Naked Sustainability

Episode 69: WTF Is AI Actually Costing the Planet?

Is AI the climate solution we've been waiting for — or the most energy-hungry thing we've ever built? In this solo episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny dives into the AI paradox: the genuinely powerful ways artificial intelligence is accelerating biodiversity research, democratizing climate risk data, and helping everyday people connect with the natural world — and the jaw-dropping environmental cost hiding behind every query, recommendation, and AI-generated image. We'll dig into: 🌿 The AI tools that are actually doing good (iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID, and more) 💧 Why U.S. data centers consumed 17 billion gallons of water in 2023 — and why that number is about to explode 🌾 The uncomfortable truth about precision agriculture and who's really benefiting 📵 Why 74% of AI's environmental benefit claims can't be backed up ✅ How to apply the EcoMindful Method to your own relationship with AI This one isn't about rejecting technology — it's about asking the same hard questions about your tech that you already ask about your food, your fashion, and your energy use. Share this with a friend who uses AI every day, or leave a review if this episode made you think twice about your next ChatGPT query. 👉 Explore more resources at nakedsustainability.com [https://nakedustainability.com]

Episode 68: Ben Gilliland's Mission to FutureProof America's Homes

Everyone's talking about buying a new home or relocating away from climate risk. But what about the 37 million homes that are already standing — in wildfire zones, flood plains, and hurricane corridors — that aren't going anywhere anytime soon? In this episode, I sit down with Ben Gilland, a multi-career entrepreneur who built a fireproof, earthquake-resistant house on the side of an active volcano — and accidentally created a solution to America's home insurance crisis. Ben is the founder of Future Proof Property Intelligence, a public benefit company using AI and IBM climate data to help everyday homeowners understand their disaster risk and actually do something about it before their insurance gets canceled. 👉 Check out ⁠Future Proof⁠ [https://futureproof.org] | ⁠TPHA [https://tpha.org] | Magic Window App [https://futureproof.org/products/magic-window] In this conversation, you'll learn: * Why 37 million U.S. homes are at extreme climate risk — and why that number is growing * How a free app can show you exactly what's coming for your property by 2100 * Why insurance companies are canceling entire zip codes, and what you can do about it * How fixing your home now can mean 2–8% appreciation instead of steady decline * Why the housing crisis, the insurance crisis, and the climate crisis are actually one problem If you've ever wondered whether your home is really as safe as you think — and what you can actually do about it — this is your episode. Head to https://nakedsustainability.com [https://nakedsustainability.com/] for more resources, episodes, and community support.

Episode 67: The Diesel Problem Nobody's Talking About with Brian Livingston

Everyone's talking about electric vehicles and hydrogen. But what about the millions of diesel engines running RIGHT NOW - in trucks, mines, ships, and power plants - that aren't going anywhere anytime soon? In this episode, I sit down with Brian Livingston, a 40-year chemical engineer who spent nearly two decades at Caterpillar's diesel engine division. Brian is the founder of Zelkam, where he helps diesel-intensive industries reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by 5-7% using proven catalyst technology - with 100 to 400% ROI. 👉 Check out Zelkam [https://www.zelkam.com] | Decarbonize5.com [https://Decarbonize5.com] In this conversation, you'll learn: * Why "wait for the perfect solution" is the most dangerous thing we can say about decarbonization * How a catalyst actually changes the chemistry of diesel combustion * Why the biggest sustainability wins are happening in industries most people never think about * How cutting emissions and saving money can be the same move. If you've ever wondered what practical, profitable decarbonization actually looks like, this is your episode. Head to https://nakedsustainability.com [https://nakedsustainability.com ]for more resources, episodes, and community support.

Episode 66: What It Actually Takes to Go Electric with Mats Larsson

Electric vehicles are often positioned as the solution to decarbonizing transportation. But what does it actually take to transition an entire society from petroleum to electricity? In this episode, Ginny sits down with Mats Larsson, founder of the Global Energy Transformation Institute, to unpack the large-scale infrastructure, grid capacity, and long-term planning required for widespread EV adoption. Together, they explore: * Whether our current power grids can handle mass EV charging * Why some countries may need to dramatically increase power generation * The real environmental break-even point for EVs * Range anxiety, consumer behavior, and the used EV market * Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and EVs as backup power * The idea of electric road systems This isn’t an anti-EV conversation — it’s a systems-level one; which I'm realizing applies to more and more things in our life. . Because real sustainability isn’t just about switching products. It’s about transforming infrastructure, policy, and behavior in ways that actually last. Find out more about Mats Larsson and the GET Institute: https://www.getinstitute.com [https://www.getinstitute.com/about] or check out his YouTube which has a ton of EV knowledge on it: www.youtube.com/@matslarsson1115 [http://www.youtube.com/@matslarsson1115].

Episode 65: Normalizing the Messy, Real-Life Sustainable Choices

What if the most impactful sustainable habits are also the ones people laugh at? In this episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny talks about the everyday eco-friendly choices that don’t photograph well — the ones that earn eye rolls at family dinners, jokes from friends, or quiet self-doubt. From hanging laundry and reusing jars to keeping furniture a little longer than feels acceptable, this conversation explores the cultural side of sustainability: why “normal” has shifted toward convenience and consumption, and how choosing reuse, repair, and mindfulness is quietly pushing back. This isn’t an episode about being perfect — or buying better things. It’s about: 🌱 Why sustainability doesn’t need to match an aesthetic 🌱 The difference between eco-friendly consumption and mindful living 🌱 When not replacing something is the most sustainable choice 🌱 How teasing and discomfort often signal meaningful change 🌱 Letting go of perfection and embracing persistence instead If your sustainable habits feel a little messy, mismatched, or misunderstood — you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing something that actually lasts. 🎧 Share this episode with someone who’s ever been called “weird” for trying to live more intentionally. ✨ Explore resources and tools for real-life sustainability at nakedsustainability.com [https://nakedsustainability.com]