EPISODES

Environmental Protection Episodes

Sustainability, Environmental Protection, Clean Energy Paul Shapiro Episode 166 · Sustainability, Environmental Protection, Clean Energy Paul Shapiro

The Crazy Rock Lady: How Eion is Turning Crushed Rocks into Climate Gold

Meet Ana Pavlovic, CEO of Eion and the self-described “Crazy Rock Lady.” Her company is pioneering a process called enhanced rock weathering, which uses the natural properties of a green volcanic mineral called olivine to pull carbon dioxide out of the air and lock it away—permanently.

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Food & Beverage, Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro Episode 163 · Food & Beverage, Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro

No Palm, No Problem: Fermenting the Future of Fat

Palm oil is everywhere—from food to cosmetics to biofuels—but its production is a leading cause of deforestation, habitat destruction, and greenhouse gas emissions. What if we could have all the benefits of palm oil without the downsides?

Enter NoPalm Ingredients, a Dutch biotech startup using fermentation to produce a sustainable alternative to palm oil—without the need for palm trees.

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Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro Episode 161 · Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro

Cleaner Air from Better Plants: The Neoplants Story

In this episode, Patrick and I have a wide-ranging conversation about topics like synthetic biology, science fiction, nature vs. nurture, and of course, how his company’s tech will both make money and make the world a better place. Already the company has raised more than $20 million in venture capital, with more still yet to come.

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Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro Episode 158 · Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro

Can a Problem as Big as Climate Be Solved by a Solution as Small as a Microbe?

In this episode we’re diving deep into the fascinating world of carbon recycling with a trailblazer who’s reshaping how we think about waste and sustainability. Our guest is Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech—a company on a mission to transform our biggest environmental challenge into an economic opportunity.

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Food & Beverage, Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro Episode 153 · Food & Beverage, Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro

Chocolate without Cocoa Farming: The California Cultured Journey

We all know chocolate is sweet. The way that it’s made—not so much. From deforestation and climate change to child labor and heavy metal contamination, cocoa farming leaves a lot to be desired. But what if we could make cocoa powder without having to chop down the rainforest and engage in so many other unsavory practices?

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Environmental Protection, Animal Welfare Paul Shapiro Episode 130 · Environmental Protection, Animal Welfare Paul Shapiro

When Nonprofits Start Businesses: Garden for Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation

Profiled by Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes and Gardens, Garden for Wildlife has raised $5 million from investors (primarily its founder, the National Wildlife Federation) and is already bringing in an annual revenue of $1 million. The company is also crowdfunding now, meaning for an investment as low as $250, you can own shares in this startup.

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Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro Episode 120 · Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro

Microbes to the Rescue: Lisa Nunez Safarian and Pivot Bio

Lisa Nunez Safarian leads commercial, manufacturing, and product development at Pivot Bio. Dedicating her career to advancing agriculture and helping farmers achieve better outcomes, Lisa oversees the day-to-day operations to ensure we are meeting the nitrogen needs of our customers.

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Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro Episode 119 · Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro

Swapping Leaves for Leather: Biophilica’s Mira Nameth

After getting a grant from the UK government, Mira’s new company Biophilica was born. Converting leaves and even agricultural byproducts into a plastic-free alt-leather, Biophilica’s material creation process uses less than 1 percent of the water needed to make cow-based leather, all while being both animal-free and petrochemical free, too.

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Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro Episode 104 · Sustainability, Environmental Protection Paul Shapiro

Is the Road to the Future Paved with Upcycled Plastic? Shelly Zhang and Molten Materials Thinks So

As you’ll hear in this episode, the death of Shelly’s father led to the birth of her company, Molten Materials. Armed with her PhD in engineering, Shelly has pioneered a method of taking plastic waste and upcycling it into pavement sealers, asphalt rejuvenators, and more.

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