In the first of two episodes with Paul Bryan, formerly of Chevron, Sandia National Laboratories, and the US Department of Energy (DOE), we hear about some of his experiences and reflections on the role of feedstock and its importance in the emerging biobased economy. Paul also reflects on technology transfer opportunities and pathways from his many decades of engineering research experience. In our conversation, we touch on the importance of the right bio-STUFF and the role of the desperate customer.