The nexus of business, policy, and sustainability is more divided than ever, but Less Talk, More Action is here to cut through the noise.
Hosted by clean energy experts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett, this podcast dives into the front lines of decarbonization, net-zero real estate, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features bold questions, real solutions, and stories from leaders in science, tech, and business who are taking action to make the world a better place. Join us as we move beyond talk and work toward a cleaner, net-zero future.
In this “final for now” episode of Less Talk, More Action, hosts Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett reflect on the podcast’s mission to cut through ESG theater and push the sustainability industry toward real-world implementation instead of endless reporting. They look back on what they’re proud of—sparking hard but healthy disagreements, championing authenticity, and helping shift the conversation from metrics to deployment. They share favorite guest moments, including startup stories like Reservoir and Swerve that led to tangible pilots, and a memorable conversation with industry heavyweight Jigar Shah. Joel also recounts debates at New York Climate Week over stale, fear-based climate messaging and argues for reframing around biodiversity, restoration, and affordability to drive more action. The episode closes on a hopeful note: both hosts are optimistic about technology, entrepreneurship, and a growing appetite in real estate and beyond to move past analysis paralysis—and they hint that Less Talk, More Action may return in a future iteration.
19 Aug 2026
Anti-Sustainability? A Real Estate Investor Calls Out ‘Virtue Signaling’
In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel and Owen sit down with August Biniaz, CIO of CPI Capital, for a candid conversation at the intersection of real estate, sustainability, and free markets. They explore why August instinctively associates “sustainability” with bureaucracy and virtue signaling, shaped by his upbringing in Iran and experiences as a Vancouver homebuilder facing heavy regulation. The discussion dives into how multifamily syndicators really think about sustainability, solar, and energy costs (it’s all about NOI and hold periods), the stark differences between Canadian and U.S. housing markets, and the role of rent control and government bailouts in affordability. Along the way, they debate hypocrisy in climate rhetoric (“F oil” vs. everyday fossil fuel use), the value of street smarts vs. book smarts in entrepreneurship, and why August ultimately places his hope in a younger generation that is more environmentally conscious and socially aware, even as he remains deeply skeptical of top-down mandates.
12 Aug 2026
ESG Is Over, and It’s Time to Actually Build Stuff
In this episode of Less Talk, More Action, Joel Cesare and Owen Barrett break down why the traditional ESG industry is failing and why the real estate world is finally shifting from data collection and reporting to real projects that deliver tangible value. They talk about rethinking sustainability teams as capital deployment and execution units, not compliance or marketing functions. Owen unveils Shine’s new “energy allocator” concept for multifamily solar and storage and explains how AI (via tools like ChatGPT) helped them model complex systems in minutes instead of weeks of engineering work. Joel and Owen push back on anti–data center sentiment, arguing that AI infrastructure unlocks life-changing innovations, and they close with a lighthearted “finance corner” on why they’re bullish on SpaceX and the broader tech-driven future of decarbonization.
Who has been a guest on Less Talk, More Action
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Deyl Kearin
Katie Neck
Anthony Guerrero
Kevin Surace
Ben Christensen
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
87
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
39
Social presence
0
YouTube
63
Engagement
32
Contact Less Talk, More Action
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Less Talk, More Action
Who hosts Less Talk, More Action?
Joel and Owen host the show. Published by Joel Cesare & Owen Barrett.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Less Talk, More Action take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of Less Talk, More Action?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
