How Curiosity and a Camera Led to a Clean Energy Agency
In this episode, we talk with Lee De Lang, founder of Big Red Oak. Lee didn’t set out to run an agency focused on clean energy. It all started with a high school video project. He didn’t like public speaking, so he grabbed a VHS camera and made a short documentary instead of giving a presentation.
That moment stuck. He went to film school, specialized in post-production sound, and worked in the film industry. But something was missing. He wanted to be part of the story earlier. So he started freelancing, doing corporate video work out of his basement. Eventually, that grew into Flashframe, and later, Big Red Oak.
Lee talks about how the agency evolved from a production house to a full creative team. Along the way, they started doing more work with nuclear clients. It wasn’t part of a grand plan — it just made sense. The work was meaningful, the clients kept coming back, and the projects tapped into the team’s love for solving complex problems with clear storytelling.
We talk about the shift from being behind the scenes to leading strategy, and how Big Red Oak helps clients communicate better. Especially in clean energy, where the work can be technical and misunderstood, the role of clear, honest storytelling becomes even more important.
Lee also shares why empathy, curiosity, and values have been the constant through all the changes. Whether it’s helping a utility explain a new technology or guiding a client through their first real marketing effort, it always comes back to the same question — what story are you telling, and why should someone care?
The big takeaway? Good storytelling doesn’t just inform. It connects. And when you’re trying to shift perception or build trust, that connection is everything.
Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.