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During class, someone threw a wet sponge across the room, and it hit the chalkboard. The teacher turned around, surprised and a bit angry, but he had no idea who did it. The whole class went silent.

The teacher took a deep breath and addressed the class intensely but calmly. He said, “I don’t know who threw the sponge, but I know that the actions of one person affect the entire class. I want that kid to announce him or herself now or after class or in a quiet moment. If no one steps up, the whole class will be...

Yesterday, I was driving a friend’s family back to their home in my new Volvo
after they helped with the cleanup following a party at our place. While
driving, I explained to their daughter, how the car works. She was curious
about the battery indicator below the speed reading on the display in the
center. I told her "we were driving on solar energy—the sunshine drives us
home and will take me back up the hills“.
When she asked how it works, I explained that the panels on the roof
capture sunlight, generate electricity, and store it in a battery....

In this episode, I delve into my personal journey, from my early experiences with diverse cultures and technologies to leading a sustainability team at a major company. I explore how my unique background in engineering and management has shaped my approach to sustainability, focusing not on being an expert, but on viewing challenges from multiple perspectives.

Join me as we discuss how my path has led to a deeper understanding of stability and sustainability in our interconnected world.

Hi, I’m Michael.
After years as an engineer and corporate manager, I founded my own consulting firm focused on sustainability solutions. Since retiring, I’ve been tackling puzzles that align seemingly conflicting interests and discovering win-win strategies with my clients. I also support a foundation dedicated to ocean ecology as a catalyst for progress. My wife Karin was the first to suggest a podcast for me. As a natural optimist, and father of two wonderful kids, I tend to resist gloomy predictions about our future. We probably live in the best world we ever had, with the promise of making a...