Rock Stock Channel
The Age of Electricity is creating enormous opportunities in the critical minerals investment thematic. Howard, Rodney and Matt provide in-depth discussions with major developers and analysts covering lithium battery metals, rare earths, and many other specialty commodities.
10
Spodumene Shortage, Rare Earth Reshoring, Capital Costs, Europe Energy Security
<p>Dmitry Silversteyn, Senior Research Analyst of Water Tower Research joins in discussion with Howard Klein and Matt Fernley to break down the latest lithium market trends, rare earths outlook, critical minerals investing, and the geopolitical forces shaping commodity stocks. They cover spodumene prices, rare earth supply chains, China dependency, US and Western reshoring, energy security, and why critical minerals equities are lagging underlying commodity prices.</p> <p>Follow Water Tower Research:<br> X - https://x.com/WTR_Research<br> LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/water-tower-research/</p> <p>This episode is essential viewing for anyone following lithium...
Anson Resources: DLE Validation, PFS Near, And Utah Lithium Catalysts (Bruce Richardson)
<p>Howard Klein and Matt Fernley interview Bruce Richardson, Executive Chairman and CEO of Anson Resources, for an update on the company’s Green River Lithium Project in Utah.</p> <p>The conversation covers direct lithium extraction (DLE), PFS timing, funding options, and Anson’s position within the developing US critical minerals supply chain. Bruce also discusses recent DLE test work, the significance of low-impurity brine, potential cost advantages at Green River, Utah permitting progress, DOE funding opportunities, and relationships with POSCO and Aquatech. The interview also includes updates on the Paradox Lithium Project and Yellow Cat.</p> <p>Chapters</p> <...
Lithium Deals & Supply Crunch, Commodity Shock, Q2 Metals Update
<p>Iran War shocks commodities—lithium deals surge while supply risks grow.<br> Is stagflation coming? Oil, sulfur, and EV supply chains explained.</p> <p>In this Rock Stock Recap, Howard Klein, Matt Fernley and Rodney Hooper break down how Middle East tensions are impacting global commodities, from sulfur bottlenecks to delayed oil supply recovery. We also dive into major lithium deals, China vs West supply dynamics, and what it all means for EVs, inflation, and future markets.</p> <p>At the end of our discussion, we've attached an update chat with Q2 Metals following their most recent press release in...
America’s Lithium. Lithium Americas' Jon Evans
<p>Jonathan Evans, CEO of Lithium Americas, discusses the development of Thacker Pass — one of the most significant lithium projects under construction in North America.</p> <p>Howard Klein and Jonathan walk through the economics, financing, and execution strategy behind Thacker Pass, including the role of strategic partners such as General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy loan facility supporting the project.</p> <p>Jonathan explains how Lithium Americas plans to scale production of battery-grade lithium carbonate, why the company chose carbonate rather than hydroxide as its initial product, and how the project’s process technology has been vali...
Recharge Mar26 (Sodium-Ion, Graphite AAM, China EVs, Nickel Supply, Battery Costs, VRFBs)
<p>In March 2026's Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (RK Equity/Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss key developments along the battery supply chain, including:</p> <p>• Sodium-ion scaling and hybrid pack strategies emerging from Battery Show Asia<br> • Graphite AAM dynamics, including synthetic cost pressure and natural graphite upside<br> • China EV demand weakness driven by subsidy changes and macro conditions<br> • Indonesian nickel supply risks from HPAL exposure, quotas, and environmental constraints<br> • Rising battery costs linked to oil, sulphur shortages, and broader supply chain inflation<br> • VRFB competitiveness versus lithium-ion in long-duration storage, with LCOS and dur...
AI Drives Lithium Demand; EVs Take a Back Seat | Benchmark’s Iola Hughes
<p>Iola Hughes, Head of Research at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, discusses the 2026 EV and battery energy storage system (BESS) outlook.</p> <p>Register for Benchmark GigaUSA 2026: https://www.benchmarkminerals.com/events/giga-usa</p> <p>From our perspective, this was a timely conversation. Iola recently published Benchmark’s latest outlook, forecasting overall battery demand growth of roughly 16.5% in 2026 to more than 2 terawatt-hours, following strong growth in the prior year. We wanted to dig into what is driving that forecast, where the differences are between EV and BESS demand, and how current market conditions are shaping the battery materials landscape.</p> <p>Ma...
Sulfur Supply Risk, Aluminum/Bauxite Outlook, China Five-Year Plan
<p>Rock Stock Recap breaks down the biggest market-moving trends in critical minerals, battery materials, and global supply chains. In this episode, Howard Klein, Matt Fernley, and Rodney Hooper discuss how the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruptions could impact sulfur, sulfuric acid, aluminum, bauxite, graphite, rare earths, EVs, and lithium markets.</p> <p>The conversation covers why sulfur may be the most overlooked supply chain risk, how aluminum smelters could face major disruption, and why bauxite could become a more interesting investment theme. The team also explores China’s latest five-year plan, the outlook for rare earth demand dr...
Talking Smack: Big Lithium’s Alex Grant Making Magnesium Great Again
<p>Alex Grant (Big Lithium) discusses direct lithium extraction (DLE), US lithium project financing, and the growing strategic importance of magnesium in Western supply chains.</p> <p>Alex Interview on HyperChange: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Aa1BD7a9s</p> <p>Alex was an early advocate of DLE through his work with Lilac Solutions, Vulcan Energy and other advanced lithium projects. Howard Klein and Matt Fernley ask him where DLE stands today as projects in Arkansas, Argentina and Europe move closer to final investment decisions, and whether the next few years will prove the commercial case for unconventional...
PDAC 2026 Recap + Company Interviews
<p>In this Rock Stock Recap, Howard Klein and Matt Fernley share their key takeaways from PDAC 2026 in Toronto, the world’s largest mining conference and one of the most important annual gatherings for the global mining, lithium, and critical minerals industry.</p> <p>After several days meeting with mining companies, investors, policymakers, and analysts, we discuss the major themes emerging from the conference - including the growing geopolitical importance of critical minerals, government policy support for new projects, and the evolving outlook for the lithium market and battery supply chain.</p> <p>We examine recent announcements from the Canadian go...
High Purity Alumina: Why You Should Care | Rock Stock University
<p>High Purity Alumina (HPA) Explained: Uses, Market Growth, Supply, and Investment Opportunities</p> <p>High Purity Alumina (HPA) is one of the most critical materials powering modern technology—from LEDs and semiconductors to lithium-ion batteries and AI infrastructure. Yet, it remains widely misunderstood by investors.</p> <p>In this episode of Rock Stock University, commodity strategist Matt Fernley and investor Ben Hammond explain what HPA is, why purity matters, how it's made, and why demand could surge in the coming decade. Learn how China dominates supply, why Western markets may face shortages, and what this means for future prices an...
