The Climatalist

Here’s a bonus treat for you: in our chat with Janne Wallenius, we took a detour to explore whether nuclear energy could really have a place in Australia’s future.

As Australia phases out coal and renewables surge ahead, nuclear power has re-entered the national debate. But is it viable? Could Janne Wallenius and Blykalla’s Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) play a role in the country’s energy transition?

We unpack what Australia can learn from Sweden’s nuclear rollout, whether SMRs could repurpose old coal plant sites, and what hurdles stand in the way—from workforce shortages and regulatory roadblocks to public perception.

With momentum quietly building, could Australia take the nuclear leap? Or is it just another shiny distraction on the path to meaningful climate action? Let’s dive in.

How do we fund large-scale climate solutions while ensuring that communities, not corporations, reap the benefits? In this episode, Paul Chatterton, founder of the Landscape Finance Lab, breaks down how Landscape Finance is revolutionising conservation. Instead of fragmented projects, this approach unites farmers, landowners, investors, and governments to restore entire ecosystems, like Scotland’s Flow Country, the UK’s largest carbon sink. With an investment model that generates carbon and biodiversity credits, this initiative is turning nature restoration into a profitable, community-driven solution. Can landscapes be the future of climate finance?

Correction: We said that Paul and Landscape Finance Lab were directly involved in the ongoing restoration of the Scottish Peatlands. Whilst they have been active in the setup, the team primarily helped to design the investment model before stepping back after the Flow Country Partnership SCIO was legally established. The ongoing work since then has been down to the efforts of multiple parties within the Flow Country Partnership, including local communities and farmers.

Anton is coming to you from Svalbard to chat with Janne Wallenius, founder of nuclear research lab, Blykalla, to explore whether Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could reshape the future of nuclear power. Unlike traditional reactors, SMRs are factory-built, scalable, and promise cheaper, safer, and faster deployment. Blykalla is taking it a step further with liquid lead cooling and a breakthrough corrosion-resistant steel, tackling key safety and efficiency challenges.

But is this enough to make nuclear a viable solution in the clean energy transition? With disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima still shaping public perception, and renewables + storage advancing rapidly, the debate is far from settled though nuclear could be a key player in the transition to net zero emissions.

The Climatalist is back! And this time, we're going abroad. This week we're in Lake Hāwea, New Zealand, speaking to Geoff Ross, former entrepreneur turned regenerative farmer who is transforming Lake Hāwea Station into a model for climate-positive agriculture. Geoff shares how regenerative practices are not only restoring the land but also driving real business value like selling carbon-positive merino wool to brands like Allbirds for the world’s first carbon-zero shoe (the green premium in action!). From sustainability to profitability, this conversation explores why the future of farming is regenerative.

Surprise! We have a bonus episode of the Climatalist coming your way as a little Christmas present 🎁 We thought we’d flip the script and put Anton himself in the hot seat to learn about the journey of The Climatalist and what’s in store for the future.

From his Soviet roots to a blossoming climate capitalism career, Anton discusses why saving the planet and making a profit can actually go hand in hand (if you do it right) and gives us a glimpse into what 2025 holds for the brand. 

A huge thank you to friend of the pod, Erin O'Dwyer from Good Prose Studios for stepping in to host the episode.

What if sustainability didn’t have to cost more? 🌍 Our guest in our final episode of the season is Johnny Kahlbetzer, CEO of Twynam Group who dives into why most consumers can’t afford green premiums and how businesses can make eco-friendly options the default by reducing costs. He shares insights on scaling climate tech, cutting carbon intensity, and navigating industries like agriculture and battery management. Plus, he explores why human nature resists change—and how smart economics can drive the shift toward a more sustainable future.

This week we're talking with Andrew Walker, CEO of AirSeed, about the company’s innovative use of drones to restore biodiversity and redefine reforestation as a scalable business model. We're posing the big question 'can nature be treated as a business asset?' and how this mindset could become the cornerstone of sustainable investment and environmental restoration.

While CO₂ gets most of the attention, methane is a powerful climate threat hiding in plain sight. In this episode, Louis Stenmark of Windfall Bio reveals how his team is turning methane emissions from farms and landfills into valuable organic fertiliser, tackling emissions and creating a profitable solution for the planet. We also get an insight into Louis' unique journey to where he is now, going from elite athlete, to Stanford graduate to the Forbes 30 under 30 list!

It’s a huge, essential industry that’s one of the leading contributors to pollution on this planet, steel production. So unlocking more sustainable ways to create steel may just be a key way to help curb the impact of climate change. John Mellowes, founder of BioCarbon, is our guest on today’s episode and is at the forefront of clean steel production. His secret weapon? Biochar! So if you’ve ever wondered about the science of steel and the brilliance of biochar (and importantly, what actually is biochar?) stay tuned!

We’re deep diving into community in this week’s episode with special guest, sustainability educator and speaker, Jo Taranto. What started as grassroots involvement in her local Sydney community to rally people behind sustainable causes has now evolved into a number of lucrative business opportunities - but also taught her valuable lessons in how active, environment-focussed, community engagement can be profitable for the bottom line. Not only that, but we chat about how climate change can impact the health care sector and why your voice matters in local government, so keep sending those emails to your councillors!