Green Connections Radio - Women Who Innovate With Purpose, & Career Issues, Including In Energy, Sustainability, Responsibil

“It’s all about the potential.” Anna Brady-Estevez, Ph.D., Maybe you have a great idea or new app you developed that you're itching to bring to life. Maybe you have a friend who does… Or, maybe you’re an entrepreneur who is running out of funds and fears not being able to continue. If this rings a bell, listen up. This podcast provides vital information about a federal grant program you can apply for. There’s no guarantee you’ll be approved, but you certainly won’t get it if you do not apply. It’s called the Small Business Innovation Research – or SBIR – grants (or STTRs). About half a dozen federal agencies offer them, all with different criteria. The SBIR program we’re talking about today is from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and has an open agenda, focused on the potential of the technology to make a big positive societal impact if it succeeds. So, grab your laptop or pen and paper – however you take notes – and listen to Anna Brady-Estevez of the National Science Foundation’s SBIR program tell Gre

Every business in every industry needs to find its niche to succeed and grow. Business strategy coach and Facebook marketing whiz Katie Krimitsos shares with Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson her suggestions for doing so. Katie's a master "community builder" and host of her own podcast, Biz Women Rock, so she practices in your own business what she preaches to others. Listen to learn: How your market will tell you what they need from you. How to hear how they think you can help them - what your gift is. Leveraging other sources to find new leads. Tips for Facebook marketing Coping with the overwhelming noise to focus    To learn more about Katie Krimitsos and Biz Women Rock, and about Green Connections Radio, go to www.greenconnectionsradio.com. Thanks for subscribing on iTunes or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Also, join our private Facebook Page  and share your insights! Join our mailing list to stay up to date on the top podcasts! Email us: info@greenconnectionsradio.com or reach us on Twi

Why do we miss potentially dangerous trends, “a series of warnings and visible evidence"? It might be climate change, water scarcity, an infrastructure that is falling apart beneath our feet, terrorist threats, or an approaching business competitor or trend we had ignored, for example. How do we train ourselves to see potential dangers we're missing early enough to address them? Listen to author and global business strategy leader Michele Wucker with Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson in this enlightening interview to learn how to see potential threats in your world – business, romance, family, finances – in time to manage them better. What gray rhinos are and how to avoid them. How to see things you don’t want to see. Decision-making structures that incentivize seeing more threats – and opportunities. Be the “Challenger-in-Chief” in your own world and invite opposite points of view. How our short-term focused society puts us at risk for missing huge threats To learn more about Michele Wucker and h

“The (proposed Trump budget) cuts are a gut-punch to the community.” Beth Gibbons Every community has to cope with climate change as a reality regardless of politicians’ political ideologies. Federal funds support many of these efforts, directly or indirectly – such as through the data supplied by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for severe weather monitoring – yet the Trump administration has proposed draconian budget cuts expecting the states to pick up the slack. So, how will communities cope with not having this support and still protect their communities? Two of the organizations helping communities do this are the Institute for Sustainable Communities and the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP). Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s enlightening conversation with one of the top leaders helping communities with this challenge: Beth Gibbons, Senior Officer at the ISC and Managing Director of the ASAP discuss the following: What NOAA does for us

With so much innovation in the energy sector, the rapid expansion of renewable energy, development of a “smart grid” and the Internet of Things technologies, the utilities have to evolve too. And, without dropping any service to anyone, ever. So, what’s a utility to do to survive – and to thrive? Enter Mary Powell, CEO of Green Mountain Power in Vermont, who was chosen as one of Fast Company’s most innovative people. She’s turning the business model of a utility on its head, and retains the support of her board because she’s succeeding in every way – customer service ratings in the 90%s and generating sold financial results. How? Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s fascinating conversion with Mary Poweell about: What being an “un-utility” means. How Green Mountain Power is innovating a legacy industry – and one on which we all depend. Being truly customer-focused Making money by selling less. Why and how she made a ground-breaking deal with Tesla. To learn more about Mary Powell and Gree

The U.S. infrastructure is literally crumbling beneath our feet and wheels. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave it a D+ in 2017. Cars are falling into sink holes from roads that literally sink, or falling into the water when a bridge collapses. Water pipes are breaking and leaking toxins into our drinking water. Subways are coming to a halt for urgent, potentially life-threatening repairs. Donald Trump as a candidate talked constantly about rebuilding our infrastructure and continues to do so as president, so there’s hope that, despite years of attempts in Washington by both Democrats and Republicans to do so, that maybe this year our fragile infrastructure will finally be fixed. But...What kind of infrastructure do we need to support a 21st century economy? Kelly Carnes, CEO of business strategy firm TechVision21 and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy describes how the new economy requires us to look at infrastructure differently. In this episode, Part 2 of this two-part in

Every new presidential administration brings a transition to new priorities - this time, it's a radical shift into uncertainty. Clean energy and climate-related spending is being cut across the board in the new president's budget. But Congress has yet to finalize it and advocates for clean energy and climate issues are flexing their muscles. What to do? Listen to master of government contracting, Kelly Carnes, CEO of business strategy firm TechVision21 -- and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy -- explain how, when and what to advocate for today. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview, and includes: How uncertainty creates opportunities. Identifying and reaching the "real" decision makers. Reading the tea leaves on where funding opportunities might be. How to seize - or create - those funding opportunities before the budget is final. Why this particular budget could have a more profound economic impact on the U.S. over time than most any in recent history. To learn more about Kelly

We hear about the ravages of climate change, but how exactly does the climate change and why? It’s good to go back to the basics, especially for those of us who don’t remember our first physics class…..so we went to a master of physics… Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s engaging discussion with renowned, award-winning physicist, best-selling author and speaker, Dr. Lawrence Krauss, who also teaches at Arizona State University. We also talk about his new book, “The Greatest Story Ever Told…So far…” You’ll hear about: The physics of climate change – how the climate changes, why and when. Which aspects of climate change are “normal” cycles of nature and which are mankind-induced. Why understanding physics matters. How to talk to climate deniers – including those who eschew science. To learn more about Dr. Lawrence Krauss and his remarkable body of work, and Green Connections Radio, go to www.greenconnectionsradio.com. Thanks for subscribing on iTunes or iHeartRadio and leaving us a revie

When we see the menu in an oyster bar, we see a list of sources of oysters from across the globe. Usually we order a couple each from different sources. But Florida oyster farms are not likely on the menu – yet. Where restaurants and markets obtain their oysters from matters – in taste, price, access, and economic development. Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s fascinating discussion with oyster farming entrepreneur (and former long-time radio industry executive) Kay Olin, who moved back to Florida with her husband after leaving radio and discovered the joys and economic development benefits of oyster farming. You’ll learn a lot about oysters and farming them that is a business lesson, as well as a lesson in one of the world’s favorite delicacies: Where oysters you find today come from – and why it matters. How this innovative oyster farming technique works to breed better tasting, cheaper oysters – and zillions of them. How oysters clean the water they live in, almost magically. The bus

As the D.C. Environmental Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary, Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson spoke with Founder Flo Stone about the festival’s unusual business model, and environmental filmmaking circa 2017. The festival attracted 30,000 attendees this year and reached far and wide across Washington, DC into every neighborhood with its uniquely structured festival. Films are screened in venues all over the city, with themes corresponding to the venues, and are often followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker. This is truly a primer in how to produce a successful film festival, if you listen carefully. You’ll learn about: How to get creative in producing a film festival that has been self-sustaining from the start. Trends in environmental filmmaking – and in who is attending. How films for this festival are chosen, and how it differs radically from other festivals. The impact on the arts of the potentially draconian budget cuts proposed by the new administration and what we can

Every time you turn on your tap, think about what you'd have to do if you couldn't use it - ever. That's what daily life is still like in Flint, Michigan as a result of lead in the city's water. The story may not be a top the national news these days, but the crisis continues and is not being fixed. Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s conversation with Nayyirah Sharrif, Flint resident and Director of Flint Rising, an organization pushing for clean water for Flint permanently. This was conducted at the screening of a new documentary (in production by Anthony Baxter) at the D.C. Environmental Film Festival recently, which was followed by a panel discussion including with Nayyirah. These stories and the political maneuverings will make you furious that it continues. Hear about: The real daily life in Flint and the community movement to fix it. The potential long-term health consequences for these residents. Why residents might not have their pipes replaced. (There's some DCEFF background no

“(People in Flint) are living in…a war zone…it’s not America. You’re constantly on guard…and feel invisible” We were all outraged by the poisoning of small children, as well as adults, in Flint, Michigan as a result of lead in the city's water. It may have fallen off the national news, but the residents of Flint still cannot shower or brush their teeth in their tap water, much less cook with it and the stories are gut-wrenching…. A new documentary in production by Anthony Baxter was screened at the D.C. Environmental Film Festival recently, followed by a panel discussion with Baxter and others involved in the crisis, reveals what these people endure every day…still... The DC EFF panel was led by Talia Buford, an environmental justice reporter who brings a fascinating perspective, because she is a native of Flint – and her mom still lives there. Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s conversation with Talia about the crisis and you’ll never look at water the same again. Hear about: The real d

ARPA-E, the innovation arm of the Department of Energy plays a pivotal role in nurturing promising new energy-related technologies that will improve our lives and reduce our costs and carbon footprints, including through increased use of renewable energy sources. A fundamental challenge to increasing the use of renewable energy is the intermittency issue – the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. To circumvent this challenge, a team of very clever innovators has invented a small unit about the size of an Amazon Echo that will manage your electricity supply at your home or business. While other solutions focus on managing this issue at the grid level, this company, Packetized Energy, is bringing it home, so you are in control.   So, meet Paul Hines, Co-Founder of Packetized Energy and Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Vermont. This interview was conducted at the ARPA-E Innovation Summit, so there’s a bunch of background noise, so this interview is a bit sh

“Our infrastructure was designed for the climate we had and not the climate we now have.” Kathy Jacobs Extreme weather, hurricanes, droughts and floods all affect us personally every single day either in our ability to go to work or school or the prices we pay for food. Is this “a normal cycle” of climate change or manmade and accelerating? Over three hundred top scientists guided by a 60-member Federal Advisory Committee found out based on scientific data and reported their findings in the recently released non-partisan, non-ideological, easy to read and navigate 2016 National Climate Assessment. This assessment has been produced during the administrations of both political parties and is strictly non-political. Listen to this gripping discussion on Green Connections Radio between host Joan Michelson and Kathy Jacobs, Director of the Center for Climate Science and Adaptation at University of Arizona and one of the leaders who produced the report. You’ll never look at the roads and bridges you travel on the s

“People have competing interests…(so) move beyond lazy labeling…a reporter’s job is to provide context…undergirded by data and statistics….Be a little fearless.” The Dakota Access Pipeline fight, hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes… the BP Oil Spill, the potential cuts to the EPA budget and rollback of the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts…Journalists rush to cover these stories as they break in the moment, but what’s missing? Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s insightful conversation with renowned journalist Soledad O’Brien, formerly of CNN and MSNBC and now Founder and CEO of Starfish Media Group, an award-winning production company, and host of “Matter of Fact” syndicated on network television via Hearst TV. You’ll hear Soledad talk about: What reporters are missing in covering environmental/energy stories – and most stories. How to explain why “it” matters – and not just to you, but to other people. The importance of storytelling and creating empathy. Why people share news on Facebook How

Happy International Women’s Day!  We’ve taken the proverbial three steps forward and two steps back recently, when it comes to women’s advancement. Women have made great strides in the private sector, including being CEO of four top Fortune 500 STEM-related companies: Ginny Rometty at IBM, Mary Barra at General Motors, Marillyn Hewson at Lockheed Martin, and Ursula Burns at Xerox. Yet, most women are still stuck in middle management quicksand and looking for answers on how to advance their careers. It’s about managing our choices big and small, and managing moments, time and priorities. To help us wrestle these issues – especially for International Women’s Day! – is Ashley Milne-Tyte whose voice may sound familiar when you listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s fascinating and witty interview with her. Ashley is an established broadcast journalist who has been reporting for “Marketplace” and the BBC and others for years. Ashley recently launched her own podcast “about women, the workplace and

Imagine an historic, award-winning theatre on the wharf, surrounded by water, in the central business district of one of the most popular and acclaimed cities in the world….Now, think about trying to reduce its environmental impact and all the stakeholders involved. That’s what Paul O’Byrne did, working with Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton, who together ran the iconic Sydney Theatre Company on “Greening the Wharf.” Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s fascinating conversation with Paul O’Byrne to find out how they did it, including: How they achieved amazing ROI: 50% less grid consumption, 70% less water use, ~50% less CO2 emissions and 70% less waste. How they did this without closing! How to start a program like this. Getting over hurdles with naysayers and the community with such an iconic landmark. Institutionalizing the program for the long-term. Joan’s interview with Emellie O’Brien of Earth Angel on reducing the carbon footprint of movie pr

“Find another way.” We all know the power of movies to move us. EMMY-winning documentary filmmaker – and co-executive producer of the masterful documentary “Dispatches From the Gulf” about the scientific impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill – Marilyn Weiner talks with Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson about the ups and downs of using filmmaking to spread the environmental message, and this kind of career. This masterful documentary on the Gulf oil spill, released recently with 50 individual shorts, tells the story of how a large group of scientists who never knew each other before collaborated to explore what happened scientifically to the Gulf as a result of the massive BP oil spill and what they found that can help us in many fields. You’ll learn about: The unique role of the documentarian to be an observer – to “document” – and how to do it right. Fundraising for these documentaries. What she learned about scientists while making “Dispatches From the Gulf.” Telling the story – deciding what to

Think about your favorite movies this Oscar season… Now think about what it took to produce it: energy for lighting, water and food for the crew, paper for the scripts, wood and other materials for the sets, cars and vans to transport people, maybe cars and buildings that get blown up…. All of that produces a lot of waste and uses a lot of energy and water, and puts CO2 into the air. Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s fascinating conversation with Emellie O’Brien, Founder and President of Earth Angel, an award-winning company focused on reducing the carbon footprint of movies and television shows. (I wonder what the carbon footprint is of the Oscars!) You’ll hear about: How much energy, CO2, wood and water productions use and waste they produce How to reduce it dramatically – including how she saved over half a million water bottles from going into the waste stream! Juggling the needs of creative projects with environmental priorities. Tips for your productions, whether a community video

“Energy storage enables us to have energy and power when and where we need it.” The linchpin in the new energy revolution is storage – to “enable us to have energy and power when and where we need it,” as Dr. McGrath put it.  It’s a time of rapid innovation in energy and storage, though, and the systems that rely on them, such as utilities and electric vehicles, as well as the electric grid. Listen to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson’s conversation with Dr. Kimberly McGrath of Maxwell Technologies take us from where storage is today to where it’s going, and how we’re going to get there, with what kinds of technologies.  Dr. McGrath has spent her entire 30-year career in the field of energy storage and is a master of it, and Joan helps us understand what these new innovations mean for our lives and businesses. You’ll learn about: How energy storage works. The new storage technologies that are promising to simplify our systems and reduce our vulnerability. How utilities need to adapt to the new ener