This month’s Austin Climate Innovation meetup focused on a rapidly growing and essential topic for modern cities: micromobility. Held at Palm Venture Studios, the event brought together sustainability advocates, transportation professionals, and community members interested in building a better, more connected Austin. With drinks, networking, and passionate speakers, the evening served as both a knowledge exchange and a call to action.
The presentations highlighted how smaller-scale transportation options can have a massive impact on our quality of life, climate footprint, and city infrastructure. As our city grows, so does the urgency to reimagine how we move within it—and micromobility is a clear part of the answer.
Picture with the Red Line TrailIntroduction to the Micromobility MeetupSelfie next to the eCabNetworking and presentation venue
As someone deeply passionate about sustainability and conservation, I often think about the water we use, the trees we plant, the waste we manage—but rarely have I taken a deep dive into the complex world of energy infrastructure.
That changed yesterday at MCJ Live – Where AI Meets Energy, hosted at The Sunset Room in downtown Austin. Curated by MCJ Collective and sponsored by J.P. Morgan and Gunderson Dettmer, the event brought together climate tech innovators and energy leaders for an afternoon of bold ideas at the intersection of AI, energy resilience, and climate innovation.
And honestly? It was an eye-opener in the best possible way.
Entrance sign at eventInside with the other attendeesAttendees checking in and minglingEarly networking between attenees
In 2017, I traded concrete for cob, traffic for trees, and deadlines for dandelions. For 7 transformative months, I lived at Lost Valley Educational Center, an ecovillage and educational nonprofit tucked into the lush forest of Dexter, Oregon. I joined their Holistic Sustainability Semester—a unique 3-month, immersive, dual certification program in Permaculture Design and Ecovillage Living—and walked away with more than just certificates. I gained skills, connections, and a whole new lens on what community, sustainability, and “living on purpose” can actually look like.
People often ask me after I tell them my story, my sustainability journey: “So what was it like living in a hippie community?” This post is my attempt to answer that, with honesty, nostalgia, and from my current perspective shaped by this experience.
Texas may be known for its size and swagger, but it’s also home to some of the most biodiverse ecosystems and innovative sustainability efforts in the country. From lush wetlands and desert canyons to green urban oases and regenerative farms, Texas offers an incredible array of ecotourism opportunities for travelers who want to experience nature while protecting it.
What Is Ecotourism, Exactly?
There are a few ways to look at it:
Nature Tourism is all about immersing yourself in the beauty of the outdoors. This includes activities like birdwatching, hiking through state parks, kayaking in wetlands, and exploring botanical gardens. It’s a way to reconnect with the natural world and recharge, often while learning more about the flora, fauna, and ecosystems that surround us.
Eco-Friendly Tourism emphasizes sustainability in how we travel—choosing green accommodations, minimizing waste, supporting local businesses, and reducing our carbon footprint. It’s about being intentional with our choices, from what we pack to where we eat and sleep.
Eco-Tourism (capital E!) goes a step further. It actively contributes to environmental conservation, community empowerment, and cultural understanding. True ecotourism educates travelers while directly supporting the places they visit, whether through nature education centers, wildlife sanctuaries, or eco-volunteer projects.
In the world of marketing, buzzwords come and go — but “green marketing” and “sustainability communications” are terms that have stuck with me, not just as trends, but as defining themes throughout my career. They’re what I call hourglass terms — concepts that begin broadly, narrow into a specialized niche, and then fan out again to influence a wide range of industries, sectors, and communication needs.
Let me explain — and take you on a journey through how I came to specialize in this growing, evolving, and deeply meaningful space.
What Is Green Marketing, Exactly?
At its core, green marketing refers to promoting products, services, or practices that are environmentally friendly. It’s about more than slapping a green label on a package — it’s a commitment to transparency, sustainability, and often, behavioral change. Green marketing focuses on aligning brand values with environmental ethics, creating campaigns that both inform and inspire.
Sustainability communications, meanwhile, goes beyond the consumer angle. It encompasses the storytelling, messaging, and strategic outreach that organizations use to engage stakeholders — from the public to policymakers — on environmental initiatives, sustainable practices, climate resilience, and more.
Together, these two disciplines span a massive spectrum — from technical communications about carbon reporting to grassroots storytelling about tree planting or water conservation. Hence the hourglass.
What started as a simple prompt request for a “space glamping dome nestled in the Central Texas Landscape” evolved into a refined and realistic visual journey, one that perfectly aligns with the vision I’ve been developing for a unique edutainment experience: a Space Colony Glamping Business. The goal is to offer guests a “pick your own adventure” immersion into the life of a space colonist, right here on Earth. And what better setting than the captivating landscape of Central Texas surrounded by local excursions and seasonal urban events?
Through this iterative prompting process (Google Gemini), we’ve moved from a solitary glamping dome to a vision of a self-contained and interconnected colony habitat in the Central Texas landscape. The images now depict:
Multiple Geodesic Domes: Clusters of distinctive canvas and glass domes, suggesting comfortable and potentially luxurious living spaces.
Shipping Container Tunnels: These act as crucial connectors between the domes, creating enclosed pathways and a sense of a unified structure.
Greenhouses: Lining the shipping container tunnels, these suggest a capacity for food production and a degree of self-sufficiency within the compound.
A Large Central Dome: Serving as a potential communal hub or central facility within the compound.
Sun Shade Sails with Rainwater Collection: These practical additions hint at sustainable living and resource management.
Central Texas Landscape: The setting remains the rolling, often dry, yet beautiful landscape of Central Texas, providing a context for this unique habitat.
A “Space Compound” Feel: The interconnectedness created by the shipping containers and the presence of multiple dome structures evokes a sense of a planned and potentially isolated community, reminiscent of a small off-world base.
