Today, Matt is joined by Dan Miller - Managing Director of The Roda Group and host of Climate Chat on YouTube - for a wide-ranging conversation on the economics of the energy transition and the 2026 race for California Governor. Dan explains why renewables are already cheaper than fossil fuels (a Harvard study attributes 8 million deaths a year to fossil fuel pollution), why EVs will replace gas cars the same way cars replaced horses, the $7 trillion governments still spend each year subsidizing fossil fuels, and why AI's energy hunger is one of the biggest threats to climate progress. Dan also makes the case for endorsing Tom Steyer for California Governor - drawing on Steyer's book Cheaper, Faster, Better and his plan to take on the state's utility monopolies.

Watch Climate Chat on YouTube: youtube.com/@climatechat

Learn more about The Roda Group: rodagroup.com

Read Tom Steyer's Cheaper, Faster, Better: bit.ly/4dEbZHK

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Dan Miller Bio:

Dan Miller is the Managing Director and co-founder of The Roda Group, a Berkeley-based venture capital firm focused on climate solutions. He is also Senior Advisor to Starshot Capital, serves on the Investment Advisory Committee of PRIME Coalition's Azolla Fund, and is host of the Climate Chat YouTube channel. He was a member of the Biden–Harris energy and environment policy committee prior to the 2020 election, and has collaborated with climate scientist James Hansen on carbon pricing policy.

Episode Resources

Today, Matt speaks with Ibhade Eigbobo, Director of Corporate Project Management at Budderfly, about why the small and midsize business sector is one of America's most underused energy assets. Ibhade explains Budderfly's energy-as-a-service model - where the company takes over a customer's entire utility bill, invests its own capital to upgrade aging equipment, and earns revenue as a share of the savings. They cover why quick service restaurants are the most energy-dense buildings in the country, how batteries and virtual power plants turn small sites into grid assets, and why Ibhade believes efficiency has to come before any large-scale renewable buildout.

Learn more about Budderfly here: budderfly.com

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Ibhade's Bio:

Ibhade Eigbobo is Director of Corporate Project Management at Budderfly, one of the fastest-growing energy companies in the United States. He leads strategy for how new technologies - batteries, solar, fuel cells, geothermal, and waste heat recovery - fit into Budderfly's energy-as-a-service model. Originally from Nigeria, Ibhade holds bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering and began his career in oil and gas in South Texas and Louisiana. He later earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and is a named inventor on several Budderfly patents.

Episode Resources

More About A Climate Change with Matt Matern

A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a podcast dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of climate change while inspiring action and fostering a sustainable future. Each episode dives deep into the environmental challenges of our time, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource degradation, breaking down complex topics into digestible insights.

The podcast goes beyond merely raising awareness. It serves as a trusted resource for practical, actionable solutions that empower listeners to reduce their carbon footprint and drive change in their communities. With a strong focus on environmental science and expert perspectives, host Matt Matern brings influential voices to the forefront, highlighting innovative ideas and collaborative efforts shaping global sustainability initiatives.

More than just a source of information, A Climate Change is a movement. It builds a coalition of like-minded individuals committed to preserving the planet for future generations. Listeners are invited to participate actively in creating a legacy of positive environmental impact through informed decision-making and collective action.

The podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, provides a platform for science-backed discussions, global perspectives, and community building. Whether you want to learn about renewable energy, sustainable living practices, or climate policy, A Climate Change with Matt Matern equips you with the tools and knowledge to make a tangible difference. Tune in, take action, and join the fight for a brighter, greener future.

Curated List of Episodes

If you enjoyed this episode of A Climate Change, here is a list of some recent episodes curated especially for you:

Today, Matt is joined by Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare, a global conservation nonprofit that helps coastal fishing communities, smallholder farmers, and local leaders in 60+ countries build climate resilience through behavioral science and community-led solutions. Brett shares how Rare's Fish Forever program grew from three pilot communities in the Philippines to more than 2,000 communities across Indonesia, Brazil, Mozambique, the Bahamas, and beyond - putting 4 million hectares of the world's most biodiverse coastal ocean under sustainable management.

They discuss why climate adaptation has been underfunded for decades, why Bill Gates got it wrong in his recent climate memo, and why the real cost of inaction is a coming wave of climate migration that will dwarf anything we've seen. Brett also breaks down the three pillars of resilience Rare focuses on - financial, ecological, and social - and explains why helping a fisher get a bank account or a micro-insurance policy is as much a conservation tool as protecting the reef.

Check out Rare's work at rare.org

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

GUEST BIO

Brett Jenks is the CEO of Rare, a global conservation nonprofit that uses behavioral science and community-led approaches to protect nature and build climate resilience. For over 30 years, he has led Rare's work across 60+ countries - including Fish Forever, the world's largest coastal fishery recovery effort - and co-chairs the Climate Migration Council, pushing for global policy solutions to climate displacement. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University.

EPISODE RESOURCES

ABOUT A CLIMATE CHANGE WITH MATT MATERN

A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a podcast dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of climate change while inspiring action and fostering a sustainable future. Each episode dives deep into the environmental challenges of our time, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource degradation, breaking down complex topics into digestible insights.

The podcast goes beyond merely raising awareness. It serves as a trusted resource for practical, actionable solutions that empower listeners to reduce their carbon footprint and drive change in their communities. With a strong focus on environmental science and expert perspectives, host Matt Matern brings influential voices to the forefront, highlighting innovative ideas and collaborative efforts shaping global sustainability initiatives.

More than just a source of information, A Climate Change is a movement. It builds a coalition of like-minded individuals committed to preserving the planet for future generations. Listeners are invited to participate actively in creating a legacy of positive environmental impact through informed decision-making and collective action.

The podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, provides a platform for science-backed discussions, global perspectives, and community building. Whether you want to learn about renewable energy, sustainable living practices, or climate policy, A Climate Change with Matt Matern equips you with the tools and knowledge to make a tangible difference. Tune in, take action, and join the fight for a brighter, greener future.

CURATED LIST OF EPISODES

If you enjoyed this episode of A Climate Change, here is a list of some recent episodes curated especially for you:

Today, Matt speaks with Marci Zaroff - founder of ECOfashion Corp and one of the pioneers of the sustainable fashion movement - about the real cost of what we wear. They cover how 60% of the cotton plant ends up in our food supply, why organic and regenerative fibers matter for human health, the difference between greenwashing and genuine certification, and how the industry is shifting toward traceability and outcome-based standards. Marci also shares how she helped build the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), what ECOfashion Corp is doing today with artists like Billie Eilish, and why she sees this moment as a turning point for the whole industry.

Learn more about Marci’s work at marcizaroff.com and ecofashioncorp.com.

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Marci’s Bio:

Marci Zaroff is the Founder and CEO of ECOfashion Corp, a sustainable apparel and home textile manufacturing platform. A pioneer of the sustainable fashion movement, she coined the term “ECOfashion” in 1995 and has spent over three decades building certifications, supply chains, and brands that connect environmental responsibility with consumer products. She co-founded the Textile Exchange, helped develop the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and is the author of ECOrenaissance (Simon & Schuster).

Episode Resources:

More About A Climate Change with Matt Matern

A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a podcast dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of climate change while inspiring action and fostering a sustainable future. Each episode dives deep into the environmental challenges of our time, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource degradation, breaking down complex topics into digestible insights.

The podcast goes beyond merely raising awareness. It serves as a trusted resource for practical, actionable solutions that empower listeners to reduce their carbon footprint and drive change in their communities. With a strong focus on environmental science and expert perspectives, host Matt Matern brings influential voices to the forefront, highlighting innovative ideas and collaborative efforts shaping global sustainability initiatives.

More than just a source of information, A Climate Change is a movement. It builds a coalition of like-minded individuals committed to preserving the planet for future generations. Listeners are invited to participate actively in creating a legacy of positive environmental impact through informed decision-making and collective action.

The podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, provides a platform for science-backed discussions, global perspectives, and community building. Whether you want to learn about renewable energy, sustainable living practices, or climate policy, A Climate Change with Matt Matern equips you with the tools and knowledge to make a tangible difference. Tune in, take action, and join the fight for a brighter, greener future.

Curated List of Episodes

If you enjoyed this episode of A Climate Change, here is a list of some recent episodes curated especially for you:

Today, Matt speaks with Annie Leonard and André Carothers, co-authors of Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It, published by Patagonia Books. Annie is the creator of The Story of Stuff and former Executive Director of Greenpeace USA. André is a four-decade activist and co-founder of the Rockwood Leadership Institute.

They discuss why peaceful protest is foundational to democracy - and how it's under unprecedented attack. They break down the surge of anti-protest laws across 49 states, the fossil fuel industry's use of SLAPP suits to bankrupt activist groups (including a $660 million verdict against Greenpeace), and what it means for the climate movement when the right to dissent gets criminalized. They also talk about the legacy of movements like Earth Day and Standing Rock, why the climate movement needs to build broader power coalitions, and how anyone - regardless of experience - can show up in this moment.

Pick up the book April 28th at your local bookstore or Pre-order now at theprotestbook.com!

Want to boast to your friends about trees named after you? Help us plant 30k trees? Only a few trees left! Visit aclimatechange.com/trees to learn more

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Guest Bios

Annie Leonard

Annie Leonard is a lifelong environmental activist and the creator of The Story of Stuff, an animated documentary with over 40 million views in more than 200 countries. She served as Executive Director of Greenpeace USA from 2014 to 2023, where she co-launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC and helped build the Fire Drill Fridays movement. She has testified before Congress and was named a Time Magazine Hero of the Environment.

André Carothers

André Carothers is an activist, writer, and organizer with four decades of work on climate, human rights, environmental protection, and nuclear disarmament. He worked at Greenpeace US for 13 years, including serving on the board of directors, and co-founded the Rockwood Leadership Institute, a training organization for leaders in the social change sector.

Episode Resources

Today, Matt speaks with Doug Weir, Director at the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), about the environmental toll of armed conflict - and why it rarely gets the attention it deserves. They cover CEOBS’s real-time tracking of 300+ environmental incidents from the Iran war, including the Tehran oil fires and threats to the Persian Gulf’s fragile marine ecosystems. Doug also explains how rising military budgets are quietly undermining global climate progress, why the “military emissions gap” is a major blind spot in international climate accounting, and what it would take to hold governments accountable for environmental destruction.

Learn more about CEOBS and their Iran war environmental monitoring at ceobs.org

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

GUEST BIO

Doug Weir is the Research and Policy Director of the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), a UK-based watchdog he co-founded in 2018 to monitor and document the environmental impacts of armed conflict. He has spent two decades tracking conflict pollution, military emissions, and the legal frameworks designed to protect the environment in war. CEOBS has published the most comprehensive environmental monitoring of the Iran war to date, identifying over 300 incidents of potential harm across 12 countries. Doug is also a Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London.

EPISODE RESOURCES

Today, Matt speaks with Peter Reinhardt, co-founder and CEO of Charm Industrial, about one of the most ambitious bets in climate tech: putting carbon back underground permanently. Peter explains how Charm takes wood from wildfire thinning projects in the Colorado Rockies, converts it into bio-oil through a process called pyrolysis, and injects that carbon-rich liquid deep into sandstone formations in Louisiana — where it stays for millennia. They discuss the cost curve challenge, why most carbon offsets are ineffective, what it actually takes to scale carbon removal, and the bipartisan legislation that could unlock wildfire biomass as a climate solution. Peter also shares why California’s regulatory environment has been a barrier, how AI is helping Charm’s frontline teams, and where he sees the industry heading by 2030.

Learn more about Charm Industrial at charmindustrial.com

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Peter’s Bio:

Peter Reinhardt is the co-founder and CEO of Charm Industrial, a carbon removal company with a simple but ambitious mission: put carbon back underground permanently. After co-founding Segment — a customer data platform acquired by Twilio for $3.2 billion in 2020 — Peter pivoted to climate, founding Charm in 2018. The idea: take agricultural waste that would otherwise rot or burn and release CO₂, convert it into a stable liquid, and inject it deep underground where it stays forever. With customers including Stripe, Microsoft, Google, JPMorgan Chase, and TD Bank, Charm has delivered more permanent carbon removals than the rest of the direct air capture industry combined. Peter holds a degree in aerospace engineering from MIT.

Episode Resources

Today, Matt checks back in with Michelle Moore, CEO of Groundswell and author of Rural Renaissance, nearly a year after the EPA canceled Groundswell's $156 million Solar for All contract. Michelle shares how Groundswell is pressing forward anyway, building a new financing model around corporate off-takers and utility partnerships to keep 20MW of community solar alive. They also dig into the full-blown energy crisis hitting American families at the kitchen table - electricity bills up over 10%, AI data centers driving unprecedented demand, and a federal government that has largely stepped out of the affordability business. Michelle says the renaissance in rural America is still waiting to happen - you just have to switch streams.

Learn more about Groundswell at groundswell.org

Read Rural Renaissance: Revitalizing America's Hometowns Through Clean Power here: islandpress.org/books/rural-renaissance

Listen to Michelle's first appearance on A Climate Change here: Episode 74

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Guest Bio

Michelle Moore is CEO of Groundswell, a nonprofit that cuts electricity bills in half for low-income families through community solar, resilience hubs, and energy efficiency. A former White House official and author of Rural Renaissance, she led federal sustainability for President Obama - cutting the government's energy bill by $11 billion and deploying 3.2 gigawatts of new renewable energy. She also served as a Senate-confirmed TVA board member and drove LEED to global recognition as SVP of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Episode Resources

Note: This episode was recorded on March 23, 2026. The situation is fast-moving — some details may have evolved, but the underlying story hasn't.

Today, Matt speaks with award-winning investigative journalist Miranda Green about the fossil fuel dimensions of the U.S.-Iran conflict. Miranda - author of The Understory, Atmos Magazine's weekly climate-culture newsletter - traces how the conflict has disrupted roughly 20% of the world's liquid natural gas and oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, sent gas prices surging past $7 a gallon in parts of California, and exposed just how deeply the global economy remains dependent on fossil fuels.

They also dig into the Trump administration's response: paying a French energy company to abandon offshore wind projects and invest in Texas LNG instead; keeping aging coal plants online under national security law; and Trump's murky, shifting rationale for the conflict itself. Miranda connects the dots from dark money and fossil fuel donors to the policy decisions shaping the U.S. energy landscape — and asks whether the chaos of this moment might, paradoxically, accelerate the clean energy transition.

Read Miranda's piece, The War With Iran Is Already About Energy, at Atmos:

https://atmos.earth/political-landscapes/the-war-with-iran-is-already-about-energy/

Subscribe to Miranda's newsletter, The Understory, at atmos.earth/newsletter

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Miranda Green is an award-winning investigative journalist and climate writer based in Los Angeles. She is the author of The Understory, Atmos Magazine's weekly climate-culture newsletter, and publishes Evergreen, her own climate-focused Substack. A former staff reporter for CNN, The Hill, and The Daily Beast, she has spent nearly a decade covering the intersection of politics, energy, and the environment for national audiences. Her investigative work has appeared in ProPublica, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, and New York Magazine, and has earned multiple national awards including the 2025 National Press Club's Arthur E. Rowse Award and recognition from the National Press Foundation for energy and environmental writing.

A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a podcast dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of climate change while inspiring action and fostering a sustainable future. Each episode dives deep into the environmental challenges of our time, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource degradation, breaking down complex topics into digestible insights.

The podcast goes beyond merely raising awareness. It serves as a trusted resource for practical, actionable solutions that empower listeners to reduce their carbon footprint and drive change in their communities. With a strong focus on environmental science and expert perspectives, host Matt Matern brings influential voices to the forefront, highlighting innovative ideas and collaborative efforts shaping global sustainability initiatives.

More than just a source of information, A Climate Change is a movement. It builds a coalition of like-minded individuals committed to preserving the planet for future generations. Listeners are invited to participate actively in creating a legacy of positive environmental impact through informed decision-making and collective action.

The podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, provides a platform for science-backed discussions, global perspectives, and community building. Whether you want to learn about renewable energy, sustainable living practices, or climate policy, A Climate Change with Matt Matern equips you with the tools and knowledge to make a tangible difference. Tune in, take action, and join the fight for a brighter, greener future.

If you enjoyed this episode of A Climate Change, here is a list of some recent episodes curated especially for you:

Today, Matt speaks with Nathaniel Stinnett, returning guest and Founder and Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project (EVP), about the climate movement’s political power problem. Nathaniel explains why tens of millions of environmentalists don’t vote — and why the number one answer people give for how to address the climate crisis is recycling. He shares how EVP uses predictive modeling, randomized control trials, and behavioral psychology tools like peer pressure and endowed progress to turn non-voters into habitual voters. They also look ahead to the 2026 midterms, where EVP is targeting 3.4 million first-time climate voters across 21 states.

Learn more about the Environmental Voter Project: environmentalvoter.org

Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

Nathaniel’s Bio:

Nathaniel Stinnett is the Founder and Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit that identifies non-voting environmentalists and turns them into consistent voters using data science and behavioral psychology. Named a “climate visionary” by the New York Times and “The Voting Guru” by Grist, he came to climate work from the world of political campaigns. He holds a B.A. from Yale and a J.D. from Boston College Law School, and is a Senior Fellow at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. Since 2015, EVP has contacted over 10.5 million voters across 21 states.

Episode Resources

More About A Climate Change with Matt Matern

A Climate Change with Matt Matern

A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a podcast dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of climate change while inspiring action and fostering a sustainable future. Each episode dives deep into the environmental challenges of our time, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource degradation, breaking down complex topics into digestible insights.

The podcast goes beyond merely raising awareness. It serves as a trusted resource for practical, actionable solutions that empower listeners to reduce their carbon footprint and drive change in their communities. With a strong focus on environmental science and expert perspectives, host Matt Matern brings influential voices to the forefront, highlighting innovative ideas and collaborative efforts shaping global sustainability initiatives.

More than just a source of information, A Climate Change is a movement. It builds a coalition of like-minded individuals committed to preserving the planet for future generations. Listeners are invited to participate actively in creating a legacy of positive environmental impact through informed decision-making and collective action.

The podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, provides a platform for science-backed discussions, global perspectives, and community building. Whether you want to learn about renewable energy, sustainable living practices, or climate policy, A Climate Change with Matt Matern equips you with the tools and knowledge to make a tangible difference. Tune in, take action, and join the fight for a brighter, greener future.

Curated List of Episodes

If you enjoyed this episode of A Climate Change, here is a list of some recent episodes curated especially for you:

Why Recycling Won’t Save the Planet, with Catherine Weetman [Link]