like today. To learn more about Catalyst Power and its work with commercial customers, visit Catalyst Power at catalystpower.com. Listen now for practical insight on managing energy costs, risk, and resilience in a changing market. Follow The Energy Insider on Spotify to catch new episodes as they release.
New York State Senator Sam Sutton on Purpose Over Prestige: Service, Energy Affordability, Leadership and Impact
In Episode 12 of The Energy Insider, Jack Doueck is joined by New York State Senator Sam Sutton for a wide-ranging conversation about purpose, leadership, and service. Sutton shares how he built and led a major retail accessories business for decades before a successful exit in 2018, then chose to devote his time to community impact, philanthropy, and public service. He explains why he ran for office for the first time at age 75, won, and what he is focused on as New York faces rising power costs and growing demand tied to AI and data centers. The episode also highlights Sutton’s global service work, including community development efforts in Senegal and a November 2025 trip to Ethiopia with Cure Blindness, where he witnessed cataract surgeries that restore sight in minutes at a cost of about $75 per person.If you would like to help restore sight to someone in need, consider donating at www.cureblindness.org.
Stephen Fernands on CES-Cares, Microgrids, and What’s Next for Competitive Energy
In this episode of The Energy Insider Podcast, Jack Doueck sits down with Stephen Fernands, CEO of Customized Energy Solutions and a founding sponsor of Energy Marketing Conferences, to explore what mission-led scale looks like in the real world. Stephen shares how CES has grown from its 1998 roots into a global platform supporting retail suppliers, generation optimization, demand response, and market intelligence across North America. He also pulls back the curtain on CES-Cares and the practical work behind microgrids and productive-use entrepreneurship in Africa and India, including lessons from Zambia and how reinvestment and on-bill style financing help projects last. The conversation closes with Stephen’s optimistic outlook for competitive energy and grounded advice for newcomers on curiosity, prioritization, and building high-value skills.
Joe Tabeling on Stopping Bad Actors Before They Burn Us All
Recorded on site at EMC, host Jack Doueck sits down with Joe Tabeling of EG Energy Insight to talk about the one issue that can derail everything else in competitive retail energy: trust. Joe shares the real-world ways bad actors create damage, from misrepresenting who they are to rushing customers through contracts and leaving them with bill shock months later. He explains why these tactics feel more common in a volatile market, why residential customers are often the most exposed, and why the clean-up always lands on the reputable brokers and suppliers who have to repair relationships and credibility. The conversation closes with Joe’s practical framework for protecting energy choice: stronger individual licensing, true contract transparency, shared industry standards that stop repeat offenders from bouncing to the next firm, and customer education that helps people recognize a bad actor before they sign.
Deana Dennis on Community Choice in New Hampshire, CPCNH’s $20M in Savings, and What Other States Can Learn
Jack Doueck speaks with Deana Dennis, Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs at Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH), about how community choice aggregation is reshaping electricity supply in New Hampshire. Deana explains CPCNH’s public, nonprofit model helping municipalities aggregate load and offer alternatives to utility default supply. Now serving about 180,000 customers across 68 communities, CPCNH has delivered more than $20 million in savings in under two years. The conversation covers procurement strategy, rate options up to 100% renewable, the Aspire program, community solar development, and why fair competition and transparent regulation matter as demand and innovation grow.
Special Extended Edition: Does Consumer Energy Choice Help or Hurt Consumers? Frank Caliva on the Case for Restructured Markets
This extended episode of The Energy Insider Podcast features Jack Doueck in a deep-dive with Frank Caliva, national spokesperson for Retail Energy Supply Association and founder of PR Quinlan Associates, on whether consumer energy choice helps or hurts customers. Frank clarifies why competitive markets are regulated—not deregulated—addresses common pricing myths and explains why long-term trends matter more than snapshot comparisons. The discussion covers utility price benchmarks, Maryland’s SB1, grid reliability, and rising demand, concluding that competitive markets can drive innovation, price stability, and consumer value when paired with strong oversight and education.
Qadir Khan on Building CPV Retail, Broker Partnerships, and Fixing Retail Energy’s Tech Gap
Recorded on site at EMC24 at the Gaylord National Harbor, Jack speaks with Qadir Khan, President of CPV Retail, about building and scaling competitive retail energy over 25 years. Qadir shares his path across operations, pricing, and supply, from Con Edison Energy to launching and selling a $250M retail business. He explains CPV Retail’s C&I-focused strategy, leveraging CPV’s generation portfolio to offer flexible, long-term contracts and sustainability-aligned solutions. The conversation highlights broker partnerships, PJM cost dynamics, peak management, and the need for modern, integrated retail energy systems, closing with reflections on industry collaboration and progress.
Claire Dépit-Strömbäck on Community Choice Aggregation, Clean Power Growth, and Leading Policy with Confidence
In this episode of The Energy Insider Podcast, Jack speaks with Claire Dépit-Strömbäck, Director of Public Policy at Lean Energy US, to demystify Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and why it matters for local energy decision-making. Claire explains how CCAs work, the range of models across states, and why they now serve millions of customers nationwide. The conversation covers what suppliers need to succeed in CCA markets—reliability, transparency, and alignment with community values—and closes with Claire’s leadership journey into U.S. energy policy and her call to stay curious and engaged.
Misti Day on Retail Energy Risk, Leadership Growth, and Building Mentorship Through WEA
Recorded on site at EMC24 at the Gaylord Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, Jack sits down with Misti Day, VP of Operations and Operational Accounting at Spark Energy, for a candid discussion on building a retail energy career by mastering the details that drive results. Misti traces her path from East Texas to Enron and through UBS, Direct Energy, and Spark, sharing how accounting evolved into operational leadership. The conversation covers margin integrity, churn, fraud, deposits, bad debt, and why constant monitoring matters. Misti also discusses her leadership in the Women’s Energy Alliance, the value of mentorship, and learning to step beyond traditional roles to lead with confidence.
Rick Barry on Confidence, Fundamentals, and Why Pressure Is a Choice
In this inspiring conversation, NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry shares lessons every leader and high performer can apply. Rick and host Jack Doueck explore overcoming adversity, staying calm under pressure, and why preparation and self-belief matter most. Rick explains how he turned his underhand free throw into a competitive advantage despite criticism, and why he still competes at an elite level in professional pickleball. He also weighs in on the GOAT debate and rejects the idea of a single greatest player in a team sport. His message is clear: master the fundamentals, protect your health, and build a foundation that supports big goals.
Andrew Singer on Constellation: Building Competitive Markets, Leading with Culture, and What Customers Will Demand Next
In Episode 3 of The Energy Insider, Jack speaks with Andrew Singer, VP of C&I Power, Regional Sales at Constellation Energy, about building durable growth in a policy-driven market. Andrew shares his unconventional path into retail power, from law and entrepreneurship to early market expansion as states opened to competition. He explains how customer-driven products, evolving risk management, and Constellation’s integrated model shape today’s strategy, with carbon-free energy at the core. Looking ahead, he highlights rising customer expectations driven by AI and digital experience, continued demand for clean energy and demand response, and closes with practical advice for newcomers on learning markets, pricing drivers, and listening to customers.
Ashley Britt on Octopus Energy: Mentorship, Demand Flexibility, and the Kraken Platform
Recorded on site at EMC24 at the Gaylord National Harbor, Jack speaks with Ashley Britt, CFO of Octopus Energy, about her path through retail energy and what’s changing inside modern suppliers. Ashley traces her career from operational accounting at Spark Energy through APG&E, earning an MBA from Rice during COVID, and stepping into senior leadership. The conversation covers learning curves, ambition, and imposter syndrome, plus how Octopus attracts talent at scale. It closes with Octopus’s U.S. strategy—demand-side flexibility, storage, smart devices, and how Kraken and KrakenFlex enable lean operations, customer engagement, and real-time load control.
Deryl Brown on the Real Forces Shaping Competitive Energy
In the inaugural episode of The Energy Insider, host Jack Doueck sits down with Deryl Brown, Chairman of Atlantic Energy, for a candid look at the forces shaping competitive retail energy. Drawing on decades of leadership, Deryl explains why regulation remains the industry’s biggest headwind, how utility influence shapes policy and perception, and what market consolidation means for suppliers. He also explores where real innovation is emerging—from batteries and local generation to real-time pricing—framing storage and flexibility as the next major arbitrage opportunity, and closes with a pragmatic take on trust, education, and the uncertain path to expanded retail choice.
