CarbonSmart

In the latest episode of CarbonSmart, we explore the future of sustainable aviation with Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, and Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet. Discover how these leaders are transforming the aviation industry with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through innovative carbon recycling and alcohol-to-jet technologies. Delve into their career journeys, shared company histories, and their vision for a circular carbon economy.

Join us on an empowering journey with Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, and Aura Cuellar, President of LanzaTech, as they share their remarkable paths from the realms of oil and gas to revolutionizing the clean tech sector. In this episode, we explore the deep convictions and strategic prowess that empowered these two Colombian women to lead monumental projects, pushing the boundaries of what many deemed impossible. Both stories converge in their leadership at LanzaTech, symbolizing a transformative blueprint for the future of energy.

Kim Stanley Robinson is an award-winning American writer of science fiction novels and short stories, best known for his Mars trilogy. In fact, “Ministry for the Future” is the only book that LanzaTech CEO Dr. Jennifer Holmgren has ever asked the team to read. Here, the two discuss the realities of climate change, the acceleration of solutions, and the state of financial mechanisms.

Dr. Julio Friedmann is one of the most widely known authoritative experts in the world on carbon removal, drawdown, and sequestration and storage. He has worked in the U.S. Dept. of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Global CCS Institute, and Columbia University, where led teams that invented and fielded technology to reduce GHG emissions and produce new materials. In our daisy chain theme, Julio answers a question from GenderCool Project’s Gearah Goldstein.

Gearah Goldstein is an inclusion, diversity, and belonging consultant, and LGBTQ+ subject matter expert. She founded the global nonprofit The GenderCool Project to help replace misinformed opinions with positive experiences meeting transgender and non-binary youth in the workplace. Jennifer and Gearah discuss why DEI training is essential, and how it intersects with environmental advocacy. Gearah answers questions from Amy Harder and Heather Clancy, and leaves one for Dr. Julio Friedmann.

Two highly-recognized names in environmental media, Amy Harder (Cipher) and Heather Clancy (GreenBiz), sit down with Jennifer Holmgren to discuss why they became journalists, how covering climate has changed over the years, what challenges they face, what stories are not getting told but should, and much more. They ask each other powerful questions and leave the daisy-chain hook for Gearah Goldstein, founder of the GenderCool project.

The opener to Season 2 features young children in the lives of LanzaTech’s team asking questions on climate change, biodiversity, sea level rise, and more, for responses by our CEO and expert Hunter Lovins. Held annually on June 5th, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for public outreach. This 2022 theme, “Only One Earth,” was the slogan for the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in 1972.

LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren calls Jim Messina — the mastermind behind Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign — the world’s most successful political and corporate advisor. Throughout his career, he has merged technology and politics in a way that’s been unpredictable and unprecedented. For over 20 years, Jim served in House and Senate offices, helping pass key legislation. Here, he shares why the public and private sectors must support one another, particularly for momentum on climate action.

Earlier this year, LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren welcomed Dorri McWhorter — now CEO & President of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago — for a conversation on the CarbonSmart podcast. We learned about her journey to transform the YWCA of Metro Chicago to a 21st century social enterprise — including her changemaking focus on environmental justice and formation of an ETF for women’s empowerment. (Reposted Episode)

In this segment, we’re thrilled to welcome Nigel Topping. Appointed by the UK Minister, his role is to strengthen collaboration from businesses, investors, cities, and stakeholders — building a global community of champions to halve emissions by 2030 through initiatives such as the Race to Zero and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. He answers a daisy chain question from BusinessGreen's James Murray, and leaves a cliffhanger for Jim Messina from the Obama White House.