Best Vcmi Podcasts (2025)

1
Advancing the Circular Economy: A Conversation with Lauren Rodriguez of Closed Loop Partners 43:45

6d ago43:45

43:45

Lauren Rodriguez, who leads partnerships at Circular Services, a Closed Loop Partners company, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss building the infrastructure and investment models needed to scale the circular economy. Lauren explains how Closed Loop Partners supports the transition from a linear to a circular economy through capital management, inno…

1
Scaling Reuse with Vytal: A Circular Economy Conversation with CEO Fabian Barthel 46:49

20d ago46:49

46:49

Fabian Barthel, Co-Founder of Vytal, a circular economy packaging-as-a-service startup, joins host Mike Toffel to explore the innovation, behavioral science, and regulations shaping the market for reusable containers for take-out food and beverages. Fabian shares how Vytal is tackling packaging waste by building a reusable container system for rest…

1
Carbon Credit Ratings and Market Integrity: A Conversation on the Calyx Global Case 42:21

1M ago42:21

42:21

In this bonus episode of Climate Rising, we share an episode from Harvard Business School’s Cold Call podcast, featuring HBS professor Mike Toffel and Duncan van Bergen, Co-Founder of Calyx Global. The discussion focuses on Mike’s recent HBS case study, Calyx Global: Rating Carbon Credits, which explores how the company is helping improve transpare…

1
Investing in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Luke Leslie of Key Carbon 43:26

2M ago43:26

43:26

Luke Leslie, Co-Founder and CEO of Key Carbon, joins Climate Rising as part of our series on voluntary carbon markets. Luke has spent over 20 years in carbon markets and finance, working in investment banking, private equity, and structured finance. Luke explains how Key Carbon is financing high-integrity carbon projects and how new overlaps betwee…

1
Navigating Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Alexia Kelly of High Tide Foundation 58:17

2M ago58:17

58:17

Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative (CPMI) at theHigh Tide Foundation, joins host Mike Toffel for the fifth episode in our series on voluntarycarbon markets. Alexia has worked for nearly two decades atthe intersection of carbonmarkets, policy, and finance, with roles spanning government, private industry, and…

1
Enhancing Integrity Standards in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Amy Merrill of ICVCM 42:29

3M ago42:29

42:29

Amy Merrill, CEO of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) joins host Mike Toffel in this fourth episode of the Climate Rising series on voluntary carbon markets. Amy has extensive experience in carbon markets, including leading negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and advising on global carbon finance. Amy explai…

1
Strengthening Carbon Claims via the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI): A Conversation with Mark Kenber 54:30

3M ago54:30

54:30

This episode, the third in our series on Voluntary Carbon Markets, features Mark Kenber, Executive Director of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI). Mark has worked in carbon markets and climate finance for nearly three decades, with experience at organizations like WWF, The Climate Group, and Fundación Natura in Ecuador. Mark d…

1
The Potential and Challenges of the Voluntary Carbon Market 56:59

4M ago56:59

56:59

Our second episode on the voluntary carbon market is a bonus episode of a panel discussion recorded at Harvard Climate Action Week in 2024. Harvard Kennedy School Professor Joe Aldy moderates this discussion with Nat Keohane from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Donna Lee from Calyx Global, UC San Diego Professor David Victor, and Carol…

1
Building Integrity in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Jennifer Jenkins of Rubicon Carbon 47:18

4M ago47:18

47:18

Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Chief Science Officer at Rubicon Carbon, joins our host Mike to talk about the critical role of voluntary carbon markets in achieving net-zero goals. Dr. Jenkins shares insights on how Rubicon Carbon is advancing the integrity and scalability of carbon credit through tools like the Rubicon Carbon Integrity Framework (RCIF). Th…

1
Accelerating Battery Innovation with AI: A Conversation with Argonne’s Logan Ward 47:47

4M ago47:47

47:47

Logan Ward, Deputy Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss how AI is transforming the discovery process for new materials in grid-scale batteries. Logan explains Argonne’s research on improving energy storage solutions, why AI plays a critical role, and the partnerships between national labs and the industry. He …

1
Using AI and Satellite Data to Transform Agriculture: A Conversation with Alyssa Whitcraft 53:14

5M ago53:14

53:14

Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is a professor at University of Maryland and a leading expert in agricultural remote sensing and climate adaptation. Dr. Whitcraft discusses her journey from co-founding NASA Harvest, a global program addressing food security with satellite data, to leading NASA Acres, which focuses on U.S. agriculture. She explains how AI and …

1
Using AI to Fight Wildfires: How Dryad Networks is Scaling Climate Technology 45:35

5M ago45:35

45:35

Carsten Brinkschulte is the CEO of Dryad, a company that leverages AI to detect wildfires early and prevent catastrophic damage. Carsten shares his journey from a telecom entrepreneur to climate tech innovator, explaining how Dryad’s solar-powered sensors and mesh networks detect wildfires at their inception and transmit real-time alerts to their c…

1
Using AI to Optimize Energy Demand 53:24

6M ago53:24

53:24

In this episode, host Mike Toffel speaks with Pasi Miettinen, CEO of Sagewell, a company that uses AI to help utilities and their customers manage energy demand efficiently. Pasi explains how Sagewell’s technology helps reduce peak electricity usage, which in turn lowers energy costs and lessens climate impact. He also discusses how smart data anal…

1
A Preview of COP29: What Business Leaders Should Know with Outrage & Optimism Co-hosts 47:53

6M ago47:53

47:53

In this episode, host Mike Toffel sits down with Paul Dickinson and Tom Rivett-Carnac, co-hosts of the climate podcast Outrage & Optimism, to preview COP29, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. With their extensive experience in climate negotiations and industry collaboration, Paul and Tom share insights on how COP29 fits …

1
How Public Policy Can Drive Climate Innovation and Business Opportunities: A Conversation with USEPA’s David Cash 52:29

7M ago52:29

52:29

David Cash, the Regional Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for New England, shares his journey from environmental science to state and federal leadership roles. He highlights how the clean energy transition in the United States is being driven by public policy, community engagement, and new funding through the Bipartisan …

1
BCG Global Chair Rich Lesser: How Businesses Can be “Bold and Pragmatic” on Climate Change 44:50

7M ago44:50

44:50

Rich Lesser, Global Chair of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), shares how BCG is helping clients walk the walk with net-zero commitments, transition to sustainable practices, and how it is partnering with global organizations to amplify their impact. He also delves into the challenges businesses face in adapting to climate risks and the role of AI in …

1
Joel Makower @ Greenbiz 48:24

7M ago48:24

48:24

This is the fourth episode in our series on business and climate change in the media and entertainment industry, where we’re diving into the business of news and storytelling around climate change. Our prior episodes featured CNN, Netflix, and Sustainable Entertainment Alliance. In this episode, we are hosting Joel Makower, the co-founder and Chair…

1
Sam Read, Sustainable Entertainment Alliance 40:13

8M ago40:13

40:13

This episode is the third in our series on how the media and entertainment industries are integrating climate change into their storytelling and TV show and film production processes. This episode features Sam Read, Executive Director of the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, a consortium of major studios and streamers including Disney, Netflix, a…

1
Telling Climate Stories at Scale: Netflix's Strategy for Sustainability and Impact 43:13

8M ago43:13

43:13

In this episode of Climate Rising, we explore how Netflix, a global entertainment powerhouse, is leveraging its platform to tell compelling stories about climate change. Stewart, Netflix's first Sustainability Officer, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss the company’s strategic approach to sustainability, and the importance of embedding climate theme…

1
CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir: Media's Role in Shaping Climate Action 46:19

9M ago46:19

46:19

This episode is the first of our latest series on climate in media and entertainment, where we explore and understand the role of storytelling in shaping climate actions. Today we have Bill Weir, Chief Climate Correspondent at CNN who shares his expertise on how CNN integrates climate narratives into their news coverage, the power of storytelling, …

1
Drawdown Fund: Scaling the Impact of Climate Technology 51:01

9M ago51:01

51:01

Erik Snyder, Founder and CEO of Drawdown Fund discusses financing climate tech startups through growth equity. He describes how he started the Drawdown Fund with Paul Hawken, editor of the New York Times best-selling book on climate solutions called Drawdown, and the strategic choices that set their fund operations apart from others. He also descri…

1
MethaneSAT: The EDF Satellite Tracking Methane Emissions from Oil & Gas Operations 41:58

10M ago41:58

41:58

Fred Krupp, president of the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), describes EDF’s work to address climate change through scientific, economic, and legal analyses, working with governments and companies, and public and legal advocacy for stronger climate and other environmental practices and policies. Fred joined us to talk about MethaneSAT,…

1
Decarbonizing Fashionable Materials 14:31

10M ago14:31

14:31

Today’s episode focuses on some innovative alternative low-carbon natural materials being used in fashion. Bolt Threads CEO Dan Widmaier describes Mylo, a substitute for leather that’s derived from mushrooms, via the TED Climate podcast that we’re bringing here a bonus episode of Climate Rising. It’s a perfect extension of our two most recent Clima…

1
A Biotech Solution to Palm Oil Deforestation 51:11

11M ago51:11

51:11

Today’s episode is the fifth in our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Previously we talked about green concrete, green steel, regenerative agriculture, and lab-grown cotton. Today we’re discussing palm oil – a widely used product that’s also associated with cli…

1
How Lab - Grown Cotton can Decarbonize Textiles 43:30

11M ago43:30

43:30

Today’s episode is the fourth in our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Previously we talked about the technical products of green concrete and green steel, and agriculture through the lens of regenerative agriculture. Today we continue our focus on decarbonizin…

1
Regenerative Agriculture and “The Profiteers” with Cambridge Professor Chris Marquis 39:01

11M ago39:01

39:01

Today’s episode is the third in our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Previously we talked about green concrete and steel, and today we’re turning to agriculture. Chris Marquis, a professor at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School sheds light on reg…

1
H2 Green Steel: Decarbonizing Steel Production with Green Hydrogen 33:52

12M ago33:52

33:52

This episode is a part of our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Our prior episode explored green concrete, and today’s focuses on steel. Steel production primarily relies on coal and coke, and accounts for nearly 7% of global CO2 emissions. But new technologies…

1
Green Concrete: Decarbonizing Construction with Recycled Glass 29:00

1y ago29:00

29:00

The first of a series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries, this episode focuses on concrete. Concrete is one of the world’s most popular materials, and it accounts for nearly 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, most of which comes from cement– the glue that binds…

1
Helping Companies Become More Climate Resilient 38:03

1y ago38:03

38:03

In this episode in our adaptation series, Peter Hall, Managing Director at Resonance Impact Advisory, draws upon his experience in global engineering and professional services firms to share how consulting and advisory companies can help their clients assess their risks and take actions to become more resilient to climate change. He walks through s…

1
How Insurance Companies are Addressing Climate Risks 37:18

1y ago37:18

37:18

This episode in our adaptation series focuses climate change’s implications on the insurance industry. Claudine Blamey, Group Director of Sustainability at Aviva, describes how climate change evokes both transition risks and physical risks for insurance companies, and affects how insurance companies are assessing and pricing risk in their underwrit…

1
Building Climate - Resilient Cities and Infrastructure 45:43

1y ago45:43

45:43

This episode in our climate adaptation series features HBS Professor John Macomber. John discusses how companies and governments need to incorporate climate resilience as they develop and finance real estate and infrastructure to address the risks of flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, drought, and sea level rise. John describes “five R” options to a…

1
The Lightsmith Group’s Adaptation Investment Strategy 1:03:12

1y ago1:03:12

1:03:12

This episode continues our series on adaptation, and features Jay Koh who co-founded the Lightsmith Group, the first growth private equity firm focused on climate adaptation. Jay discusses the firm’s investment strategy, the sectors his firm invests in and their investment criteria process. He also shares thoughts on the role of public policy and o…

1
Visualizing our Changing Climate with Probable Futures 57:22

1y ago57:22

57:22

In this first episode of our series on adaptation, host Mike Toffel sits down with Spencer Glendon and Alison Smart of Probable Futures. They discuss how Probable Futures tools are educating decision makers to better understand how their organizations will experience climate change, and how adaptation and resilience requires a paradigm shift in pla…

1
Raízen’s Decarbonization Strategy 29:03

1y ago29:03

29:03

The bonus episode of the Climate Rising features an episode of HBR’s Cold Call podcast featuring a discussion on ethanol, a biofuel with a complex history and an uncertain future. Host Brian Kenny is joined by Professor Gunnar Trumbull and Paula Kovarsky from Raízen. As Brazil's top producer of sugar and ethanol and the world's premier ethanol trad…

1
Decarbonizing Industrial Processes with Material Science 43:33

1+ y ago43:33

43:33

This episode continues Climate Rising's hard-to-abate series, and features Shreya Dave, CEO and Co-founder of Via Separations. Shreya describes how her company is decarbonizing the industrial sector by using material science to create a much less energy intensive and cheaper approach to separate substances, a common step in many industrial processe…

1
Decarbonizing Aviation with McKinsey 59:48

1+ y ago59:48

59:48

This episode in our hard-to-abate series features aviation expert Robin Riedel, a Partner at McKinsey & Company who co-leads the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility. Robin describes five approaches to decarbonize aviation: upgrading aircraft, improving operational efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel, other novel fuels and aircraft configurations,…

1
The Health Risks of Natural Gas Stoves 22:24

1+ y ago22:24

22:24

This bonus episode of Climate Rising features an episode from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health's podcast "Better Off" that explores the intersection of decarbonization and public health. While decarbonization requires shifting away from fossil fuels, this episode emphasizes the equally crucial health reasons to do so – especially for natura…

1
Sweden’s Northvolt Quest to Build the World’s Greenest EV Batteries 32:27

1+ y ago32:27

32:27

This bonus episode of Climate Rising features an episode of Harvard Business Review’s Cold Cast podcast with Brian Kenny interviewing HBS professor George Serafeim about his case on Northvolt, a Sweden-based start-up company producing batteries for Europe’s EV auto manufacturers. They'll discuss Northvolt’s efforts to build government partnerships,…

1
How Green Hydrogen can Decarbonize Hard-to-Abate Sectors 43:10

1+ y ago43:10

43:10

The third in our series on hard-to-abate sectors, this episode features Jacob Susman, CEO and co-founder of Ambient Fuels, a developer of green hydrogen projects. He describes how green hydrogen can help decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and which applications are especially promising for green hydrogen solutions. Jacob also describes Ambient’s rol…

1
CarbonBuilt: Decarbonizing Concrete Blocks 36:32

1+ y ago36:32

36:32

The second episode of our hard-to-abate series features Rahul Shendure, CEO and Director at CarbonBuilt. The company has developed and commercialized a Carbon XPRIZE-winning technology to produce what it calls “ultra low carbon” concrete. We start with the basics of how concrete is such a high-emitting product, then describe how CarbonBuilt’s techn…

1
Einride: Decarbonizing Trucking with EVs, Automony, and Digitalization 33:27

1+ y ago33:27

33:27

This first episode of our hard-to-abate series features Linnéa Kornehed Falck, Einride's Founder, Deputy CEO and Board Member. Einride is launching a fleet of battery electric autonomous trucks, orchestrated via route-optimization software. We discuss how its fleet-based freight capacity-as-a-service business model seeks to disrupt the cargo trucki…

1
How Sian Flowers Aims to Create a Low-Carbon Rose 25:19

1+ y ago25:19

25:19

This bonus episode of Climate Rising features Harvard Business Review’s Cold Cast podcast with Brian Kenny interviewing HBS professors Willy Shih and Mike Toffel about their teaching case about Kenya-based Sian Flowers. They discuss the company’s efforts to create a “low-carbon rose” by shipping them to their clients around the world by sea instead…

1
Three MBA Summer Interns in Business and Climate Change 35:36

1+ y ago35:36

35:36

The final episode of our 2023 back-to-business school series features three Harvard Business School MBA students: Nabig Chaudhry, Mitch Hirai, and Kamya Jagadish. They describe how they spent the summer interning in climate-related businesses, from impact investing to a climate tech incubator and climate risk analytics. They also discuss what spark…

1
How Boards Can Drive Climate Performance 47:05

1+ y ago47:05

47:05

As part of our 2023 back-to-business school series, this episode features a session from Harvard’s Climate Action Week in May 2023. Moderated by HBS Prof. George Serafeim, the panel includes Carter Roberts, President & CEO of World Wildlife Fund, HBS professor Deb Spar, Bonita Stewart, Board Partner at Gradient Ventures, and Lauren Taylor Wolfe, Co…

1
How Arcos Dorados is Addressing Climate Change in Latin America 38:54

1+ y ago38:54

38:54

Today’s episode is the first in our 2023 back-to-business school series. The episode features Gabriel Serber, Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainable Development, Arcos Dorados, the largest McDonald’s franchise in the world. He discusses how Arcos Dorados designs and implements climate solutions across the 20 Latin American and Caribbean co…

1
An Investor’s Perspective on Corporate Climate Action 56:03

1+ y ago56:03

56:03

Today’s episode in our corporate net zero climate series features Paul Bodnar, Director of Sustainable Finance, Industry, and Diplomacy, Bezos Earth Fund, and former Global Head of Sustainable Investing at BlackRock. Paul discusses how investors approach the complex web of weighing climate priorities with fiduciary responsibilities. He also talks a…

1
Helping Consumers Decarbonize their Purchases 45:55

1+ y ago45:55

45:55

Today’s episode in our corporate net zero climate series features HBS alumna Sanchali Pal, Founder and CEO of Commons, an app created to help consumers make more climate-friendly purchasing decisions. Sanchali discusses why she chose an entrepreneurial pathway out of busine---ss school and what inspired her to focus on the power of consumers to dri…

1
Going Carbon Negative at Microsoft 40:13

2y ago40:13

40:13

Formerly Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Officer, and now Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Managing Director at Haveli Investments, Lucas Joppa discusses the strategies and tools Microsoft developed to meet its ambitious carbon negative goals, including setting an internal price on carbon, restructuring their corporate governance, and funding …

1
Managing Electricity to Meet Net Zero Targets 40:35

2y ago40:35

40:35

In this episode, Melissa Lott, Director of Research and Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and Michael Webber, Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, discuss how companies can decarbonize their electricity when pursuing…

1
How Science Based Climate Targets Work 33:10

2y ago33:10

33:10

Today’s episode features Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of the Science Based Targets Initiative explains how they help companies and financial institutions design verifiable and achievable climate targets, and how they assess and validate those targets. He also discusses how the SBTi is transitioning from focusing o…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Vcmi Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen