In this episode, Alex Zook interviews Dr. Casey Handmer, co-founder of Terraform Industries, about the science and strategy behind converting atmospheric CO₂ into sustainable hydrocarbons. They unpack the thermodynamics and catalysis of the process, compare hardware and software development cycles, and identify the main hurdles in scaling chemical manufacturing. The discussion also examines U.S. manufacturing capacity, explores AI’s emerging role in engineering workflows, and concludes with practical insights for researchers and entrepreneurs entering the hard-tech arena.Follow Casey on X: x.com/CJHandmerConnect with us:https://www.pathwaystoprogress.xyzx.com/PathsProgressSubscribe for email updates:https://xyz.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=49a752205c201402feab70ff2&id=c3e053f33c

Kumar Garg, co-founder and president of Renaissance Philanthropy, joins Laura Messner and Berke Celik to discuss the motivation and vision behind the organization’s launch in May 2024, and the principles that have enabled its rapid scale-up.

In this conversation, they explore:

1. The founding vision and strategic priorities of Renaissance Philanthropy
2. Organizational principles that support effective growth
3. The art of agenda-setting and policy entrepreneurship
4. Building impactful public-private partnerships
5. Leveraging innovative funding mechanisms
6. Identifying high-impact opportunities in overlooked areas — from eliminating lead exposure to addressing potassium deficiency
7. The importance of R&D and innovation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Check out Renaissance Philanthropy. Follow Kumar Garg on X.Connect with us: Website TwitterSubscribe for email updates.

Jay Turner, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Environmental Studies at Wellesley College and author of Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future, joins Sam Peterson to discuss environment politics and the clean energy transition.

Check out Jay's book and The Big Green Machine data dashboard.

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