Business & Society

Episodes

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  How Can We Heal the Living World? 02.09.2026 15m

  Today on Business & Society, we explore the shift from a linear machine economy to a living systems economy. We hear from the architects of a new capitalism, defenders of the environment and the built world, and those working directly with the Earth to make these changes real. These leaders are proving that profitability and ecology are no longer mutually exclusive.
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  How to Build a Circular Economy: Living Systems & Bridging the Political Divide with BILL SHIREMAN 07.07.2026 53m

  Today on the Business in Society and One Planet podcast, Mia Funk and Bruce Piasecki welcome Bill Shireman, a pragmatic idealist, policy innovator, and the President of Solution Citizen. As the curator of the EarthX Congress of Conferences and the driving force behind Circle America, Bill has spent over three decades at the intersection of commerce and conservation. In this episode, Bill breaks down his philosophy of shifting from an outdated "machine economy" built on extraction to a thriving "living systems" economy that mimics nature's circularity. He shares incredible stories from his early days negotiating the landmark California Bottle Bill, detailing how he secretly allied with supposed corporate enemies like Bill Coors to craft legislation that worked for both businesses and the environment. Bill also explores how extreme political polarization—between the "woke" left and the "MAGA" right—hinders progress, urging listeners to step outside their tribes and find shared values with their opponents. Furthermore, he details his innovative run for California's Board of Equalization, outlining his vision to radically overhaul the tax system by penalizing negatives like pollution and waste, rather than taxing prosperity like income and payroll. Tune in to discover why the future of sustainability is not just technological, but fundamentally civilizational.
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  Partnering w/ Boeing, General Dynamics & Native American Tribes: ALAN LERCHBACKER, Fmr. Shipyard CEO 30.06.2026 45m

  Alan Lerchbacher has spent decades operating at the center of defense manufacturing and institutional partnerships. From his early days managing 168 people on the USS John F. Kennedy at age 22 to leading the Challenger recovery operations, his career is defined by adapting to unprecedented challenges. In this conversation with Mia Funk and Bruce Piasecki on Business and Society and The Creative Process, he unpacks his transition into scaling commercial shipyards and his latest venture, Featherstone, which partners with Native American tribes and CBRE to develop BRAC sites for clean energy. He shares his approach to mergers and acquisitions, the necessity of diversity and active listening in leadership, and how AI is rapidly reshaping global maritime strategy.
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  Security, Sustainability & the Physics of Social Order 09.12.2025 39m

  “I grew up in a pretty unstable time in the 1960s, in the United States. Right now, what's going on in the world is probably even more threatening because of whatever the normal stuff that happens in politics, you've got climate change kind of riding over the top of that. Young people, especially, I think, are very anxious about what the future looks like.”
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  Writing, Imagination & Memory w/ Author & Filmmaker JAY PARINI 27.06.2025 43m

  “Poetry is the prince of the literary arts to me. It's at the very top because it's language refined to its apex of memorability. I am interested in poetry as memorability and poetry as something you live by. These are the words you live by. These words stay in your brain and guide your life. That's what I am interested in. My memoir slash autofiction is called Borges and Me, and as you know, it's a story of my time in 1970 when my best friend Billy was drafted for the Vietnam War, and so was I. He went to Vietnam, and I went to Scotland to hide out and do my graduate work. I spent nearly seven years in Scotland, but I certainly spent the next five years definitely in Scotland. I was there before as an undergraduate for a bit, too. During that time, Billy was killed in Vietnam, and I was a nervous wreck. My memoir talks about my depression, my anxieties, and then, through my friend Alastair Reid, I met Borges, the great Argentine writer. We went on a little road trip through the Highlands, and this conversation with Borges really restored me back to myself and what was important in life. I felt that I owed a huge amount to that contact with Borges… I was lucky that suddenly, out of nowhere, came a wonderful director-producer named Mark Turtletaub. He had read my book and loved it, and he approached me. We had a conversation, and he said, ‘Look, I want to make this movie.’ So off we went.”It’s a real pleasure today to welcome a writer whose voice has been a guiding force in American letters for decades. Jay Pariniis the author of acclaimed biographies of literary giants like John Steinbeck, Robert Frost, William Faulkner, and Gore Vidal—as well as an illuminating portrait of Jesus in The Human Face of God. He’s also a celebrated poet, novelist, essayist, and teacher whose work reflects a lifelong devotion to the arts, the humanities, and the power of language to tell the truth, gently. From his poetry to his prose, Jay's writing brings rare insight and deep compassion to the page. He doesn’t just study his subjects—he inhabits them, helps us hear their voices, and see the world through their eyes. And of course, he’s one of the few people who can say they've gotten into the heads of both Jesus and Gore Vidal...and lived to tell the tale.Episode WebsiteSeason 3 of Business & Society focuses on CEOs, Sustainability & Environmental SolutionsBusiness & Society is a limited series co-hosted by Bruce Piasecki.
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  The Healing Power of Music, Community & Belonging with ROBERT & VICTORIA PATERSON 22.05.2025 47m

  “In an age of seeming isolationism, where some countries tend to isolate, this is such a great way to bring people together. When you're doing music and the arts, all those barriers just fall away. People are just collaborating and having fun. It’s such a bridge-building endeavor. I don't mean that to sound cheesy either, because I just think it is really amazing. They end up being ambassadors who go back to their own country and say, “Wow, I had a great time at this festival in America or in the Netherlands.” It ends up being one more step in our way, with our organization, of trying to connect people together in an age when so many people seem to want to hide out and not connect. We’re big advocates of connecting, and that’s another great reason why I think we love to do this. too.”Today’s guests are composer Robert Paterson and violinist Victoria Paterson, the visionary duo behind Mostly Modern Festival & Projects, an organization dedicated to celebrating music by living composers through performance, education, and community outreach.Robert’s work is known for its rhythmic energy, emotional range, and inventive themes—from environmentalism and mythology to technology and modern relationships. Based in Saratoga Springs and NYC, he’s been recognized with numerous honors, including the Classical Recording Foundation’s Composer of the Year at Carnegie Hall and a Grammy® for Three Way. His music is performed by major orchestras and ensembles across the globe and regularly featured on NPR. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Mostly Modern Festival, which takes place in both Saratoga Springs and the Netherlands.Victoria has built a multifaceted career across classical, Broadway, and commercial music, performing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The Today Show. As General Director of Mostly Modern Projects, she leads year-round programming that brings music into hospitals, public parks, and senior centers, while also mentoring emerging artists across the country.Episode WebsiteSeason 3 of Business & Society focuses on CEOs, Sustainability & Environmental SolutionsBusiness & Society is a limited series co-hosted by Bruce Piasecki.
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  How can we meet the Climate Accords thru Environmental Credit Solutions? with BILL FLEDERBACH 25.03.2025 50m

  How can we meet the Paris Climate Accords through Environmental Credit Solutions? Bill Flederbach is the President & CEO of ClimeCo and is a respected leader in the global environmental commodities market. Following his favorite motto, “To make a difference each day and always do the next right thing,” Bill has created scalable Greenhouse Gas reduction efforts while creating a work culture at ClimeCo that nurtures creativity and empowers his team to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit. Today, ClimeCo operates at the forefront of an exciting transformation as global businesses, governments, and environmental advocates recognize that market-based solutions are the most efficient way to address environmental challenges. Through his leadership, ClimeCo is well known for its technical role in developing a diverse portfolio of environmental credits and for providing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) solutions for clients navigating a path to a more sustainable future. He is passionate about supporting clients’ success while encouraging new practices and technologies that will benefit all.
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  The Power of Collaboration & Speaking Truth to Power with GORDON LAMBERT & BRUCE PIASECKI 06.02.2025 42m

  “The number one most powerful place to intervene in a system is mindsets. Collaboration is a joint effort to achieve common goals. That's needed more than ever in this world we are in, with these large, significant problems that no one entity can solve on their own. But it's a higher bar than cooperation. I term cooperation or define it as the pursuit of individual interests jointly. You can feel the difference between collaboration, where everyone has skin in the game, there are no free riders, and everyone's pulling on the oars together.”
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  The Future of Renewable Energy with Minnesota Power’s JULIE PIERCE 15.10.2024 44m

  How did a century-old power company become a leader in renewable energy? How can industrial giants adapt to cleaner power? What role are women leaders and community initiatives playing in the renewable energy transition? Julie Pierce stands as a beacon of innovation and foresight in the energy sector. As Vice President of Strategy and Planning for Minnesota Power, a part of the Allete family, she’s helping transform the landscape of renewable energy with a focus on sustainable development and community collaboration.
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  Leading Change: An Interview with GORDON LAMBERT on Business, Sustainability & Creative Tension 16.09.2024 50m

  Gordon Lambert shares insights from his decades-long journey, addressing his roles, strategies, and contributions to environmental change and corporate evolution. Lambert has been engaged in business and sustainability in the energy sector for 40 years. In 2015, Lambert was appointed by the Premier and Cabinet to the five-person panel that designed the Alberta Climate Leadership Plan. In 2016, he chaired the Alberta Climate Leadership Technology and Innovation Task Force, with $1.4 billion in carbon levy revenue being committed to innovation as an outcome. He also serves on the Export Development Canada CSR advisory council and as the Suncor Energy and Sustainability Executive in Residence at the Ivey Business School. From November 2018 to April 2020, he served as the interim CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). For 17 years, he led Suncor Energy’s sustainability strategy, innovation, and embedding efforts, retiring in January 2015. He played a key role in the design and creation of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), involving a globally unique collaboration model, that has resulted in the sharing of $1.3 billion worth of intellectual property to accelerate environmental performance improvement.
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  The Daily Pursuit of Excellence with SAM SMOLIK 01.08.2024 30m

  How can cultivating curiosity within an organization transform it from a place of work into a community driven by passion and purpose? Why is wetland conservation crucial for combating climate change, and how can public-private partnerships make a difference? What are the keys to maintaining operational excellence and how can we pursue excellence in our personal and professional lives? Sam Smolik retired as Senior Vice President, Americas Manufacturing for LyondellBasell Industries in 2017. He previously served as Global Vice President for Environment, Health, and Safety for LyondellBasell, Shell, and The Dow Chemical Company. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Axalta Coating Systems, FlyGuys, and Ducks Unlimited Inc. He also serves on the Engineering Advisory Board at The University of Texas at Austin. Sam authored The Power of Goal ZEROand The Daily Pursuit of Excellenceto share the many proven performance improvement concepts that he and his colleagues developed and perfected throughout a 50 year global career. His focus is on leadership, people development, culture, operational excellence, management systems, ESG, sustainable development, and achieving superior performance in organizations. Sam Smolik graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Houston, Texas.
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  Leadership & Operational Excellence - SAM SMOLIK Explores the Secrets of Success 30.07.2024 31m

  "What happens is that companies get complacent. Things go well for a long time. All publicly traded companies are under tremendous financial pressure. Everyone's looking at quarterly earnings and all that, and they take their eye off of safety and operational excellence. And you can't do that." Sam Smolik retired as Senior Vice President, Americas Manufacturing for LyondellBasell Industries in 2017. He previously served as Global Vice President for Environment, Health, and Safety for LyondellBasell, Shell, and The Dow Chemical Company. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Axalta Coating Systems, FlyGuys, and Ducks Unlimited Inc. He also serves on the Engineering Advisory Board at The University of Texas at Austin.
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  Can We Bridge the $3-4 Trillion Gap to Mobilize the Energy Transition? with DOMINIC EMERY 23.07.2024 45m

  “Oil and gas companies, along with any company engaged in the production and burning of fossil fuels, must cease these activities if we are to have any hope of reaching net zero by 2050, which is only 26 years away. The pace of change needs to be extremely rapid. Currently, the world is emitting about 55 gigatons of CO₂ equivalent, with 70% of this coming from fossil fuels, which provide 80% of our energy. Demand for energy continues to grow due to increasing populations. However, we must bring down the 55 gigatons of emissions to net zero by 2050, even though emissions are still on the rise, albeit at a slower pace. In short, oil, gas, and coal must become relics of the past."
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  Revolutionizing Urban Mobility with Wireless Bike & Scooter Docking Stations - JEFF OLSON 17.06.2024 49m

  Jeff Olson is an American urban architect who dedicated his career to alternative  transportation, and became a founder of the largest bike share system in North America, New York City’s CitiBike. He is a co-founder of re:Charge-e and author of The 3rd Mode: Towards a Green Society. His major projects include the Grand Canyon Greenway, the Empire State Trail, the White House Millennium Trails Program, the Dubai Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan, and the NW Arkansas Razorback Greenway.
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  Strategic Thinking for a Changing World: Environmental Solutions with Colonel ROBIN PHILLIPS 03.06.2024 44m

  What kind of strategic, collaborative and critical thinking skills will we need to adapt to climate change and biodiversity loss? How can we learn to cooperate and avoid the conflicts that arise from competition for resources? Robin Phillips, a retired US Army officer with a distinguished career in National Security, has extensive experience in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. She served as commander of the Virginia Defense Force's 1st Regiment and was the first female colonel in the VDF to command at the brigade or regimental level. Proficient in Russian, she holds a Master's in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School and has worked on Current and Crisis Intelligence and Strategic Plans and Policy at the Pentagon. Phillips' background in geology also informs her perspectives on environmental impact and climate change adaptation.
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  What is conscious capitalism? Sustainable Development & Leadership with DR. LARRY CLAY JR. 21.05.2024 35m

  What is conscious capitalism? How can we create businesses that are more holistic and connected to the communities they serve? Dr. Larry Clay Jr. teaches business modeling. His focus is on business management research, sustainable development analytics and leadership development to create sustainable value for enterprises, communities, and cities.
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  Empowering Change: NINA LUZZATTO GARDNER on Women's Rights & Sustainability 04.05.2024 48m

  How can we turn hope into real-world solutions to tackle the biggest challenges facing our world today? How can we bridge the gender divide and create a more fair and sustainable future for all? What steps can we take to educate and empower the next generation of leaders and change-makers? Nina Luzzatto Gardner is the director of Strategy International, a corporate sustainability advisory firm she founded in 2000. She works with companies to improve their commitment to sustainability and the SDGs, and with investors to better understand Environmental, Social & Governance risks in their portfolios. Nina has been teaching Corporate Sustainability, Business & Human Rights as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington DC since 2013. She has a BA from Harvard/Radcliffe, and a JD from Columbia Law School. She is the founding president of a number of professional women’s associations, on the advisory board of the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society, and Board member of AG tech start up – Farm from a Box. Nina is an Italian and US national.
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  Wealth & Climate Competitiveness: The New Narrative with Bruce Piasecki 02.02.2024 1h 13m

  You’re listening to Wealth & Climate Competitiveness: The New Narrative with Bruce Piasecki and guests. This program was recorded in January 2024 at Caffe Lena.
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  LEAH THOMAS - Author of The Intersectional Environmentalist - Founder of IE Platform & @GreenGirlLeah 13.11.2023 36m

  Leah Thomas is an intersectional environmental activist and eco-communicator based in Southern California. She’s passionate about advocating for and exploring the relationship between social justice and environmentalism and was the first to define the term “Intersectional Environmentalism.” She is the founder of @greengirlleah and The Intersectional Environmentalist platform. Her articles on this topic have appeared in Vogue, Elle, The Good Trade, and Youth to the People and she has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, Domino, GOOP, Fashionista, BuzzFeed, and numerous podcasts. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Chapman University and worked for the National Park Service and Patagonia headquarters before pursuing activism full time. She lives in Carpinteria, California. She is the author of The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet, and Winner of the Creative Force Foundation Award 2023.
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  BRUCE PIASECKI - NYTimes Bestselling Author of Doing More With One Life 26.09.2023 38m

  Bruce Piasecki is a NYTimes bestselling author, and organizational innovator. As founder of AHC Group, Inc. a global management consulting firm advising major corporations on social response capitalism, sustainability, and innovation, he has worked for over a third of the Fortune 500 in change management, including BP, Merck, and Toyota. Piasecki has been an agent of climate solutions for over 40 years. He’s also co-founder of the Creative Force Foundation which annually awards young authors writing on business and society issues. He is the author of Doing More With Less, Doing More With One Life: A Writer’s Journey through the Past, Present, and Future, and other books.