Earth911.com's Sustainability In Your Ear

Mitch Ratcliffe
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  • EARTH SCIENCES
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Earth911.com's Sustainability In Your Ear

Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe interviews activists, authors, entrepreneurs and changemakers working to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, post-carbon society. You have more power to improve the world than you know! Listen in to get started saving the planet!

  1. 3D AGO

    Earth911 Podcast: B-SIDES Founder Yousuf Ahmed Introduces the Upcycled Crunch Puffs Snacks Strategy

    What if the ingredients discarded daily in food production could become the foundation of a more sustainable food future? On this episode of Earth911's Sustainability In Your Ear,  discover the pragmatic vision with Yousuf Ahmed, founder of B-SIDES, a Brooklyn-based startup, proving that upcycled snacks can be delicious and environmentally responsible. Inspired by tasting a single slice of spent grain bread in 2014, Yousuf transitioned from finance and music to food innovation, launching B-SIDES to bring upcycled, plant-based snacks into the mainstream. The company's flagship product, Crunch Puffs, transforms oat pulp—typically discarded during oat milk production—into protein-rich, allergen-friendly snacks packaged in home-compostable materials. From sourcing pulp from small Midwest oat milk makers to manufacturing in Canada and selling through Amazon and New York indie grocers, B-SIDES is creating a playbook for how small brands can lead on both climate action and culinary creativity. Yousuf shares the technical challenges of working with oat pulp as a primary ingredient and the complexities of achieving a moisture seal with home-compostable packaging. We explore how his background in finance and music has influenced his approach to food startups, including the trade-offs between local production and proximity to raw materials, as well as strategies for positioning upcycled food to sustainability-conscious consumers. As Yousuf emphasizes, sustainable products must deliver on taste and price to succeed in the market—environmental benefits alone aren't enough. His pragmatic approach offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs: real market-winning products that can change manufacturing's negative impacts while sustaining profitable companies must compete on quality first, with sustainability as an added benefit rather than an excuse for inferior performance. You can find B-SIDES Crunch Puffs on Amazon and at select retailers. Learn more about the company at enjoybsides.com. Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTubeDive into our coverage of sustainable food and packaging innovation Best of Earth911 Podcast: Alter Eco Foods CEO Keith Bearden Is All-In On Regenerative Chocolate FarmingBest of Earth911 Podcast: Imperfect Foods’ Maddy Rotman on Eliminating Food WasteBest of Earth911 Podcast: PFAS Everywhere – Consumer Reports’ Kevin Loria on Forever Chemicals in Food Earth911 Podcast: Farmstead’s Pradeep Elankumaran on Building Sustainable Food DeliveryBioplastics, Biodegradable Plastics, and Compostable Plastics: What’s the Difference?Best of Earth911 Podcast: Better Earth’s Savannah Seydel on Compostable PackagingEarth911 Podcast: World Centric’s Resource Management Team on Compostable Packaging

    41 min

  2. JUN 9

    Earth911 Podcast: The Carbon Removal XPRIZE Winners

    As the world confronts the urgent challenge of removing billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, breakthrough innovation is essential to scale solutions fast enough to meet global climate goals. On this episode of Earth911's Sustainability in Your Ear, discover the groundbreaking results of the $100 million XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, a four-year competition among 1,300 teams from 88 countries that represents one of the most ambitious efforts to catalyze carbon removal innovation. We're joined by Nikki Batchelor, Executive Director of XPRIZE Carbon Removal, and Michael Leitch, Senior Technical Lead for the competition, to discuss what may be one of the most consequential moments in carbon removal innovation to date. They discuss how the competition's $100 million scope and multi-year timeline attracted breakthrough solutions and outline plans for continued engagement with the winning teams as they scale their innovations.[ Kenya-based Mati Carbon claimed the $50 million grand prize with an enhanced rock weathering approach that spreads finely ground volcanic rock on farmland, simultaneously capturing atmospheric carbon while improving soil health for local farmers. Mati Carbon's victory wasn't just about technical innovation; it demonstrated a cost-effective approach that delivers multiple benefits in Kenya and India's smallholder farming communities. Three runners-up—NetZero, Vaulted Deep, and UNDO—each received $5 million for their distinct approaches, which spanned biochar production, underground carbon storage, and large-scale mineral spreading. In 2024 alone, humans released 41.6 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, adding to approximately 1.5 trillion tons emitted since the Industrial Revolution. Current carbon removal projects operate at a kiloton scale and must rapidly expand to millions of tons annually. The goal isn't merely offsetting new emissions—it's achieving net-negative emissions to reverse the climate damage already done, albeit slowly. Learn more about the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition and other grand challenges at xprize.org. Watch the documentary series about the competition and winners on the XPRIZE Carbon Removal YouTube channel. Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube

    39 min

  3. JUN 2

    Earth911 Podcast: Brenna Simmons-St. Onge is on a Regenerative World Quest

    On today's Sustainability In Your Ear, meet Brenna Simmons-St. Onge, a systems strategist, regenerative futurist, and founder of B the Light Consulting, as we explore her family's extraordinary three-year journey around the world. The Regenerative World Quest isn't your typical travel adventure; it's a deliberate mission to identify, amplify, and help replicate Earth's most promising regenerative communities and projects. From Costa Rica to South Africa, she and her family engage with leaders, learn from Indigenous knowledge holders, and discover models that regenerate land, restore community agency, and reconnect people to purpose. Brenna's aim is to demonstrate how regeneration—not just mitigation—can serve as our organizing principle for addressing the climate crisis. Rather than extracting experiences as tourists, Brenna and her family integrate into the places they visit, contributing through forms of meaningful exchange. Her key insight is that true abundance comes from within—our creativity, generosity, and the love we share with others and the planet. Thee regenerative communities she's visited focus on building a prosperity based on relationships, ecological health, and community resilience rather than accumulating material possessions. The Regenerative World Quest will culminate in a documentary series and practical playbook that others can use to live more lightly on the planet, thinking seven generations ahead following Indigenous traditions. To follow Brenna's journey and learn from the regenerative communities she discovers, visit https://bthelightconsulting.com/ or follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

    53 min

  4. MAY 26

    Earth911 Podcast: REC Solar and Trinchero Family Estates Electrify Winemaking

    Energy is required at every step of the food and beverage industry supply chain, from growing grapes to bottling and delivery, making it a significant source of emissions and a prime target for climate innovation. On this episode of Earth911’s Sustainability in Your Ear, we explore how wineries and other producers are turning to clean, renewable energy to cut costs, reduce emissions, and future-proof their operations. We’re joined by James Presta, Business Development Manager at REC Solar, and Mario Trinchero of Trinchero Family Estates, a storied family-run winery in California’s Sonoma County. REC Solar and Trinchero teamed up to bring solar energy to one of the country’s largest winery operations, showing how collaboration between energy experts and agricultural producers can drive meaningful progress toward a carbon-neutral future.   James explains that a decentralized electric grid is emerging—powered by modular solar installations and guided by power purchase agreements (PPAs) that lock in long-term energy prices. When networked together, these individual installations can form a resilient web of renewable power. Solar, wind, and geothermal systems will provide flexibility and stability in a world of climate extremes—if we act quickly enough to scale them. Mario reflects on the motivations behind his family’s move to solar: sustainability is not just good business, it’s essential to preserving the land and legacy that define the brand. By using solar energy in its winemaking process, Trinchero has cut emissions and operating costs while strengthening its commitment to environmental stewardship. We also delve into the mechanics of PPAs—a modern-day version of the 1930s rural electrification initiative that brought power to American farms. But now, companies like REC Solar—not government agencies—extend the grid through private partnerships. These agreements offer fixed pricing, shared risk, and maintenance contracts, but it’s critical to understand the provider’s long-term plans. A strong PPA can unlock the potential to electrify entire supply chains, eliminate dependence on diesel generators, and drive innovations where wires have never reached. And the potential for abundant, clean power is growing. What could we build if we end up with more energy than we need? As James and Mario suggest, the answer may be anything we can imagine with the right infrastructure—without the pollution that defined the last century. Learn more about REC Solar at recsolar.com and about Trinchero Family Estates at tfewines.com.

    38 min

  5. MAY 19

    Earth911 Podcast: MUUS Climate Partners' Kavita Patel Unpacks the CleanTech Opportunity

    On today’s Sustainability In Your Ear, meet Kavita Patel, a principal at MUUS Climate Partners, as we discuss how smart investments and business support can drive environmental impact while generating returns. MUUS Climate Partners invests in early-stage climate technology companies, with a portfolio including battery recycler Nth Cycle, EV charging innovator AmpUp, and innovative air conditioning developer Harvest. The firm targets critical sectors—energy, industry, materials, and transportation—where innovation is essential for meeting climate goals. In our conversation, Kavita addresses the “green premium,” pointing out that while consumers may pay more upfront for sustainable products, they often realize long-term savings. She emphasizes that the most significant opportunity to reduce costs lies in eliminating waste throughout our economy, from production, through the use phase, to recovering and reusing materials traditionally discarded after a single use. Kavita emphasizes that the most significant opportunity to reduce costs lies in eliminating waste throughout our economy, from production, through the use phase, to recovering and reusing materials traditionally discarded after a single use She also .shares a key insight about entrepreneurial leadership: successful climate tech founders have multiple backup plans. True innovators become “chief resource obtainers” by finding value where others see none. The entrepreneurs who will transform our economy can turn scrap into gold, whether starting with used equipment or reimagining landfill contents as raw materials for sustainable products. To learn more about MUUS Climate Partners and their approach to climate technology investment, visit muusclimate.com.

    43 min

  6. MAY 12

    Earth911 Podcast: Cool Earth's Hannah Peck Collaborates With Indigenous Communities To Preserve The Planet's Remaining Rainforests

    On today's Sustainability In Your Ear episode, discover a transformative approach to rainforest conservation with Dr. Hannah Peck, Deputy Director and Policy Lead at Cool Earth. She brings a decade of experience in the rainforests of Peru and Papua New Guinea with Cool Earth's innovative strategies that prioritize direct support over traditional carbon offset models. Cool Earth challenges the heavily promoted carbon offsets industry, arguing that they often serve as a smokescreen for continued emissions rather than a genuine solution to the climate crisis. Instead, the organization emphasizes reducing emissions at the source and investing in the people best prepared to protect nature: Indigenous communities. Cool Earth's approach is based on unconditional cash transfers that free Indigenous communities to make decisions based on sustainable practices and forest conservation rather than economic necessity. The cash transfers reduce the incentive for activities that lead to deforestation, such as illegal logging or mining. In 2023, Cool Earth launched a pioneering basic income pilot in the Amazon rainforest. They provide about $5 million a year in funding Indigenous communities, where every adult receives a regular income to meet their needs. This initiative aims to support long-term sustainability and forest conservation by enabling individuals to focus on preserving their environment rather than engaging in environmentally harmful economic activities. Hannah explains that Indigenous communities manage most of the remaining ecologically healthy rainforests. Cool Earth presents a compelling case for a more equitable and effective approach to combating climate change. To learn more about Cool Earth's work and how you can support their mission, visit coolearth.org. Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube

    34 min

  7. MAY 5

    Earth911 Podcast: Measuring Regeneration—Douglas Gayeton's Ecological Benefits Framework Update

    On this inspiring episode of Sustainability In Your Ear, we reconnect with storyteller, systems thinker, and regenerative agriculture pioneer Douglas Gayeton to explore the latest developments in the Ecological Benefits Framework (EBF)—a potentially game-changing tool designed to redefine how we value nature. First introduced during an Earth911 podcast event in 2023, the EBF offers a bold new way to measure what matters most to nature—air, water, soil, biodiversity, carbon, and equity. Unlike traditional carbon accounting, the EBF provides a comprehensive view of how projects can restore and regenerate ecosystems.  Douglas calls the EBF a “Rosetta Stone” for ecological impact that offers a shared language for communities, companies, nonprofits, and funders. In our conversation, Douglas takes us inside the making of the EBF—its philosophical roots, its rigorous methodology, and its potential to become a new baseline for evaluating impact in the regenerative economy. He reflects on what we’ve learned so far and how early adopters are helping shape a framework that’s equal parts science, storytelling, and social contract.Now being piloted in 24 projects across the globe and featured in the upcoming BBC series Unearthing The Future, the EBF is quickly becoming a foundational tool in the regenerative movement. In this conversation, Douglas shares how the framework is helping shift investment and storytelling toward the systems that sustain life. Learn more at ebfcommons.org and thelexicon.org.Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube

    1 hr

  8. APR 28

    Earth911 Podcast: The Green Amendments Movement Accelerates As Federal Protections Fall

    As federal environmental protections face weakening, a grassroots movement is gaining strength across the U.S., focusing on environmental rights rather than policy adjustments. Maya van Rossum, environmental attorney and founder of the Green Amendments For The Generations movement, returns to Sustainability in Your Ear to discuss that states' response to cuts to federal environmental regulations. Maya explains how state-level constitutional amendments are redefining environmental protection as an inalienable right, akin to freedom of speech. She outlines the importance of constitutional change for achieving genuine environmental justice, the necessary steps for mobilizing community support, and how rights-based environmental movements are establishing sustainable, community-driven strategies for a healthier future.  For over a decade, Maya has spearheaded this initiative, successfully passing Green Amendments in Pennsylvania, Montana, and New York. Currently, more than 20 states, including Oregon, are contemplating similar amendments. The discussion also addresses the recent rally at the Oregon state capitol, which showcased the momentum behind the Right to a Healthy Environment Amendment (SJR28) and signifies the evolving role of grassroots environmental advocacy. Unlike typical legislation that can be reversed with changing political climates, Green Amendments establish essential protections for clean air, water, and climate at the constitutional level. This framework provides citizens and communities with a robust legal foundation to challenge polluters and safeguard the environment for future generations, particularly during periods of political regression. For more information about the Green Amendment movement and to track developments nationwide, visit forthegenerations.org

    41 min
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Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe interviews activists, authors, entrepreneurs and changemakers working to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, post-carbon society. You have more power to improve the world than you know! Listen in to get started saving the planet!

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