Solar Sidekicks Podcast
Solar Sidekicks is the go-to podcast for all things solar, serving up essential insights with a friendly, down-to-earth vibe. Hosted by industry professional Pat Southwell and his co-host Lauren Ciconte, each episode explores technical topics, industry regulations, and the real-world challenges faced by solar installers across Australia.
Together they share practical knowledge from the field, tackle important issues affecting the industry, and stand up for what’s right by helping voices be heard on topics that can hit solar installers hard. They also highlight some of the great people working in the industry and help listeners stay across the constant changes in this fast-evolving sector.
Whether you’re a solar installer, apprentice, or simply interested in solar, Solar Sidekicks keeps you informed, connected, and up to date with what’s happening in the industry.
Solar Sidekicks Podcast
S3E14 - iStore - Tiarna Hodge
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Recorded at the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney, this episode features the brilliant Tiarna Hodge from iStore.
Self-described as the industry’s Wednesday Addams, Tiarna takes us through a 14-year solar career that started as a receptionist at 17 and somehow led to becoming the person installers call when everything has gone sideways. From batteries and DNSPs to strange faults and stressed-out tradies, if it becomes a problem, chances are it ends up on Tiarna’s desk.
We talk about the WA battery rush, what installers are getting right and wrong, the pressure of the rebate period, and why good tech support is about a lot more than just knowing the product.
Along the way there are plenty of laughs, some seriously nerdy technical chats, iStore-blue nails, sparkly backup boxes, rebate wrinkles, Botox jokes, and a discussion about the Smart Energy Council Emerging Leader Award nomination that Tiarna insists she wants absolutely nothing to do with.
She’s an absolute weapon, does God’s work for installers around the country, and this was an easy conversation. A ripper episode.