Track Two Podcast

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Melissa Kopolow, the VP of Sustainability at The Albright Stonebridge Group. Building on the conversations from Davos, Melissa brings a rich perspective on the similarities and differences between the established framework of the SDGs and the emerging framework of ESG. Set in the context of the annual UN Climate Summit, this conversation looks at the need for ESG to be more than a framework on climate and how philanthropy has the chance to lead on climate solutions if willing to take more bold action. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere.

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jacques-Philippe Piverger, founder and CEO of Good Light Capital.  This brings the series to one of the sectors driving much of the proliferation of ESG. They go a little deeper into understanding what ESG means, from the perspective of investment analysis. For example, in a survey done earlier this year, Gallup polled investors on their understanding of and attitudes toward ESG frameworks in their investment decisions. They found that nearly 50% of investors are interested in sustainable investing, although 1 in 4 admitted to knowing much about it. Jacques-Philippe understands where the market is headed and his firm is providing investors with opportunities to have the kind of impact they want. 

This is the final episode in this special Davos series. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere.

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Gene Hoffman, COO & President of Chia Network, to bring in another big topic at Davos this year: web3. Their conversation covers a wide range of topics including, human rights, digital identity, blockchain energy efficiency, and the promise of blockchain for building the infrastructure needed for carbon markets. Gene brings a grounded perspective from the blockchain world and with some term definitions at the beginning of the episode, this conversation is accessible to anyone no matter your familiarity with the web3 world. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere. 

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Nisaa Jetha, a sought-after and leading expert in ESG and Impact. Nisaa brings a unique perspective with her career as a lawyer in private equity and a long-term advocate in public policy. In their conversation, Sarah and Nisaa bring the ESG series to this nexus of compliance and comms, with emphasis on the need for a common language and a common understanding that grace is needed in this rapid period of transition.  

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise in the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere. 

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Harald Neidhardt, the founder and CEO of Futur/io, a think tank and leadership learning institute based in Germany.

Their conversation explores the leadership role of the EU when it comes to compliance and discloses for ESG reporting following the adaption of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which supports the EU Green Deal a set of policy measures intended to combat the climate crisis by transforming the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, with no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The directive is part of the bigger Sustainable Finance package enabling the Green Deal by helping to channel private investment behind the transition to a climate-neutral economy. 

There are three primary takeaways from their conversation: 

First, the role of collaboration and cross-sector learning. The challenges we are facing in the world today and complex and intersectional. Bringing together a diversity of experience and perspective has the potential to unlock insights that otherwise we don’t have access to when operating within silos. 

Second, the need for new narratives. As conveners, Sarah & Harald instinctively understand that the language we use is the foundation for building new shared narratives of what is possible. When it comes to the future, climate change, social stability, and digital lives, we all need more imagination to begin shaping what that future can look like. 

And finally, the policies being passed in Europe are on the front edge of what is coming to the rest of the world. We are in the early stages of systems change when it comes to how business is conducted. We are certainly not out of the woods yet, it will require commitment, vision and political will to bring forward the kind of transformation needed for a sustainable and just future for all. 

How do journalists navigate changing public perceptions of factual shared reality? How is political polarization influencing trust in the media, and the credibility of reporters? Accountability, transparency, and the power of investigative reporting are highlights of the conversation with reporter Liz Essley Whyte. Together, Joanne and Sarah talk with Liz about her work at the Center for Public Integrity, how quality information influences people's decision-making, and the role social media plays in the harassment of reporters.

Where do refugees come from and where do they go? In honor of World Refugee Day, this bonus episode explores the words we use to describe the human experience of active situations where people are forced to flee their home because of war, violence, or persecution.

What breeds public distrust in the media, and how does it impact journalists and society as a whole? Controversies, corruption, and the role of the free press in bringing truth to light and holding power accountable are highlights of "part two" with guest Kerry Paterson of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Together, Joanne and Sarah talk with Kerry about how CPJ offers journalists emergency response support for those who are injured, imprisoned, or forced to flee because of their work.

What does it mean to promote press freedom and defend the rights of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal? Join Joanne and Sarah in conversation with Kerry Paterson of the Committee to Protect Journalists as they discuss why freedom of the press is important to democracy, and why we should be concerned about the repressive global trend of jailing journalists as a result of their work.

How do freelance journalists build trust in places far from their home country of origin? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are joined by Nick St. Oegger, a documentary photographer and fellow native Californian. Together they explore how Nick followed his curiosity and found his higher purpose in photography and life aboard covering stories about cultural heritage in the Western Balkans. His work explores how the past and present influence the relationship between people and the places they call home.