The Future of Finance Podcast

From Collapse to Coherence: Rethinking Finance, Climate, and Civic Life with Dr. David Orr

In this compelling episode of The Future of Finance, host Georges Dyer speaks with Dr. David Orr, a pioneering voice in ecological economics and democracy reform. Orr, a professor and author of Democracy in a Hotter Time and Dangerous Years, discusses the urgent need to rethink our economic and political systems in light of climate change, democratic erosion, and AI risks. He shares the origins of ecological literacy, the failures of traditional economic models to account for planetary boundaries, and the opportunity to create “Democracy 4.0”—a rights-based, systems-aware democracy fit for the 21st century. With thoughtful insights on the role of education, endowment investing, and human morality, Orr calls for bold, collective action in what he sees as a pivotal moment in human history. This conversation is both a warning and a hopeful guide for rebuilding our systems to better serve future generations and the planet.
Keywords: Ecological economics, democracy 4.0, climate change, systems thinking, higher education reform, AI risks, endowment investing, infinite growth fallacy, civic and moral revival, sustainability and justice

Sustainable Alpha: Unlocking Value in the Climate Transition with Marina Severinovsky

In this episode of The Future of Finance, Georges Dyer sits down with Marina Severinovsky, Head of Sustainability for the Americas at Schroders, a $1 trillion global investment manager. They explore key themes shaping sustainable investing in 2025, based on Schroders’ proprietary research and reports—including an Oxford University collaboration on "Impact as a Source of Alpha." Marina breaks down how institutional investors can tap into climate resilience, private market decarbonization, and thematic investing, with an emphasis on opportunities, not just risks.
Marina outlines three primary categories for climate investments—low-carbon, transition/climate action, and solutions—and explains how impact-driven businesses can outperform through operational strength and lower volatility. She also dives into the growing importance of physical climate risks (like insurance and health impacts), the evolution of policy frameworks, and the vital role private markets play in funding emerging solutions. With deep insights into sustainable real estate, infrastructure, and nature-positive investing, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the changing landscape of ESG and sustainable finance.
Keywords: Sustainable investing, impact investing, climate transition, ESG trends, decarbonization, private markets, biodiversity and nature, physical climate risk, long-term returns, policy and regulation

Impact at Scale: How Private Capital is Driving Returns and Change with Marieke Spence

In this episode, host Georges Dyer welcomes Marieke Spence to discuss the expanding frontier of impact investing in private markets. As head of ICM—a selective network of over 150 private capital funds managing $70B in impact-focused assets—Marieke sheds light on how market-rate return strategies can align with meaningful, measurable impact. The conversation explores ICM’s foundational mission, emerging trends like employee ownership, performance data demonstrating competitive IRRs, and the growing interest among institutional allocators.
Marieke also shares the success of ICM’s Mosaic Fellowship, which places graduate students in impact funds to build the next generation of diverse, skilled talent. She highlights how impact investing doesn't require a trade-off in returns and offers insights into how fiduciary duty, risk assessment, and impact measurement are evolving. This episode is a powerful reminder that finance and positive change are not mutually exclusive.
Keywords: Impact investing, private capital, fiduciary duty, market-rate returns, mosaic fellowship, institutional allocators, ESG and sustainability, impact measurement, employee ownership, financial inclusion

Environmental Productivity: Investing for Planet and Profit with Tim Dunn

In this episode of the Future of Finance podcast, host Georges Dyer sits down with Tim Dunn, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Terra Alpha Investments. Drawing on his decades of experience - including managing $26 billion at Capital Group - Dunn shares the evolution of his career from a traditional investor to a sustainability-driven asset manager. He unpacks Terra Alpha’s core investment thesis: that environmental productivity - measuring how companies impact and depend on natural resources - is not only essential for reducing risk but also for generating competitive returns and real-world environmental impact.
The conversation explores how Terra Alpha engages directly with companies to encourage science-based targets and decarbonization strategies, including their early commitment to only invest in companies disclosing Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Dunn provides a candid view on today’s political and financial climate, warning that while investor interest is growing, regulatory and market headwinds threaten progress. Yet, he remains optimistic that a more informed, engaged financial system - grounded in science and transparency - can drive the transformation needed.
Keywords: Environmental productivity, science-based targets, climate risk, ESG investing, decarbonization, sustainable finance, impact measurement, carbon disclosure project, public equities, capital markets reform

From Wall Street to the Classroom: Julie Anderson on Educating the Future of Sustainable Finance

In this episode of the Future of Finance podcast, host George Dyer speaks with Dr. Julie Anderson, Director of the M.S. in Sustainability Management Program at American University’s Kogod School of Business. Drawing from a 25-year career in investment management—including leadership roles in ESG product development and emerging markets strategy—Dr. Anderson shares how she’s now equipping the next generation of sustainability professionals. The conversation explores the evolution of sustainable finance, the megatrend status of sustainability, and the critical skills employers are demanding—such as systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and change management.
Julie also discusses the innovative, interdisciplinary, and experiential design of her graduate program, the value of real-world capstone projects, and the importance of grounding financial decisions in long-term materiality. She reflects on the backlash against ESG, the evolving regulatory landscape, and why creativity and fresh perspectives are vital to building a sustainable economy. The episode is a compelling look into the academic-industry bridge shaping the future of sustainable finance.
Keywords: Sustainable finance, ESG integration, systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, sustainability education, experiential learning, change management, investment management, climate risk disclosure, megatrends in finance

Beyond Growth: Rethinking Finance in a Full World with Matt Orsagh

In this thought-provoking episode of Future of Finance, host Georges Dyer sits down with Matt Orsagh, co-founder of the Arketa Institute and former Senior Director at the CFA Institute, to explore the emerging frontier of ecological economics and the imperative of moving beyond traditional growth-based economic models. Drawing on decades of experience in finance and sustainability, Matt outlines the vision behind Arketa’s mission: reimagining finance within planetary boundaries and transitioning to a post-growth economy that prioritizes well-being, community, and environmental limits. The conversation explores the shortcomings of GDP as a success metric for economic success, the flaws of neoclassical economic models, the promise of policies like universal basic income and the four-day workweek, and the practical implications for finance professionals. With urgency and clarity, Matt argues for a transformation not just in our financial systems, but in our cultural definitions of prosperity and purpose.
Episode resources (links to books, articles, organization mentioned in the episode)
Keywords
Post-Growth Finance, Ecological Economics, Sustainability, Planetary Boundaries, ESG Investing, Degrowth, Community Wealth, Systemic Risk, Finance Reform, Arketa Institute
 

Galvanize Climate Solutions: Investing in the Future of Real Estate with Joe Sumberg

In this episode of Future of Finance, host Georges Dyer speaks with Joe Sumberg, Managing Partner and Head of Real Estate at Galvanize Climate Solutions. They dive into how the real estate sector, responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions, presents major opportunities for profitable decarbonization. Joe shares his journey from Goldman Sachs to launching Galvanize’s real estate group, discusses why retrofitting existing buildings beats new "green" developments, and explains the critical role of incentives, technology, and policy in achieving net zero buildings. They also explore the complex interplay of utilities, local regulations like New York City's Local Law 97, and climate resilience in shaping investment strategies. Joe emphasizes that real estate sustainability must be performance-driven, with profitability and resilience at the core, not greenwashing.
Keywords:
Real Estate Decarbonization, Climate Resilient Investing, Net Zero Buildings, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Sustainable Real Estate, Energy Transition, Climate Policy and Real Estate, Building Retrofits, ESG Investing, Local Law 97

Climate Solutions in Public Markets with Heather Beatty

In this episode, Georges Dyer is joined by Heather Beatty, founder and CEO of ScopeFour Capital, to discuss climate-focused investing and how public markets can play a pivotal role in driving the transition to a net-zero economy. Heather shares insights on identifying companies that offer real-world climate solutions through two key frameworks: Project Drawdown and the Crane Tool. She explains how her approach differs from traditional climate strategies and highlights sectors critical for decarbonization, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. Heather also touches on the importance of capital allocation, challenges in scaling climate solutions, and the role of policy and regulation in shaping this transition. This conversation provides an in-depth view of how finance can combat climate change and why investors need to act swiftly to meet global emissions reduction targets.
Keywords:
Climate Finance, Net-Zero Economy, Public Markets, Decarbonization, Climate Solutions, Project Drawdown, Climate Investing, Capital Allocation, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability

Roundup Recap: April 10, 2025

Welcome to The Roundup Recap, your quick way to catch up on the most important updates in sustainable and impact investing, all in one bite-sized episode. This mini-podcast, summarized by AI, distills the core insights from the Weekly News Roundup of the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) into a radio-style conversation.
To be clear - real humans on the IEN team curate and compile the latest news and updates into our weekly email newsletter.  We then put into the AI platform NotebookLM, which generates this audio podcast -- the voices you hear are not real people, but they do an eerily effective job at bringing our News Roundup to life.
Each week, we sift through the latest developments—whether it's breaking news, key articles, or notable trends—and pull out the information that truly matters. The format is designed for busy professionals who want to stay informed without wading through all the details.
Want to receive the Weekly News Round-Up to your inbox every week? Subscribe here!
This week’s roundup explores the growing convergence of finance and sustainability, spotlighting how carbon markets are evolving into a serious asset class, particularly for institutional investors seeking both returns and climate alignment. The episode highlights a deep dive from the Future of Finance podcast, new insights from Schroders suggesting impact can be a source of alpha, and community-centered work like that of the Blackfeet-led Piikani Lodge Health Institute. It also covers key upcoming events—including IEN’s virtual forum and a DEI-focused Chatham House Rule discussion—alongside timely topics like data centers' energy demands, shareholder engagement wins, and the intersection of AI, human rights, and ESG policy. Together, these stories reflect a dynamic and increasingly complex impact investing landscape where doing good and delivering returns are not just compatible—they're becoming interlinked.

Carbon Markets, Capital, and Climate with Mike Azlen

In this episode of the Future of Finance podcast, host Georges Dyer sits down with Mike Azlen, founder and CEO of Carbon Cap Management, to explore the powerful role carbon markets can play in addressing climate change. With a deep background in asset management, Mike’s analytical approach and thorough research led to a deep personal commitment to finding effective ways to address the climate crisis. Mike shares how market-based approaches to reduce carbon emissions can deliver strong returns for investors and drive GHG emission reduction. The conversation dives into how carbon pricing works, the opportunities for institutional investors, and the broader implications of internalizing environmental externalities in the financial system. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of climate, finance, policy, and systemic change.
Keywords
Carbon markets, Climate change, Sustainable finance, Carbon Cap Management, Mike Azlen, Institutional investors, Carbon pricing, Environmental externalities, World Carbon Fund, Market-based climate solutions, Cap and Trade