In the second installment our SXSW conversation with Rey Banatao and Peter Chauvel from Google X, we explore what it looks like to build ambitious ideas from the ground up. This episode dives into early ‘Moonshot’ experiments with textile recycling, the role biology could play in the future of materials, and how big ideas move from the whiteboard to the real world.

We also go behind the scenes of Moonshot Madness — a company-wide tradition at X to identify big ideas that could change everything.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How clothing could be transformed into new, reusable materials
• How bioplastics and synthetic biology could shape the next era of manufacturing
• How teams at Google’s X, the Moonshot Factory test ideas— and learn as they go
• What Moonshot Madness is, and how it fuels a culture of experimentation
• How Rey and Peter’s experiences have influenced their approach to sustainability and innovation

This episode encourages you to imagine what a circular future could look like across industries — from plastics to fashion and beyond.

What if the future of recycling isn't just about managing 'waste'—but unlocking its value? At Google's X, the Moonshot Factory, turning moonshots into reality means rethinking the impossible. And in this episode, you'll hear how that vision could help build a smarter, more circular world—one molecule, algorithm, and bold idea at a time.

Recorded live at SXSW, this episode features Rey Banatao and Peter Chauvel - two of the brightest minds of Google's X, the Moonshot Factory. They're leading a bold effort to change how the world uses and reuses materials, starting with plastics. With help from AI, robotics, and new molecular data, their team is reimagining how recycling works and how we can build better systems to keep materials in use and out of the landfill.

In this episode we dive into:

• How advanced recycling is opening the door to reuse materials once destined for the bin
• Why the moonshot factory believes plastics can be recycled and remanufactured—without extracting more petroleum
• The role of AI, machine learning and better data are building smarter recycling infrastructure
• How better data is transforming the economics of recycling
• What it takes to try bold ideas from inside one of the world's most audacious incubators
• What happens when you treat waste as a resource

Live from SXSW in Austin, Mia sits down with Rich James of Dow and Gina Oliver of the American Chemistry Council to talk all things automotive recycling. They break down how new plastics are making vehicles safer, lighter, and more efficient—and discuss breakthroughs that are keeping valuable materials out of landfills. This episode explores the path to sustainable automotives and why America has a real opportunity to lead the way.