The Biochar Show

Bill Hilgendorf joins The Biochar Show to discuss his journey from furniture design to biochar production, on-farm education, advanced carbon materials, and the future of biocarbon markets.

We explore New York Carbon, White Feather Farm, biochar adoption, standards development, carbon markets, and emerging opportunities in construction materials and the built environment.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Bill Hilgendorf, NYCarbon.CO

Bio: 

Trained as an industrial designer, Bill became interested in discarded items and materials at a young age, always thinking about ways they could be fixed or modified to bring a new function or purpose to them. Much of his career has focused on upcycling and telling the story of a material through the design and process of creating something new and functional. When Bill shifted his focus more clearly on the climate crisis and learned about biochar, something clicked. Not only are you able to utilize vast amounts of residue and waste that left alone become a carbon liability, but through the process of pyrolysis you can convert that waste to a stable carbon that will persist for a millennium and can be used to help rebuild soils, suck up toxins and decarbonize the built environment. In many ways biochar represents the ultimate upcycled material.  

https://www.whitefeatherfarm.org/biochar-soil-health
https://www.nycarbon.co/
https://www.echosystems.earth/

 

ABOUT THE HOST

Since 2019, John Webster ( / john801  ) has run Go Biochar (GoBiochar.com, a leading source for bulk biochar sales & service, biochar technical consulting, field demonstrations, and product development across agriculture, forestry, fuels, and carbon markets. John serves as Director of Development for BiocharOnSite (biocharonsite.org) and was former Director of Communications for the US Biochar Initiative. Through these roles, he has helped expand awareness, shape national conversations, and move the industry toward commercial adoption. John brings deep experience and a storyteller’s approach to the program. His mission is to connect the dots between local practices and global carbon goals. For him, biochar is a key to rebuilding resilient soils, slashing emissions, and creating circular economies. Nature pulls carbon from the sky. Biochar helps us keep it in the ground!

 

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The Biochar Show is a Production of Biochar Today. Visit biochartoday.com for more information.

Opening and closing music by Timothy Harfield.
"Style" Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: 4FDG77H2CA0RHWHO

Keywords:
#Biochar #CarbonCredits #Sustainability #BiocharProducts #upcycling #Environment #RegenerativeFarming

In this episode of The Biochar Show, John Webster leads a conversation that delves into the foundational aspects of biochar standards, emphasizing the importance of consistency, transparency, and market confidence. The guests discuss the challenges faced in the biochar industry, particularly regarding testing methods and the need for standardized practices. They highlight the role of the new American National Standard for Biochar in enhancing trust and facilitating market access. The discussion also touches on the significance of carbon credits and the future of biochar as a scalable climate solution.

About the Guests
Myles Gray (Executive Director, US Biochar Initiative) leads U.S. market development and standards initiatives for biochar.org. Works across policy, material specifications, and industry adoption of biochar products and carbon removal applications.

USBI

Myles on LinkedIn

Chris Wiberg (Vice President, Biomass Energy Lab / Timber Products Inspection) is a specialist in solid biofuel and biochar laboratory testing. Project leader for the American National Standard for Biochar and U.S. Technical Advisory Group Chair to ISO TC 238.

Biomass Energy Lab

Timber Products Inspection

Chris on LinkedIn

Annie Nichols (General Manager of Biochar, Mangrove Systems) leads carbon certification strategy and digital MRV frameworks for biochar projects. Previously oversaw the commercialization of 20,000+ biochar carbon credits at Pacific Biochar.

Mangrove Systems

Annie on LinkedIn

About the Host
Since 2019, John Webster has run Go Biochar, a leading source for bulk biochar sales & service, biochar technical consulting, field demonstrations, and product development across agriculture, forestry, fuels, and carbon markets. John serves as Director of Development for BiocharOnSite and was formerly the Director of Communications for the US Biochar Initiative. Through these roles, he has helped expand awareness, shape national conversations, and move the industry toward commercial adoption. John brings deep experience and a storyteller’s approach to the program. His mission is to connect the dots between local practices and global carbon goals. For him, biochar is more than a product. It’s a key to rebuilding resilient soils, slashing emissions, and creating circular economies. Nature pulls carbon from the sky. Biochar helps us keep it in the ground!

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The Biochar Show is a Production of Biochar Today. Visit biochartoday.com for more information.

In this episode of The Biochar Show, John Webster interviews Dr. Toufiq Reza, an expert in hydrochar and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). They discuss the potential of biochar and hydrochar in agriculture, water treatment, and even on Mars. Dr. Reza explains the differences between biochar and hydrochar, their applications, and the challenges of commercialization. The conversation also touches on nutrient retention, PFAS remediation, and the future of these technologies in addressing environmental issues both on Earth and in space.

About the Host
Since 2019, John Webster has run Go Biochar, a leading source for bulk biochar sales & service, biochar technical consulting, field demonstrations, and product development across agriculture, forestry, fuels, and carbon markets. John serves as Director of Development for BiocharOnSite and was formerly the Director of Communications for the US Biochar Initiative. Through these roles, he has helped expand awareness, shape national conversations, and move the industry toward commercial adoption. John brings deep experience and a storyteller’s approach to the program. His mission is to connect the dots between local practices and global carbon goals. For him, biochar is more than a product. It’s a key to rebuilding resilient soils, slashing emissions, and creating circular economies. Nature pulls carbon from the sky. Biochar helps us keep it in the ground!

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The Biochar Show is a Production of Biochar Today. Visit biochartoday.com for more information.

In this episode of The Biochar Show, host John Webster speaks with Chris Wiberg from Timber Products Inspection about the importance of biochar testing standards and the development of the American National Standard for biochar analysis. They discuss the challenges faced by the industry, the need for consistent testing methodologies, and the impact of these standards on the biochar market. Chris shares insights from his extensive experience in laboratory testing and the future directions for biochar research and development.

Related Links

Chris Wiberg on LinkedIn

Biomass Energy Lab

Timber Products Inspection

 
About the Host
Since 2019, John Webster has run Go Biochar, a leading source for bulk biochar sales & service, biochar technical consulting, field demonstrations, and product development across agriculture, forestry, fuels, and carbon markets. John serves as Director of Development for BiocharOnSite and was formerly the Director of Communications for the US Biochar Initiative. Through these roles, he has helped expand awareness, shape national conversations, and move the industry toward commercial adoption. John brings deep experience and a storyteller’s approach to the program. His mission is to connect the dots between local practices and global carbon goals. For him, biochar is more than a product. It’s a key to rebuilding resilient soils, slashing emissions, and creating circular economies. Nature pulls carbon from the sky. Biochar helps us keep it in the ground!

Please Subscribe!

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iTunes

Spotify 

Amazon Music

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The Biochar Show is a Production of Biochar Today. Visit biochartoday.com for more information.

In this episode of the Biochar Show, host John Webster interviews Kelpie Wilson, a pioneer in the biochar industry. They discuss Kelpie's journey from mechanical engineering to becoming a key figure in biochar initiatives. The conversation covers the discovery of terra preta, the challenges of scaling the biochar industry, practical applications of biochar, innovations in production methods, and the role of biochar in wildfire management. Kelpie emphasizes the importance of using biochar to manage organic waste and its potential benefits for soil health and carbon sequestration. In this conversation, Kelpie Wilson and John Webster discuss the multifaceted benefits of biochar, including its applications in agriculture, emissions testing, and community engagement. They explore the importance of education in dispelling misconceptions about biochar production and its environmental impact. The discussion also covers the evolution of biochar programs, the significance of scientific research, and the practical applications of biochar in water management and soil health. The conversation emphasizes the need for standards and testing in biochar production, as well as the role of community involvement in advancing biochar initiatives

RELATED LINKS

The Biochar Handbook

Practical Biochar Course

Ring Of Fire Biochar Kiln

The Biochar Prepper (Substack)

Mobile biochar production by flame carbonization: Reducing wildfire risk and improving forest resilience

Kelpie on YouTube

Kelpie on Instagram

Kelpie on LinkedIn

Wilson Biochar

ABOUT THE HOST
Since 2019, John Webster has run Go Biochar, a leading source for bulk biochar sales & service, biochar technical consulting, field demonstrations, and product development across agriculture, forestry, fuels, and carbon markets. John serves as Director of Development for BiocharOnSite and was formerly the Director of Communications for the US Biochar Initiative. Through these roles, he has helped expand awareness, shape national conversations, and move the industry toward commercial adoption. John brings deep experience and a storyteller’s approach to the program. His mission is to connect the dots between local practices and global carbon goals. For him, biochar is more than a product. It’s a key to rebuilding resilient soils, slashing emissions, and creating circular economies. Nature pulls carbon from the sky. Biochar helps us keep it in the ground!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BIOCHAR SHOW

YouTube

iTunes

Spotify

Amazon Music

iHeart Radio

RSS

The Biochar Show is a Production of Biochar Today.