The Earthshot Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Susan Cook-Patton - The Science Behind Carbon Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

“What keeps me up at night is that people would think that we can use natural climate solutions like reforestation instead of fossil fuel reductions, because it’s not an either/or, it’s a both/and.” -Susan Cook-Patton

Susan Cook-Patton, a senior scientist at the Nature Conservancy, joins hosts Patrick Leung and Armando Davila for a deep dive into the science behind carbon and nature-based climate solutions. Susan gives us an insider’s look into the world of scientific data, sharing practical insights and revealing the gaps that exist in climate research. She shares that recent studies paint a dire picture of our future if we don’t act fast (within the next decade) to change our destructive course, and yet also shares her “stubborn optimism” that we will pull through. This delightful and deep conversation is both intelligent and love-filled and is a must-listen for anyone interested in science, nature, and sustainability.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Susan’s work as a carbon accountant
Reforestation as a powerful natural climate solution
The importance of local engagement in reforestation projects
Why good data is critical for addressing the climate crisis
Susan’s journey of becoming a climate scientist
How planting native trees supports the health of the entire ecosystem
The secret world of caterpillars
The abundance of information that’s already available to answer research questions
Why natural carbon solutions are not enough: It’s critically important to reduce carbon emissions as well!
Why no one single solution holds the answer
The ability of forests to rehabilitate themselves
Why mixed timber plantations are much better than monoculture plantations
Why we need more women in scientific professions
How we can improve knowledge sharing and the importance of open source data
Why more up-to-date information is needed in the scientific community
Biodiversity loss and how science can help
The importance of using conscious language when speaking about nature
Susan’s “stubborn optimism” for a better future and how she cultivates and shares it with others

RELEVANT LINKS:

Earthshot Labs: www.earthshot.eco

The Nature Conservancy: www.nature.org

Susan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-cook-patton-ph-d-3904a448

Intro & Outro Music by Little Whale: https://littlewhale.bandcamp.com

Corrina Gould - Rematriation: A Guide to Decolonization Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

“There is an abundance on this Earth and She was created with this idea of taking care of everything here. We're the ones that turned our backs to her and we have to figure out a way to get back and quickly.” - Corrina Gould

Corrina Gould, chair and spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan, joins hosts Patrick Leung and Armando Davila in this episode for a deep conversation about rematriation and decolonization. Corrina begins by grounding us in the history of the Indigenous peoples of the so called Bay Area and then shares her inspiring journey of becoming an activist and leader in her community. Corrina’s grandmotherly embrace holds listeners with love as she takes us into the somber caverns of Indigenous genocide, climate crisis, and the violence our society faces today, while she similtenously paints a beautiful vision of what the future can be and lays out the work that is necessary to make it so.

IN THIS EPISODE:

A brief overview and history of Corrina’s people (the Lisjan), their territory (Huchiun), and their language (Chochenyo)
The abundance and beauty in the Bay Area as it was 200 years ago, when it was a place where people were never hungry or homeless, and the Lisjan songs of gratitude that have survived from that time
The dark history of the mission system that came and enslaved the Lisjan people and forced assimilation, and the US laws that made it illegal to be native and encouraged the killing of native peoples
How learning about this horrific history inspired Corrina to preserve and protect her culture and unerase her people
What white paper genocide is and how it continues to happen today
How Corrina and her community began leading shell mound walks to raise awareness about these sacred burial sites and to pray for their ancestors
The Sogorea Te’ Land Trust that Corrina helped established to facilitate the return of land to Indigenous people
How non-native peoples can support and participate in rematriation
The importance of learning the history and caring for the land where you live
What rematriation really means
How to approach land restoration projects with Indigenous people at the table as full partners
The importance of giving the land and waters rights
The lessons of Covid through an indigenous perspective
How the violence plaguing our society today stems back to heteopatriarchy and white supremacy making people feel like they’re not enough
The importance of coming of age ceremonies and providing our young people with connection to their humanity and to the Earth

RELEVANT LINKS:

Earthshot Labs: www.earthshot.eco

Sogorea Te’ Land Trust: https://sogoreate-landtrust.org

Songs by Kadoka: https://kadoka.bandcamp.com

Intro & Outro Music by Little Whale: https://littlewhale.bandcamp.com

Maryanna Saenko - Conscious Capitalism as a Bridge Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

“We are consciousness manifest, we are the planet watching itself, we are the universe watching itself, we are paying attention, we are stewards. We have the capacity to tip the scales so we really have to pay attention to which direction we’re tipping them.” -Maryanna Saenko

Maryanna Saenko joins hosts Troy Carter and Patrick Leung to discuss capitalism’s role in transitioning to a sustainable way of life upon our planet. As an early-stage venture capitalist, Maryanna shares her perspective on how investing in technology can help build a bridge from the structures that currently exist to the structures that we want to see in the world. The conversation also dives into Maryanna’s Ukrainian roots, the war in Ukraine, humanity’s inherent goodness, and how sometimes small actions can have a big impact.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Maryanna’s Ukrainian roots and her perspective on the war in Ukraine
Capitalism’s role in creating positive change in the world
Technology’s role in addressing the climate crisis and supporting nature
The dichotomy of the human condition and why Maryanna disagrees that we are simply a parasitic force on our planet
How to overcome the feeling of helplessness about our planetary situation and find agency to enact change
How Maryanna saved the life of her Grandmother in Ukraine with the help of community
How doing little things to help locally can have a big impact
Maryanna’s journey of becoming a conscious venture capitalist
How to build a bridge from the structures that already exist in the world to the structures we want to see in the world
How Maryanna decides what projects to invest in
The importance of partnership

RELEVANT LINKS:

Earthshot Labs: www.earthshot.eco

Maryanna’s Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/maryannasaenko

Future Ventures: https://future.ventures

Intro & Outro Music by Little Whale: https://littlewhale.bandcamp.com

Oliver Miltenberger - Carbon Markets Demystified Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

“These (carbon) marketplaces and standards and operators, they're really opportunities for an innovation sandbox where we're saying, ‘Okay, what's the tech that we need to build? What are the frameworks that we need to build? What sort of systems do we need in place between public and private interests? Between spot markets and futures? How do they relate to other financial systems that we have?’ It's an opportunity to finally start to say ‘How do we fix these problems? What do we need to change? Who else needs to be at the table? And how do we raise all boats with the tide?’” -Oliver Miltenberger

Oliver Miltenberger joins hosts Patrick Leung and Armando Davila to demystify carbon markets and to share his insider’s view of the exciting threshold that the evolution of carbon markets has currently arrived at. Oliver breaks down the complexity of the past, present, and future of the markets and then takes listeners beneath the surface into deeper issues that the market can be a vehicle for addressing. This illuminating conversation is a perfect mix of mind and heart that will leave you feeling informed and inspired.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Oliver’s journey from conservation to carbon markets and how he is working to push the envelope and evolve carbon markets as we know them
The role of money and politics in conservation (or lack thereof) and how that opened Oliver’s eyes to the potential of carbon markets
How the carbon market is like the wild west and like an “innovation sandbox”
The carbon market’s role as a pathway to a broader goal
The past limitations of the carbon market and how it has evolved
The crucial role that corporations and other mega-sources of finance play in funding climate solutions and the role that carbon markets play in making this investment possible
Important discussions that need to be had around carbon markets and climate change adaptation
How Covid derailed some climate change conversations and efforts
Why it’s important for carbon projects to prioritize societal well-being over carbon
Carbon pricing 101 and shifts that need to happen to raise the price of carbon
Carbon sequestration permanence and how it is difficult to predict it accurately
How carbon market claims may give investors a sense of having a license to pollute and how to address this challenge
The impact of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which allows for carbon trading between countries, and how it’s allowing more nature-based projects to exist
The importance of starting to bring disparate carbon markets with variable standards together to solve issues around trust, quality, and transparency
The cultural shift that need to happen in order for systemic change to be possible

RELEVANT LINKS:

Earthshot Labs: www.earthshot.eco

Oliver’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-miltenberger/

Songs by Nick Barbachano: https://nickbarbachanomusic.bandcamp.com/

Intro & Outro Music by Little Whale: https://littlewhale.bandcamp.com

Jyoti Ma - Guided by Nature and Prophecy Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

“We’re reminded that we must sit in the stillness of who we are, that we must take the time to deeply listen to that instruction that will keep us aligned with Mother Earth, for it is through the current of unification and that alignment that we will truly go through the keyhole and land in the new dawn, helping to birth something quite remarkable for many generations to come.” -Jyoti Ma

Jyoti Ma joins host Troy Carter for a fascinating conversation centered around how nature, indigenous wisdom, and prophecy can be powerful guides during this time of great upheaval. Jyoti speaks about our humanity’s climate emergency with grandmotherly softness and grace and shares how she is working with both indigenous communities and with entrepreneurs to restore ecosystems and create a healthy planet for future generations. She eloquently weaves the sacred and the pragmatic together, illuminating a grounded path to the fulfillment of the great prophecies that speak of a new dawn on the horizon.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Connecting to nature and the sacredness of life through prayer
The prophecies of these times we are living through
Jyoti’s message to those working in climate tech & the carbon market
The importance of creating relations and considering future generations
Why land restoration is at the core of the change that is needed on our planet
Earth’s sixth extinction & the Kali Yuga
How the Fountain is helping to restore sacred territories through original protocols and land regeneration
Moving from a world of separation into a world of unity
How evolution makes the truth visible
The importance of the feminine during this time of Great Awakening
Jyoti’s work with entrepreneurs that helps them connect to nature’s way
Communing with sacred plants and how they’ve guided Jyoti Ma and her community over the past 35 years
Jyoti’s work with the Kogi tribe
How companies fall into greenwashing

RELEVANT LINKS:

Earthshot Labs: www.earthshot.eco

The Fountain: https://thefountain.earth

Center for Sacred Studies: https://www.centerforsacredstudies.org

Songs by Ayla Schafer: https://www.aylaschafer.co.uk

Intro & Outro Music by Little Whale: https://littlewhale.bandcamp.com

John D. Liu - Functional Ecosystems: The Basis of a New Economy Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

“We reach that point where we understand ‘Okay, we're in symbiotic relationship with natural earth systems. We're not protected by the GDP. We're not protected by chemical fertilizers or genetically modified organisms. We're protected by living systems. We are part of living systems that have existed over billions of years; they don't belong to anybody; they belong to everybody. We are part of the system.’” - John D. Liu

John D. Liu joins hosts Patrick Leung and Armando Davila in this wisdom-filled episode that explores humanity’s power to create a new economy that can lead the world back to balance by valuing the life support systems of our planet over all else. John draws on insights and teachings that he has gained from starting and participating in the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Movement and also dives into his current projects of using ecological forensics to strategically restore significant natural sites around the world. Throughout the conversation, John masterfully cuts through societal illusions, takes listeners deep into remembrance of what has true value, and then shows us a way forward by reintegrating the recognition of this value back into our world’s economy.

IN THIS EPISODE:

The ecosystem restoration camps movement and how it grew out of a dream John had as a child
The importance of staying light-hearted during these times of climate anxiety
The profound philosophical and scientific teachings that can be transmitted simply by connecting to the Earth at places like ecosystem restoration camps
How compassion can be strengthening in the face of pain
The dangers of giving anything more value than the life support systems of our planet
Ecological forensics and how to restore decimated sacred sites like the Sinai Peninsula
Why it’s important to focus on understanding and restoring coastal regions and estuaries
What makes us different from the civilizations that have risen and fallen before us
The utmost importance of collaboration and shifting from I to we
A way forward with functional ecosystems as the basis of human economy
How addressing societal inequality can lead to planetary restoration

RELEVANT LINKS:

Earthshot Labs: www.earthshot.eco

Ecosystem Restoration Camps: ecosystemrestorationcamps.org

Intro & Outro Music by Little Whale: https://littlewhale.bandcamp.com

Charles Eisenstein - Living a New Story of Humanity Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

“We have to come together and the only way to come together is ultimately through a shared story of what's real, what's sacred, what's important, and who we are.” -Charles Eisenstein

Charles Eisenstein joins host Troy Carter for a heart-centered and thought-provoking conversation about humanity’s relationship with nature and the role of storytelling in creating our reality. Charles drops many truth bombs as he speaks about the blindspots and limitations of carbon reduction efforts, computer modeling, and economics when it comes to addressing the climate crisis. He also takes listeners deep into the richness of being human as he speaks of joy, grief, loss, love, and the immense beauty of life. This discussion is truly a journey that will leave you feeling empowered as a co-author of humanity’s emerging new story of a harmonious and reciprocal relationship with the Earth.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Charles’ inspiration for writing Climate: A New Story
How efforts to reduce carbon in the atmosphere can be harmful when carried out with the wrong intentions
The importance and meaning of recognizing the Earth as a living organism
The role of whales in creating a stable climate
The difficulty of capturing life and biodiversity fully with computer modeling and metrics
How humans have historically maintained the health and productivity of the land
Reciprocal and co-creative love for the Earth and the difficulty of translating this love into policy
The challenges to sustainability present in the economic realm
The power of storytelling to create a more beautiful future
The inseparability of philosophical and spiritual discussion and the discussion of sustainability
A sorrowful experience from Charles’ childhood that helped lead him to his current work
How injustices in the world that get under your skin are a sacred gift
Why each person is a tremendous servant to life no matter what circumstance they may be trapped in and how to help others access this knowing
The top four priorities for addressing the climate crisis
How grief, joy, beauty, and loss can guide you in knowing how to be of service during these times
Why you should never write anyone off
The vision of the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible

RELEVANT LINKS:

Earthshot Labs: www.earthshot.eco

Charles’ Website: charleseisenstein.org

Charles’ Books: charleseisenstein.org/books

Intro & Outro Music by Little Whale: https://littlewhale.bandcamp.com

Troy Carter, Patrick Leung, & Armando Davila - Introducing the Earthshot Podcast Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

“In some ways the Earthshot is a return home, it’s a return back to harmony, and back to being in synchrony and in fellowship with the rest of nature.” -Patrick Leung

In this first episode of the Earthshot Podcast, join hosts Troy, Patrick, and Armando as they introduce Earthshot and dive deep into the main themes and philosophies that will guide future episodes. They explore the roles of technology and finance in planetary restoration, how the carbon market can be a transitional tool towards a sustainable economy, the importance of honoring indigenous wisdom, and the big shifts in form and consciousness that we are going through as a humanity. Enjoy this deep yet playful conversation that sets the stage for many rich interviews in the coming episodes.

IN THIS EPISODE:

The purpose and philosophy of the Earthshot Podcast
The hosts’ journeys to Earthshot
How Earthshot changed Armando’s views on the carbon market
The crossroads that the carbon market is at and the potential for both positive and negative outcomes
What Earthshot is doing to create a positive trajectory for carbon markets
What planetary-scale regeneration is and why it’s been so hard to achieve
The role of organizations in supporting restoration
The importance of approaching restoration from a global perspective
Why a successful carbon market isn’t enough if corporations do not reduce emissions as well
Why the rising price of carbon will allow for more restoration projects to come to fruition
The importance of having fun at work.
Why culture is the most important thing for moving past this pivotal moment humanity is facing
How the Fountain is bridging indigenous wisdom and ceremony with economic and ecological revitalization and what Earthshot is partnering with them on
The importance of rematriation and how the carbon market can support the Landback movement
Integrating the sacred with the modern
Being explicit about weaving the sacred into Earthshot’s work
Shifting from competition and scarcity to cooperation and interconnection
Why humanity needs new stories
The long journey ahead of us as a humanity and why putting in hard work now can set us up so we don’t run into the same problems again
The importance of shifting our consciousness from “me” to “us” and working on behalf of the whole
Why capitalism is an objective failure
How humanity is wired to respond to imminent crises
The meaning of the name Earthshot