This past summer, a few months into the pandemic, we started working on an episode about plastic.

Exciting, right?

But we were struck by how plastic was an interesting moment.

On the one hand, it was being held up as an example of everything wrong with our disposable

economy, all those plastic straws and containers and shopping bags that are briefly used and

then tossed away to the detriment of our environment.

On the other hand, during a pandemic, plastic could be a lifesaver, a layer of protection

for our bodies, our food, our shared surfaces, so yeah, an interesting moment.

But the episode didn't hand out and we killed it.

Just so you know, this happens all the time.

For every episode we publish, there are three or four ideas that just don't make it to

the finish line for any number of reasons.

Like of data, lack of clarity, lack of something interesting to contribute to the public conversation.

Anyway, this idea about plastic was filed away along with the interviews we had recorded

for it.

But last week, one of those interviews suddenly got a lot more interesting, even if plastic

didn't.

One of the people we interviewed is named Brian Deese.

He worked at BlackRock, the world's largest money manager, which had recently announced

a huge push to integrate sustainability into their investment philosophy.

Before that, Deese worked in the Obama administration for all eight years, ultimately serving as

a senior advisor to the president on climate, conservation, and energy policy.

...