Darwin and others theorized that evolution was about the survival of the fittest. But when Peter Kropotkin followed up on Darwin’s research, he discovered the competition was only part of the story of evolution in nature. And Kropotkin argued that cooperation and collaboration among organisms also helps them evolve. So, why is Darwin’s narrative the dominant one? And how can an understanding of mutualism help us protect the ecosystems we depend on and find solutions to climate change? Kristin Oh...
Nov 01, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 28
When corn is harvested, the remaining corn stover either gets tilled into the soil or left on top. But what if we took a portion of that corn stover, converted it into carbon-rich bio-oil, and pumped it deep underground? Peter Reinhardt is Cofounder and CEO of Charm Industrial , a carbon removal company that is working on a fleet of mobile pyrolyzers that covert ag biomass into bio-oil and sequester it underground. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Peter joins Ross, Siobhan, and Asa ...
Oct 27, 2022•40 min
Lyn Stoler and Sonam Velani have coined the phrase Climate Industrialism to describe the optimistic, action-oriented response to climate change they already see happening in many communities around the world. Lyn and Sonam define Climate Industrialism as ‘a social and economic system built on the creation of climate technologies that yield human and environmental co-benefits.’ What does that mean, exactly? And how does Climate Industrialism create a virtuous cycle for companies building climate ...
Oct 25, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Does the carbon removal tech you’re developing have a shot at being cost-competitive in the real world? How might you reduce the cost of a given CDR technology? And how do you convince government funders or investors that your carbon removal idea is viable? A techno-economic assessment or TEA answers these questions. So, what is involved in conducting a techno-economic assessment? And how might it help a startup improve the economic performance of its climate tech and maximize its impact? Grant ...
Oct 21, 2022•47 min
The easier it is to participate in a sustainability program like Nori, the less motivation it requires for farmers to enroll. But the current lack of digitization in the ag space makes it challenging for farmers to get paid for carbon removal. So, is there an easy way to track agricultural data and compensate farmers for regenerative practices? Dane Braun is Vice President of Product at Bushel , an ag software company that is digitizing the infrastructure for grain. On this episode of Reversing ...
Oct 18, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 26
A lot of good comes from travel. It gives us a chance to disconnect and recharge. It exposes us to new things and helps us connect with nature and other people. Plus, we contribute to the local economies in the places we visit. But travel is not always good for planet. And the climate-conscious among us often feel guilty about the emissions we create when we get on a plane or fill up at the pump for a road trip. So, what can we do to make travel more environmentally friendly? Christina Beckmann ...
Oct 14, 2022•48 min
Local governments are surprisingly powerful levers for carbon removal. While large national governments can be slow and unwieldy, cities and counties can sometimes be much more nimble. They can get carbon removal projects off the ground quickly and share what they learn with other local governments. So, which municipalities are taking the lead in the CDR space? And how do they integrate carbon removal in the local government landscape? Susie Strife is the Boulder County Director of Sustainabilit...
Oct 07, 2022•49 min
There are few ways for individuals to participate in carbon removal. Typically, carbon removal is something that someone else does that you pay for. But what if there was a way for you to practice carbon removal in your own backyard with biochar? Connor Lascelles and Lottie Hawkins are the Cofounders of Earthly Biochar , a company that manufactures consumer-accessible biochar kilns. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Connor and Lottie join Ross and cohost Jada Dormaier, Supply Account...
Oct 04, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 25
We live in a culture that glamorizes grit and derides giving up. But in the world of climate startups, we can’t afford to spend time on projects that aren’t working. So, how do you know when to quit? Decision Strategist Annie Duke is a retired professional poker player and World Series of Poker bracelet holder. She is also the author of several books, including Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away . On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Annie joins Ross to explain how to apply de...
Sep 27, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Communicating the science behind climate change is a challenge. But when you present these concepts in an artistic way and make the data beautiful, it’s more engaging and easier to understand. And more likely to inspire climate action. Nicole Kelner is Artist-in-Residence at My Climate Journey , where she communicates the complex challenges of climate change in a beautiful, accessible way. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Nicole joins Ross, Siobhan, and Asa to explore why people are...
Sep 23, 2022•42 min
Nori lives at the intersection of climate and crypto, attempting to build a global commodities market for carbon removal on the blockchain. And while we’ve discussed carbon removal at length on the podcast, we’ve spent less time exploring how one might use crypto to determine a reference price for carbon. So, what does Nori look like under the hood? How can we use the blockchain as a tool to get the world’s atmospheric carbon balance back to 300 parts per million? Chris Burniske is Partner at Pl...
Sep 20, 2022•46 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Reforestation (and afforestation) projects can take carbon out of the atmosphere. And yet, in our current system, sometimes only the largest, most well-connected projects can afford the verification process. But what if there was a way to maintain the integrity of the MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) process, while making it accessible to anyone who wants to plant trees? Jeremy Epstein is Head of Growth at Open Forest Protocol , a Web3 platform working to transparently measure, ver...
Sep 16, 2022•48 min
As a nascent industry, carbon dioxide removal is often misunderstood by the general public. And that makes CDR humor very niche. Maybe only 5% of people will understand it, but those who do really, really appreciate it. Just go to a Halloween party dressed as the Climeworks stock photo, and you’ll see what we mean. Jack Andreasen serves as Manager of Carbon Management in US Policy and Advocacy at Breakthrough Energy , an organization committed to scaling the technologies we need to reach net-zer...
Sep 09, 2022•41 min
Do you wish your career was a little more gratifying? That it gave you the chance to work on something you really care about? You don't need a science or engineering background to pursue a career in climate solutions. In fact, a variety of skill sets translate to climate work. So, how do you get into the carbon removal space? Where can you go for resources and networking opportunities? On this edition of the Reversing Climate Change CDR Happy Hour, Nori Meme Lab colleagues Asa Kamer and Siobhan ...
Sep 02, 2022•45 min
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law. Whatever you might think about, this legislation is certainly the biggest step forward in climate action in our lifetimes. But that’s not the only thing we have to talk about in the Nori Carbon Removal Meme Lab this week! On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Ross sits down with fellow memeologists, Siobhan Montoya Lavender and Asa Kamer, to revel in having our Lion King Meme featured on Zeke Hausfather’s Twitter respon...
Aug 26, 2022•24 min
For climate startups to find customers, attract talent, and secure funding, they need to communicate their value effectively. But how do you deliver content that explains complex ideas in an accessible way? How do you synthesize information to appeal to a variety of audiences? Nick Van Osdol is a writer on the Nori team, the creator of the Keep Cool newsletter , and host of The Keep Cool Show , a podcast that gives promising climate tech startups an opportunity to pitch investors. On this episod...
Aug 23, 2022•49 min•Season 3Ep. 22
How do you create original content in the carbon removal space? In its podcast content, the Nori creative team looks for unique voices, encouraging guests on Reversing Climate Change and Carbon Removal Newsroom to explore nuance. As for their carbon removal memes , the writers are currently mining the movies they watch with their kids and popular online satirical humor (think The Onion and Reductress ) for ideas. On this bonus episode of Reversing Climate Change , Ross sits down with his colleag...
Aug 19, 2022•42 min
Direct air capture (DAC) is growing in popularity around the world, and it is an important tool for reducing CO2 in the atmosphere. But 30% of all the carbon dioxide we’ve emitted to date is stored in the ocean. So, what can we do to sequester CO2 from ocean water? Is the technology similar to that of direct air capture? How does the process work? Steve Oldham is former CEO of DAC pioneer Carbon Engineering and current CEO of Captura , a startup working to capture carbon dioxide from our oceans ...
Aug 16, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Most carbon removal content is highly technical and very serious. But it doesn’t have to be. So, what would it look like to produce carbon removal content that is a little looser? A little less informational? A little more appealing to a lay audience? And a little more fun? On this bonus episode of Reversing Climate Change , Ross sits down with fellow memeologist and Thanks a Ton Cofounder Siobhan Montoya Lavender to have an informal conversation that infuses some fun in the carbon removal commu...
Aug 12, 2022•36 min
The direct air capture industry is attempting to recreate the oil and gas sector in reverse—at a highly accelerated rate. And those of us in the space have a tremendous opportunity to build something truly impactful. But how do we educate the general public around the carbon removal technologies at our disposal? Can a well-crafted meme help people understand the benefits of direct air capture? Jason Hochman is Cofounder and Senior Director of the recently launched Direct Air Capture Coalition , ...
Aug 09, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 20
As a consumer who cares about climate change, you may be shopping for organic, local, or even regenerative food products. But does your support of sustainable agriculture extend to wine? How does a winemaker earn the certified sustainable distinction? And what does sustainable viticulture look like? Steve Lohr is President and CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines , a winemaking operation with vineyards in Monterey County, Paso Robles, and Napa Valley, California. J. Lohr is dedicated to sustainabi...
Aug 02, 2022•59 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Here at Nori, we take climate change very seriously. But we don’t want to take ourselves too seriously. So, we developed the Memelab as a way to engage with other carbon removal enthusiasts and introduce a new audience the idea of removing CO2 from the atmosphere—with humor. Asa Kamer is Producer of the Carbon Removal Newsroom podcast. Siobhan Montoya Lavendar is Cofounder at Thanks a Ton . And they are both part of the writing team for Carbon Removal Memes for Climate Restorative Teens . On thi...
Jul 26, 2022•51 min•Season 3Ep. 18
"We humans are just specks of dust on a slightly bigger speck of dust in the immeasurable vastness of space. We can't cause stars to explode, we don't set the wheels of galaxies spinning, and it is not we who span the vault of heaven above us. But we can marvel at the universe and ask questions about it. We can have faith, hope, and love in this world-and this makes us stardust of a very special kind." —Dr. Heino Falcke We tend to think that science and spirituality are mutually exclusive. But f...
Jun 14, 2022•52 min•Season 3Ep. 17
The Green Revolution in the second half of the 20th century was seen as an important solution to the problem of malnutrition in the developing world at the time. And while it may have succeeded in staving off hunger, the industrialization of agriculture created a whole new set of problems, chief among them a lack of diversity in our food system. Why does this matter? What is the food monoculture costing us? And what can we do to bring back some of the diverse foodways we’ve lost along the way? D...
Jun 07, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Many of the artists and creators who mint nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are concerned about the environmental impact of the blockchain. But what if they could pair carbon removal with any given NFT to make it carbon-negative? Alexander Salnikov is Cofounder and Chief Strategy Officer at Rarible : a multichain, community-centric NFT marketplace. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Alexander joins Ross and cohost Alexsandra Guerra, Nori’s Director of Corporate Development, to discuss the par...
May 24, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Mónica Guzmán has some difficult conversations with her parents. She’s a liberal Democrat, while her mom and dad voted enthusiastically for Trump both times. So, how does she bridge the political divide and maintain a loving relationship with her parents, despite their differences of opinion? And what can you and I do to develop intellectual curiosity and see difficult issues from different points of view? Mónica is the Digital Director at Braver Angels , the nation’s largest nonprofit working t...
May 17, 2022•39 min•Season 3Ep. 14
A long-term study of climate and conflict determined that in places with large populations and a history of political exclusion of ethnic groups, nearly one-third of the wars initiated in the last 40 years were preceded by a climate disaster. So, what is the connection between climate emergencies and armed conflict? Why do climate disasters escalate political disputes? And what can we do about it? Scott Carney is an investigative journalist, anthropologist, and New York Times bestselling author....
May 10, 2022•48 min•Season 3Ep. 13
What is the gap between what farmers know now and what they need to know to farm more regeneratively? How do we close that gap? What is the best way to advocate for the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices? Jesse Smith is the Director of Land Stewardship at White Buffalo Land Trust , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to practicing, promoting and perfecting the principles and practices of regenerative ag. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change , Jesse joins Ross to explain how WBLT f...
May 03, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 13
The Rhône Valley of France is famous for its Syrah, Grenache, and Viognier grapes (among others), while Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cab Franc (et al!) are grown in Bordeaux. And these wine grapes have thrived in their respective regions for centuries. But what happens when rising temperatures change the kinds of grapes that can be grown in a particular area? How is the climate crisis changing the way wine is produced? And what can we do as consumers to promote sustainability among winemakers...
Apr 12, 2022•59 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Carbon Removal Newsroom , the sister podcast to Reversing Climate Change , was born out of a desire to explore current events in the carbon removal space from a policy perspective. But since the show debuted in early 2019, its production team has evolved and so has our approach to discussing the latest in climate news. Radhika Moolgavkar is Head of Supply and Methodology at Nori and Host of Carbon Removal Newsroom , and Asa Kamer serves as Producer of CRN . On this episode of Reversing Climate C...
Apr 05, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 9
