PODCAST

Discern Earth

David Valerio

Conversations seeking to make sense of life on Earth. www.discern.earth

science nature

All Episodes

59:51

Candice Ammori on Community Building, Climate Tech,...

Discern Earth ·

2025/07/28

In this episode I speak with Candice Ammori, founder and CEO of Climate Vine, a professional networking organization for climate tech professionals. Candice brings a unique perspective as an Iraqi-American from the Chaldean Catholic community who has navigated data science, international development, and now climate tech community building. We discuss:* How her upbringing in a close-knit Chaldean Catholic community of 60+ first cousins in Metro Detroit shaped her approach to building communities in

66:28

Grant Mulligan on Absurdism, Wildlife Biology, and...

Discern Earth ·

2025/07/15

In this episode I speak with Grant Mulligan, a wildlife biologist by training who has worked across conservation finance, impact investing, and environmental progress. He currently writes the newsletter Progress Accumulation and is fellow at The Roots of Progress Institute. Grant brings a unique perspective as an atheist deeply committed to environmental stewardship, drawing on Camus's absurdism to find meaning in conservation work. We discuss:* How his atheist worldview, grounded in Camus's

63:08

Silas Mähner on Catholicism, Climate Tech Recruiting,...

Discern Earth ·

2025/07/01

In this episode I speak with Silas Mähner, founder of ErthTech Talent, a recruiting firm focused on placing talent in early-stage climate tech companies. He's also the co-host of the Clean Techies Podcast. Silas brings a unique perspective as a devout Catholic working in climate tech, combining his faith-driven values with entrepreneurial ambition. We discuss:* How his Catholic upbringing in rural Wisconsin shaped his worldview and approach to work as service to others.* His journey from insurance

62:19

Max Joshua on Space Science, Methane Monitoring, and...

Discern Earth ·

2025/06/10

In this episode I speak with Max Joshua, a commercial GTM specialist focused on applying satellite imaging technologies to climate problems. After we recorded our conversation, she joined the Earth Fire Alliance She brings a unique perspective from her journey through exoplanet research to Earth observation, combining technical expertise with a commitment to community building. We discuss:How her spiritual view of cosmic consciousness and interconnectedness drives her work in environmental

61:44

Heidi Steltzer on Earth Science, Mysticism, and Theology

Discern Earth ·

2025/05/27

In this episode I speak with Dr. Heidi Steltzer, an Earth scientist with a background in high mountain and Arctic ecology who is now pursuing theological studies. She offers a unique perspective on the intersection of scientific inquiry and spiritual experience, drawing from three decades of research in high-altitude and Arctic environments. We discuss:* How her mystical experiences in remote mountain and Arctic landscapes led to a deeper understanding of Earth as a living relationship rather than

73:58

Will Clayton on Christianity, Carbon Markets, and...

Discern Earth ·

2025/05/01

In this episode I speak with Will Clayton, CEO of Sky Harvest, a forest carbon project developer that incentivizes small landowners to avoid harvesting their trees for climate impact. We discuss:* How his Christian upbringing shapes his current work in environmental markets.* How growing up in North Carolina's forests through scouting and hiking fostered his deep connection to nature.* His experience at BCG and how it shaped his approach to problem-solving in the environmental space.* Why the carbon

67:12

Jason Ethier on Energy Tech Startups, Absurdism, and...

Discern Earth ·

2025/04/03

In this episode I speak with Jason Ethier, Founding Partner of the Energy Tech Nexus. He offers a thoughtful perspective on entrepreneurship in the energy technology space, drawing on his background in engineering and his philosophical approach to business building. We discuss:* How his spiritual journey through absurdism and Buddhism shapes his view that focusing on process rather than outcomes leads to greater fulfillment in entrepreneurship.* Why the Houston ecosystem offers unique advantages for

58:30

Sydney Rodman on Orthodox Judaism, Invasive Species,...

Discern Earth ·

2025/03/13

In this episode I speak with Sydney Rodman, founder of Green Revival. She offers a refreshing perspective on nature and climate action rooted in Orthodox Judaism, challenging the doom-focused environmental movement with a life-affirming approach to solving ecological problems. We discuss:* How her journey to Orthodox Judaism shaped her ecological worldview and approach to business.* The concept of "sourcing" that connects her faith, scientific background, and company mission.* Why invasive species

64:17

Kaleo Fernandez on Hawai'i, Climate Tech, and...

Discern Earth ·

2025/02/20

In this episode, I speak with my good friend, Kaleo Fernandez. He currently works as a Business Development Manager at ProService Hawai’i. We previously worked together at Renoster. We discuss:* How growing up in the Hawaiian diaspora shaped his approach to bridging indigenous wisdom with modern climate solutions.* Why the Polynesian Voyaging Society's message that "Earth is our canoe" resonates deeply with climate action.* How his experience working on corporate sustainability at Watershed revealed

63:04

James FitzGerald on Rewilding, Climate Adaptation,...

Discern Earth ·

2024/12/10

In this episode I speak with my good friend, James Fitzgerald. He works as the Research & Policy Manager for BCarbon, a carbon credit registry focused on nature-based solutions. We used to work there together.(00:00) Introduction(00:32) Spirituality and Early Life(08:50) Early Connection with Nature(13:49) Climate Change and Regional Perspectives(16:07) Climate Adaptation and Mitigation(23:23) Language and Nature(33:43) Rewilding(44:30) Megafauna and Species Movement(50:15) Cosmology and Deep

53:47

David LaGreca on Mountaineering and Verification

Discern Earth ·

2024/11/21

In this episode of Discern Earth, I speak with my friend David LaGreca, a carbon markets expert at EcoEngineers, about his journey from dirtbag mountaineer living out of a tent to becoming a leading validator/verifier in the voluntary and compliance carbon markets, how his deep connection to nature through mountaineering shaped his moral principles, his 24 years of being a vegan, how he approaches developing rigorous standards for crediting emerging carbon dioxide removal pathways, and his thoughts

55:38

Sam Rosolina on Southern Appalachia and Environmental...

Discern Earth ·

2024/11/07

In this episode of Discern Earth, I speak with my friend and environmental chemist, Sam Rosolina, about how his faith evolved to the point of finding a church that embraces creation care, his deep love of Southern Appalachia, how witnessing the devastating Kingston coal ash spill catalyzed his entry into environmental chemistry, his work using isotopes to identify how microbes remediate hazardous waste sites, the parallels between microbial and human communities, and finding stability in a career of

49:58

Brandon Craft on the Humanities and Prescribed Fire

Discern Earth ·

2024/10/17

In this episode of Discern Earth, I speak with my good friend and forest technologist, Brandon Craft, about how he got into forestry after studying biblical theology, his deep connection to the coastal plain of Georgia, how managing fire is instinctual to him, the value of a liberal arts education in applied Earth science, his concept of a home ecosystem, and perceiving the sublime in forest fires, hurricanes, and deserts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other

62:21

Forests and Social Justice with Elias Ayrey

Discern Earth ·

2024/10/02

In this episode of Discern Earth, I speak with my good friend and forest carbon scientist, Elias Ayrey, about how scientific values shape his ethics, his fascination with paleobotany, how examining forests using remote sensing colors his view of the natural world, why carbon markets suck, whether voluntary action can tangibly mitigate climate change, and how he ended up starting his YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to

72:25

Christianity and Climate with Ross Kenyon

Discern Earth ·

2024/09/19

In this episode of Discern Earth I speak with my good friend and CDR enthusiast, Ross Kenyon, about Leo Tolstoy’s religious philosophy, how appreciating the concept of sin would help the climate community be more effective, whether Christianity caused the ecological crisis we faced today, the future of geopolitics under radical climate change scenarios, and how to be a family man while also trying to save the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers

61:28

Philosophy, Gardening, and Aliens with Roman Gonzalez

Discern Earth ·

2024/08/28

In this episode of Discern Earth I speak with my good friend and product wizard, Roman Gonzalez, about his materialist ecological spirituality, what is was like growing up in Corpus Christi, how existentialist philosophy informs his personal metaphysics, his experience founding a home gardening startup, his passion for supporting underrepresented startup founders, and his recent obsession with alien cosmology. This was a fun one! You can check out the full transcript of the episode here.[02:10]

27:14

Energy Stewardship with Caleb Meredith

Discern Earth ·

2024/08/13

In this episode of Discern Earth, I speak with my good friend and materials scientist Caleb Meredith about his concept of energy stewardship. We explore his fascination for the micro-scale properties of materials, how new materials are born commercially, whether there is a distinction between “natural” and “unnatural” materials, the viability of a circular material economy, and the mystical nature of complexity science. The audio of this episode is choppy unfortunately, but the conversation is high

49:25

What is Nature? with Bryan Kam

Discern Earth ·

2024/07/30

In this episode of Discern Earth, I speak with my good friend and philosopher Bryan Kam about what nature is. We discuss the etymology of nature and related terms, whether there is a hard distinction between man and nature, hypostatization and reification, the Christian roots of theories about the inherent value of nature, and the role of embodied experience in facilitating ecological regeneration. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to

17:34

My Natural History (Monologue)

Discern Earth ·

2024/07/16

In this episode of Discern Earth, I describe my childhood fascination with nature, reflect on how I ended up working in nature and climate, and explain my spiritual motivations for striving to regenerate the Earth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discern.earth

1:18

Discern Earth

Discern Earth ·

2024/06/29

An introduction. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discern.earth

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