TAG Sustainability Talk

Technology Association of Georgia: Smart Communities & Sustainability Society

TAG Sustainability Talk is the podcast from the Technology Association of Georgia: Smart Communities & Sustainability society. The go-to podcast for all things smart communities, cleantech, and sustainability in the great state of Georgia.

  1. 5d ago

    Thad Oviatt: Securing the E-Bike Revolution

    In this episode, host Drew Bacchus talks with Thad Oviatt, founder and CEO of Parkent Cycles, about the future of micromobility and urban e-bike infrastructure. Thad reveals the origin story of Parkent's secure parking and charging e-bike kiosks, which are designed to combat the rampant issue of bike theft (where most locks can be cut in under 30 seconds) and mitigate the significant fire hazards associated with charging e-bike batteries indoors. Learn why e-bikes are now considered the most energy-efficient and sustainable mode of transportation. The conversation explores Parkent’s low-power, grid or solar-powered steel design, the challenges of battery anxiety, and the massive market opportunity for safe, ubiquitous charging infrastructure in urban areas and on trails.

    51 min

  2. May 13

    Live from Super South 2026 Show 7

    Live from the 2026 SuperSouth Conference, this final episode in our special series connects sustainable innovation with essential human skills. Adam Marx (The Zero to One Networker) explains how organizations can scale and maintain "real people networks" and why Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—the new soft skills—are more critical than ever against the backdrop of AI. Marks discusses how cultivating these long-term relationships is vital for everything from securing capital to implementing green infrastructure projects. John Hudson (SuperSouth Co-founder) shares the long-term vision for the event to evolve from a summit to an expo by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. He highlights the need to bring the community together to drive innovation across sectors like clean tech, food, and agriculture, noting the importance of building healthier food systems.

    22 min

  3. May 7

    Live from Super South 2026 Show 6

    Join hosts Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn for this special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk podcast, recorded live at the 2026 Super South Conference. This week, we're digging into sustainability solutions, both on the surface and deep below our feet. First, we talk with Corey Mosser of Natural Born Tillers, who shares their work in innovative urban agriculture. Learn how they are bringing food and biodiversity back to cities by healing the soil and growing produce in unique spaces, including corporate campuses and apartment complexes. Then, we look beneath the surface with Hamed Soroush, founder and president of Teverra. Hamed reveals how the earth's subsurface is being harnessed for clean energy, including geothermal power, long-duration energy storage, and cutting-edge data center cooling solutions in the Southeast. Tune in for insightful conversations on building a greener, smarter future.

    21 min

  4. May 4

    Live from Super South 2026 Show 5

    In this special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk Podcast, recorded live at the 2026 SuperSouth Conference, host Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn dive into three major topics driving sustainability action across the Southeast: Corporate Infrastructure Reinvented: Emily Schneider, VP of Sustainability for Old Castle Infrastructure, discusses how the built environment is changing, including their use of new technology like AI leak detection to modernize infrastructure.The Future of Talent: Iesha Baldwin, Sustainability Coordinator for Spelman College, highlights the SuperSouth student innovation capstone, featuring youth-led research such as turning mycelium into energy.Accessible Climate Science: Salomé Furhmann and Anna Zelcer introduce the Climate Fresk educational workshops, which distill dense IPCC reports into interactive, action-oriented sessions for companies, universities, and nonprofits.Tune in for concise, deep dives into energy innovation, smart infrastructure, and the trends shaping Georgia’s clean-tech ecosystem.

    29 min

  5. Apr 29

    Live from Super South 2026 Show 4

    Welcome to another special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk Podcast, recorded live at the 2026 SuperSouth Conference. This episode dives into how the Southeast is rapidly establishing itself as a cleantech and sustainability hub, asserting its "right to win" conversation in clean technology through ambition, logic, and talent. You’ll hear key discussions with leaders driving change in the region, covering: Regional Ecosystem Building: Andy Marshall, Executive Director of the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub, details how the South is strengthening its cleantech network. Learn about a new grant from JP Morgan to create a physical hub and experiential learning programs in Georgia. Andy shares why the region possesses the necessary academic talent, manufacturing know-how, and capital to become a center of gravity for innovation. The Critical Role of Science Communication: Dr. Jenny Brandon, a microplastic scientist and science communicator, shares her astonishment at the amount of cleantech and climate work "forging ahead" in the Southeast and why scientists must engage directly with the public to ensure their research has impact. Digital Green Workflows: Melissa Katz of Just Do Good Design Co. explains the digital carbon footprint, the importance of auditing websites for sustainability, and the critical need for designers to amplify the mission of innovative environmental brands. Tune in to hear how cleantech innovators, designers, and communicators are driving a regional wave of sustainability!

    24 min

  6. Apr 24

    Live from Super South 2026 Show 3

    Hear live from SuperSouth 2026 conference as we explore how the Southeast U.S. is emerging as a global leader in sustainable innovation. This episode features rapid-fire insights from leaders driving change in FinTech, energy, and deep tech. Hear discussions on: Integrating sustainability into everyday consumer transactions. Why Atlanta is the perfect "collision point" for sustainability FinTech. The crucial need for "patient capital" to drive big transformations in energy innovation. The significant R&D advancements shaping South Carolina's energy future. Tune in for a dynamic conversation on regional growth, collaborative efforts, and the future of impact. Guests: Majda Dabaghi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Eko, Grant Wainscott (ABF Cross-Border Advisors), Richard Gruber from Georgia Tech - Quadrant i & Strategic Energy Institute, and Christina Long-Paredes, Executive Director for SC Nexus

    25 min

  7. Apr 20

    Live from Super South 2026 Show 2

    Hosts Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn are back with a special episode of "TAG Sustainability Talk," bringing you exciting highlights and insights captured live from the 2026 Super South conference! Dive into a conversation with some of the South's top innovators, discussing critical advancements in Cleantech, Smart Communities, and sustainability in the Southeast. In this episode, you will hear about: Lighter, Stronger Materials: Louis Motion of Weave 3D shares their Georgia Tech spin-out technology, including its potential to displace steel rebar in concrete and create more resilient roads, making mass-produced items more sustainable.Tackling Food Waste: Amy Keister, Global Director of Sustainability at Compass Group, talks about leveraging chefs to raise awareness around food waste, sharing practical tips for home use like using a shopping list and getting creative with leftovers.Cleantech Ecosystem Growth: Isaac Harper from the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub explains the strategy for growing Georgia’s regenerative economy by utilizing the region's strong talent, research institutions, and large companies with ambitious sustainability goals.Decarbonizing Urban Spaces: Jamie Rosenthal, Founder and CEO of Roots Down, discusses their mission to eliminate gasoline tools, herbicides, and pesticides to prevent soil and biodiversity loss in Atlanta's green spaces.

    28 min

  8. Apr 15

    Live from Super South 2026 Show 1

    The TAG Sustainability Talk podcast goes live from the 2026 Super South conference, where host Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn capture the dynamic energy of cleantech innovators across the Southeast.1Featuring: Lisa Sachs (Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment): Discusses the necessity of systems change in sectors like energy and mobility, and highlights futuristic innovations, such as the ability to create water from air moisture for agriculture and data center cooling. She stresses the need to bridge disciplines and perspectives to accelerate solutions.1Andy Montgomery (Indoor Farm Foundation): Introduces Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)—massive greenhouses that use 90% less water than open-field farming. Learn how co-locating these facilities with energy plants and data centers utilizes waste heat and captured CO2 to dramatically reduce operating costs.1Young Professionals Aru and Shui: Share their work in community outreach for extreme heat resiliency planning in coastal cities and their insights on material engineering and the environmental impacts of sustainable tech growth in Atlanta.1This episode is a dynamic, fast-paced look at the future of sustainable innovation.

    29 min
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About

TAG Sustainability Talk is the podcast from the Technology Association of Georgia: Smart Communities & Sustainability society. The go-to podcast for all things smart communities, cleantech, and sustainability in the great state of Georgia.

Information

  • Creator
    Technology Association of Georgia: Smart Communities & Sustainability Society
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Technology Association of Georgia: Smart Communities & Sustainability Society
  • Show Website
    TAG Sustainability Talk