Why Do We Listen to the Talkers More Than the Builders Saving the Planet? - Physicist, Designer, Investor TOM CHI - Highlights

About this episode

Tom Chi discusses the importance of focusing on builders rather than talkers in addressing climate change and reimagining economics.

Why does our economy treat environmental destruction as an inevitable side effect rather than a massive design flaw? How can shifting our focus from polarizing "talkers" to practical "builders" literally save the planet? We are repeatedly told that the climate crisis is too vast and volatile to solve, but what if the true obstacle is simply bad design? Tom Chi is a physicist, designer, inventor, and investor whose work has shaped everything from Google Glass and rapid prototyping at Google X to some of the most ambitious climate technologies being built today. He’s now the founding partner of At One Ventures , where he invests in deep-tech companies focused on a bold goal: a world where humanity is a net positive to nature. Tom’s new book, Climate Capital: Investing in the Tools for a Regenerative Future , reframes economics itself—not as a fixed law, but as a design discipline that can be reimagined to align with the physical realities of our planet. Drawing on science, systems thinking, and lessons from nature, the book offers a grounded, practical framework for moving beyond both climate doom and empty optimism—and toward real, regenerative solutions. Today’s conversation is…

People in this episode

Host: Mia Funk

Guest: Tom Chi

Topics covered

• climate change
• sustainability
• design
• economics
• environment
• innovation

Keywords

• climate crisis
• design flaw
• deep-tech
• regenerative future
• capital
• community
• compassion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: At One Ventures

Books & works: Climate Capital: Investing in the Tools for a Regenerative Future

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