Inevitable

Today's guest is Jonathan Strauss, co-founder and CEO of Climate Draft, whose mission is to expose more people to the inspiring, impactful, and lucrative opportunities at venture-backed startups focused on decarbonizing the global economy.Talent movement into climate tech is critical, especially talent that has learned to scale businesses and technologies fast. In many cases, the skillsets that these folks possess are so ingrained that they don't even recognize them as skills. Innate familiarity with things like how to build a hiring pipeline, how to properly incentivize a sales team, do performance reviews, how to establish a culture, bring in and integrate senior executives as it scales, and how to manage key accounts. These are all day-to-day activities that people in big tech companies take for granted but in many cases are altogether new skills for climate companies founded by folks with skills in synthetic biology, mechanical engineering, or other areas. And getting many of these key climate technologies to a scale fast is what needs to happen given the timeframes we are working with from a global carbon budget.Climate Draft is an organic effort, born out of the climate tech community and focused on increasing the awareness of climate in other corners of tech and industries beyond, particularly into talent pools with individuals who have deep experience scaling businesses and who may be concerned about climate change but haven't yet explored working in climate as a career path.Jonathan and Cody have known each other for over 15 years, and have a great conversation about his journey from mainstream tech into progressive political work and then into climate, the community-based origins of Climate Draft, and what he's learned as he's helped thousands of people take their first step into exploring climate-related work. Great inspiration for anybody looking to figure out how to apply their skills most effectively in climate work.In this episode, we cover: 3:21] Jonathan's background and climate journey[14:55] The initial idea for Climate Draft[21:29] Need for talent and company-building experience in the climate space[26:18] First version of the "sports draft" model and learnings [32:06] Pros and cons of working with an all-volunteer team [36:38] An overview of Climate Draft today [41:35] Use case for people using Climate Draft as an entry point[44:24] Some of the takeaways from talent looking to transition to climate [46:06] Misconceptions about compensation in climate careers[47:08] Applicable skills [48:40] Learnings from climate companies trying to recruit talent [51:01] Range of geographies, skill sets, and industries that involve climate [53:26] Revenue-based financing that worked for Climate Draft [59:03] Learnings from foundersGet connected: Cody SimmsClimate Draft Twitter / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on December 1, 2022. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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 Richardson, CEO and co-founder of MicroByre, which is domesticating novel bacteria and using biology to produce chemicals that can supplant petrochemical production methods.Only a small portion of a barrel of oil is responsible for its petrochemical outputs. Most of a barrel is what you'd expect: fuel that's converted to gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc. But that small portion of petrochemical feedstocks is really valuable; by some estimates, it makes up to a quarter or more of the value of a barrel of oil. If we want to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels to slow down climate change, one of the ways to do that is to lessen the value of a barrel of oil.MicroByre does this by looking to the natural world. There are microbes and bacteria all around us, eating things, producing things, and living in all sorts of environments, from the highest mountains to the deepest sea vents. There may be a trillion or more bacterial species out there, with 99.99% of them undiscovered by humans. And yet when it comes to domesticating microbes, the technology world has turned almost exclusively to yeast and E. coli.We typically think of microbes as something to which you feed sugar and it outputs alcohol. That's fermentation and it's how we make sourdough bread, beer, kombucha, kimchee, etc. But on this show, we've covered other input/output combinations such as Zero Acre Farms which uses bacteria to produce cooking oils. So what combinations of bacteria, feed, and environment can produce valuable chemicals? And can these bacteria be genetically modified to do this even more efficiently?These are the things that MicroByre is focused on. When we first started asking people about Sarah, more than one person told us that she was among the most intelligent people they'd ever met. Someone even said that they thought she'd win a Nobel Prize someday. After listening to her climate journey with bacteria, you’ll quickly realize why she’s highly regarded. We're thrilled to be investors in MicroByre at MCJ and hope you enjoy this conversation. In this episode, we cover: [3:10] Sarah's background and early lab experience [7:15] Her cross-disciplinary work at Johns Hopkins and the Department of Energy [16:55] Differences between biology and chemistry in trying to manipulate and grow organisms[21:33] An overview of biotechnology vs. industrial biotechnology [22:37] Petroleum's role in chemical production [24:40] Sarah's motivation for working on climate [27:40] An overview of MicroByre [31:49] The role of genetic modification in MicroByre's solution [37:12] MicroByre's commercial business model [40:07] The company's flexible approach to working with clients and managing uncertainty [43:56] Some of the chemical compounds MicroByre is solving for[47:22] The company's four client categories [55:22] The types of talent working at MicroByre [1:00:05] Funding to date and plans moving forwardGet connected: Cody SimmsSarah Richardson / MicroByreMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on November 4, 2022.  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our new Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.Today, we are talking trucks with Larry Coons. Transportation accounted for the largest portion of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, with 26% of those emissions coming from medium and heavy-duty trucks alone. Regulations on freight transportation are bound to have an impact, as the industry grapples with an aging workforce. But to understand exactly what it’s like to haul cargo on the road for 11 hours a day, or to adequately address concerns among truckers as new technology develops, you have to put yourself in the driver’s seat. Luckily, Larry has 10 years of experience on the road and also spent time as an automation truck tester with Uber Freight and Ike.In this chat, Yin and Larry talk about how he got into trucking, the role the climate change narrative has on decision-making, and what it’s like to be a long-haul driver. Larry also sheds light on the aging workforce and the need for younger drivers who are more likely to adopt new technologies. They also cover some general frustrations and stressors of the job, Larry’s views on electric trucks, and his experience working on some self-driving programs. In this episode, we cover:[1:56] How Larry got interested in trucking at a young age [5:52] The education, training, and certification process to becoming a truck driver [11:31] The trucker shortage and its impacts [13:37] Issues with driver payments [17:03] Deciding between the owner-operate route or working for a freight company [19:46] Things we can do to inspire a younger and more diverse trucking fleet [22:02] Role of technology [25:09] Larry's thoughts and concerns on electric trucks [28:09] A day in the life of a truck driver [31:31] Larry's work with Uber Freight [42:16] His future plans Get connected:Yin Twitter / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on October 3, 2022. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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 Jason Prapas, CEO and Founder of FYTO, which is a technology company that is unlocking the potential of nutrient-rich aquatic plants to reduce the emissions and water footprint of food production, starting with cattle cultivation.Raising livestock, particularly cattle, is known for its incredibly high emissions footprint. And while we can make responsible diet choices individually, relying on society to change as a whole is challenging in a world that’s increasingly adopting meat-oriented food products. If opting for plant-based alternatives requires consumer choice and sacrifice, what are the systems-level approaches we can take to solve cattle’s carbon footprint?Each of humanity's major cultivated crops is a platform of sorts. Wheat, corn, soybeans, rice, etc. all have micro-economies surrounding them, including specific tools and machinery, input requirements, supply chains, markets, and geographies. FYTO is creating an entirely new agricultural crop platform that uses automation and sensor technology to achieve protein-rich aquatic plant mass at scale. It's a huge bet, with a huge reward for the planet if it pays off.Cody and Jason have a great conversation about the negative feedback loops built into the emissions and water impact of cattle production today, plus what it will take to grow a closed-loop system that can halt and reverse these externalities. In this episode, we cover:[4:12] Problems with food and water security coupled with rapid carbon reductions [6:04] Expected growth of food production and the climate impact [8:15] The role of animal agriculture [11:06] How climate justice fits in[12:59] Downstream impacts of a cow's diet, including emissions and deforestation[20:47] Groundwater pollution from animal food production [25:21] Methane emissions from cattle and different approaches aimed at reducing them [30:04] FYTO's farm solution [34:31] Role of technology development in farming better crops at scale [36:01] The FYTO farm setup [39:39] Protein comparisons between FYTO's plants and other types of cattle feed [40:39] Role of recycled animal waste as fertilizer [41:27] FYTO's current trials for measuring methane impact [42:51] The company's business model [48:07] Understanding impacts on scope three emissions [50:01] FYTO's shelf-life and storage [53:59] The company's funding to date and plans for growthGet connected: Cody SimmsMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on October 5, 2022. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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 Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, best-selling author, strategist, teacher, and one of 15 “women who will save the world,” according to Time magazine.Dr. Wilkinson leads the All We Can Save Project, which she co-founded with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. As an emergent nonprofit, the project's mission is to nurture the leaderful climate community we need for a life-giving future using the tools of narrative change, community building, deep learning, and tending the emotional and spiritual route from which climate leadership grows. She is the creator of All We Can Save Circles, a unique model for deep dialogue about the climate crisis and building community around solutions, and Climate Wayfinding, a program that supports people in finding or deepening their place in climate work. Last but certainly not least, Dr. Wilkinson co-hosts the podcast A Matter of Degrees with Dr. Leah Stokes, which tells stories for the climate curious. Dr. Stokes recently had an insightful conversation with Jason (listen here), but Katharine brings a unique perspective and experience to the climate discussion, given her different background. In this episode, we dive into Dr. Wilkinson's journey to working on climate, her theory of change, and how it’s evolved. We also cover the role of activism, the arts, education, and a bunch of things that aren't typically associated with climate discussions, especially in Silicon Valley technology and innovation circles. In this episode, we cover: [4:00] Dr. Wilkinson's portfolio of projects [8:11] Her thoughts on the nature of the climate problem and how they've evolved [11:31] The myth of separation and the interconnected web of life [15:17] The urgency of creating more just solutions in partnership with communities [21:37] Humans are more hardwired for cooperation than competition [22:53] Dr. Wilkinson's theory of change for cultivating a different kind of leadership across sectors[24:38] Need for deep learning [28:01] Climate Wayfinding course with Terra.do [33:34] Her thoughts on the narrative of abundance vs. sacrifice [35:50] Some tensions in the Inflation Reduction Act and ways of overcoming them [38:45] Direct activism tactics  [40:52] Dr. Wilkinson's thoughts on the good vs. evil narrative in climateGet connected: Jason JacobsDr. WilkinsonAll We Can SaveA Matter of DegreesMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on November 4, 2022. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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 Adam Wright, CEO and co-founder of Vespene Energy, which uses landfill methane to fuel Bitcoin mining.At MCJ we’ve spent some time at the intersection of Bitcoin as an incentive mechanism for halting methane emissions with Crusoe Energy and their work with flared waste gas at oil wells. But understanding the actual scale of the landfill emissions problem and how the status quo doesn't provide an economic incentive for improvements is pretty mind-blowing. Perhaps a carbon tax could pass some day or fines for landfill owners could aim to remedy the issue, but we need landfills and collaborative solutions for all the waste we produce. Vespene's answer is to provide a carrot rather than a stick. The company offers operators the financial upside of the biogas that their sites produce in exchange for Vespene being able to use it. Adam describes Bitcoin mining not as the end-all-be-all for Vespene, but instead as an immediate economic consumer for biogas that doesn't require facilitating a buyer or hooking up a ton of expensive infrastructure. It essentially bootstraps an energy business with a third-party, logistics-free, economic model attached. And it's a model that can unlock totally different use cases once it's in place, including EV charging and more. Vespene is on the early side of building out its business, and they'll no doubt learn a lot about the real-world atoms at play as they move forward. But if they can incentivize the halt of the 15% or more of the US's methane footprint that comes from landfills, they can make a real difference on the climate front. In this episode, we cover: [3:25] Adam's journey transitioning from submarines and ocean conservation to landfill-based climate problems and Bitcoin[5:25] The problem of methane in landfills today compared to other sources[7:30] Landfill projects, EPA regulations, and issues with underreporting[12:50] Vespene's solution[15:18] An overview of biogas[12:34] U.S. landfill ownership and community beneficiaries[20:34] An overview of Bitcoin and its implications from a climate perspective[22:41] Demand side of Vespene's solution and uses for Bitcoin data processing[25:55] How Vespene uses Bitcoin as a tool[35:18] Bitcoin mining as a low margin but scalable business[37:09] Profitability from a Bitcoin mining perspective[39:25] Vespene's progress to date[43:02] Geographic nature of landfills and benefits for Vespene's business[45:07] White House Office of Science and Technology Policy report[47:10] Vespene's funding from the crypto and climate worldsGet connected: Cody's TwitterVespene Twitter / Adam’s TwitterMCJ Podcast*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on October 17, 2022.  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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 Ira Pearl, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at Cox Enterprises. Ira is also the leader of Cox Conserves. In his role, Ira leads Cox's efforts to tackle sustainability challenges while driving its goals to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2024 and become water and carbon neutral by 2034. Cox Enterprises is interesting because they are a privately held global conglomerate headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with approximately 55,000 employees and $21 billion in total revenue. Its major operating subsidiaries are Cox Communications and Cox Automotive. Not only is the scale of Cox Enterprises pretty shocking, but the proactive role they've taken in trying to do the right thing with climate change and the clean energy transition is also noteworthy. Jason and Ira unpack a lot in this episode, including Ira's career and what led him to Cox in the first place. They talk about Cox's approach to sustainability, some of the progress the company has made in reaching net zero goals, as well as some of the barriers that they've come across along the way. They also cover where Cox is going in the future and have a great discussion about some of the things Ira thinks will help everybody move faster and what gets him most excited about the future and the clean energy transition overall. Enjoy the show! In this episode, we cover: [3:20] An overview of Cox Enterprises, including Cox Communication, Cox Automotive, and their clean tech division [5:37] Ira's personal climate journey [10:39] How Cox approaches organizational change at the functional level  [15:01] The reason behind Cox’s pursuit of climate-related and philanthropic projects [18:09] How public companies can focus on the longtime horizons of the collective good [21:15] Ira’s views on solutions that need improvements [25:40] An overview of Cox Enterprises' clean tech division [27:45] How Ira's sustainability department collaborates with their clean tech group [29:00] The importance of data tracking in reducing emissions and how Cox evolved from energy conservation to energy production[34:14] Balancing the tension between barriers to accelerated adoption and issues associated with changing too quickly [37:36] Ira's thoughts on the Inflation Reduction Act [41:39] Some of Cox's partnerships and community work in disadvantaged areas [45:09] How the company inspires employee action for climate-related activities [49:36] Ira's thoughts on offsetsGet connected: Jason's TwitterIra’s LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on November 3, 2022.  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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 Matt LeDucq, CEO and co-founder of Forum Mobility, which is working on the problem of heavy-duty trucking electrification, starting in California with the drayage sector.There are essentially two types of trucking. The first is long-haul or "over the road" which transports goods over long distances. If you've ever done a cross-country road-trip, the semi trucks on the interstates you see are long-haul trucks. And then there are drayage trucks. These trucks take large cargo containers from sea ports to distribution centers (and back and forth). Their typically short distances and repeatable patterns make them especially good candidates for electrification. Drayage trucks are relatively densely clustered and predictable, which helps when it comes to planning the EV charging infrastructure that can provide the amount of power these trucks command. It also turns out that California has some aggressive emissions reduction regulations coming online that will dramatically escalate the transition of drayage trucks from diesel to electric.Matt and Cody have a great conversation about the pending California regulations at play, as well as the history of clean air regulation around trucking. They also talk about the air quality issues surrounding most ports and the environmental justice issues that these regulations are aiming to address. They cover how the vast majority of drayage truck owners are independent operators and the financial burden that these regulations place on them. And, of course, they talk about Forum Mobility's product offering and company history, in addition to Matt's deep background in renewable energy. There are loads to learn about electrifying the trucking industry in this episode. Enjoy! In this episode, we cover: [3:19] The current regulatory world of decarbonizing the trucking industry in California[6:59] The role of environmental justice and dangerous emissions around ports[10:17] Challenges for independent truck owners and small businesses in meeting new regulations[14:32] Geographic differences in the drayage model[16:28] Incentive programs that help bridge the financing gap[18:19] Forum Mobility's solution[27:21] The company's business model[30:17] An overview of the charging infrastructure needed for drayage trucks[33:11] Matt's background in solar, construction, and electrification[36:41] Where he sees the company growing[38:18] How policy tailwinds can expand Forum's future business[42:13] Funding to date and how Matt sees funding moving forwardGet connected: Cody's TwitterMatt’s LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on October 18, 2022.  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.Today's guest is Alejandro Carrillo, a rancher who lives in El Paso, Texas and stewards his family's ranch in Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert. Maintaining grasslands is important for preserving biodiversity, ensuring clean rivers, and storing carbon. In fact, since grasslands store carbon underground in their roots and soil, some would argue that they are better carbon sinks than forests. As stewards of these habitats, ranchers like Alejandro who focus on regenerative practices play an important role raising livestock and maintaining carbon sinks. After a successful career as an IT consultant, Alejandra joined his family ranch in 2004. Tired of the constant drought and suffering that came with traditional ranching in a desert climate, he'd been searching for ways to adapt and rehabilitate his family's land. Since 2006, Alejandro has adapted the principles of holistic grazing or regenerative ranching as we'll learn about in this episode. He’s also the president of Pare Del, a nonprofit organization that provides ongoing education for cattle ranchers as well as promotes holistic plant grazing across the world's deserts. In this fascinating and meandering conversation, Yin and Alejandro discuss regenerative ranching, why dung beetles are so important, the epigenetics of cows, the differences between Mexican and American agriculture policies, their effects on ranching and a whole lot more. Enjoy! In this episode, we cover: [2:23] Alejandro's background and ranching experience [5:47] An overview of his family's ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico[8:24] Differences between farming and ranching[16:28] Symbiotic relationship between grasslands and cattle grazing [19:47] An overview of the water cycle, issues with management today and impacts on soil[25:45] Regenerative ranching principles [32:24] How ranchers make a living[39:45] Policy differences for ranching between the U.S. and Mexico [43:18] What keeps Alejandro optimistic about the future of ranching practicesGet connected: Yin’s Twitter / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on September 1, 2022.  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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 Taj Eldridge. He calls himself the DJ Khaled of climate and you’ll know why when you hear him speak. Taj’s professional portfolio spans a variety of roles that live at the intersection of diversity, inclusivity, and climate. He’s currently involved in three exciting pursuits. As general partner at Include Ventures, Taj works with a team of experts to build a large and dynamic platform of women and historically underrepresented fund managers and founders, with the goal of opening new market opportunities for investors and driving  alpha, environmental, and social governance. Taj is also leading CREST or the Climate Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow out of JFF Labs, which is a program that prepares people for climate resilient jobs in the United States and India. Lastly, Taj supports Klean Energy Kulture, an organization on a mission to transition black communities to clean energy by kicking off a series of experiences that tour historically black institutions and leverage music, gaming and sustainable fashion to promote sustainability and opportunities as a way of life. These topics are each so important and they're also undeniably interrelated. In this conversation, Taj walks us through ways to think about diversity and inclusion, how they go together, and what types of initiatives can be most important to bring about the progress that we all desire. Jason and Taj have a great discussion about his personal journey, what motivates him, and how his theory of change has evolved from when he started doing this work many years ago to today. Then we talk about each of the initiatives he's currently involved with and also his framework for thinking about how to allocate his portfolio of time. This is a really exciting and insightful discussion. Enjoy!In this episode, we cover: [4:31] Taj's portfolio of climate projects [7:25] His journey at the intersection of inclusion and climate [13:50] Inclusivity and how Taj's thoughts toward it have evolved over time [17:32] His views on the state of the climate emergency[21:07] How we can collectively balance the transition with education [25:13] The role of pop culture and media influencing consumer decisions[27:48] Taj's decision making process for projects he focuses on[31:46] The exciting youth climate movement [33:43] Frustrations around privileged climate conversations and the need for more inclusivity[36:05] Blind spots in building a more diverse climate community  [42:23] The opportunity to create measurement tools for climate investing[44:26] Innovating climate solutions outside of Silicon Valley Get connected: Jason's TwitterTaj’s TwitterMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on October 12, 2022.  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect 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