In Our Hands

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran interviews renowned scholar Kate Crawford about AI's environmental impact, societal implications, biases, and material costs. Time stamps and the full transcript at the website. This episode is also available on  Apple Podcasts  and  Spotify . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Lucas Joppa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Haveli Investments. They discuss his journey from environmental scientist to Microsoft’s first Chief Environmental Officer and transition to private equity. They explore the significance of sustainability in investments, the push for net-zero solutions, and the changing landscape of susta...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Bjarne Pedersen, Executive Director for Clean Air Asia . They discuss the link between air quality and climate change, the main sources of air pollution in Asian cities, the role of electric vehicles in reducing emissions, the importance of data collection, and the power of partnerships in driving air quality reform. Time stamps and...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Nigel Sizer, executive director of the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Initiative. They discuss the connection between pandemics and climate change, emphasizing the risks posed by deforestation and the wildlife trade. This episode sheds light on the urgent need to address these issues to prevent future pandemics. Show Notes (01:4...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Miranda Massie, visionary driving force, founder, and director of New York City’s Climate Museum. They discuss her lifelong dedication to social equity and how it transfers to her work at the Climate Museum, where she harnesses the expressive power of art to explore the simplistic yet profound mechanics of global warming and the sca...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Akshat Rathi , author and London-based senior reporter for Bloomberg News, author of the book "Climate Capitalism.” Ramanan and Akshat delve into the fascinating realm of capitalism's role in tackling the climate crisis. Discover how the synergy of government policies and clean technologies can contribute to a sustainable future whi...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Latane Garetson, Director of Physical Infrastructure at Dropbox. Garetson breaks down the physical infrastructure of data centers and their climate impact and then continues to discuss embracing efficiency technologies, setting targets to reduce environmental footprint, carbon offsetting, and why collaboration is key. Time stamps an...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Khadeeja Naseem, the State Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, and Technology for the Maldives.  They discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crisis, particularly for small island states like the Maldives, emphasizing the importance of strong leadership, political will, and taking the necessary act...

In this episode of In Our Hands, Ramanan speaks with architect and urbanist Doug Farr. Farr shares his sustainability journey and the work of firm, Farr Associates. They delve into Farr’s involvement in movement-building initiatives, the significance of community engagement and individual agency in driving change, and his book "Sustainable Nation," which focuses on urban design patterns and the ne...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Mark Stoll , a professor of environmental and religious history at Texas Tech University, where he also serves as director of Environmental Studies. This is our second episode with Mark that continues the conversation focused on his work with religion and its relation to environmental movements. Stoll has written two books about the American environmental movem...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Mark Stoll , a professor of environmental and religious history at Texas Tech University, where he also serves as director of Environmental Studies. Stoll has written two books about the American environmental movement's significant formative religious influences: Protestantism, Capitalism, and Nature in America (1997) and Inherit the Holy Mountain: Religion an...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Michael Weisberg , Bess W. Heyman President's Distinguished Professor and Chair of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also co-directs the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance. They discuss scientific models, the Galápagos, resistance to science, and Weisberg’s contributions to the IPCC. Full transcript and timestamps on the episode page...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Kim Wolske , a research associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. They discuss social norms around climate, barriers to low-carbon choices, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Wolske also shares valuable advice for early-stage founders focused on climate. Timestamps and full transcript available on the episode page. In Our Ha...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Gernot Wagner , a climate economist at Columbia Business School. Wagner has written four books:  Geoengineering: the Gamble ,  Stadt, Land, Klima ,  Climate Shock , and  But Will the Planet Notice? His most recent book provides a balanced take on the possible benefits and risks of geoengineering in its various forms. Prior to joining Columbia as a senior lectur...

In this episode from our archives, Ramanan Raghavendran speaks with Roland Geyer , a Professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California at Santa Barbara. Since 2000, Dr. Geyer has worked with a wide range of governmental organizations, trade associations, and companies to develop the science and knowledge necessary to reduce the environmental impact from...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Genevieve Guenther, a Renaissance scholar and literary critic at The New School who turned to climate activism after having a child and becoming increasingly alarmed about the world she might leave to her son after she died. They discuss the forces that shape our climate discourse and how to communicate effectively about the climate crisis. In Our Hands is a pr...

In this episode from our archives, Ramanan speaks with Tim Lenton , Professor of Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter and Director of the Global Systems Institute. In this conversation, they discuss the Gaia hypothesis, tipping points, and human intervention in climate systems. Full transcript and timestamps available on the episode page. This episode is also availab...

Daniel Aldana Cohen is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at UC Berkeley. He holds a PhD in Sociology from New York University and a BA in History and Development Studies from McGill University. Cohen directs the  Socio-Spatial Climate Collaborative  and co-directs the  climate + community project . Cohen works on the politics of climate change, investigating the intersections o...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Robert Frank , the Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor Emeritus of Management and Professor Emeritus of Economics at Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos. They discuss positional arms races, motivations for consumption, and behavioral contagion. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . In...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Katy Milkman, the James G. Dinan Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Milkman’s research explores ways that insights from economics and psychology can be harnessed to change consequential behaviors for good, such as savings, exercise, vaccination take-up and discrimination. She is also the author of the bestselling book How to Chan...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Tim Jackson , an ecological economist and Director of the  Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) at University of Surrey. They discuss the battle between efficiency and scale, investing for prosperity, and the relationship between hope and action. In Our Hands is a production of Amasia . Follow these links for more about our firm , the A...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Juliet Schor , professor of sociology at Boston College. They discuss “growth at all costs,” changing behavior in the top 10 percent, the gig economy, and grassroots momentum. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . In Our Hands is a production of Amasia . Follow these links for more about our firm , the Amasia blog , our climate fiction...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Narasimha D. Rao , a professor at the Yale School of the Environment. They discuss the global energy system, demand-side solutions to climate change, what GDP leaves out, and combating inequality and climate change together. In Our Hands is a production of Amasia . Follow these links for more about our firm , the Amasia blog , our climate fiction podcast , and...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Kevin Ummel, a research affiliate at the Population Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania . They discuss carbon payments, frugality and sustainability, and effective strategies for reducing consumption. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify . In Our Hands is a production of Amasia . Follow these links for more about our firm ,...

In this episode, Ramanan speaks with Leidy Klotz, Copenhaver Associate Professor at the University of Virginia. His research is filling in underexplored overlaps between engineering and behavioral science in pursuit of more sustainable built environment systems. At the University of Virginia, he co-founded and co-directs the Convergent Behavioral Science Institute. He is also the author of Subtrac...