Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

Hello Earthlings! In this week’s episode, we are joined by Richard Youngman, CEO of the Cleantech Group, a pioneer in championing clean technologies since 2002. Richard provides a masterclass on the importance of perseverance and strategic funding in fostering sustainable technologies and driving innovation. Discover how the Cleantech Group, through initiatives like the Cleantech 100 list, keeps a...

Greetings Earthlings! In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Steven and Zora Chung, co-founders of ReJoule and CEO and CFO respectively. ReJoule is a company transforming battery diagnostics and repurposing used batteries for second-life applications. This innovation not only extends battery life but also reduces waste, helping pave the way for a sustainable energy transition. As we navi...

Greetings Earthlings! In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we explore the transformative potential of home electrification with Arch Rao, founder and CEO of Span. IO. Arch shares his journey from Tesla to revolutionizing the electrical panel industry to facilitate the transition to all-electric homes. We discuss the technological innovations that make electrification more accessible and economically...

Hello Earthlings! In this week’s episode, we explore the innovative role of solar energy in solving South Africa's power crisis. We’re joined by Sabatha Mthwecu, Founder of Solar Rais to discuss how solar systems are helping combat blackouts and offer solutions to the country’s ongoing energy challenges. Sabatha sheds light on the growing use of solar energy to support the grid, reduce electricity...

Hello Earthlings! In this week’s episode, we explore a fascinating intersection of technology and sustainability: the innovative application of robotics, artificial intelligence, and solar energy in agriculture. Our conversation centers on Aigen, a trailblazing startup developing autonomous, solar-powered robots that manage weeds without chemicals. By reducing agriculture's carbon footprint and he...

Hello Earthlings! In this week’s episode, we explore the accessible and innovative world of Community Solar. This model allows individuals and businesses to subscribe to solar energy without installing panels. We’re joined by Vihann Kong, Senior Executive Director of Enterprise Acquisition at Ampion, to discuss how community solar projects democratize solar energy, making it feasible and financial...

Hello Earthlings! In today's episode of Earthlings 2.0, we explore the cutting-edge realm of upcycled aluminum with our guest, Eric Donsky, CEO and Chairman of Atomic13. Atomic13 is making waves by transforming scrap aluminum into durable, low-carbon aluminum extrusions, reducing embodied carbon by an incredible 95%. We delve into the science behind this innovative process and discuss its potentia...

Hello Earthlings! This week on Earthlings 2.0, we dive deep into the ground beneath our feet with Yard Stick, a company harnessing the transformative potential of soil carbon measurement in sustainable agriculture. As the backbone of food production and a vital carbon sink, soil health is critical—but it’s often overlooked in broader climate conversations. Yard Stick is tackling this challenge wit...

Hello Earthlings! This week on Earthlings 2.0, we connect with Camus Energy, a company providing a cutting-edge grid orchestration platform designed to help utilities operate and build a reliable, affordable, and zero-carbon grid. Their technology platform enables utilities to navigate the transition to a two-way grid—one that integrates local renewable generation and customer flexibility to achie...

Hello Earthlings! This week on Earthlings 2.0, we explore an exciting breakthrough in recycling with Emmanuel Ladent, CEO of Carbios, a French biotech company that’s revolutionizing how we handle plastic waste. As the world grapples with plastic pollution, Carbios has developed a game-changing enzymatic process that breaks down PET plastics and textiles to their base components, allowing for high-...

Hello Earthlings! Today, we're diving into a pioneering approach to carbon capture with direct air capture (DAC), a technology that pulls CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. While DAC alone can’t reverse climate change, it could be instrumental in maintaining critical temperature limits if it scales up efficiently. Host Lisa Ann Pinkerton interviews Anca Timofte, CEO and co-founder of Holocene, whos...

Greetings Earthlings! This week on Earthlings 2.0, we explore the world of battery safety and renewable energy with Dr. Kai-Philipp Kairies, CEO and Co-founder of ACCURE Battery Intelligence GmbH, a leader in battery monitoring and safety. As the world moves toward cleaner energy and electric mobility, batteries play a central role, but with them come risks that need careful management. KP shares...

Hello Earthlings! 🌊 This week on Earthlings 2.0, we dive into the deep blue with Professor Matthew England, an expert in ocean and climate dynamics. Our warming oceans are doing a lot of heavy lifting for us, absorbing over 90% of trapped heat from greenhouse gasses. But there’s a cost, and we're already seeing a 30% slowdown in the critical Atlantic overturning circulation—a shift climate scient...

Hello Earthlings! This week, we're exploring the critical role of soil carbon measurement in combating climate change with Tom Sadan, Senior Business Development Consultant at Agricarbon, a company pioneering the field of soil carbon measurement and restoration. By utilizing advanced robotics, Agricarbon conducts large-scale soil carbon audits that support regenerative farming and carbon sequestra...

Hello Earthlings! This week, we journey into the world of clean energy advocacy and climate policy with Julia Pyper, co-host of the Political Climate podcast and Vice President of Public Affairs at Grid Leap. Together with host Lisa Ann Pinkerton, they delve into the growing bipartisan support for clean energy and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Julia shares how framing climate is...

Hello Earthlings! For this week’s episode, we take a deeper look into a fascinating new realm of Earth observation, not from outer space but from the "low sky." We are joined by Keith Miao, the CEO of Birdstop, a company pioneering the use of autonomous drones to monitor critical infrastructure. These drones operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) at low altitudes, providing high-detail monito...

Hello Earthlings! For this week’s episode, we dive deep into the evolving world of agriculture and agritech with Venky Ramachandran, the visionary behind Agribusiness Matters . Joining us from Hyderabad, India, Venky shares insights on the transformative technologies shaping food production systems amidst climate change and market volatility. His firm and popular newsletter provide a global snapsh...

Hello Earthlings! In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we explore the future of renewable energy with Trenton Cladouhos, Vice President of Geothermal Resource Development at Quaise Energy. He shares how Quaise’s gyrotron-powered drilling technology is breaking new ground by vaporizing rock to reach extreme depths, making geothermal energy viable in areas where it was previously impossible. This inno...

Hello Earthlings! In this episode of the Earthlings 2.0 podcast, we tackle the multifaceted issue of pronatalism and its global impact. Rachel M. Cohen, a policy correspondent for Vox, joins us to explore why declining birth rates, once seen as a challenge for other regions, are now affecting the U.S. and many countries with traditionally higher birth rates. We discuss the economic and social rami...

Hello Earthlings! In this episode of the Earthlings 2.0 podcast, we shine our tech spotlight on Blip Energy, a pioneering startup making smart home batteries available to millions of homes, particularly those often excluded from energy innovation. Host Lisa Ann chats with Sophia Wennstedt, CEO and co-founder of Blip Energy, about how her company is creating affordable, renter-friendly energy stora...

Hello Earthlings! For this week’s episode, we talk with Patrick Macdonald-King, CEO of Greenlane, who sheds light on the transformative potential of electrifying freight routes. With strategic partnerships from industry giants like Daimler, NextEra, and BlackRock, Greenlane is leading the charge in revolutionizing the trucking industry by developing EV infrastructure across key freight corridors....

Hello Earthlings! In this week’s Tech Spotlight, we feature BrainBox AI, a company at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to revolutionize energy efficiency in commercial real estate, starting with the most energy-intensive systems—HVAC. Our host Lisa Ann is joined by Sam Ramadori, CEO of BrainBox AI, a pioneer in leveraging AI to create intelligent, self-adapting building systems. Sam...

Hello Earthlings! Welcome aboard our proverbial spaceship to another Earthlings 2.0 rerun! This August, in the last month of summer, we have experienced Earth Overshoot Day – a time that marks when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year surpasses what Earth can regenerate in that same time frame. To address the need for humanity to re-evaluate our actions towards c...

Hello Earthlings! In this week’s episode, we dive into a fascinating intersection of science, technology, and the future of carbon-free chemicals and fuels - all through the power of light.  Our host, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, is joined by Trevor Best, CEO and co-founder of Syzygy Plasmonics. Trevor explains how Syzygy is revolutionizing the chemical manufacturing industry by eliminating combustion...

Hello Earthlings! In this week’s Tech Spotlight, we feature a company that says the fastest way to get carbon out of aviation isn't electric or hydrogen, but instead hybrids, similar to how hybrid cars were a precursor to electric cars. Our host Lisa Ann is joined by Kevin Noertker, CEO and co-founder of Ampaire, a leader in developing hybrid electric propulsion for aircraft designed specifically...