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Electric Ladies Podcast

Special Interest

Engaging and enlightening interviews with women leaders on energy, climate, sustainability and corporate responsibility -- ESG, environment,social and governance issues. Business, policy and technology, money, the arts and careers. Topics include driving innovation, leadership, communications and career advice. Inspiration, trends and insights. Hosted and produced by Joan Michelson, acclaimed journalist, business leader, coach and speaker, based in Washington, DC.

Location:

Washington, DC

Description:

Engaging and enlightening interviews with women leaders on energy, climate, sustainability and corporate responsibility -- ESG, environment,social and governance issues. Business, policy and technology, money, the arts and careers. Topics include driving innovation, leadership, communications and career advice. Inspiration, trends and insights. Hosted and produced by Joan Michelson, acclaimed journalist, business leader, coach and speaker, based in Washington, DC.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Japan Embraces Climate & Sustainability – Yvonne Burton, Expert On Doing Business In Japan, at Osaka Expo 2025

9/9/2025
“The theme of the expo is ‘designing society for future lives.’ And it is just that from the foundations, from the buildings to the exhibits, each country showcasing what they're doing for our future, in technology, healthcare, sustainable, living energy…The Japan pavilion's exhibit…is about the circular economy and…the theme is between life and life. So the pavilion, and its circular structure, is about life and how everything is connected and flows, again, the circular economy.” Yvonne Burton on Electric Ladies Podcast Japan is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and is also a nexus of coordination between Asia and the West, economically and politically. So today our guest is taking us on a tour of the sustainability and climate-related exhibits at the massive Osaka Expo. Listen to Yvonne Burton, who is an expert on doing business in and with Japan, tell us about the fascinating new technologies and materials that Japan and other countries, including China, are displaying and demonstrating at the Osaka Expo. It continues through October so you can plan your trip today! You’ll hear about: ● The overall theme of the Expo and how it’s integrated into each country’s pavilions and exhibits. ● Why different materials and technologies are being developed and how they are being used to replace common carbon-intensive or waste-intensive ones. ● Which issues related to climate change the countries choose to focus on tells us a lot about what they are facing, what concerns their citizens and where the country or company is investing ● Plus, career advice, such as: “It's about how you think about who you are. You can follow the script of what society says you should be thinking, feeling, or doing at this point. Or you can say, ‘I have this certain experience, these skills, and I want to fully utilize myself.’ And that often entails going out on your own and creating something that of course doesn't exist. And it's a risk. …You have to really take a look at yourself and say, ‘I believe in me and I don't want to be limited. I want to use all parts of myself’.” Yvonne Burton on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here. You’ll also like: · Telle Whitney, Silicon Valley tech veteran, author of “Rebooting Culture,” on building a culture of innovation · Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., Author of “Technology is Not Neutral,” on technology, A.I. and the climate crisis · Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) · Climate as a Geopolitical Security Emergency, with Svitlana Krakovska, Ph.D. and Mirian Villela, head of Earth Charter, a UN-founded organization and the Center for Education for Sustainable Development: Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Duration:00:58:13

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Artificial Intelligence (A.I) And The Climate - Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., Researcher, Broadcaster and Author of “Technology Is Not Neutral”

9/3/2025
“(A.I.) is so energy intensive as a technology, and that's the thing that we have to get, the infrastructure of AI… Right now we do not have an electricity grid that is, that is built for this purpose. There's the water requirements of it as well. And we also need to just think about the energy, the actual fuel that's being used to fire up and power the electricity grid.” Dr. Stephanie Hare on Electric Ladies Podcast Artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous today and advancing faster than we can imagine. It’s being used in many ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change, too, and to develop and scale clean energy solutions, But, it requires enormous amounts of electricity, water and fuel just to run the data centers. What to do? Listen to this fascinating conversation with Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., on Electric Ladies Podcast with host Joan Michelson. Stephanie is a researcher focused on the intersection of politics, technology and history, the author of the book “Technology Is Not Neutral” and co-presents “Artificial Intelligence: Decoded” on the BBC. Join them as they explore the promise and pitfalls of AI as a tool to mitigate climate change, and innovate clean energy solutions, and do so in an equitable fashion. You’ll hear about: ● The hurdles and opportunities of using AI ● Why environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data needs to be treated as a valuable resource. ● How we can ensure that AI is fair, accessible, and inclusive for everyone ● Plus, career advice for being open to great opportunities “(A.I.) is so energy intensive as a technology, and that's the thing that we have to get, the infrastructure of AI… Right now we do not have an electricity grid that is, that is built for this purpose. There's the water requirements of it as well. And we also need to just think about the energy, the actual fuel that's being used to fire up and power the electricity grid.” Dr. Stephanie Hare on Electric Ladies Podcast Artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous today and advancing faster than we can imagine. It’s being used in many ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change, too, and to develop and scale clean energy solutions, But, it requires enormous amounts of electricity, water and fuel just to run the data centers. What to do? Listen to this fascinating conversation with Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., on Electric Ladies Podcast with host Joan Michelson. Stephanie is a researcher focused on the intersection of politics, technology and history, the author of the book “Technology Is Not Neutral” and co-presents “Artificial Intelligence: Decoded” on the BBC. Join them as they explore the promise and pitfalls of AI as a tool to mitigate climate change, and innovate clean energy solutions, and do so in an equitable fashion. You’ll hear about: ● The hurdles and opportunities of using AI ● Why environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data needs to be treated as a valuable resource. ● How we can ensure that AI is fair, accessible, and inclusive for everyone ● Plus, career advice for being open to great opportunities “I would look at the problems that you most enjoy solving…What are your dreams? Which is kind of like a positive way of framing a problem. What would your ideal solution look like? Because obviously we're not there.…What are your key pain points? If I could remove one pain point from your life, from your business, from your process, what would that be? And those are so fun to work on.” Stephanie Hare, Ph.D. on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here. You’ll also like: · Paula Glover, President of the Alliance to Save Energy, on How To Reduce Carbon Emissions And Save Money With Energy Efficiency· Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future.· Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a...

Duration:00:33:54

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Energy Efficiency Saves Money & CO2 – Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance To Save Energy

8/26/2025
“Energy efficiency…is doing more, using less. The megawatt not used is the cheapest megawatt and there's so many things, either by using technology, old technology like insulation or digitalization, that allows us to really stretch what we can get out every single megawat, a kilowatt electron that we use. And so that's what we're talking about. If we had the kind of massive adoption that we need, we could get to a big 40% reduction.” Paula Glover on Electric Ladies Podcast With the Energy Star program and other energy efficiency programs under attack and misunderstood, we decided to revisit this enlightening discussion with Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance To Save Energy and Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She also shares insightful career advice. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said energy efficiency should be one of the cornerstones of reducing our carbon emissions to address global warming – and incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment Act were designed to do just that. But now those are being cut or curtailed. How can energy efficiency really make a difference? Listen to this episode. You’ll hear about: What the Alliance To Save Energy is and who its members are, the impact they have.What energy efficiency really is – and is not.How you can identify and tap the savings to increase the energy efficiency of your home, business, school or community.What the Roadmap for a Just Energy Transition is and how it works. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “One would be, relationships matter, and you should be feeding into them as much as you want to get out of it. So, it's not about who….Number two, which is that as much as you're looking for a mentor, you should also be a mentor. And that mentorship is not just, I'm at 15 years and so I mentor someone who's at five. But if you really nurture relationship, you could be at 15 years mentoring someone who's at 25 years, right? You have something to contribute….There is so much that we have to contribute at every stage of our career. I think taking the opportunity to do that leads to other opportunities that you may never have known about.” Paula Glover on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here. You'll also like: Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada’s energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Duration:01:04:24

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Career Advice From 5 Women Trailblazers – Hilary Doe, Cong. Chrissy Houlahan, Zara Summers, Tensie Whelan, & Claire Seaborn

8/12/2025
“For anyone, women especially who are interested in the energy and climate space, I would say that you shouldn't feel that you need to choose between the public sector, the private sector, and the nonprofit sector. I've been able to continue to build my expertise in the energy and climate space, but from multiple different perspectives. My advice would be to just not feel that you need to pick one of those lanes and, and to take the risk to bounce between those different segments of our economy.” Claire Seaborn on Electric Ladies Podcast Summer is a good time to think about your next career move. These five women trailblazers have some great advice. These are all women who Joan Michelson interviewed at length on Electric Ladies Podcast over the past year, and who have all broken down barriers to get where they are, blazing a trail for the rest of us. They each advocate for and/or work directly in energy, climate, sustainability and ESG – environment, social, governance – and share actionable tips that every woman (and man) can apply today. This episode brings you advice from: · Hilary Doe, Michigan’s Chief Growth Office on how the state is turning IRA Credits into Growth – and the first person in the U.S. to hold that kind of role. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, on the politics of energy and infrastructureClaire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada’s energy policies · Tensie Whelan, Founding Director of NYU Stern on why sustainable business is good business. · Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer at LanzaTech about innovative ways that recovered carbon is making its way back into our daily lives. Read Joan’s Forbes piece on How Women Can Boost Their Careers Despite Headwinds — Women’s History Month, and more of her articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! Join us at The Earth Day Women’s Summit on April 22, 2025, in Dallas, Texas! Register today with the code “EDWS” for the Women’s Summit and a special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:37:42

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Using Captured Carbon To Make Energy – Bjork Kristjansdottir, Carbon Recycling International

8/6/2025
“Carbon Recycling International…is converting CO2 into sustainable methanol…(W)e have technology, which takes CO2 as a waste, and it takes hydrogen and turns it into methanol…and it is used today both like into chemicals. So, the chemical sector is a big consumer of methanol, which is a very large known product in the world today. …(and into) a sustainable fuel...playing a pretty big role in the energy transition.” Bjork Kristjansdottir on Electric Ladies Podcast As the Trump administration sends mixed signals on carbon capture technologies – keeping the tax credits for them while cutting funding – an innovative company in Iceland is converting captured CO2 into energy, in what’s called carbon recycling. How? Listen to Bjork Kristjansdottir, COO/CFO of Carbon Recycling International in Iceland explain how it works and how it’s used in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. You’ll hear about: How they “recycle carbon” – from capture to converting it to how it’s used.How the chemicals made from carbon recycling are used.Why methanol is so important in the energy transition and how they make itHow they are making sustainable aviation fuel from carbon recycling Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “My advice is first, like it's around decisions. So, we need to make decisions. Postponing making decisions puts you at the risk things will just happen to you.…And remember that, when we do make those decision in our career, it is always based on the best information available at the time. Things may change, it doesn't make it a wrong decision.. (and) You don't need to learn and be the best at everything yourself. What you need to do is to learn how to listen and harvest all of the potential, all of the talent around you… get comfortable with asking the right questions.” Bjork Kristjansdottir on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes article about this new report here and more of her articles here too. You'll also like: Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada’s energy policies Melissa Lott, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and the lead scientists in the PBS/NOVA documentary “Chasing Carbon Zero.” Paula Glover, President, The Alliance to Save Energy, focused on energy efficiency Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Duration:00:49:15

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You Can Make A Difference Where You Are – Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative

7/29/2025
“There are those individual actions that we can take. But if I can work with my community or work inside of my company, or if I can work inside of my house of worship and we can build some community and some action that way, it will have a much bigger impact than anything that I can do as an individual… The communities that they're already a part of, whether they're residential, like in their neighborhoods, or it's the nonprofits that they're a part of, or the places where they have other kinds of communities like religious communities, and start conversations there. What could we do as a community? What could we do as an organization?” Laur Hesse Fisher on Electric Ladies Podcast It’s easy to feel powerless as political forces try to dismantle sustainability-climate-clean energy initiatives, levers and economics, BUT we can make a difference anyway. And it matters. Small steps add up. Impact matters. There are steps each of us can take individually to help avert climate change. How? Listen to Laur Hesse Fisher of MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative and TIL Climate podcast, in this discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson that aired last year and is more relevant than ever. Laur explains how we can leverage the things we do now, the places we already go, and people we currently talk to and make a difference that way. You’ll hear about: Why reaching people outside the climate-tuned bubble is critical.How we can leverage the relationships we already have, the local media, and local events to make a bigger difference than we can make on our own.Why voting is so crucial this year – and not for the reasons you might have heard Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “My advice would be, as you're thinking about where you want to go, talk to people about that. So you might not know where you want to go, in which case I recommend informational interviews. Those are great for learning about other people's career paths, what it took for them to get there, what did they learn along the way? I mean, people are really open to having a half an hour conversation.” Laur Hesse Fisher on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here too. You'll also like: · Most Americans Want Climate Action, Study Says. How To Bridge The Political Divide, ELP Host Joan Michelson’s article that includes Congresswoman Houlahan. · Women Rewriting The Climate Conversation, a panel from The Earth Day Women’s Summit moderated by Joan Michelson · UN Climate Week discussion on how some creative women are making sustainable fashion a reality, moderated by Joan Michelson. · Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of PVBLIC Foundation, on sustainability and social responsibility on the runway. · Zainab Salbi, cofounder of Daughters For Earth, on the pivotal role of women climate entrepreneurs. · Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, environmental storytelling through media, film, series and documentaries. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Duration:00:54:08

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Recycled Steel Goes Mainstream - Tabitha Stine, General Manager, Energy Solutions, Nucor Corporation

7/22/2025
“Our job is to recycle so that we can recover all of that scrap and goods that you and I are recycling in our garbage bins every week or recycling as we get new cars. And our job is to recover that because we make steel in a very clean and efficient process through what's called an electric arc furnace. So, we take all of that scrap, we melt it down, and we make new steel. It does not degrade. It has a continuous reusable life.…Depending on the different products of steel, that actually determines the recycled content that goes into them for the finishes and the quality of the steel that's needed.” Tabitha Stine on Electric Ladies Podcast With tariffs on steel and the Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel merger back in the news, we wanted to replay this important conversation on the impact of steel on the environment and how “recycled steel” works. “The production and use of materials such as cement, steel, and aluminum have a significant carbon footprint,” according to the UN, with construction 37% of emissions. But is recycled steel safe? Listen to Tabitha Stine, General Manager of Energy Solutions and Services at Nucor Corporation, which says it’s “North America’s largest steel manufacturer and recycler.” She’ll explain how recycled steel is made and more in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. They also share insightful career advice. You’ll hear about: How recycled steel is made and where the steel comes from that is recycled.How structurally sound recycled steel is and how it’s tested to make sure and meet building codes.Which industries use recycled steel, why, and how the demand and supply line up. How the steel industry is adapting to ensure automobiles and buildings are resilient to the ravages of climate change, including innovations in the works. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “Usually what holds people back is, people are not willing to raise their hand. And then you go 10 years and you haven't had guidance because maybe you have a manager that doesn't give you feedback. You have to advocate for yourself. You are your advocate. There are no others. You’ve got to assume nobody else will except for yourself and you go for it. And I would also stress that if you're also not mentoring others at every stage along your career, you're missing out on a big opportunity,” Tabitha Stine on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here. You'll also like: Marci Jenks, Eco-Materials Technologies, on green cement Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, The Conference Board, about her new report on buildings, climate change and carbon emissions. Katie McGinty, Chief Sustainability Officer, Johnson Controls, on the power of buildings. Anna Siefken, Deputy Director, Federal Energy Management Program, Dept. of Energy, on how the federal government reduces the energy use and carbon footprint of its 350,000 buildings. Laura Busse Dolan, CEO, Applied Imagination, which designs and builds miniature buildings from plants and botanicals. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Duration:01:00:38

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Unlocking Capital For Women And Climate Solutions – Women Leaders In Finance And Investment, The Earth Day Women’s Summit

7/9/2025
“If you cannot change the system, change the frigging system… Women, when we have our money, are more likely to start an impact fund business or something. So, we have really got to get out of our way and just take the risk. " Tracy Gray at The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025 Innovative financing models are urgently needed to tackle the climate crisis, but significant gaps persist. Research shows that women and people of color deliver stronger returns yet continue to be underrepresented. Meanwhile, the insurance industry must confront the mounting risks of climate disasters. So how can our financial systems better support women-led and minority-owned businesses, fund climate resilience and provide high return of investments? Listen to this live recording of a riveting panel at The Earth Day Women’s Summit at Earthx2025, moderated by Kristina Wyatt, Chief Sustainability Officer & Deputy General Counsel, Persefoni. You’ll hear from Enya He, consultant with Munich Re and insurance industry expert, on how the insurance sector is confronting escalating climate risks. Shelly Porges, Managing Partner, Beyond the Billion, who shares strategies for women to access capital and build powerful allyships.Tracy Gray, Founder & Managing Partner of The 22 Fund, who sheds light on the systemic barriers that women and people of color face in securing venture capital. Kristina Wyatt, Chief Sustainability Officer & Deputy General Counsel, Persefoni. “One strategy that I encourage every woman to consider, is to make men your allies because they control most of the assets. Not all men will be your allies. But if you look at the men in your lives who have been supportive of you or know what you're capable of, who have seen how hard you've worked, who've seen your successes, who have seen how much you've influenced other people, all of the above, then you can make men your allies.” Shelly Porges at The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025 You’ll also like: Climate Is A Security Emergency– from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with a top climate scientist and geopolitical expert Food, Fashion & Ag vs. Climate Change– from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with top scientists and innovators in these fields What’s The Role Of Business Today In Addressing The Climate Crisis?- from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with top business leaders Rewriting The Climate Conversation- - from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with top communicators, including a Hollywood producer and conservative voice Shelly Porges, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Beyond the Billion Dollar Fund, on funding women entrepreneursKristina Wyatt, Chief Sustainability Officer & Deputy General Counsel, Persefoni, on climate disclosure rules.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article from SXSW London: Leapfrog, Transform Capitalism And Embrace Women’s Strengths For Climate-Positive Economy Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:50:47

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Climate Is A Security Emergency – From A Top Climate Scientist & A Geopolitical Expert

7/2/2025
"The climate crisis has roots in fossil fuels, but at the same time, fossil fuels fund this Russian invasion to Ukraine. So it means this is a fossil fuel war. If we will actually fight against our overall actually dependency on fossil fuels in the same way we will fight against climate change." Svitlana Krakovska on Electric Ladies Podcast The climate emergency is a security threat, and a “threat multiplier,” as former Defense Undersecretary Sherri Goodman has written. Looking at security in the same way as it has been is no longer working. The old view leaves us very vulnerable. Some of the greatest challenges to human security have unexpected connections to climate change. Are world leaders are truly prepared to meet this moment? Listen to this live recording of this “Fireside Chat on Climate Security” at The Earth Day Women’s Summit at Earthx2025 moderated by Electric Ladies Podcast’s Joan Michelson that uncovers the issues at the intersection of climate change, security and sustainability. You’ll hear from Svitlana Krakovska, a top climate scientist from UkraineMirian Vilela, Executive Director of Earth Charter International Secretariat & Center for Education for Sustainable DevelopmentJoan Michelson, Executive Producer of The Earth Day Women’s Summit and host of Electric Ladies Podcast. “We are looking at business and economy and make bigger decisions without looking at it through a lens that sees the interconnectedness of all these social and environmental challenges. [We have] to expand our planetary consciousness and deepen our ethical responsibility with the wellbeing of humans across cultures and nations.” Mirian Vilela on Electric Ladies Podcast You’ll also like: Food, Fashion & Ag vs. Climate Change – from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with top scientists and innovators in these fields What’s The Role Of Business Today In Addressing The Climate Crisis? - from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with top business leaders Rewriting The Climate Conversation – from The Earth Day Women’s Summit 2025, with top communicators, including a Hollywood producer and conservative voice Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, on climate change as a security threat.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on How Climate Change Is Reshaping Global Security And The Military.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on A New Security Mindset: From Women On The Frontlines. Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:33:06

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Food, Fashion & Ag vs. Climate Change – Voices From The Earth Day Women’s Summit

6/26/2025
“Food systems have to do with everything from production to processing, distribution, and the utilization. Then of course, end of life for food systems which includes food waste. In the United States, 40% of the food that we produce goes to waste. This means with distribution challenges that not everybody has equitable access to the kinds of foods that they need and want, at the times that they need them." Robin Currey on Electric Ladies Podcast Climate change is disrupting our food and agriculture systems, including the critical supply chains that feed and clothe us. Yet, these same supply chains can also hold the key to regenerative agriculture, especially in the face of extraordinary new scientific innovation. Women make or influence 85% of consumption decisions, so they/we can play a critical role in driving what companies and farmers produce. Listen to this live recording of a session at The Earth Day Women’s Summit at Earthx2025 with a panel moderated by Electric Ladies Podcast’s Joan Michelson. You’ll hear surprising ways that industries are creating solutions within supply chains, tapping into technologies to help us produce and consume more sustainably. The panel includes: Robin Currey, on the efforts underway to help food systems adapt to climate change through agricultural biodiversity. Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, on efforts to engage women farmers in sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices. Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer at LanzaTech, on how carbon emissions are converted into sustainable materials for clothing, food, and fuel.Joan Michelson, Executive Producer of The Earth Day Women’s Summit and host of Electric Ladies Podcast. And, insightful career advice… “If you can combine something you’re passionate about with something you’re good at, and you can make that into a career, that is success. Find other women that will be prepared to give back to help careers and connect. We have a Women in CottonConnect group where we are really looking at how we can advance women in our organization. “Not everything has to be an enormous career step. When I joined CottonConnect, it was a relatively small organization that has since grown into a much larger one. But it was something I was passionate about, and I’ve been fortunate to have a great team and great advisors around me.” Alison Ward on Electric Ladies Podcast You’ll also like: Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, on how female farmers are transforming cotton. Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer of LanzaTech, on harnessing the power of nature’s oldest metabolism. UN Climate Week on Sustainable Fashion: panel discussion on buying sustainable fashion. 7 Career Tips For Women In Sustainable Fashion, an article by Joan in Forbes. Dr. Lara Ramdin, Chief Innovation Officer of Dole Sunshine Foods, on food design and nutrition.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on The Surprising Future Of Fashion. Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:47:12

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Business Leaders Bridging The Climate Gap – Voices From The Earth Day Women’s Summit

6/10/2025
“Most things when it comes to corporate sustainability do not happen in a vacuum. I am part of an environmental sustainability team, but we would not be able to accomplish anything without our energy teams, our network teams, and more. The ability to take what can be a complex idea and translate that into a compelling business case often comes down to dollars and cents. While it takes time, that's how we've been able to drive change.” Rosie Austin on Electric Ladies Podcast In a poll at The Earth Day Women’s Summit in Dallas, Texas, 100% of respondents said that business is not doing enough to address the climate crisis. With climate change fuelling more frequent and ferocious weather events, and the current U.S. federal leadership defunding climate- and clean energy-related initiatives, businesses now have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to lead. Will they? The good news is, many of them are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their climate resilience. How? Listen to this live recording of a session at The Earth Day Women’s Summit at Earthx2025 with a panel moderated by Electric Ladies Podcast’s Joan Michelson. You’ll hear how businesses are keeping the momentum going and stepping in where federal leadership has stepped back. The panel includes: Danielle Azoulay, Founder, The CSO Shop and former head of CSR and Sustainability at L’Oreal and at Bed, Bath & Beyond, who shares insights into what consumers care about, and how this is shaping business decisions.Helle Bank Jørgensen, CEO and Founder of Competent Boards training programs, on the importance of boards in keeping businesses focused on the long term.Jana Gerber, President, Microgrid North America at Schneider Electric, on what companies are focusing on to meet their climate goals.Rosie Austin, Principal Program Manager - Global ESG Reporting at AT&T, on why resilience doesn't occur in a vacuum.Joan Michelson, Executive Producer of The Earth Day Women’s Summit and host of Electric Ladies Podcast. “If you look five years out, 10 years out, what is it that you want to look back at and say, Yes, I was part of this, or, or I did this. There’s a ton of roles if you look at these 17 biggest pain points in the world (the 17 sustainable development goals). Where is it that I can make a difference? I want to educate myself in this, so I can go out and help organizations, perhaps even the organization that you are working in right now.” Helle Bank Jørgensen on Electric Ladies podcast You’ll also like: Marci Jenks, Eco Material Technologies, on green cement innovations. Helle Bank Jørgensen, CEO and Founder, Competent Boards on the importance of ESG and boards. Jessica Filante Farrington, AT&T, Director of Global Sustainability, on climate resilient infrastructure. Tensie Whelan, Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, on why sustainability is good for business.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on What Business Can Do To Address Climate Crisis Despite The Backlash Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:46:57

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Green Cement Is Changing How We Build – Marci Jenks, Eco Material Technologies

6/3/2025
“Our core business is harvesting and collecting the by-product from coal combustion plants historically, called fly ash. We introduce it into supplementary cementitious materials to create a Portland cement replacement. We are pushing for 20% and even 30% [replacement of traditional cement] and hopefully reaching 100% one day with our technologies that are still in development.” Marci Jenks on Electric Ladies Podcast We need infrastructure that’s safe, strong, durable and climate resilient. To build our cities, roads, bridges and more, 30 billion tonnes of concrete is poured around the world every year. If concrete and cement were a country, it'd be the third largest emitting country behind the US and China! An innovative company tackling this challenge is Eco Material Technologies. Listen to Marcy Jenks, Director of Rail Logistics at Eco Material Technologies, who speaks to Joan about how green cement alternatives are making their way into major construction projects from Texas to Pennsylvania. You’ll hear about: How Eco Material Technologies is disrupting traditional cement with its sustainable alternative.Ways that green cement reduces long-term costs.Eco Material Technologies’ rail-focused logistics strategy that lowers carbon emissions.Expanding roles for women in the male-dominated construction and logistics industries.Plus, career advice for women in the construction and logistics industries. “We need to continue to advocate for ourselves as women and for the women adjacent to us. There is a lot of opportunity for us to have our voices be heard, get a seat at the table, and our voices are critical. The unique insights that we bring, our perspectives and our kind of innate leadership and problem solving skills are key to this environmental and sustainability conversation in [the construction] industry and business.” Marci Jenks on Electric Ladies Podcast You’ll also like: Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on 5 Key Ways Climate Change And Economic Forces Are Redesigning Buildings. Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, on good leadership traits in times of change. Lauren Sorkin, Co-founder and Executive Director, Resilient Cities Network, on how cities can withstand the shocks of climate change. Katie McGinty, Johnson Controls Chief Sustainability Officer, on why buildings are key to helping businesses address their carbon emissions. Anna Siefken, formerly from the Federal Energy Management Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, on plans to reduce the carbon footprint of federal buildings across the country. Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist at The Conference Board explains why buildings are key to mitigating climate change. Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:32:45

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Leading In Times Of Great Change – Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the U.S. Air Force

5/27/2025
“Change is a constant. This is the world that we live in. And so how do you decide what needs to change and transform? The best leaders have certain traits about them when it comes to leading an organisation through change. Great leaders have an ability to communicate and inspire and they never get tired of doing it. Or if they get tired, they keep doing it anyway because constant communication is essential when you're going through change.” Deborah Lee James on Electric Ladies podcast (previously Green Connections Radio) Many companies are scaling back their climate, sustainability and diversity commitments to avoid being the target of this administration’s wrath. This decisive moment for the private sector will test the resolve and foresight of today’s leaders, making this a must-listen for anyone in a leadership role. In a wide-ranging interview on leadership based on a sector where life-and death decisions are routine, 23rd Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Deborah Lee James talks to host Joan Michelson about what it takes to be a woman rising through the ranks. This episode is being replayed as a tribute to our service members this Memorial Day. You’ll hear about: Approaches we can all learn from the military, especially with their in-depth experience in dealing with crisis. What resilience is and can be for those of us who don’t want setbacks to stop our march onward. What “the best leaders” do to inspire and drive great teams to successful results. The five step process she applies successfully to every situation and why we all could. Great career advice for women who are always advancing. “So often women in leadership roles have labels put upon them. They’re a bitch, they’re unduly aggressive, they’re not likeable… I try to be extra careful with my communications and in the way I treat people. And in this way I attempt at least to overcome the gender bias that is out there for strong women.” Deborah Lee James on Electric Ladies podcast (previously Green Connections Radio) Read Joan’s Forbes article about former Secretary James, and more of her Forbes articles here. You’ll also like: U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan on the crucial role of climate bipartisanship when jobs and infrastructure investments are at stakeJoan Michelson’s Forbes article on Fossil Fuels, War And Climate: Women On The Frontlines Call For A New Security Mindset Jennifer Granholm, 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy, on the future of clean energy and climate action Sherri Goodman, former Undersecretary of Defense, on the connection between climate change and national security Vanessa Chan, formerly from the U.S. Department of Energy, on the investments transforming the energy systems Anna Siefken, formerly from the Federal Energy Management Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, on plans to reduce the carbon footprint of federal buildings across the country More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:46:04

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The Politics Of Progress On Climate And Energy – U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

5/20/2025
“While the word ‘climate’ may be politically charged for some, the need for affordable, reliable, and secure energy is something we can all agree on. Americans are calling for action, and as Members of Congress it’s our responsibility to deliver. If we want long-term solutions that address both our constituents' concerns and growing climate risks, we must work together to strengthen our energy and climate security with urgency.” Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan to Electric Ladies Podcast This week, Congress is set to debate legislation that could reshape the United States’ energy landscape. At stake is more than $700 million in climate action and clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act that was intended to benefit the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. What will the impact be if that funding is withdrawn. Listen to Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and co-chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, a rare example of cooperation on Capitol Hill. She’s also co-chair of the Women in STEM Caucus, which is also bipartisan. She shares insights into how to build bipartisanship, address the climate crisis and energy needs – as well as the threat that political polarization poses to keeping communities and critical infrastructure safe from extreme weather events. You’ll hear about: How Pennsylvania’s political landscape shapes the path of climate legislationWhat the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus is doing to advance the clean energy transitionHow extreme weather events can open the door to bipartisan climate actionWhy Congresswoman Houlahan's leadership with the Women in STEM Caucus mattersPlus, insightful career advice “Recognize that whatever you choose to do right now is not the end decision for the rest of your life. When you look backwards it's going to make sense, but when you look forward, it's going to be a crooked line. It's not going to be a straight line to somewhere, so do not to be too hard on yourself, do not try to seek perfection.” Chrissy Houlahan on Electric Ladies Podcast You’ll also like: Most Americans Want Climate Action, Study Says. How To Bridge The Political Divide, ELP Host Joan Michelson’s article that includes Congresswoman Houlahan. Women Rewriting The Climate Conversation, a panel from The Earth Day Women’s Summit moderated by Joan Michelson Hilary Doe, Michigan’s Chief Growth Office on how the state is turning IRA Credits into Growth Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, on why climate change is an issue of national security.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on Fossil Fuels, War And Climate: Women On The Frontlines Call For A New Security Mindset Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:43:53

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Women Rewriting The Climate Conversation – Voices From The Earth Day Women’s Summit

5/14/2025
“How do we get people in the tent to even hear the story? With ‘Living with Ed’ and other projects, we were a family they could identify with. We were yelling, laughing, loving each other while talking about real issues. I represented the average person’s perspective on issues like taking the subway. There’s the funny, and there’s the conflict. If it’s not entertaining, it’s not going to connect.” Rachelle Begley on Electric Ladies Podcast Culture wars around climate change do more harm than good. As climate-driven extreme weather events become more frequent, proposed cuts to climate-related programs at the federal, state, or corporate level, pose a growing threat to public safety. The climate crisis is a safety issue – this isn’t political. Fresh from The Earth Day Women’s Summit at Earthx2025, listen to a live recording of a panel moderated by Joan Michelson about how we can find common ground in a climate crisis. Hear from women who have successfully bridged culture, politics and platforms to reframe conversations around the climate crisis. You’ll hear from Inna Modja, Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, on humanizing climate migration.Rachelle Carson Begley, Actor and Environmentalist, on engaging through entertainment.Hayden Begley, Content Creator, on using social media to engage diverse audiences.Chelsea Henderson, Director of Editorial Content at RepublicEn, on bridging the political divide, and who also shares insightful career advice, and…Joan Michelson, host of Electric Ladies Podcast “Playing into your interests and strengths is important. It’s become a bit of a cliché to say, ‘Do what you love, and everything will fall into place,’ because it’s not that easy. I try not to say no to opportunities. Instead, I try to say yes more and engage with other women, because women are incredible at supporting one another. Leaning into that support system – hearing about the pitfalls, the challenges, what was hard, what was easy – is invaluable.” Chelsea Henderson on Electric Ladies Podcast You’ll also like: Hilary Doe, Chief Growth Officer of Michigan, on how the state leverages the Inflation Reduction Act to increase climate resilience and drive growth. Chelsea Henderson, Director of Editorial Content at RepublicEn, on bridging the partisan divide on climate. Daniella Ortega, Director of “Carbon: An Unauthorized Biography”, on communicating non-preachy climate messages Courtney Bickert, social innovator and comedienne, on how comedy could help us solve today’s biggest problems.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on Communicating Creatively On Climate To Save Lives Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:54:29

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How Michigan Turns IRA Tax Credits Into Growth – Hilary Doe, Chief Growth Officer, Michigan

5/5/2025
“We did lots of infrastructure investments over the last handful of years to make sure our communities are in the best possible place they can be. And we complemented federal investment with workforce investment to ensure Michiganders are getting access to those kinds of roles, some of which didn't even exist previously. [This ensures] that Michigan communities could benefit from learning to be solar installers and get access to new economic income streams.” Hilary Doe on Electric Ladies Podcast The Justice Department is suing Michigan over its climate initiatives under the Clean Air Act. Michigan has the fastest-growing clean energy job sector in the U.S., with over 120,000 clean energy jobs. In addition, a recent study ranked Michigan at limited risk from climate change-related events, so it may attract millions of Americans who may relocate to escape extreme climate events. Listen to Hilary Doe, Michigan’s first Chief Growth Officer (and the first in the country) on Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson. She describes how Michigan rapidly leveraged the Inflation Reduction Act to increase their climate resilience, economic growth and innovation. Now, Michigan is rated as one of the best places to live, work, raise a family and start a business. You’ll hear about: Michigan's efforts to position itself as a climate-resilient and clean energy hub.The state's fast growing startup ecosystem and innovation centers, particularly in clean tech and mobility.The impact of climate change on businesses and the trend of "climate migration" to Michigan and the Midwest.Strategies for retaining and attracting talent, including new programs like "Make My Home".Plus, insightful career advice. “Many folks start to experience frustration because they have built such a wealth of expertise and have so much to offer, but they might feel just stuck. In my experience, when I've been able to jump off that ladder and pursue something, a different context, a different platform, that lets me get unstuck. It's risky, but sometimes it just unlocks so much passion in an individual that to do exactly what you're meant to do and share all your gifts and be more successful than maybe you could have been in the other context.” Hilary Doe on Electric Ladies Podcast You’ll also like: Tensie Whelan, Founding Director of NYU Stern on why sustainable business is good business. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Jennifer Granholm, 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy, gives three reasons why clean energy is here to stay. Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, on why climate change is an issue of national security.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on Communicating Creatively On Climate To Save Lives. Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:45:40

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Sustainable Business Is Good Business – Tensie Whelan, Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business

4/29/2025
“Blue state pension funds are doubling down on sustainability while red state pension funds are firing you. Companies are challenged because for some constituencies, they have to demonstrate their sustainability credentials, and for others, they have to hide them. So it's a really challenging time. But if you can demonstrate the business case, then maybe you can navigate being more proactive with those constituencies that really want this, and alleviating the risks with those constituencies that don't understand why it matters.” Tensie Whelan on Electric Ladies Podcast Mother Nature isn’t waiting for politics to catch up – business leaders know it. Building companies that stand the test of time and create lasting value for their stakeholders, no matter which way the political winds blow, is the true measure of strategy and vision. Listen to Tensie Whelan, Founding Director of the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business. Drawing on extensive research across a range of industries from consumer goods to agriculture, Tensie speaks to Joan about how businesses can strengthen the financial case for sustainability and enhance their communications. You’ll hear about: The nine key factors that drive financial value through sustainability.How to build a strong business case for sustainability.What effective sustainability messaging looks like.Plus, career advice for mid-career women in sustainability or those looking to break into the field. “If you’re working strictly in a business function, but would like to have more impact, see if you can work for a business who's doing some innovative work around sustainability. The sustainability team is always looking for partners. So there's an opportunity for you to get more experience and over time, potentially parlay your job into more sustainability work. Secondly, you could get on a board, a non-profit board that does a lot of work on environmental or just sustainability with corporates. “My whole career, I've advanced [because] I've always seen where the holes were, how to look at problem with an opportunity mindset and volunteer to attack that opportunity and be willing to take a risk to do that and feel comfortable, which women struggle with at times.” Tensie Whelan on Electric Ladies Podcast You’ll also like: Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, on how female farmers are transforming cotton. Dr. Stephanie Hare, researcher, broadcaster and author, on harnessing AI for climate action. Isabelle Grosmaitre, Goodness & Co, on how business models need to change to include their impact on society Jill Tidman from The Redford Center on how we can talk about the climate while ensuring a balanced narrative.Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on Death, Destruction — And Distraction: New Study On Media’s Climate Coverage Crisis Read more of Joan’s Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:50:38

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Female Farmers Are Transforming Cotton – Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect

4/23/2025
“We created a group of [women] climate change ambassadors, and because they were called an ambassador, their status in the village rose. They stood taller and prouder as a result. That change – between being a woman who didn't know why the climate was changing, to a woman who has knowledge that helps the prosperity of their family – is such a shift in terms of status.” Alison Ward on Electric Ladies Podcast Have you ever wondered where your shirt really comes from, or where the cotton in your jeans was grown? While the tag might tell you where they were made, it won't tell you where the cotton came from. And that matters. Cotton is everywhere but this vital crop is now facing serious threats from climate change. One organization is working to change that by partnering with cotton farmers – many of them women – to promote climate resilient farming practices. Listen to Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, and learn about the significant yet under recognized role of women in cotton farming, and how helping them farm better is also bringing positive change to their lives. You’ll hear about: How climate change is hitting female farmers the hardest.The ways CottonConnect is bringing transparency to the cotton supply chain.Innovative solutions in cotton farming, including a role played by the European Space Agency.How CottonConnect is empowering women and transforming communities.Plus, career advice for women navigating career transitions. “If you can combine something you're passionate about with something you're good at, and you can make that into a career, that is success. Find other women that will be prepared to give back to help careers and connect. We have a Women in CottonConnect group where we are really looking at how we can advance women in our organization. “Not everything has to be an enormous career step. When I joined CottonConnect, it was a relatively small organization that has since grown into a much larger one. But it was something I was passionate about, and I've been fortunate to have a great team and great advisors around me.” Alison Ward on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here. Telle Whitney, Author and Co-Founder of AnitaB.Org Institute on building a culture of innovation. UN Climate Week discussion on how some creative women are making sustainable fashion a reality, moderated by Joan Michelson. Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of PVBLIC Foundation, on sustainability and social responsibility on the runway. Zainab Salbi, cofounder of Daughters For Earth, on the pivotal role of women climate entrepreneurs. Rosemary Atienoof Women Climate Centers International, on how she is transforming rural communities by helping women solve daily challenges in climate-friendly ways. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders’ Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:53:31

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Building A Culture Of Innovation – Telle Whitney, Author of “Rebooting Tech Culture,” Co-Founder of AnitaB.Org Institute

4/14/2025
“Talking to people from different disciplines pushes your thinking about your assumptions, going out and listening to what other people are doing helps inform the way that you creatively solve the problem that's in front of you. Leaders often are scared by some of these ideas that are coming out of their workforce and that's why they're shutting them down. But if you can demonstrate yourself to be receptive to ideas, then you can help guide a creative future.” Telle Whitney on Electric Ladies Podcast Massive innovation is crucial to meet the scale of the climate crisis, but achieving this is increasingly challenging due to current political and social undercurrents. How can organizations innovate, and how can people within these organizations come together to brainstorm, bringing ideas of their own and improving on others? According to Telle Whitney, innovation must be an intentional, concerted effort that organizations actively adopt. Listen to Telle Whitney, Cofounder of the renowned Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology & the Grace Hopper Conference – and one of Fast Company’s most influential women in technology – on Electric Ladies Podcast. Launching her latest book, Rebooting Tech Culture: How to Ignite Innovation and Build Organizations Where Everyone Can Thrive, Telle joins Joan to discuss how organizations and leaders can cultivate the culture of innovation and creativity so critical to addressing the climate crisis. You’ll hear about: The critical role culture plays in driving innovation.Why we must dispel the myth of the "lone genius".Telle’s 6Cs for building a culture of innovation.How leaders can encourage courage and risk-taking.Plus, career advice specifically for women in engineering. “To take your career to the next level, learning how to tell your story and what you want is an important skill. [One thing] I probably get from mid-career women more than anything else is the belief that ‘if I do good work, it will be recognised’. That is simply not true. Being able to say, I did this great work, and to be able to tell that to your manager or to the company leader – it is as important as the product development itself.” Telle Whitney on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here. Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer at LanzaTech about innovative ways that recovered carbon is making its way back into our daily lives.Autumn Huskins, Finance Director at Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), a waste-to-energy plant converting agricultural and food waste into electricity. Doreen Harris, President/CEO of New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), on energy innovation for decades into the future. Sue Ozdemir, CEO of Exro Technologies, on whether big companies can innovate.Read: Insights from women about driving innovation in a purpose-led economy. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! HAPPENING NEXT WEEK! Join us at The Earth Day Women’s Summit on April 22, 2025, in Dallas, Texas! Register today with the code “EDWS” for the Women’s Summit and a special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:46:01

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Where’s My Carbon Coming From? – Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer, LanzaTech

4/8/2025
“We've worked with partners like AcelorMittal… and oil and gas refineries. Emissions that would've been destined for the atmosphere are piped into our bioreactor and our magnificent microbes turn that gas into ethanol. When we pull out that ethanol, we can send it a lot of different places. You can go to On, Adidas, Athleta and buy products made by these mighty microbes from steel mill emissions. We actually flew a Virgin Atlantic flight from Orlando to London with 50 percent of the fuel in that plane made from our ethanol.” Zara Summers on Electric Ladies Podcast Addressing the climate crisis involves confronting some enormous challenges, from decarbonizing aviation to reducing fashion’s carbon footprint. Fortunately, technology and innovation provide an opportunity to make significant strides forward. Meet LanzaTech, a company turning carbon dioxide into the raw materials and energy we need for our lives. Listen to Zara Summers, Chief Science Officer at LanzaTech, as she explains how the company is harnessing the power of nature's oldest metabolism, the mighty microbe. This innovation is turning greenhouse gases into everyday materials like shoes and clothing, sustainable aviation fuel for our jets, and even fish feed! You’ll hear about: How LanzaTech transforms captured industrial emissions into valuable materials and fuels.The global brands working with LanzaTech (and how you can spot fabrics made from recycled emissions).How the technology is driving a circular economy in fashion and textiles.The uses of LanzaTech's protein-rich biomass in food and feed.Plus,advice on making a career transition. “Just jump in. Because even if it crashes and burns, it's experience and you learn no matter up and down inside it. But if you keep doing the same thing you've always done, you're robbing yourself of those opportunities. Even small risks – putting your hand up for a project where you might know 20 percent of what it takes to do it. Gosh, isn't that the best way to motivate yourself to learn something new?” Zara Summers on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan’s Forbes articles here. You'll also like: Autumn Hustins, Finance Director at Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), a waste-to-energy plant converting agricultural and food waste into electricity. Björk Kristjánsdóttir, COO/CFO of Carbon Recycling International, on turning CO2 into valuable products. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, a state program deploying innovative climate solutions. UN Climate Week discussion on how some creative women are making sustainable fashion a reality, moderated by Joan Michelson. Kerry Bannigan, Managing Director of PVBLIC Foundation, on sustainability and social responsibility on the runway. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! Join us at The Earth Day Women’s Summit on April 22, 2025, in Dallas, Texas! Register today with the code “EDWS” for the Women’s Summit and a special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Don’t forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Duration:00:51:25