Why Do We Listen to the Talkers More Than the Builders Saving the Planet? - TOM CHI

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…

People in this episode

Guest: Tom Chi

Topics covered

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

Keywords

• climate crisis
• design flaw
• regenerative future
• capital
• compassion
• community
• agency
• responsibility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: At One Ventures

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

More episodes of The Creative Process in 10 minutes or less · Arts, Culture & Society: Books, Film, Music, TV, Art, Writing, Creativity, Education, Environment, Theatre, Dance, LGBTQ, Climate Change, Sustainability, Social Justice, Spirituality, Feminism, Technology

• Palestine & Generational Trauma: CHERIEN DABIS on Directing All That's Left of You · March 19, 2026 · 14 min
• Game Over: Metrics, Big Data & Why We Need to Stop Keeping Score w/ C. THI NGUYEN - Highlights · March 13, 2026
• The Art of Fiction, Democracy & Truth with AL KENNEDY · March 3, 2026 · 34 min
• Ghost Stories: A Memoir of Love & Grief with SIRI HUSTVEDT · February 23, 2026 · 26 min
• ART CURE: How the Arts Can Transform Our Health with DAISY FANCOURT · February 11, 2026 · 20 min
• Who Are We? What Makes Us Care? Jim Shepard, Neil Patrick Harris, John Patrick Shanley & Artists Share Their Stories · February 6, 2026 · 14 min