Month: May 2026

The climate tech company copying trees to remake our world sustainably

The climate tech company copying trees to remake our world sustainably

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On this episode of Future in Bloom, Steph Speirs speaks with Etosha Cave, co-founder and Chief Science Advisor at Twelve. Twelve is discovering new ways to recycle CO2 and transform it into the things we use in our everyday lives. Etosha discusses her journey from grad school, realizing nature doesn’t treat CO2 as waste, so why should we? She dives deep into the story of how she helped build a company that mimics photosynthesis to turn captured carbon and water into fuels and everyday products.

Along the way, they discuss why CO₂ is such a “stubborn molecule,” how Twelve chose what to make from sixteen possible options, the role the Inflation Reduction Act played in their pivot to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and why the company can now produce jet fuel almost anywhere in the world. It’s a conversation about science, commercialization, and the belief that waste and pollution are design choices we can make differently.

Reflections from an innovative scientist, leader and mentor

Reflections from an innovative scientist, leader and mentor

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In today’s episode, we delve into the world of leading a high-level biomedical research program and mentoring students who will make the key scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow. I’m joined by Dr. Faye Rogers, a pioneering researcher studying cell repair and genomic instability, with the goal of developing novel therapies for breast and ovarian cancers. In our conversation, Dr. Rogers recounts her early years, growing up on a small island and never having met a scientist. Somehow, she still gravitated towards science, performing “experiments” as a kid, and eventually developing a passion both for research and mentorship. She talks candidly about the pressures that come with navigating graduate school and the inevitable but sometimes unexpected shifts and changes that happen along the journey. Dr. Rogers shares honestly about her own experience and discusses the importance of giving students the tools to be resilient scientists. She also describes her innovative programs introducing high school and college students to cancer research. Perhaps most poignantly, she reflects on the necessity for leaders like her to be good listeners, to incorporate other points of view, to admit when they make mistakes, and to have the flexibility to incorporate different perspectives when tackling complex problems.

It feeds half the world. It Also Emits 2% of Global CO₂. Can We Fix It?

It feeds half the world. It Also Emits 2% of Global CO₂. Can We Fix It?

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In this episode of Future in Bloom, host Steph talks with Dr. Lea Winter, a chemical and environmental engineering professor at Yale, to explore how we can redesign the basic chemistry of our economy and actually reuse CO2. Lea breaks down why carbon isn’t just a pollutant to get rid of but an essential building block of our everyday lives. Her lab is developing ways to take CO2 from the atmosphere or industrial emissions and convert it into fuels, chemicals, and materials using reactions that could one day replace fossil-fuel-based manufacturing.

Lea also explains how synthetic fertilizer enabled the population boom of the 20th century, but at a steep cost: massive fossil fuel dependence, significant CO2 emissions, and widespread nitrogen contamination of groundwater and ecosystems. Her lab is pursuing green ammonia pathways that use only air, water, and renewable electricity.

Together, Lea and Steph discuss her work on transforming wastewater into a resource recovery opportunity, converting nitrogen contaminants into ammonia for fertilizer. Lea shares her vision of a truly circular chemical economy, one designed to eliminate waste, increase resilience, and expand access to essential resources for communities around the world.

A media veteran shares his story

A media veteran shares his story

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Today’s episode emerged from a “chance” encounter that led to an authentic connection and eventually a podcast conversation. From his poignant investigative journalism at MTV, to his dynamic storytelling and cultural commentary across multiple media platforms, and his red-carpet interviews with chart-topping artists at the Grammys, Dometi Pongo’s lasting impact on the industry is clear. Today, we hear his story. In this thought-provoking dialogue, Dometi reflects on the many lessons learned in his life and career. He shares honestly about his winding career journey and the impact of those who reached out and grabbed him when he was at his lowest. He also talks about his present-day experiences as a media personality and the opportunities and challenges along the way. We consider the tension of looking for clicks and views, ongoing contentions around objectivity in the media, and the necessity of staying true to your calling. This is a refreshing episode touching on the power of authentic community and the importance of calling society to something greater. Listen in. You’re sure to be inspired.

Jamil Mahuad

Jamil Mahuad

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Jamil Mahuad, former President of Ecuador, joins for a fascinating conversation on leadership, instinct, and imagination. He opens up about the choice to go into politics, and his experiences negotiating a peace accord and navigating an economic “perfect storm.”

Impermanent Philanthropy: A new way to think about legacy with Santhosh Ramdoss

Impermanent Philanthropy: A new way to think about legacy with Santhosh Ramdoss

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What if the best thing a foundation could do was plan its own ending? In this episode of Future in Bloom, Steph Speirs sits down with Santhosh Ramdoss, President & CEO of Gary Community Ventures, to explore a radical idea that could reshape philanthropy: Impermanence.

By 2035, Gary will have spent every dollar of its assets in service of Colorado kids and families, which intentionally departs from how most foundations operate.

Santhosh shares the founding vision behind Gary’s sunset, why traditional endowments behave more like dams than rivers, and how his team is working to transform institutional wealth into community well-being. He also opens up about his own journey, what nature can teach all of us about letting go, and how to leave the world better than we found it.

Where Is God in Suffering? Spiritual Care, Mortality, and Meaning with Rev. Aaron Klink

Where Is God in Suffering? Spiritual Care, Mortality, and Meaning with Rev. Aaron Klink

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Yale Divinity School alum and hospice chaplain Reverend Aaron Klink discusses how spiritual care complements modern medicine, a near-death experience that transformed his understanding of mortality, and the enduring question of God’s presence in suffering.

https://divinity.yale.edu/news/2025-05-06-where-is-god-in-suffering-spiritual-care-mortality-and-meaning-with-hospice

Better Soil with Natural Carbon Removal: A Yale Geochemist Explains

Better Soil with Natural Carbon Removal: A Yale Geochemist Explains

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What if one of the most powerful climate solutions wasn’t something we needed to build, but something the Earth has been doing for billions of years?

In this episode, Steph Speirs sits down with Dr. Noah Planavsky, a geochemist at Yale University and one of the world’s experts on enhanced rock weathering. They explore how crushing silicate rocks like basalt and spreading them on farmland can accelerate a natural process that pulls CO₂ from the atmosphere and locks it in the ocean for thousands of years. All this both improves soil health and boosts crop yields.

Dr. Planavsky breaks down the science, explains why farmers already understand soil chemistry better than most academics, and makes the case that carbon removal should benefit the communities where it operates. He shares his choice to co-found two carbon removal companies and then walk away from any financial stake so he could advocate for transparency and sound science.