Blue Economy Primer

This episode features Lucia Pedrana , Exhibition and Events Organizer for the European Cultural Centre in Venice, and PhD candidate Hadi El Hage who is a Lead Curator for Public Programs at the ECC . ECC Italy is a well-established branch of the larger European Cultural Centre, a cultural organisation founded in 2002 by artist René Rietmeyer committed to further develop and enhance intellectual an...

In this episode, we speak world renowned sculptor and designer, Zach Coffin who has helped redefine the limits of large-scale kinetic art, both ‘on Playa’ in the context of the Burning Man experience, and through publicly accessible and interactive municipal art projects in cities around the world. Zach joins us in New Orleans from his home base in the San Francisco Bay area. As Chief Technology O...

In this episode, we speak with an awe-inspiring clean energy pioneer and leader in the extremely carbon-intensive disaster response sector. Will Heegaard shares with us the inspiring history and ongoing work of Footprint Project , a small but mighty New Orleans-based non-profit that has gained national recognition for its grassroots work helping communities to not only restore critical power suppl...

In this episode, we strike out into the solar system with Roberto Carlino, a NASA engineer and innovation pioneer with an eye on the space age technologies and systems that will facilitate humanities leap to a multi-planetary species. As part of Deep Blue Institute interest and advocacy for technologies that support maritime urbanism, or floating cities, we recognize that many of the concepts and...

Mardi Gras is one of the largest celebrations in the world, sometimes referred to as “the greatest free show on earth”. A byproduct of this multi-week celebration season is an inordinate amount of waste that puts a tremendous strain on our, already fragile local and regional environment. In this episode, we speak with Brett Davis , a New Orleans native grown entrepreneur and environmental activist...

In this episode, we learn about SeaAhead ’s mission to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, and stakeholders to grow an open-innovation ecosystems that produces scalable commercial solutions to modern-day challenges. SeaAhead’s Market Lead for Gulf Coast & Federal and State Agencies , Hailey Bathurst , explains how they support early-stage startups in the blue economy wit...

In this episode, we do a deep dive with Andy Kruger, CEO of BuildSOS , into the world of disaster response and how communities can better prepare for future storm events with cutting edge digital tools. BuildSOS is a key new technology networking platform that is facilitating better communication and more efficient resolution of post disaster recovery efforts. Their mission is to build and impleme...

In this episode, we sit down with Beaux Jones , a regional point of reference and visionary leader on the front lines of developing the complex mix of policy and engineering solutions that is required to realize long-term community resilience along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. As an environmental law expert and intrepid champion of cutting edge coastal engineering solution sets, he has become a key f...

In this episode, we speak with Lelei LeLaulu , a preeminent thought leader, diplomat, and pioneer in the realm of United Nations sustainable development policy, island state climate resilience, renewable energy independence, and cultural preservation. Lelei shares his keen understanding of how island and coastal communities can harness the benefits of sustainable tourism, zero carbon ocean-based r...

Time Stamps: 2:40 - General panel participant introductions 6:45 - General panel subject matter and context; Greg Delaune 12:00 - Louisiana State level policy and project context; Harry Vorhoff 26:35 - Global Forcings Impacting Coastal Louisiana; Impacts and Responses; Dr. John Day 38:45 - Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences Overview; Dr. Mark Kulp 50:35 - Blue Economy Eco-Solution...

In this episode, we hear from James Ellsmoor, founder and leader of multiple initiatives focused on helping island states and coastal communities around the world to coordinate strategies for addressing common challenges and opportunities of building sustainable blue economies while navigating the impacts of climate change and global economic discontinuity. James is an award-winning serial entrepr...

In this episode, we speak with Dutch floating cities civil engineer and ‘maritime urbanism’ expert Rutger de Graaf-van Dinther , a pioneer and global leader of the seasteading community with more than 15 years of international experience in the fields of design, engineering, and policy for climate resilient floating urban development. He explains the origins of his work and lays out Blue 21’s miss...

In this episode, we enjoy an aspirational and philosophical chat with visionary French humanist, Frédéric Pons . Frédéric explains his inspiration, concept, and ongoing work toward realization of an ocean-based environmentally regenerative “Indigo Civilization”. The initiative envisions a reconstitution of humanity’s relationship with our fragile aquatic environs, supporting a philanthropic resear...

In this episode, Kristi Trail , Executive Director of the nonprofit Pontchartrain Conservancy explains the complex history and importance of maintaining a healthy regional watershed for both economic development and quality of life purposes. We discuss her leadership in Southeast Louisiana’s struggle to protect and preserve our coastal and inland waters from the adverse effects of urbanization and...

In this episode, globally renowned strategic foresight specialist, journalist, and Reinvent Futures founder Peter Leyden takes a moment during his Mardi Gras visit to New Orleans to discuss his ‘positive future casting’ work and what he sees as emerging technology breakthroughs in the key fields of energy generation, biotech, and artificial intelligence . He draws on his early-career first hand ex...

We mix it up with GNO Inc. President and CEO , Michael Hecht (a.k.a. DJ El Camino ), about regional initiatives supporting the Blue Economy, Blue Tech, and resilient Gulf Coast communities. Michael explains the Greater New Orleans region’s Cha Cha style of economic development and innovation ecosystem development, grounded in a social equity and inclusivity agenda, powered by our exceptional creat...

AklysTransform Founder, Esmé Fantozzi, explains the critical importance, impacts, and processes of global energy transitions, drawing on her decades of global energy sector experience in supply chain, operational excellence, and sustainable energy transformations. Please visit the episode 04 webpage to find additional links, references and background information. GUEST BIO: Esmé Fantozzi Founder &...

Gulf Wind Technology CEO, James Martin, discusses renewable energy and the climate tech innovation ecosystem in New Orleans, highlighting the initiatives and organizations that are leading the way towards a Blue Economy based energy transition. Please visit the episode 03 webpage to find additional links, references and background information. GUEST BIO: James Martin Founder & CEO; Gulf Wind T...

On our second episode, Joe Quirk, ‘Seavangelist’ and President of The Seasteading Institute discusses his work, and the origins of the Seasteading movement. He lays out the innovation potential for blue technology and governance models offered by the possibility of floating societies on the high seas, suggesting how New Orleans can be a global leader in Blue tech development and deployment. Please...

Deep Blue Academy (DBA) Executive Director, Greg Delaune, sets the stage for the scope and mission of DBA and the Blue Economy Primer podcast. In our first four episodes, we will meet and talk with local New Orleans, and global experts about specific Blue Technologies, as well as broader approaches for developing innovation ecosystems that support the design, development, deployment, and scaling o...

In our opening episode, serial entrepreneur Tim Williamson discusses the startup space, tech entrepreneurship and the future of the New Orleans’ regional innovation ecosystems. Harkening back to before 2000, he describes being part of an intrepid cohort of New Orleans prodigal sons who returned to their home town and launched the region’s first startup competition. This initial visionary experimen...

The Blue Economy Primer is an education and research focused podcast hosted by nonprofit Deep Blue Academy. We use interviews with globally recognized experts to inform listeners about concepts related to the Blue Economy, emerging Blue Technologies, Regenerative Marine Infrastructure , and resilient coastal community initiatives. This New Orleans-based podcast allows you to learn and apply the pr...