What’s Your Problem? Turning Waste Wood Into Buildings

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Ben Christensen is the co-founder and CEO of Cambium, the largest seller of salvaged wood in America. Ben’s problem is this: How can we turn the trees that are falling to the ground all around us, into usable wood?

In this episode, Ben explains:

  • Why so much wood goes unused
  • Why Cambium created demand before building the supply chain
  • How building a data layer across the fragmented lumber industry reduces waste
  • Why salvaged wood can compete on price with conventional lumber
  • The best mantra to use 80 miles into an ultramarathon

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The Host

Jacob Goldstein

Jacob Goldstein spent more than a decade as co-host of the Planet Money podcast. He's also the author of the book Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing, which the New…