Inevitable

Max Jamilly, CEO and Co-founder at Hoxton Farms. And today, we're talking about fat. Hoxton Farms, a London-based startup, grows and sells animal fats without animals. They aspire to be an ingredients provider; cultivating fats via bioreactors and selling cruelty-free and sustainable fats to other food brands, starting with meat alternatives. It's been a challenging time for the alt-meat space, and we were eager to hear how Max feels the industry will develop and the role Hoxton Farms can play therein. He's also got a vision for how Hoxton Farms can expand beyond that initial market over time. Hoxton raised a series A led by Fine Structure Ventures and Collaborative Fund in late 2022, in which MCJ is proud to have participated. So grab a plate and let's dig in.In this episode, we cover: [1:37] Intro to Hoxton Farms[2:36] Founders' background: Max Jamilly and Ed Steele[5:51] Meat alternative industry: Challenges and opportunities[9:00] Expansion potential beyond meat alternatives[12:56] Cost parity with traditional animal fats[17:08] Scalability, production, and commercialization plan[18:51] Consumer appetite for meat alternatives[24:49] Regulatory environment and labeling requirements[32:56] Hoxton Farms' pork fat cultivation process[34:48] Potential for genetic engineering in cultivation[40:18] Overview of Hoxton's facility[42:48] Capitalization and financing history[46:13] Importance of branding and merchandise[47:21] Hoxton Farms is hiring!Episode recorded on June 26, 2024 (Published on July 18, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Julia Reichelstein is the CEO and Co-founder at Vaulted Deep, a carbon removal company that injects carbon-rich waste slurries deep underground into permanent geologic storage. They've come onto the scene quite fast recently securing just north of a $58 million order from Frontier to sequester over 152,000 tons of carbon between now and 2027, which is Frontier's largest commitment yet. They're one of 20 finalist teams still in the mix for the $100 million Carbon Removal Xprize, and one of 24 semi-finalists of the DOE's Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize. Try saying that three times fast.They also recently announced an $8 million seed round led by Lowercarbon Capital with participation from Earthshot, Woven Earth, Collaborative Fund and others. We got to know Julia and her co-founder Omar Abou-Sayed as they set up Vaulted as a spin-out of Omar's waste disposal company, Advantek. Vaulted is a complex set of operations based on a relatively simple construct: Humans have been sucking geologically stored carbon in the form of oil out of the ground for 150 years now. What if we could put it back? In this episode, we cover: Backgrounds of Vaulted's co-founders and the company's missionHow Vaulted turns organic waste into carbon storageJulia's shift from venture capital to carbon removalAdvantek's history and technological contribution to VaultedTechnical details of Vaulted's sequestration wellsTypes of wells used in Vaulted's processCommunity and environmental benefitsVaulted's business model and financial sustainabilityThe rigorous process for selecting and processing waste for carbon removalComparison of carbon removal strategies and Vaulted's unique approachFinancial and ecological benefits of Vaulted's methodologyHutchinson Kansas facility's role and historical significanceVaulted's partnership with Frontier for carbon removalVaulted's participation in the $100 million Carbon Removal Xprize competitionPotential global health impact of Vaulted's technologyOpen roles and opportunities at Vaulted for furthering its missionEpisode recorded on Jun 17, 2024 (Published on Jul 11, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Mish Thadani is the CEO and Co-founder of Rhizome. Rhizome helps utilities plan for resilience. It's an AI-powered software platform that helps electric utilities identify vulnerabilities from climate threats to quantify risk and to measure the economic and social benefits of grid enhancing investments. In our discussion, we delve into how utilities address vulnerabilities arising from extreme weather and other climate change impacts. We also explore how they balance preventive investments to avoid disaster-related outages with strategies to rapidly recover after incidents. In this episode, we cover: [2:42] Exploring the definition of resilience[6:26] Vulnerabilities of utilities to climate and weather extremes[10:02] Data-driven balancing of utility investments[14:15] Enhancing decision-making in utilities with Rhizome's software[16:43] Comparing physical asset and capacity risks[18:07] Reconductor technology as a resilience strategy[22:53] Regulatory challenges in resilience investments[25:50] The impact of proactive resilience investments[29:42] Inside look at Rhizome's software platform[33:35] Rhizome's market strategy and achievements[36:07] Federal initiatives on resilience: expectations and realities[39:53] AI in resilience: challenges and opportunities[42:34] Where Rhizome needs helpEpisode recorded on May 23, 2024 (Published on June 27, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Today's conversation is all about how the US is trying to onshore manufacturing of key clean energy supply chains, things like EV, battery metals, and the like. Giulia Siccardo is the Director of the US Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains or MESC. We start out with a bit of a history lesson on why manufacturing somewhat intentionally moved offshore from the 1980s through the 20-teens and the implications of this move on the American workforce. We then talk about how and why MESC was formed and the initiatives and programs that MESC is undertaking to swing manufacturing back within America's borders. To give you a bit of the detail before we start the conversation, MESC was established as a new office in the DOE in 2022 with the aim of strengthening and scaling America's clean energy supply chains through investments in manufacturing capacity, workforce development, and data analysis of America's supply chain vulnerabilities. Giulia joined the DOE after many years with McKinsey, including having led McKinsey's green growth service line and having co-created Frontier, the advanced market commitment to buy over a billion dollars of carbon removal.In this episode, we cover: [2:55] History of offshoring manufacturing[6:08] U.S.-China tensions in clean energy manufacturing[9:57] Energy supply chain and workforce intersection[15:14] AI as a blue-collar workforce generator[17:33] Evolution of the manufacturing workforce and training[22:08] Overview of DOE's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC)[29:42] MESC's non-dilutive equity efforts[35:03] Critical minerals and materials for energy transition[37:18] MESC's global collaboration portfolio[42:04] MESC's 48C tax credit program[47:05] Considerations for companies approaching MESC during an election year[48:47] Giulia's background at Frontier[54:04] Data analysis on U.S. supply chain vulnerabilities[58:00] MESC's plans to publicly share data and insightsEpisode recorded on May 31, 2024 (Published on June 17, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. John Wagner is the President of Battelle Energy Alliance and Director of the Idaho National Laboratory or INL. INL is one of 17 national labs in the United States and leads the nation in work on advanced nuclear research. INL boasts a rich legacy in the narrative of nuclear energy, marked by its pivotal role in producing the inaugural usable electricity from nuclear sources on its premises. Dozens of reactors have been built at INL during its decades of operation. Dr. Wagner has been with INL since 2016 and has been director of the lab since 2020. Prior to that, he was the division director at the Reactor and Nuclear Services division at Oak Ridge National Lab. He has a PhD in nuclear engineering from Penn State University and has spent his career working to advance nuclear energy innovation. In our conversation, we cover the history of INL, its key priorities, current projects under development, and Dr. Wagner’s vision for our nuclear future.In this episode, we cover: [2:00] DOE National Labs Overview[5:24] Introduction to Idaho National Laboratory[12:14] Current projects & reactors at INL, including Advanced Test Reactor (ATR)[14:10] INL's upcoming projects: MARVEL, PELE[15:39] How INL supports private firms in nuclear tech development[18:40] End-to-end reactor devolment cycle, e.g., MARVEL[26:57] How entrepreneurs can collaborate with INL[31:17] Collaboration with NRC, support for regulatory development and training[33:07] INL's involvement in fusion research[34:19] John's focus on nuclear fission, U.S. rebuilding[36:05] Future reactor mix: large-scale, modular, advancedResources Mentioned:Admiral Rickover's 'Paper Reactor' memoThe Most Important Nuclear Reactor (You’ve Never Heard of)Episode recorded on May 17, 2024 (Published on June 10, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Christina Yagjian leads global renewable energy strategy and origination at Cargill. According to Forbes, Cargill is the largest private company in the USA by revenue with $177 billion in the fiscal year ending in May, 2023. Before Cargill, Christina managed the renewable energy footprint at Meta, the parent company to Facebook and Instagram and one of the world's largest corporate clean power purchasers. Our topic today is all about clean power purchasing, why large companies have started buying power directly, how they prioritize their needs across factors like cost and emissions, and how they structure their agreements. This is one of the more complex topics in the climate space, combining carbon accounting with power grid economics and a whole lot of wonk. Cody and Christina keep the conversation accessible to folks who are just trying to understand the role of power consumption, emissions and large companies in the first place. Special thanks to Christina for balancing the need to help explain the overall landscape along with articulating some of Cargill's specific initiatives and focus areas.In this episode, we cover: [2:41] Christina's background and journey in renewables[9:53] Reasons behind corporate power purchases[11:19] The difference between renewable energy certificates (RECs) and power purchase agreements[16:08] The role of additionality in power purchase agreements[22:32] Balancing emissions footprints with the cost of power[26:07] Role of storage in balancing intermittent renewable resources[30:12] Challenges and barriers to clean power procurement, such as cost, timing, and market uncertainties[33:24] Considerations in choosing power generators and negotiating PPAs[36:51] An overview of virtual power purchase agreements[43:29] Managing clean power procurement and the need for robust data systems[45:52] Definition of success in clean power procurement for CargillRecorded May 15, 2024 (Published June 3, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Cyrus Wadia is the CEO of Activate, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers scientists to bring their research to market. Having supported nearly 200 scientists in founding around 150 companies, including notable names like Fervo, Twelve, Sublime Systems, and Antora Energy, Activate offers selected fellows a unique blend of financial support, business capital, and access to a vast mentorship network. With hubs in Berkeley, Boston, New York, Houston, and a remote program, Activate nurtures the path from scientific discovery to entrepreneurial success.Cyrus recently joined Activate after stints in sustainability leadership roles at Amazon, Nike, and the White House. This extensive experience, combined with his PhD in energy and resources from UC Berkeley and chemistry degrees from MIT, equips him uniquely for this role.While the path from computer science to entrepreneurship is well-trodden, Activate champions the less common path from life sciences, chemistry, and physics to entrepreneurship. As we transition our energy systems, it seems inevitable that many new science-based businesses will become iconic industry-defining companies of the 21st century. And for this to be realized, we need to nurture the pathway for scientist-entrepreneurs. Our MCJ venture funds have invested in multiple companies founded by Activate fellows, and we were eager to hear from Cyrus about Activate and his vision for where it's headed.In this episode, we cover: [03:49]: The gap Activate fills between academic research and commercialization[05:44]: Transition challenges for scientists becoming entrepreneurs[10:42]: The role of tech transfer offices and the gap in supporting hard tech entrepreneurship[16:34]: Activate's unique approach in supporting fellows through licensing and entrepreneurship[22:52]: The ideal Activate fellow: ready to jump into entrepreneurship head-first[24:57]: Selection criteria for Activate fellows[31:26]: Overview of Activate's program, including support and community involvement[34:03]: Financial and strategic support provided to Activate fellows[37:52]: Cyrus Wadia's background and journey to becoming CEO of Activate[42:04]: Future directions and impact goals for ActivateEpisode recorded on Mar 6, 2024 (Published on May 30, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. Seonghoon Woo is CEO and co-founder at Amogy. Amogy is building technology to unlock ammonia's potential as a clean energy fuel source for transportation and beyond. About a year ago, they raised a Series B of funding led by SK Innovations, with backers including Temasek, Aramco Ventures, Mitsubishi, DCVC, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Mitsui OSK Lines, and others.Ammonia is a workhorse chemical in modern society. It's one of the most produced chemicals in the world today, and it's used primarily as the foundation of the nitrogen fertilizer industry, as a transport vessel for nitrogen. Chemically, ammonia is NH3, so in addition to nitrogen, it contains hydrogen. And hydrogen as we know has a strong potential as a low to zero emissions fuel source, depending on how it's produced.But hydrogen is challenging to transport. Ammonia, therefore, also has the potential to be a transport vessel for hydrogen as a power source, and ammonia supply chains are already mature today. Amogy's unique innovation lies in cracking ammonia into hydrogen at the point of power generation and then powering vehicles via hydrogen fuel cells. They are targeting ocean shipping as most major companies seek solutions to decarbonize their supply chains. In this episode, we cover: [02:21]: Dr. Woo’s background and journey to founding Amogy[05:16]: Co-founder roles and decision-making at Amogy[07:16]: The company’s impressive Series B funding round and key investors[09:45]: Overview of Amogy and its technology: converting ammonia to energy[11:14]: Importance of ammonia in global food production and fertilizer[15:07]: Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and its applications beyond fertilizer[17:03]: Ammonia production processes, challenges of transportation and storage[19:47]: Amogy’s innovation to use ammonia as a fuel without combustion[24:35]: Ammonia compared with other renewable fuels like methanol and batteries[29:21]: Process and efficiency of converting ammonia to hydrogen on ships[31:32]: Safety considerations for storing and transporting ammonia on ships[34:40]: Amogy’s current traction and building the world's first 100% ammonia-powered vessel, a tugboat[38:57]: Where Amogy is looking for help today[42:07]: Future expansion of ammonia adoption in East Asia and globallyEpisode recorded on May 9, 2024 (Published on May 23, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Adam Stein is the Director of Nuclear Energy Innovation at the Breakthrough Institute, where he focuses on the technology, policy, risk and economics of nuclear energy. The Breakthrough Institute is a global research center that identifies and promotes technological solutions to environmental and human development challenges. Among its many projects, the Breakthrough Institute recently launched Build Nuclear Now, a national campaign to mobilize Americans in targeted states to call for regulatory and legislative change to accelerate the licensing and deployment of new, advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.Adam brings a pro-nuclear perspective to this conversation; and given that, Cody and Adam focus the majority of the discussion on the history of nuclear power in the US and potential paths forward, rather than debating the merits of nuclear (which could of course be a full episode by itself). Adam has a particular interest in advanced nuclear reactors, which represent a broad class of new technologies currently under development and review. This conversation covers these advanced reactors and so much more. Episode recorded on Apr 15, 2024 (Published on May 13, 2024)In this episode, we cover: [02:39]: Launch of 'Build Nuclear Now' to boost public support for nuclear energy[03:45]: Shift in public opinion on nuclear energy post-Three Mile Island incident[05:03]: Contrast between post-WWII and current energy policies focusing on efficiency[09:30]: Decline of nuclear energy due to increased natural gas from fracking[10:48]: Challenges in revitalizing the stagnant US nuclear industry[13:02]: Future projections for nuclear load growth by 2050 [15:14]: Why renewables and storage alone cannot meet future energy demands[19:39]: Additional benefits of nuclear energy[21:33]: The role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the need for reform[25:00]: Challenges with traditional nuclear reactor approval processes [29:23]: Vogtle reactors and challenges for deploying nuclear plants in the US[32:27]: The potential of advanced nuclear reactors and their smaller, adaptable designs[39:32]: Strategic focus on Appalachia for repurposing coal plants for nuclear projects[42:38]: Recent legislative efforts to modernize nuclear energy regulation and innovation[52:12]: The process and challenges of nuclear fuel management, from enrichment to waste[01:01:12]: National focus on nuclear innovation, highlighting Idaho's MARVEL reactor development[01:05:31]: Role of the Breakthrough Institute in addressing and implementing solutions for nuclear energy barriers Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

In today's episode, recorded live during San Francisco Climate Week, we delve into the critical intersection of climate policy and carbon removal. Joining us are two distinguished guests: California Senator Scott Wiener, the author of the recent landmark climate legislation known as California's SB 253 or the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, and Shashank Samala, the CEO and Co-founder of Heirloom, a pioneering carbon removal company. Shashank was a previous guest on the show in 2021, and we're excited to have him back to weigh in on this important conversation. Senator Wiener sheds light on the legislative landscape driving climate action, while Shashank offers insights into the technologies transforming carbon removal. Together, we explore the convergence of policy and innovation, examining how regulatory frameworks catalyze the adoption and scaling of technological solutions. We pack a lot into this conversation, and we hope you enjoy it! In this episode, we cover: [2:15] Senator Scott Wiener's background and personal climate journey[6:04] Shashank's entrepreneurial background and transition to carbon removal[8:38] An overview of Heirloom[10:20] An overview of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions[12:59] SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, authored by Senator Wiener[17:46] California's cap and trade system[20:22] The importance of carbon accounting and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV)[25:32] How the Senator's team worked with startups to verify compliance challenges[31:48] Heirloom's categories of carbon buyers[34:25] SB 308, Carbon Market Development Act, authored by Senator Josh Becker[36:17] The role of geography in carbon removals[40:14] How startups can engage with local policymakers[45:11] The benefit of representing San Francisco as a climate tech hub[46:29] Senator Wiener's wishlist for climate policy, including dense housing and world-class public transportation[47:06] Shashank's wishlist for climate policy, including SB 308 Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. Sarah Kapnick serves as the Chief Scientist at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which plays a critical role in understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. Bringing a unique mix of science and finance to NOAA, Dr. Kapnick's background includes a stint as a senior climate scientist at JP Morgan Chase, a leadership role at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, and an early career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. She holds a PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from UCLA and an AB in Mathematics from Princeton.In our conversation, Dr. Kapnick touches on a wide range of topics, including NOAA's extensive work, the importance of resilience and adaptation in today's changing climate, and the challenges of planning for a future that deviates from past assumptions of a stable climate. Highlighting NOAA's efforts in supporting community resilience and innovation, she underscores the agency's commitment to aiding stakeholders in navigating the complexities of our evolving environmental landscape, emphasizing the critical need for investment and focus on adaptation for the remainder of the 21st century.In this episode, we cover: [03:08]: An overview of NOAA and its departments, focusing on climate, weather, ocean, and coasts[05:16]: The six line offices within NOAA, including the National Weather Service and Oceanic Research[09:26]: NOAA's management of marine resources and the Great Lakes[12:18]: How scientific priorities are set within NOAA, driven by mission and funding[15:06]: Kapnick's background in climate science and finance[20:23]: The intersection of climate change and finance[22:45] The need for bipartisan support for resiliency and adaptation measures[31:13]: NOAA's role in funding and supporting coastal resilience and climate-ready fisheries[36:34]: NOAA's focus on adaptation and resilience in response to climate change[48:19]: Opportunities for startup innovation and government funding in adaptation and resiliency[54:00]: The state of the world's ocean and atmospheric circulation, including AMOC slowdown[59:17]: Climate change impacts on the Midwest and the variability of the Great LakesEpisode recorded on Mar 13, 2024 (Published on Apr 15, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ning Mosberger-Tang is the founder and president at 1.5 Climate Strategies Group, alongside a host of other climate and civic organizations. As one of the pioneering female engineers at Google, Ning played a crucial role in the development of Google's initial advertising platform. Transitioning from Google in 2006, her focus shifted towards combating climate change. Presently, she spearheads multiple organizations dedicated to instigating change. This discussion spans her endeavors in political and electoral advocacy, civic engagement, and climate tech investing. With the 2024 election on the horizon, the opportunity to converse with Ning offered invaluable insights into the critical issues at stake, her priorities for the election cycle, and her strategic approach.Episode recorded on Mar 19, 2024 (Published on Apr 8, 2024)In this episode, we cover: [01:47]: Ning's background, her experience at Google and transition to climate advocacy[06:28]: Founding Innovo Foundation for conservation work and climate change mitigation[07:23]: Ning's various initiatives, from tech investments to democracy reform[10:00]: The importance of policy and electoral work for climate action after the 2016 election[11:23]: Starting Blue Wave Postcard Movement to increase voter turnout[16:27]: 1.5 Climate Strategies Group's mission and member pledge[19:16]: Supporting investigative reporting on climate via Capital & Main and Grist[20:20]: Focus on the 2024 elections for climate policy impact[24:25]: Importance of state and local elections for climate action implementation[29:39]: Ning's wishlist for future climate policies, highlighting the need for transmission reform[30:20]: Deep dive on 501(c)(3) vs. 501(c)(4), PAC money, and the many ways elections are funded[35:00]: The importance of building a strong ground game for elections[39:47]: Ning's invitation to join 1.5 Climate Strategies Group[40:06]: The Blue Wave Postcard Movement's effort to register voters in Pennsylvania[40:59]: Oath.vote and closing words Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. Peter Fiske is the Executive Director at the National Alliance for Water Innovation or NAWI. NAWI is a collection of 19 universities, four national labs and 190 plus US water companies committed to developing new technologies to enable distributed desalination and water reuse. They're a five-year, $110 million research program supported by the US Department of Energy in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources and the California State Water Resources Control Board. They're headquartered at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in Northern California. Peter joined Berkeley lab in 2017. Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer at Pax Water Technologies from 2008 until January 2017, when it was acquired by UGSI Incorporated. Peter holds a PhD in geochemistry and material science from Stanford and an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Our conversation today starts with a deep dive into desalination before broadening out into Peter's vision for our water system. Shout-out to former podcast guest Tom Ferguson at Burnt Island Ventures for connecting us with Peter. We've been wanting to learn about desalination and Peter helps us gain a much better understanding of that and so much more.In this episode, we cover:[3:11] Peter's work at the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI)[5:56] Overview of desalination and its various applications, including ocean desalination and water reuse[9:19] Desalination challenges and opportunities, including energy usage and brine disposal[14:33] Small-scale desalination systems and water reuse in buildings and cities[20:09] The water-energy nexus and the impact of water usage on power generation[27:30] NAWI's ongoing projects, including ultra high recovery desalination and recovery of valuable materials from wastewater[32:16] Status of water innovation in the U.S. and other countries[34:43] Water economics and the need for companies to consider their consumption[36:49] The federal policy landscape for water in the U.S.[38:30] Water as a national security[40:45] Peter's background and careerEpisode recorded on March 18, 2024 (Published on April 2, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Eric Law is the CEO and co-founder of Urban Machine. Urban Machine develops robotics and AI to reclaim lumber from construction and demolition for re-use. They claim that 37 million tons of wood goes into landfills annually, and much of that wood could be reused. Their robotic machines specialize in the necessary steps to prep wood for reconditioning. In 2022, Urban Machine successfully secured a seed funding round, spearheaded by Lower Carbon Capital and supported by GV (Google Ventures).With a career rooted in the construction and contracting industry, Eric has extensive experience in large construction projects and has been involved in creating and selling software targeted at this sector. We start our conversation with an overview of the construction industry, highlighting the main players, their challenges, including considerations around emissions and sustainability. The discussion touches on challenges Urban Machine aims to address, the innovative technology they employ, and their aspirations for the future.In this episode, we cover: [3:08] Overview of the construction industry and its challenges, including labor shortages and sustainability concerns[5:52] Key stakeholders in construction[13:41] Urban Machine's mission to reclaim lumber from construction and demolition for reuse[17:91] The importance of deconstruction in reducing wood waste[19:30] Urban Machine's tech and processes for preparing wood for reconditioning[21:38] Benefits of using reclaimed lumber in construction projects[23:58] Economic considerations of using reclaimed lumber and competing with virgin lumber prices[26:19] Urban Machine's progress to-date, funding and future vision [30:00] Eric Law's motivation for starting the company and its positive reception from the industryEpisode recorded on Mar 14, 2024 (Published on Mar 28, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Brandon Hurlbut, our guest on this episode, wears multiple hats. He's co-founder at Boundary Stone Partners, a climate change focused government affairs firm created in 2013 that operates at the intersection of technology, finance, and policy.He's also co-founder of Overture, an early stage climate tech venture capital firm that recently announced a $60 million debut fund, and he is an operating partner at NGP, a private equity fund focused on energy with billions of dollars under management. Among other activities, Brandon also serves on the board of directors of the Sunrise Movement, The Solutions Project, co-founded by Mark Ruffalo, and Clean Energy for America.Before this, Brandon served in the Obama administration as US Department of Energy Chief of Staff, and in the White House as the president's liaison to the energy and environment cabinet agencies. At the DOE, Brandon oversaw day-to-day operations of a federal agency with a $29 billion budget and a 115,000 person workforce. He also served on the investment committee for its $38 billion Clean Energy Fund. Cody and Brandon discuss the intersection of policy and innovation, including what his work at Boundary Stone entails and the types of problems they help companies navigate. They also delve into the 2024 US election, including what's at stake from a climate change perspective in the presidential, House, and Senate elections. In this episode, we cover: [03:10]: Brandon's unified approach to merging technology, finance, and policy to combat climate change[05:22]: Involvement with the Sunrise Movement and The Solutions Project[09:52]: Transition from the Obama campaign to significant roles in energy and environment[14:08]: The genesis and evolution of Boundary Stone[21:14]: The varied advocacy work Boundary Stone undertakes to connect startups with government opportunities[30:31]: The high stakes of the 2024 US election for climate policy and innovation[34:42]: Potential climate policy directions and challenges in a post-2024 election landscape[40:27]: Ramifications of a potential 2024 Trump win on climate initiatives[43:53]: The role of Senate and House elections in shaping climate policy and legislation[46:13]: The bipartisan appeal of hydrogen, geothermal, and permitting reform in energy policy[50:38]: Brandon’s advice for getting involved ahead of the 2024 elections and beyond, including Climate Cabinet and Climate PowerEpisode recorded on Mar 1, 2024 (Published on Mar 18, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Kim Stanley Robinson, renowned science fiction author, is our guest on this episode of MCJ. He is the author of the Ministry for the Future, a novel which outlines humanity's attempts to navigate climate change in the coming decades.Former President Barack Obama named the Ministry for the Future as one of his favorite books of 2020. The work has been cited by numerous entrepreneurs and builders in the MCJ member community as having had a significant impact on their interest in working on climate and decarbonization solutions. The subject of climate change shows up in many of Kim Stanley Robinson's works from his Mars trilogy, written in the 1990s about humans terraforming Mars, to his science in the capital Series from the mid 2000s, to his 2017 novel, New York 2140, which is set in a Lower Manhattan that is submerged due to sea level rise.And it shows up in many of his other works as well. Stan, as he goes by, has won numerous awards including the Hugo Award for best novel for both Green Mars and Blue Mars, and the Nebula Award for best novel for Red Mars and his book 2312. The Atlantic has called his work the gold standard of realistic and highly literary science fiction writing. And according to an article in the New Yorker, he is generally acknowledged as one of the greatest living science fiction writers. Stan and Cody have a wide-ranging conversation about his relationship with nature, his views on capitalism, society, government and technology, and of course his writings and his views on climate change and the path ahead for us all.In this episode, we cover: [03:04]: Stan's early life, finding solace in nature on the California coast[06:40]: Writing "The High Sierra: A Love Story" during the pandemic[08:57]: Noticing climate change impacts in the Sierra Nevada[12:08]: Climate change awareness sparked by a 1995 trip to Antarctica[14:13]: Mixing dread and hope in climate change discussions[17:36]: Viewing technology as both hardware and software[21:19]: Critiquing capitalism's role in power dynamics[26:58]: Majority's desire for a sustainable world despite hurdles[28:00]: Individual actions within broader societal efforts[30:14]: Civil disobedience as a response to failed representation[34:18]: The UN and other international governance's role in global challenges[39:18]: The potential of international treaties in climate action[42:11]: The concept of sudden societal change in climate action[48:06]: Ministry for the Future and "following the money" in climate change narratives[55:59]: Overview of Stan's works and current projects on AntarcticaEpisode recorded on Feb 7, 2024 (Published on Mar 11, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Subodh Kulkarni is CEO and President at Rigetti Computing, and our topic in this episode is quantum computing and its implications for our changing planet. Rigetti Computing, a publicly listed company, builds quantum computers and superconducting quantum processors. It also provides cloud-based access to quantum computing for both commercial and research purposes. Quantum computing, a field rooted in theoretical physics, is complex and involves the use of quantum bits or qubits, which differ from binary computing's zeros and ones. As the world's computing demand continues to soar with AI and data centers consuming vast amounts of energy, AI also has the potential to unlock climate change solutions through innovations in biotech, advanced energy, planetary modeling, and more. We wanted to learn from Subodh about how quantum computing might change the game in all of these areas as it matures. Is it possible that quantum computing is an enormous future climate solution? Let's find out. In this episode, we cover: [02:39]: Subodh’s background and joining Rigetti as CEO[05:26]: Basics of quantum computing versus classical computing[09:19]: Introduction to the subatomic world[11:46]: Physicality of a quantum computer [15:01]: Rigetti's business model: cloud access and on-premise quantum computers[17:06]: Qubit development and the potential to follow Moore's law[18:02]: The power requirements of maintaining a hyper-cold environment for quantum computing[20:02]: Quantum computing's potential to reduce data center energy consumption[24:25]: Quantum's strength in probabilistic versus deterministic computation[29:26]: Rigetti's involvement in DOE’s fusion project[30:59]: Predictions for quantum computing advancements in the next 10 years[33:45]: How quantum computing can bolster artificial intelligence[36:18]: Current state of quantum computing and near-term inflection points[37:16]: Initial use cases for quantum computing, Rigetti’s commercialization strategies, and government funding[41:08]: Collaborative projects with major financial and pharmaceutical companies[42:12]: Potential applications in weather modeling and synthetic biologyEpisode recorded on Jan 23, 2024 (Published on Mar 4, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.Eric Letvin serves as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s deputy assistant administrator for mitigation. Eric directs FEMA's pre and post-disaster mitigation programs that support sustainable disaster resilient communities to avoid or reduce the loss of life, property and financial impacts of natural hazards. We talk about Eric's career journey, a brief history of FEMA and what the agency does before, during, and after natural hazards or disasters. We emphasize the importance of pre-disaster mitigation alongside talking about a new tranche of funding from the Infrastructure Bill going to support the work here.In this episode, we cover: [01:37]: Eric's role at FEMA and career path from engineering to hazard mitigation[03:43]: FEMA's inception, evolution, and mission within DHS[05:35]: Hazard mitigation vs. resilience outcomes[06:29]: FEMA's expanded role in non-natural disaster management[09:05]: Pre and post-disaster flood mitigation strategies and grant programs[11:38]: Wildfire mitigation efforts and challenges amplified by climate change[14:55]: FEMA's operational structure and budgeting for disaster relief and mitigation[17:06]: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for resilience efforts[19:03]: Examples of funded projects in disadvantaged communities[20:17]: The significance of FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance program in the face of climate change[22:56]: Advances in flood mapping technology and risk communication[24:40]: Challenges in modeling wildfire risk and the dynamic nature of wildfire hazards[26:34]: The importance of building codes in disaster readiness[28:59]: The shift towards prioritizing pre-disaster mitigation funding[30:00]: Lessons from past disasters on the value of proactive mitigationResources mentioned:The Fifth National Climate AssessmentWildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission ReportEpisode recorded on Nov 16, 2023 (Published on Feb 29, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. Britt Wray is a science communicator and the author of two books. Her latest is Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Anxiety, which is a national bestseller. Dr. Wray is also the director of CIRCLE (Community-minded Interventions for Resilience, Climate Leadership, and Emotional wellbeing) at Stanford Psychiatry, a research and action initiative in the Stanford School of Medicine. Her first book, the Rise of the Necrofauna: The Science, Ethics, and Risks of De-Extinction was named a best book of 2017 by the New Yorker. She most recently is a top award winner of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, which was bestowed upon her by the National Academies in partnership with Schmidt Futures.Climate change evokes a myriad of emotions unique to each individual. It can stir outrage in some, sadness in others, a sense of helplessness for some, and dread for the future in others. There is no universally right or wrong reaction, as our responses are shaped by our distinct relationships with the world and the diverse circumstances in which we live. The perception of climate change varies; for some, it may feel abstract, while for others, the impacts are undeniably profound and far-reaching.But as Dr. Wray points out, we know that climate change as we are experiencing it is anthropogenic, meaning it's the result of human behavior. And yet so little has been studied about the human behavioral response to climate change. How do we individually and collectively feel about climate change, and what do those feelings drive us to do? This is the sweet spot of Britt's work.In this episode, we cover: An overview of Dr. Wray's research on climate distressHer work as the Director of CIRCLE (Community-minded Interventions for Resilience, Climate Leadership, and Emotional Wellbeing) at Stanford PsychiatryAn overview of climate anxiety and its impact on peopleThe concept of solastalgia and broken record, record breakingThe importance of community and social connections in addressing climate anxietyThe need for evaluation and evidence-based interventions for climate anxietyIncluding behavioralists and psychologists when addressing climate changeThe potential role of guilt in motivating action on climate changeThe impact of climate change on reproductive decisions and parentingDr. Wray's book and newsletterThe importance of open and vulnerable conversations about climate changeEpisode recorded on Jan 29, 2024 (Published on Feb 26, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

On this episode of My Climate Journey, we have two guests: Susan Schofer and Po Bronson.Susan is partner at SOSV and Chief Science Officer at Hax, which is SOSV's initiative around hard tech. She has a PhD in chemistry from Caltech, and most recently spent eight years at Modern Meadow, a growth stage startup in the bio leather space.Po is general partner at SOSV, and managing director of IndieBio, which is SOSV's initiative around biotech. Po has written seven New York Times bestsellers, and has won nine national awards for science journalism.Cody and our guests cover Susan and Po's backgrounds, the challenges in evaluating material science startups, their journeys from academia and the food industry, and early-stage deep tech investment models. They also discuss business economics in material science startups, scaling challenges, sustainable sourcing, and the potential and limitations of synthetic biology in the context of material science startups.In this episode, we cover: [02:01]: Susan and Po’s roles at SOSV[03:08]: The complexity of evaluating material science startups[04:49]: Susan's journey from chemistry academia to industry[07:13]: Po's transition from the food industry and writing to IndieBio[09:12]: Comparing Hax's and IndieBio's methodologies within SOSV[11:54]: SOSV's early-stage deep tech investment model[14:46]: Business economics in material science startups[17:11]: Unmet needs and sustainable sourcing in materials[19:48]: The critical role of performance in bio-based materials[22:22]: Scaling challenges in sustainable startups[24:08]: “Pure” vs. blended materials[30:54]: Scaling issues faced by bioleather companies[34:35]: Trends in the plastics space and circularity[37:15]: Challenges in the cosmetics and skincare industry[41:47]: Defining terms “biomanufacturing,” “bioeconomy,” and “synthetic biology”[45:07]: Challenges in biology vs. chemistry[51:35]: Susan and Po’s advice for foundersEpisode recorded on Jan 16, 2024 (Published on Feb 20, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dan Yates is the CEO and Chairman of Dandelion Energy, a Series B Stage startup deploying solutions for residential geothermal energy. As Dan explains it, residential geothermal distinguishes itself from utility-scale geothermal by not aiming to exploit a scarce, underground heat source for electricity generation through turbines. Instead, the process involves circulating an aqueous solution through a closed loop underground. This allows the system to harness the stable temperature of the soil beneath and employ it for both heating and cooling functions in a residential ground source heat pump. Essentially, residential geothermal aligns with the trajectory of residential HVAC heat pump adoption, serving as a means to maintain a dependable and efficient temperature for optimal heat pump performance.Dan is a repeat guest on My Climate Journey. He joined Jason way back on Episode 7 to recount his journey as the Co-founder and the CEO of Opower. Dandelion's Co-founder, Kathy Hannun, was also on the pod way back on Episode 35. A lot has changed in that time. In today's conversation, we touch a bit on Dan's Opower journey, but most of the time is spent on Dandelion and geothermal. We also cover Dandelion's current geographic focus areas, the technologies it has developed, how they operate the company, the business model, the recent tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislation that have benefited the company, and so much more.In this episode, we cover: Dandelion's mission to bring residential geothermal to scaleDan's experience at Opower and its thesis Difference between residential geothermal and utility-scale How residential geothermal works and its benefitsDandelion's closed-loop solution Geographic focus areas of Dandelion Energy The company's heat pump technology Recent tax incentives for geothermal energyAn overview of Dandelion's operations The company's business model and funding to date Dandelion's biggest challenges and barriers to growthEstimated cost breakdown for homeowners looking to switch to geothermal with DandelionCareer opportunities with Dandelion and how folks can spread the word about geothermalEpisode recorded on Jan 18, 2024 (Published on Feb 15, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Today’s guests are Dr. Melissa Burt and Dr. Emily Fischer, who are part of a group called the Science Moms. The Science Moms are a consortium of climate scientists who are also mothers and who are, in their words, working to give our children the planet they deserve. They aim to demystify climate science and motivate everyday moms to demand climate change plans and solutions.Dr. Burt is an assistant professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University with a focus on arctic clouds, radiation and sea ice, and the assistant dean for diversity and inclusion in the school's Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. Dr. Fischer is an associate professor also in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. She also serves as an affiliate faculty member for the CSU School of Global Environmental Sustainability.A few months ago, we took to social media to see who could talk more about kids and climate change. The Science Moms were recommended by a huge number of folks that we know and trust. So here we are. Enjoy the show!In this episode, we cover: [2:36] Background of Dr. Melissa Burt and Dr. Emily Fischer[7:26] An overview of the Science Moms [9:01] Concerns parents have when talking to kids about climate change[10:47] How to engage kids of different ages on climate [16:39] How to feel confident in discussing climate change without being an expert[20:09] Political implications of discussing climate change[27:31] Myth vs. fact about climate change[29:41] Examples of collective action for parents and kids[33:41] Resources for learning more about Science MomsEpisode recorded on Feb 5, 2024 (Published on Feb 12, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Prakash Govindan is COO and Co-founder at Gradiant. Gradiant is a Series D stage company that develops technology for industrial wastewater treatment. They work with Fortune 500 clients across a range of industries, including semiconductor fabrication, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, mining, and more, to help them reuse water in their operations.Prakash discusses his background, experiences with water scarcity during his childhood in India, how he met his co-founder during his doctoral work at MIT, how the company started, and the problem of industrial wastewater today. Cody and Prakash talk about some of the different industries and use cases that Gradiant serves, a bit about how their technology works, and how their business model is structured.As Prakash says in the conversation, water is one of the primary interfaces through which the world will experience climate change, whether through drought or flood. The more we can do to manage our water supply, the better off we will be. In this episode, we cover: [02:35]: Prakash's early experiences with water scarcity in India[04:09]: Gradiant becoming the water industry's only unicorn[10:21]: How climate change primarily impacts society through water[11:52]: Gradiant's role in closing the loop on industrial wastewater[18:25]: The challenges of industrial vs. municipal wastewater treatment[22:22]: Gradiant's bespoke water treatment solutions for the pharmaceutical industry[26:17]: The company’s involvement in direct lithium extraction and production processes[30:52]: The importance of seawater desalination and minimizing brine discharge[38:03]: How Gradiant collaborates with semiconductor clients under the CHIPS Act[41:50]: Gradiant's approach to extracting valuable byproducts from waste[45:06]: Early funding for Gradiant from high net-worth individuals and family offices[46:01]: Gradiant's revenue and backlog growth, anticipating future financial milestones[48:38]: The story behind the company name, Gradiant with an “A” instead of an “E”Episode recorded on Jan 5, 2024 (Published on Feb 8, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ben Hubbard is CEO and Co-founder at Nexus PMG, an infrastructure advisory and project development organization dedicated to reducing carbon intensity and enhancing resource efficiency. Ben co-founded Nexus PMG in 2013 after multiple years of working on complex metal refining facilities in locations including Mongolia and Saudi Arabia.In this episode, Cody and Ben cover how Nexus PMG got started, what key risks the firm explores when assessing a project for development capital, Ben's advice for infrastructure-heavy startups as they scale, and how he sees the next five years of infrastructure deployment playing out. And they cover a whole lot in between, including the criticality of feedstocks, the role of insurance, opportunities for private equity, and first-of-a-kind project finance.In this episode, we cover: [01:56]: Ben's early mining experience in extreme climates during the 2007 recession[05:24]: Nexus PMG's founding story[11:51]: Abandoning all fossil-fuel projects and full transition to low-carbon focus[17:01]: Observations on declining investment returns in wind and solar projects[20:39]: Challenges in variability and quality of sustainable materials[27:15]: Turnaround of a distressed biomass plant in British Columbia[30:08]: Launch of Nexus Development Capital for scaling businesses[36:04]: Recent shifts from strategics investing to meet ESG goals[38:17]: Why team dynamics are critical to project success[42:50]: Trend forecasting in sustainable projects: hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels[46:01]: Ben’s optimism about capital deployment in the next decadeEpisode recorded on Jan 8, 2024 (Published on Feb 5, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.Roy Mittleider is the director of training for CalCERTS. CalCERTS is one of California's Home Energy Rating System providers (or HERS), which is an acronym we use a lot in this episode. They operate in the state under the conditional approval of the California Energy Commission, or the CEC. CalCERTS provides specialized HERS training and certification, performs quality assurance on all HERS Raters they certify, and maintains an online data registry of permits and records of energy efficiency work for each home in California. In this episode, we deep dive into what a HERS rater does, who they work with, what their training is like, and what career paths they can take. We also talk about different types of energy specifications a structure needs to meet in order to be up to the latest energy code. And we end with talking about the role that technology can play in optimizing the workflow in the home energy efficiency auditing space.In this episode, we cover: Introduction to CalCERTS and the Home Energy Rating System (HERS)History of the HERS industry and its development in CaliforniaCompliance rating and verification process for existing homes and new constructionEnergy specifications and standards for buildings in CaliforniaThe importance of air sealing and insulation in home energy efficiency The role of technology in optimizing workflow and improving efficiency in home energy efficiency auditingCareer paths and opportunities for HERS ratersImportance of data registry and record-keeping for energy efficiency work in CaliforniaPotential for technology to improve data transfer, streamline paperwork, and enhance the HERS rating processEpisode recorded on Aug 17, 2023 (Published on Nov 2, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. Denise Baden is Professor of Sustainable Business at the University of Southampton and founder of Green Stories. At Green Stories, Dr. Baden has run 16 writing competitions since 2018, focused around sustainability and storytelling. She is herself also the author of multiple eco-fiction novels, including Habitat Man and is the editor of a collection of short stories called No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save Our Planet. She's working with BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, on a project about the role of screenwriters in consumer culture. And she's co-created the #ClimateCharacters campaign with them to highlight TV and movie characters who take on climate positive lifestyle behaviors.Dr. Baden and Cody have a wide-ranging conversation about the role of storytelling as a lever for climate action, her work in researching how characters who demonstrate positive behaviors tend to drive better outcomes than fear mongering via disaster scenarios, and how the climate attitudes amongst her students have changed during her time in academia. In this episode, we cover: [02:37]: Dr. Baden's realization about the impact of storytelling while teaching ethics[04:35]: Her findings on the impact of positive vs. negative storytelling[09:50]: The concept of Thrutopias and Dr. Baden’s Green Stories competitions[12:31]: #ClimateCharacters collaboration with BAFTAs[17:35]: How fictional narratives shape subconscious value adoption[19:01]: Concerns about dystopian themes in climate storytelling[22:54]: The role of humor in climate-related storytelling[26:33]: Promoting sustainability through Green Stories competitions[31:25]: Personal carbon allowances for sustainable behaviors[34:00]: Positioning climate change stories for broader audience engagement[37:50]: Techniques for making climate change stories broadly engaging[41:59]: Leveraging existing movements like minimalism and other trends[45:12]: How climate attitudes amongst students have changed over timeEpisode recorded on Jan 4, 2024 (Published on Jan 29, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Sarah Lamaison is the CEO and Co-founder of Dioxycle. Dioxycle is developing technology to produce sustainable ethylene from recycled carbon emissions. Ethylene is the world's most used organic chemical and it's a precursor to many everyday products including construction materials, plastics, and textile fibers. Indeed, it's a core feedstock for polyester.Ethylene is also an enormous market at well over $100 billion. We were excited to learn from Sarah about Dioxycle as an example of a startup leveraging electrolysis to convert electricity, water, and carbon emissions into low carbon chemicals. Dioxycle announced a Series A of financing earlier this year with investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital and Gigascale. In this episode, we cover: [02:00]: An overview of Dioxycle[04:37]: Sarah's background in CO2 electrolysis[06:41]: Ethylene's role in everyday products, including polyester fabrics [11:02]: Dioxycle's novel carbon electrolysis technology for converting emissions into ethylene[17:53]: The challenge of decarbonizing ethylene's embedded emissions[23:14]: Dioxycle's goal of cost-competitive production below fossil prices[25:24]: Current trends and challenges in sustainable ethylene production[28:26]: The need for renewable power sources for Dioxycle's electrolysis process[30:19]: Dioxycle's focus on deploying an industrial pilot and team expansion[33:49]: Key global centers for ethylene production[34:36]: Dioxycle's vision as a trusted tech provider in emissions recyclingEpisode recorded on Dec 14, 2023 (Published on Jan 25, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Capital Series hosted by Jason Jacobs. This series explores a diverse range of capital sources and the individuals who drive them. From family offices and institutional LPs to private equity, government funding, and more, we take a deep dive into the world of capital and its critical role in driving innovation and progress. Bruce Niven is the Head of Strategic Venturing at Aramco Ventures. Aramco Ventures is the corporate venturing arm of Aramco, a world-leading integrated energy and chemicals company. As of 2022, it was the second-largest company in the world by revenue. It also has both the world's second-largest proven crude oil reserves at more than 270 billion barrels and largest daily oil production of all oil producing companies. Bruce joined Aramco Ventures 11 years ago to build the corporate venture program. He led the design of its first $500 million fund and has since expanded to include three funds totaling 3 billion in assets under management. The venture unit has done close to 200 transactions, deployed more than 30 technologies, and have three exits. Late last year, it launched a $1.5 billion sustainability fund that Bruce manages. Jason and Bruce have a great discussion about Aramco's history and future, plus Bruce's personal venture journey. We talk about Aramco Ventures, what they look for in investments, how they think about strategic fit versus returns, the types of technologies that Bruce and Aramco Ventures find exciting, and what founders might expect from working with Aramco post-investment. Enjoy the show! In this episode, we cover: [3:31] Overview of Aramco and Aramco Ventures[6:18] Bruce's personal journey and background in venture capital[8:42] Aramco Ventures' investment focus and priorities[10:31] The role of fossil fuels in past, present, and future energy systems[14:22] The importance of energy abundance and the transition to cleaner technologies[21:54] Aramco's priorities in the energy transition and the role of venture in fulfilling its objectives [23:30] Aramco Ventures' interest in disruptive technologies[28:15] Strategic fit versus returns in Aramco Ventures' investment decisions[30:52] Aramco's role in the capital gap for early-stage startups and the need for project financing[39:34] Addressing concerns and criticisms of the oil and gas industry[42:28] The need for a mature accounting system for measuring emissions and the challenges in the current regulatory environment[46:47] Ways for listeners to engage with Aramco VenturesEpisode recorded on Nov 29, 2023 (Published on Jan 24, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Scott Gale is Executive Director at Halliburton Labs. Halliburton is a complex company. It’s a 100-year-old oil field services giant, known for its extensive fracking operations and infrastructure expertise in the oil and gas sector. It is not an oil and gas distributor like Chevron or Exxon, but it is a powerhouse nonetheless. With their Halliburton Labs program, Scott and team are actively investing in and supporting the innovation ecosystem around clean energy and climate tech. They specifically focus on technologies that are outside the purview of Halliburton's core businesses.Cody and Scott attempt to address all of this. The conversation covers Halliburton Labs' startup collaborations, the interplay between its core business and these ventures, Scott's views on Halliburton's past controversies, hydrocarbons' economic role, and the energy transition's trajectory. They conclude with reflections on Houston's evolving innovation ecosystem.In this episode, we cover: [04:00]: Scott's role and the founding of Halliburton Labs in 2020[05:18]: Halliburton Labs supporting diverse energy sector startups[07:01]: Unique engagement and equity model with startups at Halliburton Labs[09:00]: Strategic differences between Halliburton Labs and typical corporate venture[11:36]: Halliburton Labs' approach to IP rights and founder-centric model[13:10]: Halliburton Labs' stance on supporting geothermal energy startups[14:06]: Scott's vision of a diverse future energy system[17:47]: The strategic origins of Halliburton Labs[22:18]: Scott's perspective on Halliburton's evolution and its impact[27:11]: The difficulty of eliminating industries in energy transition[33:18]: The balance of cost, reliability, and sustainability in energy systems[36:19]: Scott's outlook on the oil and gas sector's future[39:28]: Challenges of reliability in transitioning to renewable energy[41:56]: Various technologies' roles in the future energy landscape[44:17]: The changing energy and climate tech ecosystem in Houston[50:24]: Challenges in early-stage infrastructure finance[53:47]: Scott's additional activities beyond Halliburton LabsEpisode recorded on Dec 19, 2023 (Published on Jan 22, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Eloa Guillotin is the Co-founder and CEO of Beyond Aero.The topic of aviation emissions is complex. Flying is in many ways a crucial part of our global society, and although COVID lockdowns temporarily reduced frequent flying, the reliance on air travel in modern society is indisputable. Aviation accounts for over 2% of global emissions. Lithium-ion batteries are heavy, which doesn't really pair well with flight. Sustainable aviation fuel is one potential solution and has promise as a drop in replacement for kerosene. But what about hydrogen? Beyond Aero, under Eloa's leadership, is exploring hydrogen as a fuel source for small business or private jets. This episode dives into the potential of hydrogen for this aircraft category, France's commitment to hydrogen aviation, how Beyond Aero has designed its solution and how Eloa sees the market evolving.In this episode, we cover: [03:48]: Beyond Aero's hydrogen-based electric aviation mission[04:51]: Designing an aircraft from the ground up[06:28]: Hydrogen as an energy vector in aviation[07:47]: Hydrogen tanks' weight and efficiency vs. jet fuel[09:47]: Beyond Aero's design focus on fuel cell, not combustion[10:48]: Market potential of a thousand-mile range hydrogen aircraft[12:27]: Complexities of aircraft compressor systems in hydrogen-powered planes[15:21]: Cooling system challenges for hydrogen-powered aircraft[18:02]: Comparing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) usage in commercial aviation to Airbus's hydrogen initiatives[20:54]: France's role in advancing hydrogen-powered aviation[23:33]: French government investment in low carbon aircraft and startups[25:04]: Role of pink hydrogen (from nuclear energy) in France's aviation strategy[29:24]: Future flight behaviors and electric aircraft's environmental impact[31:36]: Environmental concerns and potential of hydrogen in private jets[33:21]: Shift in business jet market towards hydrogen[35:45]: Certification timeline for hydrogen-powered aircraft[38:19]: Differentiating hydrogen-powered from battery-powered aircraft[41:17]: Eloa's journey to founding Beyond Aero[49:10]: Beyond Aero's next steps and long-term vision in electric aviationEpisode recorded on Dec 13, 2023 (Published on Jan 18, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Barbara Burger is the former president of Chevron Technology Ventures and describes herself as a "corporate graduate." She now spends her time advising and helping startups and venture funds working on the energy transition, including Greentown Labs, Energy Impact Partners, Emerald Technology Ventures, Syzygy Plasmonics, Heliogen, and many more.In this episode, we discuss her multifaceted career journey and her current role in guiding startups and venture funds in the energy sector. The conversation covers the technological advancements driving the energy transition, the dynamics between large energy companies and startups, and the specific roles of natural gas and hydrogen. Barbara also sheds light on generational shifts in the energy industry, global energy geopolitics, and offers valuable advice for women in the sector. In this episode, we cover: [03:45]: Barbara's book recommendation, "The West Texas Power Plant That Saved the World"[06:47]: Barbara's career journey, starting at Chevron after graduate school[07:41]: Learning and growing in the energy sector, from industrial chemistry to energy economics[09:26]: Shift to Chevron Technology Ventures, focusing on biofuels, renewable fuels, and digitalization[11:14]: Evolution of Chevron Technology Ventures' investment focus[14:46]: The potential of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel[17:07]: Barbara's insights on the emerging hydrogen value chain[20:21]: Innovations in shale exploration and their impact on the energy industry[22:23]: The integration of oil and gas companies in the clean tech venture space[27:21]: Post-Chevron activities: advising startups and venture funds in the energy transition[31:54]: Advice for large companies working with startups and vice versa[35:00]: The critical role of speed in energy transition[40:11]: Geopolitical aspects of energy in different regions: China, India, Africa[42:11]: Future of natural gas, role of CCUS, and economic factors[47:10]: Generational shifts impacting the energy industry[50:35]: Barbara's career advice for women in energy and tech[53:04]: The necessity of affordable, reliable, and low-impact energy solutionsEpisode recorded on Dec 18, 2023 (Published on Jan 15, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.Chris Higgins works for the city of Vancouver, British Columbia as a building planner, where he spearheads the development of energy-efficient building codes that contribute to Vancouver's ambition of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050. Chris works on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through rezoning building policies for new buildings to be on all renewables, the “sticks,” and creating incentives for existing homes to switch to renewables, the “carrots.”On the “stick” side, Chris was responsible for driving and helping to get Vancouver City Council to pass a sweeping policy to mandate that heating systems in new low-rise residential buildings be zero-emission, specifically using electric heat pumps. We discuss the complex process it took to get there. On the "carrot" side, we examine how strategically timed short and long-term incentives can align the economic interests of developers, manufacturers, and Vancouver residents, motivating a shift to renewable energy. We also talk about the similarities and differences between the US and Canadian markets on shaping policy and incentives in this area. In this episode, we cover: [02:28]: Chris's background and current role [07:56]: Vancouver vs. other cities and its unique features[09:12]: Vancouver's climate leadership and influence on other cities[11:23]: What it means to be a Charter City[15:08]: The 2022 update to Vancouver's building bylaw and shift to heat pumps[18:29]: The smooth transition and industry adaptation to the new heating regulations[22:22]: Balancing environmental goals with job protection [25:56]: The ripple effect of Vancouver's policies on other municipalities[31:20]: Potential for Vancouver's policies to influence provincial and national levels[35:02]: The role of 'carrots', or incentives, in shaping city policies[39:41]: The importance of economic alignment in policy success[41:35]: Drawing inspiration from other cities and countries for urban planning[45:46]: Vancouver's strategies for resilience against natural disastersEpisode recorded on Oct 31, 2023 (Published on Jan 11, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Tom Ferguson is founder and managing partner at Burnt Island Ventures, which is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on technologies related to water. Burnt Island's website notes that climate change is water change. And that water is the medium through which we will feel the effects of a warming earth.Tom has been working in water for over a decade, first at the sustainability consultancy, ERM, then at Imagine H2O, a non-profit startup accelerator for water startups. He’s been at Burnt Island Ventures since 2020. Tom and Cody have an in-depth conversation about the categories in the water tech space, the types of startups that are emerging, how incumbents are navigating the rapidly changing environment in which they find themselves, and the types of investments he targets with this firm. There are whole episodes to be recorded in each of Burnt Island Ventures' focus areas, but for now we appreciate learning about water from Tom’s perspective.In this episode, we cover: Importance of water in the context of climate changeChanging global water systems and the need for infrastructure upgradesBurnt Island's approach to different water categories The role of software and hardware in water tech solutionsCorporate water pledges The importance of embracing entrepreneurial innovation while balancing production successBurnt Island's portfolio breakdown The need for improved storytelling and lobbying efforts in the water industryFirst-of-a-kind projects in the water spaceTom's climate journey and how he ended up at Burnt IslandThe investment focus and criteria of Burnt Island Ventures The launch of the podcast "The Fundamental Molecule" by Burnt Island VenturesEpisode recorded on Dec 7, 2023 (Published on Jan 9, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Stanley Janicki is the Chief Revenue Officer at Sedron Technologies. Sedron is on a mission to revolutionize how waste streams can be processed to eliminate disposal costs and destroy pathogens while capturing valuable energy and recycling water. Their Varcor system takes liquid waste slurries and recovers nutrients for beneficial reuse. Their primary go-to-market implementations today are in three areas: dairy and animal agriculture, wastewater treatment and distillery waste. The company launched in 2014 as a spinout of a business called Janicki Industries which was founded in the 1990s by Stanley's parents. Janicki Industries, primarily focused on aerospace engineering. But in 2011, they were selected by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop solutions for sanitation challenges in the developing world. They developed a product that created electricity and clean drinking water based on an input of human biosolids, AKA poop, which they deployed in Senegal. Sedron is featured in a video of Bill Gates famously drinking clean poop water out of the system. We mentioned Sedron briefly in an earlier episode we recorded with Bill Caesar at Generate Upcycle as the two companies have an active partnership, which Stanley also touches on. We’d like to thank former MCJ podcast guest Steve Simon for introducing us to Stanley. While it's tempting to make poop jokes, Stanley helps shine a light on just how much chemical value there can be in it and waste in general, and how harnessing it can move us away from several challenged environmental practices that have become mainstays of modern society.In this episode, we cover: [3:14] Overview of Sedron[5:15] Sedron's Vapor Recompression and Concentration and Recovery (Varcor) technology[7:15] Pitfalls of current waste processes[13:29] Sedron's technologies: the omniprocessor and Varcor[15:56] Waste processing in the dairy industry[20:11] Sedron's go-to-market and sales process with dairy farms[27:42] Janicki Industries, Sedron's parent company, and its origin story[33:05] Sedron's current status and future plansEpisode recorded on November 28, 2023 (Published on January 4, 2024 ) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Tisha Schuller is the founding CEO of Adamantine Energy. At Adamantine, Tisha consults with clients ranging from Fortune 100 energy companies to nonprofit environmental organizations on topics related to energy policy, business strategy, politics, and community engagement. With a background as the former president and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association and as a strategic advisor for Stanford University's Natural Gas Initiative, Tisha offers valuable insights into the energy sector. She's a member of the Natural Petroleum Council and has been on the advisory board to the Secretary of Energy under the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations. She has authored three books, most recently, Real Decarbonization: How Oil and Gas Companies Are Seizing the Low-Carbon Future, as well as The Gamechanger's Playbook: How Oil & Gas Leaders Thrive in an Era of Continuous Disruption, and Accidentally Adamant, her own story of her time running the Colorado Oil & Gas Association.MCJ exists to break down silos and to help people understand climate change, and in some ways, it feels like Tisha at Adamantine is doing the same thing with a different orientation. She comes from oil and gas and she's focused on the energy transition and how to help oil and gas leaders navigate their companies through it. Not all listeners will agree with Tisha's perspective, but a big part of her message is in trying to start from a shared vision of the future and work backward. We enjoyed hearing about how she uses this approach today and the perspectives she's gained in doing so.In this episode, we cover: [03:05]: Tisha's podcast Energy Thinks[05:10]: Different mindsets on energy and climate and how to speak to an oil and gas audience[06:57]: Climate “personas” and how Tisha finds common ground among them[10:12]: The assumption that everyone thinks they're doing good[13:07]: Lessons from a DAC project community engagement[16:01]: Perspective on youth activists opposing projects[18:18]: Challenges permitting any new energy projects[21:27]: Tisha's personal journey on fossil fuel use views[23:38]: Consequences of US stopping oil and gas production[32:02]: Oil and gas company evolution archetypes[34:04]: No option but to change from status quo[36:00]: Entering era of climate action execution[37:20]: Role of startups vs large companies in the energy transition[40:07]: Improved community benefits from new projects[42:07]: Industry population shift driving change[45:13]: Making space for oil and gas in climate solutionsEpisode recorded on Nov 20, 2023 (Published on Jan 2, 2024) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Cameron Halliday is the CEO and Co-founder of Mantel. Mantel is developing a point source carbon capture solution, which means they're developing technology that can sit next to industrial equipment and capture its emissions. Mantel's key innovation lies in their utilization of a high-temperature liquid-phase material for carbon capture, enabling operation at temperatures as high as 600 degrees Celsius. Allegedly, this material can cycle between capture and release without experiencing deterioration or decay.Point source carbon capture is somewhat controversial, as detractors argue that it extends the life of high-emissions processes. Promoters argue that we need all solutions on the table to reduce emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. Cameron and Cody discuss this at the start of the episode, before diving into his technology and go-to-market solution. He articulates a unique approach to go-to-market, wherein he's determined a way to minimize the integration dependency that his industrial customers would have to take on in order to get a pilot up and running with Mantel. Cameron maintains a close affiliation with MIT, having earned both his PhD and MBA there. In 2022, Mantel secured a seed round of funding, led by The Engine—a venture fund founded by MIT with a focus on tough tech.In this episode, we cover: [02:06]: An explanation of point source capture[04:12]: Controversy around its use[09:20]: An overview of Mantel, their mission, and their tech[12:37]: Cost impact for companies, early adopters, and motivations[16:47]: Introduction to amine technology[18:18]: General overview of carbon capture concepts[21:16]: Mantle's molten salts technology[25:42]: Their "crawl, walk, run" approach to commercializing[31:17]: Potential to apply Mantel's tech to biogenic sources of carbon[33:05]: Physical configuration of Mantle's systems which connect to smokestacks [34:20]: Cameron's background and his dual PhD/MBA from MIT[39:46]: Mantle's founding team and investors like The Engine[41:39]: Process of identifying and mitigating risks for Mantle's technology[43:30]: Customizing Mantle's system for different industrial use cases[46:05]: Parting words on the urgency of deploying point source captureEpisode recorded on Nov 13, 2023 (Published on Dec 21, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

John Melby is CEO at Xpansiv. Xpansiv operates what they claim to be the largest carbon offset exchange in the world, purportedly covering 40% of the voluntary carbon market volumes and 90% of exchange traded volumes. Beyond carbon, Xpansiv provides global market infrastructure for registering, managing, trading, settling, retiring, analyzing, and reporting a wide array of data-driven environmental commodities, from water to renewable energy to digital fuels and more. John and Cody have an in-depth conversation about what it means for something to be an environmental commodity, how these environmental commodities are bought and sold, how registries exist, how commodity marketplaces work, and a lot more. At the end of the day, our conversation is about incentives and the role that financial services can play in enablement of environmental outcomes. In this episode, we cover: [02:11]: An introduction to Xpansiv[03:04] How registries and marketplaces differ[05:46] How standards ensure offset quality[08:28] Offset buyer preferences beyond carbon impact[10:00] Xpansiv's standardized offset contracts[11:49] How standardization enables market efficiency[15:41] Pricing offsets based on special attributes[18:26] Xpansiv's institutional customer base[23:42] The role of traders in providing market liquidity[29:09] A comparison of voluntary and compliance markets[32:35] Preventing double counting at the international level[34:00] How startups can use bilateral and exchange trading[37:00] Xpansiv's portfolio management system[39:22] Water rights trading in Australia[41:16] Using markets to efficiently allocate resources[46:19] The origins of XpansivEpisode recorded on Nov 14, 2023 (Published on Dec 18, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.Today we're talking about the US Department of Energy’s strategy on what it takes to create a successful and sustaining energy workforce. Our guest is Betony Jones, who was appointed by President Biden as the DOE'S Director of the Office of Energy Jobs. This means she oversees jobs and workforce development strategies across the DOE as well as engagement with organized labor to ensure that the department's policies and programs implementation result in high-quality jobs. We hear about Betony's career through the Clinton administration, working at the University of California Labor Center, and founding a research group called Inclusive Economics and her decision to join the current administration to build an equitable energy workforce for the next decade.We break down what energy jobs mean, why there's a focus specifically on manufacturing and construction jobs within that definition, and we talk about the key elements needed for high-quality jobs, above average wages, predictable hours, short and long-term benefits like retirement and healthcare, jobs that give workers a voice, plus the importance of unions in enabling all of the above and how unions form. In this episode, we cover: Betony's background and career pathHow she leveraged policy research to demonstrate employment and economic impactsBetony's work in inclusive economicsDenver's sales tax case study successThe need for energy jobs in construction, manufacturing, engineering science. and R&DBetony's focus on the deployment workforceThe DOE's approach to quality jobs with good pay and benefitsThe importance of workers having a voice and the role of unionsHow a union is formed, how they gain power, and the impact on the clean energy transitionThe role of the private sector in building the energy workforceHow Betony measures success over the next 5 yearsEpisode recorded on Oct 11, 2023 (Published on Dec 13, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. Carlos Nobre is a Nobel Laureate and co-author of the IPCC AR4 Report that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He’s also one of Brazil's top climate scientists. Dr. Nobre is a member of the Brazil Academy of Science and a founding member of the World Resources Institute Brazil. He is known for his work on the risk of the savannaization of the Amazon rainforest due to deforestation and climate change, and most recently he's promoted a series of solutions that he refers to as Amazonia 4.0. Today's episode was meant to focus on the Brazilian context of emissions, energy and climate change, and we do indeed cover these topics. But first, Dr. Nobre takes some time to set important context about the progress, or relative lack thereof, that the world has made on decarbonization since his Nobel Prize-winning contributions. And he sounds alarm bells, that global insecurity and war in Ukraine and Israel, create risk of escalating fossil fuel exploration and production in the name of national sovereignty.From there, we spend time on the Brazilian context, which as Dr. Nobre points out, is unique among industrialized nations, in that land use rather than energy production is the bulk of Brazil's emissions. He shares his roadmap for how deforestation can be halted and some of the challenges in doing so, which he ties back to organized crime and drug trafficking. Lastly, we discuss his vision for Amazonia 4.0 in which the country leans in via policy and infrastructure development to support the production and export of many of its natural resources rather than exploiting its land for cattle production.In this episode, we cover: Lack of progress since the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report in 2007 and the global challenge for humanityGlobal instability as a result of recent warsThe concerning speed of the transitionEmissions breakdown in Brazil and deforestation reductions in 2023Potential for emissions reductions with regenerative agriculture as the 2nd largest exporter of foodDeforestation in the Amazon and main drivers, including cattle ranches, gold mining, and organized crimeDr. Nobre's Amazon 4.0 proposalEpisode recorded on Oct 30, 2023 (Published on Dec 11, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Chris Tolles is the CEO and Co-founder of Yard Stick PBC, which stands for Public Benefits Corporation. Yard Stick is aiming to be the measurement backbone for soil carbon. Their handheld hardware enables onsite measurement of soil carbon in agricultural fields, and their software package provides data and analytics that help stakeholders in a soil carbon project to measure and track progress. As Chris tells it, the Yard Stick co-founders got to know one another in the MCJ member community during the pandemic lockdowns in 2020. MCJ is a proud multi-time investor in Yard Stick. Even so, we still learned a ton from Chris during this conversation. Chris highlighted that while MRV technologies are often associated with carbon credit sales, the voluntary carbon market is just one avenue for soil carbon project development. Another that is seeing strong early traction is insetting, where food and agriculture companies are beginning to measure an attempt to reduce the carbon intensity of their own agricultural supply chains. They aren't selling credits; rather, they're starting to make progress on directly reducing the emissions of how their food is grown, which is great news. Chris charts his background and experience and then explains what soil carbon is and why it matters, helping to put the efforts that Yard Stick is making into the context of the broader global carbon cycle. Episode recorded on Oct 13, 2023 (Published on Dec 7, 2023)In this episode, we cover: [02:38]: Chris's background and pivoting from consumer products to climate[08:43]: Origins of Yard Stick in the MCJ Community[11:59]: How Chris and co-founders came to focus on soil organic carbon[14:43]: Cristine Morgan's research background as Yard Stick CSO[18:50]: Overview of soil organic carbon and key drivers of soil carbon stock losses[27:46]: Issues with how claims have been measured historically[33:39]: Why remote sensing technology is insufficient[35:29]: Yard Stick's technology and approach[42:50]: The company's business model[46:00]: Addressing criticism of soil carbon and other nature-based solutions[51:49]: Soil carbon support in Inflation Reduction Act and future policy[56:00]: Yard Stick's $18 million grant from the USDA[58:19]: Their recent $12M Series A round led by Toyota Ventures[01:00:00]: Reckoning with racial injustice and land theft in agriculture[01:02:04]: Encouraging climate companies to address complex social issuesResources mentioned:Demo Carbon Stock Report“Yard Stick lands 10.6M Series A to measure soil carbon” (TechCrunch) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Shashank Sane is the Executive Vice President for Transmission at Invenergy. Invenergy is North America's largest, privately held renewable power generation company. They have developed more than 200 power generation projects around the world and are responsible for more than 31 gigawatts of power on four continents, with the majority of that being renewable energy projects, including wind and solar. In his role as EVP of Transmission, Shashank is responsible for the company's efforts to create connectivity between solar and wind farms and end customers, and he's particularly focused on large-scale interstate transmission projects. Transmission is a topic that climate and energy experts will say is critically important. Our transmission infrastructure in the US has been built over more than a century. And yet, the Department of Energy recently estimated that the US needs to increase our transmission capacity by over 50% by the year 2035. That's a monumental jump. We're grateful to Shashank for volunteering to come on the pod and talk with us about transmission, how it works, why it's needed, and how projects get done.In this episode, we cover: [02:22]: Shashank's journey to Invenergy[04:46]: His early experience at the company, Invenergy Edge, and acquiring Grain Belt Express[08:11]: Shashank's experience at Lehman Brothers in 2008[10:05]: Overview of Invenergy's approach to developing projects[13:51]: Definition of "transmission" [22:21]: Why more transmission is needed to enable renewable growth[26:40]: Transmission issues in the U.S. and the need to improve grid resilience [35:04]: The lack of federal oversight of the national grid[37:02]: Modifying the Grain Belt Express project to better serve Missouri[46:49]: Other major transmission projects Invenergy is developing[48:24]: Working with community and landowners before routing transmission lines[52:23]: The need to recognize the value of inter-regional transmissionGet connected: Shashank Sane X / LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Oct 16, 2023 (Published on Dec 4, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Julie Willoughby serves as the Chief Commercialization Officer at Circ, and in this episode, we are talking about fast fashion, the clothing industry, and Circ's role in bringing circularity to the world of polyester and cotton. According to statistics from The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the equivalent of a garbage truckload of clothes is burned or buried in a landfill every second, and clothing production in the world has doubled in the last 15 years, with each garment being used only half as much as before.Our conversation with Julie explores the environmental challenges posed by polyester and cotton, including the contribution of polyester laundering to ocean microplastics and the significant water consumption of cotton cultivation and textile dying. Julie, a chemical engineer, shares her journey from academia and Nike to joining Circ, emphasizing the urgent need for change in the fashion industry.Circ, a post-series B company, employs innovative technology to transform textile waste into recycled thread. Notable investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Patagonia's Tin Shed Ventures, and Inditex, the parent company of Zara. The conversation concludes with an examination of the fashion industry's progress toward sustainability, questioning whether mainstream practices are transitioning actively or if circularity and sustainability remain primarily in the realm of research and development. In this episode, we cover: Julie's background in chemical engineering Her return to academia at NC StateJulie's experience at Nike and transition to CircSocietal and environmental impacts of fast fashion Circ's process of recycling (upcycling) polyester and cottonThe rising market demand for recycled materials and reasons for this shift Circ's investors and partnershipsThe tipping point for sustainability in the fashion industryWhy customer experiences and stories are critical Resources mentioned: Walmart sustainability scorecardGet connected: Julie Willoughby LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Oct 23, 2023 (Published on Nov 30, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Capital Series hosted by Jason Jacobs. This series explores a diverse range of capital sources and the individuals who drive them. From family offices and institutional LPs to private equity, government funding, and more, we take a deep dive into the world of capital and its critical role in driving innovation and progress. Michael Bruce serves as the Senior Director of Venture Investing, Environment and Energy at Emerson Collective. Emerson Collective, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, is a game-changer in education, immigration reform, the environment, media and journalism, and health. We were excited for this one because Emerson Collective is an interesting organization operating holistically across these areas. They also happen to be doing a lot in climate at a surprising scale, but they have not spoken too frequently about what they're up to publicly. So this was a special opportunity, and Michael does not disappoint.In this episode, we cover: [2:14] An overview of Emerson Collective [4:08] Michael's journey and what led him to work in climate[11:08] His thoughts on energy vs. climate change [16:56] Emerson's early climate efforts [19:26] The firm's dedicated pool of capital and team structure[22:29] Emerson's approach within climate and how it's evolved over time [25:41] Thoughts on philanthrocapitalism [27:15] Types of risk Emerson is comfortable taking [32:11] Emerson's criteria for selecting climate investments [37:31] Michael's thoughts on the future of oil and gas [40:21] His views on the carbon market[45:28] Why market sources alone aren't enough to address the climate crisisGet connected: Jason Jacobs X / LinkedInMichael Bruce LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Oct 26, 2023 (Published on Nov 29, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Dr. Jen Wilcox serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM). Dr. Wilcox, an expert in carbon capture, authored the seminal textbook 'Carbon Capture' in 2012. Currently on leave as the presidential distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, she also serves as a senior fellow at the World Resources Institute, leading their carbon removal program.In this conversation, we dive into Dr. Wilcox's transition from academia to the Department of Energy and explore the changing mandates under the Biden and Harris Administration. Key topics include direct air capture technologies, underground sequestration, and CO2 storage. The episode also touches on point source capture, technology advancements, tax credits, and incentives for carbon capture, including the extension of 45Q tax credits. Dr. Wilcox provides insights into the commercialization progress for carbon capture, market evolution, and the recent FECM carbon dioxide removal purchase pilot prize.The discussion covers the power and heat requirements of direct air capture (DAC) and point source capture, along with solutions for reducing atmospheric levels of other greenhouse gases, including methane. This is a jam-packed episode that at times, hits topics at a macro level and at other times swoops down deep into technical descriptions of DAC chemistries. Whether you're exploring a career in carbon capture or actively developing technology solutions, there's something for everyone in this episode. In this episode, we cover: [04:13]: Origins of Dr. Wilcox's 2012 book, Carbon Capture[06:16]: Progress of carbon capture technology over the past decade[12:32]: The transition from the Office of Fossil Energy to the Fossil Energy and Carbon Management[24:32]: Overview of direct air capture technologies and chemistries[32:29] Comparison of liquid vs solid sorbents for direct air capture[37:37]: Description of EPA's well classification system[44:36]: Point source capture and the state of carbon capture tech for industrial emissions[53:00]: Extension of 45Q tax credits to incentivize carbon capture[56:21]: DOE's first carbon dioxide removal purchase pilot[58:34]: Considerations around power needs for direct air capture[01:02:10]: Tech for direct air capture of methane and other non-CO2 GHGs[01:05:28]: Dr. Wilcox’s parting words on the need to rapidly scale up durable carbon removal solutionsGet connected: Dr. Jen Wilcox X / LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Oct 24, 2023 (Published on Nov 27, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Tom Price is the founder and CEO of EcoSafi, and in today’s episode, we're diving deep into the challenge of access to clean cooking fuels in developing economies. EcoSafi builds cook stoves and biomass fuel pellets that aim to reduce deforestation, improve in-home air quality and health outcomes, and reduce emissions. They work in Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda. The challenge at hand, as Tom discusses at length, is that as of 2020, Project Drawdown estimated that 43% of families in low and middle-income countries worldwide cook food at home using stoves fueled by wood or coal. The gas and induction stove debate is not even relevant. This phenomenon drives all of these earlier outcomes from direct emissions to negative health implications to deforestation.Before we dive into this topic, we get to know Tom a bit. He's been working on this problem in Africa since 2017, first with a company called Inyenyeri, and now with EcoSafi since 2020. Our MCJ Collective venture funds are proud to be investors in EcoSafi. But, as you'll hear him describe, his path to working on this problem has been full of incredible zigs and zags that have given him a wealth of life experience and the confidence to be able to navigate and build a business with the complexities that EcoSafi demands. In this episode, we cover: Access to clean cooking fuels in developing economiesTom's background in communications and journalismHis experience in disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina and environmental management at Burning ManTom's time on the Environmental Advisory Committee for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter OlympicsHis work in clean energy in Africa, starting with solarImpact of cooking with wood or coal on emissions, health, and deforestationEcoSafi's cookstoves and biomass fuel pelletsBarriers to clean cooking in AfricaThe importance of carbon credits in the clean cooking marketIssues with existing carbon offset methodologiesEcoSafi's focus on verifiability and impact measurementVertical integration and technology in EcoSafi's business modelPotential for significant market growth in the clean cooking sectorImpacts of deforestation, drought, and additional topics to continue the conversationGet connected: Tom Price X / LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Oct 12, 2023 (Published on Nov 16, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.Today, we're taking a slightly different spin. Instead of focusing on what it'll take to electrify homes, as we've heard in past episodes, we're talking about why it's currently not working as well as it should and the key barriers preventing us from moving faster on the home decarb adoption curve.Many of you know our guest as Nate "the House Whisperer.” Nate Adams is a longtime HVAC insulation and sealing contractor who lives in West Virginia and describes himself as "a bit unusual in the climate community," coming from the right side of the political spectrum. And he is one of home electrification's fiercest and most consistent advocates.Yin and Nate cover a lot of ground in this episode, including the dangers of positioning policy rebates and savings to consumers at the beginning of their purchase journey. We uncover that OEMs can convert most air conditioners in factories and warehouses into heat pumps, addressing the current market supply shortage, along with exploring the reasons behind the hesitation to do so. Finally, we discuss how going all-electric is not the solution that gets us to scale and that hybrid systems are the actual silver bullet. There are some controversial and counterintuitive bits coming up and if you want to ask Nate more questions after you listen, stay tuned for an upcoming AMA session with him on the MCJ Slack.In this episode, we cover: [04:01]: Nate's background and how he became "the House Whisperer"[06:58]: Issues with oversized furnace design and sizing[10:55]: The concept of definite optimism and indefinite optimism in relation to the future of electrification[13:12]: Friction between conservative contractors and climate-focused homeowners[16:32]: The importance of positioning policy rebates and savings to consumers[24:46] How IRA performance requirements disqualify 80-85% of equipment models[29:18]: Overview of the biggest barriers to electrifying homes[32:06]: Upstream vs. midstream and potential of converting all ACs to heat pumps[34:36]: Mandated heat pumps in Vancouver, BC[38:31]: Psychology as a barrier to electrification[41:02]: How hybrid systems can reduce fear of heat pumps for both contractors and homeowners[47:26]: Nate's HVAC 2.0 business model improves contractor and homeowner experience[49:57]: The launch of Nate's air sealing course and Home Comfort BookGet connected: Nate Adams X / LinkedInYin X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Sep 13, 2023 (Published on Nov 15, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Kunal Sinha is the Global Head of Recycling at Glencore. Glencore ranked number 21 on the Fortune Global 500 in 2023. As one of the world's largest commodities trader and one of the world's largest natural resource companies, they have a very substantial role in the energy transition and in climate change. Over one-third of Glencore's 2022 revenue came from coal, so from a climate perspective, the company has a substantial impact. Today, they also have a significant oil and gas business. In Cody’s conversation with Kunal, we touched a bit on that, but we focus mostly on Glencore's mining and metals activities. This piece is part of what makes Glencore unique from most energy companies when it comes to the energy transition. Yes, it's in the business of fossil fuels, but it's also deeply in the business of extracting and processing a majority of key metals that will help us transition to an electrified future. In his role as Global Head of Recycling, Kunal not only works to understand how Glencore's primary mining business operates but also is driving its initiatives around circularity and reuse. Mining has a reputation as a dirty business, and Glencore has had its share of environmental issues and controversies in the past. We appreciate Kunal for not shying away from these challenges and also helping us understand the important role that mining and Glencore have to play in the future and the importance of natural resource circularity as part of it. In this episode, we cover: [3:02] Kunal's background and experience [7:43] His work with sulfuric acid at Glencore[13:54] An overview of Glencore and its recycling business[25:03] Glencore's collaboration and partnership with startups[29:49] An overview of Glencore's copper production and recycling [37:26] An overview of Glencore's process for cobalt [42:27] Kunal's predictions for recycled battery metals in EVs[52:27] An overview of battery passports and Glencore's commitment to high ethical social governance standards[1:01:13] Call for startups and mature companies to collaborate with Glencore in driving circularityGet connected: Kunal Sinha LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Sept 27, 2023 (Published on Nov 13, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Hannah Sieber is the CEO and Co-founder of Artyc, a refrigerant-free battery powered cooling company. In this episode, we cover the cold chain. In short, the cold chain is how goods are transported if they need to be kept in certain guaranteed temperature ranges, with different logistics mechanisms that can maintain goods such as food or medicines, anywhere from room temperature to deep freeze. There are a few reasons why the cold chain is important for climate change. First, you can imagine that all of the refrigerated trucks, warehouses, and storage lockers use a lot of energy. Second, the refrigerants that are used to power the air conditioning or freezers that the cold chain uses are very potent greenhouse gasses with global warming potential that can be many times greater than CO2. Dry ice itself, which is often used to keep things cool, is basically pure CO2.Third, the cold chain today is pretty broken. A significant amount of food is wasted due to spoilage during transport, which itself can generate methane emissions if it's not properly disposed of. Not to mention the embedded emissions in our agricultural processes required to grow it in the first place. Hannah is going to tell us about all of this and how her product at Artyc aims to address these challenges while improving the traceability and accountability of goods in the cold chain. MCJ is proud to be a multiple time investor in Artyc via our venture capital funds.In this episode, we cover: [02:23]: Hannah's background living and working in China[07:44]: Founding EcoFlow with team from DJI to improve drone battery life[10:36]: Hannah's return to school for an earth science degree[12:10]: Her thesis on California power shutoffs and intersection with cold chain[16:06]: Overview of the cold chain, how it works, and where it breaks down[19:29]: Four different cold chains: ambient, refrigerated, frozen, and deep freeze cryo [22:29]: High global warming potential of refrigerants and tradeoff with ozone depleting refrigerants[29:33]: Artyc's mission of building refrigerant-free battery-powered cooling devices[31:26]: Their focus on durability, precise temperature control and stability[33:43]: Imagining an "infrastructureless" cold chain[41:38]: Use cases in healthcare and beyond[43:51]: Artyc's funding journey from grants to recent Series A[45:13]: Hiring and partnerships in developing new productsResource mentioned: After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort by Eric Dean WilsonGet connected: Hannah Sieber LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Sep 28, 2023 (Published on Nov 9, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our new Capital Series hosted by Jason Jacobs. This series explores a diverse range of capital sources and the individuals who drive them. From family offices and institutional LPs to private equity, government funding, and more, we take a deep dive into the world of capital and its critical role in driving innovation and progress. Jeff Johnson is managing director at Temasek, where he leads the US-based Sustainable Investing team. Temasek was incorporated in 1974 and is an investment company headquartered in Singapore. Supported by 13 offices across nine countries, Temasek owns about $382 billion or US$287 billion portfolio as of March 31st, 2023, mainly in Singapore and the rest of Asia. We have a great discussion in this episode about what the charter of the Sustainable Investing Team is, how Jeff found himself doing the work that he's doing today, what criteria they look for when they make investments, and, of course, how their investments fit into the broader climate tech landscape and the energy transition overall.Enjoy the show! In this episode, we cover: [2:10] An overview of Temasek [4:13] Different lines of business at the firm and where sustainable living sits [8:44] Jeff's background and career history [18:58] The CEO's mindset for Temasek's approach[21:44] Jeff's role at the firm [24:22] Lessons he learned about the space and future projections for Temasek's impact [26:26] The balance between thesis-driven investments vs opportunistic ones [33:55] Temasek's direct and fund investments [38:39] The firm's performance measurements and market entry points [46:51] Temasek's role in debt financing [51:07] The types of companies and projects best suited for Temasek's capital[56:48] Jeff's response to folks who are worried about the risk of investing in climate tech [58:51] The need for a balance between experience and beginner's mindset in picking winnersGet connected: Jason Jacobs X / LinkedInJeff Johnson LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Oct 13, 2023 (Published on Nov 8, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Todd Paglia serves as the Executive Director of Stand.earth, an advocacy organization renowned for its strategic communication and research initiatives, challenging both corporations and governments to prioritize the well-being of communities, the environment, and climate. Notably, Stand.earth ranks fourth on Fast Company's 2023 list of innovative nonprofits.Although Stand.earth has been active since the early 1990s, they came to our attention in a LinkedIn article titled "Climate Groups Call On Health Systems to Divest Fossil Fuel Holdings." This article referred to a report from the Climate Safe Pensions Network, a campaign orchestrated by Stand.earth.As we've learned more about the organization, we've come to appreciate that Stand.earth embodies a contemporary form of activism, one that leverages data, social media, and virality to drive accountability and achieve tangible results. Enjoy the conversation with Todd as he sheds light on their impactful work.In this episode, we cover: [02:03]: Introduction to Stand.earth's history and activism approach[03:45]: Stand.earth's campaign pushing healthcare systems to divest fossil fuels[05:14]: Health impacts of fossil fuels show why healthcare divestment is needed[09:12]: Todd's perspective on engaging with fossil fuel companies[15:24]: Stand's work exposing who is buying Amazon oil and the banks funding it[16:23]: Origins of Stand.earth in 1990s and "War in the Woods" campaign[20:09]: Success of viral Starbucks "Cup Monster" and Victoria Secret campaigns[27:46]: Causes for recent growth of Stand.earth' staff[30:12]: The power of employees in influencing their companies' decarbonization[34:11]: Very few big retail brands doing relatively well (IKEA, Maersk)[35:15]: Using satellites for instant forest logging transparency[37:10]: Empowering local advocates through the Safe Cities campaign[40:12]: The "Amazon Prime Polluter" campaign to push Amazon.com for electric last mile delivery electrification[43:38]: Todd's lifelong connection to nature as motivation for activism[44:49]: How to follow Stand.earthGet connected: Todd Paglia LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Aug 31, 2023 (Published on Nov 6, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant