Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Wade Senti, President of Florida-based Advanced Magnet Lab (AML), about why magnets and rare earths have become a central battleground in the new era of manufacturing and national security. Wade traces AML’s journey from a small robotics‑adjacent lab to a leading U.S. magnet producer, then explains how permanent magnets underpin everything from industrial motors and EVs to drones, humanoid robots, and defense tech. He breaks down the rare earth supply chain, China’s long‑dominant role and pricing power, and why geopolitics and trade tensions have forced companies and governments to rethink China‑dependent inputs. They also explore shifting demand, fragmented global supply, the scramble to build alternative and domestic capacity, including space exploration, and the technological innovations needed to use fewer rare earths while meeting surging magnet demand worldwide.

Wade Senti's latest op-ed in mining.com: Permanent magnets are the spear in the critical minerals supply chain

00:00 The Global Rare Earth Supply Chain

01:37 Understanding Magnets and Their Applications

06:27 Shifts in the Magnet Supply Chain

11:49 The Growing Demand for Magnets

15:32 Challenges in Rare Earth Supply

20:22 Government Support and Industry Response

24:35 The Future of Magnet Production

30:01 Navigating Uncertainty in the Industry

Perspectives with Wenchi Yu

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Ep. 33 Wade Senti on Magnets, Rare Earths, and the New Manufacturing Race