Episodes

  • Sustainability Behind the Scenes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Part 1
    Jul 8 2026

    In this episode of the TAG Sustainability Talk podcast, we talk with Andrew Bohanko, the Sustainable Initiatives Manager for Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS). We explore his career journey from film production to sustainability and take a deep look at how a massive venue like MBS manages waste. Andrew walks us through the importance of their resource recovery room, their successful food donation program with Second Helpings, and how they work with partners like Novelis to repurpose materials. This is the first half of our conversation, so be sure to tune in next week for the second part.

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    32 mins
  • Engineering a Better Glass of Wine: The VinoBarrel Story with Seth Lytle
    Jun 17 2026

    How do you update a tradition that has been around for thousands of years? Seth Lytle, an industrial systems engineer and Georgia Tech graduate, is doing just that with his company, Vino Barrel.

    Seth combines his Italian family heritage with high-tech engineering to change the way we experience wine in public spaces. In this episode, we explore the tech behind his unique dispensing system, including how it uses argon gas and specialized nozzle aeration to replicate a 30-minute decant in seconds.

    We also discuss how Vino Barrel is creating more than just a drink. By building a social club around wine, Seth is helping restaurants and hospitality venues turn a standard glass of wine into a digital-first, community-focused experience. Plus, we dive into the sustainability side, looking at how switching from individual bottles to keg-based dispensing can reduce a carbon footprint by 76 percent.

    Tune in to hear about:

    • The engineering behind Vino Barrel and why precise temperature and aeration matter.

    • How tech-enabled dispensing is fostering genuine community and social interaction.

    • The challenges of disrupting a traditional industry with fresh ideas.

    Whether you are an entrepreneur, a tech fan, or just someone who loves a good glass of wine, this conversation offers a fresh look at how we can celebrate good things in a modern way.

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    58 mins
  • Thad Oviatt: Securing the E-Bike Revolution
    May 27 2026

    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.

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    51 mins
  • Live from Super South 2026 Show 7
    May 13 2026

    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.

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    22 mins
  • Live from Super South 2026 Show 6
    May 7 2026

    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.

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    21 mins
  • Live from Super South 2026 Show 5
    May 4 2026

    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.

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    29 mins
  • Live from Super South 2026 Show 4
    Apr 29 2026

    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!


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    24 mins
  • Live from Super South 2026 Show 3
    Apr 24 2026

    Hear live from SuperSouth 2026 conference as we explore how the Southeast U.S. is emerging as a global leader in sustainable innovation. This episode features rapid-fire insights from leaders driving change in FinTech, energy, and deep tech.


    Hear discussions on:

    • Integrating sustainability into everyday consumer transactions.

    • Why Atlanta is the perfect "collision point" for sustainability FinTech.

    • The crucial need for "patient capital" to drive big transformations in energy innovation.

    • The significant R&D advancements shaping South Carolina's energy future.

    Tune in for a dynamic conversation on regional growth, collaborative efforts, and the future of impact.

    Guests: Majda Dabaghi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Eko, Grant Wainscott (ABF Cross-Border Advisors), Richard Gruber from Georgia Tech - Quadrant i & Strategic Energy Institute, and Christina Long-Paredes, Executive Director for SC Nexus

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    25 mins