That’s part of what makes The Energy Tailgate, Chevron’s new podcast, so interesting. Rather than diving into complicated industry terminology, the podcast takes a conversational approach to a topic that affects all of us every day.
Hosted by professional race car driver and television personality Tanner Foust, The Energy Tailgate recently launched its first episode featuring Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth. Together, the two sit down for a relaxed discussion about how energy powers modern life and what it takes to meet the world’s growing energy needs.
The setting is refreshingly simple: the tailgate of a pickup truck.
It’s a fitting backdrop for a series designed to make conversations about energy more accessible and understandable for everyday people.
“We wanted to have real conversations about the energy that powers our lives,” Foust explains as the series kicks off.
For those unfamiliar with Foust, he’s more than just a racing personality. He holds a degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology from the University of Colorado Boulder and has built a career around motorsports, television, and innovation. His curiosity and easygoing style help keep the conversation approachable, even when tackling big topics.
In the debut episode, Wirth shares insights drawn from more than four decades at Chevron. A chemical engineer by training, he joined the company in 1982 as a design engineer and worked his way through leadership positions across the organization before becoming CEO in 2018.
The discussion covers several topics that are increasingly relevant in today’s world, including why reliable energy matters, how science and economics influence energy decisions, and what the future of energy could look like.
The episode begins by exploring a simple but important question: Why is reliable energy so essential?
From transportation and manufacturing to healthcare and communication, nearly every aspect of modern life depends on consistent access to energy. Wirth discusses the challenge of meeting growing global demand while continuing to improve efficiency and develop new technologies.
The conversation then shifts to the role science and economics play in shaping energy solutions. Rather than presenting energy as a one-size-fits-all issue, Wirth explains how innovation, investment, technology, and consumer needs all work together in determining what comes next.
Finally, the pair look toward the future, discussing how the energy landscape continues to evolve and what that could mean for businesses, communities, and families.
Whether you’re someone who follows energy policy closely or simply wants a better understanding of the systems that keep daily life moving, the podcast offers an approachable starting point.
And that’s really the appeal of The Energy Tailgate. Instead of talking over listeners, it invites them into the conversation.
Future episodes will continue exploring how energy impacts everyday life, where it comes from, and where it may be headed in the years ahead.
The first episode, Energy Fuels Everyday Life, featuring Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth, is available now on Spotify, YouTube, and other major podcast platforms.
Sometimes the best conversations really do happen around a tailgate.
To listen to the first episode and learn more about The Energy Tailgate, visit Chevron’s YouTube channel or search for the podcast on Spotify.
