Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

Hosted by Lisa Ann Pinkerton

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175

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Earthlings Podcast takes a look at the big issues facing humanity in the early 21st century and our relationship to our environment, technology, and each other. Each episode, award-winning journalist, and former NPR reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton hosts experts, scientists, and leaders working to solve the world’s biggest challenges. Together, they cover wide-ranging topics including environmental solutions, emerging technologies, what the future might look like, and more. Support us on Patreon and receive exclusive content and benefits.

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September 29, 202635 min

#180: From Food Waste to Renewable Energy with Divert

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Ben Kuethe Oaks, Senior Vice President, Commercial at Divert, about building a more circular approach to food waste. Divert works with grocery retailers and other food businesses to track unsold food, prevent waste, increase food donations, and process food that can no longer be eaten through anaerobic digestion. Check out our previous episodes on food waste and agriculture: #98 – Beyond Organic: Understanding Regenerative Agriculture with UnderstandingAg #65 – A Fresh Outlook on Fruit Logistics with RYP Labs #22 – The Land of the Lost Food with Lisa Johnson Key Points: Preventing food waste starts with understanding where it happens – Divert collects data on unsold food from individual stores and shares those insights with retailers, helping them identify trends, improve ordering and merchandising, increase donations, and ultimately prevent more food from becoming waste. Food that can't be donated can still become a valuable resource – Divert uses proprietary de-packaging technology and anaerobic digestion to process unsold food that can no longer be eaten, capturing methane to generate renewable energy and recovering nutrients for use as fertilizer or soil amendments. Building alternatives to landfills can help create a more circular food system – Ben explains that limited infrastructure has historically made it difficult to manage commercial food waste at scale. Divert is expanding integrated diversion and energy facilities that give food businesses another option while generating data to help prevent future waste. Ben Kuethe Oaks, Senior Vice President, Commercial at Divert , LinkedIn Lisa Ann Pinkerton , Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications , CEO of PRVIEW , Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability , LinkedIn 🚀 Calling all Earthlings… Visit our website for more episodes! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

September 22, 202641 min

#179: Reinventing the Grid for the AI Age With Grid Forward

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Bryce Yonker, Executive Director and CEO of Grid Forward, about one of the biggest challenges facing the electric grid today: meeting surging electricity demand while keeping power reliable and affordable. As AI data centers, electrification, manufacturing, and extreme weather place new pressure on utilities, Bryce explains why affordability has become a central issue for grid operators and policymakers. The conversation covers data center rate structures, transformer and equipment shortages, grid-enhancing technologies, energy storage, demand flexibility, utility business models, and the need for smarter long-term infrastructure investments. Check out the episodes in our data center series: #175 – Investing in the Energy Behind the AI Boom with NosTerra Venture Capital #170 – Turning Grid Transformers into Intelligent Infrastructure with Ionate Energy #164 – How the Grid Could Survive the AI Boom with Solid State Transformers With DG Matrix Key Points: Rising electricity demand is making affordability a bigger grid challenge – Bryce discusses how load growth from AI data centers, electrification, manufacturing, and other sources is arriving as utilities already face higher infrastructure and equipment costs, putting greater attention on who pays for grid expansion and how those costs are allocated. Large data centers are changing how utilities think about rates and infrastructure costs – Bryce explains that utilities and regulators are developing new approaches to serve very large electricity users, including rate structures designed to account for the infrastructure needed to connect them and reduce the risk of shifting those costs to other customers. A diverse mix of energy resources will be essential as electricity demand grows – Bryce emphasizes that no single generation source can meet the grid’s growing needs. Solar, energy storage, natural gas, nuclear, geothermal, demand flexibility, and other resources can each help create a more reliable and resilient power system. Bryce Yonker, Executive Director and CEO of Grid Forward , LinkedIn Lisa Ann Pinkerton , Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications , CEO of PRVIEW , Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability , LinkedIn

September 15, 202622 min

#178: Unlocking Natural Gas Energy Waste with Sapphire Technologies

On this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Jeff Earl, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at Sapphire Technologies, about an overlooked source of clean energy. Every day, pressure is intentionally reduced throughout natural gas pipeline networks to safely deliver gas to homes, businesses, and industrial facilities. That pressure contains usable energy, but in most systems it is simply dissipated as heat. Jeff explains how Sapphire Technologies' turbo expander technology captures and converts the wasted pressure into clean electricity, improving the efficiency of existing infrastructure without requiring additional fuel. The conversation explores pressure energy recovery, natural gas pipelines, hydrogen infrastructure, industrial energy efficiency, and how waste energy recovery could become standard practice in the future. Key Points: Pipelines contain an overlooked source of clean electricity – Every pressure reduction station along a natural gas pipeline releases stored energy that is typically wasted. Sapphire Technologies uses turbo expander generators to recover that pressure energy and convert it directly into electricity. Recovery improves existing infrastructure – Rather than replacing natural gas infrastructure, the technology increases its efficiency by generating electricity from a process already occurring inside pipeline systems. The electricity can power on-site equipment or be sold back to the electric grid through power purchase agreements. Pressure recovery has applications beyond natural gas – As hydrogen pipelines, carbon dioxide transport networks, and other industrial gas systems expand, similar pressure reduction opportunities could create new sources of distributed clean electricity across multiple industries. Jeff Earl, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at Sapphire Technologies , LinkedIn Lisa Ann Pinkerton , Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications , CEO of PRVIEW , Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability , LinkedIn 🚀 Calling all Earthlings… Visit our website for more episodes! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

September 8, 202629 min

#177: The EV Industry Now Has Adult Problems with ChargerHelp

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Kameale Terry, CEO of ChargerHelp, about what it takes to keep EV charging infrastructure reliable after deployment. As the industry matures, attention is shifting toward uptime, maintenance, diagnostics, and how quickly operators can resolve failures when they occur. Kameale explains why modern EV chargers behave more like connected computers than traditional fueling equipment, how field data can reveal complex software and interoperability problems, and why improving mean time to repair is becoming an important measure of charging reliability. The conversation also explores fleet charging, remote diagnostics, AI and big data, charger lifecycle performance, and what the industry could look like in the future. Key Points: EV charging reliability is becoming more complex as the industry matures – Early charging problems often reflect the young market, but as those issues are resolved, operators are confronting more complicated software, firmware, interoperability, and communications failures. Field data is essential for diagnosing EV charger failures – Remote diagnostics alone cannot explain every charging problem. Kameale emphasizes the importance of combining operational data with lessons from real-world charger repairs to identify patterns, test assumptions, and understand how equipment actually behaves after deployment. Mean time to repair could become a more meaningful measure of charger reliability – Rather than focusing only on uptime percentages, Kameale explains that the industry also needs to understand how quickly problems can be identified and resolved when charging stations fail. Kameale Terry, CEO and founder of ChargerHelp , LinkedIn Sarah Malpeli , Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Vice President of Client Services and Growth at Technica Communications , LinkedIn 🚀 Calling all Earthlings… Visit our website for more episodes! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

September 1, 202633 min

#176: Turning a Can of Fuel Into a Fusion Star with Pacific Fusion

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Will Regan, Founder and Chief Scientist of Pacific Fusion, about how the company is developing pulser-driven inertial fusion for eventual commercial deployment. Will breaks down how the system works, the scientific breakthroughs that have changed the outlook for commercial fusion, and why Pacific Fusion believes modularity and mass manufacturing could provide a path toward reliable fusion power plants. He also discusses the company's recent prototype milestones, plans to demonstrate net energy gain by 2030, fusion's regulatory and safety advantages, and what the next decade could hold for fusion energy on Earth and potentially in space. Check out our previous episodes on fusion: #115 - Fusion’s Magnetic Mirror Magic for a Low-Carbon Energy Future with Realta Fusion #26 - The Forever Fuel in Nuclear Fusion Key Points: Pacific Fusion is using pulsed power to create star-like conditions from a tiny can of fuel – The company's pulser-driven inertial fusion system uses a powerful pulse of electricity to compress a tiny amount of fuel, creating the conditions needed for fusion. Modularity could be key to making fusion power reliable and scalable – Pacific Fusion recently demonstrated a one-third-scale version of its pulser module and is now developing a full-scale unit. Pacific Fusion is targeting net energy gain by 2030 and commercial power plants in the 2030s – The company plans to break ground on a facility for its demonstration system and is targeting system-level net energy gain by 2030, followed by a first power plant in the mid-2030s. Will Regan, Founder and Chief Scientist of Pacific Fusion LinkedIn Pacific Fusion LinkedIn Pacific Fusion’s technology Lisa Ann Pinkerton , Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications , CEO of PRVIEW , and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability , LinkedIn 🚀 Calling all Earthlings… Visit our website for more episodes! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

August 25, 202644 min

#175: Investing in the Energy Behind the AI Boom with NosTerra Venture Capital

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Theo Ludwick, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at NosTerra Venture Capital, about the infrastructure behind AI's rapid growth. Theo explains why electricity has become one of the biggest bottlenecks facing AI data centers, how operators are balancing power and water use, and why energy efficiency could help unlock additional data center capacity in the near term. The conversation also explores emerging energy and cooling technologies, the shift from AI training to inference, data centers as critical infrastructure, and where investors are finding opportunities across the next generation of AI infrastructure. Check out a few of our previous episodes on data centers: #173 - Active Diesel Particulate Filters: Unlocking Cleaner Growth for Data Centers With Rypos #164 - How the Grid Could Survive the AI Boom with Solid State Transformers With DG Matrix Key Points: Electricity is becoming a major bottleneck for AI data centers – The rapid growth of AI compute is driving greater demand for power. Theo explains that addressing this challenge will require a combination of energy efficiency, grid flexibility, new generation, storage, and other technologies rather than a single energy solution. Data center efficiency could unlock more capacity in the near term – While new power generation can take years to deploy, technologies that improve efficiency and flexibility can be implemented sooner. Better chips, cooling, system orchestration, batteries, and flexible loads could help data centers use existing grid capacity more effectively as AI demand grows. The shift from AI training to inference could reshape data center infrastructure – AI training has favored large, centralized data centers, but inference can operate across a wider range of computing environments. As inference grows, Theo expects opportunities for smaller data centers located closer to population centers, potentially changing how facilities are designed, powered, and distributed. Theo Ludwick, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at NosTerra Venture Capital , LinkedIn Lisa Ann Pinkerton , Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications , CEO of PRVIEW , and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability , LinkedIn 🚀 Calling all Earthlings… Visit our website for more episodes! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

August 18, 202624 min

#174: Rethinking What It Takes to Electrify Fleets with NCSU

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with John Bonitz, Clean Transportation Project Manager at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center and one of the organizers behind the Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference & Expo. The conversation explores how commercial fleet electrification is moving beyond pilot projects and into real-world deployment. As fleet operators face rising fuel costs, evolving regulations, new charging technologies, and growing amounts of operational data, the conversation is shifting from whether to electrify to how to build fleets that are reliable, resilient, and cost-effective. John discusses fleet electrification, EV charging infrastructure, telematics, AI-powered fleet management, smart charging, alternative fuels, and why understanding each fleet's unique duty cycle is essential for making sustainable transportation work in practice. Key Points: Fleet electrification is entering a new phase of practical deployment – Operators are focused on proven technologies that reduce operating costs, improve reliability, and increase resilience rather than simply testing new concepts. The conversation has shifted from pilot projects to implementing solutions that deliver measurable results. Charging strategy is just as important as vehicle selection – Smart charging, telematics, and even Level 1 overnight charging can significantly reduce costs while making fleet electrification more accessible for municipalities, small businesses, and commercial operators. No single technology can meet every fleet's needs – John emphasizes that successful fleet electrification starts with understanding each fleet's duty cycle and operational requirements. Whether the best solution is battery electric vehicles, biodiesel, propane, compressed natural gas, ethanol, or another alternative fuel depends on the specific application, making a technology-neutral approach essential for long-term success. John Bonitz, Clean Transportation Project Manager at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center , LinkedIn Sarah Malpeli , Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Vice President of Client Services and Growth at Technica Communications , LinkedIn 🚀 Calling all Earthlings… Visit our website for more episodes! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

August 11, 202636 min

#173: Active Diesel Particulate Filters: Unlocking Cleaner Growth for Data Centers With Rypos

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Thomas Babineau, Senior Emissions and Technology Advisor at Rypos, about one of the least discussed environmental challenges surrounding AI data centers: diesel backup generators. As data centers expand to support artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure, most continue to rely on diesel generators to provide emergency backup power during grid outages. Thomas explains why diesel remains the most reliable option for mission-critical facilities such as data centers and hospitals, and explores how advanced diesel particulate filter technology can reduce harmful particulate emissions by up to 95%. The conversation examines diesel emissions, public health, backup power, data center sustainability, emissions regulations, and practical pathways to reducing air pollution while maintaining grid resilience. Check out our previous episodes on the AI build-out: #170 - Turning Grid Transformers into Intelligent Infrastructure with Ionate Energy #168 - Cracking the Code on Building Energy Costs With Edgecom Energy #164 – How the Grid Could Survive the AI Boom with Solid State Transformers With DG Matrix Key Points: Diesel backup generators remain essential for critical infrastructure – Data centers, hospitals, ports, and other mission-critical facilities rely on diesel generators because they can start within seconds, operate for extended periods, and provide reliable backup power when electricity is unavailable. Particulate matter from diesel engines is an overlooked environmental challenge – Diesel generators produce fine particulate matter linked to respiratory illness and other health risks. Advanced diesel particulate filters can significantly reduce these emissions without replacing existing backup power systems. Cleaning existing diesel infrastructure can support more sustainable data center growth – As AI drives rapid expansion of data centers, emissions-control technologies offer a practical way to improve local air quality while maintaining the reliability required for critical digital infrastructure. Thomas Babineau, Senior Emissions and Technology Advisor at Rypos , LinkedIn Luis de Leon , Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host

August 4, 202639 min

#172: Why Stopping Climate Change Means Fixing Democracy First With the Sunrise Movement

On this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Sunrise Movement Executive Director Aru Shiney-Ajay about the future of youth climate organizing and why action depends on building a more representative democracy. Aru explains how the climate movement is connecting emissions reduction with green jobs, healthcare, public transit, economic security, and fossil fuel accountability. The conversation also explores the Make Polluters Pay campaign, the climate impact of AI data centers, corporate control of social media, and how young organizers can turn protest into lasting political power. At the center of the discussion is a more hopeful vision of climate action. A vision that focuses not only on stopping environmental harm but also on building a healthier, fairer, and more livable future. Also, check out our episode on navigating the polycrisis mentioned in the show: https://earthlingspodcast.com/episodes/103-navigating-polycrisis/ Key Points: Climate action can improve everyday quality of life – The transition away from fossil fuels can support well-paying green jobs, stronger public transit, healthier food systems, better economic mobility, and more affordable communities. Youth climate organizing requires both public pressure and political power – Sunrise combines protest, grassroots organizing, electoral engagement, and leadership development to help young people influence institutions and shape public policy. AI is creating a new challenge for the climate movement – Data center growth could increase fossil fuel demand, but public policy could also require AI companies to invest in clean energy, improve energy and water efficiency, and support green job creation. Aru Shiney-Ajay, Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement , 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! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

July 28, 202637 min

#171: Turning Ports Into Power Stations for Clean Shipping with Climate Edge

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0 , we speak with Hendrik Tiesinga, founder and CEO of Climate Edge. Maritime shipping is one of the world's biggest decarbonization challenges and is responsible for moving roughly 80% of global trade. The shipping industry is under increasing pressure to reduce emissions while continuing to power the global economy. Hendrik explains why scaling clean shipping requires more than new fuels; it also depends on financing, improved energy efficiency, and faster deployment of proven technologies. The conversation explores maritime decarbonization, alternative marine fuels, electric ships, battery technology, port electrification, and how innovation can help move the industry beyond pilot projects toward large-scale adoption. Check out a few of our previous maritime episodes, including: #46 – Sailing the Silent, Solar-Powered Seas #52 – Zeroing in on Hydrogen for Marine Transportation Key Points: Decarbonizing shipping requires more than replacing fossil fuels – Clean fuels such as green methanol, ammonia, and biofuels all have tradeoffs, making energy efficiency, electrification, and new financing models critical alongside fuel innovation. Many of today's clean shipping technologies are ready to deploy – Hull-cleaning robots, wind-assisted propulsion, AI route optimization, battery-electric vessels, and port electrification can reduce fuel consumption and emissions today while the industry prepares for longer-term fuel transitions. Getting beyond pilot projects will require new investment models – Maritime decarbonization depends on connecting climate technology startups, infrastructure investors, ports, and shipping companies so proven technologies can scale across the global shipping industry. Hendrik Tiesinga, founder and CEO of Climate Edge , LinkedIn Lisa Ann Pinkerton , Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications , CEO and Founder of PRVIEW , and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability , LinkedIn 🚀 Calling all Earthlings… Visit our website for more episodes! Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures! 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: Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook Page Follow us on X Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!