Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Alan Willett, one of the original residents of Ecovillage at Ithaca, about what it means to intentionally design for community. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience living in what is known as “intentional communities,” Alan explains how physical layout, like shared spaces, pedestrian pathways, and common infrastructure, shapes daily interactions and fosters connection. The conversation also explores the realities of consensus-based decision-making, including the challenges of conflict, the importance of communication and governance structures, and how communities navigate complex decisions like shared investments. Alan also reflects on resilience, emphasizing that strong social bonds are as critical as sustainability initiatives like local food systems and renewable energy.
Key Points:
Design drives interaction – Features like shared laundry, common meals, and pedestrian pathways create consistent opportunities for connection and make community engagement part of daily life.
Conflict is unavoidable, but structured – Consensus decision-making requires clear communication, shared values, and defined processes, with tools such as conflict-resolution teams and community training to help manage tensions.
Community builds resilience – Beyond sustainability practices like composting and solar, strong relationships and mutual support are seen as the foundation for long-term resilience.

Alan Willett, Co-founder of Exceptional Difference, Author of Leading the Unleadable: How to Manage Cynics, Divas, and Other Difficult People, and Lead With Speed, LinkedIn
Luis de Leon, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Sr. Public Relations Account Executive at Technica Communications

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…
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In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Paul Lambert, CEO and co-founder of Quilt, about rethinking one of the most overlooked systems in the home: heating and cooling. What starts as a conversation about heat pumps quickly expands into a broader look at how comfort, efficiency, and design can work together. Paul shares why the future of home energy isn’t about sacrifice, but about better living, where smarter systems deliver both improved quality of life and meaningful energy savings.
Check out our foundational heat pump episode with Jetson: #148 - The Future of All-Electric Heat Pumps with Jetson
Key Points:
Efficiency improves when systems become intelligent, not just mechanical – Beyond strong baseline performance, Quilt layers in software-driven optimizations like occupancy detection and predictive heating to reduce energy use without sacrificing comfort.
Consumer adoption depends on better experiences, not just sustainability – People are more likely to upgrade when products feel like a lifestyle improvement, similar to how EVs gained traction through performance and convenience rather than environmental messaging alone.
Heat pumps are becoming a default, not an alternative – As costs improve and performance increases, the shift toward all-electric heating and cooling is becoming economically driven and increasingly inevitable.

Paul Lambert, CEO of Quilt, LinkedIn

Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, and CEO of PRVIEW, LinkedIn

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Karen Baert, CEO and co-founder of Ammobia, to unpack the role ammonia plays in modern society and how it could evolve into a cleaner fuel and energy carrier. As one of the most produced chemicals in the world and a key input to global agriculture, ammonia underpins food systems while also contributing significantly to global emissions due to its energy-intensive production process. The conversation explores ammonia’s potential as a maritime shipping fuel, its role as an energy carrier, and the technical breakthroughs enabling more efficient production. Karen explains how Ammobia is reengineering ammonia production to reduce cost, energy use, and emissions — a solution that also won them the top prize at Women in Cleantech & Sustainability’s Pitch Competition in 2025.
We also discussed this topic in different capacities in a few previous episodes. You can watch or listen here:
#98 - Beyond Organic: Understanding Regenerative Agriculture with UnderstandingAg
#140 - The Circular Economy of Chemicals and Carbon Emissions with CERT Systems

Key Points:
Ammonia sits at the center of both food and energy systems – More than half of global food production depends on ammonia-based fertilizers, and new use cases in shipping and energy could significantly expand its role in the global economy.
Lower pressure production could unlock decentralization – Ammobia’s approach reduces pressure requirements by up to 10x, improving efficiency and enabling smaller, modular plants that can be deployed closer to end users.
Energy trade could shift toward molecules rather than electrons – Countries with abundant renewable resources could export energy globally as ammonia, reshaping how energy is produced, transported, and consumed.

Karen Baert, CEO and co-founder of Ammobia, LinkedIn
Ammobia's job openings
Ammobia's LinkedIn

Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…
Visit our website for more episodes!
Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures!
We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!
Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website
Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.
Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:
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Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Alexei Beltyukov, CEO and co-founder of Universal Fuel Technologies (Unifuel), to unpack why sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as the most practical near-term pathway for reducing aviation emissions. Alexei explains the structural challenges facing SAF adoption, from the logistics of transporting alternative feedstocks to the cost of replicating in hours what nature took millions of years to produce. He also discusses Unifuel’s Flexiforming technology, a chemical process that converts a wide range of feedstocks into drop-in fuels compatible with today’s aircraft. The conversation explores why feedstock flexibility matters, what it takes to qualify new aviation fuels under rigorous industry standards, and how emerging technologies could significantly lower SAF costs.
Key Points:
Aviation’s legacy infrastructure limits rapid change – Aircraft and fuel systems are built for decades of safe operation, meaning new fuels must closely mimic conventional jet fuel rather than requiring entirely new engines or infrastructure.
Flexibility in feedstocks can lower costs – Unifuel’s Flexiforming process can convert multiple feedstocks, including alcohols and chemical byproducts, allowing producers to shift toward whichever inputs are most affordable and available.
Decarbonization must work for existing industry players – Technologies that allow refineries to adapt existing equipment and remain profitable may accelerate the transition faster than approaches requiring a complete overhaul of infrastructure.

Alexei Beltyukov, CEO and co-founder of Universal Fuel Technologies, LinkedIn

Sarah Malpeli, Earthlings 2.0 Guest Host, Account Director at Technica Communications, LinkedIn

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with James Gilmore, Associate Professor of Media and Technology Studies in the Department of Communication at Clemson University, and author of The Bringers of Order: Wearable Technologies and the Manufacturing of Everyday Life, about the promises and pitfalls of wearable technology. From Fitbits and Apple Watches to smart glasses, implantables, and Disney’s MagicBand ecosystem, James explores how wearables shape behavior, collect data, and blur the line between convenience and surveillance. The conversation looks at what these devices actually measure, why their outputs can be misleading, how shame and self-optimization can become built into the user experience, and why stronger public literacy, informed consent, and policy conversations are urgently needed as wearables become more embedded in daily life.
Key Points:
Wearables don’t measure reality, they interpret it – Devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches generate data through sensors and algorithms, meaning what users see as “steps” or “activity” is a constructed output, not a direct reflection of the body.
Convenience often masks surveillance – From fitness trackers to Disney’s MagicBand, wearable systems streamline experiences while simultaneously collecting detailed behavioral data that can be analyzed, modeled, and monetized.
Technical literacy is becoming essential for everyday life – Understanding even the basics of how wearables work helps users better interpret their data, question outputs, and make more informed decisions about consent and usage.

James Gilmore, Associate Professor of Media and Technology Studies in the Department of Communication at Clemson University, Author of Bringers of Order: Wearable Technologies and the Manufacturing of Everyday Life, LinkedIn
Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…
Visit our website for more episodes!
Sign up to our newsletter for the latest news on the most exciting technology and research shaping our futures!
We want to learn more about you! It’ll take just a few moments to complete our survey. Thank you for helping us make your listening experience the best it can be!
Are you new to Earthlings 2.0 and don’t know where to get started? Check out our Life at 3C episode on our website
Thanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our Patreon Page.
Let’s stay connected! Follow Earthlings 2.0 Socials for the latest updates and news:
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on our Facebook Page
Follow us on X

Thanks to Resource Labs for having us on the network!