Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

Lisa Ann Pinkerton

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.

  1. 21H AGO

    #154: The Hidden Life of Wearable Technology with James Gilmore

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with James Gilmore, Associate Professor of Media and Technology Studies in the Department of Communication at Clemson University, and author of The Bringers of Order: Wearable Technologies and the Manufacturing of Everyday Life, about the promises and pitfalls of wearable technology. From Fitbits and Apple Watches to smart glasses, implantables, and Disney’s MagicBand ecosystem, James explores how wearables shape behavior, collect data, and blur the line between convenience and surveillance. The conversation looks at what these devices actually measure, why their outputs can be misleading, how shame and self-optimization can become built into the user experience, and why stronger public literacy, informed consent, and policy conversations are urgently needed as wearables become more embedded in daily life. Key Points: Wearables don’t measure reality, they interpret it – Devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches generate data through sensors and algorithms, meaning what users see as “steps” or “activity” is a constructed output, not a direct reflection of the body.Convenience often masks surveillance – From fitness trackers to Disney’s MagicBand, wearable systems streamline experiences while simultaneously collecting detailed behavioral data that can be analyzed, modeled, and monetized.Technical literacy is becoming essential for everyday life – Understanding even the basics of how wearables work helps users better interpret their data, question outputs, and make more informed decisions about consent and usage. James Gilmore, Associate Professor of Media and Technology Studies in the Department of Communication at Clemson University, Author of Bringers of Order: Wearable Technologies and the Manufacturing of Everyday Life, LinkedInLisa 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    1h 6m

  2. MAR 24

    #153: The Portable Solar Revolution with Gismo Power

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt, CEO of Gismo Power, to explore a deceptively simple idea that could reshape access to clean energy: portable solar infrastructure. Antonia explains how her company’s MEGA (Mobile Electricity Generating Appliance) turns a standard parking space into a solar-powered EV charging station using a foldable, mobile solar carport. Originally inspired by her own experience charging an EV in a sunny Florida parking lot, the system is designed to remove the biggest barrier many people face in the energy transition—the need to own a home or rooftop. Key Points: Portable solar could close the clean energy access gap – Gismo Power’s mobile solar carport allows renters and EV drivers without rooftop access to generate their own electricity wherever they park.Distributed solar may strengthen, not weaken, the grid – Research from national labs suggests systems like these can help balance demand by generating power directly where it is consumed.Portable solar has resilience benefits – During outages and disasters, systems like the MEGA can operate off-grid with batteries, providing essential electricity for homes, vehicles, and emergency response.Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt, CEO of Gismo Power, LinkedInLisa 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    32 min

  3. MAR 17

    #152: The Future of Drone Delivery with Flytrex

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex, about how autonomous drone delivery is becoming a scaled commercial reality. With more than 200,000 completed deliveries in U.S. suburbs and major partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats, Flytrex is helping redefine last-mile logistics. The conversation explores FAA certification beyond visual line-of-sight approval, unit economics, safety protocols, restaurant integration, and what it takes to build a fully autonomous delivery stack from drone manufacturing to cloud-based air traffic coordination. Key Points: Autonomy scales labor efficiency, not just aircraft – By allowing one operator to oversee dozens of drones simultaneously, Flytrex transforms last-mile delivery from a one-driver-per-vehicle model into a centralized, air-traffic-control system.Owning the full stack enables optimization – By designing, manufacturing, certifying, and operating its own drones and software platform, Flytrex reduces third-party dependencies and tightens operational control.Suburbs are the proving ground – Private backyards, lower airspace congestion, and predictable delivery radii make U.S. suburban markets the most viable near-term environment for scaling drone logistics. Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex, LinkedIn Luis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at Technica Communications 🚀 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    32 min

  4. MAR 10

    #151: Decarbonizing Industry Without Starting From Scratch with Petra Power

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Aaron Goodman, CEO and co-founder of Petra Power, to explore a practical bridge solution for hard-to-abate sectors like trucking, shipping, and defense. As hydrogen infrastructure remains limited, Aaron explains how solid oxide fuel cells can convert diesel or hydrogen directly into electricity without combustion, and even reverse the process to generate hydrogen from electricity. We discuss why Petra Power is targeting auxiliary power units (APUs) on heavy-duty trucks rather than replacing engines outright, how support from the Department of Defense helped accelerate development, and why incremental efficiency gains may be more realistic than sweeping infrastructure overhauls in the next decade. Key Points: Bridge technologies matter in infrastructure gaps – Petra Power’s solid oxide fuel cells improve efficiency within existing diesel systems, allowing emissions reductions without waiting for widespread hydrogen fueling networks.APUs are the entry point, not engines – By replacing auxiliary power units rather than propulsion systems, the company lowers adoption risk for trucking fleets operating on thin margins.Defense funding accelerated commercialization – Early Department of Defense backing focused on reducing fuel transport in combat zones, where efficiency gains can directly impact operational safety.Aaron Goodman, Founder and CEO of Petra Power, 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    33 min

  5. MAR 3

    #150: Reimagining Spiritual Community Through Psilocybin with Psanctuary

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Eric Osborne, Co-Founder, Board President and Community Minister of Psanctuary, to explore the rise of mushroom church communities and what intentional psilocybin practice can offer that clinical or purely recreational models often miss. We discuss why nature-based experiences can deepen spiritual connection, how Sanctuary is structured as a peer-led community designed to restore a modern “third space,” and why group support and integration may matter as much as the medicine itself. The conversation also zooms out to the broader psychedelic landscape while grappling with the risks of commercialization, ego-driven “guru” culture, and the challenge of building communities resilient enough to work through conflict rather than fracture under it. We also discussed this topic in different capacities on a few previous episodes. You can watch or listen here: #7: The Psychedelic Therapist Will See You Now#60: The Magical Future of Mushrooms Key Points: Community is becoming the missing infrastructure for psychedelic healing – Eric argues the church model helps rebuild the third space many people have lost, where belonging, ongoing support, and integration can happen beyond a single experience.Sanctuary is designed to keep ceremonies accessible and non-transactional – Donation-based ceremonies and the Friends & Family ministry aim to reduce the energetic “obligation” that money can introduce, while training people to responsibly support their own circles.Legal recognition is evolving, but the landscape remains uneven – Eric explains how religious protections and court precedents shape Sanctuary’s approach, while noting that broader legalization frameworks can still create high costs, limited access, and rules that don’t always reflect lived facilitator experience.Eric Osborne, Co-Founder, Board President and Community Minister of Psanctuary, LinkedInLisa 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    1h 13m

  6. FEB 24

    #149: Rethinking Waste as a Climate Solution with Carbogenics

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Professor Ed Craig, a longtime sustainability pioneer and CEO of Carbogenics, an Edinburgh-based start-up engineering biochar from difficult-to-recycle organic waste and wastewater screenings. Drawing on decades of experience across academia, policy, and applied climate solutions, Ed breaks down what biochar actually is, how it’s made through pyrolysis, and why it represents one of the most practical and scalable tools for carbon sequestration available today. The conversation also explores how Carbogenics uses engineered biochar to enhance anaerobic digestion, increasing biogas output while locking carbon into stable, long-term storage. Key Points: Biochar is engineered carbon with real-world applications – At Carbogenics, biochar is produced from hard-to-recycle organic waste and wastewater screenings, turning disposal problems into long-lived carbon assets.Biochar can materially improve biogas economics – When added to anaerobic digesters, engineered biochar can increase biogas yields by up to 20%, directly displacing fossil fuel gas while improving system efficiency.The next growth phase goes beyond soil – Emerging use cases, from water treatment and cement applications to wildfire mitigation and orphan well remediation, could rapidly expand biochar’s role across multiple sectors. Ed Craig, CEO of Carbogenics, LinkedInLisa 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    43 min

  7. FEB 17

    #148: The Future of All-Electric Heat Pumps with Jetson

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Stephen Lake, founder and CEO of Jetson, to unpack why heat pumps are becoming a cornerstone of the all-electric home. Stephen breaks down what heat pumps are (and aren’t), why outdated misconceptions still slow adoption, and how Jetson is rethinking home heating and cooling by combining cold-climate heat pump hardware with modern software, predictive maintenance, and vertically integrated installation. The conversation explores the economics behind electrification, the role of incentives, grid impacts, and what it will take to move clean homes from early adopters to the mainstream over the next decade. Key Points: Heat pumps aren’t a “new tech” problem—they’re a perception problem – Stephen explains that cold-climate heat pumps now reliably operate well below freezing, but outdated beliefs from 10–15 years ago still drive homeowner hesitation and contractor advice.Home electrification is happening, but today’s devices mostly don’t talk to each other – Heat pumps, solar, batteries, EV chargers, and smart panels are all part of the same “electric home” future, yet Stephen notes they’re still largely siloed, limiting automation and cost optimization.Software is becoming the competitive advantage in HVAC – Jetson’s thesis is that heating/cooling should work more like an EV: remotely monitored, continuously optimized, and improved via updates, instead of a 15-year “black box” that only gets attention when it breaks. Stephen Lake, CEO and founder of Jetson, LinkedInLuis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at Technica Communications 🚀 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    41 min

  8. FEB 10

    #147: Predictive AI for the Green Economy With Taza

    In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Mary Wilson, founder and CEO of Taza, about why sustainability has become an operational bottleneck for many organizations, and how it can instead become a strategic advantage. As ESG reporting requirements fragment globally and political pressure softens in the U.S., sustainability leaders are increasingly stuck in reactive compliance mode, overwhelmed by shifting regulations, data gaps, and reliance on consultants. Mary explains how Taza’s vertical AI marketplace helps companies move beyond static ESG reports by translating sustainability goals into prioritized, actionable business projects, connecting teams with vetted solution providers, and embedding sustainability into everyday decision-making across the enterprise. We also discussed our previous episode with Schneider Electric: #109 – Inside Schneider Electric’s Ambitious Decarbonization Plan Key Points: ESG reporting is consuming sustainability teams, not empowering them – Constantly changing regulations and complex data requirements leave little time for innovation, execution, or long-term impact.From compliance to execution with AI-driven prioritization – Taza maps company goals, industry benchmarks, and regulations into concrete use cases, helping organizations focus on the initiatives that deliver near-term wins and long-term resilience.Sustainability works best when it’s shared across the organization – By aligning IT, procurement, HR, and supply chain partners around clear projects and timelines, sustainability becomes an operational function, not a siloed reporting role.Mary Wilson, Founder and CEO of Taza, 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 LinkedInFollow us on Instagram Follow us on our Facebook PageFollow us on X  Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

    33 min
See All (154)

4.8
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Ann Pinkerton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    154
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

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