Consensus in Conversation

Goodr has a simple but powerful mission: feed more and waste less. The sustainable waste management firm’s founder and CEO, Jasmine Crowe-Houston, believes that hunger in America is not a scarcity issue– it’s a problem of logistics. Which is actually good news, because that’s an issue technology can solve! By leveraging detailed inventory management, predictive analytics and advanced supply chain logistics, Goodr is helping businesses reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and harness tax credits, all while supporting sustainable hunger solutions across the nation. Jasmine is an award-winning business leader, TED speaker, and author, who began her entrepreneurship journey spotlighting black celebrity philanthropy, nonprofits, and other charitable causes on BlackCelebrityGiving.com. After moving to Atlanta in 2013, she began hosting free pop up restaurants every Sunday out of her own pocket, offering soul food meals to people experiencing homelessness. When a video of Jasmine at one of these events went viral in 2016, she was inspired to learn more about food donations and soon discovered the shocking scale of America’s food waste problem. Realizing that a truly sustainable hunger solution couldn’t rely on donations alone, Jasmine launched Goodr in 2017 to offer businesses a win-win way to save money and build food security in their communities, and she has since grown her local startup into a B Corp Certified company serving a national network.  Hear Jasmine talk about turning her Sunday passion into a thriving company, why Goodr takes a holistic approach to waste management, and how technology can help create a hunger-free future.Episode Highlights00:00 Jasmine Crowe-Houston on sustainable solutions to hunger00:52 Conor Gaughan introduces Jasmine and Goodr04:15 Early life, the importance of storytelling, and giving a Ted Talk08:48 Entrepreneurship, blackcelebritygiving.com, and sports for good 15:45 Feeding the hungry in Atlanta, going viral, and launching Goodr  20:39 The logistics of hunger, win-win solutions to food waste, and growth30:47 Covid, pivoting to hunger relief, and scaling a national network38:09 Impact report, the Goodr Foundation, and grocery store program43:40 Finding inspiration 45:10 Where to learn more and end creditsIf you liked this episode, listen next to Jamila Norman of Patchwork City Farms on Urban Farming, Food Advocacy, and Good FoodMore on Goodr and Jasmine Crowe-Houston:goodr.colinkedin.com/company/goodrco linkedin.com/in/jasminecrowe instagram.com/goodrcoConnect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgoneHave questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

With climate change causing unprecedented extreme weather, fluctuating temperatures, and rising sea levels, only one thing is certain: the future isn’t going to look like the past. And yet, all of our risk analysis models are based on past data from historical patterns that no longer hold true. How can businesses make intelligent decisions on building for that future while protecting themselves from tomorrow’s risks? That’s the question that motivated Rich Sorkin to found Jupiter Intelligence, a climate risk analytics firm with a mission to help organizations build resilience and mitigate the effects of the changing climate. As co-founder, CEO, and chairman of Jupiter, Rich has combined his wealth of entrepreneurial experience and expertise in emerging technology to successfully scale the company since its launch in 2018, leveraging cutting-edge science, real-time data, and advanced modeling to achieve next-level climate risk insights and analytics. Rich earned an economics degree from Yale before attending Stanford’s Graduate Business School in 1986.  Whether researching under a Nobel Laureate, cutting his teeth at Apple, or leading game-changing technology to market at firms like Creative Labs, Zip2, and Kaggle, Rich is ever at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship.Hear Rich share why a change in perspective led him to launch Jupiter Intelligence, what the current assumptions about climate risk are missing, and how the startup is leveraging generative AI and real science to enhance risk analysis for the future.Episode Highlights00:00 Rich Sorkin on the impact of climate change 00:49 Conor Gaughan introduces Rich and Jupiter Intelligence06:30 Early interests and work for a future Nobel Prize winner at Yale10:55 Emerging tech, mapping trends, and career in Silicon Valley 17:41 Entrepreneurial lessons, Zeus, and the origin of Jupiter Intel22:50 What Jupiter solves, climate infrastructure, and risk management31:08 Misconceptions, driving change with data, and generative AI40:46 Aligning profit with purpose, innovations to watch, and leaving a legacy49:24 Where to learn more and conclusion50:06 End credits If you liked this episode, listen next to Max Evans of ClimateAi on Dorm Room Entrepreneurship and AI-Based Climate SolutionsMore on Jupiter and Rich Sorkin:jupiterintel.comlinkedin.com/company/jupiterintellinkedin.com/in/richsorkin  Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgoneHave questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Alfred Johnson returns to the pod to give us the update on tax credit transferability and clean energy markets, just over a year after launching Crux Climate. As co-founder and CEO of Crux, Alfred has the startup’s revolutionary management software poised to capitalize on a multi-billion (if not trillion) dollar opportunity in clean energy tax credits. After graduating Stanford in 2008, Alfred worked for the U.S. Treasury Department, BlackRock, and Clara Lending before co-founding his first software company, Mobilize, in 2016 with Allen Kramer. That startup was acquired in 2020, but it wouldn't be the last venture for Alfred and Allen. In 2023, the two launched Crux Climate, a software startup developing online solutions to allow organizations to buy and sell tax credits for clean energy. Since its launch, clean energy tax credits have skyrocketed, with the Inflation Reduction Act and other government regulations incentivizing clean energy. Hear Alfred talk about what’s changed in this monumental first year, the massive implications of transferability for the private and public sectors, and why Crux is uniquely positioned to define the clean energy tax credit market as we know it. Episode Highlights00:00 Alfred Johnson on energy’s $3 trillion market00:52 Conor Gaughan introduces Alfred and Crux Climate01:46 Alfred’s work in software, finance, and government leading to Crux05:01 Attempting to summit Mount Marcus Baker, AK’s 3rd highest peak07:13 What Crux Climate solves, transferability, and the tax credit market14:36 Marketplace growth, predicting scale, and providing business value 25:10 Domestic energy’s evolution, private vs public sectors, and competition32:25 The future of clean energy, surprising takeaways, and what’s next for Crux40:09 Optimism, exciting industry innovations, and advice for a younger self46:07 Where to learn more and end creditsIf you liked this episode, listen next to Peter Godart of Found Energy on Aluminum Fuel, NASA, and Engineering Impact at ScaleMore on Crux and Alfred Johnson:cruxclimate.com linkedin.com/company/cruxclimate linkedin.com/in/alfredjohnson01 Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgoneHave questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

85% of used clothing ends up in landfills, but textile recycling and rewards platform Trashie is out to save our castaway garments from becoming mountains of waste. Launched only a few months ago, Trashie is taking the fashion industry by storm with its instantly recognizable Take Back Bag and viral closet cleanup videos, and the mind behind this magic is Trashie founder and CEO, Kristy Caylor. Kristy earned a BS in Industrial Engineering and her MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business before entering the fashion industry, where she worked for iconic brands like Banana Republic, Gap, and Band of Outsiders. She co-founded her own fashion brand, Maiyet, in 2010, and eight years later, co-founded For Days, the original closed-loop clothing company. As CEO of For Days, Kristy oversees strategy, marketing, technology, product design, and growth (just to name a few), successfully growing the brand globally while earning various awards for its mission-driven work. But Kristy recognized that more could be done to reduce the amount of used clothing that went to waste, so she launched Trashie.Trashie sells its Take Back Bags to customers, who fill them up with unwanted clothing, accessories, and shoes, and mail them back to the brand in exchange for TrashieCash, which customers can use to purchase real world items and rewards, thanks to Trashie’s impressive partnership network. Hear Kristy share how she employs a systems engineering approach to business, what she learned working at top fashion brands versus building her own, and why Trashie’s approach to upcycling is a win-win for everyone. Episode Highlights00:00 Kristy Caylor on the textile waste problem 00:42 Conor Gaughan introduces Kristy and Trashie03:48 Undergrad STEM, first startup, and entrepreneurship07:51 Business school, the fashion industry, and professional evolution 16:28 Co-founding For Days, its business model, and clothing waste26:20 Trashie’s origin, the Take Back Bag, and incentivizing circularity36:12 Sustainability in fashion, industry innovations, and changing behavior42:28 What’s next for Trashie and finding optimism46:25 Where to learn more and end credits If you liked this episode, listen next to Catherine Roggero-Lovisi of Modern MeadowMore on Trashie and Kristy Caylor:trashie.io linkedin.com/company/trashie linkedin.com/in/kristycaylor Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgoneHave questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Dr. BJ Johnson knows that if you want to make the biggest climate impact in the least amount of time, you start by improving upon an existing technology. And he’s doing exactly that as the co-founder and CEO of ClearFlame, a startup modifying diesel engines to run on decarbonized liquid fuels. Before co-launching ClearFlame, BJ studied mechanical engineering and energy systems at Stanford University, earning three (3!) degrees: undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral. He was also a world-class athlete, competing for the US National Swim Team at the World Championships in 2013 and 2014, the same time he was working on his Ph.D, which would ultimately lead him to the idea that would become ClearFlame. That idea might be simple in its approach, but it could make a game-changing impact for both the planet and business alike. By modifying existing diesel engines, ClearFlame’s technology can cut carbon emissions in half for heavy-duty transportation fleets, without requiring charging infrastructure or engine replacements. With many clean fuels already cheaper than diesel, it can simultaneously provide major bottom line savings too.Hear BJ share how he balanced world-class athletics and doctoral work, the critical importance of ‘bridge technologies’ to making an immediate impact, and why ClearFlame’s accelerated path towards cheaper, sustainable diesel engines is poised to make them the Tesla of heavy duty transportation.Episode Highlights00:00 BJ Johnson on ClearFlame as the Tesla of heavy duty00:48 Conor Gaughan introduces BJ and ClearFlame4:04 Studying energy at Stanford, Silicon Valley, and athletics15:28 The idea for ClearFlame, combustion tech, and liquid fuels 23:28 Carbon negative solutions, the first sale, and scaling growth30:20 Total addressable market, tech unicorns, and doing good and well38:10 Diversifying entrepreneurship, exciting innovations, and finding optimism42:47 Wrap up and end creditsIf you liked this episode, listen next to Dr. Seonghoon Woo of Amogy on Materials Science, Decarbonized Transport, and Alternative Fuels Watch this short video to see how ClearFlame’s technology works: youtube.com/watch?v=WDvGDFqFtHo More on ClearFlame and BJ Johnson:clearflame.com linkedin.com/company/clearflameenglinkedin.com/in/bj-johnson-6b9213120Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgoneHave questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 16, and we’re celebrating in our own, special way… today’s episode features Mike Gaughan: missile launch officer, successful businessman, sports coach, and, most importantly, Conor’s dad! Hear the stories that Conor grew up on, including Mike’s time from paperboy to the Air Force Academy and beyond, the three phone phone calls you should make every day, and what it takes to be a true leader in business, and in life. Episode Highlights00:00 Mike Gaughan on why teamwork matters00:50 Conor Gaughan introduces his dad02:09 Childhood aspirations, athletics, and military background12:38 Axioms for life, working as a paperboy, and farming20:45 Air Force Academy, business lessons, and memorable stories27:38 Civilian life, the bookmobile, and climbing the corporate ladder38:29 Building connection, solving problems, and finding optimism43:35 Leaving a legacy and final words of wisdom45:55 End credits If you liked this episode, listen next to our episode with Greg Putnam of Little Belt Cattle Co.Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Internet ads – you probably see hundreds, maybe thousands a day without thinking about them. But it turns out the process for serving those ads involves a highly complex digital supply chain that generates 7.2 million tons of carbon emissions annually. That’s why ad-tech veteran Anne Coghlan is on a mission to decarbonize media and advertising with Scope3. A lifelong lover of logic and problem-solving, Anne earned her Master’s at University College London in the Philosophy of Mathematics, later joining digital advertising company AppNexus in 2015. There she met future Scope3 co-founder Brian O’Kelley and helped to develop many of the technologies that underpin digital ad delivery today. When Anne left the ad industry to join supply chain tech company Waybridge, she began to notice that a lack of consideration for sustainability and energy consumption existed across both industries. So, in 2021, she reunited with O’Kelley and other AppNexus alumni to found Scope3, a public benefit corporation aiming to decarbonize advertising and media by better measuring the carbon emitted from digital display and video ads. In 2023, Anne made AdAge’s 40 under 40 list and secured the #2 most influential person in performance media on PMW’s Power 100 List, but the COO of Scope3 is just getting started. Hear Anne Coghlan share how her love for math ultimately led to co-founding a startup, why online ads only scratch the surface of Scope3’s potential use cases, and what the future holds for decarbonized digital media.Episode Highlights00:00 Anne Coghlan on decarbonizing digital supply chains 00:53 Conor Gaughan introduces Anne Coghlan and Scope305:08 The beauty of math, interest in music, and academic pursuits 16:10 Studies to consulting, joining AppNexus, and Waybridge 21:27 Launching Scope3, how it works, and the media industry’s footprint34:14 Problem solving with math, maximizing impact, and open sourcing tech45:01 What’s next, remaining optimistic, and the future of sustainable ads49:39 Where to learn more51:32 End creditsIf you liked this episode, listen next to Allison Wolff of Vibrant Planet on Beneficial Fire, Sustainable Software, and Nature-Based Climate SolutionsMore on Scope3 and Anne Coghlan:scope3.com linkedin.com/company/scope3data linkedin.com/in/annecoghlan Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Just popping into the feed for a quick hello from Consensus in Conversation host, Conor Gaughan, to update you on the coming weeks.We’ve been hard at work with some great shows planned for this summer, including a few special episodes that may look and sound a little different than our regular programming. We think you’ll really enjoy them. So, no episode for today, but we’ll be back in June with some great new conversations. See you next week! Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.comIf you’re enjoying the show please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Just over one year ago, the IRS published its final rules and guidance on the transferability of clean energy tax credits. Not only did transferability solve a major flaw in the Inflation Reduction Act’s plan to support clean energy infrastructure development, but, as many founders correctly foresaw, it was about to create an entirely new financial market. This week, we’re re-releasing our conversation with one of those visionary founders: Alfred Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder of Crux Climate, after a great live conversation we had with Alfred at American Clean Power Association’s 2024 CLEANPOWER expo, which we plan to bring to the pod later this year. Crux is a software startup revolutionizing clean energy tax credit management, and Alfred is well-suited to break down clean energy tax incentives, share founders' lessons, and talk about the rapidly growing clean energy market, which is expected to receive $3 trillion in investments over the next decade.A Stanford grad, Alfred Johnson worked for the U.S. Treasury Department and BlackRock before launching his first software company with co-founder Allen Kramer. That company was acquired in 2020, leaving Alfred and Allen ready for their next adventure. And, in 2023, they launched Crux Climate to develop online solutions for organizations to buy and sell clean energy tax credits, helping ensure that capital goes to the impactful startups that need it to scale, and that credits go to those that can actually use them. Hear Alfred Johnson talk about the founding idea for Crux, how to find an ideal co-founder, and why he thinks tax credit transferability is one of the most influential government policy choices ever made.Episode Highlights00:00 Conor introduces ACP CLEANPOWER 2024, Alfred, and Crux03:04 D.C. upbringing, Stanford, and the intersection of private and public sectors12:27 The startup bug and launching Crux Climate18:03 Crux’s core business, finding buyers and sellers, and building scale 26:16 The tax credit marketplace, a new asset class, and the near-term future32:02 ESG, aligning purpose with profits, and creating sustainable impact 38:51 Advice for young entrepreneurs, leaving a legacy, and finding motivation45:57 Where to learn more and end creditsIf you liked this episode, stay tuned for next week’s live follow-up with Alfred, and in the meantime, listen next to Jonathan Goldberg of Carbon DirectMore on Alfred Johnson and Crux Climate:cruxclimate.comlinkedin.com/company/cruxclimate linkedin.com/in/alfredjohnson01Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.