Everybody in the Pool

Matt Rogers, co-founder and CEO of Mill and co-founder of Nest, joins the conversation. He shares insights on tackling food waste, a surprising major contributor to climate change. They discuss Mill's innovative kitchen appliance that transforms food scraps into odorless grounds for upcycling into chicken feed. The chat highlights consumer behavior’s role in adopting sustainable technologies and how appealing gadgets can drive meaningful environmental changes. Matt emphasizes the urgent need for practical solutions in the fight against food waste.

Kathleen Alexander, Co-founder and CEO of Savor, is revolutionizing how we think about fats and oils in food. She shares her journey into creating a butter that meets the high standards of Michelin-star restaurants while addressing environmental concerns. The discussion dives into her innovative process, culinary partnerships, and the development of vegan chocolates, blending taste and sustainability. Kathleen also highlights the importance of consumer perception in food marketing and the need for accessible gourmet dining.

Sanchali Pal, the founder of Commons, is a data-driven advocate for sustainable shopping. In this conversation, she shares how her app helps consumers discover eco-friendly alternatives, particularly in clothing. The discussion highlights the growing influence of individual purchasing decisions on corporate sustainability and the critical role consumers play in demanding transparency and quality from brands. Sanchali emphasizes that even small changes in consumer behavior can lead to significant shifts in industry practices, empowering everyone to contribute to a greener future.

In this engaging conversation, Selina Tobaccowala, CEO of Home Boost and founder of Evite, shares her journey as a serial entrepreneur. She introduces Home Boost, a game-changing tool to assess home energy efficiency. The discussion delves into actionable strategies for homeowners to cut energy costs and improve comfort. Selina emphasizes the importance of incentivizing energy efficiency and navigating rebates for upgrades. Listeners will gain insights on connecting personal financial savings with impactful climate action.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, we’re kicking off Earth Month with a month of action! Our choices matter, and one of the choices I’ve been avoiding is how to replace coffee — which contributes to deforestation, is energy intensive to produce, and isn’t good news for the coffee farmers, either. This week, we’re talking with Andy Kleitsch, founder of Atomo Coffee, about their sustainable coffee blends, the road to adoption and the compromises it sometimes entails, and some surprising trivia related to camels and date pits.Atomo CoffeeAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, Paul Moinester, founder of Topo Finance, reveals the shocking climate impact of traditional banking, where a mere $10,000 can emit as much CO2 as driving 10,000 miles. He emphasizes how corporations' banking emissions can dwarf their operational ones and advocates for switching to climate-friendly banks. Moinester introduces innovative solutions that combine profitability with sustainability, encouraging listeners to consider their financial choices as a form of climate action. Tune in for actionable insights!

This week on Everybody in the Pool, Molly Wood talks with Brad Hartwig, co-founder and CEO of Arbor Energy. Brad shares his remarkable journey from SpaceX rocket engineer to climate tech entrepreneur, developing technology that transforms waste biomass into carbon-negative energy using rocket propulsion principles. Yep, you read that right. A guy who used to want to be an astronaut woke up one day and realized this planet was the place to put his energy. Find out how Arbor’s tech could replace fossil fuel plants while simultaneously removing carbon from the atmosphere.Show HighlightsBrad's transition from aerospace engineering at SpaceX to climate tech after witnessing California wildfires firsthandHow Arbor Energy's technology uses "oxy combustion" (inspired by rocket engines) to generate clean electricity while capturing carbonThe system produces no emissions - only pure CO2 (for sequestration) and clean waterPotential to replace up to 60 gigawatts of coal and natural gas plants in the US with carbon-negative powerUses only waste biomass from agriculture, forestry, and potentially municipal wasteEconomic benefits for wildfire prevention through monetizing brush clearingFirst commercial deployment targeted for 2027ResourcesArbor EnergyBrad HartwigMinistry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson - Climate fiction book mentioned by BradAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Everybody in the Pool, host Molly Wood speaks with Mat Dos Santos, co-executive director of Our Children's Trust, about how his organization is using the legal system to fight climate change on behalf of youth plaintiffs — the kids who have the most to lose if we get this wrong. Learn how landmark victories in Montana and Hawaii are creating precedents that could reshape climate policy across America.Key Takeaways:Constitutional Climate Rights: Our Children's Trust secured a historic victory in Montana, establishing that the state constitution's "clean and healthful environment" provision protects young people's right to a livable climate future.Youth-Led Legal Action: Children and teens have standing to sue over climate policies because they face disproportionate, long-term impacts from climate change and have limited political voice.Government Accountability: These cases highlight how fossil fuel development requires government permission and subsidies, challenging the "market-driven" narrative.Recent Victories: The Montana Supreme Court ruling forces the state to consider climate impacts in permitting, while a Hawaii settlement requires complete transportation decarbonization by 2045.Juliana v. United States: Learn about the ongoing federal case arguing that the U.S. government has violated young people's constitutional rights by knowingly promoting a fossil fuel system despite understanding climate dangers.Links:Our Children’s TrustMat Dos SantosHeld v. Montana trial videosYouth v. Gov documentary on NetflixAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Everybody in the Pool, host Molly Wood talks with Eliot Brooks, founder and CEO of Cocoon Carbon, about an unexpected climate tech challenge: how decarbonizing steel production is disrupting concrete's path to net zero. Brooks explains how his startup transforms problematic steel slag from modern electric arc furnaces into valuable materials that reduce concrete's carbon footprint while cutting costs.Key Takeaways:Learn how steel's shift to cleaner production methods has unintentionally limited concrete's access to low-carbon materialsDiscover how Cocoon Carbon's modular technology transforms waste into valuable cement alternativesUnderstand why addressing interconnected industrial challenges creates powerful climate tech opportunitiesFind out how this solution makes decarbonization more affordable for both industries, representing 15% of global emissionsMore resources:Cocoon CarbonAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member and get an ad-free version of the podcast: https://plus.acast.com/s/everybody-in-the-poolPlease subscribe and tell your friends about Everybody in the Pool! Send feedback or become a sponsor at in@everybodyinthepool.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Siddarth Shrikanth, an investor at Just Climate and author of "The Case for Nature," highlights the significant yet often overlooked role of nature in combating climate change. He discusses the financial world’s adaptation to sustainable investing and how connecting economic benefits with nature-based solutions is crucial. The conversation delves into the interconnectedness of biodiversity loss and climate issues, innovative agricultural practices, and the need for collaboration in transforming investment strategies for a sustainable future.