Engaging ESG with Jennifer Owens and Kati Kallins

Jennifer Owens and Kati Kallins
  • 5.0 (12)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Engaging ESG brings together sustainability and marketing leaders for candid conversations about what actually works when communicating sustainability and social impact. Join Jennifer Owens, ESG marketing consultant, and Kati Kallins, global head of sustainability at Adobe, as they and their guests cut through the noise to deliver practical strategies you can implement today.

  1. 2D AGO

    Soil, Stories and the Power of Positive Messaging

    Last year, only 9% of Americans spoke to a farmer about their food. Evan Harrison, CEO of Kiss the Ground, is here to change that with an approach to regenerative agriculture designed to bring the concept into the mainstream through strategic storytelling. Its impact is already being felt. This year, Kiss the Ground has produced 400 pieces of content to reach 2 million people monthly, turning farmers into the real rock stars of the movement. In this conversation with Jennifer + Kati, Evan offers his data-driven approach to awareness building, how his music industry background at iHeartRadio and BMG shaped his nonprofit leadership style, and why leading with health instead of climate alarm is the key to resonating more and more.  Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Engaging ESG at bit.ly/EngagingESGpod. Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Show links Learn about: Kiss the Ground Watch: Kiss the Ground documentary Watch: Stories of Regeneration with Dan Barber  Follow: 5 with a Farmer  Read: Project Drawdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min

  2. FEB 4

    The Bestest and Worstest of Times for ESG Comms

    This week, Jennifer and Kati sit down with Joel Makower, chairman and co-founder of Trellis Group, for a candid conversation about the current state of sustainability communications after 35+ years in the field. Joel shares why we're living with higher highs and lower lows than ever before. We explore the trust crisis affecting not just sustainability, but business, media, science and government — and what it means for communicators trying to make the case for climate action. Joel also offers his advice for integrating head and heart through storytelling, how to reframe sustainability as "better" rather than sacrifice, and why ESG became a political landmine while the s-word endures. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Engaging ESG at bit.ly/EngagingESGpod. Show Links Learn more about Joel Makower Visit Trellis Watch: Joel Makower: Poetry in Motion Listen: Smartless Listen: So Many Steves: Afternoons with Steve Martin Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min

  3. JAN 21

    Gaming for Good: Climate Action in Digital Worlds

    Climate and sustainability strategist Marina Psaros joins Jennifer and Kati to explore an unexpected frontier for climate communications: the gaming world. Marina shares her journey from NOAA scientist to Head of Sustainability at Unity Technologies, and how that experience revealed a massive untapped opportunity. With 3 billion people playing games worldwide, gaming communities have become powerful "third spaces" where climate conversations are already happening, just without professional communicators at the table. We also explore Marina's beautiful book, The Atlas of Disappearing Places, and why she chose to frame fossil fuel dependence as an addiction rather than an individual moral failing. Learn how this shift from blame to systemic thinking opens up more honest, actionable conversations about climate. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Engaging ESG at ⁠bit.ly/EngagingESGpod.⁠ Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Show Links Learn more about Marina Psaros at marinapsaros.com. Read: The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis Read: Social strategies to engage video gamers in climate action Listen: Earthworks podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  4. JAN 7

    The Story Is the Glue: Creating a Portfolio Career

    Michael Neuwirth has built what he calls a "portfolio career" — and after hearing his story, you'll want one too. The communications veteran spent 20+ years at Danone, served as the first Chief Communications Officer for the American Sustainable Business Council, and now angel invests in 14 sustainability-focused startups (from period equity solutions to upcycled food platforms). In this wide-ranging conversation, Michael reveals why authentic storytelling is the fabric that holds early-stage companies together, how sustainability communications evolved from charity golf outings and "chairman projects" to strategic business imperatives, and why comms professionals must expect — and not ask for — a seat at the decision-making table. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Engaging ESG at ⁠bit.ly/EngagingESGpod.⁠ Show Links Learn more about Michael Neuwirth Watch: Pluribus Listen: Desperately Seeking the 80s   Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min

  5. SEASON 4 TRAILER

    Engaging ESG is back for season 4!

    Engaging ESG returns for season 4 on January 7th. Engaging ESG is a bimonthly series exploring the evolving landscape of ESG communications. Join Jennifer Owens, former external content strategy lead for Meta Sustainability, and Kati Kallins, former head of sustainability engagement at Meta, as they address the pitfalls and opportunities hidden in your ESG comms plan and provide practical answers you and your team can use today. Learn more about Engaging ESG at ⁠bit.ly/EngagingESGpod.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 min

  6. 10/06/2025

    New York Climate Week Reflections: A Brooklyn Debrief (Bonus Episode)

    Fresh from their first in-person meeting since launching Engaging ESG, Jennifer and Kati share candid reflections on New York Climate Week. From experiencing Conservation International's immersive VR storytelling at Adobe's event at the LinkedIn offices to hearing powerful testimonies about carbon markets from Georgia landowners, they explore the week's standout moments. The conversation covers the shift from innovation-focused moonshots to practical implementation, the inspiring emphasis on collaboration across every session, and the heartening international presence despite political uncertainty. Between subway adventures and a Jack-and-Rose moment at the Empire State Building, they reflect on how the sustainability community is maturing — moving beyond press releases to embedded business practices and building resilience for the long term. Show Link: From the Ground Up:Voices of the Carbon Market Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Engaging ESG at bit.ly/EngagingESGpod. Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  7. 06/18/2025

    Purpose-Driven Governance: Building a Sustainable Future

    Dr. Victoria Hurth joins Jennifer and Kati for our season finale to explore how purpose-driven governance can transform business decision-making for sustainability. As co-designer of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership's course on sustainable marketing and a leader in the development of ISO 37011, Victoria explains why our current economic systems systematically undermine the well-being they claim to create. Victoria also shares the three-horizon framework for understanding organizational transformation — from short-term self-interest to long-term self-interest to purpose-driven organizations optimizing for "long-term well-being for all" — and closes out our season by highlighting the abundance of positive human energy just waiting to be directed. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Engaging ESG at ⁠bit.ly/EngagingESGpod.⁠ Show links Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us by Jon Alexander Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min

  8. 06/04/2025

    Community-Centered Sustainability: Building Energy Equity From the Ground Up

    Daphany Rose Sanchez shares her powerful journey from growing up in New York City public housing to founding Kinetic Communities Consulting, a social enterprise transforming energy equity for underserved communities. Daphany explains why effective climate solutions must meet people where they are, addressing immediate concerns like utility bills rather than abstract climate concepts alone. She demonstrates how building genuine trust with communities leads to more effective sustainability outcomes, while offering a refreshingly human-centered approach to clean energy initiatives that challenge the tech-focused status quo. Have a question for us? Email us today at engagingesg@gmail.com! Learn more about Engaging ESG at ⁠bit.ly/EngagingESGpod.⁠ Show links Learn more about Daphany Rose Sanchez. Explore Kinetic Communities Consulting. Check out Power Up NYC, New York City's first long-term energy plan. Our theme music is "Lost in Translation" by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
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Trailers

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Engaging ESG brings together sustainability and marketing leaders for candid conversations about what actually works when communicating sustainability and social impact. Join Jennifer Owens, ESG marketing consultant, and Kati Kallins, global head of sustainability at Adobe, as they and their guests cut through the noise to deliver practical strategies you can implement today.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Owens and Kati Kallins
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2026 Jennifer Owens

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