Less Talk, More Action

Joel Cesare & Owen Barrett
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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

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. FEB 11

    How to Sell Decarbonization to People Who Don’t Believe in It

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen welcome Ryan Yetzer, founder of Full Scope Asset Optimization, to talk about decarbonizing real estate without the ESG fluff. They debrief the IAM ESG & Decarbonizing Real Estate Forum, and debate whether AI will actually move the needle on decarbonization or just speed up “the 2% of b******t at the beginning.” Ryan shares why he left a 17‑year career in institutional real estate to start his own shop, how he sells decarbonization as a financial and asset‑value play (not a “woke” initiative), and why basic projects like LED retrofits and building optimization are still massively underused. Key takeaways: follow the money and asset leakage; simplify instead of over‑report; stop confusing measurable E (energy/returns) work with abstract S and G; real progress comes from projects that actually get built, not just reported; and so much more.  Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcome to the Episode and Nashville Conference Setup (1:02)Why Current ESG Conferences Feel Broken (2:15)Debate: “AI Is Not Going To Save Us” vs Joel’s Defense Of Decarb AI (4:45)Climate Movement, Six-Person Panels, and Calling Out Industry Timidity (7:30)Introducing Ryan Yetzer and His Mission With Full Scope Asset Optimization (10:28)Leaving Corporate America and The Reality Of Starting His Own Firm (13:45)Selling Decarbonization as a Financial Play, Not “Woke ESG” (16:31)Materiality, Investor Demands, and the Reporting Hamster Wheel (19:47)Asset Leakage, Easy Wins Like LED Retrofits, and Why They Still Don’t Happen (24:02)Dashboards No One Uses and The Gap Between Data and Action (27:46)Ideal Clients, Smaller Owners, and Reframing “Sustainability” as Saving Money (30:30)Startup Reality Check: Sales Cycles, Revenue Timelines, and Industry Slowness (36:04)What Gives Ryan Hope About the Future of Decarbonization (40:12)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 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

  7. FEB 4

    The REAL Reason Your Home Isn’t Decarbonizing (and How to Fix It)

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with Nate Adams, the “House Whisperer,” to discuss the realities of home decarbonization, electrification, and energy efficiency. Covering personal stories, contractor challenges, the importance of insulation and air sealing, hybrid HVAC solutions, and consumer education, the conversation gives practical insight into making real progress on sustainable home upgrades. Listeners will take away actionable tips on prioritizing upgrades and understanding the hurdles and opportunities in creating comfortable, efficient homes. Don’t miss this episode! Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcoming Nate to the Show and Previewing Today’s Topic (0:57)Challenges in Home Decarbonization Projects (4:41)Discussing Insulation and Contractor Issues (8:11)Nate’s Background and Industry Journey (10:11)Transition From Contracting to Consulting (16:40)Recruiting Young People Into the Trades (19:16)Joel’s Ongoing Heat Pump Struggles (19:56)Technical Challenges: Diagnosing Leaky Houses (23:29)Air Sealing and Insulation Course Discussion (26:41)Evaluating Old Homes Versus New Construction (28:03)Detailed Insulation Materials Debate (36:41)HVAC Sizing and Hybrid Solutions (47:54)Final Thoughts on Progress and Optimism in Climate Action (55:57)If you’re interested in Nate Smith’s course, use MOREACTION to get a 25% off. Learn more at natethehousewhisperer.com.  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.

    59 min

  8. JAN 28

    Why the Next Generation Demands Impact, Not Just Returns

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with Deyl Kearin of DLP Capital to discuss how real estate can become a force for good through Purpose Driven Investments and community-focused action. They explore industry trends, the challenges of authenticity versus “talk” in sustainability, and the benefits of focusing on attainable housing and long-term stewardship. Key takeaways for listeners include the value of innovative impact investing, the importance of building thriving communities, strategies for fostering generational change, and actionable advice for making a meaningful difference in real estate and beyond. Don’t miss this great conversation! Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Show and Previewing the Topic (0:56)Previewing the Nashville Conference and Industry Hopes (3:35)Conference Disappointments and Call for Action (6:37)Deyl Kearin’s Background and DLP Capital’s Mission (8:25)Impact Investing and Tenant Retention Strategies (12:41)Generational Shifts in Impact Investing Attitudes (17:51)Founding Story and Vision Behind DLP Capital (19:34)Deyl’s Personal Journey and Adventure Mindset (22:38)Industry Challenges and Evergreen Fund Advantages (28:40)Defining Attainable Housing and Final Optimistic Thoughts (34:28)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.

    37 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
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Less Talk, More Action - All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Less Talk, More Action

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