33 - Eric Corey Freed

We are joined by Eric Corey Freed, who has a bio so extensive that we broke it down into bullets! He is: An award-winning architect, In 2012, he was named one of the 25 "Best Green Architecture Firms" in the US, and one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Green Architects." In 2017, he was named one of Build's American Architecture Top 25. He’s one of the 2021 Environment + Energy Leaders and in 2024, he was named the Net Zero Trailblazer for Innovation. He holds a prestigious LEED Fellow award from the US Green Building Council. An author and global speaker12 books, including "Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies” and "Circular Economy for Dummies." His new book, “Frictionless: Overcoming the Drags that Shutdown Innovation” will be released in 2026.His work has been featured in: Time, Newsweek, Metropolis, Dwell, Fast Company, Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal; and on-air in: Fox News, HGTV, The Sundance Channel and PBS. Current Principal and Director of Sustainability for CannonDesignHis past roles include: Founding Principal of organicARCHITECT, a visionary design leader in biophilic and regenerative design, Vice President of the International Living Future Institute, and Chief Community Officer of EcoDistricts.He serves on the board of Design Museum Everywhere, whose mission is to “bring the transformative power of design to all.” Eric shared: How mentorship shaped his career  Why sustainability messaging often fails  The future of mass timber, AI, synthetic biology, and bio-based materials  What keeps innovation from happening  Why climate change is fundamentally a public health issue  How humor and storytelling help change minds The conversation also dives into affordable housing, healthcare design, systems thinking, and how to create lasting influence through speaking, teaching, writing, and design.Organizations & Events Mentioned:International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Living Future ConferenceU.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Greenbuild Conference CannonDesignXPRIZE Innovative Construction + Materials CompaniesPrometheus MaterialsBioTwinGlavelBooksGreen Building and Remodeling For Dummies by Eric Corey FreedCircular Economy For Dummies by Eric Corey Freed, coauthorFrictionless: Overcoming the Drags That Shut Down Innovation (forthcoming 2026) by Eric Corey FreedCradle to CradleEcotopiaThe Ministry for the FutureSend us Fan Mail