TAG Sustainability Talk

In this episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk podcast, we talk with Andrew Bohanko, the Sustainable Initiatives Manager for Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS). We explore his career journey from film production to sustainability and take a deep look at how a massive venue like MBS manages waste. Andrew walks us through the importance of their resource recovery room, their successful food donation progra...

How do you update a tradition that has been around for thousands of years? Seth Lytle, an industrial systems engineer and Georgia Tech graduate, is doing just that with his company, Vino Barrel. Seth combines his Italian family heritage with high-tech engineering to change the way we experience wine in public spaces. In this episode, we explore the tech behind his unique dispensing system, includi...

In this episode, host Drew Bacchus talks with Thad Oviatt, founder and CEO of Parkent Cycles, about the future of micromobility and urban e-bike infrastructure. Thad reveals the origin story of Parkent's secure parking and charging e-bike kiosks, which are designed to combat the rampant issue of bike theft (where most locks can be cut in under 30 seconds) and mitigate the significant fire haza...

Live from the 2026 SuperSouth Conference, this final episode in our special series connects sustainable innovation with essential human skills. Adam Marx (The Zero to One Networker) explains how organizations can scale and maintain "real people networks" and why Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—the new soft skills—are more critical than ever against the backdrop of AI. Marks discusses...

Join hosts Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn for this special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk podcast, recorded live at the 2026 Super South Conference. This week, we're digging into sustainability solutions, both on the surface and deep below our feet. First, we talk with Corey Mosser of Natural Born Tillers, who shares their work in innovative urban agriculture. Learn how they are bringing...

In this special episode of the  TAG Sustainability Talk Podcast , recorded live at the 2026 SuperSouth Conference, host Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn dive into three major topics driving sustainability action across the Southeast: Corporate Infrastructure Reinvented:  Emily Schneider, VP of Sustainability for Old Castle Infrastructure, discusses how the built environment is changing, including their...

Welcome to another special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk Podcast , recorded live at the 2026 SuperSouth Conference . This episode dives into how the Southeast is rapidly establishing itself as a cleantech and sustainability hub, asserting its "right to win" conversation in clean technology through ambition, logic, and talent. You’ll hear key discussions with leaders driving chan...

Hear live from SuperSouth 2026 conference as we explore how the Southeast U.S. is emerging as a global leader in sustainable innovation. This episode features rapid-fire insights from leaders driving change in FinTech , energy , and deep tech . Hear discussions on: Integrating sustainability into everyday consumer transactions. Why Atlanta is the perfect "collision point" for sustainabil...

Hosts Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn are back with a special episode of "TAG Sustainability Talk," bringing you exciting highlights and insights captured live from the 2026 Super South conference! Dive into a conversation with some of the South's top innovators, discussing critical advancements in Cleantech, Smart Communities, and sustainability in the Southeast. In this episode, you wi...

The  TAG Sustainability Talk  podcast goes live from the  2026 Super South conference , where host Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn capture the dynamic energy of cleantech innovators across the Southeast. 1 Featuring: Lisa Sachs  (Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment): Discusses the necessity of  systems change  in sectors like energy and mobility, and highlights futuristic innovations, such as th...

Host Drew Bacchus welcomes  Dustin Mason  of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to open the front door to green buildings and sustainable design. Dustin shares the core mission of the USGBC and discusses the business case for sustainability, emphasizing the  triple bottom line  (people, profit, planet) and the financial  ROI  of energy-efficient buildings. The conversation highlights best-in-...

In this episode of the Tag Sustainability Talk Podcast , host Drew Bacchus is joined by Amol Naik and Rick Wrenn for a compelling discussion on the often-polarized intersection of energy and politics. Amol Naik, former Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Atlanta, shares his journey from law and public policy at Google to successfully pushing for the city’s 100% clean energy plan. As the found...

The clean energy market in Georgia is soaring, growing five times faster than the entire state economy in 2025. To achieve the ambitious goal of making Atlanta the number one global cleantech hub, our expert panel dissects the infrastructure challenges and solutions moving the industry forward. Tune in for: The "Era of Storage":  Why energy storage was the critical theme of 2025, and how...

Today's episode features Ben Damiani, CTO of Cherry Street Energy, and Rick Wrenn. Ben shares his incredible journey from the first Formula One electric race car competition to becoming a leader in solar energy. We dive into Cherry Street's business model, how they approach commercial solar plus storage solutions, and the critical role solar is playing in the rise of giga-scale AI data cen...

In the second and final part of our interview with ITS experts from Estonia, we cover: Huge opportunities in automated yard management and parking systems. The real regulatory obstacles for autonomous vehicles in the US and Europe. How Estonian companies are successfully approaching the US market, including key takeaways from their recent event in Atlanta. Tackling common misconceptions about new...

In today's episode we dive into the future of urban mobility with a delegation of top ITS companies from Estonia! Learn how they are pioneering sustainable transport solutions, including high-throughput smart parking, autonomous electric vehicles, and digital ticketing. Discover why E-Estonia's unique digital backbone makes it the perfect testbed for cutting-edge Intelligent Transportation Systems...

This podcast features Joey Alexander from LineVision, who discusses his career journey and how LineVision is optimizing the electric grid. He explains how their technology addresses load growth, particularly from AI data centers, and their partnership with Georgia Power to make the transmission grid smarter and more efficient. The conversation also delves into the challenges and future of grid int...

We're joined once again by Cynthia Curry from the Metro Atlanta Chamber who's here to give us the inside scoop on Atlanta's booming clean tech scene. Cynthia shares how Georgia has become a top destination for clean tech investment thanks to its strong business environment, diverse talent pool, and thriving startup culture. From battery innovation and sustainable aviation fuel, to elec...

In the second part of our nuclear energy discussion - Rick Wrenn joins Nick Irvin from Southern Company R&D Group. Together, they dive into the world of advanced nuclear technologies. Nick shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in the nuclear industry, the need for skilled labor, and the potential for AI and robotics to revolutionize the field. Join us as we discuss how these ad...

Guest host, Rick Wrenn, discusses nuclear energy with Nick Irvin, Director of Advanced Energy Systems, R&D for Southern Company. In part 1 of a 2-part series, we'll discuss the role of nuclear power in creating a sustainable future, advancements in technology, and the potential of molten salt reactors. Join us as we explore how nuclear energy could help decarbonize our energy system and pr...

Join us for the second part of the two part interview as we dive into the fascinating world of hydrogen technology with Dr. Noah Meeks from Southern Company R&D. Discover the latest innovations in electrolyzers and fuel cells, the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and the exciting potential of hydrogen in various sectors from transportation to resilient power applications. We&#...

1st of a two-part interview with Dr. Noah Meeks from Southern Company's R&D. We discuss hydrogen's possible role in the energy and transportation sectors. He walks us through hydrogen's potential, its advantages, some of its storage and transport challenges, and some of its important safety aspects. Hydrogen shows promise for many near and long-term uses, and could be key to the fu...

Join us for Part 2 of an interview about the massive Rowan project! We'll dive into how Rowan is partnering with universities and local cities to create a living lab for e-mobility, advanced infrastructure, and sustainable development. Discover how they're planning a 2,000-acre, 22-million-square-foot commercial hub with a long-term vision to push the boundaries of innovation and sustainab...

In this episode, Mason Ailstock from the Rowan Foundation gives us the inside scoop on their ambitious project in Gwinnett County. From enhancing higher education partnerships to creating innovative hubs for industries like life sciences and clean energy, Mason shares the inspiring vision behind Rowan and why it’s designed to be a place that’s always evolving. Plus, we dive into topics like sustai...

Join us for a follow-up conversation with Cynthia Curry, recorded after the 2025 Georgia CleanTech Outlook panel. In this insightful interview, Cynthia reflects on key themes from the event, including the growing importance of public-private partnerships, the urgency of workforce development in CleanTech, and Georgia’s role in driving global innovation. She also shares her optimism about scaling s...