Supercool

Cities have nowhere to go but down to tap new sources of emissions-free, clean energy, harden assets against climate impacts, cut operational costs, and enhance urban life for their residents above. In this end-of-year episode, we're delving into the emergence of the underground climate economy, a Supercool trend we've identified after completing our first 20 episodes since launching in July.Whether eliminating curbside trash pickup by sending out trash through pneumatic tubes below streets, recovering wasted heat from water sloshing through sewer pipes, or drilling down to tap geothermal energy, the fate of cities and our civilization increasingly depends on what's happening down below.For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, boost the bottom line, and improve modern life, subscribe to the podcast plus our:* Newsletter* Youtube Channel* Supercool on Instagram and LinkedIn

Iowa generates enough wind power to meet 77% of its energy demand. That's great for combating climate change and financially beneficial for local farmers, towns, and the overall economy. Discover how Iowa rose to wind energy prominence. We're joined by Chaz Allen, former Mayor of Newton, Iowa, and current Executive Director of the Iowa Utility Association. We also speak with Kathy Law, a farmer turned corporate attorney and one of the leading wind energy dealmakers in the state. NotesGuests: 1. Chaz Allen, Executive Director, Iowa Utility Association 2. Kathy Law,  Attorney, Nyemaster Goode Law FirmTelevision Segment: Chaz Allen on 60 MinutesData on Iowa's wind energy production: See U.S. Energy Information Agency Data Analysis by Stanford University Professor Mark Jacobson.For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low-carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus our:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Supercool on Instagram and Link

Even the most innovative climate tech startups face marketing challenges. To gain traction or raise capital, they must generate brand awareness, educate the market, and build trust with prospective customers in a race against time before their funds run out. Companies that go bold in their climate communications stand a stronger chance of standing out in a "sea of same." That's the advice of this week's guest, Adam Malik, co-founder of Bloxspring, a marketing agency for visionary brands radically changing the future of our buildings, cities, and the planet.NOTESGuest: Adam Malik, Co-founderCompany: Bloxspring Jaguar: Its new EV car commercial - featuring no carsVolvo: Its new EV car commercial - cinematically leaning into its safety reputationFor more Supercool climate solutions accelerating the low-carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus our:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Supercool on Instagram and Linkedin

Ned Tozun co-founded d.light in 2007 with a mission to provide safe, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for all. Seventeen years later, d.light's solar products have improved the lives of over 180 million people across 72 countries, with major operations in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. The company employs 1,200 people and tens of thousands of local sales agents to bring its innovative products to remote, rural communities. Ned joins Supercool to share how the business has effectively scaled around the world as it races to impact one billion people by 2030.Show NotesGuest: Ned Tozun, Co-Founder and CEOCompany: d.lightTime Magazine's 2024 Time100 Climate List: Feature on Ned TozunVideo of d.light's product durability: See it on AmazonFor more Supercool climate solutions accelerating the low-carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus our:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Supercool on Instagram and Linkedin 

What moves people to ditch their cars and use their own feet? The key, says Jeff Speck, is that the walk must be as good as a drive. Jeff wrote the book on walkability—literally. Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time is the best-selling city-planning title of the 21st century. On today’s show, Jeff presents the playbook for creating walkable neighborhoods and cities, the maddening obstacles standing in the way, and how to clear the path—one thoughtful step at a time.Show NotesGuest: Jeff Speck, FAICP, CNU-A, LEED-AP, Honorary ASLA; Partner, Speck DempseyOrganization: Speck DempseyBook: Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a TimeTED Talk: The Walkable CityReport: Foot Traffic Ahead by Smart Growth AmericaFor more Supercool climate solutions accelerating the low-carbon future, subscribe to the podcast plus our:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Supercool on Instagram and Linkedin 

In just two years since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became U.S. law, the clean energy economy has been on a tear: $380B in new investment by companies; 900 new and expanded manufacturing facilities; and clean energy jobs growing at twice the rate of conventional jobs (4.2% vs 2%). Joining Josh to discuss these supercool accomplishments is David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. As the DOE’s second-in-command and Chief Operating Officer, David has played a key role in implementing President Biden’s landmark clean energy legislation.Show NotesGuest: David Turk, Deputy SecretaryOrganization: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)US DOE Projects: Community Benefits map — where the DOE is funding projects)Article: 2018 New York Times Op-Ed by Andrew Jones and Auden SchendlerFor more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus our:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Supercool on Instagram and Linked

Bitcoin mining faces frequent criticism in climate circles for its voracious energy appetite. But what if that narrative is over-generalized or maybe even entirely misses the mark? Joining Josh is Matthew Schultz, the founding CEO and current Executive Chairman of CleanSpark, a publicly traded Bitcoin miner with nearly 5% market share of new Bitcoin. CleanSpark operates predominantly using nuclear energy in rural communities throughout America. Tune in to discover how CleanSpark blends clean energy with cryptocurrency to forge a sustainable future.Show LinksGuest: Matthew Schultz, Executive ChairmanCompany: CleanSpark | America's Bitcoin MinerFor more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus our:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Supercool on Instagram and Linkedin 

Kathy Hannun began incubating within Google X, the startup that would become Dandelion, a home geothermal energy company that today is the largest and fastest-growing in America. With several thousand residential installations completed in the Northeast, Dandelion is scaling nationally, partnering with installers and homebuilding giants like Lennar. Carbon-free geothermal energy is about to become the default heating and cooling source for thousands of American homes.Show Links:Guest: Kathy Hannun Company: Dandelion Energy For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, follow the podcast and subscribe to:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Instagram and LinkedIn

While saving the Amazon grabs headlines, the trees right outside your front door shape your life in important ways. The more trees in your city neighborhood, the less crime, the fewer prescriptions for antidepressants, and the lower rates of asthma, childhood leukemia, and other immune diseases. These leafy giants affect everything from healthier newborns to longer life expectancy to higher property values.  Geoffrey Donovan, an urban forester and economist with the U.S. Forest Service, joins the show. His groundbreaking research over the two decades is reshaping how urban planners and policymakers think about the essential public health and economic role of trees in city life.Show Links:Guest: Geoffrey DonovanOrganization: U.S. Forest ServiceGrant Program: U.S. Forest Service's Urban and Community Forest Program For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Instagram and LinkedIn

Garbage trucks have gone missing in cities around the world. In neighborhoods from London to Barcelona and Singapore to Seoul, their unmistakable sight, sound, and smell are notably absent. The reason? Trash has gone underground, whisked away through a hidden network of pneumatic pipes—no trucks, no noise, no stench. If this sounds like the future, it is. But this particular slice was invented in the 1960s by Swedish company Envac. The company’s CEO, Joakim Karlsson, joins Supercool to discuss how Envac is taking trash removal to a whole new dimension.Show Links:Guest: Joakim KarlssonCompany: EnvacConference Video: Joakim Karlsson on stage in Rio de Janeiro at The Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII Institute)  For more Supercool climate solutions that cut carbon, improve modern life, and shape the new low carbon economy, subscribe to the podcast plus:* Youtube Channel* Weekly Newsletter* Instagram and LinkedIn