Chris Berry aka "the voice of reason" is the founder and President of House Mountain Partner. Ernest Scheyder is a journalist and the author of "The War Below."

Topics:

The US critical metals strategy

The US trend towards state capitalism

Picking winners

LAC/GM and the DOE loan "deal"

Free money??

The market bottom

The OPEC analogy to lithium

Lithium's version of fracking

DLE's future role

Lithium as a "party animal"

The long road to a circular economy

Rapid fire

Ron Mitchell has one of the lithium industry's most impressive resumes having worked for Talison, Tianqi, and a resource development project. He also chaired the LME lithium and cobalt committee for several years.

Topics:

The challenge of developing resources

De-risking projects

Price

Africa - reality vs hype

Lepidolite - mountains of residue

The beauty of vertical integration

The hard rock cost curve

Incentive prices

Hard rock conversion beyond China

Peak spodumene in Australia

Risk management tools

Issues with spot price

What's next?

Rapid fire

Chris Doornbos is the Founder and CEO of E3 Lithium.

Topics:

Thinking differently about lithium

The Alberta advantage

The Team

DLE

Sorbent flexibility

Timing

Financing options

Price & price supports

The "lithium buyer's club"?

The cost curve

Influencing policy

The critical path

Rapid fire

I provide additional perspective of why I believe the "lithium winter" is over.

Chinese anti-involution measures are a contributing factor, as is continued strong demand growth and less lithium feedstock and chemical inventory in China than many people think.

My guest is Cormac O'Laoire, PhD the Managing Director of Electrios Consultants.

We have a far ranging discussion on the rise of China in the lithium-ion battery space. We cover how China out competed their formerly stronger rivals in Japan and Korea and discuss the current and future state of batteries, NEVs and BESS.

Given recent events we also cover lepidolite in Yichun and brine in Qinghai.

This is a solo episode where I share some thoughts regarding why I think the recent "lithium winter" is over. I believe price has bottomed and a new upward cycle has begun.

Jesse Edmondson and Arthur Orduña are playing key roles in shaping the future of lithium production and the broader battery supply chain in Arkansas.

Together, they bring deep experience and a shared mission: to put Arkansas squarely on the global lithium map.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why major players like Exxon, Equinor, and Chevron have chosen Arkansas for their first lithium investments

• How a small startup like Standard Lithium partnered with a Norwegian oil major—and why that collaboration makes strategic sense

• How Arkansas is leveraging the Smackover Formation to build a full lithium-ion battery ecosystem through initiatives like the Arkansas Lithium Innovation Accelerator and other emerging programs

• Why making cathode materials in Arkansas isn’t just possible—it’s practical

I also extend a direct invitation to Korean battery makers to partner for cathode production in Arkansas

This is a uniquely American story—about innovation, energy, and new beginnings in unexpected places.

Stick around for Rapid Fire.

Sam Pigott is the CEO of Lithium Argentina. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Fastmarkets event In Las Vegas

Topics:

Sam's backstory

Status of Cauchari

Relationship with Ganfeng

The JV model with Ganfeng

Building 150K MT of new capacity in Salta Province

Areas of focus

Long-term supply challenges

Leveraging DLE for lower cost

Product optionality

Growing as a leader

Infrastructure needs in Argentina

The talent pool

Local politics

Success factors

Sam's recent China visit

Rapid fire