ImpactAlpha Podcasts
By ImpactAlpha
Dennis Price steps into new role as CEO of ImpactAlpha
Navajo Power’s six-year journey modelling a just climate transition
David catches up with Navajo Power CEO Brett Isaac and COO Michael Cox to learn how the indigenous-owned company is building out utility-scale solar projects, not just in Navajo Nation but on tribal land across the country.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Navajo Power and Its Mission
- 03:11 The Transition from Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy
- 05:45 Community Engagement and Project Development
- 09:11 Navigating Regulatory Challenges
- 12:10 Financing the Future of Navajo Power
- 14:57 Building a Sustainable Economic Ecosystem
- 18:08 The Role of Indigenous Sovereignty in Energy Projects
- 20:55 Future Prospects and Community Impact
Risk misperceptions in climate and emerging markets
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Pegasus Capital’s contrarian play for orphaned climate projects in emerging markets. How a Ugandan pension fund is creating its own new savers with investments in small business and agriculture (07:45). And, should impact have a veto in investment decisionmaking (12:20)?
Story links:
- “Ever contrarian, Pegasus Capital eyes orphaned climate projects in emerging markets,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese
- “Uganda’s pension fund is creating new savers with investments in small business and agriculture,” by Lucy Ngige and David Bank
- “Should impact have a veto in investment decisions?” by Blink’s Ana Pimenta
Advice for the Gates Foundation spend-down + The state of blended finance
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Unsolicited advice for the Gates Foundation following the announcement that it would increase its giving and spend down its endowment by 2045; How California's massive public pension funds find alpha in emerging fund managers (09:45); And, glimmers of hope for blended finance in the face of a global foreign aid pullback (15:27).
Story links:
Next50's Peter Kaldes on investing a $265 million endowment to value and support aging
There are nearly as many people in the US over 65 years old as there are under 18, and we’re not getting any younger. “It's genuinely a mega trend that's going to impact every aspect of our economy,” Next50’s Peter Kaldes tells David Bank on this Agents of Impact podcast. “We would be missing out on a profound investment and impact opportunity if we don't build this framework.”
Remedies for Impact’s original sins + Carbon removal's moment in the... dirt
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Two views on the future of impact investing from Calvert Impact and Innovative Finance Initiative. Temasek makes the case for the private equity opportunity in climate adaptation and resilience (09:10). And, how Mati Carbon plans to leverage its $50 million X-Prize to remove carbon and support farmers in tropical zones (14:15).
Story Links:
- “Calvert Impact’s market-shaping strategy for the future of impact,” by Calvert Impact’s Jenn Pryce.
- “Innovative Finance Network’s fund designs for radical impact,” by Innovative Finance Network’s Aunnie Patton Power and Doughnut Economics Action Lab's Erinch Sahan.
- “Temasek on hot sectors for PE investment in climate adaptation and resilience,” by Amy Cortese and Jessica Pothering
- “Mati Carbon leverages its $50 million XPRIZE to remove carbon and support farmers in tropical zones,” by Jessica Pothering.
What’s the buzz at Milken + Which impact archetype are you?
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: With US markets all over the place, investors at the Milken Global Conference shift their focus to ownership, AI, and the rest of the world. How impact investors are responding to proposed cuts to health and medical research (8:33). And, forget your astrological sign – Phenix Capital proposes four archetypes for impact fund managers (15:23).
Story links:
- “With markets down, up and sideways, investors look to ownership, AI and the rest of the world,” by Amy Cortese and David Bank
- “KKR’s Pete Stavros: Employee ownership is a competitive advantage in private equity (Q&A),” by David Bank and Roodgally Senatus
- "With medical research funding in peril, one biotech VC firm pushes innovation forward," by Jessica Pothering
- "Illusionist, Learner, Achiever or Champion: What kind of impact fund manager are you?," by Phenix Capital’s Daniel Moreno and Mohit Saini
How JFF Ventures is upskilling low-wage workers and enabling solopreneurs
JFF Ventures’ Yigal Kerszenbaum joins David Bank on the latest Agents of Impact podcast. The venture capital fund is betting on a high-road vision of workforce innovation – and AI – to expand economic mobility for workers amid technological disruption and economic uncertainty.
Read Kerszenbaum's op-ed on ImpactAlpha.
Timecodes:
00:00 The Role of Impact Investing in Economic Mobility
04:44 Navigating the AI Landscape for Job Security
08:13 Creating Pathways to Higher Wage Jobs
10:31 Supporting Non-Traditional Workers and Solopreneurs
14:23 The Shift in Education and Entrepreneurship
16:38 Investability of Wealth Building Strategies
Pages from the playbook for shared prosperity + a report card for pay-as-you-go solar
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Some initial entries into the playbook for shared prosperity. How inflation and economic instability is affecting pay-as-you-go financing in the off-grid solar market (08:40). And, why Tom Steyer see now as a buying opportunity for climate investors with dry powder to deploy (13:50).
Relevant links:
- “Galvanize’s Tom Steyer on why now is a good time for climate investors with cash (Q&A),” by David Bank
- “Defaults on pay-as-you-go solar tick up with income pressure and financial literacy challenges,” by Lucy Ngige
- Contribute a strategy to the playbook through this short form
Climate tech is weathering political turbulence.
A call to action in response to US political risk
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: A call to action from impact investors in response to the growing political risk in the US market. Plus, how the idea of employee ownership is bringing lawmakers together across the aisle (7:55). And the strategies and structures LPs are using to get their money back in a volatile market environment (11:55).
Story links:
- “In a polarized US Capitol, employee ownership brings lawmakers together,” by Roodgally Senatus
- Restive LPs look to secondaries and other creative exits to recoup their capital,” by Amy Cortese
A tarrifying week for investors + what's next for global AID
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank, live-ish from the Re:Construction road show. Up this week: How impact investors are reacting to a tariffying week for Wall Street and global trade. What comes next for foreign aid in the wake of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID (7:10). And, why it’s critical to continue assembling a playbook for shared prosperity (12:15).
Relevant links:
- “Rebuilding global aid was the (mostly) talk of the town at Skoll World Forum,” by Caroline Bressan
- Could trade chaos cut emissions and make impact investments the safer bet?” by Amy Cortese and David Bank
- “People, purpose and perseverance: Assembling the playbook for shared prosperity,” by David Bank
- Submit your plays for shared prosperity.
Insurance incentives for wildfire prevention + smarter subsidies for agribusiness
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: Climate insurance in California that incentivizes landowners to reduce wildfire risks. Plus, making subsidies smarter by targeting the operating needs of agriculture businesses and the funds that support them.
Chapters
- (00:00) Innovative Climate Insurance Pilot in California
- (08:17) Concessional Capital and Africa's Farmers
Story links:
“Innovative climate insurance in California gives landowners incentives to reduce wildfire risks,” by Jessica Pothering
“Making subsidies smarter by targeting Africa’s farmers and the funds that support them,” by Jessica Pothering
Event RSVPs:
- Boston: Saturday, April 12 - Boston International Film Festival
- North Carolina: Friday, April 4 - Building models for shared prosperity, UNC Chapel Hill
- Washington, DC: April 8 - Purple Party,
Proxy battles for universal owners & new models for employee ownership
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: With proxy season here, how shareholders can apply a system stewardship model for the companies they own; why strategies to share the wealth via employee ownership are attracting popular support, and a look at our spring “Re:construction” tour, which offers a playbook for shared prosperity.
Chapters
- (00:00) Proxy season insights
- (06:00) Employee ownership models
- (11:50) Re:construction and shared prosperity
Event RSVPs:
- North Carolina: Friday, April 4 - Building models for shared prosperity, UNC Chapel Hill
- Washington, DC: April 8 - Purple Party,
- Boston: Saturday, April 12 - Boston International Film Festival
Story links:
“Shareholders can fight back with system stewardship,” by The Shareholder Commons’ Frederick Alexander
- Ownership Call: impactalpha.com/calls and Youtube
“A playbook of what and who is working to build prosperity for all,” and “‘Special Purpose Credit Programs’ face the axe,” by David Bank
Bipartisan support for CDFIs under Trump, and Canada's first Employee Ownership Trusts
🎧 This Week in Impact. Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Why Trump's order to cut a Main Street lending program led to a rare GOP rebuke. How Canadian employee ownership trusts offer a path to shared prosperity along with protecting national sovereignty (06:17). And finally, as private equity fundraising becomes more competitive, how GPs can differentiate on impact (12:53).
RSVP for the call:
Story links:
- “Threat to CDFI Fund gives community lenders a chance to flex bipartisan support,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese
- “In Canada, employee ownership trusts offer a path to shared prosperity and national sovereignty,” by Roodgally Senatus.
“Differentiating on impact, tapping retail investors: Charting the changing private equity landscape” by Amy Cortese
A new era for climate leadership (in Canada, at least)
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The significance of noted green banker Mark Carney’s new role as Canadian Prime Minister; what’s at stake as US climate policy heads to the courts (06:41); and, why one impact fund manager says low-income customers are more profitable – and has the data to prove it (12:25).
Story links:
- "Canada puts a green banker in charge of its response to Trump,” by Amy Cortese and David Bank.
- “EPA raises the stakes in battle over $20 billion in green bank grants,” by Amy Cortese and Isaac Silk.
- “Climate United carries legal banner in battle for the green bank,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese.
- "Elevar Equity says low-income customers are more profitable – and has the data to prove it," by Shefali Anand.
Local institutional capital for small and medium sized businesses in Africa
Seeing East African agri-food tech in action, plus the EU walks back sustainability disclosure
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: Jessica digs in on food and agriculture in East Africa. Emerging fund managers in the ownership economy deliver returns to investors by sharing the wealth with workers, families and communities. And, what the EU Commission’s revamped rules mean for climate and sustainability disclosure.
Timecodes:
- 00:00 Impact Investing Insights from East Africa
- 11:04 Emerging Trends in the Ownership Economy
- 17:39 EU Climate Regulations: A Shift in Strategy
Links:
"GPs deliver ownership investing strategies for LPs of all sizes," by Jessica Pothering
Navigating the new era for emerging markets, climate and small business investing
This week, Brian and David discuss the resilience of impact investing amidst political upheaval, focusing on emerging markets, small businesses, and climate strategies. Also, the evolving dynamics between limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) in the investment landscape, particularly through co-investments. Finally they cover the University of Utah's new initiative to become a hub for impact investing education.
00:00 Impact Investing Amidst Political Turmoil
07:30 The Evolving LP/GP Relationship
14:27 University of Utah: A New Epicenter for Impact Investing
Relevant links:
- Sign up for the LP/GP newsletter.
- “EPA’s efforts to claw back ‘green bank’ funds hit a snag,” by Amy Cortese.
- “African leadership is reshaping the continent’s small business investing ecosystem,” by Lucy Ngige.
- “Climate and development challenges spur development finance institutions to unlock private capital,” by Leslie Maasdorp of British International Investment.
- “Why TPG’s Jim Coulter is bullish on impact,” by Amy Cortese.
- “That (mixed) feeling when your LP co-invests in the sweet deal you’ve just negotiated,” by David Bank.
Building wealth through community investment trusts
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: An innovative investment vehicle turns a strip mall in Portland into a community investment trust that’s helping local renters build family wealth; the Liist gets a facelift and the importance of highlighting the raises of emerging fund managers; plus, why impact investors are split on President Trump's proposal to axe the carried interest tax loophole.
Links:
- “This strip mall in Portland is helping neighborhood families build wealth and community ownership,” by Roodgally Senatus.
- “Emerging managers forge ahead with inclusive and climate investment strategies,” by Jessica Pothering and Lucy Ngige.
- “Trump’s threat to end the tax breaks for ‘carried interest’ rattles private equity managers,” by Amy Cortese.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Community Investment Trusts: A New Model for Wealth Building
- 10:04 Spotlight on Emerging Fund Managers
- 15:05 The Carried Interest Loophole: Implications and Controversies
DFC and emerging managers face Trump funding freeze fallout
On this episode of 'This Week in Impact' Brian Walsh and Jessica pother discuss the implications of the Trump administration's freeze on development finance, the evolving landscape of voluntary carbon markets driven by corporate buyers, and the challenges facing private equity in the healthcare sector.
- 00:50 Impact of the Trump Administration on Development Finance
- 10:09 Corporate Buyers and Voluntary Carbon Markets
- 20:55 Addressing Private Equity's Challenges in Healthcare
Story links:
“US development financing freeze puts private investments in Africa in peril,” by Jessica Pothering
"Corporate buyers nudge voluntary carbon markets toward higher-quality projects," by Jessica Pothering
“An allocators guide to reigning in private equity’s worst excesses in healthcare,” by Ibrahim Rashid
Responsible AI in the Age of Trump with Ravit Dotan
In the latest Agents of Impact podcast, Ravit Dotan, an AI governance advisor and researcher in Pittsburgh, joins David Bank to share insights on the new state of play for responsible AI in the early days of the Trump administration and what Deepseek, the Chinese competitor to Open AI, means for intellectual property, open-source code … and national security.
Mission driven funders react to feds funding freeze + responsible AI strategies.
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Stories featured in this week's episode:
Mission-driven funders scramble to respond to federal funding freeze, by Amy Cortese and David Bank
Call roundup: https://impactalpha.com/calls/
How machine learning and AI can be harnessed for mission-based lending, by Mar Diteos Rendon, Nicole Jansma and Sachi Shenoy
Trump's torrent of executive orders + OZ's get another look
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Stories covered this:
“Trump’s executive orders will affect investments in climate, equity, AI and global development,” by Dennis Price, Isaac Silk and Amy Cortese
“Investors look for Opportunity Zones to get an extension and a fresh dose of tax-advantaged capital,” by Roodgally Senatus
“Adding a dash of guaranteed liquidity to impact funds to attract more institutional LPs,” by David Bank.
Insurance risk after the LA fires + de-extinction tech gets a raise
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How the devastating LA wildfires are putting a spotlight on wildfire prevention tech and what the disaster means for California's fragile insurance market; examples of outcomes-based financing driving systemic change in education; and Colossal Biosciences’ $200 million raise to revive the wooly mammoth among other lost species.
- “In the age of fire, tech solutions can help but not heal,” by David Bank and Roodgally Senatus.
- “LA wildfires push California’s insurance market to the brink,” by Louie Woodall
- “How outcomes-based financing can drive systemic change in education,” by Jenny Berg and Inês Charro of Education Finance Network
Glimmers of hope for impact fundraising
Host Brian Walsh takes up the week’s top stories with ImpactAlpha’s Jessica Pothering. They discuss Jessica's takeaways from her analysis of ImpactAlpha's 2024 set of actively raising impact funds, how catalytic capital is unlocking regenerative agriculture opportunities in Brazil, and why drones are taking off in India for agriculture and economic inclusion.
"Glimmers of hope for impact fund managers shine through the fundraising fog," by Jessica Pothering.
"How catalytic capital helped unlock ecosystem regeneration in Brazil," by Dario Parziale.
"Investors bet on drones to lift agricultural productivity and women’s livelihoods in India," by Shefali Anand.
Looking ahead to 2025
Clara Miller on investing for communities with common sense and humility
As president of the Heron Foundation, Clara Miller in 2012 set a goal to invest 100% percent of the foundation’s then-$250 million in assets to fight poverty within five years. Heron beat the deadline by a year to be become one of the first foundations to align its full endowment with its mission.
For the latest episode of the podcast series Finding Alpha, ImpactAlpha contributing editor Rob Brown sat down with Miller for a wide-ranging discussion about the innovations she fostered in impact lending, the value of starting your career at the bottom, and her favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney.
Policy-enhanced impact investing + community ownership models
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:
How lobbying and advocacy are being used by family offices for “policy enhanced impact investing.”
How a California community lender is focusing on community ownership models to combat the displacement of small businesses and nonprofits.
“Community Vision’s ownership strategy for combating displacement of small businesses and nonprofits in California,” by Roodgally Senatus.
“How community ownership benefits investors and communities,” Aisha Benson and Christina Hollenback.
And, a look at the rapidly evolving off-grid solar industry in Africa.
“Commercial lenders wake up to Africa's fastest-growing solar sector,” by Lucy Ngige.
How much is enough in employee ownership?
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:
The tale of two different ownership economy models for increasing employee wealth
- As private equity firms start to share the wealth, low-income workers get just a little bit by Roody Senatus
- Meet 22 funds raising capital to finance high-impact transitions to employee ownership by David Bank
- RSVP for next week's Call where we'll screen our Napoleon Wallace documentary.
Lessons learned from 10 years and $1.9 billion of catalytic investments from British International Investment.
And, the untapped potential for investment and innovation in the US care economy.
Agents of Impact articulate new narratives for a post-election reality
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Highlights from this week’s post-election Agents of Impact Call; the news that Donald Trump Jr. is joining a quasi-impact investing fund targeting an underserved market – conservative consumers; and, how catalytic capital warehousing could help emerging managers finance the sustainable development goals.
Finding Alpha: For Jim Sorenson and impact investing, the best is yet to come
For the first in his series of Finding Alpha podcast conversations, ImpactAlpha contributing editor Robert Brown catches up with Sorenson Impact Institute founder Jim Sorenson to talk about the building of an impact investing ecosystem.
The search is on for global climate leadership + hospitals investing in social determinants of health
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:
Previewing next week's Agents of Impact Call (RSVP NOW!)
The search is on for global climate leadership at COP29-- and women are front and center.
How hospitals are partnering with community lenders to invest in the social determinants of health
Plus, a look at some of our top deals of the week.
Sana Kapadia on bringing a gender lens to "The Finance COP" in Baku
Kapadia is heading to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan next week to bring a gender lens to what's being called the 'Finance COP.' Negotiators are hammering out new financial targets for investment and assistance in the climate transition in developing countries and the global south more broadly.
Impact investors take stock after the US election
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Initial reactions from agents of impact to President Trump's re-election; an update on some of the funding already being distributed from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; and how a mutual aid network in Asheville, North Carolina is helping overlooked entrepreneurs rebuild after Hurricane Helene.
The vibe at this year's SOCAP + family offices lean towards climate
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The ImpactAlpha team was at the SOCAP conference in SF, where the focus was on systemic change; how private investors are pouring more money into blended finance transactions; and, why global family offices are slowly warming up to climate investments.
1.5 trillion dollars of impact capital, from commercial to catalytic
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank, dialing in from Amsterdam. Up this week: The GIIN’s new report pegs the impact investing market at $1.5 trillion…ish; the reasons for and significance of the news that the Catalytic Capital Consortium is doubling down rather than shutting down its efforts to expand the use of the financing tool; and, a preview of ImpactAlpha’s new documentary on the North Carolina model, premiering at SOCAP next week. Check out the trailer.
Register for SOCAP24 using the code “s24_ImpactAlpha” to save $250.
Strategies for housing affordability and ownership
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Highlights from this week’s Agents of Impact Call on putting an ownership lens on housing affordability; how and why to restore trust in voluntary carbon markets; and, Amazon and Google opt for the nuclear option in their drive to supply their power-hungry data centers with carbon-free energy.
Another petrostate COP + new innovative financial models in emerging markets and the US
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: What’s at stake as climate negotiators prepare for COP29, which for the second year running, will be held in a petro-state; how inclusive fintech ventures are cutting in middle men and women to build trust; and, a look at two new innovative financial models: for water in emerging markets and land conservation in the US.
Reimagining home insurance in the face of climate disasters + funding emerging managers
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: new insurance models that aim to climate proof homes and towns, enhanced efforts to support diverse emerging fund managers, and how private equity is quietly funding fossil fuel investments.
Jeff Brenner: Building institutional-grade strategies to create – and preserve – affordable housing
Jeff Brenner, co-founder of Impact Community Capital, joins David Bank to discuss learnings from the firm's deployment of over $1.6 billion in affordable housing. The organization aims to raise an additional $1 billion to $1.5 billion in the next three to four years, targeting a broader range of institutional investors.
Takeaways from Climate Week NYC
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank.
- The buzz around early stage climate startups and the continued need for scale — both bigger checks and bigger investable opportunities.
- Climate inflation affecting grocery store prices
- How carbon markets are financing sustainable development.
A near climate-free debate + sustainable fashion week
Host Brian Walsh takes up the top stories in impact with editorial director Amy Cortese. Up this week: Climate change and the Inflation Reduction Act’s minimal mentions in the presidential debate, a report from the sustainable side of fashion week in New York, and a look at the rising number of student-led impact funds.
Policy planks for the ownership economy + African capital for African infrastructure
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:
- A new report proposes seven bipartisan policy tweaks that could drive more private capital into financing worker ownership transitions.
- How USAID is banking commercial returns by working with local institutional capital providers in Africa to finance African infrastructure.
- Will companies that backpedal on their diversity commitments face legal risk from investors?
Let the water (investment) flow, climate finance updates, and family office ImpInv in LatAm
How SJF Ventures seeks to bend the impact curve with Dave Kirkpatrick and Kelsey Jarrett
David Bank is joined by Dave Kirkpatrick, Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures, a climate and impact investor in Durham NC, and SJF’s Director of Impact, Kelsey Jarrett, to talk about finding the alpha in impact.
Read Dave and Kelsey's op-ed on ImpactAlpha, as well as our profile of Dave.
Impact at the DNC, pro-ESG states outperform, and a solar boost in India
Mary Ellen Iskenderian: Accelerating women’s financial inclusion by digitizing their financial habits
