Consensus in Conversation

You’ve probably heard – or seen a pair – of Allbirds, the eco-friendly shoe brand disrupting the fashion and footwear industries. Joey Zwillinger, CEO and co-founder of this certified B Corp, joins the pod to talk about the company’s origin, discuss how he aligns purpose and profits, and share his insights on the future of fashion, footwear, and sustainability. 

Joey’s story starts in California, ventures through banking and VC, and, after a chance encounter with co-founder Tim Brown, leads to the launch of Allbirds: listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

More from the episode:

• Allbirds Website → https://www.allbirds.com/ |
• Allbirds on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/allbirds/ |
• Joey on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jzwillinger/ |
• Conor on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone |

Episode Time Stamps:

0:00 Cold Open |

0:53 Introduction |

2:00 Background, College |

7:43 Early Career |

12:24 Capital Markets |

16:59 Allbirds |

26:14 Purpose, Sustainability |

39:44 Conclusion |

40:40 End Credits |

Mark Danzenbaker, CEO of GridPoint, and Peter Corsell, Founder and Chairman of GridPoint, are energy industry experts. The clean technology company helps businesses, buildings, and energy grids optimize energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprints and improving grid resilience. 

Peter, a former member of the CIA, founded the company at only 25 years old in 2003, building it from the ground up. Mark joined GridPoint in 2009, and has successfully scaled the firm since becoming CEO in 2016. The two bring a fresh, unique perspective to the energy industry, entrepreneurship, and the future. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

More from the episode:

Company Website → https://www.gridpoint.com/ 

Company Social → https://www.linkedin.com/company/gridpoint/

Mark’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdanzenbaker/

Peter doesn’t have one. We promise we didn’t skip him!

Conor’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/

Time Stamps!

0:00 Cold Open

0:49 Introduction / Backgrounds

7:00 Founding GridPoint

11:37 Mark Joins Peter

16:20 What GridPoint Does

21:13 The Energy Grid

25:42 Sustainability

32:48 Motivation, Optimism

37:09 Conclusion

Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco Animal Health, brings more than 30 years of industry experience to the table. He’s worked his way up to the top of Elanco’s leadership, where he leads their innovative approach to animal health and food security for all.

This conversation focuses on Elanco’s mission, food security, animal health, and Jeff’s pursuit to align purpose with profits. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform. 

More from the episode:

Elanco's Website → https://www.elanco.com/en-us

Elanco's LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/elanco/

Jeff's LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsimmons2050/

Conor's LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/

Episode Time Stamps:

0:00 Cold Open

1:39 Introduction / Background

7:54 Joining Elanco

13:09 Visiting Brazil

16:30 Elanco’s Mission

22:49 Farmers, Animal Health

32:53 Motivation, Legacy

38:17 Conclusion

Jean-Louis Warnholz, Co-Founder and CEO of Future, has years of experience in and around emerging markets. His time spent researching economics at Oxford, work for global economic institutions and the U.S. government, and leadership role at BlackIvy Group led him to launch Future in 2021. Future incentivizes users to lower their carbon footprints.

Their core product is the Future Card, a debit card offering cashback rewards to users for low carbon purchases, like public transit. Jean-Louis brings a unique perspective to emerging markets, aligning purpose and profits, and betting on the future. Listen now on all podcasting platforms!

More from the episode:

Future Website → https://www.future.green/ 

Future LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefuturecard/

Jean-Louis Warnholz → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-louis-warnholz/

Conor Gaughan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/

Episode Time Stamps!

0:00 Cold Open

2:10 Introduction 

3:56 Pivot to Purpose

6:50 Future 

11:10 Cutting Carbon 

17:08 Circular Economy

21:26 Other Industries

26:45 Purpose and Profit

32:11 Motivation, Inspiration

35:19 Conclusion

Cisco DeVries is all about energy. Before jolting OhmConnect to new heights as CEO, Cisco designed a clean energy product called Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and later launched Renew Financial, a startup based on the PACE product. With natural disasters and grid problems on the rise, there’s no one better to explain what it all means and how companies are building a more resilient, eco-friendly grid for all.

Cisco brings over 20 years of energy industry experience to the table. Join the conversation now: from in-depth breakdowns of the electrical grid to Cisco’s optimistic energy, it’s worth the listen!

More from the episode:

Website → https://www.ohmconnect.com/ 

Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohmconnect/ 

Cisco’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/cisco-devries-9a89363/ 

Conor’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/ 

Time Stamps!

0:00 Introduction

2:10 Background

5:16 Entrepreneurship, PACE

9:35 Renew Financial

13:29 OhmConnect 

19:33 Electric Grid

28:26 Purpose and Profit

37:32 Optimism, Motivation

41:36 Conclusion

Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, Founder and CEO of LIVSN, a sustainable outdoor clothing brand, joins this week’s episode. Before his success launching LIVSN, Andrew struggled with addiction, which led to his incarceration. On his long road to recovery, he set his life back on track and eventually launched LIVSN, which raised over $100K through a Kickstarter campaign.  

Andrew’s powerful story spans recovery and rehab, launching a startup, and building a sustainable brand that aligns purpose and profits. We will all gain something from this podcast, whether it’s a motivational framework, a business blueprint, or just some good ol’ inspiration.

More from the episode:

Website → https://www.livsndesigns.com/ 

Company Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/livsndesigns/  

Andrew’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gibbs-dabney-40415399/

Conor’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/ 

Time Stamps!

0:00 Intro

2:14 Addiction and Recovery 

12:35 Taking the Hard Route

15:24 LIVSN

21:48 Kickstarter

28:30 Sustainability

37:08 Transparency

41:21 Legacy and Motivation

44:09 Conclusion

Chris Anderson, CEO of Vantem Global, is on a mission to build sustainable, affordable energy efficient homes at scale. Vantem’s 3 million square feet of prefabricated dwelling units reduce construction costs, delivery times, and energy use. Before Vantem, Chris was the founder and CEO of Simex, a sustainably harvested timber company. If there’s anyone that knows the ins and outs of sustainable construction, it’s this guy. 

Chris brings a unique perspective, passion, and expertise on sustainable construction, entrepreneurship, and creating true impact to mitigate climate change. 

More from the episode:

Website → https://vantem.com/

Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/vantem/ 

Chris Anderson’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-anderson-769744a3/ 

Conor’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/ 

Time Stamps!

0:00 Intro

1:39 Background

4:43 First Company: Simex

8:23 Vantem Global

15:28 Green Premium

19:16 The Future

22:47 Sustainability

25:13 Motivation, Inspiration

29:56 Conclusion 

Jill Brosig is a physicist turned Managing Director, Chief Impact & ESG Officer at Harrison Street. And, she has done it all, from researching inertial confinement fusion and earning her masters in engineering and now helping to pioneer new asset classes at Harrison Street. 

Jill brings a science-first approach to the investment firm, which focuses exclusively on alternative real assets. But for Jill, portfolio theory means measuring, managing, and reporting for the big picture including the risks and returns that come from resiliency and climate risk mitigation.

We’re thrilled to talk to Jill about ESG (environmental, social, governance), the climate, real estate, and real impact. Don’t forget to like or review on your favorite podcasting platform, and thanks for listening! 

More from the episode:

Website → https://www.harrisonst.com/ 

Impact Page → https://www.harrisonst.com/impact/ 

Company LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/harrison-street/ 

Jill Brosig → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-brosig-8a39a71a6/ 

Conor’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/

Time Stamps!

0:00 Intro

2:07 Early Career, Physics

3:29 Transition to Finance

6:47 Harrison Street Overview

11:24 ESG and Sustainability

20:39 Health in Real Estate

24:19 More on ESG

30:06 Inspiration and Motivation

33:07 Outro 

After serving as a U.S. Navy SEAL for almost a decade, Greg Putnam co-founded Little Belt Cattle Co. (LBCC), a first generation Montana cattle ranch, in 2020. 

Greg started the company with almost no ranching experience, but he has successfully grown the local beef business to new heights, even in an industry not known for newcomers. Greg stands out for his mission-driven leadership style, commitment to regenerative ranching practices and veterans, and ability to instill purpose into everything he does. 

We’re honored to talk with Greg about his service, successful transition to entrepreneurship, and the future of sustainable ranching. This is an episode you don’t want to miss, so click play and enjoy! 

More from the episode:

Website → https://littlebeltcattleco.com/ 

Merch Store → https://littlebeltcattleco.com/shop 

DTC Beef Sales (Spring 2023) → https://littlebeltcattleco.com/beef 

Greg Putnam → https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-putnam-a5758b209/ 

Follow Conor on LinkedIn for any and all things CiC → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgone/

Episode highlights:



0:00 Intro

01:38 Background, Military Service

04:51 Little Belt Cattle Co. 

13:41 Cattle Business 

19:35 Sustainable Ranching

23:33 Agricultural Misconceptions 

25:43 Optimism and the Future

30:55 Outro 

When Smooth Ambler opened in 2009, few envisioned the craft whiskey distillery would grow so big so fast. 

John Little, co-founder and whiskey maker, started the company with his father-in-law. The two had no experience with distilling, but their enthusiasm to learn, commitment to transparent labeling, and community-driven ethos has brought them success and industry-wide respect. Despite the fact that many high priced bourbons and whiskeys are older than the company itself, Smooth Ambler is a shining example of a company aligning profits and impact to achieve sustainable growth.

Pour yourself a nice glass, sit back, and hit play to hear the fascinating story behind John Little and Smooth Ambler.

More on Smooth Ambler:

Website → https://smoothambler.com/ 

FaceBook → https://www.facebook.com/SmoothAmbler 

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/smoothambler/ 

Twitter → https://twitter.com/SmoothAmbler 

John Little’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-little-b003698/

Episode Highlights:

0:00 Intro

01:41 Background

04:17 Whiskey

10:57 Smooth Ambler Spirits Co.

25:34 Transparency

28:07 Optimism and the Future

36:04 Conclusion

Follow our host Conor on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up to date!