This recording explains the decision about why Paul Zelizer, Founder of the Impact Podcast Accelerator, has made the decision to shut it down at the end of February 2025.

Impact Podcast Accelerator Closure Message

What if the secret to transforming your local economy was already sitting in your state’s investment portfolio?

These are just a few of the provocative questions we explored with Lawrence Chavez on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer.

Bio: Lawrence Chavez is a passionate innovator focused on meaningful innovation. Lawrence has been on both sides of the table and understands the demands of the investor and the needs of the founder. Most recently as CEO & Founder of EveryDay Contacts. Previously, Lawrence co-founded Lotus Leaf Coatings, an advanced materials company in 2011. Prior to 2011 he served as a Venture Partner with Flywheel Ventures and managed the NM Gap Fund I, a seed investment fund, as well as serving as Interim CFO at Astria Semiconductor. Lawrence also served on the boards of ABQid Fund I and Arrowhead Innovation Fund, both focused on seed and early stage investing in New Mexico.

This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

EP 354 with Rep. Andrea Romero on New Mexico’s Permanent Fund

Lawrence on LinkedIn

Scarcity, Abundance & New Mexico’s Permanent Fund: Part I

Scarcity, Abundance & New Mexico’s Permanent Fund: Part II

Scarcity, Abundance & New Mexico’s Permanent Fund: Part III

LawrenceChavez.com

Paul's Strategy Sessions

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

375 | Scarcity, Abundance & New Mexico’s Permanent Fund with Lawrence Chavez

What if the key to scaling climate solutions wasn’t about convincing people to care about sustainability—but about building products and partnerships that simply work better for everyone?

This is the provocative question we explored with Josh Dorfman on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode.

Bio: Josh Dorfman is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality. He is the CEO and host of Supercool, a media company covering real-world climate solutions that cut carbon, increase profits, and enhance modern life. Josh was previously the co-founder and CEO of Plantd, a carbon-negative building materials manufacturer, which was named to Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2024. He has founded two modern design sustainable furniture companies, directed Vine.com, an Amazon e-commerce business specializing in natural and organic products, and served as the CEO of The Collider, the nation’s first innovation center for climate resilience and adaptation. Additionally, Josh was previously known as The Lazy Environmentalist, a media brand he developed into an award-winning television series on Sundance Channel, a daily radio show on SiriusXM, and two popular books. 

His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, TechCrunch, Fast Company, and Reuters. Josh has also made regular appearances on national television and radio programs, including Morning Joe, Fox & Friends, and NPR’s All Things Considered, and is the only guest to ever ride a bike onto The Martha Stewart Show.


This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Plantd site

Supercool podcast

Bender Innovation site

Yaupon Brothers Tea site

Josh Dorfman on LinkedIn

Paul's Strategy Sessions

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

376 | To Sell Sustainability, Don't Talk About Sustainability with Josh Dorfman

What if the key to unlocking real, scalable social impact wasn’t a flashy new technology—but a smarter, more human-centered way to build and launch tech for good?

These are just a few of the provocative questions we explored with Jim Fruchterman on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by Paul Zelizer.

BIO: Jim Fruchterman is a leading social entrepreneur, author, MacArthur Fellow, recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and Distinguished Alumnus of Caltech. After starting two successful for-profit AI companies, he went on to found Benetech, the award-winning tech nonprofit, building tools for people with disabilities and human rights defenders document and analyze abuses. 

His current nonprofit projects at Tech Matters include Aselo, a shared modern contact center for the crisis response field; Terraso, software for the people on the front line of the climate crisis; and the Better Deal for Data, a data governance reform movement.   


This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Benetech site

Bookshare site

Aselo site

Terrasoul site

Tech for Good book

Paul's Strategy Sessions

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

377 | Tech for Good: Using Software & Data to Solve Society’s Biggest Problems with Jim Fruchterman

What if the key to scaling your business—and solving pressing social challenges like recidivism—was as simple as reimagining who gets a second chance?

This is just one of the provocative questions we explored with Scott Gates on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer.

BIO: Scott Gates is the Co-Founder and CEO of Awake Window & Door Co., a luxury window and door manufacturer specializing in building windows and door at massive sizes, with minimal frames, to maximize views in luxury custom homes. But even more important, the business focuses on its mission to reduce recidivism by providing meaningful second chance employment to those formerly incarcerated.

This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Awake Window & Door site

Awarepreneurs interview with Tom Vozzo of Homeboy Industries

Awarepreneurs Interview with Rose Velasquez on Second Chance Hiring

Paul's Strategy Sessions

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

378 | The Growth Benefits of Second Chances Hiring with Scott Gates

What if the true key to both business growth and transformational community impact lies in the power of partnerships and a relentless focus on excellence?

These are just a few of the provocative questions we explored with Dr. John E. Harmon on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer.

Bio: John E. Harmon, Sr. is the Founder, President, and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ), the state’s leading organization advocating for Black-owned businesses and economic empowerment. A former chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce and a current board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Harmon has spent more than 27 years building bridges between government, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs to advance equity and opportunity. He is the host of the award-winning Pathway to Success TV show and The Empowerment Hour radio program, and author of Power Moves: The Life and Legacy of a Black Chamber Executive.


This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ site

Power Moves book

John E. Harmon on LinkedIn

Paul's Strategy Sessions

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

379 | You’re in Business to Win with Dr. John E. Harmon

380 | A Community Building Organization Disguised As a Soccer Team with Ron Patel

What if the path to climate resilience was not found in glass and steel — but in earth, craft, and community?
This is just one of the provocative questions we explored with Daniel Parra on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer.

Bio: Daniel Parra is a Colombian architect and was born in Soccorro, Santander - a small town with a rich history. He is the leader of the Rammed Earth Collective, an international design–build collaborative advancing earthen architecture. His practice blends traditional tapia pisada with contemporary design to create low-carbon, place-rooted buildings. Through Ciudad Insecto Estudio and Rammed Earth Colombia, Daniel designs, documents, and teaches earthen construction across Latin America. His work focuses on craft, climate resilience, and dignified housing that grows from the colors and soils of each site.


This episode is sponsored by the consulting company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider  Fractional Business Development Services if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Rammed Earth Collective site

Rammed Earth Collective on Instagram

Daniel Parra on LinkedIn

Paul's Fractional Services

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

381 | Return to the Origin: Using Earth For the Future with Daniel Parra

What if building climate solutions could unite a diverse community—and produce real, working prototypes—in just 30 hours?

Paul Zelizer is the host of Awarepreneurs, the world’s longest running social entrepreneur podcast, the co-founder of NM Tech Talks, the co-founder of NMClimate and a business coach/consultant for social entrepreneurs and cleantech startups for the past 18 years.

This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Desert Dev Lab site

NM Tech Talks site

NM Tech Talks on LinkedIn

NMClimate on LinkedIn

Paul's Fractional Services

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

382 | Inside New Mexico's First Climate Hackathon with Paul Zelizer

What if a desert state you barely noticed was quietly building the largest and most innovative sovereign wealth fund in America—transforming education, economic opportunity, and clean tech for generations to come?

Bio: Jon Clark is an Albuquerque native and the state investment officer for the New Mexico State Investment Council, which manages a $67 billion portfolio—one of the nation’s three largest sovereign wealth funds and on track to become the largest within 5–7 years. The SIC’s returns are projected to surpass oil and gas as the biggest contributor to the state’s general fund by 2043 and already provide over a quarter of K–12 funding and more than three-quarters of early childhood funding.

Jon is committed to strengthening New Mexico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the SIC has invested $1.7 billion in New Mexico-focused venture funds over the last three years, fueling growth in advanced energy, deep tech, and aerospace and defense. These investments aim to attract billions more, create thousands of high-quality jobs, and elevate the state’s standard of living.

Before joining the SIC in 2024, Jon served as deputy and acting secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, where he launched the Office of Entrepreneurship. He previously spent seven years with the Legislative Finance Committee as a fiscal analyst and chief economist, worked with the New Mexico Partnership on job recruitment, and supported technology commercialization at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. He holds an MBA in finance and marketing from UNM’s Anderson School and enjoys outdoor recreation across New Mexico.

This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

New Mexico State Investment Council site

Article on Sentate Bill 26

Rebeca Puck Stair Awarepreneurs intervew

Rep. Meredith Dixon Awarepreneurs interview

Paul's Fractional Services

Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

383 | New Mexico is Building America’s Sovereign Wealth Fund with Jon Clark

What if building breakthrough climate solutions didn’t mean starting from scratch—but tapping into a powerhouse community of seasoned innovators and investors who know how to scale impact?

Bio: Philip Krim is the Co-Founder and CEO of Montauk Climate. Previously he founded early-stage investment firm Montauk Ventures. He also co-founded, led, and served as Chairman of Casper Sleep, scaling it to over $500M in revenue, taking it public on the NYSE, and overseeing its eventual sale. Mr. Krim is a Director of the Travis Manion Foundation and on the Leadership Council of the Robin Hood Foundation. He holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from the Red McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin

 Bio: Evan Caron is Co-Founder and CIO of Montauk Climate with over 20 years of experience in energy, electricity risk, and commodity management. He previously led Venture at Riverstone Holdings, a $40B energy investment firm, and co-founded ClearTrace, an ESG data platform for emissions tracking. Evan is also Co-Founder of Daylight Energy, a community energy software network. He serves on the Board of RPower, a distributed energy platform backed by Isquared, and previously served on MP2 Energy’s Board before its acquisition by Shell. Earlier in his career, Evan held senior roles at Deutsche Bank, Mercuria, and Trailstone.

Links:

Montauk Capital site

Clear Current site

Haven Energy site

Electron X site

Phillip's email

Phillip LinkedIn

Evan LinkedIn

Paul Zelizer

Popular tracks