In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Christen Courville, President and COO of SNAAP Transportation about the future of autonomous, sustainable urban transit. Christen breaks down why SNAAP prioritizes personal over public, how its modular track doubles as energy infrastructure, and why a franchise model may be key to localized transportation solutions. We also tackle skepticism around self-driving tech, the socioeconomic barriers traditional systems overlook, and what it will take to scale bold transit ideas in a cautious market.

Key Points:

• Human-Centered Design: SNAAP pods are designed for individual riders, reflecting how most people actually commute today. This approach keeps the system lightweight, scalable, and optimized for personal convenience.
• Chattanooga Testing Site: SNAAP has built a full-scale test track at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Advanced Vehicle Test Facility. This real-world demo site allows the team to refine the technology before wider rollout.
• Autonomous, But Safer: Unlike autonomous cars navigating complex roads, SNAAP pods operate on a controlled, elevated passive track. This closed system eliminates many common hazards, making autonomy safer and more reliable.
• Christen Courville, President and COO of SNAAP
• LinkedIn
• SNAAP™ Transportation: The Future Is Now, Take It For A Ride

• Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

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In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we’re joined by Brian Richter, president of Sustainable Waters and author of Chasing Water, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about global water scarcity, climate-driven drought, and the politics of sharing a resource none of us can live without. From Cape Town’s infamous Day Zero to water truck deliveries in Arizona suburbs, Brian explains how water shortages evolve, why they’re getting worse, and what we can do to prepare for a more water-stressed future. The conversation explores cutting-edge innovations in wastewater reuse and desalination, the surprising economics of water efficiency, and how embracing “local water democracy” can help us share and safeguard this life-sustaining resource

Key Points:

• Local Water Democracy Can Drive Smarter Solutions: From Texas to New Mexico’s Acequia communities, involving citizens in water decisions could lead to more sustainable choices.
• 703 Million People Lack Access to Clean Water: That’s 1 in 10 people worldwide — a statistic that reframes how urgent and widespread water access issues truly are.
• We Can Grow and Still Use Less Water: Cities in the Colorado River Basin increased population by 24% while cutting water use by 18%, showing what’s possible with smart management.
• Brian Richter, President of Sustainable Waters
• LinkedIn
• Chasing Water
• Opportunities for Restoring Environmental Flows in the Rio Grande–Rio Bravo Basin Spanning the US–Mexico Border

• Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, LinkedIn

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

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In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Charlie Murray, CEO and co-founder of Switched Source about a deceptively simple idea with massive implications for the future of electricity: unlocking hidden capacity on our existing power grid without building new wires or generation plants. Switched Source’s power flow technology helps utilities dynamically balance electricity across their distribution circuits — almost like unblocking a three-lane highway at rush hour. Charlie unpacks how utilities can get smarter, not just bigger, to meet the explosive demand from data centers, EVs, heat pumps, and more.

Key Points:

• Our Grid Faces a Demand Tsunami: Rising electricity needs from AI data centers, electrification, and heat pumps are outpacing what utilities can deliver, creating bottlenecks that threaten economic growth and reliability.
• Building New Infrastructure Isn’t Always the Answer: Traditional solutions like adding more wires or constructing new generation are capital intensive, slow, and often impractical for rapid deployment.
• Switched Source Developed a Real-Time Balancing Solution: Switched Source created a pad-mounted device that dynamically redirects power between the three phases of a distribution circuit, freeing up 10–25% more capacity that was otherwise trapped by imbalance.
• Charles Murray, CEO and co-founder of Switched Source
• LinkedIn
• Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability
• LinkedIn: Lisa Ann Pinkerton
• X - Lisa Ann Pinkerton
• Instagram - @LisiAnni
• Technica Communications
• Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

🚀 Calling all Earthlings…

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