Green Sense Radio

Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, explains why Tesla with declining sales is resilient.

"It's unlikely that Tesla will go bankrupt anytime soon," says Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions. He says that Tesla is a strong brand, and Teslas are very good vehicles. Sam also discusses his passion for cars and how he became a data analyst. 

Sam Bousfield, CEO of Samson Sky, says the Switchblade flying sports car is ready to launch. 

We have talked to Sam Bousfield, CEO of Samson Sky, a couple of times over the past several years about his Switchblade flying sports car. Now Sam is back on the show to say that his 14 years of hard work and perseverance have finally paid off: the Switchblade is going to roll off the production line this year. Sam discusses how he stayed positive, secured funding, and what this means for transportation and communication.

Parth Vaishnav, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, describes how automation is changing in different industries. 

Parth Vaishnav, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, is a leading expert on the systems that shape sustainable transportation. Dr. Vaishnav offers a detailed explanation of the mobility revolution, which includes automation of public transportation, trucks, and vehicles. He also discusses how these changes can affect communities and policy. 

Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, explains why Chinese EV company, BYD, is ready to surpass Tesla.

The Chinese EV market is taking off. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, explains why Chinese EV company, BYD, is doing so well and is a serious contender against Tesla. Sam is an auto information expert, and he discusses how data is collected and analyzed. 

Chris Castro, founding director, executive vice president, and chief sustainability officer at Climate First Bank, says clean energy projects are creating more jobs.

Chris Castro is founding director, executive vice president, and chief sustainability officer at Climate First Bank. He discusses how the bank interacts with customers, net zero operations, climate-based lending, and funding clean energy projects. He also assesses evolving climate change goals, clean energy targets, and the effects of the new Trump administration's policies. Chris was previously on the Green Sense Show, and he describes his professional journey from his work in government to becoming a private sector banker.

Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, discusses Tesla's declining profits.

Tesla's Q1 profits are reportedly down 71 percent. Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff Podcast, gives us the latest information about Tesla and the future of electric vehicles, how the other companies are doing, fluctuating prices, and how the used and new EV market has developed.

Jeff St. John, Director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, explains why clean energy is important.

Jeff St. John, Director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, discusses the Trump administration's new executive orders and policy initiatives, and how they affect various aspects of sustainability efforts, including clean energy, environmental protection, the EPA, and program funding. Jeff also breaks down several issues, including the Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure, energy sources and prices, the implications of "Drill Baby Drill," and a lot more in this informative interview. 

Kim Blomquist, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at MHub, describes what Hardtech is.

Kim Blomquist is back on the Green Sense show in her new role as Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at mHUB, which hosted the HardTech Summit in March. She explains what Hardtech is and shares insights from the summit, which included the annual Revolution Awards. Kim also gives us an update on how startups can access mHub resources including the prototyping lab, the support ecosystem, and funding.

Yasmina Zaidman, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at Acumen, describes how they invest in entrepreneurs to alleviate poverty.

Yasmina Zaidman is the Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at Acumen, a non-profit that uses an investment approach to fund entrepreneurs to decrease poverty. Yasmina also describes her career journey and shares advice for people who want to make a sustainable difference in global issues.

Chris Higgins, founder of Urban Ag News, is a third-generation farmer and an expert in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). He explains why investors have lost interest in CEA. 

Chris Higgins is a third-generation farmer and the founder of Urban Ag News. He is back on the show to discuss how controlled environment agriculture (CEA) was once a hotbed for innovation, and why investors have lost interest. He also does a deep dive into the challenges indoor farmers face including how crops are grown, distributed, input costs and labor.

Sybil Derrible, Professor of Urban Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago and author of The Infrastructure Book: How Cities Work and Power Our Lives, explains why cities should be more sustainable.

Sybil Derrible is Professor of Urban Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he also directs the Complex and Sustainable Urban Networks Lab. We're thrilled to have him back on the show to discuss his new book, The Infrastructure Book: How Cities Work and Power Our Lives. He also offers a deep dive into how urban renewal can be technical and sustainable.

Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff podcast, discusses why used EVs are affordable.

We're happy to have Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff Podcast, back on the show to give advice for buying a used electric vehicle. He describes changes in the auto market, why there are so many used EVs available, where people can buy them and get the best deal, facts about battery life, and more.

Laura Fieselman is Vice President of Operations at Salient Predictions, which uses data and machine learning to predict climate trends and weather risks.

Generating a return on investment and making a social impact: this week Robert Colangelo speaks with Laura Fieselman, Vice President of Operations at Salient Predictions, a startup that is using data and machine learning to predict climate trends and weather risks. Laura explains the capital markets, and thoroughly discusses the specifics of how impact investments are implemented and achieved.

This week's Green Sense Minute features Andrea Matranga, an economic historian at Università di Torino in Italy, who researches how the first agriculture or neolithic revolution was driven by climate change. 

Andrea Matranga, a researcher and economic historian at Università di Torino in Italy, wrote an academic paper, "The Ant and the Grasshopper: Seasonality and the Invention of Agriculture." In this episode, Robert Colangelo and Andrea discuss if agriculture was the worst mistake in the history of mankind, forcing us into sedentary lifestyles, or if it lay the foundation for civilization to flourish.

This week's Green Sense Minute features Ryan Lynch, staff scientist at the Green Bank Observatory, who talks about how new technology can help us understand the universe.

Ryan Lynch is staff scientist at the Green Bank Observatory, a $100-million facility that includes the largest steerable radio telescope in the world. It is used to study the galaxy's gravitational waves and objects in our solar system. Ryan talks about the wide variety of science that collects information near Earth, and even billions of light years away. He also describes life in the Quiet Zone and innovations that are transforming our understanding of the universe.

Lise Lykke Steffensen, CEO of NordGen, talks about the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, where duplicate seeds are stored from around the world.

We welcome back Lise Lykke Steffensen, who is soon stepping down from being CEO of NordGen, which helps run the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. She explains why the seed bank is in a remote location, what kinds of seed duplicates are stored there, and how they address climate change and ensure diversity.

Venkat Srinivasan, director of the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science, explains why he thinks sodium-ion batteries are a more sustainable way to store energy. 

Venkat Srinivasan is the director of the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science. He leads a consortium that was recently awarded a $50-million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop sodium-ion batteries. Venkat offers details of a plan for a more sustainable, lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries. He discusses the future of battery technology and where sodium ion batteries fit into game-changing energy storage solutions.

Astronomer Laura Trouille, vice president of science engagement at the Adler Planetarium, discusses a new program that promotes climate action.

The Adler Planetarium has recently received a prestigious NASA grant to develop the Climate Change and Me program, which educates youth about climate action. Astronomer Laura Trouille is vice president of science engagement and project team leader at the planetarium and oversaw the NASA grant submission. Nick Lake, manager of Theater Experience and Presentation, describes the interactive Climate Change and Me planetarium show. They also share their professional journeys.

Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff podcast, discusses the car market in the new year.

We're happy to have Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff podcast, back on the show to discuss the green auto trends in 2024 and what to expect in 2025. Tom and Robert Colangelo also share their review of the Toyota XLE Camry Hybrid, and discuss various new EVs, hybrids, and trucks. Then Tom takes the Green Sense Quiz about cars, movies, and music. 

Abigail Derby Lewis, Senior Conservation Ecologist at the Field Museum of Natural History, explains why pollinators are important for the ecosystem.

Abigail Derby Lewis, Senior Conservation Ecologist at the Field Museum of Natural History, discusses the crucial role insects and pollinators play in our ecosystem, why bees and butterflies are in decline, and how the community can help support pollinators to thrive.

Raj Vable, founder of Young Mountain Tea, left an engineering career to build an equitable and sustainable business that is transforming the tea industry.

Raj Vable, founder of Young Mountain Tea, shares his groundbreaking approach to sustainable tea farming. Raj explains how his innovative business model not only focuses on eco-friendly practices, but also empowers women by giving workers in India a salary and equity in the company, creating a more inclusive, equitable future. 

Want to know how to catch the next meteor shower? Michelle Nichols, Director of Public Observing at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, shares her expert tips on how to spot these celestial phenomena in the night sky.

We welcome back Michelle Nichols, Director of Public Observing at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, who takes us on a journey through the wonders of stargazing. She breaks down the differences between meteors and meteor showers, and gives us fascinating insights into comets, asteroids, planets, and constellations. Want to know how to catch the next meteor shower? Michelle shares her expert tips and advice on how to spot these celestial phenomena in the night sky. 

Robert Colangelo discusses a controversial market-based solution to reduce the amount of carbon in the environment with Chelsea Mastrocola, Director of Business Development at Brightly. Robert and Chelsea explore the complexity of carbon offset credits and the carbon credit trading market, and how companies navigate the system.

Chelsea Mastrocola, Director of Business Development at Brightly, explains carbon offset credits.

Jeff St. John, director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, discusses how the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers companies incentives for bringing manufacturing of renewable energy technologies back to the United States, can also affect trade with China.

Jeff St. John, Director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, returns for an in-depth discussion on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its far-reaching effects on both domestic and international businesses. Passed in 2022 under the Biden administration, the IRA provides crucial incentives for companies investing in renewable energy and clean technologies onshore. However, with a new administration taking office in 2025, the landscape could shift dramatically. Jeff also shares insights on the role of China, the impact on jobs, and the complexities surrounding tariffs in this rapidly evolving sector.

Scott Isaksen, National Sales Director at Essency Water Heaters, describes a sustainable hybrid electric alternative for heating water in your home.

Scott Isaksen, National Sales Director at Essency Water Heaters, describes the company's sustainable alternative for heating water, using a hybrid (tank and tankless) design that uses electric instead of gas. Scott also answers questions about water heaters in the Green Sense Quiz, then discusses the history of the company and how he got involved. 

Eric Adamson, co-founder and CEO of Tortuga AgTech, discusses his company's robotic strawberry harvester.