Cracking the Code on Permanent Carbon Removal

What if we could remove CO₂ from the atmosphere today—and keep it gone for 1,000 years? In this episode, I’m joined by Barclay Rogers, founder and CEO of Graphyte, who is pioneering a breakthrough method called Carbon Casting that uses biomass by-products and low-energy engineering to lock away carbon at a fraction of the typical cost. We explore why many emissions cannot be abated, how durable removals differ from nature-based fixes, and what it takes to make carbon removal bankable and scalable. Remarkably, Graphyte went from founding to full-scale operation in just 18 months—proving that durable carbon removal can be delivered today, not decades from now. Listen in to discover how Graphyte is rewriting the carbon removal playbook—faster, cheaper, and at scale.--- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies.Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on…YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726…to listen to the latest episodes!Timestamps:0:00 – Opening: The 1,000-year carbon removal challenge2:10 – Barclay’s journey: From engineer & lawyer to founder5:50 – What “carbon removal” really means vs. abatement9:30 – Nature-based solutions vs engineered removals13:20 – Introducing Carbon Casting: how it works17:45 – Why biomass waste + dry storage = low-cost removal22:50 – Scaling: from pilot to modular global model27:10 – Market mechanics: credits, buyers, quality ratings31:40 – Financing and bankability: project finance in CDR35:15 – International expansion & global biomass potential39:00 – Practical advice for climate-tech founders43:00 – Closing thoughts & next stepsUseful links: Graphyte Website: https://www.graphyte.com/Graphyte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/graphytecarbon/Barclay Rogers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barclayrogers/Leaders on a Mission Website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/