Less Talk, More Action

Joel Cesare & Owen Barrett
  • 5.0 (8)
  • 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. 5d ago

    Build vs. Buy: Is AI Killing PropTech?

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen dive into the real-world state of clean energy, starting with how the expiring ITC and recent Republican policy moves have unintentionally created a huge tailwind for solar, especially in multifamily housing. They discuss surging electricity prices, Maryland’s aggressive building performance standards, and whether these policies are actually helping or just burdening owners instead of lowering bills. Joel shares insights from building an AI-native platform for utility data and compliance, pushing back on the trend of “vibe coding” in-house tools that are hard to scale and maintain. The conversation then shifts to Stanford students walking out on Sundar Pichai’s commencement speech, which Joel and Owen view as shallow and inconsistent activism. They wrap by comparing Big Tech’s nearly $7B spend on carbon removal to the $1.5T it might take to put solar and storage on every US single-family home, arguing that tackling affordability and distributed clean energy would likely have far greater impact than exotic carbon removal schemes. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Solar Boom, ITC Expiration, and Trump’s Accidental Tailwind (2:03) Maryland Building Performance Standards and Policy Backlash (3:16) Grid Constraints, Texas Permitting, and Interconnection Challenges (10:01) Using AI for Utility Data, Compliance, and Decarbonization Planning (10:25) Build vs Buy, Vibe Coding, and Risks of In-House AI Tools (11:35) Stanford Students Walk Out on Sundar Pichai and Tech Hypocrisy (14:47) Anthropic, Carbon Removal Hype, and Misaligned Climate Priorities (19:42) Could $1.5 Trillion Put Solar and Storage on Every US Home? (21:14) Data Centers, Local Tax Revenue, and Facebook’s Louisiana Example (24:20) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (26:48) 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.

    29 min

  2. Jun 24

    Stop Hugging Trees, Start Fixing P&L: A New Playbook for Climate Action

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with Maze Works Founder and CEO Milene Pardo Figueroa about shifting sustainability from theory and reporting to real, project-based action. They start by critiquing Anthropic’s big carbon removal investment as greenwashing compared to funding energy efficiency and affordability near data centers. Milene then shares her journey from the UN and NGOs to corporate roles and ultimately founding Maze Works to embed sustainability across finance, HR, marketing, and operations instead of isolating it in a siloed sustainability team. The conversation also explores how jargon and endless frameworks have alienated people, why sustainability roles are shrinking as specialist and project-based work grows, and how honest, provocative LinkedIn content can cut through the noise. Key takeaways: talk sustainability in the language of each department, tie it to ROI and business cases, focus on concrete projects over reports, and don’t be afraid to challenge the climate “industrial complex” in public.  Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Calling Out Anthropic, AI, and Carbon Removal Greenwashing (1:58) Big Tech, Dirty Data Centers, and Energy Affordability Ideas (3:21) Introducing Milene Pardo Figueroa and Maze Works (6:25) Making Sustainability Understandable for Finance, HR, and Marketing (8:39) Why Milene Avoids Reporting Work To Focus on Strategy and Action (11:25) Shrinking Sustainability Teams and Rise of Specialists Like Carbon Accountants (13:16) Rebranding Sustainability in Business Terms Instead of Jargon (15:44) From Project-Based Climate Work To Reporting Obsession and Back Again (20:04) The Climate Industrial Complex and Misaligned Incentives (22:00) Surfing, South Africa, and Working for a “Patagonia of South Africa” Brand (25:38) Building a No‑BS Sustainability Brand on LinkedIn (27:30) Embedding Sustainability KPIs in Finance, Marketing, HR, and Operations (33:46) What Gives Milene Hope: People, Connection, and Networking (36:56) Connecting with Maze Works and Parting Thoughts (37:34) 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.

    38 min

  3. Jun 17

    Your Home’s Air Is Making You Sick (This Fixes It)

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with 24-year-old HVAC engineer and founder Austin Riesenberger about Swerv, his window-mounted energy recovery ventilator designed to improve indoor air quality without wasting energy. They explore how current climate solutions like “electrify everything,” ductless mini-splits, and LED lighting can unintentionally harm comfort, health, or affordability when implemented without enough empathy or systems thinking. Austin shares his journey from childhood asthma and open-windows-for-fresh-air habits to obsessing over building science, living in the machine shop at Columbia, and bootstrapping Swerv from a student project into a real company. The conversation dives into why CO2 and ventilation matter so much for sleep, cognition, and long-term health, how Swerv complements mini-splits and ERVs rather than replacing them, and what it’s like building climate hardware out of Greentown Labs. Key takeaways: solving climate change must also prioritize human health and household economics, modern homes are often “too tight” without enough fresh air, and there is huge opportunity for practical, hardware-first innovation in HVAC led by mission-driven founders like Austin. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: How Climate Solutions Can Make Life Worse for People (2:05) Introducing Austin Riesenberger and Swerv’s Mission (5:47) What Swerv Is and How It Ventilates Without Wasting Energy (8:01) Austin’s Story: Asthma, Football, and Obsession with HVAC (11:19) Why Personal Projects Matter More than Classroom Learning (15:08) Why Air Purifiers and Mini Splits Aren’t Enough for Healthy Air (20:23) How Swerv Works with Mini Splits to Recover Heat and Humidity (23:49) Using CO2 As an Occupancy Signal and Real‑World Examples (26:51) Why Central ERVs Often Underperform in Bedrooms (29:51) Startup Journey: From Solo Founder to Growing Engineering Team (32:13) ADHD as Both Superpower and Challenge for Founders (35:16) Parenting, Kids’ Health, and Why Indoor Air Hits Home (38:48) What Gives Austin Hope: Young Builders and Greentown Labs Community (42:42) Where to Follow Austin and How to Join the Swerv Beta (44:21) 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.

    46 min

  4. Jun 10

    These Windows Slash Energy Bills by 90%?!

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with Passive House expert and Wythe Windows co-founder Darren Macri about why windows and airtight building envelopes are critical to cutting building energy use and improving comfort. Darren explains why standard American double-hung windows perform so poorly, and how European-style tilt-turn, triple-pane windows dramatically improve insulation, airtightness, and noise reduction. He walks through the five core Passive House principles, emphasizing airtightness, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and eliminating thermal bridges. The conversation also tackles the confusion homeowners face when trying to build efficient homes, the economics and misconceptions around Passive House, and the massive role buildings play in national emissions. Darren then shares his work on prefab retrofit façade panels inspired by the Dutch EnergieSprong model, supported by NYSERDA, as a pathway to scaling deep retrofits in the U.S. They close on an optimistic note about individual agency: meaningful climate action will come from many people in many sectors pursuing practical solutions like high-performance windows and better building standards. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Why Windows Are Surprisingly Interesting for Decarbonization (1:22)   Rant on AI Pens, Wearables, and Meeting Privacy (3:00)   Introducing Passive House Expert and Wythe Windows Co-Founder Darren Macri (6:52) Why Contractor Insulation Mistakes Matter for Comfort and Bills (9:03) Explaining Window U-Values, Thermal Chambers, and Airtightness (13:07) Five Core Passive House Principles and Why Airtightness Leads (17:29) How Regular Homeowners Can Approach Passive House-Level Performance (21:27) Does Passive House Really Cost More and How to Think About Price (24:00) Bootstrapping Wythe Windows and Designing High-Performance Frames (27:47)   Retrofits, EnergieSprong, and Prefab Facade Panels for Old Buildings (33:03) What Gives Darren Hope and Why Individual Action Still Matters (36:34) Factory Tour Invite, Ways to Follow Wythe Windows, and Episode Wrap-Up (38:57) 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.

    40 min

  5. Jun 3

    Inside the War on Climate Bureaucracy: Buildings vs. Bullsh*t Frameworks

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with economist and founder Ashley Sarauer about why traditional sustainability and carbon markets are failing to drive real-world decarbonization, and how her company, Ontoly, aims to fix that. They critique the sustainability “industry” for over-regulating and over-reporting while underbuilding, especially around AI, data centers, and grid access for everyday homeowners. Ashley explains how Ontoly turns measured emissions reductions in buildings (mainly fuel switching and efficiency) into high-integrity, premium-priced carbon credits using real utility data, a rigorous 400-page standard, and a software platform that simplifies participation for building owners and buyers. The conversation dives into carbon offsets vs RECs, integrity and fraud in carbon markets, the challenges of financing retrofits, Ashley’s personal journey from government and Vera to entrepreneurship (including an ACL injury that became a turning point), and why she still believes we’re nearing a tipping point for meaningful climate action despite the industry’s current flaws. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Sustainability Consultants, AI, And Overregulation (1:54) Data Centers vs Homeowners And Barriers To Clean Energy (3:37) Are Data Centers Really That Bad For the Environment (8:31) Introducing Ashley Sarauer And the Ontoly Building Decarb Platform (12:03) RECs vs Carbon Offsets And What Makes A High Integrity Credit (17:50) What Ontoly Actually Does And How the Portal Works (20:08) Do Carbon Credits Really Move the Needle Financially (25:42) Co‑Benefits, Community Impact, And Rating Retrofit Projects (29:51) Purchase Structures, Brokers, And Aggregating Building Portfolios (33:04) Complexity, Carbon Accounting, And Using Software To Hide the Friction (37:33) Ashley’s Founder Story: ACL Injury, Epiphany, And Quitting Vera (40:00) Learning To No‑Code, Building the MVP, And Early Traction In New York (44:22) Fundraising As A Female Founder And the Emotional Roller Coaster (48:57) Why Ashley Still Has Hope: Lessons From the Women’s Rights Movement (49:59) Where To Learn More About Ontoly And Connect With Ashley (51:04) 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.

    52 min

  6. May 27

    Why AI Doomers Are Wrong About Data Centers

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with Neuralwatt Co-Founder and CEO Chad Gibson about how AI can scale without blowing up the grid or the climate. Chad explains how modern GPUs are massively power-hungry and often underutilized, and how Neuralwatt’s software acts like a “dimmer switch” to squeeze more compute out of the same power envelope instead of building endless new data centers. They dig into stranded power in colocation facilities, energy- and carbon-aware AI infrastructure, and the rise of “neoclouds” focused purely on GPU workloads. Along the way, they explore AI doomerism vs optimism, the realities of net zero claims, the entrepreneurial grind behind Neuralwatt’s rapid growth, and why innovative models for energy-efficient, net-zero AI (from geothermal data centers to ocean-based and containerized facilities) offer real reasons for climate optimism. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Why This AI and Data Center Conversation is So Timely (1:27) Entrepreneurial Grind and the Long Game “I Told You So” Moment (2:20) Introducing Chad Gibson and the Mission of Neuralwatt (6:40) Software as a “Dimmer Switch” for GPUs and Energy Efficiency (10:04) Using Existing Grid Capacity and Selling AI by the Kilowatt Hour (15:36) Neuralwatt’s Three Products: Optimize, Cloud, and Deploy (17:47) Space, Power Density, and Cooling Challenges Inside Data Centers (21:49) Net Zero, Carbon Accounting, and Limits of Offsets for AI (24:02) Chad’s Microsoft Background, Early AI at Scale, and Startup Shift (30:05) Neuralwatt’s Rapid Growth and Organic Demand for Energy-Efficient AI (34:35) What’s Holding Back Growth and How Neoclouds Are Changing the Game (36:08) Media Fear vs On-the-Ground Innovation in Data Centers (40:02) Floating Ocean Data Centers, Desert “Dragon Wings,” and New Energy Models (41:19) Why Optimism About Net Zero AI and Renewable-Powered Compute Is Justified (42:21) 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.

    44 min

  7. May 20

    She Left Apple AirPods to Reinvent Heat Pumps: Meet the $3,800 Mono

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with Merino Energy CEO Mary-Ann Rau about her journey from writing firmware at Tesla and shipping hundreds of millions of AirPods at Apple to founding a climate tech company focused on home electrification. Mary-Ann explains how getting a $40,000 quote to install heat pumps in her own San Francisco home led her to discover that installation, not hardware, is the main cost driver, and to design the Merino Mono, a $3,800 heat pump with no outdoor unit and dramatically simplified installation. They dig into how Merino’s design differs from mini-splits and PTACs, why focusing on installer experience and dense, AC-poor markets like California unlocks a huge opportunity, and how policy incentives and cold-climate requirements have historically shaped heat pump design. Along the way, they touch on AI’s disruption of real estate, fundraising and market sizing, and Mary-Ann’s deeper motivation to work on scalable climate solutions and create a better future for her six-month-old daughter. Don’t miss this great conversation! Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcoming Mary-Ann Rau’s to the Show (1:27) AI’s “HMS Dreadnought” Moment for Real Estate and Anthropic Partnership (3:45) Consultants, Change Management, and How AI Will Actually Get Adopted (5:10) How a $40,000 Heat Pump Quote Sparked Merino Energy (10:45) Why Heat Pumps Are So Expensive to Install (13:48) Designing a Heat Pump for Installers and Sub‑$4,000 All‑In Pricing (17:49) Regulatory Incentives and Cold Climate Requirements (19:41) Why Merino Is Not Just a PTAC and How the Through‑Wall Design Works (23:34) Market Focus on California, Condos, HOAs, and Homes Without Central AC (29:44) Fundraising, Total Addressable Market, and Expansion Beyond California (32:09) Prototyping Phase: Tearing Down Heat Pumps and Learning From Portable Units (36:11) Leaving Big Tech, Privilege Expansion, and Aiming for AirPods‑Level Scale (39:19) Wildfire Smoke and the Moment Mary-Ann Committed To Climate Work (42:16) What Gives Mary-Ann Hope: Her Daughter and Building a Livable Future (46:02) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (47:27) 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.

    49 min

  8. May 13

    Heat Pumps, Rebates & Red Tape: WTF Is Wrong With This System?

    In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen talk with Coral CEO Samir Pendse about why seemingly no-brainer energy efficiency and electrification projects (like heat pumps) are still so hard to get done. They dig into the core problem of financing and broken rebate systems, how bureaucracy and utility incentive design stall projects, and why focusing on dollars and ROI beats leading with “sustainability” in sales. Samir explains Coral’s model of instantly capturing and advancing rebates and incentives to cut upfront costs for homeowners and commercial customers, boosting contractor close rates and making projects truly affordable. The trio also debates red tape vs. cowboy contractors, where AI should replace manual incentive processing, how Samir went from BCG consultant to climate founder, and why rapid, “good enough” execution beats perfection in driving real-world decarbonization. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Why Clean Energy Needs More “Finance Bros” (1:21)   Why Obvious ROI Retrofits Still Don’t Get Done (4:08)   Brown to Green Buildings and Real Estate Risk Perception (7:26)   Nobody Cares About Sustainability, Only Dollars (8:19)   Explaining Coral’s Short-Term Incentive and Long-Term Equipment Financing (12:24)   The Rebate Maze and Why So Many Incentives Are Abandoned (17:27)   Can Contractors Pocket Rebates? How Coral Prevents Inflated Pricing (21:27)   Long Term Incentive Streams and Paying Net Present Value up Front (24:56)   Utilities, Red Tape, and the Case for Streamlining Incentive Programs (26:54)   Bad Contractors vs Cowboys vs Bureaucrats in Clean Energy (29:20)   Where AI Should Replace Paper Pushers in Utility Programs (31:01)   From BCG to Climate: Why Samir Started Coral (34:42)   Unlearning Corporate Consulting to Move Fast in Startups (38:30)   Speed Over Perfection: Winning Deals With “Good Enough” Numbers (39:40)   Coral’s Next Frontier: New States, New Products, More Electrification (41:11)   Why Better Hardware and Heat Pump Tech Give Samir Hope (43:54)   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.

    46 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

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
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Less Talk, More Action - All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Less Talk, More Action

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