Everybody in the Pool

Molly Wood
  • 4.8 (231)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Enough with the "problem porn." We all know the climate crisis is a big deal. This podcast is entirely about solutions and the people who are building them. Entrepreneurs are inventing miracles; the business world is shifting; individuals are overhauling their lives; an entirely new economy is being born. Don't be the last one in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 11h ago

    E145: How Much of the Great Wealth Transfer Could go to Climate?

    Philanthropic director Abby Axelrod-Wunderman of Fiduciary Trust International joins Molly Wood to talk about the overlooked role of philanthropy in funding climate solutions. Even though only a tiny share of global giving currently goes toward climate, Abby explains why that definition is expanding to include health, resilience, infrastructure, food systems, education, and community well-being—and how younger donors and the great wealth transfer could shift priorities. They dig into donor-advised funds, private foundations, unrestricted giving, climate as a lens across issue areas, and why philanthropy can act as catalytic capital by taking early risks that government and business often can’t. In this episode, we cover:Why climate philanthropy still receives only a small fraction of total global giving, even as climate impacts touch nearly every other issue areaHow wealth advisors help donors connect their values to climate-related giving through health, education, food, agriculture, resilience, and infrastructureAbby’s path into climate philanthropy through a family foundation in South Florida, where the conversation has shifted from “is climate change real?” to which solutions can scaleWhy philanthropy cannot solve the climate crisis alone, but can act as catalytic capital by piloting ideas, funding advocacy, and taking early risksHow donor values, timelines, resources, and risk tolerance shape philanthropic strategyFundable climate strategies Abby sees gaining traction, including clean energy, batteries, methane, food systems, conservation, restoration, resilience, public engagement, and educationWhy younger generations are often initiating climate giving conversations—and how those interests can pull older generations into the workHow donor-advised funds work, why they can be simpler than private foundations, and why some donors value the ability to give anonymouslyThe debate over whether donor-advised funds can become “holding cells” for charitable money—and how education and advising can help move funds out the doorThe difference between restricted and unrestricted grants, and why flexibility and long-term support are especially important for climate-vulnerable regionsHow modern philanthropy may be moving toward a hybrid model that combines rigorous due diligence and metrics with trust-based, flexible givingWhy the great wealth transfer, AI wealth creation, and a new generation of donors could create a major opportunity to move more money into climate solutionsHow to tell the broader climate story: climate is not a niche issue, but a lens through which to understand health, education, infrastructure, migration, air quality, heat, and community resilience Links:Fiduciary Trust International: https://www.fiduciarytrust.com/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 23

    E144: Climate Storytelling Through Games, Art, and Joy

    Climate resilience planner and Earthworks host Marina Psaros joins Molly Wood to talk about why the old climate communication playbook—scary charts, technical jargon, and doom-heavy messaging—so often fails, and how creative mediums can help people imagine and build better futures. They dig into Marina’s work with the King Tides project, tabletop games, virtual reality, video games, and artists who are using beauty, play, and storytelling to make climate action feel more tangible, less overwhelming, and maybe even fun. In this episode, we cover:Why one-way climate communication, especially heavy science and “bummer” messaging, can shut people down instead of moving them to actHow the King Tides project helped people see sea-level rise in their own communities through citizen science and local photographyWhy climate models can be useful but incomplete—and how community observations can help validate and improve themWhat tabletop games, classroom projects, and immersive experiences can teach us about making climate resilience more understandableMarina’s work at Unity Technologies, including funding games and projects that used real-world action, climate data, and storytellingHow games like Pokémon Go, Ahi Kaa Rangers, Fathomverse, Minecraft climate challenges, and other playful tools can connect digital worlds with real-world conservation and climate actionWhy “not being cringe” matters when adults try to reach younger audiences through games and popular cultureMarina’s podcast Earthworks, which highlights creatives using art, games, music, painting, and storytelling for climate solutionsWhy joy, beauty, nature, and creativity can sustain climate work when business and government fall shortThe case for valuing breathable air, weird animals, and a livable world without needing to justify them through a business rationale Links:Earthworks podcast: https://www.marinapsaros.com/earthworksMarina Psaros: https://www.marinapsaros.com/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jul 16

    E143: Renewable Energy as a Tool for Peace

    Energy Peace Partners co-founder and managing director Sherwin Das joins Molly Wood to explain how renewable energy can do more than cut emissions—it can also support peace, security, and economic opportunity in some of the hardest places in the world to build. They dig into the links between fossil fuel dependence and conflict, why clean power matters differently in parts of Africa where electricity access is still limited, and how a new kind of renewable energy credit is helping unlock investment for solar mini-grids, run-of-river hydro, streetlights, hospitals, and jobs. In this episode, we cover:Why fossil fuels and conflict are so often connected—from global wars and supply shocks to local fuel supply chains controlled or taxed by armed groupsEnergy Peace Partners’ focus on countries with low electrification, high climate vulnerability, and conflict risk, including South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Chad, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of CongoHow renewable energy can improve safety, extend business hours, power hospitals, and create alternatives to joining armed groupsThe Peace Renewable Energy Credit, or P-REC: a high-impact renewable energy credit designed to help finance clean power in places traditional REC markets have overlookedWhy off-grid and distributed renewable energy systems in Africa needed a new approach to verification, financing, and impact measurementHow corporate buyers including Microsoft and Google have helped unlock more than $1.6 million through P-REC purchases so farThe new P-REC Aggregation Facility, backed by the African Development Bank and Nordic Development Fund, and its goal of supporting dozens of new projects and first-time electricity access for hundreds of thousands of peopleHow Energy Peace Partners measures peace impact using community-level data, baseline surveys, and the Positive Peace FrameworkWhy renewable energy success should be measured not just in megawatts and carbon avoided, but also in safety, income, jobs, health, education, and stability Links:Energy Peace Partners: https://energypeacepartners.com/Peace Renewable Energy Credits: https://energypeacepartners.com/peace-rec/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jul 9

    E142: The Hidden Climate Power of Local Politics

    Climate Cabinet founder and executive director Caroline Spears joins Molly Wood to explain why some of the most important climate decisions in America are happening far below the level of Congress—in mayor’s offices, public service commissions, land commissioner races, county commissions, state legislatures, and even obscure budget committees. They dig into how Climate Cabinet uses data science, AI, and on-the-ground intelligence to find and support overlooked state and local climate champions, and why data centers have suddenly become the hottest local energy-policy fight in the country. In this episode, we cover:Why state and local offices are often the real bottleneck for clean energy deploymentClimate Cabinet’s “Moneyball” approach to climate politics: finding overlooked races and candidates with data science, AI, and local intelligenceThe climate power of local offices people may not think about, from municipal utility mayors and public service commissions to land commissioners, state legislatures, and budget committeesHow Climate Cabinet helps climate and clean-energy champions run, win, and govern with better policy support once they are in officeThe data center explosion: rising electricity demand, possible cost-shifting to families and businesses, opaque deals, and lawmakers signing NDAs with developers (yes, REALLY!) The big picture:The future of U.S. climate policy may depend less on the headline fights in Washington, D.C., and more on the overlooked people and rooms where energy, transportation, land use, housing, insurance, and infrastructure decisions actually get made. Links:Climate Cabinet: https://climatecabinet.org/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jul 2

    July 4 re-air: E55 and the power of climate activism

    This week, in honor of the July 4 holiday and a commitment to the importance of free speech, activism, and the power of a citizenry to determine its own future, I want to revisit a conversation from way back in season 2, with Dana R. Fisher. Fisher is the author of “Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action,” and in this conversation, we talked about the importance of activism in addressing the climate crisis. She explains that while the state and the market have not been able to solve the crisis, civil society has a crucial role to play. Fisher highlights the role of the radical flank, which engages in attention-getting actions to raise awareness and expand the movement (like throwing orange cornstarch on Stonehenge). She emphasizes that these actions are nonviolent and aim to draw more people who are sympathetic to the cause. Fisher also discusses the need for a mass movement that pushes back against fossil fuel interests and works through various channels, including the electoral process and lobbying. And we discuss what it takes to turn attention-getting actions into mass mobilization. Links:Saving Ourselves, the book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/saving-ourselves/9780231557870Buy from the publisher with discount code CUP20All episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jun 26

    E141: How Utah Might Crack Next-Generation Geothermal

    Utah Clean Energy climate scientist and energy analyst Logan Mitchell joins Molly Wood to explain how a deeply conservative state can still become a proving ground for clean energy—by focusing on affordability, reliability, and coalition-building. They dig into the rapid rise of next‑generation geothermal in Utah (including the DOE’s FORGE project and private-sector follow‑on development), why geothermal could deliver clean firm power faster than new gas turbines or nuclear, and why this is one of the rare climate technologies with real bipartisan momentum. In this episode, we cover:Why Utah has become a surprising clean-energy leader (and why “business-friendly” permitting can accelerate deployment)How Utah Clean Energy works in practice: intervening in utility regulatory dockets, stress-testing long-term resource plans, and advocating for an affordable, reliable, clean power mixThe grid value proposition: geothermal as clean firm power that complements wind/solar—especially during “quiet, cold” post-storm stretches when both wind and solar can underperformA plain-English breakdown of key grid terms:Baseload: power that runs steadilyDispatchable: power you can ramp up/down when neededWhy geothermal may become more dispatchable (turn pumps off midday, produce more during high-price evening hours)Why Utah is the current hotspot:Public-private knowledge transfer from DOE’s FORGE research site to nearby commercial projectsStreamlined, iterative permitting that reduces uncertainty for first-of-a-kind projectsStrong geothermal resources across Utah and the broader WestThe scale and speed: a first ~100 MW phase expected to come online quickly, with expansion potential that rivals the footprint of major fossil plants—plus transmission constraints as the near-term limiterThe politics: geothermal’s appeal across the aisle—jobs, energy security, reliability, and domestic know-how—and why keeping it “above the partisan fray” mattersThe workforce bridge: geothermal as a near 1:1 skills match with oil & gas subsurface expertise—extracting heat instead of hydrocarbons Why this matters (big picture):Next‑gen geothermal offers a credible path to fast, scalable, cost-competitive clean firm power—potentially filling the reliability gap that makes high-renewables grids harder to manage, while staying politically durable in places where climate language alone doesn’t land. Links:Utah Clean Energy: https://utahcleanenergy.org/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jun 18

    E140: Inertia Enterprises (Part 2) — Annie Kritcher and the night ignition happened

    In part two of my two-part field trip to Livermore, California, I sit down with Inertia Enterprises’ third co-founder — Annie Kritcher, the chief scientist at Inertia and a longtime physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Annie was the lead designer behind the December 2022 National Ignition Facility (NIF) shot that achieved ignition — a self-heating fusion “burning plasma” that produced more fusion energy out than was delivered to the target. In this episode, Annie walks us through what it took to get there (spoiler: not one magical breakthrough), what “the ignition cliff” actually means, and why Inertia is betting that manufacturing and economics — not brand-new physics — is the fastest path to commercial fusion. We talk about:Annie’s path from nuclear engineering + plasma physics to becoming NIF’s lead designer on ignition platformsWhy the historic ignition shot was the result of years of iteration (and a few duds along the way)The “pancake” shot (and the lab’s surprisingly extensive breakfast-food vocabulary for failed plasmas)What it felt like to get the 3:00am text — “I think we got ignition” — and why relief came before celebrationWhy many in the field had nearly given up on laser fusion ignition — and how close the NIF campaign came to being cutWhy other fusion companies pursued different approaches: history, uncertainty, and the (very real) cost problem for lasers + targetsThe core commercialization challenge: scaling to high-repetition-rate shots (think “engine cycles”) and producing targets cheaply enough to fire millions per day Links:Inertia Enterprises: https://inertia.com/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Jun 11

    E139: Make fusion energy, then repeat. Inertia Enterprises, Part 1

    Fusion has been “ten years away” for decades — but one corner of the field just crossed a line that changes the conversation. In December 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s National Ignition Facility achieved ignition: a self-sustaining fusion reaction that produced net energy. And they’ve repeated it. So what happens when you take the only fusion approach that’s proven to work, and focus less on new physics… and more on building the industrial supply chain to do it again and again, cheaply and reliably? You get a field trip! In part one of a two-part field trip to Livermore, California, Molly visits Inertia Enterprises’ “House of Fusion” to meet two of the company’s co-founders: Jeff Lawson (yes, that Jeff Lawson — founder of Twilio and majority owner of The Onion) on the business case for commercializing ignition, and why Inertia thinks the economics are finally ready.Mike Dunne, former Lawrence Livermore power-plant designer and Stanford professor, on what it takes to turn a lab breakthrough into a power plant — from a gigawatt-scale “engine” that can follow renewables on the grid, to building a million precision fuel targets a day. We talk about:What “ignition” actually means — and why it’s different from “fusion someday”Why Inertia is starting with the only physics regime that’s been proven to produce net fusion energyThe two big bottlenecks: high-power diode lasers and mass-manufactured fusion targetsHow scaling semiconductor manufacturing could drive laser costs down (and why “1,000x” matters)What a fusion target is: a tiny fuel capsule inside a miniature “oven” (and why lead beats gold for economics)Why a fusion plant looks more like a high-RPM engine than a one-off experiment — and how that changes everythingPotential early markets beyond electricity: high-temperature process heat for steel, cement, and fertilizerWhat it looks like to build a fusion company in Silicon Valley: Apple/Waymo-style process engineers, high-end metrology, and a Nerf gun used as a stand-in for high-speed target trackingThunderdome. Yes, really. Links:Inertia Enterprises: https://inertia.com/Everybody in the Pool: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Enough with the "problem porn." We all know the climate crisis is a big deal. This podcast is entirely about solutions and the people who are building them. Entrepreneurs are inventing miracles; the business world is shifting; individuals are overhauling their lives; an entirely new economy is being born. Don't be the last one in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Molly Wood
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    151
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Molly Wood
  • Show Website
    Everybody in the Pool