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In this special series, host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. Continuing the series from Davos, this time Sarah is on the ground in Egypt at COP27.  In this episode, Sarah sits down with Melissa Kopolow, the VP of Sustainability at The Albright Stonebridge Group. Building on the conversations from Davos, Melissa brings a rich perspective on the similarities and differences between the established framework of the SDGs and the emerging framework of ESG. Set in the context of the annual UN Climate Summit, this conversation looks at the need for ESG to be more than a framework on climate and how philanthropy has the chance to lead on climate solutions if willing to take more bold action. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere.In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jacques-Philippe Piverger, founder and CEO of Good Light Capital.  This brings the series to one of the sectors driving much of the proliferation of ESG. They go a little deeper into understanding what ESG means, from the perspective of investment analysis. For example, in a survey done earlier this year, Gallup polled investors on their understanding of and attitudes toward ESG frameworks in their investment decisions. They found that nearly 50% of investors are interested in sustainable investing, although 1 in 4 admitted to knowing much about it. Jacques-Philippe understands where the market is headed and his firm is providing investors with opportunities to have the kind of impact they want.  This is the final episode in this special Davos series. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Gene Hoffman, COO & President of Chia Network, to bring in another big topic at Davos this year: web3. Their conversation covers a wide range of topics including, human rights, digital identity, blockchain energy efficiency, and the promise of blockchain for building the infrastructure needed for carbon markets. Gene brings a grounded perspective from the blockchain world and with some term definitions at the beginning of the episode, this conversation is accessible to anyone no matter your familiarity with the web3 world. 

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise on the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere.  In this episode, Sarah speaks with Nisaa Jetha, a sought-after and leading expert in ESG and Impact. Nisaa brings a unique perspective with her career as a lawyer in private equity and a long-term advocate in public policy. In their conversation, Sarah and Nisaa bring the ESG series to this nexus of compliance and comms, with emphasis on the need for a common language and a common understanding that grace is needed in this rapid period of transition.  

In this special series, co-host Sarah Howard takes the Track Two Podcast on the road doing interviews with leaders from various industries about this fast-growing term: ESG. It was a headline topic at the annual gathering, as climate change and social issues continue to rise in the agenda of leadership conversations everywhere.  In this episode, Sarah speaks with Harald Neidhardt, the founder and CEO of Futur/io, a think tank and leadership learning institute based in Germany. Their conversation explores the leadership role of the EU when it comes to compliance and discloses for ESG reporting following the adaption of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which supports the EU Green Deal a set of policy measures intended to combat the climate crisis by transforming the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, with no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The directive is part of the bigger Sustainable Finance package enabling the Green Deal by helping to channel private investment behind the transition to a climate-neutral economy.  There are three primary takeaways from their conversation:  First, the role of collaboration and cross-sector learning. The challenges we are facing in the world today and complex and intersectional. Bringing together a diversity of experience and perspective has the potential to unlock insights that otherwise we don’t have access to when operating within silos.  Second, the need for new narratives. As conveners, Sarah & Harald instinctively understand that the language we use is the foundation for building new shared narratives of what is possible. When it comes to the future, climate change, social stability, and digital lives, we all need more imagination to begin shaping what that future can look like.  And finally, the policies being passed in Europe are on the front edge of what is coming to the rest of the world. We are in the early stages of systems change when it comes to how business is conducted. We are certainly not out of the woods yet, it will require commitment, vision and political will to bring forward the kind of transformation needed for a sustainable and just future for all. 

How do journalists navigate changing public perceptions of factual shared reality? How is political polarization influencing trust in the media, and the credibility of reporters? Accountability, transparency, and the power of investigative reporting are highlights of the conversation with reporter Liz Essley Whyte. Together, Joanne and Sarah talk with Liz about her work at the Center for Public Integrity, how quality information influences people's decision-making, and the role social media plays in the harassment of reporters.

Where do refugees come from and where do they go? In honor of World Refugee Day, this bonus episode explores the words we use to describe the human experience of active situations where people are forced to flee their home because of war, violence, or persecution.

What breeds public distrust in the media, and how does it impact journalists and society as a whole? Controversies, corruption, and the role of the free press in bringing truth to light and holding power accountable are highlights of "part two" with guest Kerry Paterson of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Together, Joanne and Sarah talk with Kerry about how CPJ offers journalists emergency response support for those who are injured, imprisoned, or forced to flee because of their work.

What does it mean to promote press freedom and defend the rights of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal? Join Joanne and Sarah in conversation with Kerry Paterson of the Committee to Protect Journalists as they discuss why freedom of the press is important to democracy, and why we should be concerned about the repressive global trend of jailing journalists as a result of their work.

How do freelance journalists build trust in places far from their home country of origin? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are joined by Nick St. Oegger, a documentary photographer and fellow native Californian. Together they explore how Nick followed his curiosity and found his higher purpose in photography and life aboard covering stories about cultural heritage in the Western Balkans. His work explores how the past and present influence the relationship between people and the places they call home.

How does photojournalism foster a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the world? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Elodie Mailliet Storm exploring how access and intimacy can generate ‍iconic images that tell the story of a moment in time. From celebrity portraiture to the archives of tomorrow, and challenges of media coverage, Elodie shares her expertise and wisdom as CEO of Catchlight, a nonprofit media organization bringing resources and stakeholders together to support a thriving visual ecosystem and society.

What’s missing in today’s news? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Mikhael Simmonds of the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit media group training journalists to rigorously report on responses to social problems. Solutions based stories are highly effective ways to reach ordinary people and help them understand problems and challenges, along with potential ways to respond. Mikhael shares strategies and insights to rebalance the news by reporting on complexities and adaptive responses that set a higher bar for what citizens should expect from local institutions or governments.

How has the collapse of local journalism contributed to the erosion of civic engagement, community, and trust in facts? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are joined by Kevin Grant of the GroundTruth Project. Together they reflect on the role of the press in a healthy democracy and explore journalism as a foundational building block for healthy societies. In his role as Chief Content Officer of Report for America and Report for the World, Kevin leads an innovative nonprofit national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. As a leader in nonprofit media, Kevin and his team strive to fundamentally transform local news business models.

How do societies manage imbalances and create responsive solutions to prolonged complex crises or large-scale social problems — especially ones amplified by social media? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Anna Bulkah, an expert in civil society resilience and synthetic media. Hear how Anna's research and experience in Estonia and Ukraine shaped her interest in the role of misinformation and disinformation. Learn why investing in community training, civic participation, and youth empowerment are vital to building and strengthening democracy and thriving societies.

For people who depend on gig apps to earn a living, how do the exponential technologies that power the gig economy shape culture, society, and life locally and around the world? Workers have exposed broader shortcomings, revealing a strain on the foundational conditions necessary for an equitable and just society. In this bonus episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Robbie Warin, producer and host of The Fairwork Podcast at Oxford. Together they explore the stories of gig workers highlighting instances of worker activism and new policies. Learn how the Fairwork Project applies a framework to analyze the precarity of gig work and technology through the lens of five principles of fair work. Hear how Robbie aims to center the voices of gig workers to increase understanding of the challenges they face and the need for global solutions.

Our economies, government structures, and the cities we live in are all designed by people. The current reality of global inequality, where some people suffer for the benefit of others is something people can take action to change. What role do you have in giving and taking? How do you decide which actions to take to move toward a more equitable future where everyone can thrive?In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Raj Joshi, an economist, entrepreneur, and activist with two decades of leadership experience in transformation and social impact. Raj shares insights and wisdom from his life that have shaped his worldview and inspired him to create a bold, compelling, and strategic vision that connects people and ideas that can move society toward a just, peaceful and regenerative future.

When crisis strikes, what role do humanitarian aid organizations play in serving the most vulnerable members of society? What type of lived experiences influence a person’s desire to dedicate their career to this type of work? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Kathryn Bolles of Save the Children. Kathryn shares her unique journey into social justice work including stories of delivering emergency care and relief to the people of Haiti and Somalia, and inspiring lessons she has learned about giving and philanthropy. Save the Children operates in 120 countries and facilitates the rapid delivery of evidence-based and innovative health and nutrition interventions that address the major causes of illness and death among humanity’s most vulnerable members.

How do you lead, socialize, and compel change through community with community? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Ken Ikeda of the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR). Together they explore stories about the people and experiences that inspired Ken to become an advocate for a talent network of independent producers and media makers. Hear about Ken's vision for the future of the industry including equitable pay for independent audio professionals who lack the built-in institutional support or guaranteed job security of other professions.

What role do nonprofit leaders have in challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society, and how does this relate to gun violence in urban cities? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Wayne Clarke of the Oakland Impact Center and the City of Oakland's Ceasefire Strategy. Hear Wayne's approach to violence intervention and the surprising outcomes that are possible when the right messenger leads the outreach.

How do the stories we write help us understand our world and make connections to others? In this episode, Joanne and Sarah are in conversation with Grant Faulkner, author and Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo generates deep and meaningful engagement in writing communities to transform ideas into the written word. The interview explores how writing taps into our imagination to shape perceptions, values, and belief systems and deepen humanity's understanding of one another and our collective ability to shape the future.