What if the clean energy transition is built on one of the dirtiest secrets in industry—rare earth metals? They power EVs, AI, and defense systems, yet most are processed overseas with toxic, outdated methods. In this episode, Nicholas Myers, CEO of Phoenix Tailings, shares how his company is transforming mining waste into a clean, domestic source of critical materials. From backyard prototypes to pioneering world-first predictive complexation, Nick shares the grit, innovation, and vision it takes to scale deep tech in one of the world’s most entrenched industries—and why zero-waste, zero-emission metals are vital for both energy security and the environment.

Tune in to hear how backyard experiments grew into a global metals revolution.

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Timestamps:

00:58 – Nick’s unconventional journey

04:17 – Backyard experiments begin

07:22 – Tackling mining waste

11:23 – Predictive complexation breakthrough

13:40 – AI in metallurgy

17:04 – US-China supply chain exposure