Ocean Adventures and Conservation with Sam Fletcher

In this episode of The Intelligence Report, Dylan Welch sits down with Sam Fletcher, founder of Odyssea Diving at EarthX for a conversation about ocean adventures, wildlife encounters, and our connection to the natural world.From whale watching to the spectacle of dolphins and seabirds gathering at sea, Dylan and Sam share the experiences that make exploring the ocean unforgettable. Their conversation offers a personal look at how witnessing wildlife firsthand can deepen our appreciation for nature and give conservation a more tangible meaning.Join Dylan and Sam for stories of adventure, discovery, and the extraordinary life beneath the surface.Recorded at EarthX 2025.Support the show

From Panama City to the global climate stage, how does a government turn environmental ambition into action?In this episode of The Intelligence Report, Dylan Welch interviews Juan Carlos Navarro, Panama’s Minister of Environment, about the intersection of government leadership, international cooperation, and investment in nature.Welch hosted this interview in his role as Chief Correspondent for SDG News, reporting from Panama City, Panama, at the inaugural Nature Summit in May 2025. The summit took place alongside United Nations Climate Change’s UNFCCC Climate Week, which brought governments and international stakeholders to Panama from May 19–23 ahead of COP30 in Brazil.Navarro shares his vision for protecting Panama’s forests, oceans, and national parks while attracting the capital needed to sustain conservation over the long term. The conversation explores carbon markets, clean energy, conservation financing, and partnerships between governments, businesses, and philanthropists.Offering a minister’s perspective on the challenges of implementation, Navarro explains why international gatherings must deliver more than speeches and commitments. His message is direct: lasting global progress begins with leaders taking responsibility and getting things done at home.Support the show

What comes after a career in professional hockey? For Doug Lynch, the next chapter means bringing his experience as an athlete to the business of sustainable athletic apparel.In this episode of The Intelligence Report, host Dylan Welch sits down with Doug at EarthX to learn about his transition from professional hockey player to president of a sustainable fitness and fashion brand. His journey connects the competitive world of professional sports with an industry shaped by performance, personal style, and growing interest in environmental responsibility.Doug’s story offers a perspective on career reinvention and the connection between athletics and business. For athletes considering their next chapter, entrepreneurs building purpose-driven brands, and anyone interested in the future of fitness and fashion, this conversation brings those worlds together.Originally recorded at EarthX for EarthX TV, this interview is presented as a special episode of The Intelligence Report.Support the show

Is a four-year degree still the best path to success? Dylan Welch, host of The Intelligence Report, sits down with Jason Seedall, Executive Director of the Roosevelt Alliance, to discuss the growing demand for skilled workers, the return of apprenticeships, and how AI and rising education costs are reshaping the American workforce.They also explore the Roosevelt Alliance’s work to bring policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders together in Washington, D.C., including its Theodore Roosevelt Dialogue Series focused on wildlife policy, fair commerce, and practical solutions for rebuilding the American middle class.Support the show

Nahid Karimi and Mahdi Rahimi join Dylan Welch, founder of Welch International, to share their firsthand perspectives on life in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s return to power and the realities facing young Afghans today.Nahid recounts growing up in Kabul, representing Afghanistan as a gymnast and using music to advocate for peace and women’s rights before the Taliban takeover changed everything. After fleeing to Pakistan with her family, she eventually received a scholarship to study in the United States, where she now advocates for Afghan girls and their right to an education.This powerful conversation explores displacement, life as a refugee, the loss of fundamental freedoms and the resilience of a generation determined to build a better future for Afghanistan.Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and other sensitive subjects.Support the show

Coral reefs support roughly a quarter of all marine life, protect vulnerable coastlines and sustain communities and economies around the world. But with reefs disappearing at an alarming rate, traditional conservation funding alone may not be enough.Dylan Welch sits down with Sam Teicher, co-founder and chief reef officer of Coral Vita, to discuss how the company is building a profitable business around restoring damaged reefs.Sam shares how a $1,000 grant and a road trip through the Florida Keys grew into an international operation that has cultivated more than 150,000 corals across 52 species. They also explore Coral Vita’s land-based coral farms, the concept of restoration as a service, the economic value of natural infrastructure and why coral conservation continues to receive bipartisan support.The conversation offers an honest but hopeful look at the future of the world’s oceans, and how business, technology and nature can work together to rebuild what has been lost.Support the show

What can glaciers teach us about our changing planet, and why should people thousands of miles away from the world’s great ice fields care?In this episode of The Intelligence Report Podcast, Dylan Welch sits down with glacier researcher, journalist, and explorer Grace Cordsen to discuss her work across the Arctic and Antarctic and what she has witnessed firsthand in some of the planet’s most remote environments.Grace shares her journey from joining an Arctic expedition as a young researcher to working aboard expedition vessels across both polar regions. She discusses researching the visual history of the Arctic, witnessing glaciers retreat over time, the importance of understanding the communities and cultures connected to these environments, and how exploration can transform the way we think about conservation.One of the most powerful lessons from Grace's work is also one of the simplest: seeing environmental change can change the way we understand it. She describes returning to the same glaciers and comparing them with historical records from decades earlier revealing landscapes that have changed dramatically within a relatively short period of time. The conversation also explores the role of scientists, journalists, educators, travelers, and everyday people in protecting glaciers and the broader cryosphere. As Grace explains, one of the first things anyone can do is learn about these environments, understand how they are changing, and find meaningful ways to support their protection. Topics include: Arctic and Antarctic exploration, glacier retreat, climate communication, polar research, conservation, Indigenous and local communities, sustainable expedition travel, and how storytelling can help people understand, and protect, the world's frozen environments.Support the show

In this episode of The Intelligence Report, Dylan Welch sits down with Sahara Maazel and Suman Shah, two high school sophomores and co-founders of the Youth Climate Action Alliance (YCAA), to discuss how young people can turn climate concern into meaningful action.From launching community solar initiatives and recycling programs at their own schools to building a network of 16 partner schools across New York City, Sahara and Suman share how they transformed a shared passion for the environment into a growing movement focused on practical, school-based climate solutions.The conversation explores the importance of collaboration over confrontation, how students can work with school administrators to create change, and why making climate action local helps inspire more people to get involved. They also discuss the future of renewable energy, artificial intelligence, climate policy, entrepreneurship, and their aspirations to make an impact on the global stage.This episode is an inspiring look at the next generation of environmental leadership and a reminder that meaningful change often starts with a small group of people willing to take the first step.Topics discussed:Youth leadership in climate actionBuilding the Youth Climate Action AllianceCommunity solar and sustainability initiativesOrganizing climate programs in schoolsClimate policy and advocacyRenewable energy and AIEntrepreneurship and climate innovationThe future of environmental leadershipSupport the show

In this episode of The Intelligence Report, Dylan Welch sits down with Peng Cau, Director of Siemens for Startups Americas, entrepreneur, investor, and longtime advocate for deep technology innovation.After building and scaling her own automation company over more than two decades before a successful exit, Peng now helps the next generation of founders navigate one of the most difficult challenges in business: transforming breakthrough technology into commercially successful companies.The conversation explores why many startups fail despite having exceptional technology, the importance of commercialization strategy, how digital engineering is reducing development costs, and why today's investment landscape is becoming increasingly favorable for hard tech innovators.Whether you're building a startup, investing in emerging technologies, or simply interested in the future of innovation, this episode provides practical insights from someone who has experienced every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.Topics include: Why commercialization matters more than technology alone  The biggest mistakes technical founders make  How Siemens supports hard tech startups  Digital twins and the future of product development  Raising capital in deep tech industries  Building the right founding team  Aerospace, energy, defense, and medical technology innovation  The future of hard tech investingSupport the show

In this episode of The Intelligence Report, host Dylan Welch sits down with Pat Donohue, world traveler, sustainability consultant at Anthesis, and environmental advocate, to discuss how firsthand experiences around the world shaped his perspective on conservation, business, and meaningful impact.Pat shares how traveling and working in places like Costa Rica transformed his understanding of environmental challenges, why local communities are essential to long-term sustainability, and how businesses can move beyond good intentions to create measurable change. The conversation explores the intersection of corporate sustainability, global development, and the importance of connecting boardroom decisions with boots-on-the-ground action.Whether you're interested in sustainability, international business, or building a career that creates real-world impact, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of travel, purpose, and practical leadership.Support the show