Cameron sits down with Matteo Jaramillo, the former Tesla exec building one of the most ambitious climate companies in the world: Form Energy. They dive into long-duration energy storage, the AI-driven demand boom, and what it takes to scale hard tech from idea to gigawatt-hours.

- Why Matteo left a path toward the priesthood after Yale Divinity School
- Simple breakdown of iron-air batteries
- Why 100-hour duration matters for grid reliability and extreme weather
- How iron-air can be ~10x cheaper than lithium-ion for long-duration storage
- Form’s first deployments and the path from R&D to commercialization
- The Google Energy Deal
- Scaling Hard Tech (and Avoiding the “Trap Doors”)
- Lessons from the boom-and-bust of battery startups
- Balancing commercial progress and technical readiness so neither outruns the other
- Why manufacturing is the hardest and final “trap door” in battery startups
- How Form produced 100,000+ electrodes (60 miles of material)
- Why big tech isn’t just buying power, but funding new energy technologies
- The role of Form’s data set (tens of millions of operating hours) in using AI to accelerate materials and electrochemistry innovation
- Lessons from Tesla & Elon Musk
- Matteo’s take on Elon’s aggressive deadlines—and why he runs Form differently

And lots more!

Building a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.

Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING.

Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.

In this episode of Giant Ideas, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returns to explore the person behind the public role. Invited to choose three photographs that define her life, Jacinda reflects on a childhood shaped by New Zealand, parents who modelled service and fairness, and the early experiences that forged her lifelong commitment to tackling inequality and child poverty.

She shares a candid glimpse into the emotional weight of leadership, including the lasting impact of March 15, and why stepping down wasn’t about burnout, knowing when to pass the baton. Jacinda also talks about becoming a mother while in office, learning to let go of control, accepting help, and challenging the myth that women must “do it all” alone. She also describes how she’s crafting her next chapter and why her family makes her so happy.

In this conversation:

• The three “photographs” that define Jacinda’s life and values
• How she was a a reluctant leader
• The emotional legacy of crisis leadership
• Motherhood, power, and the myth of “doing it all”
• Pushing back on misogyny
• Life after high office and why she has “no regrets”

Building a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.

Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING.

Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.

Today on the podcast we are joined by Jacinda Ardern - former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and the world's youngest female head of government. This is a conversation for anyone who wants to lead with kindness, and learn how to deal with high pressure situations.

As PM, Jacinda became famous worldwide for her unique leadership style: leading with compassion and empathy. A 'different kind of power’ as she puts it.

Her time in office was marked by her handling of major crises. She rushed through gun control laws within weeks of the Christchurch mosque attack. When Covid hit, Jacinda moved decisively to a rapid lockdown, something that would later prove divisive. In the midst of all that, Ardern was the second ever elected leader to give birth while in office.

Building a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.

Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING.

Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.