Ryan Potter: Los Angeles Fires, Water Scarcity, and the Future of Clear Matter

Los Angeles is a city of extremes—glamorous yet gritty, sun-drenched yet shadowed by smoke. It’s a place where dreams are made, but lately, it feels like the ground beneath those dreams is cracking. Wildfires are burning brighter and longer, and water is becoming harder to find. It’s a crisis that’s impossible to ignore, and it’s one that Ryan Potter, CEO of Clear Matter, is determined to tackle head-on. I sat down with him to talk about the fires, his journey from actor to environmental advocate, and the work his company is doing to bring clean water to those who need it most.  

A City on Fire  

The wildfires this year have been relentless. They’ve burned through neighborhoods, forced evacuations, and left behind a landscape of ash and heartbreak. Ryan hasn’t lost his home, but he’s seen friends and neighbors lose everything. My heart breaks for those who’ve been affected he says, his voice soft but steady. But it’s been beautiful to see how Los Angeles has come together. The volunteer work, the donations—it’s been incredible. 

Still, the fires are a stark reminder of a bigger problem. Southern California is almost designed to burn, Ryan explains. The plant life here is adapted to fire; it’s how the landscape renews itself. But with 9 million people in Los Angeles County, we need innovative infrastructure to withstand these challenges, especially when water is already so scarce.

From Acting to Advocacy  

Ryan’s path to environmental advocacy isn’t one you’d expect. As an actor, he found success, but not the deeper sense of purpose he was searching for. Acting opened doors for me—it allowed me to travel, meet influential people, and pull my family out of poverty,” he shares. But it wasn’t fulfilling in the way I needed it to be. 

Everything changed when he discovered Moses West, a retired U.S. military veteran and inventor of atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology. Moses’s videos kept getting flagged as misinformation, which made me curious, Ryan recalls. The more I dug into his work, the more I realized this was the purpose I’d been searching for. Moses’s AWG technology pulls moisture from the air, turning it into clean, drinkable water—a game-changer for regions struggling with water scarcity. “This is the intersection of innovation, science, and humanity, Ryan says. It’s about providing a fundamental resource in a way that’s sustainable and equitable. 

The Science of Water from Air  

Atmospheric water generation isn’t new, but Moses West’s innovations have taken it to a whole new level. The troposphere—the layer of atmosphere closest to Earth—holds an estimated four to six quadrillion gallons of water at any given time, Ryan explains. That’s an almost unimaginable amount, and it’s constantly replenished through the natural water cycle.

Traditional methods of getting water, like groundwater extraction and desalination, come with heavy costs—both environmental and financial. Groundwater reserves are being depleted faster than they can be replenished, Ryan says. And desalination, while effective, is energy-intensive and damaging to marine ecosystems. AWG technology, on the other hand, works with the environment. It’s about harnessing what’s already there, Ryan explains. By cooling air to its dew point, we can extract moisture and condense it into water. Moses’s systems are the most energy-efficient on the market, and they can run on renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

The Human Cost of Water Scarcity  

Water scarcity isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a human one. When I moved from Japan to the U.S. as a kid, I was shocked by the homelessness I saw, Ryan recalls. In Japan, it’s rare to see people living on the streets. But in Los Angeles, it’s impossible to ignore That early exposure to inequality left a lasting impression. It’s a systemic issue, and it’s only getting worse. Water scarcity makes everything harder. When people don’t have access to clean water, it affects their health, their livelihoods, and their ability to thrive. 

Ryan’s work with Clear Matter is rooted in this . Water is the foundation of everything, he says. Without it, there’s no life, no agriculture, no economy. And yet, we’re seeing more and more communities—both in the U.S. and around the world—struggling to access this basic resource.  

A Global Crisis with Local Solutions  

The numbers are staggering. According to the United Nations, over 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress, and by 2030, global demand for water is expected to outstrip supply by 40%. This isn’t just a problem for developing nations, Ryan emphasises. It’s happening right here in the U.S., in places like Flint, Michigan, and parts of California.  

Clear Matter’s approach is to provide solutions that are as local as the problems. Instead of relying on massive infrastructure projects, we can deploy AWG systems where they’re needed most, Ryan explains. These systems can be scaled to serve a single household, a village, or an entire city. And because they’re modular, they can be adapted to different climates and conditions. 

One of the most exciting applications is in agriculture. Farmers are among the hardest hit by water scarcity, Ryan says. With AWG technology, they can harvest water directly from the air, reducing their reliance on groundwater and ensuring their crops have the water they need to grow. 

The Road Ahead  

For Ryan, the journey is just beginning. This past year has been a crash course in entrepreneurship, he admits. “I’ve been to countless investor meetings, mixers, and events. It’s not easy to convince people to invest in something as fundamental as water. But I believe in this technology, and I believe in the team we’re building. 

Clear Matter’s immediate goal is to secure funding to scale production and deploy AWG systems in water-scarce regions. We’re not just selling a product; we’re selling a vision Ryan says. “A world where everyone has access to clean water, communities are resilient, and innovation serves the greater good.

Yet, the challenges are real. “Water is becoming a commodity, and that’s terrifying, Ryan admits. It shouldn’t be a luxury; it’s a basic human right. Yet, as scarcity increases, so does its value. We’re already seeing projections of water refugees by 2030. That’s not a future I want to accept.

A Story of Hope  

In a world that often feels heavy with bad news, Ryan’s story is a reminder that there’s still hope. So much of the media we consume is negative, he says. But there are solutions out there. Moses’s story is proof of that. It’s almost biblical—a man on a mission to bring water to those in need.

As our conversation winds down, Ryan’s passion is impossible to miss. This work fills me with purpose, he says. It’s not just about technology; it’s about humanity. And if we can get this right, we can change the world.

For Ryan Potter and Clear Matter, the future is blue and green—a world where water is abundant, communities are resilient, and innovation serves the greater good. It’s a vision worth fighting for, and one that couldn’t be more urgent.  

DISCOVER: moseswest.givingcircles.io