Rock Stock Channel

https://feed.podbean.com/rockstockchannel/feed.xml

243.7K

Downloads

329

Episodes

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.

Episodes

4 hours ago

Lithium Deals & Supply Crunch, Commodity Shock, Q2 Metals Update

4 hours ago

Iran War shocks commodities—lithium deals surge while supply risks grow.
Is stagflation coming? Oil, sulfur, and EV supply chains explained.

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.

At the end of our discussion, we've attached an update chat with Q2 Metals following their most recent press release including new spodumene hits and an extended MRE delivery date.

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(06:12) Sulfur Supply Importance
(08:19) Supply Restart Delays
(10:24) Inflation And Fertilizers
(12:04) Stagflation And Gold
(14:17) Market Outlook Debate
(17:55) Oil Products Inflation
(19:46) Energy Transition Challenges
(24:10) Lithium Offtake Strategies
(25:27) China Supply Dominance
(28:54) Lithium Cost Curve Evolution
(31:53) Conversion Capacity Issues
(33:44) Global EV Supply Chain
(35:42) Market Maturity And Financing
(39:27) Cost Of Capital
(42:51) Exploration And New Projects
(46:03) Future Lithium Supply Gap
(47:34) Q2 Metals Update

Sponsors

- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)

- USCF Investments - commodity-focused ETFs (e.g., CPER copper, ZSB battery metals, USG gold, SDCI diversified commodities).
(Website: https://www.uscfinvestments.com/ | X: https://x.com/USCFInvestments)

Links

- Strategic Lithium Reserve (SLR) White Paper: https://blog.rkequity.com/2025/12/08/strategic-lithium-reserve/
- Read Matt's research blog: https://blog.rkequity.com/
- Sign up for the Lithium-Ion Bull newsletter/Matt's Blogs: https://rkequity.com/

Have a question? Drop us an email: rockstockchannel@rkequity.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rockstockchannel
Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lithium-ion-rocks/id1457969172
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KiMIZOPaDg8ENfPJMSINq
X (Twitter):
Howard: https://x.com/LithiumIonBull
Matt: https://x.com/matt_fernley
Rodney: https://x.com/RodneyHooper13

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Howard, Matt and Rodney are not financial advisors nor broker-dealers, this video is for information purposes only and should not be considered investment or financial advice. Please do your own independent research and read the disclaimer at the end of the video or on RK Equity's website https://www.rkequity.com

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

4 days ago

America’s Lithium. Lithium Americas' Jon Evans

4 days ago

Jonathan Evans, CEO of Lithium Americas, discusses the development of Thacker Pass — one of the most significant lithium projects under construction in North America.

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.

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 validated over multiple engineering and pilot stages.

We also discuss the broader context shaping the lithium market today — including EV demand, grid-scale batteries, supply chain security, and the growing role of batteries in supporting power demand from data centers and AI infrastructure.

Topics covered include:

- The construction timeline and ramp-up plan for Thacker Pass
- How the GM partnership and offtake agreement is structured
- Details around the DOE loan and project financing
- The economics of clay-based lithium versus hard-rock and brine deposits
- Lithium pricing dynamics and how producers think about long-term contracts
- Why battery demand is expanding beyond electric vehicles into grid storage
- The geopolitical implications of the battery supply chain

For investors and industry observers, Thacker Pass represents a case study in building large-scale critical mineral supply in the United States — from permitting and engineering to financing and construction.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Thacker Pass Overview
(00:09:59) Evan's Career Path To CEO
(00:13:06) Valuation, Capex, And Key Catalysts
(00:23:31) Why Clay Should Work
(00:30:36) Deposit Quality And Processing Advantages
(00:39:27) De-Risking Construction And Execution
(00:47:49) Batteries, AI, And Grid Stability
(00:57:09) Lithium vs Rare Earth Leverage
(00:59:51) Policy, Pricing, And Reserves
(01:04:25) Expansion To Phase Two And Beyond

Sponsors

- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)

Links

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

5 days ago

Recharge Mar26 (Sodium-Ion, Graphite AAM, China EVs, Nickel Supply, Battery Costs, VRFBs)

5 days ago

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:

• Sodium-ion scaling and hybrid pack strategies emerging from Battery Show Asia
• Graphite AAM dynamics, including synthetic cost pressure and natural graphite upside
• China EV demand weakness driven by subsidy changes and macro conditions
• Indonesian nickel supply risks from HPAL exposure, quotas, and environmental constraints
• Rising battery costs linked to oil, sulphur shortages, and broader supply chain inflation
• VRFB competitiveness versus lithium-ion in long-duration storage, with LCOS and duration economics in focus

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(05:15) Sodium Market Potential
(07:27) Lithium Metal Breakthroughs
(09:04) Silicon-carbon Batteries
(10:21) China EV Sales Weakness
(13:18) Oil Prices And EV Demand
(18:56) Supply Chain Cost Pressures
(22:15) Graphite Market Shifts
(26:38) Battery Price Impact
(30:58) China BESS Market Dynamics
(33:22) Indonesian Nickel Challenges
(37:00) Nickel Supply Outlook
(40:40) Long Duration Storage Debate
(46:30) Closing Remarks

Links

- Read Matt's research blog: https://blog.rkequity.com/

Have a question? Drop us an email: rockstockchannel@rkequity.com
Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lithium-ion-rocks/id1457969172
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KiMIZOPaDg8ENfPJMSINq
X (Twitter):
Matt: https://x.com/matt_fernley

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Matt and Cormac are not financial advisors nor broker-dealers, this video is for information purposes only and should not be considered investment or financial advice. Please do your own independent research and read the disclaimer at the end of the video or on RK Equity's website https://www.rkequity.com

Friday Mar 20, 2026

AI Drives Lithium Demand; EVs Take a Back Seat | Benchmark’s Iola Hughes

Friday Mar 20, 2026

Iola Hughes, Head of Research at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, discusses the 2026 EV and battery energy storage system (BESS) outlook.

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.

Matt Fernley focuses on Benchmark’s methodology, including the distinction between battery installations and shipments, the impact of inventory build in the BESS market, and how lithium prices affect storage economics across China, the US and Europe. Rodney Hooper examines China EV demand, export pressure on western automakers, the outlook for plug-in hybrids and range extenders, and the competitive position of European OEMs. Howard Klein frames the broader discussion around geopolitics, power prices, energy security and how crises can accelerate solar and storage adoption.

We also cover:

- 2026 battery demand forecast
- EV market slowdown vs BESS growth
- Battery storage inventories and pricing
- US battery policy and domestic sourcing
- Lithium prices and energy storage economics
- Sodium-ion batteries vs LFP
- China EV exports and global competition
- LFP supply chain challenges outside China
- Tesla energy storage and Megapack sourcing
- Humanoid robots, autonomy and future battery demand

This interview should be useful for investors, battery materials developers, EV supply chain participants and anyone following lithium, LFP, battery storage, critical minerals and the future of electrification.

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(03:26) Forecast Methodology
(08:40) BESS Inventories And Pricing
(11:50) Regional Storage Economics
(15:05) US Battery Policy
(17:21) Winter Grid Performance
(20:55) Sodium-Ion Outlook
(24:22) Bigger Storage Systems
(27:01) Plug-In Hybrid Growth
(30:30) China EV Slowdown
(34:34) China Exports And Europe
(38:32) Robotaxis And Autonomy
(40:02) LFP Supply Chain
(44:53) Humanoid Robot Demand
(47:13) Energy Crises And Storage
(49:12) Tesla And US Sourcing
(51:50) EV Recovery Outlook

Sponsors

- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)

Links

- Sign up for the Lithium-Ion Bull newsletter/Matt's Blogs: https://rkequity.com/

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

Friday Mar 13, 2026

Sulfur Supply Risk, Aluminum/Bauxite Outlook, China Five-Year Plan

Friday Mar 13, 2026

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.

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 driven by robotics, drones, and defense, and what slowing Chinese EV sales could mean for global battery materials demand. The episode closes with a lithium market update, including spodumene pricing, upstream shortages, and recent strategic offtake activity.

If you follow lithium stocks, rare earth stocks, aluminum markets, EV supply chains, battery metals, or China industrial policy, this episode is packed with timely insights.

Topics covered:
- Iran war supply chain disruptions
- Sulfur and sulfuric acid market risks
- Aluminum price outlook
- Bauxite market and Guinea exports
- Graphite demand and oil price links
- Rare earth supply chain challenges
- China five-year plan analysis
- Chinese EV sales and exports
- Lithium market update
- Battery materials investing trends

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(04:24) Sulfur Supply Risk
(11:21) Aluminum Squeeze Risk
(15:59) Bauxite Market Outlook
(21:27) Graphite And Rare Earths
(26:43) Rare Earth Supply Limits
(30:43) China’s Five-Year Plan
(38:55) China EV Sales
(42:40) Lithium Market Update
(45:11) Closing Remarks

Sponsors

- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)

Links

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

Tuesday Mar 10, 2026

Talking Smack: Big Lithium’s Alex Grant Making Magnesium Great Again

Tuesday Mar 10, 2026

Alex Grant (Big Lithium) discusses direct lithium extraction (DLE), US lithium project financing, and the growing strategic importance of magnesium in Western supply chains.

Alex Interview on HyperChange: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Aa1BD7a9s

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 brine resources.

We also examine the key issues shaping lithium markets and critical minerals policy:
How lithium price volatility affects project finance, why large companies still struggle to move projects forward, the role of China in setting global pricing, and whether Western governments will need to provide stronger industrial policy support for domestic lithium supply.

A major part of the conversation focuses on the shift in critical minerals narratives from decarbonization toward national security, defense manufacturing and AI infrastructure. Alex explains why he believes many large-scale lithium and processing projects are effectively becoming state-backed strategic assets rather than purely market-driven developments.

In the second half, we discuss Alex’s current venture, Magrathea, and why magnesium may be one of the most underappreciated critical materials in the Western industrial base. He outlines the company’s technology, funding history, Pentagon support, Arkansas joint venture plans, and the broader case for rebuilding domestic magnesium production in the US.

Topics covered include:
- DLE and lithium brine projects
- Arkansas Smackover lithium and bromine region
- Standard Lithium, Vulcan Energy and Rio Tinto
- Lithium pricing, CapEx and project finance
- Critical minerals policy under Trump
- China’s influence on lithium and magnesium markets
- US industrial policy and strategic materials
- Magnesium supply chain risks
- Magrathea’s commercialization strategy

This conversation is intended for investors, operators and policymakers following lithium, battery materials, critical minerals, energy security and US industrial strategy.

Chapters

(00:00) Alex Grant And DLE
(03:44) DLE's Make-Or-Break Phase
(09:15) Rising DLE Costs
(11:50) Financing Lithium Projects
(15:09) China's Pricing Power
(24:13) State-Backed Critical Minerals
(30:09) Defense And AI Narrative Shift
(39:54) Why Magnesium
(43:56) Magnesium And National Security
(48:53) Magrathea's Scale-Up Plan
(59:53) Saudi Arabia And Arkansas Support

Sponsors

- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)

Links

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

Friday Mar 06, 2026

PDAC 2026 Recap + Company Interviews

Friday Mar 06, 2026

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.

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.

We examine recent announcements from the Canadian government aimed at accelerating investment in critical minerals development, as well as the role Canada could play in strengthening Western supply chains for lithium, phosphate, graphite, and other battery metals. We also discuss the disconnect between strong long-term demand expectations and recent volatility in lithium equities, including market reactions to EV demand data and broader geopolitical developments.

From a market perspective, we cover several key issues currently shaping the sector:

- The outlook for lithium demand and supply over the coming decades
- Funding challenges and talent shortages in mining project development
- Differences emerging between lithium carbonate and spodumene markets
- The need for midstream processing and conversion capacity outside China
- The often overlooked role of phosphate in the LFP battery supply chain
- New lithium product pathways such as lithium chloride and lithium sulfate
- Valuation opportunities in Argentine lithium brine assets

We also discuss how governments - particularly in North America - are increasingly viewing battery supply chains as strategic infrastructure, with implications for defense, energy security, and the global technology race.

Following our discussion, the video includes a series of short interviews recorded at PDAC with several companies active in the critical minerals and battery metals sector, including:

- Q2 Metals
- PMET Resources / Elevra Lithium
- The Metals Company
- Galan Lithium
- NOA Lithium Brines
- Lithium Africa
- E3 Lithium
- First Phosphate
- Surge Battery Metals
- Libra Energy Materials

These interviews provide additional insights directly from companies developing projects across the lithium, battery metals, and critical minerals ecosystem.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:13) PDAC 2026 Takeaways
(00:03:20) Recent Lithium Market Volatility
(00:04:58) Funding And Talent Challenges
(00:06:38) Lithium Demand Outlook
(00:07:42) Strategic Interest In Lithium
(00:08:45) Canada Policy Support
(00:11:38) Lithium Raw Material Deficit
(00:13:43) Battery Supply Chain Strategy
(00:15:34) Midstream Processing Gap
(00:16:12) Phosphate In LFP Batteries
(00:17:21) Lithium Cost Curve Debate
(00:19:34) Lithium Chloride Market
(00:24:11) Argentina Lithium Opportunity
(00:26:38) EV Demand Concerns
(00:28:31) Closing And PDAC Interviews
(00:29:10) The Metals Company
(00:38:46) First Phosphate
(00:43:21) E3 Lithium
(00:46:23) Surge Battery Metals
(00:48:18) NOA Lithium Brines
(00:50:57) Galan Lithium
(00:52:49) Lithium Africa
(00:58:24) Q2 Metals
(00:59:58) Libra Energy Materials
(01:04:02) PMET & Elevra

Sponsors

- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)

Links

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

Thursday Mar 05, 2026

High Purity Alumina: Why You Should Care | Rock Stock University

Thursday Mar 05, 2026

High Purity Alumina (HPA) Explained: Uses, Market Growth, Supply, and Investment Opportunities

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.

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 and investment opportunities.

Whether you're an investor, student, or interested in critical minerals, battery materials, or semiconductor supply chains, this video provides a clear and practical introduction to High Purity Alumina.

CHAPTERS
(00:00) New Initiative: Rock Stock University
(01:48) Introduction
(02:43) HPA vs Regular Alumina
(04:29) End Markets
(06:34) Global Demand Growth
(09:04) Supply Structure
(10:13) Supply/Demand Balance
(11:55) Modified Bayer Process
(12:22) Aluminium Isopropoxide Hydrolysis
(13:27) Hydrothermal Crystallization
(13:46) Aluminum Solvent Extraction
(14:22) Chlorine Leach (CLCP)
(15:07) Summary

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO
• What High Purity Alumina (HPA) is
• Why 4N and 5N purity levels matter
• How HPA is used in semiconductors, LEDs, and batteries
• Global HPA supply and demand trends
• Why China dominates production
• How HPA is manufactured
• Why HPA demand could grow significantly
• What investors should know about the HPA market

FEATURED HOSTS

Matt Fernley
Commodity Strategist | Partner, RK Equity
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-fernley-8a755a3/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/matt_fernley

Ben Hammond
Investor | Rock Stock University
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hammond-o/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/benjihammond

LEARN MORE

RK Equity: https://rkequity.com/

Tuesday Mar 03, 2026

Commodity ETFs - A Critical Portfolio Tool (Kevin Baum)

Tuesday Mar 03, 2026

Commodities are entering a new era — and most investors aren’t prepared.

In this episode, Kevin Baum of USCF Investments explains why smart investors are increasingly allocating to commodities as electrification, geopolitics, and resource security reshape global markets.

USCF website: https://linkly.link/2bXNd

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(01:36) What Drives Commodities in 2026
(04:07) Why Commodities Diversify Portfolios
(06:17) How SDCI Works
(11:00) Who Buys SDCI and Why
(12:54) Copper Outlook for 2026
(17:04) Copper Futures vs Miners
(19:57) Battery Metals Basket Explained
(24:04) Gold's Role Today
(29:12) Key Takeaway: Resource Security
(30:46) Wrap-Up

This conversation breaks down the structural forces driving demand for copper, lithium, gold, and other critical minerals — and why commodities are becoming essential portfolio diversifiers in today’s concentrated equity environment.

We also explore how commodity ETFs work, how futures-based exposure differs from mining stocks, and how investors can gain direct exposure to commodity prices through USCF’s ETF platform.

Whether you’re interested in copper, battery metals, gold, or broad commodity exposure, this discussion provides a clear framework for understanding the next major investment cycle.

Topics covered include:

• Why commodities are no longer just an inflation hedge
• How electrification and AI are driving long-term commodity demand
• Copper outlook and supply constraints heading into 2026
• Lithium, battery metals, and critical minerals exposure
• Gold, central bank buying, and geopolitical drivers
• Why governments and investors are focusing on resource security
• How commodity ETFs provide direct exposure to commodity prices
• Portfolio diversification using commodities

About USCF Investments

USCF is one of the most established commodity ETF providers, offering futures-based funds that provide direct exposure to commodities including oil, copper, gold, and battery metals.

Why commodities matter now

With global electrification accelerating, central banks diversifying into hard assets, and supply constraints emerging across critical minerals, commodities are becoming increasingly important for investors seeking diversification, inflation protection, and exposure to structural megatrends.

_________________________________________________

Have a question? Drop us an email: rockstockchannel@rkequity.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rockstockchannel
Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lithium-ion-rocks/id1457969172
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KiMIZOPaDg8ENfPJMSINq
X (Twitter):
Howard: https://x.com/LithiumIonBull
Rodney: https://x.com/RodneyHooper13
Matt: https://x.com/matt_fernley

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

Friday Feb 27, 2026

Zimbabwe Supply Shock, US Energy Storage, Rare Earth Developers Lag, Q2 Metals Drill Results

Friday Feb 27, 2026

Zimbabwe Halts Lithium Exports | 6–7% Global Supply Shock? | Q2 Metals High-Grade Hits & Maiden MRE Coming

In this episode of Rock Stock Recap, we (Howard Klein, Matt Fernley, and Rodney Hooper) break down what could be one of the most important lithium policy developments of the year: Zimbabwe’s sudden suspension of lithium concentrate exports — including cargo already in transit.

Zimbabwe represents ~6–7% of expected global lithium supply in 2026, and the language from the Ministry of Mines was unambiguous. Is this a short-term negotiating tactic tied to transfer pricing and royalties, or the start of a structural shift toward in-country beneficiation like Indonesia’s nickel strategy?

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(05:12) Zimbabwe Suspends Lithium Exports
(07:12) Transfer Pricing Dispute
(10:18) Duration of Export Halt
(13:37) Rise of Lithium Sulfate?
(17:07) Indonesia Nickel Comparison
(23:31) Supply and Price Impact
(25:20) Sodium-Ion Competition
(26:49) China Lepidolite Context
(29:49) Lithium Stocks Rally
(30:54) Rare Earths and Minor Metals
(32:36) PDAC and Policy Outlook
(34:17) Q2 Metals: Drill Highlights
(35:36) Open Pit Potential
(36:58) Maiden Resource Update
(38:05) Exploration Upside
(39:11) Drilling And PEA Plans
(40:09) Metallurgy And Consistency
(41:04) Expansion Potential
(42:25) Infrastructure Advantages
(42:57) Upcoming Catalysts

We discuss:

- Lithium market impact — Is this a true supply shock?
- What it means for spodumene prices, spot markets, and lithium stocks
- Zimbabwe vs 🇮🇩 Indonesia — can midstream capacity be built first?
- U.S. policy shift: DOE’s $27B loan package, battery storage & grid reliability
- Record U.S. energy storage installations (57.6 GWh) — batteries as infrastructure
- Rare earths, copper inventories & the broader hard-asset rotation
- What to watch at PDAC and evolving Canada–U.S.–China critical minerals policy

We also interview Neil McCallum of Q2 Metals, who discusses:

- Long, high-grade lithium intercepts in Quebec
- A potentially “open pittable” central zone
- Four drill rigs currently turning
- Maiden MRE targeted for end of quarter
- PEA expected later this year
- Exploration upside across a 20km greenstone belt

If you’re following lithium prices, spodumene concentrate, energy storage demand, battery metals investing, rare earths, critical minerals policy, or junior mining exploration, this episode connects the macro supply story to real company-level catalysts.

Sponsors

- Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) - diversified lithium royalty portfolio.
(Website: https://www.lithiumroyaltycorp.com/ | X: https://x.com/Lithium_Royalty)

Links

_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein