50 Shades of Green: A Climate Group Podcast

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran sit down with two leaders at the heart of America’s subnational climate movement: Kate Wright, Executive Director of Climate Mayors, and Casey Katims, Executive Director of the U.S. Climate Alliance.

With midterms approaching and national headlines focused on federal rollbacks, the conversation explores a quieter but powerful reality: much of the real climate progress in the United States is happening at the state and city level. Climate Mayors works with more than 350 mayors across 48 states, representing roughly 70 million Americans in cities la...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran dive into resilient building as extreme weather intensifies and communities face the hard questions of rebuilding after disaster. Katie speaks with Ken Calligar, CEO and founder of RSG-3D, about their structural panel system designed for noncombustible, disaster-resistant construction that has shipped to 20 countries.

Ken argues that conventional U.S. wood-frame building has long relied on the wrong technology, creating complex, code-minimum assemblies vulnerable to fire, wind, flood, hail, and seismic events. He makes the case for resilience as a first principle: if...

Adam Lake returns from Mexico City Climate Week and sits down with Katie Lanegran to unpack what sticks after the stage lights go off. Fresh from a panel with leaders of Climate Weeks in Mexico City and Toronto, Adam argues that these gatherings only matter if cities share lessons and build something larger than any single calendar week. Mexico City’s second-year event, held at a children’s museum with a strong youth focus, is flagged for a full episode soon.

The centerpiece is a Climate Week NYC conversation with Doreen Harris, president and CEO of NYSE...

50 Shades of Green comes to you with a special episode from Mexico City where they are about to launch Mexico Climate Week. Adam Lake speaks with Erica Valencia to find out what is in store.

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One week after Climate Week, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran drop their second live episode, recorded on stage with three sharp voices reshaping how climate stories actually reach people: comedian and content creator Evan Lazarus, veteran journalist-turned-independent producer Tracy Wolf (WereWHOLF Media, formerly of CBS and ABC News climate units), and activist-consultant Jerome Foster, a former Biden environmental justice advisor.

The conversation starts with Evan’s viral TikTok theory that the escalating chaos on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City might be linked to the evaporating Great Salt Lake releasing heavy metals into the ai...

50 Shades of Green returns with host Adam Lake on how we talk about climate when the science is complex and the politics are noisy. Guests: Bernadette Woods-Placky of the Talking Climate Collaborative; Hannah Safford of the Federation of American Scientists; and Emma Stewart of Climate Spring.

Bernadette, a meteorologist who spent years at Climate Central with TV weathercasters, treats weather as a shared language. Storms ignore party lines. Heat and extremes already reshape daily life. Her US-Canada landscape assessment maps who talks to whom and where the barriers sit. Rules: know your audience, meet people where...

In the final episode of 50 Shades of Green before Climate Week NYC, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran sit down with Angela Barranco, Executive Director of Climate Group North America, to cut through the noise about U.S. climate leadership.Is Climate Week NYC subdued this year?

Has the United States checked out? Angela’s answer is blunt: patently false—and more complicated than the headlines suggest. While federal funding has slowed, companies, states, and cities are moving because the bottom line demands it. Insurance costs are rising, supply chains are at risk, and climate impacts are...

Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran welcome Sarah Lake—no relation—founder and CEO of Tilt Collective, a philanthropy initiative working to make the most sustainable and healthy foods the most available and affordable. 

Recorded as Climate Week NYC approaches, the conversation lands on a topic filling the week’s calendar: food.

Tilt Collective’s mission is a “balanced food system”: more whole foods, more plant-rich meals, fewer ultra-processed products and less overconsumption of animal foods. Sarah argues food is nearly a third of climate emissions yet is still sliced into fertilizer, land, and produ...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran speak with Christine Egan, CEO of CLASP, about energy-efficient appliances — from household ACs and refrigerators to off-grid fans and lights serving 660 million people without electricity.As extreme heat intensifies, Egan makes the case that cooling is becoming a human right, provided it is highly efficient. She outlines how minimum energy performance standards create a market floor while incentives and bulk buying pull products toward best-available technology. A standout success: leveraging the Minamata Convention on mercury to phase out fluorescent lighting in favor of LEDs, avoiding nearly th...

This week Adam and Katie speak to some of the "mega hosts" who make Climate Week NYC the biggest climate event in the world. From fireside chats with Elmo, to bringing together the future of AI technology under one roof, Solitaire Townsend from Futerra - who run Solutions House - and Peter Gilmer from The Nest Campus talk us through what it is like to run some of the biggest events at Climate Week NYC, and how you can get involved.

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Adam and Katie are joined by John Higginson, CEO of Eco Age, moving the needle of sustainable fashion.

Eco Age operates on two fronts. They educate consumers on positive, non-guilt-inducing choices. Separately, the organization funds independent investigative journalism into fashion’s supply chains—work traditional fashion media often avoids due to advertising dependence—while generating revenue as a consultancy for brands, material innovators, and organizations pursuing genuine sustainability.

The conversation highlights fashion’s outsized footprint: roughly 2% of global GDP yet about 10% of climate emissions, plus water pollution from dyeing and widespread labor abuses, often in...

Is it time to bring back Smokey the Bear?

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran are joined by meteorologist Stephanie Abrams from The Weather Channel to find out just what IS happening with the weather right now.

From heatwaves to wildfires, Katie and Stephanie talk through the reasons why the weather has been so extreme this year and the role that human made emissions have played in making it worse. They also explore what actions people should take to cope with extreme weather and what we...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green from Climate Group, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran welcome back transport correspondent Ricky (Richard Parker) by popular demand for a deep dive into corporate fleet electrification. Fresh off the release of EV100’s annual Electric Realities Report, the conversation moves from high-level commitments to the practical realities of getting battery-electric vehicles on the road at scale.

The episode features two rich interviews that map the full electrification journey. First, Ricky sits down with Brandon Jones from Ceres and Santeri Palomäki from the We Mean Business Coalition. They unp...

In this episode of Fifty Shades of Green, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran sit down with Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment and lead of Columbia’s M.S. in Climate Finance at Columbia Climate School, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about net zero, carbon markets, and what it will actually take to decarbonize the global economy. Against a backdrop of record heat, wildfires, storms and smoky skies, the trio wrestles with a central question: has the language and practice of “net zero” helped — or distracted — the climate movement?

Lisa opens by clarify...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran sit down with Naftali Honig, Regional Operations Manager for Africa Parks’ Congo's region, for a deep, hopeful conversation about the Congo Basin — its global climate importance, the wildlife it supports, and the practical work and challenges of protecting and restoring these critical ecosystems. The show opens with light banter about the World Cup, then quickly pivots to the episode’s focus: why the Congo Basin matters and how on-the-ground conservation is being done differently and successfully.

Naftali explains the basin’s role as a global...

50 Shades of Green dives into the unexpected intersection of climate and the world’s most beloved sport in this timely episode. Hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran welcome Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founder of Football for Future, to explore how football (soccer) can be a powerful vehicle for climate communication, action, and adaptation.

Fresh off the global spectacle of the World Cup, Adam and Katie frame the conversation with fan anecdotes and the tournament’s uncanny ability to unite divided rooms — then pivot to the bigger picture: how that unity and cultural reach can help break the climate echo c...

Adam and Katie return to coverage of London Climate Action Week with a lively, optimistic episode that dives into the intersection of climate, health and technology. They set the scene with World Cup vibes before Adam shares his on‑the‑ground experience judging the Health in Climate hackathon — a fast, furious weekend of teams building working AI‑enabled prototypes to tackle real health risks from climate events.

Their guests are key figures behind the hackathon: Seema Wadhwa (former lead for sustainability at a major US health system and Founder of Climate in Health) and Chethan Sarabu (a clinic...

This episode of 50 Shades of Green takes you straight into the heat — literally and figuratively — of London Climate Action Week. Hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran unpack a timely, wide‑ranging discussion hosted by Climate Group on energy efficiency, electrification, cooling, finance and the role of technology in closing the gap between climate ambition and execution. From sweaty conference rooms in London to the bigger picture of global climate weeks, this special edition weaves practical solutions with policy and market realities.

With some introductory framing from Mike Umiker - Managing Director, Energy Efficiency Movement, Climate Group's Mike P...

On this episode of Fifty Shades of Green, Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran dive into the intersection of theatre and climate with Molly Braverman, Executive Director of the Broadway Green Alliance. If you love Broadway — or care about practical climate action — this conversation reveals how the theatrical world backstage and onstage is being transformed to reduce emissions, cut waste, and inspire audiences.

Molly explains Broadway Green Alliance's two-part mission: make theatre operations more sustainable (lower emissions, boost circularity, change backstage practices) and use the cultural power of Broadway to reach audiences with climate solutions. She walks us t...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran speak with Betsy Apple, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Global Climate Legal Defense (CliDef). Betsy — a longtime human-rights lawyer who has worked across Africa, Asia and beyond — explains why legal protection for climate defenders is now essential, how CliDef operates in difficult and dangerous environments, and what ordinary listeners can do to help.

What we cover:

Katie and Adam kick off this episode with their usual warm banter (groundhogs, hay fever, and gardening included) before diving into a seriously inspiring conversation with Sam Elfmont, Director of Response at World Central Kitchen (WCK) — José Andrés’ disaster-response outfit that gets food to people fast when climate-driven storms, floods, fires and conflicts strike.

Sam walks us through what being “first on the ground” actually looks like: rapid deployment, working with local chefs and restaurants, buying fresh food locally (no mystery MREs), and getting hot, culturally familiar meals to people on day one. From a surprise...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, hosts Adam and Katie chat with Cecilia Brenner, Managing Director of Design for Good, about how design skills are being mobilized globally to tackle the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Design for Good is a global non-profit that convenes a global alliance of companies, design schools and NGOs to co-create open-source solutions for real community problems. Cecilia explains their two-year SDG cycles (past: clean water & sanitation; current: quality education; upcoming: people and planet health combining SDGs 3 & 13), and how local NGOs provide briefs and community access while volunteer designers form cross-functional task forces to...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, Adam and Katie sit down with Jamil Wine, founder of the Hazelwood Network, for a wide‑ranging conversation about climate finance and climate tech—from the fast‑moving innovation hubs of the Middle East to the practical realities of scaling solutions in vulnerable countries.

Jamil traces his accidental entry into climate work, explains why regions like the Gulf are both urgent hot spots and hubs of ingenuity, and lays out the “ecosystem” ingredients—talent, diverse capital, governance and markets—needed to build climate tech at scale. He shares lessons from advising...

On this episode of 50 Shades of Green hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanagren interview Jennifer Hinton, co‑founder of Carve Designs, about building a performance swimwear brand rooted in sustainability. Jennifer explains how Carve developed recycled‑bottle and natural‑blend fabrics (including coconut‑infused blends), the challenges of recyclable swim materials, and the company’s shift from local manufacturing to certified partner factories. They discuss logistics and carbon reductions, the importance of supply‑chain visits and ethical factory choices, and ambitious plans to create fashion recycling loop. Jennifer also shares her observations of changing seasons from an outdoor‑athlete perspective, and how polici...

As we prepare for Smart and Sustainable Mobility Week, where cities showcase their progress on clean transportation and identify the steps needed to advance effective mobility policies in their region, we're joined by the Québec Government Office in New York and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to take us through the agenda and identify how, why and where companies, transportation agencies, and community partners are primed to take action on these issues.

This episode features:

⭕ Richard Parker, Senior Manager, Transportation Programs, Climate Group North America

⭕ Frederic Langlois, Transportation and Energ...

Recorded live at the US Leaders Forum in Washington, D.C., this special episode of 50 Shades of Green dives into one of the biggest questions shaping climate action today: can the “abundance” narrative unlock real progress—or is it just another buzzword?

Featuring a live debate moderated by The Spectator’s Ben Clerkin, this episode brings together leaders from across politics, business, and climate advocacy to challenge conventional thinking on clean energy, economic growth, and government’s role in driving change. The conversation explores why we already have the technology to cut emissions at scale, what’s holding de...

What does effective climate action look like in a conservative state, and how can clean energy actually save people money?

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, host Phil sits down with Sarah Wright, Founder of Utah Clean Energy, for a wide-ranging conversation on practical, people-centered climate solutions. Drawing on her background in geology and public health, Sarah explains why Utah Clean Energy focuses on energy efficiency, building electrification, zero-emission homes, clean transportation, and grid decarbonization, and how these strategies improve both air quality and household affordability.

Sarah shares how reframing climate change...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, we’re joined by Peter Colavito, Executive Director of Invest in Our Future (IOF), to explore how community-led clean energy deployment can unlock economic opportunity while accelerating climate action.

Peter shares how IOF bridges the gap between policy and project implementation, ensuring federal clean energy investments like those from the Inflation Reduction Act actually reach the communities that need them most. We dig into the biggest barriers slowing clean energy deployment, from siting and permitting challenges to financing gaps, workforce shortages, and a deeply polarized public narrative.

...

What does it take to protect the Amazon when your life is on the line?

In this powerful episode of 50 Shades of Green, we sit down with Academy Award–winning filmmaker Fisher Stevens and forest guardian and co-director Chelsea Greene to talk about their urgent new documentary, WE ARE GUARDIANS.

The film follows Indigenous leaders, activists, and even loggers caught inside the world’s most dangerous environmental conflict—where illegal deforestation, corporate interests, and climate change collide. From uncontacted tribes and frontline forest guardians to the global supply chains driving destruction, We Are Guardi...

Methane is one of the most powerful - and overlooked - drivers of climate change. In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, we sit down with Ken Alex, former senior policy advisor to California Governor Jerry Brown and current leader at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE), to explore why methane reduction is one of the fastest ways to slow global warming.

Ken shares how his work on international and subnational climate policy led to the creation of the Subnational Methane Action Coalition (SMAC), a global partnership of state and regional go...

Wildfires are reshaping North America and the future of our forests. In this episode, we sit down with Grant Canary, CEO of Mast Reforestation, to explore how climate tech, biomass burial, and large‑scale reforestation can turn wildfire destruction into long‑term carbon removal.

Grant shares why fixing the atmosphere is “the problem all other problems report to,” and how Mast rebuilds forests faster by burying fire‑killed trees to lock carbon away for thousands of years. We also discuss shrinking natural regeneration rates, the overwhelmed seed supply chain, and what it takes to restore burned landscapes...

Maryland is reshaping what climate leadership looks like — not just through bold targets, but through the dollars that bring those targets to life. In this episode of Fifty Shades of Green, we sit down with Secretary Serena McIlwain of the Maryland Department of the Environment to explore how the state is embedding climate action into its budgeting system and building a government where climate impact is part of every decision.

Secretary McIlwain breaks down how Maryland:

Miami isn't just a cautionary tale, it's becoming a blueprint. In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, we sit down with David Duckenfield, Executive Director of Miami Climate 365, to explore how South Florida is tackling its most urgent climate threats head-on.

From sunny day flooding and saltwater intrusion through porous limestone, to the world's first Chief Heat Officer and Miami's newly designated role as a federal climate tech hub, David breaks down what makes Miami Climate Week unique, and why in-person, community-rooted climate action matters more than ever.

Whether you're working in climate...

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, we sit down with Cora Wyent, Head of Research & Data Science at Rewiring America, the US' leading electrification nonprofit, to demystify one of the most impactful climate and cost‑saving technologies available today: heat pumps.

Cora breaks down:

This week on 50 Shades of Green, we sit down with Nicole Bagliore from CUNY to break down how the university is actively building the next generation of the green workforce.

We dive into:

• How students are stepping directly into real climate and clean energy roles

• The skills employers want right now

• Why any job - from business to trades - can become a green job

• New opportunities in battery storage, clean energy, and AI‑powered energy auditing

If you're exploring climate careers or hiring sustainability talent, th...

How can people get involved in climate action at the local level? And how does local action move the needle on emission reduction? In the latest 50 Shades of Green, we speak to Jack Hanson, Executive Director of Run on Climate, to explore the pivotal role local governments play in advancing innovative solutions across areas like building standards, zoning, energy efficiency, and sustainable mobility.

Learn more and get involved.

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In the latest episode of 50 Shades of Green, we talk with Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest, New York City’s first and largest food rescue and food distribution organization.

We dive into how food rescue, food waste diversion, and sustainable supply chain practices come together at City Harvest, from farm and production to procurement, logistics, and last‑mile delivery. Their work keeps millions of pounds of nutritious food out of landfills and redirects it to New Yorkers who need it most, while also preventing thousands of tons of carbon emissions.

If you’re int...

Anticipation vs. adaptation? In the latest 50 Shades of Green, learn how Greenlanders deal with the everyday realities of a changing climate and its far reaching impacts from ecosystems to economies. We speak with Dr. Mark Nuttall, Professor and Henry Marshall Tory Chair in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alberta, about his extensive research in Northwest Greenland and the ripple effects of climate change on life near the Arctic Circle and why it matters in the geopolitical conversation.

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How are countries across the Global South approaching sustainable mobility and what can we learn from their implementation? In this episode, we speak with Cyriac Joseph. Cyriac offers a top-down overview on the e-mobility landscape across several different countries including India, Brazil, and South Africa, and provides insight on how these countries are moving the needle on climate action smart and sustainable mobility policies.

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What makes Costa Rica stand out in the e-mobility scene? In this episode, our host Phil Kehoe speaks with Silvia Rojas, Executive Director of the Costa Rica sustainable mobility organization ASOMOVE, to provide a breakdown on how the Central American country made such significant progress on their climate goals. Then, co-host Adam Lake joins the discussion for some insight and analysis on Costa Rica's road ahead and what it means to live 'pura vida.'

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