Zach Baumer has spent over a decade shaping one of the most ambitious municipal climate agendas in North America. From technical data modeling to frontline community resilience, Zach’s leadership at the City of Austin has helped bridge the gap between sustainability vision and scalable systems change.

Now Director of the newly formed Office of Climate Action & Resilience, Zach is focused on turning policy into practice—whether through multi-site solar procurements, cooling solutions for unhoused residents, or embedding financial feasibility into climate compliance frameworks.

This episode dives into what it takes to sustain long-term momentum, how climate leaders can push progress without burnout, and why resilience starts not with flashy headlines—but with human impact, local trust, and data that actually drives decisions.

Jeff Melanson is a rare kind of leader, one who has navigated the worlds of global technology, creative institutions, family enterprises, and civic systems with equal fluency. From serving as President & CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and President of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, to advising multigenerational family enterprises and partnering with one of the world’s leading real-time 3D technology platforms, Jeff’s career reflects a deep understanding of systems, stewardship, and human potential.

Across arts, business, technology, and advisory work, Jeff has consistently focused on one central question: how do organizations sustain creativity, performance, and purpose over time? In this episode, we explore leadership as an act of stewardship, the role of creativity in organizational wellbeing, and what it takes to lead complex systems with clarity, care, and long-term vision.

To explore how small, science-backed lifestyle and workplace behaviors can drive large-scale sustainability and wellbeing outcomes, Lori Myren-Manbeck—author of Mars Can Wait, clinical psychologist, and sustainability advocate—invites us to rethink how everyday decisions, at home and at work, can close the gap between corporate ESG goals and meaningful real-world impact.

This episode unpacks the behavioral psychology behind sustainable action, the urgency of climate leadership, and how inclusive wellbeing strategies can catalyze enterprise-wide transformation from the inside out.

Burnout is often framed as a workload, mindset, or motivation problem. Yet across recovery environments, workplaces, and public institutions, a deeper pattern is emerging: when people are physically depleted, emotional regulation, engagement, and belonging become biologically inaccessible.

Marie Gardiner brings seven years of applied experience working at the intersection of cellular health, recovery, and human resilience. This episode explores why physical regulation is the missing foundation beneath many wellbeing strategies—and how restoring the body’s capacity enables deeper engagement, emotional stability, and genuine belonging.

Earl Foote is not your typical tech CEO. A bass-playing adventurer, community builder, and mindset-driven entrepreneur, he has spent over two decades building Nexus IT into one of the nation’s top managed security service providers. But behind the accolades: Inc5000, Utah Fast50, and multiple “Best of State” wins, lies a deeper mission: to build a business where people thrive.

Through bold leadership, transparent culture, and a fierce belief in personal growth, Earl has cultivated a company where high performance and human wellbeing go hand in hand. In this episode, we explore how work can be both intense and uplifting, why discomfort is often the sign you’re growing, and how leaders can create space for others to succeed—even in the face of rapid technological change.

Erin Young serves as the Sustainability Specialist for Breckenridge Grand Vacations, where she helps steward one of Colorado’s most iconic mountain ecosystems. Her work sits at the intersection of environmental resilience, community wellbeing, and place‑based leadership.

Outside her sustainability leadership role, Erin is also the author of The CEOwner and an international ski judge, bringing a dynamic perspective rooted in community, sport, and sustainable small‑business leadership.

This episode explores how sustainability becomes truly transformative when grounded in local action, community wisdom, and daily micro‑practices that strengthen both people and the planet.

To spotlight Sandra Sherman’s powerful 17-year journey at DXL Group, where she’s led initiatives that ensure global supply chains are not just efficient but also ethical, humane, and compliant with the highest social and environmental standards. This conversation will highlight Sandra’s leadership in driving forced labor prevention, traceability, and vendor accountability, while also exploring how this work directly contributes to employee pride, psychological safety, and workplace wellbeing—both within corporate HQs and global factories.

Anna Turrell is one of the world’s most respected voices in sustainability. With a track record that spans multinationals, startups, boards, and policy-shaping coalitions, she brings a systems-thinking approach to some of the most urgent challenges facing our planet—and the organizations operating on it.

As former Chief Sustainability Officer at Decathlon, and Group Sustainability Director at Tesco, Anna has led Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) transformation from the inside out. Now, through her work as Founder of Ethos & Edge and as a strategic advisor and board member, she guides companies toward integrated strategies that unite environmental impact with ethical governance and human flourishing.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore what’s next in sustainability, how leaders can move from compliance to courageous action, and why the future of sustainability and workplace wellbeing are fundamentally interlinked.

Mark Patterson is at the forefront of inclusive innovation in Canada’s workforce landscape. As the Executive Director of Magnet, Mark is driving systems-level change to ensure that digital transformation—including AI adoption—is both human-centered and inclusive. This episode explores how we build national capacity for equity, wellbeing, and adaptability in a world shaped by automation, demographic change, and evolving skill needs.

This episode brings two CEOs from companies working in the sustainability space to have a conversation about their work and its importance related to people’s wellbeing. We will end with a call to action for business leaders to support achieving the ESGs.

Wade Smith is the CEO of EnergyPrint, helping organizations turn utility data into actionable insights and measurable ROI. With a purpose-led approach, Wade believes the energy and utilities managed within buildings mirrors the energy cultivated within people—driving integrity, sustainability, and care.

Roger Barlow is the CEO of Diversys Software, a sustainability tech company helping organizations transform how they track and optimize recycling and waste compliance. A global tech leader turned entrepreneur, Roger champions data integrity as the foundation of trust—and trust as essential to both culture and wellbeing.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

✅ What ESGs are and how transparency affects real people’s wellbeing

✅ Lessons from building a company culture where wellbeing and integrity are inseparable

✅ What leaders can do to turn advance sustainability in ways that really matter to employees