This week on The Tie In, Mark is in the field at DistribuTECH 2025, the premier grid modernization and clean energy technology conference, interviewing innovation leaders solving critical sustainability and infrastructure challenges.

Featured clean energy technologies: AI-powered utility infrastructure software accelerating grid upgrades (Bentley Systems), breakthrough lithium battery safety technology preventing thermal runaway in commercial energy storage (Viridi), utility-grade modular microgrid systems providing resilient renewable power (Box Power), smart electrical panel load management eliminating costly service upgrades (SPAN).

Learn how these innovations enable decarbonization, reduce energy costs, improve resilience, and make renewable energy practical across industries—from entertainment and manufacturing to real estate and beyond.

Perfect for sustainability professionals, energy managers, facility directors, corporate ESG officers, climate consultants, cleantech enthusiasts, production managers, and anyone navigating the renewable energy transition.

Topics: Grid modernization, renewable energy infrastructure, battery storage safety, microgrid applications, electrical service upgrades, decarbonization strategies, net zero goals, sustainable facility management, ESG compliance, clean energy transition, power grid resilience, climate technology solutions, energy cost reduction.

Learn more about our guests:

Bentley Systems

Brad Johnson on LinkedIn

Viridi

Hal Corin on LinkedIn

Box Power

Rithy Chheang

SPAN

Troy Daniels on LinkedIn

Connect with our hosts:

Zena Harris on LinkedIn

Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

In this raw, honest episode of The Tie-In podcast, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin tackle the question every entrepreneur and startup founder faces: Is starting another business worth the next 5-10 years of your life?

Zena and Mark dive into real talk about building companies and the founder journey:

✓ The hidden costs of entrepreneurship beyond money

✓ Self-awareness and personal growth as essential founder skills

✓ The startup fallacy nobody talks about

✓ Choosing your path: starting a company vs. joining a team

✓ Work-life balance, relationships, and founder burnout

✓ Mental health for entrepreneurs

This is two business founders being honest about the realities of entrepreneurship. Whether you're considering your first startup or contemplating your next business, this conversation offers the unfiltered entrepreneurial reality check you need.

🎙️ Like & follow "The Tie-In": @the_tie_in_pod

Connect with our hosts:

1. Zena Harris on LinkedIn
2. Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

This week on “The Tie-In,” Zena and Mark talk with Every Day Action Co-founders Hillary Cohen and Sam Luu. Every Day Action is a non-profit born from Hillary and Sam’s frustration at seeing untouched gourmet meals for cast and crew on film and T sets being thrown away rather than donated – because it was too complicated. Their experience as Assistant Directors for film and TV gave them the experience and problem-solving skills needed to turn their frustration into action. Listen in as we learn how rescuing and reallocating food has had ripple effects on the ground in Hollywood, from feeding hungry people to employing production folks when the local production industry shuts down or moves out of town.

Learn more about Every Day Action:

Every Day Action Website

Volunteer With or Donate to Every Day Action

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

TikTok

YouTube

Please like & follow “The Tie-In” here: @the_tie_in_pod

You can learn more about our hosts, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin & connect with them here:

Zena Harris on LinkedIn

Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

This week on “The Tie-In,” Zena and Mark speak with Maria Intscher-Owrang, Co-Founder and CEO of Simplifyber, an advanced materials company transforming manufacturing through simplified, sustainable processes. Maria is a fashion innovator who brings over 20 years of global design leadership and early expertise in ethical, sustainable luxury. Listen in as we learn about the vision and methodologies behind Simpifyber and why the fashion industry is ready to be disrupted.

Learn more about Simplyfyber:

Simplifyber Website

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Please like & follow “The Tie-In” here: @the_tie_in_pod

1. You can learn more about our hosts, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin & connect with them here:
2. Zena Harris on LinkedIn
3. Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

This week on “The Tie-In,” Zena is on stage at the Sustainable Production Forum with Yasmin Glanville, a senior results-oriented, growth, innovation, leadership, and communication strategist. Yasmin has over 35 years of executive and consulting experience with major business organizations, communities, NFPs, foundations, government, NGOs, and startups in a broad range of industries. Filmed during SPF Toronto on November 24th, 2025, Zena and Yasmin define and discuss what makes a good leader, who can lead, the importance of creating a culture of collaboration, and more!

This episode is an edited version of a longer, live-streamed conversation.

Learn more about Yasmin:

Yasmin Glanville & Associate Website

Yasmin’s LinkedIn

Yasmin on X

Rethink Sustainability Initiative (RSI)

Learn more about the Sustainable Production Forum:

SPF Website

SPF on Instagram

SPF on Facebook

SPF on YouTube

SPF on LinkedIn

Please like & follow “The Tie-In” here: @the_tie_in_pod

1. You can learn more about our hosts, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin & connect with them here:
2. Zena Harris on LinkedIn
3. Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

This week on “The Tie-In,” Zena and Mark speak with Alan Lacy, chief filmmaker and founder of Reel Earth Films, about his latest film, a Jackson Wild 2025 Media Award Finalist: Burrowing Owls: A Love Story. In this episode Alan shares behind the scenes details on the production and filming of Burrowing Owls, the film’s collaboration with The Global Owl Project to actively participate in conservation efforts, and their strategies tell a great stories.

Learn more about Burrowing Owls, Alan Lacy, and Jackson Wild

Reel Earth Films Website

Burrowing Owls; A Love Story

Reel Earth Films Instagram

Alan Lacy Instagram

Jackson Wild Website

Jackson Wild Instagram

Please like & follow “The Tie-In” here: @the_tie_in_pod

1. You can learn more about our hosts, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin & connect with them here:
2. Zena Harris on LinkedIn
3. Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

This week on “The Tie-In,” Mark is on The Playa talking to the innovators who are using the extreme environment of Burning Man as the proving grounds for portable, replicable, user-friendly renewable energy microgrids. Meet some of Burning Man's renewable energy pioneers and learn about the infrastructure they are creating to help meet The Burning Man Project’s 2030 goals set out in their Net Zero Black Rock City Initiative. Mark brings us into Black Rock City to hear from Solarpunk’s Xtina Chu and Corey Johnson, Dragon Wing’s Dr. Ryan Wartena, Burning Man Org’s Director of Regeneration George Reed III, Halo Hybrid Solution’s Ben Seiger, and Bao Chicka Wow Wow’s Daniel Hua and Marcus De Paula.

Ben Sieger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bseager/

Solarpunks Website: https://www.solarpunks.club/

Solarpunks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunks.club/

Burning Man Project: https://burningman.org/about/about-us/sustainability/

Dragon Wings Website: https://www.dragonwings.co/

Bao Chicka Wow Wow Website: https://www.baochickawowwow.com/

Please like & follow “The Tie-In” here: @the_tie_in_pod

1. You can learn more about our hosts, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin & connect with them here:
2. Zena Harris on LinkedIn
3. Mark Rabin on LinkedIn

This week on “The Tie-In,” Zena and Mark reflect on their second season. Season 2 included nearly 50 interviews! Join Zena and Mark as they look back on what they've done this year and share the lessons they've learned from their guests.

Please like & follow “The Tie-In” here: @the_tie_in_pod

1. You can learn more about our hosts, Zena Harris and Mark Rabin & connect with them here:
2. Zena Harris on LinkedIn
3. Mark Rabin on LinkedIn