CarbonSessions

In this episode of Carbon Sessions, Kristina, Jenn and Brian talk to Becky Park-Romanovsky, founder of Toronto Climate Week, about her journey into climate action and her mission to bring more people into the climate conversation. Becky shares how her first climate startup grew out of frustration with the waste generated by large corporate events, and how a search for community eventually led her to create Toronto Climate Week. We discuss: Why community can be a powerful driver of climate action How Toronto Climate Week brings together 200+ events and diverse stakeholders Making climate conversations accessible to the “climate curious” The importance of internal champions when working with governments and businesses How to avoid greenwashing while remaining open to different perspectives Turning conversations and connections into real-world action The challenge of maintaining momentum and building a financially sustainable community And, finally, where hope comes from when working on climate change Becky reminds us that climate action doesn't have to start with climate. Sometimes it starts with something as simple as a love of nature, music, sport or even... kayaking. Find Toronto Climate Week: tocw.ca ----- Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Kristina Horning, Jenn Swanson and Brian Tormey. Kristina is joining from Prague (that it is where she is originally from) and her base is US. From Langley in British Columbia, Canada, Jenn is a Minister, Coach, Writer, and community Connector, helping people help themselves. Brian is a Real Estate Title Insurance Professional and Goat Farmer in the US. ----- For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac, visit thecarbonalmanac.org Want to join in the conversation? Visit thecarbonalmanac.org/podcasts and send us a voice message on this episode or any other climate-related ideas and perspectives. Don’t Take Our Word For It, Look It Up! ----- The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Tang, Lilli Querker, Steve Heatherington, and Rob Slater.

In this episode of CarbonSessions, we welcome Robert Politzer of Green Street Global for a fascinating conversation at the intersection of real estate, finance, energy, and the climate crisis. Robert explains why buildings account for roughly 40% of global carbon emissions and why commercial real estate is such a critical part of the climate equation. He also shares his long journey as a green building pioneer, from early LEED projects and solar initiatives in New York City to his current work on profitable decarbonization. The conversation then turns to a bold new frontier: algae biofarms. Robert makes the case that algae could become a game-changing solution for carbon removal, clean baseload power, shipping fuel, aviation fuel, cattle feed, and economic development. He describes this as the “dawning of the age of algae” and offers a hopeful vision of how this technology could help countries like Brazil, India, and the U.S. reduce emissions while strengthening their economies. In this episode, we discuss: Why Robert prefers the term climate crisis over climate change Why buildings and commercial real estate matter so much in decarbonization How Local Law 97 in New York City is reshaping building emissions Why profitable decarbonization is essential for business adoption How algae biofarms work and why they may outperform conventional carbon capture The potential of algae-based oil for power generation, shipping, and aviation fuel The value of algae byproducts like cattle feed, fish feed, and biochar fertilizer Why Robert believes algae could become one of the most important climate solutions of our time Key takeaway There is still room for hope. While the climate crisis is real and urgent, transformative solutions are emerging, nd algae may become one of the most powerful tools we have for decarbonization at scale. About Robert Politzer Robert Politzer is the founder of Green Street Global and a longtime green building pioneer working at the intersection of sustainability, commercial real estate, and climate solutions. 📩 Contact: [email protected] 🔗 LinkedIn: Robert Politzer 🌐 Green Street Global / Myko Global ----- Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Leekei Tang and Brian Tormey. Leekei is a fashion business founder, a business coach, an international development expert, and podcaster from Paris, France. Brian is a Real Estate Title Insurance Professional and Goat Farmer in the US. ----- For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac (one of Amazon best-selling books of the year!), visit thecarbonalmanac.org Want to join in the conversation? Visit thecarbonalmanac.org/podcasts and send us a voice message on this episode or any other climate-related ideas and perspectives. Don’t Take Our Word For It, Look It Up! ----- The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Tang, Lilli Querker, Steve Heatherington, and Rob Slater.

In this episode of CarbonSessions, we welcome Dr. Diane Osgood, sustainability strategist and author of Your Shopping Superpower. Diane has spent decades working at the intersection of business, sustainability, and consumer behavior. Through her work, she explores how everyday purchasing decisions can influence markets and drive meaningful environmental change. Diane shares how volunteering early in her career sparked her passion for environmental stewardship and eventually led her to focus on how companies and consumers interact within the sustainability ecosystem. She explains why businesses often struggle to balance sustainability goals with profitability and how consumer demand plays a critical role in accelerating change. Together, we explore how shopping choices, transparency, and trust influence corporate behavior and why small individual actions can scale into powerful collective impact. In this episode we discuss: Diane’s journey into sustainability and environmental advocacy Why consumer choices can influence corporate sustainability strategies The role of certifications and labels in building trust The challenge companies face balancing profit and sustainability Why packaging, plastic waste, and everyday purchasing decisions matter The gap between what consumers say they want and what they actually buy How communities can influence change through collective action Diane also reminds us that change doesn’t always start with governments or corporations—it often begins with individual choices that reshape markets. About Diane Osgood Dr. Diane Osgood is a sustainability expert, strategist, and author focused on helping businesses and consumers create positive environmental impact through informed choices Your Shopping Superpower – available through major bookstores and independent booksellers ----- For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac, visit thecarbonalmanac.org Want to join in the conversation? Visit thecarbonalmanac.org/podcasts and send us a voice message on this episode or any other climate-related ideas and perspectives. Don’t Take Our Word For It, Look It Up! ----- Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Olabanji Stephen, Jenn Swanson, and Jennifer Myers Chua Olabanji is from Lagos Nigeria. He’s a Creative Director and visual designer that helps brands gain clarity, deliver meaningful experiences and build tribes through Design & Strategy. He founded Jorney - a community designed to help people stay productive, accountable, and do their best work. From Langley in British Columbia, Canada, Jenn is a Minister, Coach, Writer, and community Connector, helping people help themselves. Joining us from Toronto, Jennifer Myers Chua helps organizations creating positive change make a bigger impact with better creative, smarter strategy, and thoughtful solutions. ----- The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Tang, Lilli Querker, Steve Heatherington, and Rob Slater.

In this episode of CarbonSessions, Olabanji, Kristina and Jenn dive deep with speaker, coach, advisor and writer Lorraine Smith. Lorraine has spent over two decades navigating the world of corporate sustainability. From her early career in ESG reporting with Fortune 500 companies to stepping away from the mainstream narrative, Lorraine now champions a bold new paradigm: industrial healing. Lorraine shares her personal journey of disillusionment with conventional sustainability frameworks and the moment she realized that mainstream ESG wasn’t just ineffective: it was part of the problem. She introduces us to her concept of Matereality, a more grounded and holistic way of evaluating corporate impact that moves beyond surface-level metrics and buzzwords. Together, we explore: The concept of industrial healing vs. mainstream sustainability What’s missing from traditional ESG narratives The dangers of sustainability jargon like “net-zero” and “circular” Her vision of Matereality and why it matters Mindset shifts for business leaders and individuals What she teaches in her Practice Change Program What a life-serving economy could look like by 2036 Lorraine invites us to rethink not just business strategy, but our relationship with the systems we live and work in. Whether you’re a sustainability professional, corporate leader, or curious changemaker, this conversation will leave you with more questions—and inspiration—than you came in with. Learn more about Lorraine’s work at https://www.blorrainesmith.com/ ----- For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac, visit thecarbonalmanac.org Want to join in the conversation? Visit thecarbonalmanac.org/podcasts and send us a voice message on this episode or any other climate-related ideas and perspectives. Don’t Take Our Word For It, Look It Up! ----- Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Olabanji Stephen, Jenn Swanson, and Kristina Horning Olabanji is from Lagos Nigeria. He’s a Creative Director and visual designer that helps brands gain clarity, deliver meaningful experiences and build tribes through Design & Strategy. He founded Jorney - a community designed to help people stay productive, accountable, and do their best work. From Langley in British Columbia, Canada, Jenn is a Minister, Coach, Writer, and community Connector, helping people help themselves. Kristina is currently in Prague (that it is where she is originally from) and her base is US. ----- The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Tang, Lilli Querker, Steve Heatherington, and Rob Slater.

Episode Summary: In this powerful and moving episode, we welcome storyteller and social entrepreneur Carl Gough, founder of the Nexus project. Carl shares his deeply personal journey through grief, identity loss, and rediscovery during the lockdown, and how storytelling became his way back to meaning, connection, and agency. Through bonfire tales, barefoot performances, and a growing international presence, Carl has developed a unique approach to storytelling as a tool for emotional resilience and climate engagement. He explains how myths and folktales offer vital breathing room in a media-saturated world, and how the act of sharing stories, rather than drowning in despair, can rekindle a sense of purpose. We also explore: The alchemy between storyteller and audience How stories can help us reclaim agency in the face of climate paralysis Why grief, when acknowledged, can become a doorway to action The origins and power of the Nexus storytelling project The challenges of translating a deeply emotional in-person workshop into an online space Listen in for a timely reminder that we are not too small to make a difference—and that the stories we choose to tell ourselves shape the world we live in. Update: Since we recorded this episode, Carl Gough has taken on a new role promoting the protection and restoration of seagrass—a crucial marine habitat—to help safeguard our ocean environments. ----- Mentioned in this episode: Carl’s performance storytelling website: https://storytelling.wales TEDx Talk: What if stories could change the climate? – Carl Gough at TEDx Nantymoel Beyond the Border Festival (Wales International Storytelling Festival) ----- Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Steve Heatherington, Tania Marien, Rob Slate and Leekei Tang. From a beautiful valley in Wales, UK, Steve is a Podcast Coach, Producer and Alpaca Shepherd. Steve is fascinated by the ideas of regeneration beyond sustainability and is still a biologist at heart. From Riverside, California, Tania is an independent environmental education professional and hosts and produces The Talaterra Podcast. Rob is from Birmingham in the UK, he is an orthodontist, triathlete, coach and podcaster. Leekei is a fashion business founder, a business coach, an international development expert, and podcaster from Paris, France. ----- For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac (one of Amazon best-selling books of the year!), visit thecarbonalmanac.org Want to join in the conversation? Visit thecarbonalmanac.org/podcasts and send us a voice message on this episode or any other climate-related ideas and perspectives. Don’t Take Our Word For It, Look It Up! ----- The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Tang, Steve Heatherington and Rob Slater.