S1E110 - Wren, Explained

In this episode about Wren, Jeff and Mike talk about the size of a ton of carbon dioxide, climate anxiety, and how you can start making a difference today.
Episode 110: Wren, Explained
[00:40] Mike’s passion and sustainability filibuster
[1:30] MIT Technology Review - What is a ton of carbon dioxide? Hint - it’s a cube full of telephone poles that weighs as much as a great white shark.
[4:00] The IPCC, avoiding 1.5 degrees celsius warming, and how carbon dioxide/greenhouse gas emissions overfilling the earth’s atmosphere are analogous to a bathtub overflowing with water.
[5:00] Carbon Mitigation vs. Carbon Removal vs. Carbon Capture. Also - what do we do with all of this carbon that we capture?
[6:45] What is Wren? Hint: your “All in One Climate Subscription”
[7:30] What’s the average carbon footprint in the US? Wren’s carbon footprint calculator.
[8:15] How do you choose how much carbon to offset? What about changing your behaviors like eating less meat or driving less?
[10:30] Not all carbon credits are made equal; for example forest preservation to carbon removal efforts like Climeworks. John Oliver’s expose on the pitfalls behind Carbon Capture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p8zAbFKpW0
[13:00] Scientific American published a study that in general, the more you earn - the higher your individual carbon footprint
[14:00] What’s the benefit for customers for paying for a service like this? For customers like Mike, they’re deeply passionate about this space, much of the benefit is realized in feeling like you’re ‘doing your part’ vs. the Tragedy of the commons problem.
[16:30] What will it take for real changes to occur?
[19:30] What is Wren’s business model? Wren indexes highly on transparency and brings a portfolio approach to your subscription dollars.
[22:00] Some of Wren’s portfolio projects include Biochar in California, Mineral weathering in Scotland, and tech enabled rainforest protection.
[24:00] The History of Wren - and how the team was initially focused on HR software before heading to Y Combinator
[27:15] Wren’s target customers are likely climate conscious people that want to spend money to see climate action implemented. Also Climate Anxiety is real.
[30:00] Other competitors in the space are great - like Zopeful, but no climate solution is a bad solution - we need all hands on deck.
[31:20] ProdEx scores: Mike 4.9 stars and Jeff 4.3 out of 5; if you’re interested in Wren - check out www.wren.co/join/mikealcazaren to get your first month free.
[32:30] Season 2 is coming next year! Let us know who you’d like to hear us interview on the podcast!