Earth911.com's Sustainability In Your Ear

On today's Sustainability In Your Ear, meet Brenna Simmons-St. Onge, a systems strategist, regenerative futurist, and founder of B the Light Consulting, as we explore her family's extraordinary three-year journey around the world. The Regenerative World Quest isn't your typical travel adventure; it's a deliberate mission to identify, amplify, and help replicate Earth's most promising regenerative communities and projects. From Costa Rica to South Africa, she and her family engage with leaders, learn from Indigenous knowledge holders, and discover models that regenerate land, restore community agency, and reconnect people to purpose. Brenna's aim is to demonstrate how regeneration—not just mitigation—can serve as our organizing principle for addressing the climate crisis.Rather than extracting experiences as tourists, Brenna and her family integrate into the places they visit, contributing through forms of meaningful exchange. Her key insight is that true abundance comes from within—our creativity, generosity, and the love we share with others and the planet. Thee regenerative communities she's visited focus on building a prosperity based on relationships, ecological health, and community resilience rather than accumulating material possessions. The Regenerative World Quest will culminate in a documentary series and practical playbook that others can use to live more lightly on the planet, thinking seven generations ahead following Indigenous traditions. To follow Brenna's journey and learn from the regenerative communities she discovers, visit https://bthelightconsulting.com/ or follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Energy is required at every step of the food and beverage industry supply chain, from growing grapes to bottling and delivery, making it a significant source of emissions and a prime target for climate innovation. On this episode of Earth911’s Sustainability in Your Ear, we explore how wineries and other producers are turning to clean, renewable energy to cut costs, reduce emissions, and future-proof their operations. We’re joined by James Presta, Business Development Manager at REC Solar, and Mario Trinchero of Trinchero Family Estates, a storied family-run winery in California’s Sonoma County. REC Solar and Trinchero teamed up to bring solar energy to one of the country’s largest winery operations, showing how collaboration between energy experts and agricultural producers can drive meaningful progress toward a carbon-neutral future.  James explains that a decentralized electric grid is emerging—powered by modular solar installations and guided by power purchase agreements (PPAs) that lock in long-term energy prices. When networked together, these individual installations can form a resilient web of renewable power. Solar, wind, and geothermal systems will provide flexibility and stability in a world of climate extremes—if we act quickly enough to scale them. Mario reflects on the motivations behind his family’s move to solar: sustainability is not just good business, it’s essential to preserving the land and legacy that define the brand. By using solar energy in its winemaking process, Trinchero has cut emissions and operating costs while strengthening its commitment to environmental stewardship.We also delve into the mechanics of PPAs—a modern-day version of the 1930s rural electrification initiative that brought power to American farms. But now, companies like REC Solar—not government agencies—extend the grid through private partnerships. These agreements offer fixed pricing, shared risk, and maintenance contracts, but it’s critical to understand the provider’s long-term plans. A strong PPA can unlock the potential to electrify entire supply chains, eliminate dependence on diesel generators, and drive innovations where wires have never reached. And the potential for abundant, clean power is growing. What could we build if we end up with more energy than we need? As James and Mario suggest, the answer may be anything we can imagine with the right infrastructure—without the pollution that defined the last century. Learn more about REC Solar at recsolar.com and about Trinchero Family Estates at tfewines.com.

On today’s Sustainability In Your Ear, meet Kavita Patel, a principal at MUUS Climate Partners, as we discuss how smart investments and business support can drive environmental impact while generating returns. MUUS Climate Partners invests in early-stage climate technology companies, with a portfolio including battery recycler Nth Cycle, EV charging innovator AmpUp, and innovative air conditioning developer Harvest. The firm targets critical sectors—energy, industry, materials, and transportation—where innovation is essential for meeting climate goals. In our conversation, Kavita addresses the “green premium,” pointing out that while consumers may pay more upfront for sustainable products, they often realize long-term savings. She emphasizes that the most significant opportunity to reduce costs lies in eliminating waste throughout our economy, from production, through the use phase, to recovering and reusing materials traditionally discarded after a single use.Kavita emphasizes that the most significant opportunity to reduce costs lies in eliminating waste throughout our economy, from production, through the use phase, to recovering and reusing materials traditionally discarded after a single use She also .shares a key insight about entrepreneurial leadership: successful climate tech founders have multiple backup plans. True innovators become “chief resource obtainers” by finding value where others see none. The entrepreneurs who will transform our economy can turn scrap into gold, whether starting with used equipment or reimagining landfill contents as raw materials for sustainable products. To learn more about MUUS Climate Partners and their approach to climate technology investment, visit muusclimate.com.

On today's Sustainability In Your Ear episode, discover a transformative approach to rainforest conservation with Dr. Hannah Peck, Deputy Director and Policy Lead at Cool Earth. She brings a decade of experience in the rainforests of Peru and Papua New Guinea with Cool Earth's innovative strategies that prioritize direct support over traditional carbon offset models. Cool Earth challenges the heavily promoted carbon offsets industry, arguing that they often serve as a smokescreen for continued emissions rather than a genuine solution to the climate crisis. Instead, the organization emphasizes reducing emissions at the source and investing in the people best prepared to protect nature: Indigenous communities. Cool Earth's approach is based on unconditional cash transfers that free Indigenous communities to make decisions based on sustainable practices and forest conservation rather than economic necessity. The cash transfers reduce the incentive for activities that lead to deforestation, such as illegal logging or mining.In 2023, Cool Earth launched a pioneering basic income pilot in the Amazon rainforest. They provide about $5 million a year in funding Indigenous communities, where every adult receives a regular income to meet their needs. This initiative aims to support long-term sustainability and forest conservation by enabling individuals to focus on preserving their environment rather than engaging in environmentally harmful economic activities. Hannah explains that Indigenous communities manage most of the remaining ecologically healthy rainforests. Cool Earth presents a compelling case for a more equitable and effective approach to combating climate change. To learn more about Cool Earth's work and how you can support their mission, visit coolearth.org.Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube

On this inspiring episode of Sustainability In Your Ear, we reconnect with storyteller, systems thinker, and regenerative agriculture pioneer Douglas Gayeton to explore the latest developments in the Ecological Benefits Framework (EBF)—a potentially game-changing tool designed to redefine how we value nature. First introduced during an Earth911 podcast event in 2023, the EBF offers a bold new way to measure what matters most to nature—air, water, soil, biodiversity, carbon, and equity. Unlike traditional carbon accounting, the EBF provides a comprehensive view of how projects can restore and regenerate ecosystems. Douglas calls the EBF a “Rosetta Stone” for ecological impact that offers a shared language for communities, companies, nonprofits, and funders. In our conversation, Douglas takes us inside the making of the EBF—its philosophical roots, its rigorous methodology, and its potential to become a new baseline for evaluating impact in the regenerative economy. He reflects on what we’ve learned so far and how early adopters are helping shape a framework that’s equal parts science, storytelling, and social contract.Now being piloted in 24 projects across the globe and featured in the upcoming BBC series Unearthing The Future, the EBF is quickly becoming a foundational tool in the regenerative movement. In this conversation, Douglas shares how the framework is helping shift investment and storytelling toward the systems that sustain life. Learn more at ebfcommons.org and thelexicon.org.Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube

As federal environmental protections face weakening, a grassroots movement is gaining strength across the U.S., focusing on environmental rights rather than policy adjustments. Maya van Rossum, environmental attorney and founder of the Green Amendments For The Generations movement, returns to Sustainability in Your Ear to discuss that states' response to cuts to federal environmental regulations. Maya explains how state-level constitutional amendments are redefining environmental protection as an inalienable right, akin to freedom of speech. She outlines the importance of constitutional change for achieving genuine environmental justice, the necessary steps for mobilizing community support, and how rights-based environmental movements are establishing sustainable, community-driven strategies for a healthier future. For over a decade, Maya has spearheaded this initiative, successfully passing Green Amendments in Pennsylvania, Montana, and New York. Currently, more than 20 states, including Oregon, are contemplating similar amendments. The discussion also addresses the recent rally at the Oregon state capitol, which showcased the momentum behind the Right to a Healthy Environment Amendment (SJR28) and signifies the evolving role of grassroots environmental advocacy. Unlike typical legislation that can be reversed with changing political climates, Green Amendments establish essential protections for clean air, water, and climate at the constitutional level. This framework provides citizens and communities with a robust legal foundation to challenge polluters and safeguard the environment for future generations, particularly during periods of political regression. For more information about the Green Amendment movement and to track developments nationwide, visit forthegenerations.org

In the race to address climate change, technology often steals the spotlight—solar breakthroughs, carbon capture, electrification, and AI. None of it scales without the right leadership. Green progress depends on the people who can fund, integrate, and lead technology-driven organizations to success. Meet Colin Smith and Kahlil Dumas, co-founders of Execnow, an executive placement firm focused on building leadership teams that can scale climate innovation. They connect mission-driven companies—from emerging startups to established companies—with leaders who can grow sustainable operations and adapt to fast-changing markets.Execnow often places fractional executives, giving companies flexible access to high-levelIt'sent. It's a model that aligns with the pace and complexity of climate tech and helps growing firms stay lean as they grow. Colin and Kahlil's work spans cleantech, regenerative agriculture, biotech, and AI industries, which are being transformed by leaders who can execute and achieve impact. We explore what makes an effective climate leader, how founders can attract the right talent, and why treating people with dignity is more than a personal preference—it's essential to competing in a global, interconnected market. At a moment when the government is erasing climate language from websites and regulatory systems, Execnow is helping companies double down—not pull back—on building the leadership that can navigate uncertainty and drive lasting change. You can learn more about their work at execnow.co

In today’s media environment, disinformation and distraction are pervasive. The most troubling issue may not be misinformation but the critical information that is systematically ignored or underreported. Andy Lee Roth, Editor-at-Large of Project Censored, returns to Sustainability In Your Ear to discuss the top censored stories of 2023–2024, with a special focus on environmental reporting. Project Censored has tracked and amplified suppressed stories since 1976, drawing attention to the topics that corporate media tends to ignore. Roth highlights how the U.S. is witnessing explicit censorship of climate-related information alongside the erosion of regulatory frameworks and cutting federal support for scientific research. Media campaigns are designed to resist change and maintain the status quo, even at the expense of future generations.In 2024, most of Project Censored’s top stories involve environmental issues, signaling a critical moment in our media landscape. From the health risks associated with gas stoves to the underreported impacts of climate debt, from greenwashed net-zero pledges to global and domestic challenges in water security, vital environmental and climate issues often go unreported. The stories are not lacking in evidence, they are under-reported due to the incentives of media ownership and the influence of advertisers. Roth argues that people can practice media literacy to unpack the incomplete narratives that dominate the media to better understand the world around them. Ultimately, he believes that change lies in the hands of an informed and engaged public. Citizens are the ultimate arbiters of policy, values, and future direction—and it’s through independent journalism that society learns and debates a more sustainable and just future. You can learn more about Project Liberty and the Under-Reported Stories of the Year at projectcensored.org.Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube

Josh Dorfman—known for his The Lazy Environmentalist book series—visites to share his latest efforts to make sustainability seamless, smart, and scalable. From hosting eco-living shows to launching climate tech ventures, Dorfman’s mission: make sustainable choices attractive and accessible. In the 1990s, while working in China, Dorfman saw the country’s shift from bicycles to cars and realized the environmental cost of global development. That insight set him on a path to shift consumer culture toward greener living. “People don’t respond to guilt,” he said. “They respond to practical, self-interested solutions that make their lives better.” Dorfman now leads two new initiatives: Plantd and Supercool. By blending smart storytelling with practical solutions, Dorfman shows how sustainability can be not just necessary—but undeniably cool.Plantd is a carbon-negative building materials startup using ultra-fast-growing grass to produce high-performance panels that outperform and underprice traditional plywood. Backed by former SpaceX engineers, Plantd’s electric, zero-smokestack production line locks atmospheric carbon into walls, floors, and roofs—without cutting down trees. Their work has caught serious attention: DR Horton, the largest U.S. homebuilder, recently placed an order for 10 million panels. The Supercool podcast and newsletter spotlight climate innovation that resonates across political lines. Dorfman’s storytelling targets the middle ground—where sustainability aligns with health, economics, and lifestyle. Episodes feature stories like upcycled e-bike marketplaces, AI-optimized HVAC systems, and green retrofits of federal buildings. “We already have the technology to solve climate change,” Dorfman said. “What we need is faster adoption—and that comes from telling the right stories.” You can learn more about Plantd's carbon-negative building materials at https://www.plantdmaterials.com/ and tune into the Supercool podcast at https://getsuper.cool/

As trade dynamics shift and tariffs reshape supply chains, construction companies must rethink how they source materials, balance costs, and integrate sustainable solutions. The push for greener, more resilient construction materials is at the heart of this transformation. Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies, returns to the show to share an update. Since his last appearance in October 2023, the company has made significant strides—including securing an $800 million Green Term Loan Facility, which will significantly accelerate the development and adoption of low-carbon cement alternatives. With goals to double production to 20 million tons per year, Grant and his team are working to redefine how we build the world around us.Hear what sustainable business sounds like when a green product makes its case on economic terms. Adopting green materials becomes a no-brainer decision when they are cheaper and better (because pozzolanic concrete lasts longer) and deliver the sustainability consumers want. Grant explains the potential for using low-carbon concrete to build low-income housing, for which Americans are in severe need due to a shortage of 7.1 million affordable housing units. Providing climate-resilient housing is a potentially vast opportunity to drive the rapid adoption of low-carbon concrete. Concrete printing systems can be rolled up to a home site and complete the production of a house in hours, saving labor time spent on framing a traditional home. If you’re considering starting a sustainable company, consider 3D concrete printed construction as a business. There are only 32 of these construction companies in the U.S. That may be the entrepreneurial opportunity of the decade. Imagine the demand for affordable, fast homes just in LA. So, business goes on, and sustainability is on the menu. You can learn more about Eco Material Technologies at ecomaterial.com.