On The Rise w/ Marcius Extavour

Renowned investor, engineer, and physicist Tom Chi joins Marcius for part 1 of a conversation about "planet positive investing" and what that might possibly mean. Marcius opens with his thoughts about venture capital ("VC") before they discuss how it works or doesn't work for climate solutions, and how Tom builds his investment thesis out of matter and energy.

Let us know what you think at [email protected]

Chapters:

00:00 Theme and Introduction
00:40 Where Do Climate Solution Ideas Come From?
14:05 How Can Capitalism for The Planet Possibly Work?
14:35 Addressing Skepticism in "Planet Positive Investing"
17:23 Value of Climate Outcomes Relative to Other Priorities
19:05 Solving a Problem At The Source
21:10 What Drives Sales for Companies in Tom's Portfolio?
21:42 The Challenges of Fundraising in Climate Ventures
22:43 How Are the Vibes While Fundraising in Climate These Days?
24:45 Physics as a Guide in Investment Decisions
27:59 Is Silicon Valley Too Enamored with Physics?
31:04 Navigating Psychological Realities in Climate Work
32:31 The Green Premium Should Be Called Green Penalty
34:23 Tom's Personal Feelings Workin on Climate Right Now?
36:56 Maybe Solving Climate Is A Marathon, Not a Sprint
38:12 Responding To A Teenager Who's Losing Hope on This
41:46 Building the Climate Discipline Through Generations
44:32 Postmodern Climate Thinking: Does Language Matter More than Physical Reality?
46:20 How Effective Is Popular Climate Activism?
47:54 Marching in the Streets Is Not the Only Way to Do This
48:46 What is the 1.5C Target and Where Did It Come From?
50:49 Translating Science Into Leadership Is Tricky
51:53 Why The Climate Movement Has No Swag
53:16 Building a New Discipline for Climate Solutions
54:34 The Climate Problem Gets More Expensive Every Year
55:03 We've Only Scratched the Surface of Our Potential
56:06 Closing Thoughts

Videography: Stefano Dozza, fourthact.xyz

Show Credits:
Vishrudh Sriramprasad, Producer
Claire Davis, Theme Music (Long Gone, Get It Right) | @clairedavismusic

Kheya Patel, Art | https://kheyapatel.com/

Contact: [email protected]

On the Rise is a production of Extempo Media, copyright 2026.

In part 2 of Marcius's conversation with comedian, writer and sketch performer Ashley Botting, they get into the nitty gritty of finding the humor in comedy, review old disaster movies, and actually solve climate change. All in a day's work.

Let us know what you think at [email protected]!

00:00 Introduction
02:49 Can You Get Laughs By Making Fun of the Audience?
06:21 Judging Comedic Taste, Not Cool?
07:17 Policing of Speech in the Climate World
09:58 Blaming vs Solving
11:08 We Can Argue Details, But We Basically Know How To Solve Climate Change
11:36 Marcius' Personal Journey Into Climate Work
12:52 Why Don't We Ever Hear About The Solutions?
14:29 Confronting a Scary Systemic Problem As One Person!?
15:44 Synthetic Meat vs. Skipping a Steak Dinner
17:14 Audience Tastes Changing Over Time
20:11 What Does it Mean for Climate Change to be "SOLVED"?
21:20 Will It Take a Mass Tragedy for Us to Take Climate Change Seriously?
24:07 Do Climate Solutions Need to Serve the Bottom Line?
25:09 Which Will Come First: Abandoning Capitalism or Solving Climate Change?
25:30 An Optimistic Hot Take for Warm and Fuzzies?
28:53 How to Keep From Being Consumed By Anger and Frustration
32:06 Lightning Round: Is XYZ Climate Premise FUNNY?
32:25 Flying to Climate Conferences
32:58 Is AI the Problem And the Solution?
34:17 Climate Activists Gluing Themselves To Stuff
35:07 "It's a Hoax": Funny...?
35:55 Ski Resorts & Artificial Snow
36:31 Oil Companies at Climate Change Conferences
39:00 Fast Fashion
40:37 Paper Straws, Plastic Straws, and Sea Turtles
41:29 Teslas, Virtue Signaling, and Carbon Credits
47:21 Climate Change in Pop Culture & Disaster Movies
51:44 Closing Thoughts

Episode Credits:
Chris North, Valcen Media, videography
Tod Ekins, Editor
Sean Pascalle, Poetry Jazz Cafe, Location & Vibrations

Show Credits:
Vishrudh Sriramprasad, Producer
Claire Davis, Theme Music (Long Gone, Get It Right) | @clairedavismusic

Kheya Patel, Art | https://kheyapatel.com/

Contact: [email protected]

On the Rise is a production of Extempo Media, copyright 2026.

Comedian Ashley Botting breaks down the art and craft of sketch, improv, and TV writing. She and Marcius discuss how comedy helps us cope with hard things, and whether it's too soon to laugh about our changing climate.

00:00 Introduction
04:35 Toronto Roots
07:44 Ashley's Baseline Thoughts on Climate
10:43 Climate Change vs Environmentalism
13:19 Isn't the Earth’s Climate ALWAYS Changing?
15:20 What Is the Climate Hoax Crowd So Upset About?
18:00 How Do You Do Comedy?
19:54 Developing Comedy Instincts - Do I Think This Is Funny?
21:53 22 Minutes Sketch Writing Process
24:57 Crowd Work, and How Social Media Shapes Comedy
26:43 Why Is It Hard to Make Climate Change Funny?
29:23 Comedy = Tragedy + Time
30:30 Coping With Darkness Using Comedy
34:09 Finding The Universal In The Specific
36:11 Should Comedians Do More?
39:03 Will Laughing About Climate Diminish Its Importance?
39:54 The Scientist's Nightmare: More Data Won't Do It
41:17 Closing Thoughts - Look Out for Part 2

Episode Credits:
Chris North, Valcen Media, videography
Tod Ekins, Editor
Sean Pascalle, Poetry Jazz Cafe, Location & Vibration

Show Credits:
Vishrudh Sriramprasad, Producer
Claire Davis, Theme Music (Long Gone, Get It Right) | @clairedavismusic

Kheya Patel, Art | https://kheyapatel.com/

Contact: [email protected]

On the Rise is a production of Extempo Media, copyright 2026.

Welcome to the On the Rise Podcast!

This is a show about climate and the future — curious, grounded, and occasionally funny, because that beats preachy and depressing every time. Our show features stories and voices from people building, testing, and wrestling with solutions every day. From comedians to capitalists, filmmakers to physicists, everyone’s invited into the conversation.

Show Credits:
Vishrudh Sriramprasad, Producer
Claire Davis, Theme Music (Long Gone, Get It Right) | @clairedavismusic

Kheya Patel, Art | https://kheyapatel.com/

Contact: [email protected]

On the Rise is a production of Extempo Media, copyright 2026.