Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#163: Can Renewable Energy Replace Combustion? This Company Thinks It Can With FeX Energy Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Hayden Smith, CEO of FeX Energy, about the growing challenge of decarbonizing industrial heat and why long-duration energy storage may become essential to the future of clean manufacturing and grid reliability. While renewable electricity adoption continues to grow, many industrial sectors still rely on fossil fuel combustion to generate the high-temperature heat needed for cement, steel, chemicals, plastics, mining, and food processing. Hayden explains how FeX Energy is developing an iron-based thermal energy storage system capable of storing renewable electricity for long durations and releasing it later as high-temperature industrial heat approaching 900°C. The conversation explores how thermal energy storage could help stabilize renewable-heavy grids, reduce dependence on natural gas, support industrial electrification, and help industries decarbonize without requiring massive transmission infrastructure upgrades.

Key Points:

Industrial heat remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize –Heavy industry still depends heavily on fossil fuel combustion for high-temperature manufacturing processes.
FeX Energy uses iron as a long-duration thermal battery – The company’s Iron Arc Reactor stores renewable electricity and releases it later as high-temperature industrial heat.
Long-duration energy storage could improve grid flexibility and industrial electrification – Thermal storage systems may help manage renewable intermittency, reduce grid strain, and lower infrastructure upgrade costs.

Hayden Smith, CEO of FeX Energy, LinkedIn

Luis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at Technica Communications

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

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#162: Whales, Wolves, and Wild Comebacks: The Power of Rewilding with Alister Scott May 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Alister Scott, Executive Director of the Global Rewilding Alliance, about the growing global rewilding movement and how ecosystem restoration could play a major role in addressing biodiversity loss, climate resilience, flooding, wildfire risk, and human well-being. The conversation explores what rewilding actually means: restoring ecosystems by reducing destructive human activity, reconnecting habitats through wildlife corridors, and reintroducing keystone species like wolves, beavers, bison, jaguars, and whales that help ecosystems regulate themselves naturally.

Links to other topics discussed in the interview:

The list of the Global Rewilding Alliance’s partner projects on every continent can be found here
Ben Goldfarb’s book, Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, by Ben Goldfarb
Vanuatu’s Protected Area Status with the Protected Planet Initiative's protected area
Videos that showcase the rewilding spirit
Principles of rewilding
Imagining a rewilded Earth
A rewilded language
Wild heroes:
Hippos
Otters
Beavers

Key Points:

Rewilding focuses on restoring ecosystem function – Rather than tightly controlling landscapes, rewilding creates the conditions for nature to recover and self-regulate over time.
Nature recovery creates economic opportunities – Protected ecosystems can support local economies through tourism, sustainable land management, and long-term climate resilience.
Rewilding can happen anywhere – From marine protected areas to urban gardens and backyard pollinator habitats, biodiversity recovery can begin at every scale.

Alister Scott, Executive Director of the Global Rewilding Alliance, LinkedIn

Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, and CEO of PRVIEW, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

Visit our website for more episodes!

We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!

Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.

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Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

#161: Dry, Pulverize, Sanitize: Turning Industrial Waste Into New Resources with ADAR Technologies May 19, 2026

Show notes

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 line, adoption follows. Instead of relying on policy or incentives, this approach turns waste into a profitability lever, unlocking new opportunities in resource recovery, circular economy systems, and industrial efficiency.

Key Points:

Waste streams can become revenue streams – ADAR focuses on high-moisture industrial waste, reducing disposal costs while creating new value from materials that were previously discarded.
Acoustic dehydration replaces thermal drying – Using shock waves instead of heat, the system removes water at a molecular level while preserving nutrients and reducing energy use.
Economics are driving adoption – Companies are engaging not for compliance, but to improve margins by turning waste management into a profit center.

Dan Kelly, CEO of ADAR Technologies, LinkedIn

Luis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at Technica Communications

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

Visit our website for more episodes!

We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!

Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.

Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:

Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

#160: Throwing Shade at the Heat Crisis with Passive Cooling With ThermoShade May 12, 2026

Show notes

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 energy-intensive systems, and how the technology is being piloted in urban transit, agriculture, and temporary off-grid shelters. The conversation explores the science behind radiative cooling, the realities of deploying climate tech in public infrastructure, and why resilience, not just mitigation, needs to be a bigger part of the climate conversation.

Key Points:

Extreme heat is a design problem as much as a climate problem – Urban heat islands, driven by materials like concrete and metal, disproportionately impact underserved communities and require rethinking how public spaces are built and shaded.
Passive cooling can reduce heat without adding strain to the grid – ThermoShade’s panels use radiative cooling and phase change materials to maintain lower surface temperatures, creating environments that can feel significantly cooler without relying on fans, misters, or air conditioning.
Deploying climate tech depends on working within existing systems – Rather than replacing infrastructure, ThermoShade is integrating into existing contracts and designs, such as retrofitting bus shelters through established partners.

Emily Dinino, CEO and Founder of ThermoShade, LinkedIn

Luis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at Technica Communications

#159: Combining Robotics and Mass Timber For Modular Urban Buildings with Intelligent City May 05, 2026

Show notes

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 labor, the benefits and challenges of mass timber as a building material, and why the housing crisis is as much about systems, financing, and policy as it is about construction methods.

We also discussed this topic in different capacities in a few previous episodes. You can watch or listen here:

Key Points:

Prefabrication as a platform model – Standardized manufacturing processes paired with flexible design enable faster, more scalable housing delivery while maintaining architectural variation.
Automation increases output, not replaces labor – Robotics and software improve efficiency and productivity, helping address labor shortages rather than eliminating jobs.
The future points toward industrialized construction – Over the next 10-20 years, prefab systems and factory-based building could become a dominant model, supported by larger-scale manufacturers and standardized processes.

Oliver David (OD) Krieg, President of Intelligent City, LinkedIn
Sarah Malpeli, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Vice President, Client Services & Growth at Technica Communications, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

Visit our website for more episodes!

We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!

Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.

Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:

Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

#158: Community as Infrastructure: Rethinking How We Live Together with Alan Willett Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

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 consensus-based decision-making, including the challenges of conflict, the importance of communication and governance structures, and how communities navigate complex decisions like shared investments. Alan also reflects on resilience, emphasizing that strong social bonds are as critical as sustainability initiatives like local food systems and renewable energy.

Key Points:

Design drives interaction – Features like shared laundry, common meals, and pedestrian pathways create consistent opportunities for connection and make community engagement part of daily life.
Conflict is unavoidable, but structured – Consensus decision-making requires clear communication, shared values, and defined processes, with tools such as conflict-resolution teams and community training to help manage tensions.
Community builds resilience – Beyond sustainability practices like composting and solar, strong relationships and mutual support are seen as the foundation for long-term resilience.

Alan Willett, Co-founder of Exceptional Difference, Author of Leading the Unleadable: How to Manage Cynics, Divas, and Other Difficult People, and Lead With Speed, LinkedIn
Luis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at Technica Communications

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

Visit our website for more episodes!

We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!

Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.

Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:

Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

#157: Rethinking Home Climate Control with Quilt Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

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 energy savings.

Check out our foundational heat pump episode with Jetson: #148 - The Future of All-Electric Heat Pumps with Jetson

Key Points:

Efficiency improves when systems become intelligent, not just mechanical – Beyond strong baseline performance, Quilt layers in software-driven optimizations like occupancy detection and predictive heating to reduce energy use without sacrificing comfort.
Consumer adoption depends on better experiences, not just sustainability – People are more likely to upgrade when products feel like a lifestyle improvement, similar to how EVs gained traction through performance and convenience rather than environmental messaging alone.
Heat pumps are becoming a default, not an alternative – As costs improve and performance increases, the shift toward all-electric heating and cooling is becoming economically driven and increasingly inevitable.

Paul Lambert, CEO of Quilt, LinkedIn

Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, and CEO of PRVIEW, LinkedIn

#156: Ammonia: The Compound That Could Power a Cleaner Planet with Ammobia Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

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 maritime shipping fuel, its role as an energy carrier, and the technical breakthroughs enabling more efficient production. Karen explains how Ammobia is reengineering ammonia production to reduce cost, energy use, and emissions — a solution that also won them the top prize at Women in Cleantech & Sustainability’s Pitch Competition in 2025.

We also discussed this topic in different capacities in a few previous episodes. You can watch or listen here:

Key Points:

Ammonia sits at the center of both food and energy systems – More than half of global food production depends on ammonia-based fertilizers, and new use cases in shipping and energy could significantly expand its role in the global economy.
Lower pressure production could unlock decentralization – Ammobia’s approach reduces pressure requirements by up to 10x, improving efficiency and enabling smaller, modular plants that can be deployed closer to end users.
Energy trade could shift toward molecules rather than electrons – Countries with abundant renewable resources could export energy globally as ammonia, reshaping how energy is produced, transported, and consumed.

Karen Baert, CEO and co-founder of Ammobia, LinkedIn
Ammobia's job openings
Ammobia's LinkedIn

Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

Visit our website for more episodes!

We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!

Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.

Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:

Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

#155: How Sustainable Aviation Fuel is Taking Off with Universal Fuel Technologies Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

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 Unifuel’s Flexiforming technology, a chemical process that converts a wide range of feedstocks into drop-in fuels compatible with today’s aircraft. The conversation explores why feedstock flexibility matters, what it takes to qualify new aviation fuels under rigorous industry standards, and how emerging technologies could significantly lower SAF costs.

Key Points:

Aviation’s legacy infrastructure limits rapid change – Aircraft and fuel systems are built for decades of safe operation, meaning new fuels must closely mimic conventional jet fuel rather than requiring entirely new engines or infrastructure.
Flexibility in feedstocks can lower costs – Unifuel’s Flexiforming process can convert multiple feedstocks, including alcohols and chemical byproducts, allowing producers to shift toward whichever inputs are most affordable and available.
Decarbonization must work for existing industry players – Technologies that allow refineries to adapt existing equipment and remain profitable may accelerate the transition faster than approaches requiring a complete overhaul of infrastructure.

Alexei Beltyukov, CEO and co-founder of Universal Fuel Technologies, LinkedIn

Sarah Malpeli, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Account Director at Technica Communications, LinkedIn

#154: The Hidden Life of Wearable Technology with James Gilmore Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

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 blur the line between convenience and surveillance. The conversation looks at what these devices actually measure, why their outputs can be misleading, how shame and self-optimization can become built into the user experience, and why stronger public literacy, informed consent, and policy conversations are urgently needed as wearables become more embedded in daily life.

Key Points:

Wearables don’t measure reality, they interpret it – Devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches generate data through sensors and algorithms, meaning what users see as “steps” or “activity” is a constructed output, not a direct reflection of the body.
Convenience often masks surveillance – From fitness trackers to Disney’s MagicBand, wearable systems streamline experiences while simultaneously collecting detailed behavioral data that can be analyzed, modeled, and monetized.
Technical literacy is becoming essential for everyday life – Understanding even the basics of how wearables work helps users better interpret their data, question outputs, and make more informed decisions about consent and usage.

James Gilmore, Associate Professor of Media and Technology Studies in the Department of Communication at Clemson University, Author of Bringers of Order: Wearable Technologies and the Manufacturing of Everyday Life, LinkedIn
Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

Visit our website for more episodes!

We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!

Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website

Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.

Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:

Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

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