Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast

Episode 51: Creating a climate action plan that works

Community colleges are emerging as powerful climate leaders, and this episode explores how institutions at different stages are turning vision into action. Host Dave Karlsgodt talks with leaders from…

Episode 50: Funding Transformational Change, Credit Ratings 101 for Sustainability Leaders

Transformational sustainability projects live or die at the intersection of ambition and institutional finance. This conversation pulls back the curtain on how credit ratings shape what campuses can…

Episode 49: Charging ahead: Financing and powering resilient all-electric school bus fleets

Electrifying vehicle fleets is no longer a distant goal—it’s happening now in school districts, cities, and campuses across the country. In this episode, we explore what it takes to transition large…

Episode 48: Energy P3's grow up: lessons from the field in 2025

Energy public-private partnerships (P3s) have moved beyond the pilot phase. They’re now a serious, scalable strategy for institutions facing aging infrastructure, decarbonization targets, and budget…

Episode 47: From classroom to stadium: the Michigan sustainability model

What does it take to embed sustainability across an entire university—from academic buildings to athletic arenas? In this episode, we sit down with Andy Berki, Director of the Office of Campus…

Episode 46: Powering sustainability across California community colleges

Episode 45: Transforming Data into Outcomes

Episode 44: Climate Action vs. Decarbonization - Higher Ed. Summit 2024

This episode was recorded live during a session at the 2024 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit co-sponsored by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network in Long Beach, California,…

Episode 43: Climate Communications

In this episode, we feature guest host and recent Lewis & Clark graduate Lena Essak. Lena interviews regular host Dave Karlsgodt and two other guests: Dr. Lisa Benjamin, Associate Professor at…

Episode 42: Decarbonizing Heating & Cooling: Thermal Transition in Action

In this episode, you'll hear a session recorded earlier this year at the 2023 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit hosted by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network. The next…

Episode 41: Evolving Energy P3 on Higher Ed. Campuses

In this episode, you'll hear a session recorded earlier this summer at the 2023 Appalachian State University energy summit in Boone, North Carolina. This panel included my B&D colleague, Kevin…

Episode 40: Carbon neutrality should not be the end goal with Alex Barron and Aaron Strong

In this episode we interview two professors and researchers discussing a recently published paper in the journal One Earth entitled: “Carbon neutrality should not be the end goal: Lessons for…

Episode 39: The Cutting Edge with Peter Kelly-Detwiler

In this episode we will talk with journalist, author, and energy consultant Peter Kelly-Detwiler. Our topic: Cutting Edge Campus Climate Tech.Our mission: help campus decision makers and stakeholders…

Episode 38: The Political Economy of Higher Ed with Dr. Katrina Kelly-Pitou

In this episode, we talk with with Dr. Katrina Kelly-Pitou, Energy Systems Strategist at SmithGroup. The discussion focuses on what higher education can expect from federal, state and local…

Episode 37: Designing for the 90% with Kenny Seeton (CSU Dominguez Hills)

In this episode, we talk with Kenny Seeton, central plant and energy manager at California State University Dominguez Hills. The wide-ranging conversation spans everything from LED retrofits to solar…

Episode 36: Podcasting for Sustainability - AASHE 2020

In this special episode of the podcast, we present a recording of Podcasting for Sustainability in Higher Education from AASHE’s 2020 Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education. Dave…

Episode 35: The Eco Performance Office with Ron Herbst

What can a higher education institution learn from an international bank? In this episode, we talk to Brailsford & Dunlavey’s own Ron Herbst, whose long and varied career in energy eventually led…

Episode 34: GeoMicroDistrict: an alternative future for Natural Gas - HEET

Co-executive directors of the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), Zeyneb Magavi and Audrey Schulman both entered the climate change fight as mothers concerned for the futures of their children. In…

Episode 33: Changing the Climate for Women - Abena Sackey Ojetayo

In this episode, Kaia talks with Abena Sackey Ojetayo, chief resilience officer and director for the City of Tallahassee, Florida. We talked about her childhood in Ghana and her sustainability…

Episode 32: Resilient Campuses, Resilient Communities with Cal State - Chico and Central Community College