Host Alexia Kelly sits down with Richard Lawrence, founder of Overlook Investments Group and co-founder of multiple climate-focused organizations, to discuss carbon markets, climate philanthropy, and what has driven his work in both over the decades. Richard shares how a medical mission to Honduras transformed into a 20-year journey of installing more than 400,000 fuel-efficient cookstoves and how high-integrity carbon finance makes it possible.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Origin of Proyecto Mirador: How an 11-year-old girl identified a public health crisis that led to a massive climate solution.
• Continuous Improvement: Why technical innovation—like a simple $1 ash wiper—is the key to project durability.
• The "Top of the Pyramid": Comparing high-performance investment portfolios to high-integrity carbon projects.
• The Future of the Market: The role of transparency, the ICVCM, and transitioning from "voluntary" to "verified" carbon markets.
• Tripling Down on Climate Philanthropy: Why the ultra-wealthy need to increase their payout ratios to address the climate crisis.

Let’s be honest—climate messaging isn’t landing the way it needs to.

In this episode, Alexia Kelly is joined by Kalee Kreider, one of the world’s leading climate communicators, to talk about why… and what we can do about it.

From working with Al Gore on An Inconvenient Truth to advising global organizations, Kalee has spent decades figuring out what actually connects with people—and what completely misses the mark.

They dive into:

• Why your climate message probably isn’t reaching the people you think it is
• The danger of “smart-sounding” language (and how to simplify without dumbing down)
• How methane went from overlooked to a “climate moment”
• Why people need hope + solutions—not just data
• The surprising real reason An Inconvenient Truth resonated
• How TikTok, LinkedIn, and AI are changing the game
• Why even experts need communication training

Plus, Kalee shares her top 3 tips for becoming a better climate communicator—no matter your role.

If you work in or are passionate about climate, this episode is a must-listen.

Alexia Kelly interviews Dr. Lea Borkenhagen, SVP at Environmental Defense Fund, about her career spanning economics, NGOs and corporate sustainability. Dr. Borkenhagen traces her path from studying orangutans in Borneo to exploring how markets shape resource use, then working with WWF and earning a PhD before joining Oxfam to help launch the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. They discuss Dr. Borkenhagen’s experience at Nike, and what it really takes to “win hearts and minds” as a sustainability professional.

Dr. Borkenhagen’s work at EDF focuses on sustainability as a driver of business value—and she shares her expert perspective on how emerging topics like CBAM, climate impacts on supply chains, innovation, methane action, and more are reasons for hope in corporate climate progress, despite political headwind.

In this episode of Navigating Net Zero, host Alexia Kelly is joined by Tisha Schuller, founder of Adamantine Energy and strategic advisor to Stanford's Natural Gas Initiative. She’s the author of four books: Accidentally Adamant (2018); The Game Changers Playbook: How Oil and Gas Leaders Thrive in an Era of Continuous Disruption (2020); Real Decarbonization: How Oil and Gas Companies Are Seizing the Low-Carbon Future; and The Myth in the Moment: From Polarization to Progress in the New Energy Landscape.

Tisha shares her journey from environmental activism to environmental leadership in the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and pragmatism in achieving net zero. They discuss the challenges of the energy transition, the polarized climate debate, and the crucial role oil and gas companies are playing and should continue to play in reducing global carbon intensity. Tisha outlines the need for engagement, innovation, and incrementalism, urging the climate community to work constructively with the oil and gas sector. This dialogue highlights the complexities and opportunities in driving forward a sustainable energy future.

In this episode of Navigating Net Zero, Alexia Kelly speaks with Dr. Britt Wray, a leading voice on climate resilience and mental health, about the emotional challenges associated with the climate crisis. Dr. Wray, author of 'Generation Dread' and director at Stanford University’s CIRCLE initiative, shares her journey and work in addressing climate anxiety. They discuss the significance of acknowledging and processing climate grief and its role in driving purposeful action. Various supportive resources, including the Good Grief Network, are highlighted for those seeking community and coping mechanisms. The conversation also touches on the integration of emotional and technical approaches in the climate movement, especially in balancing professional and personal spheres. Tune in for an engaging discussion on navigating the emotional landscape of the climate crisis and the importance of mental resilience.

In this special review episode of Navigating Net Zero, host Alexia Kelly reflects on her conversations with leading climate action and sustainability experts in 2025. With eight episodes featuring influential leaders from companies like Salesforce, Meta, Microsoft, Mars, Target, Oatly, and more, the podcast dove into critical issues such as internal change management, carbon accounting standards, market-based mechanisms, and the need for intellectual flexibility in tackling climate change.

Key themes include the importance of engaging hearts and minds for deep decarbonization, the financial and logistical challenges of new technologies, and the role of corporate influence in driving systemic change. This episode underscores the urgency of climate action, the need for collective impact, and a focus on progress over perfection.

In this episode of Navigating Net Zero, host Alexia Kelly is joined by Holly Lahd to discuss the intersection of carbon accounting and energy strategy. Holly shares her experiences working on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Scope 3 standard, her transition to corporate decarbonization efforts, and insights on regulated and wholesale energy markets. The discussion covers the evolution of electricity markets, the complexities of corporate climate strategies, and the challenges of Scope 3 emissions. Holly emphasizes the importance of large-scale renewable energy projects and the crucial role of corporate purchasing in driving decarbonization.

The episode examines the interaction between financial structuring, market dynamics, and the need for both attributional and consequential accounting practices in corporate climate action. Tune in to explore how companies can navigate the transitional period of ambiguous guidelines and make impactful decisions.

In this episode of Navigating Net Zero, host Alexia Kelly welcomes Liz Willmott, a climate and sustainability expert with over 20 years of experience across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, including a pivotal role at Microsoft. Liz shares her journey from a childhood tree hugger to leading Microsoft's carbon negative strategy and founding Earth Rise Consulting. The discussion covers the importance of market-based solutions like Microsoft’s internal carbon fee, the challenges and strategies for mainstreaming sustainability in corporations, and the need for intellectual flexibility and practical progress over perfection. Liz emphasizes the role of collaboration, the adaptation of climate solutions, and the mental resilience required for sustainability professionals. The conversation provides a comprehensive look at the multidimensional efforts needed to navigate the path to net zero.