Earthlings 2.0 Podcast

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we sit down with Mike Hejmej, CEO and co-founder of Senpilot, to explore how AI agents can help modernize one of the world’s largest and most complex machines: the electric grid. Mike explains what AI agents actually are, how they differ from simple chatbots, and why utilities are starting to use them for everything from wildfire risk detection to regulatory research. The conversation covers how Senpilot trains AI agents, how retrieval-based models and verification layers dramatically reduce hallucinations, why utilities are both cautious and eager to adopt AI, and what the next few years might look like for grid operators who embrace (or ignore) these tools.Key Points:AI agents behave like digital coworkers – Instead of simple prompt-and-response tools, agents can clarify tasks, run multi-step workflows, and return with full research reports, spreadsheets, or recommendations.Wildfire and regulatory use cases deliver immediate value – Utilities are already using AI agents to scan grid data for fire risks and to digest thousands of pages of regulatory filings, cutting months of manual work into minutes.AI boosts capacity without replacing people – In an industry where teams are overloaded, and regulators limit hiring, agents take on the “busy work” so humans can focus on analysis, planning, and decision-making.Mike Hejmej, CEO and co-founder of Senpilot, LinkedInLisa 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 websiteThanks 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

#140: The Circular Economy of Chemicals and Carbon Emissions with CERT Systems

2025/12/23 | 28 mins.

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Alex Ip, co-founder and CEO of CERT Systems. CERT is a Canadian startup developing an electrochemical process that converts captured CO₂ into high-value chemicals, such as ethylene, using only electricity and water. Alex explains why these chemicals are so foundational to modern life, and why they’re also responsible for a significant share of global emissions. We unpack how CERT’s room-temperature “CO₂-to-chemicals” process works, what it means to replace both fossil fuel energy and feedstocks, and how circular carbon feedstocks could reshape supply chains on Earth, and maybe even enable local manufacturing on Mars.Editor's Note: This episode was recorded and edited before the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was renamed to the National Laboratory of the RockiesKey Points:Chemicals are a major but overlooked emissions source – Products like ethylene, ammonia, and methanol are essential to modern life yet account for a significant share of global greenhouse gases, making chemical manufacturing a critical and often ignored sector for decarbonization.CERT turns CO₂ into chemicals at room temperature – Using electrochemistry instead of heat, CERT’s process converts CO₂ and water into valuable chemicals like ethylene using only electricity, eliminating fossil feedstocks and enabling a low-temperature, modular approach.Circular feedstocks can reshape supply chains – As CO₂ capture scales from point sources today to direct air capture in the future, chemical production could become more distributed, climate-aligned, and locally sited, breaking dependence on fossil infrastructure.Alex Ip, CEO and co-founder of CERT Systems, LinkedInLisa 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 websiteThanks for tuning in! If you like what we’re doing over at Earthlings 2.0, you can support us by heading over to our

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Aleksey Matyushev, CEO and co-founder of Natilus, about how a new generation of blended wing-body aircraft could reshape both air cargo and, eventually, commercial passenger flight. The conversation explores why e-commerce has created a perfect moment for rethinking aircraft design, how starting with freight helps de-risk the path to passenger service, and what it will really take, from certification to autonomy, for these unusual-looking planes to start quietly moving our packages (and later, us) across the sky by the end of the decade.Key Points:Blended wing-body design changes the fundamentals – Unlike traditional tube-and-wing aircraft, Nautilus’ configuration lets the fuselage generate significant lift, cutting drag and improving aerodynamic efficiency.Lower emissions per ton and per passenger – The aircraft targets around 30% lower fuel burn and can carry substantially more volume, which together translate into up to 50% lower emissions per pound of cargo or per passenger-trip.Cargo first, passengers next – Nautilus is starting with a regional freighter to connect smaller airports and remote communities to major hubs, then scaling the same core architecture into a passenger narrow-body aircraft for longer routes.Aleksey Matyushev, CEO and co-founder of NatilusLinkedInYouTubeLisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and SustainabilityLinkedIn#12: Flying the Sustainable Skies🚀 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 websiteThanks 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 LinkedInFollow us on

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Eric Owski, CEO and co-founder of Treehouse, to explore how electrification is reshaping the way we power and operate our homes—and why upgrading the underlying electrical infrastructure remains one of the biggest hurdles. Eric explains how Treehouse is rethinking the entire homeowner journey by bringing technology, automation, and coordinated service delivery to a traditionally manual and fragmented industry. The conversation looks at what it takes to simplify electrification at scale, how software can support an overstretched electrical workforce, and why improving the customer experience is essential for accelerating the transition to cleaner, all-electric living.Key Points:Electrification demand is rising quickly – Heat pumps are now outselling gas furnaces, and interest in EV chargers, home batteries, and electric appliances continues to grow.Electrical service upgrades are the biggest barrier – About 70% of U.S. homes need electrical improvements, and today’s upgrade process is slow, fragmented, and requires coordination across multiple trades.Treehouse streamlines the entire electrification process – Their software delivers instant, often guaranteed pricing, automates permit plans, and manages projects end-to-end to make upgrades far easier for homeowners.Eric Owski, CEO and co-founder of Treehouse, LinkedInLisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and SustainabilityLinkedIn#14: Electrification: The Smart Home Upgrade

In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we talk with Gary Ong, CEO of Celadyne Technologies, a company focused on making hydrogen a more accessible energy source through its membrane technology. We explore why hydrogen adoption has lagged, how issues such as hydrogen crossover and membrane degradation hold back today’s fuel cells and electrolyzers, and how Celadyne’s low-permeability membrane addresses these problems and significantly improves durability. Gary explains how the technology functions as a true drop-in solution, why Celadyne is focusing on supplying membranes to partners like General Motors and the U.S. Army, and how he expects hydrogen to scale across heavy transportation and energy systems by 2035.Key Points:Hydrogen for heavy transport and industry – Hydrogen is emerging as a strong option for decarbonizing heavy-duty sectors—trucks, logistics, shipping, rail, aviation, and other long-life industrial applications—where today’s energy solutions, including diesel and natural gas, face limitations in meeting long-range, continuous-operation demands.Why membranes matter so much – Proton exchange membranes must block gases, conduct protons, and block electrons; today’s mostly Teflon-based membranes let too much hydrogen cross over, causing unwanted side reactions like hydrogen peroxide formation that drive degradation and limit durability and efficiency.Celadyne’s low-permeability membrane – By more effectively blocking hydrogen while still conducting protons, Celadyne’s membrane reduces crossover and side reactions, which Gary says can quintuple durability in applications like fuel cell trucks, bringing lifetimes closer to 15–20 years.Gary Ong, CEO of Celadyne Technologies, LinkedInLisa 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 websiteThanks 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 LinkedInFollow us on