Less Talk, More Action

Joel Cesare & Owen Barrett
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future.

  1. 6D AGO

    The Ocean Is the Hero of Climate Change (Here’s How)

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with Kevin Whilden, Co-Founder of Seatrees, to explore whether the ocean can truly help pull us out of the climate crisis. They dig into blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves, kelp forests, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows, and debate the merits and failures of carbon offsets, RECs, and emerging biodiversity credits. The conversation wrestles with geoengineering ideas such as ocean alkalinity enhancement, the risks of treating the planet as an experiment, and why traditional market mechanisms for climate solutions have struggled. Kevin explains how Seatrees is tackling monitoring and verification with new tech (like phone-based 3D reef mapping), how biodiversity credits differ from carbon credits, and why he still refuses to give up hope despite climate tipping points. Listeners come away with a sharper understanding of oceans as climate heroes, the limits of current offset markets, and a more grounded sense of what real, measurable ecosystem restoration looks like in practice. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Introduction to the Podcast and Kevin’s Work With Seatrees (0:56)   Kevin’s Career in Climate Science and Birth of Seatrees (3:58)   What Blue Carbon Ecosystems Are and Why the Ocean Is the “Hero” (5:20)   Have We Already Lost the Climate Fight and Are We Just Adapting Now? (8:02)   Crossing Climate Tipping Points and the Need for a Mindset Shift (9:53)   Debating Ocean Alkalinity and “Geoengineering” the Seas (16:15)   Who Gets to Decide on Planet-Scale Climate Experiments? (20:11)   How Acid Rain and Ozone Were Solved and the Origins of Carbon Offsets (21:23)   Why Carbon Markets Broke and How Biodiversity Credits Could Be Better (29:20)   Sustainable Surf, Eco Board Certification, and Zero-Waste Surfboards (34:34)   Measuring Biodiversity Uplift and Designing Better Nature Markets (42:54)   The Lahaina Fire Story, Watershed Restoration, and Why Kevin Still Has Hope (45:09)   How to Support Seatrees and the New SeaHouse in Encinitas (46:57)   The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min

  2. APR 1

    87% Less Energy: The Heat Pump Big Utilities Don’t Want You To See

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with Vince Romanin, Co-Founder and CTO of Gradient, to explore how next-generation window-mounted heat pumps can transform heating and cooling in multifamily buildings. They discuss why HVAC emissions and refrigerant leakage are such an overlooked climate problem, how Gradient’s modular, factory-sealed design cuts installation time, capex, and energy use (including an 87% heating energy reduction in a New York public housing project), and why focusing on building owner economics is key to large-scale decarbonization. Vince also shares his journey from thermodynamics researcher to hardware founder, the painful early days of educating climate VCs about refrigerants, and his optimism that climate tech is finally winning on both user experience and ROI, not just “green premiums.” Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcome to This Week’s Episode (0:48) Elon Musk, Space Solar, and Climate Backlash (1:41) Why It Might Be Easier to Build in Space Than on Earth (4:10) Introducing Vince Romanin and Gradient’s Mission (5:36) How Gradient’s Window Heat Pump Works for Owners and Tenants (6:33) Solving Multifamily Heating, Cooling, and the Spark Gap (9:38) Vince’s Journey From Thermodynamics Researcher to Founder (14:08) The Hard Reality of Manufacturing New HVAC Hardware (19:10) Fundraising, Educating VCs, and the Overlooked Refrigerant Problem (22:31) Why Modular, Factory‑Sealed Systems Dramatically Cut Leaks (27:19) Case Studies: NYCHA, Boston, and Big Reductions in Bills and Energy (32:57) Tenant Experience, Installation, and Owner Controls (35:15) Demand Response, Fleet Management, and Scaling to 500+ Units (40:29) Climate Optimism, ROI, and Where to Follow Gradient’s Journey (44:14) The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    47 min

  3. MAR 25

    Why No One Talks About Your Home’s #1 Energy Hog

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with Luke Winston-Almanzar, Co-Founder and CEO of Reservoir, to explore why hot water is one of the biggest, most overlooked energy hogs in the home and how next-generation heat pump water heaters can dramatically cut energy use while improving comfort. They discuss Google's new Michigan data center and its focus on energy affordability, the massive opportunity in modernizing water heating, how intelligence and recirculation can deliver "no wait" showers while saving thousands of gallons of water, and how smarter hot water systems can act as thermal batteries to support the grid and time-of-use rates. Key takeaways include the scale of hot water's energy impact, the importance of making sustainable products genuinely better (not just greener), and why integrating smart hardware, software, and home services is crucial to accelerating home electrification. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode (0:59) Google Data Center and Energy Impact Fund (1:40) AI Emissions and Shift From Net Zero Talk (3:42) Luke’s Background and Reservoir Overview (5:56) Problem With Traditional Hot Water Systems (8:25) No-Wait Showers and Water Recirculation (10:42)   Gas vs. Electric and the Spark Gap Question (12:49)   Luke’s Journey to Founding Reservoir (15:31)   Hot Water as 20% of Home Energy Use (18:52)   Boston Launch and Tesla-Like Install Experience (21:57)   Competing With Legacy Water Heater Brands (23:51)   Hot Water Tanks as Thermal Batteries (28:06)   Multi-Family Projects and Missing Home “Brain” (30:56)   Why Heat Pump Water Heaters Took So Long (34:03)   Too Many Apps and Need for System Integration (37:01)   Funding, Traction, and Climate Optimism (40:16)   The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    42 min

  4. MAR 18

    Defund Education? This HVAC Professor Explains Why

    Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Previewing Today’s Episode with Bob Clark (0:56) Owen Takes on the Trump Administration’s Voluntary Data Center Pledge (3:02)   Why Non-Binding Net Zero and AI Commitments Keep Failing (4:39)   The White House “Ratepayer Protection” Pledge and Its Limits (5:49)   Chamath’s Idea: Free Solar and Batteries for Homeowners (8:17)   Transition from Policy Rant to Interview with Bob Clark (10:39)   AI in the Classroom and the Erosion of Student Creativity (13:42)   What’s Wrong with Career and Technical Education Leadership (15:58)   CTE as a National Defense Issue and the Cost of Skilled Labor (20:11)   Can the Current Republican Moment Actually Help the Trades? (27:05)   Energy Reality Check: Natural Gas, Electrification, and Grid Efficiency (29:13)   Policy Made by People Who Can’t Wire a Light Switch (32:42)   Education Politics, Labs as Museums, and Real Hands-On Learning (37:21)   Why Technicians Are Largely Bulletproof to AI (41:17)   Final Thoughts, What Gives Bob Hope, and the Call for Accountability (43:32)   The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at www.lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    46 min

  5. MAR 11

    He Helps Homeowners QUIT Fossil Fuels (For Free?)

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with Cooper Marcus, CEO and “Chief Quitter” of QuitCarbon, to explore why home electrification is so confusing, expensive, and hard to execute, and how his company acts like a free “owner’s rep” for homeowners. They discuss the gap between cutting-edge climate tech and what typical contractors recommend, the tension between net zero regulations and energy affordability (with examples from New York), and the importance of whole-home planning versus piecemeal upgrades. Cooper shares his journey from PG&E data science leader to climate entrepreneur, explains how QuitCarbon helps homeowners navigate incentives, contractors, and technology choices, and offers hopeful insight into how plug-and-play clean technologies and better guidance can make decarbonizing homes accessible to everyday people. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Intro To Podcast, Hosts, And Guest Cooper Marcus (0:57) Why Home Electrification Is So Hard and the Need for an “Owner’s Rep” (3:19) Joel’s 2026 Prediction: Climate Policy vs Energy Affordability in New York (5:20) Branding, Financial Reality, and Why Climate Efforts Turn People Off (7:37) Cooper’s Mission: Helping Homeowners Take Action With Confidence (10:27) The Spark for Starting QuitCarbon (13:30) Whole-Home Planning vs Piecemeal Upgrades (17:15) How QuitCarbon Tracks Incentives and Tailors Advice to Each Market (21:00) Joel’s Old New York Home, Mini-Splits, and the Hydronic Heat Pump Question (24:50) Why Contractors Can’t Always Be State-of-the-Art (29:03) How Homeowners Find QuitCarbon (33:30) Hope for the Future: Plug-and-Play Clean Tech and Falling Barriers to Entry (39:12) The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at www.lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    43 min

  6. MAR 4

    The Dirty Secret of ‘Green’ Policy: It’s Slowing Us Down

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel Cesare explores the idea of the “libertarian environmentalist,” arguing that in 2026 government regulation is often slowing down, not accelerating, building decarbonization. Drawing on stories from his work on a billion-dollar Bay Area transit project (escalators with energy-saving controls) and the net-zero Santa Monica City Hall extension (composting toilets and water reuse), he shows how well-intended rules can create years of delay and bureaucracy. Joel contrasts UK energy performance regulations (EPCs) and U.S. building performance standards with market-driven action, suggesting many owners don’t believe these rules will ever be meaningfully enforced. He also critiques the slow, fragmented rollout of Inflation Reduction Act funds compared to private-sector efforts like Tesla’s Supercharger network. The key takeaway: we may now get further, faster by reducing regulatory friction and letting innovators and building owners pursue efficiency and decarbonization because it’s economically smart, rather than because they’re forced to comply. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Introduction and libertarian environmentalist framing (0:56) Escalator Energy Savings Blocked by Regulation (3:12) Fighting Cal OSHA to Approve Smart Escalator Controls (6:27) Santa Monica City Hall Project and Net Zero Water Goal (9:41) Composting Toilets, Water Codes, and Multi-Agency Approvals (12:55) UK Energy Performance Certificates Compared to U.S. BPS Rules (16:08) Why Building Owners Doubt Enforcement of Climate Regulations (19:22) Inflation Reduction Act, EV Charging, and Green Bank Bottlenecks (22:36) Case for Libertarian Environmentalism and Call for Counterexamples (25:10) The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 min

  7. FEB 25

    Can Fishing Nets Save the Planet? Inside This Crazy Idea

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with David Stover, Co-Founder and CEO of Bureo, a company that transforms discarded fishing nets into high-performance materials for brands like Patagonia, Outerknown, Nike, and Costa. The conversation traces David’s journey from corporate finance to mission-driven entrepreneurship, the early days of collecting nets and making skateboards in Chile, and how Bureo evolved into a global circular-materials supplier through its NetPlus program. They dive into the economics and challenges of competing with cheap virgin plastic, the potential of sectors like apparel and automotive, and the importance of pairing environmental impact with financial viability. The episode also touches on broader themes like the politicization of environmental issues, the role of consumers and younger generations in driving change, why taking action now rather than waiting for policy is critical for building a cleaner, more responsible future, and so much more.  Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode (0:58) Joel’s LA Property Sale, Taxes, and 1031 Exchange Dilemma (1:39)   Why Multifamily Is Not Passive and Mentions Short Term Rental Loophole (3:53)   Using Real Estate as a Clean Energy and Decarb Testbed (5:31)   Introducing David Stover and Bureo’s Mission to Transform Fishing Nets (8:13)   From Garage Skateboards to Global Network and Brand Partnerships (10:03)   Why Chile Became the Launchpad For Bureo’s Net Collection Program (12:19)   The Surfing Aha Moment and Seeing Plastic Crisis Firsthand in Indonesia (14:36)   Leaving Corporate Jobs to Build a Mission Driven Company (16:56)   Pivoting From Branded Products to Supplying NetPlus Materials to Big Brands (20:22)   The Economics of Recycled Nylon vs Cheap Virgin Plastic (24:59)   Why Automotive and EVs Are a Huge But Price Sensitive Opportunity (28:13)   How Much Fishing Net Waste Exists and Bureo’s Path to Scaling Collection (31:59)   The Costs, Risks, and Reality of Running Physical Recycling Infrastructure (34:52)   How Bad Ocean Plastic Really is and Parallels to Renewables and EVs (36:53)   Politicization Of Environmental Issues and the Role Of Consumers (40:06)   Climate, Regulation, and Why Waiting For Policy is Not Enough (44:17)   Why the Younger Generation Gives David Hope For the Future (47:48)   Where to Find NetPlus Products and Bureo’s Solar Powered Facility in Chile (49:46)   The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at www.lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    51 min

  8. FEB 18

    How To Add EV Charging With NO Costly Grid Upgrade

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with John Reister, Founder and CEO of GoPowerEV, about why EV charging in multifamily buildings is so challenging and how his company is addressing it. They cover the complexity of utilities, permitting, electrical capacity upgrades, and tenant conflict, and explain how personal space chargers, smart energy management, and a turnkey model for landlords can avoid expensive service upgrades while keeping chargers highly reliable. John also shares how this infrastructure is evolving into a virtual power plant that can eventually use bidirectional EVs to support the grid and potentially let drivers charge at very low or no net cost, underscoring that economics and convenience, not ideology, will ultimately drive mass EV and clean tech adoption. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode (0:59)Bureaucracy, Ford vs Ferrari, and Big-Company Speed (3:11)  Joel’s AI Story and Legacy Firms Blocking New Tools (3:57)  Introducing John and GoPowerEV’s Focus on Multifamily (5:57)  Turnkey EV Charging Offering for Property Owners (7:14)  Why Multifamily EV Charging Is So Hard (10:11)  Shared Chargers, “Musical Chairs,” and Tenant Conflict (11:38)  Hardware Design, Uptime, and Modular Scalability (15:34)  Hybrid Level 1/Level 2 and App-Based Energy Management (17:17)  Dynamic Load Management and Avoiding Service Upgrades (21:41)  John’s Background and Why He Tackled This Problem (28:07)  Surveys, Convenience, and EV Access for Renters (33:07)  Virtual Power Plants and Using EVs to Support the Grid (36:21)  Utility Metering Model and Owner/Tenant Economics (38:55)  How EVs Can Offset New Grid Loads Like Data Centers (42:39)  Clean Tech Economics vs Old Narratives and Lobbies (45:02)  Closing Thoughts, Optimism, and How to Find GoPowerEV (49:31)  The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future. Learn more and subscribe at lesstalkmoreaction.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    51 min
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About

The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise. Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future.

Information

  • Creator
    Joel Cesare & Owen Barrett
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Less Talk, More Action - All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Less Talk, More Action

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