Best Jason Rissman Podcasts (2025)

1
Removing Carbon Market Bottlenecks with Sylvera, Ep #113 34:01

8d ago34:01

34:01

The voluntary carbon markets have been a source of curiosity for me. There’s been a lot of hope that the market would mature and offer a reliable way to offset emissions that otherwise could not be eliminated. Reliability has been the problem, however. Not knowing which carbon reduction projects are additive and truly remove or reduce carbon has he…

1
Grant Management & Strategy: How to Win & Deliver on Climate Grants, Ep #112 52:02

15d ago52:02

52:02

Non-dilutive funding isn’t just about landing the grant; it’s about delivering on it with excellence. In the third episode of our Deep Dive Series with Climate Finance Solutions, we go beyond the application and explore what happens after the award. Our guest host Joel Armin-Hoiland, Founder & CEO of Climate Finance Solutions, is joined by two expe…

1
Catalytic Climate Investing and Philanthropy with MacArthur Foundation, Ep #111 36:55

22d ago36:55

36:55

It’s not yet clear exactly how devasting the loss of federal funding for climate nonprofits and climate tech companies will be, but we know the toll will be high. Beyond the funding freeze, there have also been rumors of other federal action targeting nonprofits in this space. No one knows exactly what will happen, but it’s clear that philanthropy …

1
Leveraging Non-Dilutive Funding as a Climate Founder, Ep #110 45:43

29d ago45:43

45:43

Non-dilutive funding is a critical part of the capital stack for climate startups. Changes in Washington have made this landscape all the more challenging to navigate. To improve understanding of the opportunities in this space, Invested in Climate is partnering with Climate Finance Solutions on a series of podcast episodes. As our first deep dive …

1
Unlocking the $4 Trillion Earth Observation Opportunity with Dan Hammer, Ep #109 39:31

1M ago39:31

39:31

I’ll admit that until recently I knew and thought very little about the potential of Earth observation. It turns out, there’s a huge opportunity here. A report by the World Economic Forum recently estimated there’s almost $4 trillion of potential economic benefit from making better use of the increasingly affordable opportunity to collect and analy…

1
Environmental Storytelling with The Redford Center, Ep #108 46:39

2M ago46:39

46:39

I’m fascinated by the question of how we can improve climate and environmental storytelling. There’s research that shows that 45% of young people in the United States experience climate anxiety so bad that it negatively affects their daily functioning. As we learned during a conversation with Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project la…

1
Decarbonizing $1 trillion with Sphere, Ep #107 36:17

2M ago36:17

36:17

Alex Wright-Gladstein was one of the first people I interviewed when I launched Invested in Climate nearly 3 years ago. Our conversation has stuck in my mind over the years as her company, Sphere, offers one of the most impactful actions individuals can take to address climate change. The action is really simple: Moving our savings out of fossil fu…

1
Grant Funding in a New Era with Climate Finance Solutions, Ep #106 36:46

3M ago36:46

36:46

In just its first few weeks in power, the Trump administration has wreaked havoc on the climate tech landscape. An executive order aimed at accelerating fossil fuel extraction and slamming the brakes on renewables and the freeze on all federal grants has already had a devastating effect. Even though the freeze was quickly rescinded, climate compani…

1
Saving Nature through System Change with Rare, Ep #105 49:11

3M ago49:11

49:11

Many experts today say we’re in the midst of the 6th mass extinction, a relatively short period of time when a high percentage of biodiversity dies out. To be clear, we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of species and an extinction event bigger than anything our planet has seen for over 65 million years when dinosaurs walked the earth. A recen…

1
Climate Tech Predictions with Obvious Ventures' Andrew Beebe, Ep #104 41:18

4M ago41:18

41:18

What 2025 will bring for climate tech is pretty hard to predict. We’ve seen a slowdown in investments at the same time as we see a continued flood of talent into the space, maturing technologies, and a boom in AI that could be transformative for climate solutions. The new administration? Nobody really knows how they’ll orient around climate tech, o…

1
Engaging 100 million people in climate action with Count Us In, Ep #103 42:15

4M ago42:15

42:15

Happy New Year everyone. It's 2025, and we know this year will be tricky in more ways than we can even imagine. I hope our podcast helps you stay inspired and think big throughout the year. Having gotten to talk to hundreds of climate tech founders, funders, advocates, and corporate sustainability leaders in recent years, I’ve been inspired by the …

1
Unlocking billions for nature with Cultivo, Ep #102 37:00

5M ago37:00

37:00

Let’s talk about nature – the forests, land, oceans, biodiversity, and ecosystem that make this planet liveable and, if you ask me, quite worth saving. Nature regulates our climate – and stewarding nature well could contribute 20-30% of our emissions reduction needs. It’d also support livelihoods around the world and help prevent the mass extinctio…

1
Preventing wildfires by satellite monitoring with AiDash, Ep #101 32:26

5M ago32:26

32:26

Today, we’re talking about wildfires and some innovative technology to prevent them. Climate change-related heat, drought, and what’s called thirsty atmospheric conditions increase the risks that come with wildfires. These fires have a real impact – they take human lives, create lasting respiratory health problems, destroy billions of dollars of pr…

1
Impact strategy with Galvanize Climate Solution's Nicole Systrom, Ep #100 38:38

6M ago38:38

38:38

When Tom Steyer and Katie Hall came together in 2021 to bring Galvanize Climate Solutions to the world, it promised to be something rather unique. They both bring decades of experience managing many billions of dollars, incredible networks, and insights to find the best, most impactful investment opportunities for climate. Recently, Secretary John …

1
What the election changes and doesn't change with CERES & Climate Cabinet, Ep #99 26:45

6M ago26:45

26:45

There are many reasons to believe the re-election of Donald Trump will be a major setback to climate progress. His previous record, recent campaign, ties to the fossil fuel industry, and perpetuation of misinformation, like the strange idea that wind turbines kill whales, all suggest we’re in for a radical reversal of America’s climate commitment. …

1
Tapping the trillion dollar government edge with Overture VC, Ep #98 27:12

7M ago27:12

27:12

Every once in a while I come across an investment firm with a really different edge and perspective. Overture VC is one such firm. Their specialty is policy – not just understanding the unique opportunities climate tech companies have with government incentives and helping them navigate that tricky terrain, but also actually lobbying for policies t…

1
Can fashion be sustainable? An inside look with Jason Kibbey & Evan Wiener, Ep #97 45:30

7M ago45:30

45:30

The apparel industry has a massive impact on the environment. The industry is the second-highest consumer of water and it drives almost 10% of global carbon emissions. Despite thousands of smart people working to make this industry cleaner and all sorts of investments by brands, emissions are still increasing. To learn about this problem and get an…

1
Bridge loans to the rescue with Open Road, Ep #96 30:11

8M ago30:11

30:11

If you’re an avid listener, you might know I’m always interested in learning about ways we might improve financial markets for climate ventures. Improving the flow of capital can, of course, be incredibly impactful in helping more climate solutions scale successfully. So I was really excited when I learned about Open Road and the important role the…

1
Staying cool and saving energy with Mojave HVAC, Ep #95 32:20

8M ago32:20

32:20

After a summer of record heat waves, I’m sure we’re all grateful for air conditioning. And we know, it’s not just about comfort or productivity, but with extreme heat, being able to cool buildings keeps people safe. Yet, it comes at a cost: air conditioning today is responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and demand is set to tr…

1
How environmentalists could decide the election, Ep #94 48:24

8M ago48:24

48:24

We’re weeks away from a historic election. It’s one that will decide the course of climate action in the United States at a pivotal moment, a moment when we can’t afford to slow down or send mixed signals abroad. And, it’s an election that all expect to be decided by just tens of thousands of voters. These are all facts that I’m sure you know alrea…

1
Investing in Public Climate Companies with ScopeFour Capital, Ep #93 34:42

8M ago34:42

34:42

If you believe the climate transition is creating trillions of dollars of opportunity, then backing public companies whose business models are centered on that transition and whose growth will be driven by it seems an almost obvious approach. That’s exactly what Heather Beatty and ScopeFour Capital are doing, and I was excited to hear what they’re …

1
Wellington Management's $385m Climate Fund with Greg Wasserman, Ep #92 37:38

9M ago37:38

37:38

I’m always excited to talk to climate investors who have been around for a bit, those who were investing during the Cleantech 1.0 phase, saw the ups and the downs, and have stuck through to our current climate tech boom. Some of the challenges that the earlier era of cleantech investing saw – like high capex and long payback periods – are still rel…

1
Inside IBM's sustainability strategy with Justina Nixon-Saintil, Ep #91 35:45

10M ago35:45

35:45

It’s a sad truth that many companies are struggling or failing to meet their sustainability targets. Sensitive to anti-ESG pressure, interest rates, and other macro factors, many are also holding back from making new commitments. Currently, less than 10% of the Fortune Global 500 has a net zero commitment in place. Amidst this context, it's all the…

1
Hedge funds' role in climate action with Corbin Capital, Ep #90 35:43

11M ago35:43

35:43

Hedge funds aren’t exactly known for contributing to climate progress or other ESG goals for that matter. So I was surprised to learn about Corbin Capital, a firm that aims to leverage the activist strategies of hedge funds not just to generate market-exceeding returns for their clients, but to advance environmental and social objectives. There are…

1
Going for gigatons with Clean Energy Venture's Temple Fennell, Ep #89 39:52

11M ago39:52

39:52

We know we need to be investing trillions of dollars annually into the climate transition. Venture capital is just a small slice of the pie, but there’s simply no time to slow down its contribution to advancing climate solutions. In 2023, however, climate tech venture funding dropped 30% to $32 billion. Whether this was a temporary slowdown caused …

1
Fighting for climate disclosures with Ceres, Ep #88 37:59

1y ago37:59

37:59

After two years of waiting, the SEC finally came out with its new climate disclosure rules. As expected, it was met with a mix of celebration, disappointment, criticism, and lawsuits. The suits came from those who felt the rules went too far and from those who felt they don’t go far enough. Disclosure rules are critical to ensuring companies are ta…

1
Mastercard's master plan for sustainable consumption, Ep #87 36:28

1y ago36:28

36:28

If you think of Mastercard as simply a piece of plastic that enables you to buy stuff, you’re not seeing their vast network of businesses, their billions of customers, or the potential influence they have on consumer behavior. There have been countless efforts over the years to encourage consumers to shop more sustainably, but when it comes to the …

1
Fundraising tips & climate tech outlook with Earthshot VC, Ep #86 44:23

1y ago44:23

44:23

Earthshot Ventures isn't just any climate tech venture firm. Having grown out of the Elemental Excelerator, one of the biggest and best-reputed accelerators in the industry, Earthshot is deeply rooted in the early-stage ecosystem. And it turns out there's something else that sets them apart. Managing Partner Mike Jackson has a knack for coaching fo…

1
Scaling home upgrades through CSAs with Scope Zero, Ep #85 26:24

1y ago26:24

26:24

We know that motivating homeowners to invest in energy efficiency retrofits and home upgrades is hard. Energy efficiency might not sound glamorous, but across the US, retrofits can actually cut our residential energy usage in half. That’s why when I met Scope Zero CEO Lizzy Kolar, I was excited to learn about her company’s novel way of motivating h…

1
Oxford's Climate Tech Opportunity Report with Jamil Wyne, Ep #84 42:15

1y ago42:15

42:15

We know that addressing climate change will take trillions of dollars of investment. According to the Climate Policy Institute, we’ll need to spend over $10 trillion annually for decades. and we only just exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2022. I’ll confess, I find these big numbers hard to conceptualize and I’m always glad for more nuance…

1
Unlocking the Potential of Scientists with Activate, Ep #83 37:47

1y ago37:47

37:47

At the center of climate progress are scientists. They’re developing new technologies with which we can build a new, more sustainable global economy. Moving inventions from a lab to startup companies to scaled products, however, takes more than science. Research scientists had long lacked a support structure to help them build successful businesses…

1
Sierra Club Foundation's Shifting Trillions Initiative to Transform Energy Finance, Ep #82 43:16

1+ y ago43:16

43:16

If you’re listening to this podcast you’ve probably heard of the Sierra Club. It’s one of the largest environmental organizations in the United States, with about 4 million members and a history of advocacy going back to 1892. But what do you know about the Sierra Club Foundation? It’s a $200m organization that, as you’d guess, supports the Sierra …

1
Smart ACs and hot cities with Sensibo's Ran Roth and Prof. Matthias Roth, Ep #81 40:23

1+ y ago40:23

40:23

I know it’s wintertime for many of you, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore how cities around the world are heating up and how air conditioning is a growing contributor to climate change. Air conditioning is responsible for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, about 20% of electricity used in buildings and about 10% of global electri…

1
Inside Atlassian's Sustainability Playbook, Ep #80 41:11

1+ y ago41:11

41:11

We all know that companies around the world are working to reduce their emissions and, hopefully, achieve net zero. But what does it take to set up a sustainability program? What are the steps in the process? What are the considerations along the way? And who are the partners one might work with? Most of this work happens behind closed doors, but s…

1
How advertising can accelerate climate progress with Wieden+Kennedy, Ep #79 42:05

1+ y ago42:05

42:05

What do you think of when you think about advertising and its role in climate change? I’ll confess the first thing that comes to mind is the fossil fuel industry’s multi-billion dollar campaign to discredit climate science, deliberately confuse the public, and delay climate action. But, of course, like every industry, advertising has a role to play…

1
Rockefeller Foundation's $1 billion catalytic climate commitment, Ep #78 34:46

1+ y ago34:46

34:46

It feels fitting to start 2024 talking about the big numbers, the big climate financing gaps we face and ways to fill them. We know that addressing the climate crisis requires trillions of dollars of investment. It’ll need to come from government, corporations, and big finance, but there’s another stakeholder with an important contribution. Private…

1
Preview for the New Year 4:19

1+ y ago4:19

4:19

Happy New Year. It is the beginning of 2024 and I am excited to work along side you to achieve a greater future for our planet. On this preview episode I give you a glimpse into the upcoming topics of 2024.By Jason Rissman

1
Replacing plastic using captured greenhouse gases with Newlight, Ep #77 29:18

1+ y ago29:18

29:18

There’s a lot we can learn from nature. Processes that happen in nature keep resources in flow, by-products are used and contribute to the health of the ecosystem and there is no waste. Fallen leaves enrich the soil, photosynthesis produces oxygen for animals to breathe, and microorganisms decompose methane and carbon dioxide and produce PHP. Oh, n…

1
Building global climate resilience with Global Resilience Partnership & Green Africa Youth Organization, Ep #76 45:44

1+ y ago45:44

45:44

As we all feel the impacts of climate change more and more each year, the need to invest in climate resilience becomes more and more clear. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, there’ll be more than 1 billion climate refugees. It’s not about choosing between solutions to dramatically cut emissions and investments that help communities prepare for…

1
Impact investing in climate with Impact Engine, Ep #75 41:52

1+ y ago41:52

41:52

This episode focuses on impact investing and the particular approach of an impact investing firm based in Chicago named Impact Engine. Now that I’ve said the word impact four times, I should probably unpack the jargon. This class of investing aims to create direct, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. It’s relate…

1
Salesforce's climate investing playbook, Ep #74 47:44

1+ y ago47:44

47:44

When it comes to big companies’ sustainability commitments, I’ve long been impressed by Salesforce. They made sustainability a core company value and pledged to put the full power of their business behind protecting the planet. Hold your skepticism for a minute – this is more than just big promises. They achieved net zero residual emissions and tra…

1
Fusion, carbon transformation, grid management and more with Braemar Energy Ventures, Ep #73 44:21

1+ y ago44:21

44:21

Today we’re joined by three team members of Braemar Energy Ventures, ESG Head Lori Collins, Partner Don Tappan, a Co-Founder and Managing Partner Bill Lese. I was excited to talk to the Braemar team because their firm has been investing in energy companies for over 20 years and have backed some early category-defining pioneers like ChargePoint and …

1
Massive infrastructure opportunity with Nexus PMG & GreenBacker, Ep #72 45:26

1+ y ago45:26

45:26

The climate transition we’re living through brings so many opportunities to rethink our infrastructure that it could easily be the entire focus of this podcast week after week. Today’s episode focuses on a handful of those opportunities: converting waste into valuable upcycled materials, renewable energy infrastructure, biomass, biofuels and more. …

1
Geothermal heat pumps with Dandelion Energy, Ep #71 37:27

1+ y ago37:27

37:27

Heat pumps have gotten a lot of attention lately. They’re one of the technologies most critical to electrifying buildings and removing our dependency on fossil fuels for heating and cooling. And, they’re a technology that’s taking off. Sales of heat pumps have grown by double digits for two years running. According to the Sustainability Trends Repo…

1
Climate Week recap featuring Al Gore & many others, Ep #70 1:06:04

1+ y ago1:06:04

1:06:04

This week, we’re doing something a bit different outside of our typical interview format. This is a recap of New York Climate Week. I’ll share some of my impressions and you’ll hear from folks like Vice President Al Gore, California Senator Henry Stern, several friends, and fellow climate travelers. You’ll hear some segments from sessions I attende…

1
Tackling the plastics crisis via blended finance with Circulate Capital & the Circulate Initiative, Ep #69 46:46

1+ y ago46:46

46:46

When it comes to plastics, we’re in a real bind. We have yet to develop and scale attractive alternatives to the petroleum-based plastic products we all use every day, and the plastics industry drives well over a billion tons of greenhouse gasses, that’s roughly 4% of total global emissions and plastic-related emissions are on track to double by 20…

1
Sunrise Movement & young people's fight for bold climate action, Ep #68 45:07

1+ y ago45:07

45:07

No matter who I talk to – whether startup founders, investors, or corporate sustainability leaders – when I ask what is needed to really move the needle on climate change, everyone always comes back to the to importance of policy change, of making climate an electoral issue and holding political leaders accountable to take bold action. There’s no d…

1
AI-Powered Climate Tech Breakthroughs with Neotribe's Kittu Kolluri, Ep #67 31:31

1+ y ago31:31

31:31

When it comes to climate tech, there are a lot of new kids on the block, investors that have brought billions of dollars of new capital and have helped fund climate innovation we badly need. It’s rare that you find folks who have been investing in climate tech for over a decade, let alone two decades. So I was thrilled to sit down with Neotribe’s S…

1
Climate-first investing with GreenPortfolio & Earth Equity Advisors, Ep #66 43:40

1+ y ago43:40

43:40

From the growing demand for climate-positive investing, new funds, new approaches for financial advisors, and entirely new platforms for managing one's investments are taking off. This is just the beginning. It's hard to imagine how different investing might be as tens of trillions of dollars transfer to younger sustainability-motivated generations…

1
Creating a circular economy of carbon with LanzaTech, Ep #65 44:32

2y ago44:32

44:32

Fossil carbon is not just burnt for energy. It’s also used as an ingredient for millions of everyday products. But what if, rather than extracting new fossil carbon from the ground, the carbon could be sourced from waste and kept in circulation. That’s exactly what a company called LanzaTech is doing. For almost two decades LanzaTech has been using…

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Jason Rissman Podcasts

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