Inevitable

Today's guest is Naman Trivedi, Co-Founder & CEO of WattBuy.Naman Trivedi is the Co-Founder & CEO of WattBuy. He founded the company to help millions of Americas choose cheaper, greener electricity plans and advance the global transition to a clean energy economy. WattBuy provides transparent, intelligent insights for homeowners & renters, helping them save upwards of 40% on electricity bills, select renewable energy plans, and gain a deeper understanding of their home's energy use. Prior to co-founding WattBuy, Naman worked at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, pushing a policy initiative for Community Choice Aggregation. This system aggregates the buying power of individuals in a neighborhood to purchase renewable energy supply contracts. He also spent two years at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Obama Administration, working on federal renewable energy policy and grand prizes. In this episode, Naman gives me an overview of WattBuy, why their work addresses climate change, and what motivates consumers to use WattBuy. We also talk about how WattBuy builds trust amongst its customers, the barriers WattBuy faces as the startup looks to scale, and a discussion on how to increase home sustainability consulting. It was great to learn more about WattBuy and have Naman join me this week.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded August 11th, 2021To learn more about Wattbuy, visit: https://wattbuy.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/orbillion 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 guest is Cisco DeVries, CEO of OhmConnect.OhmConnect provides home energy management solutions via smart meter analytics and energy market integration. OhmConnect's platform enables residential users to sell their energy reductions directly into energy markets.Before OhmConnect, Cisco co-founded Renew Financial, which became one of the largest dedicated clean energy finance companies in the U.S. As CEO of Renew, he raised over $2 billion in private capital that financed energy efficiency and clean energy projects in nearly 100,000 homes. Previously, Cisco spent five years as the Chief of Staff to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. In 1996, President Clinton appointed him to serve as an aide to the U.S. Secretary of Energy, where he held roles at the White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Cisco has over 20 years of experience in public policy and energy efficiency. He also holds a B.A. in political science from UCSD and a Master's of Public Policy from UC Berkeley. In this episode, Cisco explains what OhmConnect does, how their platform works, and what led him to serve as CEO. He also touches on the relationship between OhmConnect and CA utilities and barriers to large-scale deployment. Plus, we have a lively discussion on pricing carbon and other policies that would address climate change. It was great to have Cisco join me this week, and I'm excited for listeners to learn more about OhmConnect.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded August 13th, 2021For more information about OhmConnect: https://www.ohmconnect.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/cisco-devries 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 guest is Patricia Bubner, Co-Founder & CEO of Orbillion Bio, Inc.Patricia is a founder and the CEO of Orbillion Bio, Inc. The company is on a mission to accelerate the broad availability of a variety of healthy, nutritious, and flavorful cultivated meat products. Orbillion recently graduated from renowned Y Combinator's Winter 21 batch. Originally from Austria, Patricia is a scientist and engineer working to build a future of ethical and sustainable food. Before Orbillion, she co-founded an agriculture & food systems project, The Millet Project, that aimed at diversifying agriculture and our diet by cultivation and consumption of lesser-known grains such as millets. Patricia did her postdoc at the Energy Biosciences Institute at UC Berkeley, where she studied the expression of glycoproteins in filamentous fungi and plants.In this episode, Patricia walks me through Orbillion Bio Inc, the company's origins, and how the ethics of traditional meat production motivated her to co-found the startup. We dive into the key phases of bringing the company to market and how to scale the cell-based meat industry. Patricia also explains the impact food systems have on the environment and why wide-scale adoption of alternative meats is essential for addressing climate change. Patricia is a fantastic guest!Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded August 6th, 2021To learn more about Orbillion Bio Inc., visit: https://www.orbillion.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/orbillion 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 guest is Amy Duffuor, Principal at Prime Impact Fund.Prime Impact Fund, an investment initiative of Prime Coalition, is an early-stage VC fund dedicated to investing in technology companies with the potential for gigaton-scale climate impact.Prior to Prime Impact Fund, Amy was a renewables and power investment banker at Bank of America. There, she worked with CEOs of public and private companies to raise investment capital, including the IPO of Sunnova, a residential solar company initially valued at approximately $1 billion. Before her stint on Wall Street, Amy ran early-stage social venture accelerators around Southeast Asia for a Singapore-headquartered impact investing firm called Impact Investment Exchange. Earlier in her career, Amy was a management consultant at State of Flux, a London-based consulting firm specializing in supply chain and procurement. In addition, she serves as a board member for Prime Impact Fund portfolio companies Clean Crop Technologies and Noon Energy and is on the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) board. I was looking forward to catching up with Amy because I've interviewed some of her colleagues early on in the My Climate Journey days. It was exciting to hear how Prime Impact Fund has grown since 2018 and learn about Amy's role at the company. She walks me through her climate journey, what led her to work at Prime Impact Fund and the firm's investment strategy. We also talk about the differences between catalytic capital and concessionary capital and the importance of climate impact-aligned investing.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded August 4th, 2021For more information about Prime Impact Fund: https://www.primeimpactfund.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/amy-duffuor 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 Bessie Schwarz, Co-Founder & CEO, and Beth Tellman, Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, at Cloud to Street.Bessie and Beth met as Master's students at Yale University's School of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, where Cloud to Street started as their thesis research. The company is the world's leading remote flood mapping platform. Cloud to Street uses global satellites and remote sensing AI to monitor flood risk and detect worldwide floods in real-time. Its unique technology requires zero ground equipment and provides governments and communities with accurate and trustworthy flood monitoring. Seeded by Google, Cloud to Street provides disaster relief support and data to governments in almost 20 countries worldwide. Partnering with top insurers, the startup is launching the first commercial parametric flood insurance product to protect climate-vulnerable communities better. Bessie and Beth are great guests, and I was looking forward to having them on the show. The two co-founders explain how Cloud to Street came to be, what sets the company apart from other flood monitoring businesses, and how their product works. We also discuss how natural hazards, blue lining, and climate change negatively affect frontline communities and how Cloud to Street can help. Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded August 2nd, 2021To learn more about Cloud to Street, visit: https://www.cloudtostreet.ai/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/cloud-to-street 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 guest is Dominic Falcão, Founding Director of Deep Science Ventures.Deep Science Ventures is a venture studio and a fund that pioneers a new model for synthesizing knowledge, talent, and capital into optimal outcome-centric scientific ventures. DSV focuses on building high-growth, high-impact companies in "tough" sectors from energy and agriculture to pharmaceuticals and computing.With a decade's knowledge and experience in company building, Dom serves as Founding Director of Deep Science Ventures, where he focuses on energy and the net-zero transition. He co-founded Deep Science Ventures in 2016 at the age of 25. Before DSV, Dom led Imperial College London's science startup program. He worked with over 200 student companies and supported a fraction of these to raise over £25m in funding within three years. He grew the community 375% to 3000 scientists in 1 year. In 2021, Dom was named one of Forbes Finance Under 30. I was looking forward to sitting down with Dom because Deep Science Ventures' approach to company building is unique. He walks me through that approach and their go-to-market strategy. Dom explains his climate journey and what led him to found DSV. We also discuss why the current path from academic research to commercialization is difficult and compare DSV with a traditional fund. Dom and I's conversation is a must-listen.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 28th, 2021For more information about Deep Science Ventures: https://deepscienceventures.com/ For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/dominic-falcao 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 guest is Amanda Li, Co-Founder & COO at Banyan Infrastructure.Banyan Infrastructure is unleashing capital to accelerate the development of next-generation infrastructure projects to provide essential services across the globe and transform the world's energy systems into sustainable forms of energy. The startup combines financial and technological innovation to accelerate the deployment of solar, wind, and other critical infrastructure around the globe. They use blockchain-based, innovative contract technology to oversee and automate complex and time-consuming contractual management of these small distributed assets. Their solution de-risks these assets for lenders, decreases overhead costs, and increases the ability to refinance these projects at a lower cost of capital. Before co-founding Banyan Infrastructure, Amanda was an Infrastructure Investor at Generate Capital and Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company. She has also served many product roles at technology and renewables startups across Canada, China, and the US. In this episode, Amanda takes me through the company's mission, the product, and what led her to co-found the company. Then, we dive into how these projects are traditionally financed, the problem Banyan is tackling, and other areas of project finance ripe for innovation. Amanda and I have a great discussion, and it was exciting to learn more about what Banyan is doing.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 29th, 2021To learn more about Banyan Infrastructure: https://www.banyaninfrastructure.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/banyan-infrastructure 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 guest is Lila Preston, Head of the Growth Equity Strategy for Generation Investment Management.Lila joined Generation in 2004 and serves as Head of the Growth Equity Strategy. Prior to joining Generation, Lila was a Director in Development & Finance at VolunteerMatch and a Fulbright Fellow in Chile, where she worked on forestry and conservation projects. Lila currently serves as a Board Director at Nature's Fynd as well as a Board Observer at Toast and CiBO Technologies. In addition, she is a member of the Social Mission Board at Seventh Generation, is on the Board of Advisors at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, and is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. Lila received a BA in English Language and Literature from Stanford University and an MBA from London Business School.I was looking forward to sitting down with Lila and learning more about Generation Investment Management. In this episode, Lila walks me through Generation's mission, her climate journey, and how Generation evaluates companies to invest in. We also have a lively discussion about ESG investing, greenwashing, and the ethics of partnering with fossil fuel companies as we head towards a clean future. Lila is a great guest, and this episode is a must-listen.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 23rd, 2021For more information about Generation Investment Management: https://www.generationim.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/lila-preston 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 guest is Dan White, Co-Founder & CEO of Clean Crop Technologies.Clean Crop Technologies provides a solution for solid food supply chains, which currently choose between killing pathogens and maintaining the health of crops. Eliminating this trade-off, Clean Crop's product treats pathogens while leaving the food intact. Utilizing groundbreaking research, the startup reduces molds, toxins, and pests in commercial-scale services for the global grain and nut sectors. In June 2020, Clean Crop Technologies raised $3M in a Seed round led by Prime Impact Fund. Before co-founding Clean Crop Technologies, Dan served as the Technical Director at ACDI/VOCA. Dan began his career in the US horticulture industry and spend the past decade in agri-business development and agro-input markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He has over 16 years of experience in horticulture, nut, and grain value chains as an Agtech Entrepreneur. In the episode, Dan explains how Clean Crop Technologies was founded, its solution, and the technology they use. Dan outlines their market strategy and how to evaluate potential customers. We also dive into a broader discussion about the current agriculture systems and how they impact our future. Dan is a great guest, and it was exciting to learn more about Clean Crop Technologies.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 26th, 2021To learn more about Clean Crop Technologies, visit: https://cleancroptech.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/clean-crop-technologies 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 guest is Thomas Jonas, Co-Founder & CEO of Nature's Fynd.Nature’s Fynd is a Chi­ca­­go-based food com­pa­ny cre­at­ing ver­sa­tile alterna­tive pro­teins to nour­ish the world’s grow­ing pop­u­la­tion while nur­tur­ing the plan­et. Born out of research con­duct­ed for NASA on microbes in Yellowstone Nation­al Park, the company’s break­through tech­nol­o­gy pro­duces Fy™. Before Nature's Fynd, Thomas was President of Beauty & Personal Care and Home & Garden at MeadWestvaco, a packaging corporation based in Virginia, and General Manager of Alcan Beauty Solutions, a French packaging company. Thomas has an MBA from HEC Paris. While taking a sabbatical in Hawai'i, Thomas met his co-founder, Mark Kozubal. Mark was working for NASA, researching ways to find life on other planets which led him to explore Yellowstone, where he discovered the Fy™ protein. Since founding the company, Thomas has served as CEO of Nature's Fynd.In this episode, Thomas and I explore the unique solution that Nature's Fynd is providing, the problem the company is working to solve, and the startup's market strategy. He also gives advice to entrepreneurs looking to raise capital, an overview of their most recent $350M raise, and how to influence customers at the shelves. Thomas is a great guest and it was fascinating to learn more about Nature's Fynd. Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 16th, 2021For more information about Nature's Fynd, visit: https://www.naturesfynd.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/thomas-jonas 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 guest is Jeff McAulay, Co-founder & President of Energetic Insurance. Energetic Insurance is an InsurTech startup with a novel, data-driven approach to developing new insurance products for the renewable energy industry. Before co-founding Energetic Insurance, Jeff worked in distributed energy resources at TechBridge Program Manager and solar, storage, and distributed energy resources at EnerNOC. While at EnerNOC, Jeff discovered many small- and mid-sized businesses don't have an investment-grade credit rating. With backgrounds in insurance and renewable energy, Jeff and his co-founder, James Bowen, invented a new kind of insurance product to backstop the credit risk of commercial electricity buyers and make financing renewable energy projects easier.Jeff walks me through his time at EnerNOC and how that motivated him to co-found Energetic Insurance. He also explains Energetic Insurance's mission, product, and the problem it's working to solve. Jeff and I discuss the key phasing of the company, what success looks like for the startup, and why a PPA model is successful in renewable energy financing. Jeff is a great guest, especially for those looking to deploy commercial renewable energy.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 21st, 2021To learn more about Energetic Insurance, visit: https://www.energeticinsurance.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/energetic-insurance 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 guest is Pat Sapinsley, Managing Director of Cleantech Initiatives at the Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Urban Future Lab is a non-profit center focused on cleantech innovation in New York that runs several programs focused on market-ready climate solutions. In 2014, Pat assumed the role of Managing Director of Cleantech Initiatives at Urban Future Lab, bringing over 15 years of expertise in the industry, connecting startups to funding sources, customers, and business mentors. Pat started her career as a LEED AP architect with a degree from Harvard's design school before shifting her focus to cleantech innovation. Since then, she has worked in venture capital at Good Energies and as a consultant and advisor to startups focused on building energy-efficient spaces. She also served as CEO of Watt Not, an LED lighting consultancy, and as President of Build Efficiently LLC, a firm deploying energy-efficient technologies. In this episode, Pat and I cover her career leading up to Urban Future Lab, an overview of UFL's programs, and the criteria UFL looks for when determining which startups to back. We also dive into how policy affects UFL's work, UFL's success rate, and how the programs are funded. Pat is a fantastic guest, especially for founders and entrepreneurs in the cleantech space.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 2nd, 2021For more information about Urban Future Lab, visit: http://ufl.nyc/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/pat-sapinsley 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 guest is Jasmine Crowe, Founder & CEO of Goodr Co.Every year, 80 billion pounds of food is wasted in the US, just from consumer-facing businesses. Food waste is also a massive climate problem. When food is wasted, it ends up in landfills and starts emitting greenhouse gases. To tackle this problem, Jasmine founded Goodr, a sustainable food surplus management company leveraging technology to reduce food waste and feed the hungry. Prior to Goodr, Jasmine founded BlackCelebrityGiving.com, where she helped start over 1,400 non-profits. She also holds a BA in Mass Communications from North Carolina Central University and has given multiple TED talks about ending hunger. In this episode, Jasmine and I explore the adverse effects of food waste on hunger and the environment. Jasmine walks me through what motivated her to found Goodr, key phases and raises to date, and the company's future. We also dive into the barriers to distributing food, why food waste is ultimately a policy problem, and its climate impacts. It was great to sit down with Jasmine and learn more about Goodr.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 22nd, 2021To learn more about Goodr, visit: https://www.goodr.co/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/goodr 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 guest is Michael Terrell, Director of Energy at Google.Michael is the Director of Energy at Google, where he leads global strategy and 24/7 carbon-free energy initiatives for Google's data centers and global energy portfolio. In this role, he has advanced new approaches to Google's procurement of over 5GW of renewable power, pioneered groundbreaking renewable energy purchase programs, and delivered landmark projects such as converting coal plants to data centers. Before joining Google in the early 2000s, Michael worked in energy and climate law and policy. In addition, he's held various roles in the Federal government, including the White House Council on Environmental Quality under President Clinton, where he helped guide US policy on energy and environmental issues. Michael holds a JD from the University of Michigan, an MS from Yale University's Environment School, and a BS from The University of the South.I was looking forward to sitting down with Michael because Google has a massive footprint and influence as a tech leader. In this episode, Michael gives me an overview of his role as the Director of Energy, how his family's coal mining company influences his climate journey, and key learnings he's had over the past 14 years at Google. We dive into Google's clean energy commitments, how the company has evolved since the early 00s, and where the future lies for the tech giant. I also pepper Michael with questions about his thoughts on carbon capture, if natural gas and fossil fuel companies fit into the clean energy transition, and what policies would accelerate Google's initiatives and a greener future. Micheal is a fantastic guest.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 25th, 2021For more information about Google Sustainability Initiatives, visit: https://sustainability.google/commitments/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/michael-terrell 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 guest is Yishan Wong, Founder & CEO of Terraformation. Before founding Terraformation, Yishan served as CEO at Reddit and was an engineer at Pay Pal and Facebook. After exiting Reddit, Yishan learned that native forest restoration outperformed any other known method of carbon capture by nearly an order of magnitude. However, he also found three significant bottlenecks to large-scale forest restoration: land availability, freshwater, and seed. So, in 2017, Yishan founded Terraformation to restore forests and reduce global emissions. Terraformation believes that reforestation is one of the fastest, most efficient, and immediately scalable solutions to address climate change. Its low-risk, politically feasible carbon drawdown solution aims to restore forests at a global scale. In June of this year, Terraformation announced a $30M raise.In this episode, Yishan explains his motivations for founding a climate startup, the ambitious mission Terraformation has set for itself, and why reforestation is essential in addressing climate change. We also discuss Terraformation's solution, its most recent raise, and scaling global forest restoration. This is an excellent episode for those interested in reforestation as a climate solution.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded July 1st, 2021To learn more about Terraformation, visit: https://www.terraformation.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/terraformation 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 guest is Costa Samaras, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.Costa Samaras began his career as a civil engineer working on several multibillion-dollar infrastructure megaprojects in New York, including rebuilding the subway line underneath the World Trade Center after September 11th. After pursuing his Masters in Public Policy at NYU and his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Civil & Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, Costa served as a Senior Engineer and Policy Analyst at the RAND Corporation and an Adjust Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon. Costa has also led analyses on energy security, strategic basing, and infrastructure issues faced by the Department of Defense. Since 2014, Costa has been an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He has published studies examining electric and autonomous vehicles, renewable electricity, transitions in the energy sector, was a contributor to the 4th National Climate Assessment and was one of the Lead Author contributors to the Global Energy Assessment. Costa also developed the course "Climate Change Adaptation for Infrastructure," one of the first civil and environmental engineering courses in the world that teaches climate change adaptation to engineers. Costa joins me to talk about the clean energy transition and why climate mitigation and resiliency are paramount as we built the infrastructure of the future. Costa explains his research at Carnegie Mellon and what motivated him to focus on climate as a civil engineer. We also have a lively discussion about voluntary individual action versus significant systems changes and why policy and public engagement is essential to address climate change. Costa is a great guest with a wealth of knowledge on resiliency, automation, and the energy transition.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 23rd, 2021For more information about Costa's research, visit: https://www.costasamaras.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/costa-samaras 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 guest is Chris Stern, Co-Founder & CEO of Carbicrete. Carbicrete is a Montreal-based carbon removal technology company that is developing innovative, low-cost building solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company's patented technology, first developed at McGill University, enables cement-free, carbon-negative concrete production. The process uses an industrial by-product – the slag from steel factories – to replace cement as a binding ingredient in precast concrete products. The process injects CO2 into the fresh concrete to provide strength while permanently sequestering the carbon.In this episode, Chris outlines Carbicrete's mission, its technology, and what makes the company unique. Then, we dive into the process of taking technology from the lab to market and non-dilutive capital versus equity capital when raising funds as a startup. Chris also explains why cement is so hard to decarbonize and what gives him hope that we can address climate change. Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 21st, 2021To learn more about Carbicrete, visit: https://carbicrete.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/carbicrete 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 guest is Graeme Pitkethly, CFO of Unilever.Unilever is a multinational consumer goods company with 400 brands focusing on foods and refreshments, home care, and beauty and personal care. In 2010, Unilever announced its Sustainable Living Plan with climate-focused benchmarks and goals. Graeme joined Unilever in 2002 and has served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Unilever UK and Ireland business. Before taking the CFO role, he held several senior financial and commercial positions within Unilever, including Senior Vice President of Finance for Global Markets, Global Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, and Chief Financial Officer of Unilever Indonesia. Graeme brings considerable experience to the role, having spent the earlier part of his career in senior corporate finance roles in the telecommunications industry and at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.I was excited to record this episode as Graeme has been on our guest wishlist for quite some time. Graeme walks me through Unilever's sustainability goals over the last decade, an overview of the company's carbon footprint, and how he ended up focusing on climate. We dive into Graeme's perspective on carbon offsets, carbon pricing, and the areas that are hardest to decarbonize for Unilever. He also touches on why sustainability is vital to the future of the global economy and what initiatives would most accelerate tackling climate change. Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 17th, 2021For more information about Unilever, visit: https://www.unilever.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/graeme-pitkethly 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 guest is Zack Parisa, Co-Founder & CEO of NCX. NCX, previously known as SilviaTerra, is a forest carbon marketplace. Developed in collaboration with Microsoft, NCX created an AI-powered forest called Basemap to connect American landowners with net-zero companies. For landowners, NCX makes it possible for them to get paid not to cut. For buyers, NCX provides greater transparency for carbon credits that has measurable and immediate impact. Built on a decade of industry-leading expertise, NCX takes a data-driven approach to democratize carbon markets in forests. In this episode, Zack and I discuss NCX's mission, the company's origin story, and how Zack became climate motivated. We dive into the key phases and staging of NCX, their recent collaboration with Microsoft, and what makes the company unique. We also have a lively discussion about the controversies about carbon credits, why a voluntary market can only get us so far, and what policies would most accelerate NCX's success. It was great to have a conversation with Zack and learn more about NCX.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 11th, 2021To learn more about NCX, visit: https://ncx.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/ncx 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 guest is Mira Inbar, Partner at ArcTern Ventures.ArcTern Ventures is a Toronto-based climate-focused venture capital fund. They invest in early-stage climate startups across industries, energy, and agriculture mobility. Growing up in Southwest Florida, Mira watched as the natural habitat around her was replaced by parking lots, supermarkets, and housing developments. After graduating from Oberlin, Mira volunteered with indigenous communities replanting trees in the Urubamba River valley and worked at Forest Trends, an international conservation organization. She then jump started her career as an environmentalist in the platinum mines of South Africa. Before joining ArcTern Ventures, Mira spent over a decade launching clean energy businesses in large corporations like Dow Chemical, NRG, and Shell. In this episode, Mira walks me through what first motivated her to focus on climate and her career path from entrepreneurship to sustainability to venture capital. She explains ArcTern Ventures' approach to investing, how the firm tracks impact and supports its portfolio. Mira also touches on greenwashing, the viability of a carbon tax, and the energy leaders of tomorrow. Mira has a unique background and experience that make her a fantastic guest.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 18th, 2021For more information about ArcTern Ventures, visit: https://www.arcternventures.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/mira-inbar 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 guest is Scott Clavenna, Co-Founder of Greentech Media.Greentech Media was a leading source of integrated news, industry research, conferences, and executive councils in the clean energy economy. Wood Mackenzie, who acquired Greentech Media in 2016, announced it would close the publication earlier this year.In 2007, Scott founded Greentech Media and served as CEO for a decade. During that time, GTM was devoted to enabling the growth of cleantech worldwide with a mix of market research, news, and events. Wood Mackenzie acquired Greentech Media in 2016, and, the following year, Scott took on a new role as Chairman of Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. As Chairman, he contributed to the strategic guidance of Wood Mackenzie's work in the global energy transition. Since leaving Wood Mackenzie, Scott is working with Stephen Lacey's Post Script Audio to produce climate-focused podcasts. Their shows include Greentech Media's Energy Gang and The Interchange as well as A Matter of Degrees hosted by Leah Stokes and The Big Switch hosted by Melissa Lott.In this episode, Scott takes me through Greentech Media's inception, his climate journey, and lessons learned from cleantech 1.0. We also dive into a lively discussion about the inability to uncouple policy and climatetech, why Scott is optimistic about the future, and the power of telling climate stories. Scott's unique perch allowed him to see a wide variety of climate solutions, making him a fantastic guest. Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 14th, 2021For more information about Post Script Audio, visit: https://postscriptaudio.com/For more information about Greentech Media, visit: https://www.greentechmedia.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/scott-clavenna 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 guest is Mary Powell, Clean Energy Leader & Former CEO of Green Mountain Power.Green Mountain Power is an energy transformation company providing power and innovative products and services to three-quarters of Vermont and the first utility in the world to become a B-Corp.Mary's career started at a fast-growing market fund. She stayed for eight years, during which time the $200 million fund grew into $3.5 billion. Her first Vermont job was as the human resources director for the state's Department of Personnel. Mary served as director under three gubernatorial administrations. Famously rejecting the position three times, in 2008, Mary assumed the role of CEO at Green Mountain Power. In 2012, Mary combined two utilities (Green Mountain Power & Central Vermont Public Service). Then she introduced Vermonters to heat pumps and the Powerwall storage battery. Mary significantly reduced Vermont's carbon footprint. She created the first B-Corp utility in the country, committing to the use of business as a force for good. In 2019 she was voted the best utility executive in the United States. Mary is the Chair of The Solar Foundation and sits on the Board of Directors for the Rocky Mountain Institute, Vermont Mutual Insurance Company, Sunrun, Energir, and Hawaii Electric.Mary is an exceptional guest and someone I've been looking for to interviewing. Mary dives into Green Mountain Power, the work she did the transform Vermont's utility, and the role utilities play in the clean energy transition. We also discuss where government regulation fits in, the effectiveness of pricing carbon, and what we can do to accelerate just and equity clean energy adoption. This discussion is a must-listen.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded June 8th, 2021For more information about Green Mountain Power, visit: https://greenmountainpower.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/mary-powell 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 guest is Donnel Baird, Founder & CEO of BlocPower.BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based climate technology startup that is making American cities greener, smarter, and healthier. BlocPower analyzes, finances, and constructs renewable energy and energy-efficient projects on a building by building, block by block basis. BlocPower focuses on buildings in low-income communities and underserved neighborhoods throughout New York City.Donnel has a passion for climate solutions that serve low-income communities. After graduating from Duke University, he became a community organizer and advocate for job growth that also addresses climate change. In 2007, Donnel joined the Obama For America campaign as a Regional Field Director and Constituency Vote Director. After President Obama took office, Donnel continued to work on green job creation as a consultant for the Administration and several labor unions, including Change to Win Federation and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Donnel left the public sector in 2011 with the idea that eventually became BlocPower. He has an MBA from Columbia University and sits on the board at many New York institutes, The Sunrise Movement, and The Sierra Club. I was looking forward to this conversation because Donnel has been on our wishlist for a while. Donnel explains his climate journey, how he started BlocPower, and the company's mission to serve low-income communities. We talk about how best to accelerate the rapid adoption of green buildings and the psychology of paying bills. We also touch on what holds back the industry, why BlocPower's solution is unique, and the role the US plays in the climate emergency. Donnel is an incredible guest with a wealth of knowledge. This episode is a must-listen.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded May 25th, 2021For more information about BlocPower, visit: https://www.blocpower.io/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/donnel-baird 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 guest is Jim Kapsis, Founder & CEO of The Ad Hoc Group.The Ad Hoc Group is a focused consultancy working to help startups succeed in complex regulated markets, such as energy, mobility, and smart cities. Jim founded The Ad Hoc Group to help startups and investors scale innovative businesses to solve our most pressing climate and sustainability challenges. Jim has been a Senior Advisor to Sidewalk Labs, Alphabet's urban venture, and spent six years building and leading the global regulatory team at Opower. Before entering the private sector, Jim was a climate negotiator in the Obama Administration, where he helped broker the Copenhagen Climate Accord in 2009. He has experience working across governmental agencies at the State Department, Defense Department, and Congress. Jim is also the co-host of CityLab's podcast, Technopolis, about how technology disrupts, remakes, and sometimes overruns our cities.In this episode, Jim walks me through his work in the public and private climate sectors and what motivated him to found The Ad Hoc Group. We dive into the company's mission and the bridge it's creating in the climate space. Jim also explains why policy is critical for early-stage climatetech and sustainability startups. Jim is a fantastic guest and has a wealth of knowledge for those interested in regulation, policy, and climatetech startups. Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded May 18th, 2021For more information about The Ad Hoc Group, visit: https://www.theadhocgroup.com/To check out Jim's podcast, Technopolis, visit: https://www.technopolispodcast.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/jim-kapsis 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 guest is Garry Cooper, Co-Founder & CEO of Rheaply.Rheaply is empowering companies of all stripes to reduce their CO2e footprints by curbing internal waste. It does this by creating a circular economy of reuse, both within a company and through a marketplace of asset exchange with other companies. While pursuing his Ph.D. in Neural Science at Northwestern, Garry was trying to find a cure for Parkinson's Disease. Working in a lab, he noticed valuable and expensive materials that not every lab had access to. Garry started a materials sharing program at Northwestern. He realized the linear economy didn't just affect labs but affected government agencies, tech companies, and universities as well. In 2015, Garry co-founded Rheaply. Garry has served as a Google Scholar for Google for Entrepreneurs and sits on the board of 1871 and P33 Chicago. He has also been an R&D consultant at EY and Promidian. Garry is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Northwestern. I was excited to bring Garry onto the show and learn more about the work Rheaply is doing. Garry walks me through how he founded the company, what Rheaply does, and who they serve. We dive into the value proposition for customers and what incentivizes them to choose Rheaply. We also discuss why reuse and the circular economy are critical to addressing climate change, what's holding back wider adoption of reuse, and how Rheaply affects change. Garry is a fantastic guest, and this is a great episode for those interested in the circular economy.The MCJ Collective has recently invested in Rheaply. To learn more, check out Our Investment in Rheaply.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded May 17th, 2021For more information about Rheaply, visit: https://rheaply.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/garry-cooper 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 guest is Arch Rao, Founder & CEO of Span.Span is reinventing the home electrical panel. The existing home electrical panel has seen very little innovation over the last 75 years. Span is a smart digital electrical panel that makes it easier to integrate renewable energy and distributed energy resources into your home.After a few years of pursuing a Ph.D., Arch decided to drop out and work on technologies that would have a non-linear impact on our efforts towards abating climate change. Arch has spent over a decade working in clean energy. He was an energy consultant at LCG Consulting and technical advisor for The Westly Group. Arch also co-founding Verdigris Technologies and was a Founding Engineer and Direct at Joby Energy. Arch served as the Head of Products, Application & Sales Engineering at Tesla, where he focused on building the Battery Business Unit. In 2018, he left Telsa to found Span. Arch holds a B.E. in Automotive Engineering from the University of Madras and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford.In this episode, Arch tells me about his career leading up to Span, the company's mission to electrify the home, and what makes Span unique. We have a lively discussion about why traditional electrical panels need to be innovated, what the market looks like today, and how to incentivize homeowners to make the switch to renewable energy. Arch is a fantastic guest, especially for those looking to learn more about home electrification.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded May 5th, 2021For more information about Span, visit: https://www.span.io/Span is hiring! Various positions across Hardware Engineering, Legal, Operations, Product, Sales & Business Development, and Software Engineering. Check out open positions here: https://www.span.io/careersFor more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/arch-rao 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 Shashank Samala, Co-Founder & CEO, and Noah McQueen, Co-Founder & Head of Research, at Heirloom.Growing up in Southeast India, Shashank saw firsthand how climate change was impacting people. Prior to Heirloom, Shashank was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Carbon 180 and the Co-Founder & VP of Product at Tempo Automation. Before Heirloom, Noah pursued a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and currently serves as a consultant for CarbonDirect.Heirloom is working towards a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous world for everyone. The company focuses on leveraging carbon mineralization as a climate solution with the hope of removing a billion tons of carbon from the air by 2035. Heirloom's technology enhances a natural process, called carbon mineralization, to help minerals absorb CO2 from the ambient air in days rather than years. By combining the best engineering and nature, Heirloom offers the most cost-effective and scalable Direct Air Capture solution in the world. In this episode, Noah and Shashank walk me through their respective climate journeys and how they founded Heirloom together. They explain what makes Heirloom technology unique, its mission, and the larger Direct Air Capture landscape. We dive into the barriers holding DAC back, the voluntary market, and why this sector of climate tech is hard to deploy at scale. We also touch on the effect of policy and regulation on climate tech. Noah and Shashank are great guests, and I enjoyed discussing Heirloom with them. This is a must-listen for those interested in learning more about DAC solutions and their importance in addressing climate change.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.To learn more about Heirloom, visit: https://www.heirloomcarbon.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/heirloom 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 guest is Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet.Lanzajet accelerates the global energy transition by using its leading technology to make safe, sustainable aviation fuels and diesel fuels from waste. Jimmy has spent most of his career focused on climate change and advancing the decarbonization of industries reliant on fossil fuels. As a senior executive with several consulting firms, including Booz Allen Hamilton, Oliver Wyman, and Slalom, Jimmy advised CEOs and senior executive teams on mergers and acquisitions, strategy and operations, sustainability, and customer experience. He also spent a decade working for United Airlines. Jimmy served in several executive roles at United, including as chief executive of a $2B business unit. In June 2020, Jimmy assumed the role of CEO at Lanzajet, where he's leading the company through a scale-up in technology and production, with renewable fuel refineries planned in multiple countries. Jimmy has Master's degrees from The University of Oxford and Johns Hopkins University.I was looking forward to bringing Jimmy on the show because we haven't talked about Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) as a decarbonization solution. In this episode, Jimmy explains his career path to LanzaJet, the company's mission, and how LanzaJet fits into decarbonizing aviation. We also discuss SAFs generally, what the airline industry is doing to make zero-emission flight a reality, and why aviation has been hard to decarbonize. Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded May 4th, 2021For more information about LanzaJet, visit: https://www.lanzajet.com/For more information about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/jimmy-samartzis 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 Merrill Feather & Kristen Winzent, Co-Founders and Collaborators at The Regenerates.The Regenerates is a brand and marketing consultancy focused 100% on building momentum for climate solutions. Kristen and Merrill met in the MCJ Slack community when they were looking for marketing-focused jobs in the climate space. Realizing they were both up for 3 of the same positions, they decided to start their own marketing consultancy. Kristen and Merrill have decades of experience as in-house marketers for creative strategy partners. Before founding The Regenerates, Kristen was an in-house marketer on the global creative campaigns team at Airbnb and was a strategic consultant at Pramana Collective. Prior to The Regenerates, Merrill was a brand manager at Hasbro Toys and a product marketer at Facebook. I was looking forward to speaking with Kristen and Merrill because marketing plays a significant role in addressing the climate crisis. Kristen and Merrill take me through how The Regenerates came to be, their "aha" moments, and what the consultancy does. We also discuss how to assess climate impact in a job offer, where brand strategy and community organizing come together, and whether a financial hit is necessary to transition into climate. For those looking to work in climate but aren't sure where they fit in, this is a great episode.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 12th, 2021To learn more about The Regenerates, visit: https://www.weregenerates.com/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/cc-episodes/winzent-feather 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 guest is Bruce Friedrich, Founder & Executive Director of The Good Food Institute.The Good Food Institute is an international non-profit that promotes plant-based meat, dairy, and eggs as well as cultivated meat as alternatives to conventional animal products. GFI was founded to answer a fundamental question: how to feed almost 10 billion people by 2050 without burning the planet down.Inspired by Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé, Bruce has focused his career on food systems and global justice. Prior to founding GFI, Bruce ran a homeless shelter and food kitchen in inner-city D.C., served as the Vice President of International Grassroots Campaigns at PETA, was a Teacher in Baltimore, and, most recently, worked as the Director of Policy at Farm Sanctuary. In early 2016, Bruce founded Good Food Institute and currently serves as Executive Director. He oversees GFI's global strategy, working with the U.S. leadership team and international managing directors to ensure that GFI implements programs that deliver mission-focused results. Bruce is a TED Fellow, Y Combinator alum, and popular speaker on food innovation. He has penned op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wired, and many other publications. In this episode, Bruce explains the importance of reimagining the food system and how it affects climate. He walks me through The Good Food Institute's mission, what inspired him to pursue global food justice, and why meat is dangerous to public and environmental health. We also discuss the "holy grail" of scaling meat alternatives, the timeline for broad adoption of these products, and where policy fits in. This is a great episode and expanded my understanding of the meat industry and its role in climate change.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 30th, 2021For more information about Good Food Institute, visit: https://gfi.org/For more about this episode, visit: myclimatejourney.co/episodes/bruce-friedrich 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 guest is Paul Gross, Co-Founder & CEO of Remora.Today, heavy-duty trucks move 70% of goods shipped in the United States and account for 7% of the US greenhouse gas pollution. Remora is developing a device that captures carbon emissions from semi-trucks. Its device will reduce emissions from these trucks by 80% without affecting payload, range, or trip time. Remora installs a container between the cab and the trailer of semis, which allows them to collect, store, and then monetize the emissions. It sells the carbon to concrete producers and other end-users, which dramatically reduces emissions, meets climate commitments, and adds a new revenue stream for carbon.Remora Co-Founder, Christina Reynolds, developed the technology as a Ph.D. student. Paul came across it during his time at Yale and convinced Christina to leave the EPA to start Remora. Before co-founding Remora, Paul conducted award-winning experimental research that uncovered new solutions to collective action problems like polarization and the climate crisis. He also holds a BA in Data Science and Statistics from Yale University. Paul is an exciting guest, and I enjoyed learning more about what the team is up to at Remora. Paul walks me through what led him to co-found Remora, why he's so passionate about carbon capture, and what the company hopes to achieve in the future. Paul explains the problem Remora is fixing, its technology, and what makes the company unique. We also dive into the trucking industry and the carbon emissions market more broadly. This is a great episode for those interested in innovative carbon solutions and transportation.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 14th, 2021To learn more about Remora, visit: https://www.remoracarbon.com/To learn more about this episode, visit our website: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/remora 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 guest is Caroline Cochran, Co-Founder & COO of Oklo Inc.Oklo Inc. is working to build powerhouses, advanced fission power plants on a microgrid scale. The team focuses on small advanced reactor generators that are waste and carbon negative. Unlike traditional nuclear power, its technology doesn't require water to cool the system, has vastly different security and safety characteristics, and Oklo can use nuclear waste as fuel. Oklo is revolutionizing nuclear energy to create a clean energy future. Caroline holds a BS in mechanical engineering and a BA in economics from the University of Oklahoma. She met her co-founder, Jake DeWitte, while studying nuclear engineering in graduate school. After researching nuclear energy's history, Caroline, Jake, and a group of classmates wanted to see advanced fission technology come to fruition. In 2013, Jake and Caroline founded Oklo Inc.I was excited about this episode because nuclear energy is a fascinating and controversial topic. Caroline walks me through how she and her co-founders started Oklo, the problem it's tackling, and how the company uses recycled nuclear waste to power its facilities. We also dive into nuclear power and where it fits into the clean energy landscape, how nuclear waste has been stored in the past, and why advanced fission is different from traditional nuclear technology. For anyone looking to learn more about nuclear energy, this is a must-listen.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 9th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/caroline-cochran 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 guest is Eliza Nemser, Co-Founder of Climate Changemakers.Climate Changemakers is a nonpartisan community action network organizing to support climate candidates and ambitious climate policies. The team mobilizes political support by transforming climate-concerned individuals into a community of climate changemakers. Prior to founding Climate Changemakers, Eliza was a consultant for the NRDC Action Fund and spent over two decades working as a geologist, focusing on earthquake engineering and seismology for big oil companies.In this episode, Eliza walks me through her career path and how she first got political when it comes to climate action. We discuss the inception of Climate Changemakers, how individuals can take action, and why political advocacy is vital to the planet's future. Eliza also touches on advice she has for those interested in getting involved but aren't sure where to start. Eliza is a fantastic guest and a perfect example of the many ways one can fight for the climate.You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 5th, 2021To get involved with Climate Changemakers, visit: https://www.climatechangemakers.org/To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/cc-episodes/eliza-nemser 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 guest is Irving Fain, Founder & CEO of Bowery Farming.Bowery Farming is a modern farming company building smart indoor farms located close to its cities. Its farms are powered by its proprietary farm operating system, BoweryOS, creating a simplified, agile food system focused on flavor, freshness, and safety.Irving has a diverse background across varying industries. He started his career in investment banking on Wall Street, where he focused on private equity and helping companies raise late-stage capital. Leaving the financial sector, Irving served as Director of Digital Marketing & Content at iHeartMedia. After four years with iHeartMedia, he knew his real passion was in entrepreneurship. Irving co-founded CrowdTwist, an enterprise software company providing comprehensive omni-channel loyalty & analytics solutions for industry-leading brands. Irving switched his focus towards climate solutions with a nagging feeling that he wanted to solve complex and significant problems with broader societal implications. In 2014, he founded Bowery Farming and currently serves as CEO.Irving is a great guest, and I felt a lot of similarities in our respective journeys. Irving guides me through his career path, why he's always felt a passion for entrepreneurship, and how Bowery Farming came about. He explains Bowery Farming's mission, the practice of indoor farming, and what sets Bowery Farming apart from its competition. We also discuss the broader agriculture landscape, where policy fits into the conversation, and the future of food. This is a fantastic episode for anyone interested in the future of farming.You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 9th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/irving-fainTo learn more about Bowery Farming: https://boweryfarming.com/Bowery Farming is hiring! Check out the available positions here: https://boweryfarming.com/careers/#section-job-listings 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 guest is Bill Weihl, Executive Director of ClimateVoice.ClimateVoice is a non-profit that mobilizes the voices of employees to encourage companies to go "all in" on climate. Large corporations and companies have historically shied away from lobbying against the fossil fuel industry. ClimateVoice was founded on the idea that these companies need to engage in climate policy and use their power to fight for the climate. Before founding ClimateVoice, Bill spent twelve years at Google and Facebook working on sustainability for the tech giants. He also spent a decade as a computer science professor at MIT. Bill holds a Ph.D. from MIT in computer science.In this episode, we dive into ClimateVoice, the non-profit's mission, and the problem it's tackling. Bill also touches on why corporations are hesitant to get involved and how ClimateVoice mobilizes employees to demand change. It was great to have Bill come back on the podcast and learn more about ClimateVoice.You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 8th, 2021Want to get in touch with Bill? Check him out on TwitterFor more information about ClimateVoice, visit: https://climatevoice.org/ 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 week's guest is Val Miftakhov, Co-Founder & CEO of ZeroAvia.ZeroAvia is building the world's first practical zero-emission aviation powertrain. ZeroAvia utilizes hydrogen power to accelerate the transition to sustainable aviation. Before focusing on climate solutions, Val held several senior business and product positions at Google and McKinsey & Company and was a nuclear researcher at Stanford Linear Accelerator. Val is a serial entrepreneur in the EV space dedicating the last decade to electrifying transportation. He founded eMotorWerks, a company working on smart grid EV charging solutions. Val founded ZeroAvia in 2017 and assumed the role of CEO in May 2019. With two degrees in Physics, Val holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and Masters from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He is a two-time winner of Russian Nationwide Physics competitions. In his spare time, Val makes good use of his airplane and helicopter pilot licenses.In this episode, Val takes me through ZeroAvia's inception, what the company is working on, and why he decided to tackle zero-emission aviation. We discuss why batteries or bio/synthetic fuel aren't the best solutions, where hydrogen power fits in, and how zero-emission aviation impacts the airline industry. We also dive into key milestones for the company, the public-private partnerships it has secured, and the future of ZeroAvia. It was great to be joined by Val and learn more about his experience in zero-emission aviation. You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded April 1st, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/val-miftakhovTo learn more about ZeroAvia: https://www.zeroavia.com/ZeroAvia is hiring! Check out the open positions: https://zeroavia.applytojob.com/apply 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 week's guest is Joshua March, Co-Founder & CEO of SciFi Foods, formerly known as Artemys Foods.SciFi Foods is on a mission to empower humanity to eat sustainably. It's working on the next generation of meat alternatives by cultivating meat. To replicate the full flavor profile and aroma of meat, SciFi Foods uses cell-based meat, growing real muscle and fat outside of the animal in bioreactors. Then they combine plant-based meat with the cultivated animal cells, enabling the team to create a more meat-like taste and texture. Artemys Foods is working to increase the efficiency of production and decrease the cost of bio-engineered meat.Before SciFi Foods, Joshua founded Conversocial, a customer experience platform that helps brands develop meaningful relationships with their customers at scale, and iPlatform, a social application company that was one of the world's first Facebook Preferred Developers. In this episode, Joshua walks me through his motivations for starting SciFi Foods, the alternative meat landscape, and how SciFi Foods fits in. Joshua and I talk about the differences between software and biotech entrepreneurship, what critics have to say about cultured meat, and how to scale alternative meat production. He also explains the stage of the company, where it is in its go-to-market, and what is coming next. It was great to learn more about the world of alternative meat and Joshua's journey.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 18th, 2021To learn more about SciFi Foods, visit: https://scififoods.comSciFi Foods is hiring! Various positions across engineering, research, and operations, including a Chief of Staff position: https://boards.greenhouse.io/scififoodsTo learn more about this episode, visit our website: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/artemys-foods 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 week's guest is Mike Hall, CEO of Borrego.Borrego is a leading developer, EPC and O&M provider accelerating the delivery of large commercial, community solar, and utility-scale solar and energy storage projects in the United States.With a background in Chemical Engineering, Mike is the 3rd co-founder of Borrego, then Borrego Solar. The origins of the company date back to the early 1980s when a family friend built an off-grid PV-powered home in Borrego Springs. When Mike's brother, Aaron, graduated from college, he started a rooftop solar business out of their family garage, and Borrego Solar was born. This year, Borrego Solar rebranded to Borrego and expanded its efforts to accelerate renewable energy adoption to meet increasing demand. Mike also sits on the board of Metrus Energy and Solar Energy Industries Association. Mike and I have a fantastic discussion about Borrego, its evolution, and the solar and renewable energy sector more broadly. Mike explains the history of the solar market, the importance of policy at the state level, and how the various types of energy markets need different solutions. We also dive into the problem of intermittency, seasonal energy storage, and dirty peaker plants. Mike has been in the solar and renewable energy sector since the early 2000s. It was great to have in join me this week.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 31st, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/mike-hallTo learn more about Borrego: https://www.borregoenergy.comBorrego is hiring! Check out the open positions: https://www.borregoenergy.com/careers/ 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 guest is Lyndall Schreiner, Director of Product at Afresh & Founder at Earthrise School. In 2018, Lyndall had her climate aha moment after the IPCC 1.5 Degree Report came out. She was invested in redirecting her career to focus on climate. After 18 months of learning as much as she could about climate and volunteering with the Sunrise Movement, Lyndall landed at Afresh as Director of Product. Afresh is a startup focused on using AI to eliminate food waste in the supply chain. Lyndall also started Earthrise School, which offers individual and group coaching for people who want to pivot their careers to focus on the climate emergency.Lyndall is a fantastic guest as she successfully transitioned her career into climate and now helps others do the same. In this episode, Lyndall walks me through her "aha" moment, the experience volunteering with the Sunrise Movement, and how she founded Earthrise School. We also talk about her experience transitioning to a startup and finding the right fit for her needs. We also dive into her approach, where she found success, what she learned along the way, and advice she has as a career coach. For anyone looking to make a career shift towards climate, Lyndall has a wealth of knowledge, and this episode is a must-listen.Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 26th, 2021Advice Lyndall has for those looking to make a career transition:Build community outside of your regular circles, communities like My Climate Journey, Work On Climate, and Climate Action Tech are great places to startJump in before you know everything, you learn fastest with your hands on the tools so volunteer or work on a side project to build your knowledge in the spaceKnow that everyone is on a unique journey, focus on what is important to you and the overlap of your skillset with the impact you want to haveFor job information, utilize Climatebase and VC portfoliosWant to get in touch with Lyndall? Join her Climate Pathfinders weekly call here: https://www.earthrise.school/pathfindersFor more information about Earthrise School, visit: https://www.earthrise.school/ 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 week's guest is Erin Burns, Executive Director of Carbon180.Carbon180 is a climate-focused NGO that partners with policymakers, scientists, and businesses worldwide to build a world that removes more carbon than it emits. Before Carbon180, Erin focused on energy, environment, labor, and agricultural issues, including staffing for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Public Lands Subcommittee. While working for Senator Joe Manchin, Erin met Noah Deich. She became increasingly interested in direct air capture and carbon removal. She also worked at Third Way, a DC-based think tank, managing carbon capture and removal, innovation, and other clean energy policy advocacy. Erin joined Carbon180 in 2018 to start the policy office in Washington, DC. Earlier this year, Erin assumed the role of Executive Director, where she works with scientists, entrepreneurs, academics, and policymakers to create and inform federal policy on carbon capture, removal, and use.Erin is a fantastic guest with vast knowledge across the policy sector, from energy to carbon removal to labor. Erin walks me through her role as Executive Director, her career leading up to Carbon180, and how the carbon removal sector has evolved since 2015. We also discuss numerous examples of federal climate policy, the direct air capture landscape, and how carbon180 drives change. For those looking interested in policy and carbon removal, you can't miss this episode.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 12th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/erin-burnsTo learn more about Carbon180: https://carbon180.org/Carbon180 is hiring! Check out the open positions here: https://carbon180.org/jobs 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 week's guest is Joel Jean, Co-Founder & CEO of Swift Solar.Before joining Swift, Joel served as Executive Director of the Tata-MIT GridEdge Solar research program, which focuses on scale-up of new solar photovoltaic technologies for India and other developing countries. He developed ultra-lightweight, flexible solar cells that the 2017 Katerva Award recognized, and he was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Fellow in Energy.Swift Solar is designing and manufacturing lightweight solar panels and cheaper, more efficient systems than existing products. The company is working on a new kind of technology called Perovskites. Perovskite uses a crystal structure that allows you to tune the material. Swift Solar is tuning Perovskite panels to absorb different parts of the solar spectrum. The team stacks two Perovskites on top of each other; the top panel absorbs blue and high-energy light, while the bottom panel absorbs red and near-infrared light. Swift Solar's goal is to optimize different parts of the solar spectrum to make a more efficient solar cell. The company was founded in 2017 by leading perovskite scientists from Stanford, MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.In this episode, Joel explains how the Perovskite technology works and where it fits in the renewable energy and solar landscapes. We deep dive into Swift Solar's incorporation, the research behind the technology, and the company's progress to date. Joel also touches on funding in the solar energy space, why LPs are hesitant to invest in it, and how the sector has evolved since the early 2000s. Joel is a great guest with a wealth of knowledge on solar and Perovskite technology. This is a fantastic episode for those looking to double click on new solar technologies.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 12th, 2021To learn more about Swift Solar, visit: https://www.swiftsolar.com/To learn more about this episode, visit our website: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/swift-solar 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 Week's guest is Josephine Cheung, Director of Research & Development at GCP Applied Technologies.GCP Applied Technologies is a leading global provider of construction products technologies that include concrete and cement additives, building materials and technologies that ensure quality and enhance business productivity. In 2016, GCP Applied Technologies spun off from W. R. Grace.With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT, Josephine spent her entire career working on cement and concrete additives. She has taken on many roles from Research Engineer to Principal Scientist to Director of Research and Development. A prolific innovator, Josephine has pioneered numerous groundbreaking sustainable product solutions for the cement and concrete industry. She is a holder of more than 20 patent families and has been a category creator in her field. She has helped cement manufacturers around the world realize a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.I was looking forward to this episode as GCP Applied Technologies has not been a company focused on climate change in the past. Josephine and I walk through the corporate decisions to focus on climate, the motivations behind it, and what they are working on to decarbonize the cement market. Josephine also explains why cement and concrete are significant sources of carbon emissions. We dive into the challenges faced when decarbonizing cement, the most innovative solutions to date, and how cement fits into the broader clean transition. Josephine is a great guest, and it's encouraging to see larger companies focusing on climate.Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 16th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/josephine-cheungTo learn more about GCP Technologies: https://gcpat.com/en 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 guest is Andy Towne, Founding Partner & CEO of Hobbs & Towne Inc.Founded in 1997, Hobbs & Towne Inc. is an executive search and advisory service firm. Partnering with venture capital, private equity, and family office investors, as well as global companies, HTI manages retained executive searches for high-level business leaders and C-suite positions. The firm's advisory services include restructuring, interim management, and mergers, acquisitions and proprietary deal flow. HTI works across sustainability and climate technologies, primarily in energy, mobility, food, agriculture, and water. Over the last 20 years, they've placed over 2,500 leaders in more than 600 companies globally.With two decades of experience, Andy is a climate career veteran. He has witnessed the many iterations of cleantech over the years and is a fantastic guest. Andy explains what Hobbs & Towne Inc. does and how the recruiting firm has developed since its inception. He walks me through the similarities, differences, and evolution of the cleantech sector over his illustrious career. We also dive into advice Andy has for those looking to make a career transition. Whether you are a veteran reorienting your career towards climate or a newcomer finding your place in this massive industry, you won't want to miss this episode.Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 16th, 2021Advice Andy has for those looking to make a career transition:Educate yourself on the topic you are interested in pursuing in climateMeet as many people as you can, go to conferences (virtual), and develop an opinion on a sector or subjectGet on Twitter and follow climate leaders Want to get in touch with Andy? Reach out to him on twitter @HobbsTowne or via email [email protected] 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 week's guest is Scott Stringer, New York City Comptroller, the chief financial officer and chief auditor of the city agencies and their performance and spending.Scott has served in elected positions since the early '90s. He was elected to the New York State Assembly and represented Manhattan's West Side for 13 years. After working in the State Assembly, he became the Manhattan Borough President. He was elected Comptroller of New York City in 2013 and has served in that role ever since. Scott and his team manage the city's $240 billion public pension system. The Comptroller's office recently announced they would be divesting $4 billion from fossil fuel companies to promote clean energy use.In the episode, Scott explains his role as Comptroller, the recent announcement to divest $4B from fossil fuels, and how that decision came about. We also talk more broadly about the theory of change behind fossil fuel divestment, the path to a green economy, and the role public policy and government play in bringing about a clean energy future.Great conversation, I hope you enjoy it! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 5th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/scott-stringerTo learn more about The New York City Comptroller: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/NYC pension funds vote to divest $4 billion from fossil fuels: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-new-york-fossil-fuels-pensions/nyc-pension-funds-vote-to-divest-4-billion-from-fossil-fuels-idUSKBN29U23Q 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 Josh Santos, Co-Founder & CEO, and Daniel Cavero, Co-Founder & CTO, of Noya.Josh and Daniel met a few years ago when they were roommates in San Francisco. In 2020, they founded Noya together. Noya captures CO2 from the atmosphere and resells it for half the cost of current options. The company works to retrofit existing industrial equipment to enable carbon capture and resale. When Josh and Daniel broke down the cost of direct air capture systems, they realized a large portion of the cost hinges on one component. Noya is working to reduce this component's cost, allowing for a scalable process that can have a massive impact. Noya aims to capture seven gigatons of carbon emissions with a removal cost that is half the current market price through its proprietary technology.Josh and Daniel are fantastic guests with a great vision. They walk me through how they met, what motivated them to start Noya, and the company's future. Josh and Daniel touch on Noya's timeline and approach for go-to-market, key milestones, and funding to date. We also discuss the problem Noya is tackling, the barriers holding the company back, and direct air capture as a climate solution more broadly. Whether you're interested in DAC or an aspiring climate tech founder looking for inspiration, this episode is a must-listen.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 3rd, 2021MCJ Investment in Noya: https://myclimatejourney.substack.com/p/our-investment-in-noyaTo learn more about Noya, visit their website: https://noyalabs.com/Noya is hiring a Chemical Engineer! Reach out to them here: https://noyalabs.com/founding-chemical-engineer 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 week's guest is Alicia Barton, CEO of FirstLight Power.FirstLight Power is a renewables and storage company that integrates and delivers clean power to New England homes and businesses. It operates the Northfield Mountain energy storage facility and other hydroelectric, solar, and energy assets in Massachusetts and Connecticut. I was excited about this discussion because Alicia has been on my wishlist for quite some time. Alicia walks me through how cleantech has evolved over her career, her role at FirstLight Power, and how hydrogen fits into the renewable landscape. We also dive into climate policy on the federal and state levels, barriers to adopting a clean and reliable grid, and the future of renewables. Alicia is an excellent guest, especially for those interested in how policy and innovation can work together to bring about a clean energy transition.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 26th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/alicia-bartonTo learn more about FirstLight Power: https://www.firstlightpower.com/ 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 guest is Fiona Spruill, Chief Product Officer at Overstory.Overstory's mission is to monitor all of Earth's natural resources in real-time to reverse climate change. Its first project helps utilities track forest and vegetation growth to reduce the risk of wildfires and power outages by applying machine learning to satellite imagery. We are proud to be an Overstory investor!Prior to Overstory, Fiona was most recently COO at Meetup, and spent 14 years in journalism, in roles of increasing responsibility at The New York Times. In 2019, Fiona decided to transition into working on climate. Like so many, she found the transition to be a difficult one (because it is!), but she navigated it brilliantly, and landed in a terrific spot.This episode is meant for anyone else who is thinking about doing the same! It covers Fiona’s reasons for wanting to transition into working in climate tech, how she went about the process, lessons learned, and advice for others looking to head down a similar path.Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 24th, 2021Advice Fiona has for those looking to make a career transition:Narrow your focus as quickly as you can and being willing to pivotClimate is everything; therefore, no one is unqualified to work in climateTalk to as many people as you canLearning collectively through various projects such as Project Drawdown, On Deck Fellowships, Terra.do courses, and the MCJ podcast and membership If you are interested in connecting with Fiona, reach out to her via Twitter or LinkedIn.Overstory is hiring for a Front-End Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, and Marketing roles. Please check out their website: https://www.overstory.ai/ 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 week's guest is Kate Gordon, Senior Policy Advisor on Climate to Governor Gavin Newsom & Director of the Office of Planning and Research for California.The California Governor's Office of Planning and Research serves the Governor and Cabinet for long-range planning across three significant buckets: land use and planning, climate risk and resilience, and sustainable economic development. As Senior Policy Advisor on Climate, Kate focuses on California's climate initiatives across policy, leadership, and budget.I was looking forward to this episode as policy plays a crucial role in a clean energy transition. Kate's knowledge and experience led to a lively discussion about the role of state government, public sector climate initiatives, and federal policies. She explains why California is unique and key ways the state is taking action to accelerate the transition. Kate also talks about her climate journey, what motivated her to work in climate, and her role in the Governor's office.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 9th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/kate-gordonTo learn more about the Governor's Office of Planning and Research: https://opr.ca.gov/Please note, Kate misspoke when she mentioned the Climate Cabinet Fund; she meant to say the Climate Catalyst Fund. For more information about the Climate Catalyst fund and the Governor's plan: https://calmatters.org/environment/2020/01/california-budget-billion-dollar-climate-innovation-loan-fund/ 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 was previously for members only. In an effort to make important content more widely available, the audio for this episode is now available for everyone.Co-founder Peter Reinhardt walks me through a company overview and an in-depth explanation of bio-oil. He also talks about how a tech entrepreneur like him (or anyone else) that is motivated by climate change) can find a way to make a dent.Enjoy the show!Recorded July 28nd, 2020 and published for Members August 27th, 2020To learn more about Charm Industrial, visit their website: https://charmindustrial.com/If you are a member and would like to watch the pitch presentation, visit our website: https://www.myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/charm-industrialOur climate tech fund, MCJ Collective, recently invested in Charm Industrial! Check out the press release here. 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 guest is Sarah Saltzer, Managing Director of the Stanford Center for Carbon Storage.The Stanford Center for Carbon Storage focuses on applied and fundamental research to address critical questions around carbon storage in geological formations. The team also works on technological and economic analysis, public policy research, and carbon storage projects around the world.Sarah walks me through her time at Chevron, her current position at Stanford, and what motivated her to focus on carbon storage. Sarah's wealth of knowledge and experience leads to a lively discussion about how carbon capture and storage works, where oil and gas companies fit into the climate fight, and the future of the industry. This episode is awesome for those interested in the carbon storage landscape.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 10th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/sarah-saltzerTo learn more about The Stanford Center for Carbon Storage: https://sccs.stanford.edu/ 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