Energy Doesn't Have to Be So Boring: Watts The Tea

Aaron talks with Zainab Mirza and Hannah Malus, the co-hosts of Watts the Tea, a show that translates clean energy news and policy into the language of Gen Z gossip.If you want to know why clean energy has a messaging problem, and how you might fix it with a little help from Twilight, Real Housewives, and a healthy disrespect for the sweater vest, this is the episode for you.Listen to this episode here, or on:YouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyFollow Watts the Tea on InstagramThis Week In Solar is always brought to you by Exact Solar, your locally owned, twenty-year-old solar installer for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And starting today, we have a special bonus for This Week In Solar Listeners.For a limited time (July 1st-August 31st, 2026), we’ll pay you $1000 if you refer a friend to us and they go solar.(We only install in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, so please do not refer anyone outside those states).All you have to do is:Click the “Refer a Friend and Earn $1000” button below.Fill in your information (we need your address to mail you a check if your friend goes solar).Select Aaron Nichols as the sales representative.Add your friend’s name, address, and contact information.Get a $1000 check mailed to you if your friend goes solar with us!Refer a Friend and Earn $1000Expect to learn:Why so many clean energy CEOs are showing up to Washington with a “first-time ask to save their industry” and why that doesn’t workWhy you will never hear the phrase “electrons to the grid” on Watts the TeaWhat Zainab and Hannah have against sweater vestsQuotes from the episode:“Clean energy is so cool. It’s interesting. It’s like more people care about it now than ever… but it lives in this media silo of long form, really wonky, technical, expert level analysis when more people want to be in the conversation.”— Hannah Malus“You can learn what a virtual power plant is in three minutes without needing a textbook on it. And so we’re convinced we can do it.”— Zainab Mirza