In order to transition to green energy, we need to build infrastructure—but to build that infrastructure, we must mine for critical minerals. Journalist and author Ernest Scheyder, a senior correspondent for Reuters, joins The Young IKE to discuss his National Book Award-longlisted book, The War Below, and the hidden costs of the modern mining boom.

We explore the economic, political, and environmental trade-offs behind mining, why rare earths are the oil of the 21st century, and how we can transition to clean energy without repeating the mistakes of the past.

Guest Information:

Guest Name: Ernest Scheyder

Bio: Ernest Scheyder is a senior correspondent at Reuters, covering the green energy transition and the critical minerals industry. His book, The War Below, was longlisted for the National Book Award and explores the untold stories behind mineral extraction.

Links:

🔹 Order The War Below – HERE

🔹 Ernest Scheyder, Reuters– HERE

Episode Outline:

🔹 The New Oil? – Why rare earth minerals are the driving force behind 21st-century geopolitics.

🔹 Too Special to Mine? – The debate over mining in protected lands like the Boundary Waters and Indigenous territories.

🔹 Supply Chains & The Global Economy – How the pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the mineral supply chain.

🔹 Responsible Mining & Transparency – The rise of certification programs, ethical sourcing, and corporate accountability.

🔹 What Comes Next? – How government policy, industry standards, and public awareness can shape a more sustainable future.

Episode Sponsor:

🎙️ The Young Ike is bringing these conversations into the real world with live, quarterly community dialogues. Thank you to the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the IWLA for making this possible. Learn more at iwlamnvalley.org

Host & Show Info:

Host Name: Griffith Pugh

Podcast Website: www.theyoungike.org

Community & Calls to Action:

📩 Contact the host: griffith@theyoungike.org

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