Thad Oviatt: Securing the E-Bike Revolution

Thad Oviatt: Securing the E-Bike Revolution

In this episode, host Drew Bacchus talks with Thad Oviatt, founder and CEO of Parkent Cycles, about the future of micromobility and urban e-bike infrastructure. Thad reveals the origin story of Parkent's secure parking and charging e-bike kiosks, which are designed to combat the rampant issue of bike theft (where most locks can be cut in under 30 seconds) and mitigate the significant fire hazards associated with charging e-bike batteries indoors. Learn why e-bikes are now considered the most energy-efficient and sustainable mode of transportation. The conversation explores Parkent’s low-power, grid or solar-powered steel design, the challenges of battery anxiety, and the massive market opportunity for safe, ubiquitous charging infrastructure in urban areas and on trails.

Live from Super South 2026 Show 7

Live from the 2026 SuperSouth Conference, this final episode in our special series connects sustainable innovation with essential human skills. * Adam Marx (The Zero to One Networker) explains how organizations can scale and maintain "real people networks" and why Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—the new soft skills—are more critical than ever against the backdrop of AI. Marks discusses how cultivating these long-term relationships is vital for everything from securing capital to implementing green infrastructure projects. * John Hudson (SuperSouth Co-founder) shares the long-term vision for the event to evolve from a summit to an expo by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. He highlights the need to bring the community together to drive innovation across sectors like clean tech, food, and agriculture, noting the importance of building healthier food systems.

Live from Super South 2026 Show 6

Join hosts Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn for this special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk podcast, recorded live at the 2026 Super South Conference. This week, we're digging into sustainability solutions, both on the surface and deep below our feet. First, we talk with Corey Mosser of Natural Born Tillers, who shares their work in innovative urban agriculture. Learn how they are bringing food and biodiversity back to cities by healing the soil and growing produce in unique spaces, including corporate campuses and apartment complexes. Then, we look beneath the surface with Hamed Soroush, founder and president of Teverra. Hamed reveals how the earth's subsurface is being harnessed for clean energy, including geothermal power, long-duration energy storage, and cutting-edge data center cooling solutions in the Southeast. Tune in for insightful conversations on building a greener, smarter future.

Live from Super South 2026 Show 5

In this special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk Podcast, recorded live at the 2026 SuperSouth Conference, host Drew Bacchus and Rick Wrenn dive into three major topics driving sustainability action across the Southeast: * Corporate Infrastructure Reinvented: Emily Schneider, VP of Sustainability for Old Castle Infrastructure, discusses how the built environment is changing, including their use of new technology like AI leak detection to modernize infrastructure. * The Future of Talent: Iesha Baldwin, Sustainability Coordinator for Spelman College, highlights the SuperSouth student innovation capstone, featuring youth-led research such as turning mycelium into energy. * Accessible Climate Science: Salomé Furhmann and Anna Zelcer introduce the Climate Fresk educational workshops, which distill dense IPCC reports into interactive, action-oriented sessions for companies, universities, and nonprofits. Tune in for concise, deep dives into energy innovation, smart infrastructure, and the trends shaping Georgia’s clean-tech ecosystem.

Live from Super South 2026 Show 4

Welcome to another special episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk Podcast, recorded live at the 2026 SuperSouth Conference. This episode dives into how the Southeast is rapidly establishing itself as a cleantech and sustainability hub, asserting its "right to win" conversation in clean technology through ambition, logic, and talent. You’ll hear key discussions with leaders driving change in the region, covering: * Regional Ecosystem Building: Andy Marshall, Executive Director of the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub, details how the South is strengthening its cleantech network. Learn about a new grant from JP Morgan to create a physical hub and experiential learning programs in Georgia. Andy shares why the region possesses the necessary academic talent, manufacturing know-how, and capital to become a center of gravity for innovation. * The Critical Role of Science Communication: Dr. Jenny Brandon, a microplastic scientist and science communicator, shares her astonishment at the amount of cleantech and climate work "forging ahead" in the Southeast and why scientists must engage directly with the public to ensure their research has impact. * Digital Green Workflows: Melissa Katz of Just Do Good Design Co. explains the digital carbon footprint, the importance of auditing websites for sustainability, and the critical need for designers to amplify the mission of innovative environmental brands. Tune in to hear how cleantech innovators, designers, and communicators are driving a regional wave of sustainability!