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PODCAST

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

Lisa Ann Pinkerton

The Earthlings Podcast takes a look at the big issues facing humanity in the early 21st century and our relationship to our environment, technology, and each other. Each episode, award-winning journalist, and former NPR reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton hosts experts, scientists, and leaders working to solve the world’s biggest challenges. Together, they cover wide-ranging topics including environmental solutions, emerging technologies, what the future might look like, and more. Support us on Patreon and

science earth sciences

All Episodes

33:40

#161: Dry, Pulverize, Sanitize: Turning Industrial...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/05/19

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Dan Kelly, CEO of ADAR Technologies, about how the company is rethinking industrial waste management through acoustic dehydration technology. By removing moisture from high-volume waste streams, like agricultural byproducts, sludge, and food waste, ADAR reduces disposal costs, eliminates contaminants, and preserves nutrient value for reuse. The conversation centers on a simple but powerful shift: when sustainability improves the bottom

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36:49

#160: Throwing Shade at the Heat Crisis with Passive...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/05/12

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Emily Dinino, Founder and CEO of ThermoShade, about how extreme heat is reshaping cities, infrastructure, and daily life, and what it will take to adapt. As the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., rising temperatures are exposing gaps in how we design public spaces, especially in underserved communities. Emily shares how ThermoShade is developing passive-cooling panels that reduce surface temperatures without relying on

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40:47

#159: Combining Robotics and Mass Timber For Modular...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/05/05

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Oliver David (OD) Krieg, president of Intelligent City, about how prefabrication, automation, and mass timber are reshaping the future of housing. He explains how a “product platform” approach, standardizing manufacturing while allowing for design flexibility, can make construction faster, more efficient, and scalable. The conversation explores the role of robotics and data-driven processes in increasing output without eliminating

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29:41

#158: Community as Infrastructure: Rethinking How We...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/04/28

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Alan Willett, one of the original residents of Ecovillage at Ithaca, about what it means to intentionally design for community. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience living in what is known as “intentional communities,” Alan explains how physical layout, like shared spaces, pedestrian pathways, and common infrastructure, shapes daily interactions and fosters connection. The conversation also explores the realities of

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38:50

#157: Rethinking Home Climate Control with Quilt

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/04/21

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Paul Lambert, CEO and co-founder of Quilt, about rethinking one of the most overlooked systems in the home: heating and cooling. What starts as a conversation about heat pumps quickly expands into a broader look at how comfort, efficiency, and design can work together. Paul shares why the future of home energy isn’t about sacrifice, but about better living, where smarter systems deliver both improved quality of life and meaningful

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39:10

#156: Ammonia: The Compound That Could Power a...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/04/14

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Karen Baert, CEO and co-founder of Ammobia, to unpack the role ammonia plays in modern society and how it could evolve into a cleaner fuel and energy carrier. As one of the most produced chemicals in the world and a key input to global agriculture, ammonia underpins food systems while also contributing significantly to global emissions due to its energy-intensive production process. The conversation explores ammonia’s potential as a

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32:42

#155: How Sustainable Aviation Fuel is Taking Off...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/04/07

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Alexei Beltyukov, CEO and co-founder of Universal Fuel Technologies (Unifuel), to unpack why sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as the most practical near-term pathway for reducing aviation emissions. Alexei explains the structural challenges facing SAF adoption, from the logistics of transporting alternative feedstocks to the cost of replicating in hours what nature took millions of years to produce. He also discusses

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01:06:05

#154: The Hidden Life of Wearable Technology with...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/03/31

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with James Gilmore, Associate Professor of Media and Technology Studies in the Department of Communication at Clemson University, and author of The Bringers of Order: Wearable Technologies and the Manufacturing of Everyday Life, about the promises and pitfalls of wearable technology. From Fitbits and Apple Watches to smart glasses, implantables, and Disney’s MagicBand ecosystem, James explores how wearables shape behavior, collect data, and

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31:33

#153: The Portable Solar Revolution with Gismo Power

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/03/24

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt, CEO of Gismo Power, to explore a deceptively simple idea that could reshape access to clean energy: portable solar infrastructure. Antonia explains how her company’s MEGA (Mobile Electricity Generating Appliance) turns a standard parking space into a solar-powered EV charging station using a foldable, mobile solar carport. Originally inspired by her own experience charging an EV in a sunny Florida parking

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31:38

#152: The Future of Drone Delivery with Flytrex

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/03/17

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex, about how autonomous drone delivery is becoming a scaled commercial reality. With more than 200,000 completed deliveries in U.S. suburbs and major partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats, Flytrex is helping redefine last-mile logistics. The conversation explores FAA certification beyond visual line-of-sight approval, unit economics, safety protocols, restaurant integration, and what it takes

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33:11

#151: Decarbonizing Industry Without Starting From...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/03/10

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Aaron Goodman, CEO and co-founder of Petra Power, to explore a practical bridge solution for hard-to-abate sectors like trucking, shipping, and defense. As hydrogen infrastructure remains limited, Aaron explains how solid oxide fuel cells can convert diesel or hydrogen directly into electricity without combustion, and even reverse the process to generate hydrogen from electricity. We discuss why Petra Power is targeting auxiliary

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01:12:53

#150: Reimagining Spiritual Community Through...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/03/03

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Eric Osborne, Co-Founder, Board President and Community Minister of Psanctuary, to explore the rise of mushroom church communities and what intentional psilocybin practice can offer that clinical or purely recreational models often miss. We discuss why nature-based experiences can deepen spiritual connection, how Sanctuary is structured as a peer-led community designed to restore a modern “third space,” and why group support and

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43:20

#149: Rethinking Waste as a Climate Solution with...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/02/24

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Professor Ed Craig, a longtime sustainability pioneer and CEO of Carbogenics, an Edinburgh-based start-up engineering biochar from difficult-to-recycle organic waste and wastewater screenings. Drawing on decades of experience across academia, policy, and applied climate solutions, Ed breaks down what biochar actually is, how it’s made through pyrolysis, and why it represents one of the most practical and scalable tools for carbon

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40:59

#148: The Future of All-Electric Heat Pumps with Jetson

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/02/17

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Stephen Lake, founder and CEO of Jetson, to unpack why heat pumps are becoming a cornerstone of the all-electric home. Stephen breaks down what heat pumps are (and aren’t), why outdated misconceptions still slow adoption, and how Jetson is rethinking home heating and cooling by combining cold-climate heat pump hardware with modern software, predictive maintenance, and vertically integrated installation. The conversation explores the

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32:55

#147: Predictive AI for the Green Economy With Taza

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/02/10

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Mary Wilson, founder and CEO of Taza, about why sustainability has become an operational bottleneck for many organizations, and how it can instead become a strategic advantage. As ESG reporting requirements fragment globally and political pressure softens in the U.S., sustainability leaders are increasingly stuck in reactive compliance mode, overwhelmed by shifting regulations, data gaps, and reliance on consultants. Mary explains how

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37:07

#146: Fixing the Clean Energy Logjam with Daniel Dus

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/02/03

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Daniel Dus, Founder and CEO of Cleantech Industry Resources (CIR), to unpack the oftentimes quiet development work that determines whether clean energy projects ever reach construction. We explore CIR’s commoditized development-as-a-service (DaaS) model, which combines deep engineering expertise, advanced software, and AI-enabled workflows to bring projects to true bankability and construction readiness. The conversation spans

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35:27

#145: Wearable Tech to Monitor Cardiovascular Health...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/01/27

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we chat with Venk Varadan, CEO and co-founder of Nanowear, to discuss how wearable medical technology is redefining diagnostics, prevention, and clinical research. Venk explains how Nanowear’s FDA-approved textile-based nanosensors enable cardiometabolic assessments at home, capturing richer, more personalized data than traditional, episodic doctor visits. The conversation spans the limitations of today’s healthcare system, the role of AI and clean

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33:44

#144: The Quiet Shift Away from Investment in Oil and...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with longtime renewable energy journalist Mitchell Beer, founder and publisher of The Energy Mix, about the widening gap between political promises to supercharge fossil fuel production and the financial reality facing oil and gas companies today. We explore why fossil fuel companies, despite political pressure, can’t return to unchecked expansion, how global markets from China to Pakistan are rewriting the demand outlook for oil and gas,

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39:13

#143: Rethinking Home Energy Resilience with Pila Energy

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/01/13

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we talk with Cole Ashman, founder and CEO of Pila Energy, about a new class of home energy storage designed for the way people actually live today. While grids around the world face increasing strain from extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and rising electricity demand, from AI data centers to air conditioning, most households still lack affordable, accessible backup power. Pila aims to change that with a plug-in, room-by-room battery system

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34:11

#142: What’s in Store For Cleantech in 2026 with...

Earthlings 2.0 Podcast ·

2026/01/06

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Anthony DeOrsey, head of research at Cleantech Group, to break down the biggest forces shaping clean technology heading into 2026. Anthony explains why cleantech is better understood as a broad theme spanning energy, agriculture, materials, chemicals, transportation, and waste — and why some sectors are accelerating regardless of policy while others are feeling the impact of shifting U.S. incentives. We also discuss what we can expect

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181 results

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