Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

Solutions Rewind | Alfie Vick on Native Plants, Wildness, and Ecological Responsibility

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Is it important to understand the cultural context of a place? And how can landscape architects help us feel more connected to the natural world? This week, we’re revisiting our most popular episode ever, a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation with Alfie Vick on Native American ethnobotany, environmental ethics, and the delicate balance between wildness and order.

Alfie is the Georgia Power Professor of Environmental Ethics at the University of Georgia and the Director of its Environmental Ethics Certificate Program. A licensed landscape architect and LEED Fellow, his work focuses on preserving and strengthening natural systems while thoughtfully weaving in human use. Alongside his academic role, he continues to practice professionally, contributing to a range of LEED-certified projects, including the LEED Platinum headquarters of the Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta.

With Alfie as our guide, we explore the intersection of landscape architecture and Native American studies, reflect on how design and biophilia have evolved over time, and even share a memorable tip for naturally managing poison ivy.

As conversations around land stewardship, belonging, and ecological responsibility continue to grow, it’s no surprise this episode continues to resonate with listeners around the world.

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

Solutions Rewind | Beauty, Biophilia, & Your Brain with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Today, we’re revisiting a favorite from the Biophilic Solutions archive: a thoughtful conversation on beauty, the brain, and our relationship to nature with Anjan Chatterjee. In this episode, we explore whether our aesthetic preferences are culturally shaped or more universal, why nature brings deep calm to some people while evoking unease in others, and how researchers are beginning to measure the real cognitive and emotional impacts of biophilic design.

Dr. Chatterjee is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading voice in the emerging field of neuroaesthetics, the science of how the brain perceives and responds to beauty. His insights help unpack what’s actually happening neurologically when we encounter inspiring spaces, art, and landscapes.

As conversations around mental health, neurodiversity, and the built environment continue to evolve, this episode feels as relevant as ever. Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning with fresh ears, it’s a rich exploration of why beauty matters—and how it shapes the way we feel, think, and live.

Show Notes

Anjan Chatterjee, M.D.
Neuroaesthetics
Biophilia as Evolutionary Adaptation: An Onto- and Phylogenetic Framework for Biophilic Design (Frontiers in Psychology)
Biophilia by Edward O. Wilson
Buildings, Beauty and the Brain: Q&A with Anjan Chatterjee (CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society)
What We Like About Built and Natural Spaces (Psychology Today)
How Our Brains Decide What Is Beautiful (TED)

Key Words: Neuroscience, Neurology, Neuroaesthetics, Neuroarchitecture, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Brain Health, Beauty, Art History, Architecture, Aesthetics, Nature, Psychology, Science, Research, Research and Development

Solutions Rewind | Why Nature Makes Us Happier with Florence Williams

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

We’re excited to bring back a favorite conversation from 2021 with the incomparable Florence Williams. Florence is, of course, the acclaimed author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, a book that beautifully explores the science behind nature’s profound effect on our minds, bodies, and sense of connection. It’s biophilia in its purest form.

In this episode, we dive into the experience of awe in nature and how it can make us more open, generous, and connected to one another. We explore the often-overlooked impact of our soundscape on health and well-being, and why spending time outdoors (yes, even right now in the depths of winter) can be one of the most restorative choices we make.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the headlines or simply craving a reset, this conversation is a gentle reminder that nature is always there for us, offering grounding, perspective, and a way back to ourselves.

Shownotes

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams (2017)
Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv (2006)
To Fight the Winter Blues, Try a Dose of Nature, by Florence Williams (Wall Street Journal)
Is Your Noisy Neighborhood Slowly Killing You? by Florence Williams (Mother Jones)
The 3-Day Effect (Audible)
Florence Williams Podcasts
Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams (2022)

Solutions Rewind | Doug Tallamy on Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

As we gear up to launch another season of incredible guest interviews we’re revisiting a few of our most beloved episodes, starting with the fabulous Doug Tallamy.

Over the course of his career, Doug has become a leading voice helping people understand why native plants matter and how simple and accessible it can be to support biodiversity right in your backyard. In this conversation, we talk about the power of keystone species, the remarkable progress he’s made restoring native plants on his own Pennsylvania property, and the nonprofit he founded to inspire private landowners to be part of this growing movement.

Dr. Tallamy has an incredible gift for breaking down big, complex environmental challenges into ideas that feel approachable rather than overwhelming, offering practical, common-sense ways to make a real and meaningful impact.

Doug Tallamy is the T.A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, and the author of more than 100 publications, including Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, Nature’s Best Hope, and his most recent book, The Nature of Oaks.

Where Science and Spirit Meet with Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In a world where many of us feel increasingly disconnected from the Earth and from one another, author Lyanda Lynn Haupt offers us a way back. Through her blend of science, nature, and spiritual insight, she invites us to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the wildness of everyday life. Her award-winning book Rooted explores what it means to cultivate inner wisdom and a deep sense of belonging with the natural world, no matter where we live or what we believe.

In this episode, Monica sits down with Lyanda to explore how nature can be a source of solace, creativity, and meaning. They talk about why wonder is backed by science, why spirituality doesn’t have to be religious, and why it’s healthy (ahem, necessary) to be a little weird. You’ll hear more about why our cultural norms aren’t serving us, a fresh perspective on hope, responsibility, and grief, and how simple practices like walking barefoot can gently reconnect us to something more reciprocal and real.

If you’re longing for a deeper relationship with the natural world, or you’re searching for a grounded sense of hope heading into a new year, this conversation is a beautiful place to begin.

Shownotes

Keywords: nature connection, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Rooted book, spiritual ecology, awe and wonder, science and spirituality, biophilic living, environmental mindfulness, reconnection with earth, intentional living, hope and grief, human evolution outdoors, cultural norms, nature-based wisdom, mindful practices, podcast interview

Maria Rodale on Love, Magic, and Listening to Her Garden

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

What does it mean to truly love the natural world? And what happens when we start listening deeply to it? In this episode, we sit down with author and activist Maria Rodale to explore the themes in her latest book, Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden.

A lifelong advocate for organic living and regenerative agriculture, Maria has carried forward her family’s legacy as the former CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc., helping to pioneer the organic movement. In Love, Nature, Magic, she blends memoir and environmental reflection to invite us into a relationship with the living world that’s grounded in curiosity and deep mutual respect.

Together, we talk about what it means to communicate with plants (literally!), the balance between spirituality and science, and how embracing the so-called “weeds” in our lives can lead to unexpected growth. Maria also shares her perspective on leadership, personal responsibility, and the simple yet radical act of slowing down to reconnect with nature.

It’s an inspiring, funny, and thought-provoking conversation with one of the leading voices in the movement toward a more conscious, regenerative world.

Show Notes

Keywords: Maria Rodale, Love Nature Magic, biophilia, biophilic design, organic living, regenerative agriculture, gardening, plant communication, environmental spirituality, sustainability, nature connection, leadership, mindfulness, ecological wellness, Doug Tallamy, pollinators, soil health, holistic living, curiosity, slowing down, conscious living, reconnecting with nature, environmental storytelling, personal growth, resilience, intentional living

Nature, Coherence, and Constructing Health with Tye Farrow

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

We think a lot about how people make us feel, but what about the places we spend our time in? In this episode, we explore how architecture and design influence our physical and mental well-being, from hospitals and workplaces to the spaces we move through every day.

Our guest, Tye Farrow, is a world-renowned architect and pioneer at the intersection of neuroscience and design. His new book, Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health, reveals how buildings can either harm or heal us.

We talk with Tye about salutogenic design, the importance of coherence, and why there’s no such thing as a neutral space. Plus we explore how nature and biophilic design play a key role in creating environments that give health rather than take it away. If you’ve ever wondered why some spaces make you feel alive while others drain you, this conversation will change the way you see the built environment.

Show Notes

Image Credit: Farrow Partners Architects, Photographer Tom Arban

Keywords: architecture, neuroscience, biophilic design, salutogenic design, coherence, built environment, health and wellness, environmental psychology, design for healing, nature and design, sustainable architecture, mental health, spatial design, human-centered design, Tye Farrow, Constructing Health, healthy buildings, urban design, Serenbe, podcast, wellbeing, placemaking

Solutions Rewind: David Orr on Saving Democracy—and the Planet

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

In a time of deep political division and environmental crisis, what would it look like to design a democracy that’s truly in harmony with the natural world?

In this episode, we revisit a powerful 2022 conversation with David Orr, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, editor of Democracy in a Hotter Time, and one of the leading voices at the intersection of ecology, education, and politics.

Orr challenges us to think beyond short-term fixes and consider how a “biophilic democracy” rooted in care for each other and the planet could transform the way we live and govern. We explore why democracies fail, how our brains are wired for both division and connection, and how education might help us build a more resilient and compassionate society.

Show Notes:

Democracy in a Hotter Time: Climate Change and Democratic Transformation, edited by David W. Orr
Democracy Unchained: How To Rebuild Government For The People, edited by David W. Orr, Andrew Gumbel, Bakari Kitwana, and William S. Becker
Dangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward by David Orr
Democracy in a Hotter Time, presentation at Elon University (YouTube)
Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg
The Biophilia Hypothesis, edited by E.O. Wilson and Stephen R. Kellert
Dr. David Orr and Dr. Miranda Yaver on the Stand Up! With Pete Dominick Podcast
Children & Nature Network
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist by Kate Raworth

Keywords: David Orr, biophilic democracy, nature and politics, ecological design, climate crisis, democracy reform, environmental education, sustainability, biophilia, civic engagement, ecological literacy, long-term thinking, political polarization, community resilience, democratic transformation, environmental ethics, nature connection, systems thinking, education and ecology, hope and renewal, doughnut economics, circular economy

Nature, Transformation, and Radical Common Sense with Steve Nygren

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Modern life often leaves us on the treadmill of constant striving, chasing markers of success that don’t necessarily bring fulfillment. But what happens when you step off that treadmill and reimagine what’s possible?

Our guest this week, Steve Nygren, did exactly that. As the founder and visionary behind Serenbe, a biophilic community just outside Atlanta, Steve has spent decades exploring how the places we live can better support our health, happiness, and connection to nature. Now, he’s sharing that journey in his new book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense. Part memoir, part guidebook, it offers a blueprint for building sustainable, connected communities, places where wonder exists in the everyday and people of all ages can truly thrive. It’s out on October 7th, 2025, just one week from today.

In this conversation, we cover a lot of ground: Steve’s early path as a placemaker, the turning point that inspired Serenbe, what it really means to take care of your own “backyard,” and how each of us can make change in the spaces we influence. It’s an inspiring reminder that meaningful transformation often begins very close to home.

Show Notes

Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve Nygren
Listen to the Start In Your Own Backyard Podcast
Steve Nygren on Substack
Steve Nygren on Instagram and LinkedIn
Learn more about Serenbe

Keywords: biophilia, radical common sense, sustainable living, placemaking, community design, intentional living, Serenbe, Steve Nygren, nature connection, regenerative communities, backyard solutions, sustainable communities, holistic design, living with nature, environmental design, human-nature connection, mindful development, local change, ecological living, design for well-being

Regenerative Agriculture and the Heart of the World with Kelsey Timmerman

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Regenerative agriculture isn’t new. To quote today’s guest, it’s an “exciting old thing.” Yet in the modern world, this ancient, innate wisdom often feels forgotten, and the consequences show up in our food system, in our health, and in the climate. At its core, the challenge isn’t just about farming practices, it’s about how we see ourselves in relation to the land.

In this episode, Monica sits down with journalist and author Kelsey Timmerman to explore what it means to belong to a place rather than own it. From Hawaiian teachings about belonging to a river to the idea that each of us carries with us a heart of the world, Kelsey invites us to rethink our connection to the Earth.

Together, we dive into the paradox of hope in the face of devastation, why the people most connected to the land often carry the most optimism, and how agency and reverence can help us meet the urgent challenges of climate change.

Show Notes

About Kelsey Timmerman
Regenerating Earth: Farmers Working with Nature to Feed Our Future by Kelsey Timmerman
Where Am I Eating? By Kelsey Timmerman
Where Am I Giving? By Kelsey Timmerman
Where Am I Wearing? By Kelsey Timmerman
How Regenerative Farming Can Feed the Future (The Packer)
Rodale Institute
Health & Happiness Project
Soil 4 Climate

Key Words: regenerative agriculture, climate change, biophilic living, connection to land, Hawaiian wisdom, belonging to place, heart of the world, Kelsey Timmerman, hope and agency, indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, sustainable farming, community resilience, reconnection with nature, changing hearts and minds

The Magic and Mystery of Nighttime with Leigh Ann Henion

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 19:00:00 -0400

When was the last time you really experienced nighttime? In our modern world of glowing screens, bright porch lights, and 24/7 brightness, true darkness has become rare. Yet nighttime holds a mystery and magic all its own, inviting us to slow down, tune into natural rhythms, and rediscover the awe that’s right outside our doors.

In this episode, Monica sits down with New York Times bestselling author Leigh Ann Henion, whose latest book Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark dives deep into the wonders that come alive after the sun sets. From glowworms and synchronous fireflies to the hidden beauty of moonlit gardens, Leigh Ann shows us how embracing darkness can transform the way we experience nature.

Join us for an illuminating (pun intended!) journey into the world of night, and discover why reclaiming darkness might just be one of the most healing biophilic practices we can embrace.

Show Notes

Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion
Leigh Ann Henion on Instagram
About Leigh Ann Henion
Burnout by Leigh Ann Henion (Orion Magazine)

Key words: Leigh Ann Henion, Night Magic book, Phenomenal book, New York Times bestselling author, night sky, darkness, dark skies, reclaiming the night, glowworms, fireflies, moon gardens, stargazing, nocturnal animals, nature connection, natural rhythms, light pollution, circadian rhythms, awe and wonder, mindful living, ecology, local nature, natural world, biophilia, biophilic, biophilic design

Journal of Biophilic Design: How to Design a Biophilic Community

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re bringing you something a little different (yet very close to home). While Serenbe isn’t the main focus of this podcast, it is where Monica lives and works, and it’s one of the most vibrant examples of biophilic community in action.

In anticipation of his forthcoming book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense, Serenbe founder Steve Nygren sat down with Vanessa Champion for the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast. Together, they explore how to apply biophilic principles in real and meaningful ways to transform our neighborhoods, towns, and cities.

We’re thrilled to share that conversation with you here. Along the way, Steve reflects on Serenbe’s beginnings, why traditional labels never quite fit, and how discovering the idea of “biophilic cities” helped frame his vision. Vanessa brings her own thoughtful perspective as a writer, photographer, and advocate for design that nurtures both people and the planet.

And be sure to stay tuned until the very end! We’re giving you a sneak peek of Steve’s brand new podcast, also called Start In Your Own Backyard, featuring stories, expert voices, and practical inspiration from the book.

Show Notes

Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve Nygren
Listen to the Start In Your Own Backyard Podcast
Steve Nygren on Substack
The Journal of Biophilic Design
Learn More about Serenbe

What the Earth Is Telling Us with Threshold’s Amy Martin

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re joined by Amy Martin, host of the Peabody Award-winning podcast Threshold, for a conversation that spans everything from the hidden harms of noise pollution and ecological grief to imagining a future free from the looming threat of climate change. Amy brings a thoughtful, poetic lens to the climate conversation, reminding us of the urgency of the moment, the profound beauty of the world we’re trying to protect, and the importance of storytelling.

Each season of Threshold dives deep into a single, complex environmental story, whether it’s the return of the American bison, oil drilling in the Arctic, or what it truly means to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Now in its fifth season, Hark, Amy explores the fascinating and often overlooked world of non-human sound.

Under Amy’s leadership, Threshold has earned numerous accolades, including a Peabody Award, a national Edward R. Murrow Award, and recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Overseas Press Club, and the Montana Broadcasters Association. Beyond Threshold, Amy has produced stories for NPR’s All Things Considered, PRI’s The World, Reveal, Here & Now, and other national outlets.

Show Notes

Threshold
About Amy
Nature’s secret soundscape: Listen with me to the world’s quietest creatures by Amy Martin (Guardian)
What Is Ecological Thinking? (Letters to Earthlings)
Dear Earthlings of 3025 (Letters to Earthlings)

Halfway Through the Decisive Decade (Letters to Earthlings)

Small Steps, Big Waves: How You Can Help Protect Our Oceans with Katie Day

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What if we told you that simple, meaningful action starting today can help protect the world’s oceans?

In this hopeful and eye-opening episode, Monica sits down with Katie Day, Senior Manager of Science and Policy at the Surfrider Foundation, to talk about the practical steps we can all take to safeguard our oceans and coral reefs. Katie breaks down how interconnected threats—like plastic pollution and harmful sunscreen ingredients—are affecting marine ecosystems, and why our individual choices matter more than we think.

Together, they explore how to stay engaged in the face of setbacks, and how small actions, multiplied by many, can lead to real change. Whether you live near the coast or thousands of miles from it, the ocean impacts you—and your choices can help make it more resilient for generations to come.

Show Notes

Key Words: ocean, climate change, pollution, plastic, coral reefs, sustainability, marine life, environmental advocacy, Surfrider, awareness, policy, sunscreen, sunscreen chemicals, plastic, plastic pollution, microplastics, nature, nature based solutions, biophilia, biophilic design, coastal, coastal communities

Nature Has The Answers: Lessons Learned After 100 Biophilic Conversations

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Over the past few years, we've had the privilege of sitting down with visionaries, scientists, designers, farmers, poets, and policymakers. Each conversation has expanded our perspective, encouraging us to see the world through a broader, greener lens.

For our 100th episode, we’re hitting pause to reflect on this amazing journey so far. We’ve sifted through the highlights to spotlight the themes and ideas that continue to rise to the surface – insights that feel less like podcast takeaways and more like a blueprint for a saner, more biophilic future.

Tune in to learn more and hear from some familiar voices along the way.

Show Notes

Sister Seasons | Regenerate Yourself and the Planet at the Same Time
Planetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves edited by Samuel Myers and Howard Frumkin
Local Futures
Positive Tipping Points (University of Exeter)
The Climate Optimist Handbook: How to Shift the Narrative on Climate Change and Find the Courage to Change by Anne Therese Gennari
Prioritizing Human Wellness in Architectural Design (Living Architecture Monitor)
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck
Nina-Marie Lister
Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams

Keywords: nature, nature based solutions, biophilia, biophilic design, seasons, seasonality, natural cycles, wellness, climate, climate change, climate solutions, architecture, built environment, habitat, human habitat, walkability, walkable, biodiversity, pollinator, pollinator garden, community

Rooted in Wisdom: Indigenous Voices and the Amazon Rainforest with Dr. Tracey Osborne

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today, we’re diving into one of the most urgent and complex challenges of our time: how to truly and equitably mitigate climate change, starting in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This conversation spans a web of critical themes: climate finance, cutting-edge technologies, and most importantly, putting Indigenous communities at the forefront of protecting and restoring the planet’s most vital ecosystems.

Joining us is the brilliant Dr. Tracey Osborne, a professor at UC Merced and the Founding Director of the UC Center for Climate Justice. Tracey is also the visionary behind the Climate Justice Standard, a bold new framework that ensures climate solutions aren’t just environmentally sound, but also socially just and community-led.

Together, we unpack the Amazon’s pivotal role in global climate stability, explore the promises and pitfalls of carbon markets, and hear how Tracey’s firsthand work in the rainforest has reshaped her understanding of justice, resilience, and what it really means to live in balance with nature.

Show Notes

Keywords: climate change, indigenous communities, carbon markets, climate justice, Amazon rainforest, deforestation, environmental integrity, community-led projects, technology in climate solutions, youth engagement

The Future Is Local: Rebuilding Economies and Healing the Earth with Helena Norberg-Hodge

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Time and again, we've examined how the challenges we face – poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and more – are deeply intertwined. Understandably, it can start to feel pretty overwhelming. But here’s the encouraging part: the solutions are just as interconnected.

In this episode of Biophilic Solutions, we speak with Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder and director of Local Futures, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring ecological and social well-being by revitalizing local communities and economies. Helena envisions a world where food is grown by nearby farmers, money circulates within communities, local businesses thrive, and meaningful work is accessible to all.

She argues that many of today’s crises stem from an overly globalized economic system and that the path forward lies in a broad shift toward localization. Helena advocates for a more informed and intentional public that values local economies and deeper connections with nature. In our conversation, we explore the power of local food systems, the importance of community and ecological bonds, and the role vulnerability plays in healing. Drawing on lessons from indigenous cultures, Helena makes a compelling case for localization as a path toward greater social cohesion and environmental resilience.

Show Notes

Key Words: local, localism, economy, economics, local economy, community, indigenous community, indigenous wisdom, Local Futures, farmers market, global economy, globalism, capitalism, nature, nature based solutions, biophilia, biophilic design, Helena Norberg-Hodge

Miki Agrawal on Motherhood, Nature-Inspired Business, and Mushrooms That Eat Plastic

Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Let’s face it. Our waste habits are, well, pretty wasteful. Every single day, more than 27,000 trees are cut down just to make toilet paper. Meanwhile, the average disposable diaper takes over 500 years to decompose in a landfill, all while leaching harmful plastics and chemicals into the environment. And that’s not even counting other single-use sanitary products like tampons, pads, and wipes. Put simply, our throwaway culture is a serious environmental problem.

Enter today’s guest: Miki Agrawal. A bold entrepreneur and creative disruptor, Miki has built a career out of challenging the status quo. She’s the founder of groundbreaking companies like Thinx (revolutionary period underwear), TUSHY (modern bidets), and her latest venture, Hiro Diapers, a game-changing product designed to break down in landfills using fungi-powered decomposition technology. Hiro represents a major step forward in the battle against plastic waste, starting with a natural end-of-life solution for one of the most essential (and wasteful) products in parenting.

In this conversation, we explore the hidden environmental costs of traditional diapers, the importance of slowing down to meet the moment, and why nature (hello, mushrooms!) holds the key to designing smarter, bolder everyday essentials.

Show Notes

What Nature Teaches Us About Belonging with Radha Agrawal

Tue, 13 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode, we’re delving into the growing epidemic of loneliness, examining its root causes, far-reaching impacts, and what it will take to rebuild our social fabric. For this important and timely conversation, we were thrilled to be joined by Radha Agrawal, author of the bestselling book Belong: Find Your People, Create Community & Live a More Connected Life. Radha is also the Co-founder, CEO, and Chief Community Architect of Daybreaker, a global wellness movement that brings nearly half a million people together globally through early-morning, sober dance parties. In addition, Radha leads the Belong Institute and the Belong Center, two groundbreaking initiatives dedicated to addressing loneliness through community-building and laying the foundation for a wider culture of belonging.

Throughout this conversation, we explore the essential human need for connection, the dangers of hyper-individualism, and how modern life, including our increasing disconnection from nature, has contributed to widespread feelings of alienation. Radha shares powerful insights on how rebuilding community and reestablishing our relationship with the natural world can help us reclaim joy, purpose, and a true sense of belonging. This is a conversation filled with practical tools and deep inspiration for anyone seeking to reconnect: with others, with nature, and with themselves.

Shownotes

Keywords: loneliness, loneliness epidemic, community, connection, community building, Radha Agrawal, nature, biophilia, biophilic, disconnection, climate, climate change, Daybreaker, belonging

A Wild New Way To Work with Megan Leatherman

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

For many people, work simply isn’t working anymore. Wages have stagnated while the cost of living continues to rise. Endless hours in front of a screen leave us burnt out. More often than not, the labor we do feels disconnected from any real purpose. But what if there was another way? Imagine a future where small communities live in harmony with the land, and the work we do is rooted in care for each other, for the earth, and for ourselves. It may sound idealistic and overly simplistic, but isn’t there something undeniably appealing about that vision?

Today, we’re thrilled to be speaking with Megan Leatherman, founder of A Wild New Work, a career development agency with a refreshing twist. Megan helps her clients uncover their passions and craft more fulfilling professional lives, while also guiding them to reconnect with nature, align with the rhythms of the seasons, and trust their own inner wisdom.

In this conversation, we explore what’s broken about our current work culture, how we arrived here, and how we might begin to cultivate meaningful, grounded lives in a world shaped by capitalism and social media.

Show Notes

Keywords: work, capitalism, history, nature, ancestors, modern work, change, feudalism, community, sustainability, organized labor, socialism, community, adulthood, land connection, cultural shifts, personal growth, nature, aliveness, uncertainty

Designing Landscapes of the Future with Superbloom

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Today, we’re exploring the landscapes of the future with Stacy Passmore and Diane Lipovsky, co-founders of the award-winning landscape architecture studio, Superbloom. Stacy and Diane are redefining the role of landscape architecture by designing spaces that foster meaningful connections between people and the land. From transforming schoolyards and government buildings to rewilding a 50-acre golf course and planning solar parks, their work centers on creating climate-resilient, ecologically vibrant spaces.

Community engagement is at the heart of Superbloom’s mission. Stacy and Diane believe that when local communities understand the vital role of biodiversity, native habitats, and sustainable practices, they become the land’s most powerful stewards.

Join us as we delve into the evolving world of landscape architecture, the role of storytelling in inspiring action, and the innovative projects Stacy and Diane are most excited to bring to life.

Show Notes

Keywords: landscape architecture, biophilic design, sustainability, community engagement, water resilience, education, cultural perspectives, design firm, ecological design, urban planning, community engagement, water restoration, stream restoration, municipal collaboration, landscape design, biodiversity, native plants, environmental education, project management, sustainability

Douglas Rushkoff on Reclaiming Our Humanity with Nature & Collaboration

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400

We’re living in an era largely defined by consumerism, social media addiction, climate change, and political unrest. Given all of that, it’s really no surprise that many of us feel overwhelmed, burned out, and disconnected.

That’s why, today, we’re thrilled to welcome Douglas Rushkoff, an award-winning author and documentarian, who was named one of the world’s ten most influential intellectuals by MIT. Douglas’s work tackles some of the most pressing issues of our time like technology, capitalism, consumerism, and human nature. He argues that modern technology isolates us instead of bringing us together, with social media algorithms and corporate interests chipping away at the traits that make us most human. To push back, he calls for greater focus on building strong local communities, mutual aid, and pushing back against a digital landscape that feels like it just takes and takes and takes

In this conversation, we delve into themes of power, agency, and community, discussing why awe may be the pinnacle of human experience, the importance of embracing mortality, and how localism can cultivate deeper connections and more resilient societies.

Show Notes

Team Human Podcast
Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff
Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires by Douglas Rushkoff
About Douglas Rushkoff
Douglas Rushkoff Substack

Keywords: Douglas Rushkoff, biophilia, technology, capitalism, nature, collaboration, competition, human connection, social media, power, agency, awe, community, local, localism, built environment, mortality, nature social construction

Seasonal Wisdom: Learning from Nature’s Cycles

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re sitting down with Rebecca Magee to discuss the importance of seasonal living, the need to honor periods of rest, and how reconnecting with nature can lead to a more thoughtful and invigorating way of life.

Rebecca is the founder of Sister Seasons, an impact company that helps changemakers work with nature’s cycles to develop the skills they need to be thriving, regenerative leaders on a rapidly changing planet. With a background in social impact and women’s leadership at companies like EILEEN FISHER and Echoing Green, Rebecca explores the deep connections between gender equity and climate change, highlighting how women are disproportionately affected by environmental challenges. She shares insights on embracing natural cycles—both in nature and within ourselves—to foster resilience, avoid burnout, and promote personal and collective sustainability.

We really enjoyed this thought-provoking conversation on balance, sustainability, and the wisdom of the seasons–and we hope you will, as well.

Show Notes:

Keywords: Sister Seasons, gender equity, climate change, menstrual cycles, sustainability, women's wellbeing, regenerative cycles, cultural perspectives, wintering, burnout, winter phase, cycles, leadership, self-care, nature, anxiety, regenerative leadership, mindfulness, cultural reflections, responsive leadership

Biophilia in Turbulent Times

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0500

As we launch Season 5, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the vital role of nature in uncertain times. Our connection to the natural world isn’t just about aesthetics – it profoundly shapes our mental health, strengthens community bonds, and influences our cultural identities. In this episode, we explore how technology can either distract us or serve as a tool for deeper engagement and examine how our consumption habits affect our relationship with nature and each other.

In a world of constant change, how can we foster a future where both nature and human connection flourish? Join Monica and Jennifer for this essential conversation.

Questions or comments? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at contact@biophilicsolutions.com

Show Notes

Join Monica & Jennifer at the The Biophilic Leadership Summit, March 30 - April 1 in Serenbe
Biophilia Discovers Its Missing Father (The Hybrid Intelligencer)
‘’This is garbage’ – Step aside influencers, we’re now in the era of de-influencing (NPR)

Keywords: biophilia, nature, community, technology, overconsumption, mental health, hope, spirituality, design, environmental awareness, empathy, DEI, nature, cycles, consciousness, indigenous wisdom, anti-influencer, biophilia, human connection, audience engagement

Introducing Season 5 of Biophilic Solutions

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Season 5 of Biophilic Solutions premieres on Tuesday, March 4th! This season, we're taking a broader approach to biophilia—going beyond architecture and design to examine nature’s role in culture, politics, and spirituality. We’ll tackle pressing issues like the rise of AI, the influence of social media, and the current political climate, all through the lens of nature and balance. With a focus on hope and possibility, we’ll paint a vision of a biophilic future—one that fosters connection, trust, and harmony.

Join us as we seek answers and reimagine a world where nature guides the way forward!

Less Rush, More Cheer: What We’re Reading This Winter

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0500

This year, we’re embracing the slower pace of winter and our mantra is less rush, more cheer. More time with family and friends, more warm cups of tea, more long walks in the woods, and of course more time spent curled up with a good book. So, as the holiday season approaches, we’re back with more nature-inspired and uplifting reads. So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone special in your life or are in need of some inspiration yourself, keep listening.

Show Notes:

The Biophilic Leadership Summit
Less Rush, More Cheer: What We’re Reading This Winter (Full List on Bookshop)
How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks
A Philosophy of Walking by Frederic Gros and John Howe
Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading by Chris Anderson
Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito
All the Beauty in the World: THe Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley
Restorative Cities: Urban Design for Mental Health and Wellbeing by Jenny Roe and Layla McCay
Georgia O’Keeffe & Henry Moore at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

A Darker Wilderness with Erin Sharkey

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Does the natural world bear witness to history? What lessons can nature teach us about survival, adaptation, and connection? This week, we’re exploring those questions and so much more alongside Erin Sharkey. Erin Sharkey is the editor of A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing From Soil To Stars, an acclaimed anthology that weaves together history, personal narrative, and imaginative storytelling in order to explore the profound relationship between nature and Black identity. Each essay is connected through the use of archival objects, anchoring each piece to a shared past and nodding to the complicated history of nature writing as a discipline.

Erin is a writer, arts and abolition organizer, cultural worker, and film producer based in Minneapolis. She is the cofounder, with Junauda Petrus, of an experimental arts collective called Free Black Dirt and is the producer of film projects including Sweetness of Wild and Small Business Revolution. Erin is also a founding coop member of the Fields at Rootsprings, a retreat center that focuses on healing, learning, and connection for individuals, community and Earth and that centers BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists, activists, and healers.

In this episode, we delve into the inspiration behind A Darker Wilderness, the intersections of race and ecology, and how Erin’s creative practice brings healing and hope to the communities she serves.

Show Notes

Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves with Dr. Howard Frumkin

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0500

This week, we’re diving deep into the interconnectedness of human health and planetary health. We know that nature provides us with a myriad of health benefits, both as individuals and socially. However, challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss also pose a dire threat to our species, from disease proliferation, unstable food systems, and even increasing crime rates.

Our guest today is Dr. Howard Frumkin. Dr. Frumkin is Professor Emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington and serves as the Director of the Trust for Public Land’s Land & People Lab. Dr. Frumkin is the co-editor of Planetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves.

In this episode, we discuss human habitats that are better for people and the planet, rectifying the gap between human progress and planetary degradation, and the inspiring, important work that Dr. Frumkin is doing at the Land & People Lab.

Shownotes

Planetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves edited by Samuel Myers and Howard Frumkin
Trust for Public Land
The Land & People Lab
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature Rich Life by Richard Louv
National Nature Assessment
COP29: What you need to know about the global climate summit

Key Words: climate, climate change, biodiversity, biodiversity loss, biophilia, biophilic design, public land, green space, climate solutions, local solutions, local politics, Howard Frumkin, nature, national nature assessment

Redefining Wildness with 'Wild Souls' Author Emma Marris

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Is the idea of pristine, untouched nature a misguided fantasy? Are any animals truly wild on a planet so dominated by human impact? And while we’re on the topic - what do we mean by wildness in the first place? Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that redefines our relationship with nature and encourages us to rethink our place within it.

This week, our guest is celebrated science writer Emma Marris, author of Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World. Emma’s work has appeared in publications like National Geographic, The New York Times, and the Atlantic. She is also the author of Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World.

Show Notes

Emma Marris Website
Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World by Emma Marris
Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World by Emma Marris
Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in the Age of Extinction by Michelle Nijhuis
Opinion: New York is Wilder Than You Think by Emma Marris (New York TImes)
Nature Doesn’t Care Where a Species is From by Emma Marris (The Atlantic)

Key Words: Animals, Animal Rights, Animal Welfare, Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Climate, Climate Change, Wildness, Wilderness, Ecosystem, Emma Marris, Author, Science, Nature Journalism, Environment, Environmental Philosophy

What Do We Owe Animals? With ‘Meet the Neighbors’ Author Brandon Keim

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400

We know that many animals possess “human-like” qualities: the ability to play, sustain friendships, mate for life, and even reflect on the past. But what should we actually do with that information? That’s the crucial question that Brandon Keim poses in his latest book Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than Human World. Brandon is a journalist who specializes in science, nature, and animals. His work has appeared in publications like National Geographic, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and WIRED.

In this conversation, we explore questions of what we owe animals, the concept of animal personhood and what legal rights animals should be entitled to, and how we can have nuanced conversations about all of these issues.

Show Notes

Key Words: Animals, Animal Welfare, Animal Rights, Nature, Nature Based Solutions, Biophilia, Biophilic, Animal Personhood, Zoo, Animal Intelligence, Science

A Thriving City is a Walkable City with Jeff Speck

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0400

With the rise of suburban sprawl and city planning that has prioritized car travel above all else, modern American cities seriously lack comfortable walking and biking infrastructure. It’s a massive issue - but solutions do exist and importantly, those solutions are decidedly doable.

Today we are so thrilled to be speaking with Jeff Speck, a city planner, who is widely known for his work advocating for and creating more walkable cities. His book, Walkable City, first published in 2012, has been translated into seven languages and is the best selling city planning book of the 21st century. Walkable City is also a winner of the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature.

Jeff believes that a thriving city is a walkable city, where cars are instruments for freedom but aren’t necessary for the day-to-day basics of living. We would also add that walkable cities are fundamentally biophilic because livability and wellness are at the core of biophilia. In this episode, we chat with Jeff about making cities more walkable, the economic benefits of walkable cities, and demanding more of our environments.

Shownotes

Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time 10th Anniversary Edition by Jeff Speck
The Smart Growth Manual by Jeff Speck
Walkable City Rules by Jeff Speck
Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream by Jeff Speck
The walkable city (TED Talk)
4 ways to make a city more walkable (TED Talk)
Street Fight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution by Janette Sadik-Khan and Seth Solomonow
Confessions of a Recovering Engineer by Charles L. Marohn
Killed by a Traffic Engineer by Wes Marshall
Andres Duany: Principles of New Urbanism (YouTube)

Mushroom Hunting and the Joy of Discovery with Emily & Gregory Han

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Mushrooms are fascinating. They’re not quite plants and they’re not quite animals. Unique and charming mushroom caps are just the fruit of a massive, interconnected mycelium network. And there are millions of mushroom species yet to be discovered.

In this episode, Gregory & Emily Han share the mysterious world of mushrooms. They’re the co-authors of Mushroom Hunting: Forage for Fungi and Connect with the Earth, a wonderfully accessible pocket guide for identifying common mushrooms and cultivating the joy of discovery. With Emily & Gregory as our guides, we learn about mushroom hunting as a mindfulness practice, why you don’t have to harvest or forage to enjoy the simple pleasure of looking, and the mental health benefits of staying curious.

So, let’s hit the trails and see what we can find.

Show Notes

Key Words: Mushroom, Fungi, Mycelium, Foraging, Harvesting, Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Wellness, Mindfulness, Pocket Nature

Social Prescribing and Nature as Medicine with Author Julia Hotz

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0400

What would you think if your doctor wrote you a prescription to take a walk outside? To visit an art museum? To take a yoga class? It may sound unconventional, but the practice of prescribing nonmedical interventions to improve health, known as social prescribing, is becoming more and more commonplace. This week, we’re chatting with Julia Hotz, author of The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging. With Julia as our guide, we’ll explore the profound relationship between environment and wellness, the amazing health outcomes of social prescriptions, and the healthcare professionals at the forefront of this growing movement.

In a busy world, where so many of our ailments are lifestyle based, social prescribing helps connect us back to the things that make us human.

Show Notes

Key Words: healthcare, public health, preventative medicine, nature, biophilia, biophilic design, culture, art, wellness, social prescribing, loneliness, health, lifestyle, mental health

Author Talk: Wellness Architecture and Urban Design with Dr. Phill Tabb

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Wellness is a buzzword that gets thrown a lot these days - but at its core, what does wellness really mean? And how do we design homes, towns, and entire cities where the wellness of residents is a top priority? In this special episode of Biophilic Solutions, we’re sharing Dr. Phill Tabb’s author talk from the Biophilic Leadership Summit, focusing on his latest book, Wellness Architecture and Urban Design, co-authored with Lahra Tatriele. In this talk, Phill provides some helpful definitions of wellness and demonstrates how certain design choices lay the groundwork for a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

Wellness Architecture and Urban Design will be available for pre-order on August 16, 2024.

Show Notes

Wellness Architecture and Urban Design by Phillip James Tabb and Lahra Tatriele
Presentation Slideshow
Global Wellness Institute
Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Restore the World by Hannah Lewis
Serenbe
Terra School at Serenbe
Fivelements Retreat Bali

Key Words: wellness, urban planning, urban design, biophilic design, biophilia, wellness real estate, real estate, nature, climate change, climate solutions, architecture, green architecture

The Mini-Forest Revolution with Hannah Lewis

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest, Hannah Lewis, is on a mission to restore biodiversity in our towns and cities by planting native trees, pollinators, and shrubs on abandoned lots, degraded land, and in backyards. In her acclaimed new book, Mini-Forest Revolution, Hannah delves into the science behind the Miyawaki method of reforestation, which prioritizes native plants that grow quickly and create microclimates with incredible benefits like cooling urban heat islands, establishing wildlife corridors, and building soil health. The best part? Their small size means that basically anyone can plant a mini-forest.

In this episode, we discuss the origins of the Miyawaki method, explore examples throughout the world, and consider how organizations might come together to truly create a mini-forest revolution.

Show Notes

Renewing the Countryside
Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Restore the World
Biodiversity for a Livable Climate
Hannah Lewis Website
Making a Mini-Forest Documentary

Keywords: Biodiversity, Biophilia, Climate, Ecosystems, Forest, Hannah Lewis, Mini-Forest, Miyawaki Forest, Paris, Trees, Vegetation

Biophilic Leaders Fireside Chat: Ryan Gravel, Michael Phillips & Steve Nygren

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Biophilic Solutions, we are presenting a Fireside Chat recorded live at the 2024 Biophilic Leadership Summit, a multi-day conference for leaders in the Biohpilic world to come together, share ideas, and learn from one another.

This features Serenbe founder, Steve Nygren, moderating a conversation with Ryan Gravel, Atlanta BeltLine creator, and Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown. Ryan discusses the process behind developing the BeltLine and explains how incorporating biophilia in Atlanta’s architecture has and will continue to help change the city for the better. Similarly, Michael shares his perspective as a key player in the development of Ponce City Market and other major real estate found along NYC’s The High Line, specifically highlighting how nature plays a key role in his decision to transform cities all over the world.

Listen in to hear about their unique experiences with sustainable urban development and how incorporating biophilic principles into our cities promotes community, connectivity, and wellness.

Links:

Jamestown Properties
Michael Phillips Bio
Ponce City Market
The High Line
Ryan Gravel Book
Ryan Gravel Website
The BeltLine

Biophilic Summer Reading: Our 2024 Picks

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Hello! Monica and Jennifer here, back yet again with some of our favorite books from the past year. We think that there is no better way to enjoy the summer months than by unwinding with a good book and we've got just that. Our picks range in subject matter, some talk about mental health, while others discuss architecture and design, but they all place importance on our natural environment. Especially in this busy, digital world we live in, taking time to reconnect with our roots (literally) promotes wellbeing and allows us to live our best, most fulfilled lives. So, buckle up and get ready to find your next summer read in today's episode!

Show Notes:

The Nature of Our Cities by Nadina Galle
The Connection Cure by Julia Hotz
Humanise: A Maker's Guide to Building Our World by Thomas Heatherwick
The Light Eaters by Zoe Sclanger
Life as We Know It (Can Be) by Bill Weir
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Beauty, Awe, and Biodiversity in Old Growth Forests with Joan Maloof

Tue, 28 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Old Growth Forests, natural forests that have grown undisturbed over a long period of time, offer a wide variety of benefits including storing more carbon and nitrogen than typical forests, providing a unique structure that supports rich ecosystems, and offering an example of what nature looks like when it flourishes on its own. Unfortunately, due in large part to human intervention, these old forests are hard to come by - but our guest today wants to change that.

Joan Maloof is Professor Emeritus of Biology at Salisbury University and the Founder of the Old Growth Forest Network, the only national network of protected, old-growth, native forests in the United States. The organization’s goal is to locate and designate at least one protected old forest in every U.S. county that has the right climate to sustain a forested area. In this conversation, Monica and Jennifer chat with Joan about her journey to founding the Old Growth Forest network, the intricate and rich ecosystems that these old forests support, and beauty as a catalyst for positive change.

Show Notes

The Old Growth Forest Network
About Joan Maloof
Find a Forest
Nominate a Forest
Volunteer with the Old Growth Forest Network
Nature’s Temples: The Complex World of Old Growth Forests by Joan Maloof
Among the Ancients: Adventures in Eastern Old Growth Forests by Joan Maloof
Teaching the Trees: Lessons from the Forest by Joan Maloof

Harnessing the Power of New Technology for Greener Cities with Nadina Galle

Tue, 14 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

The smart cities movement, which seeks to optimize public wellbeing through the use of technology and data, and the biophilic cities movement are happening at the same time - but it rarely feels like these two movements are working together towards a common goal. Our guest today, Dr. Nadina Galle, hopes to change that.

Nadina is an ecological engineer who studies emerging technologies that can enhance nature in urban environments, a concept she calls the Internet of Nature (ION). Her forthcoming book, "The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet", offers insight and examples of how nature benefits when we use new technologies the right way. In this episode, we chat with Nadina about her impressive body of work and dive into some examples - from emailing and texting trees to AI robots that can actually perform a controlled burn with less smoke.

Show Notes

Dr. Nadina Galle
Pre-order The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet
The Internet of Nature (ION)
Nature Has The Answers with Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh of Biophilic Solutions (Internet of Nature Podcast)
How Central Park Keeps New Yorkers Healthy with Jennifer Walsh of Biophilic Solutions (Internet of Nature Podcast)
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

Myth, Science, and the Age of Deer with Erika Howsare

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In the lives of many humans, deer occupy a really fascinating middle ground between so many binaries: domestic and wild, familiar and alien, beautiful and pest. They’re also, interestingly, the only large mammal that seems to thrive in human-dominated environments. So, what exactly is going on with deer? On today’s episode of the podcast, we’re joined by Age of Deer author Erika Howsare to discuss the role that deer play in human life - from mythology to natural history to science - and what these enigmatic creatures can teach us about our own relationship to wildness.

Erika Howsare is a writer and journalist based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her new book, The Age of Deer, has been hailed as a “masterpiece” by the Washington Post.

Show Notes

The Age of Deer by Erika Howsare
If You See a Deer Podcast
About Erika
Deer: friend or foe? Or how about both? - Washington Post book review
From endangered to cuddly to ‘pests’: What the Age of Deer says about the human mind - LA Times book Review

How Austin L. Ray is Fixing Atlanta

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is a great example of using your unique skills to amplify your impact. This week, Monica is chatting with Atlanta-based writer Austin Louis Ray, who has contributed to publications like Rolling Stone, GQ, Creative Loafing, and Eater, just to name a few. He is also the publisher of How I’d Fix Atlanta, a seasonal collection of essays from Atlanta natives about the action steps they would take to improve their city. Topics include Biophilic Solutions favorites like walkability, wildlife in the city, supporting pollinator habitats, clean energy, and more.

The conversation today, however, really revolves around how Austin does it: how he finds his writers, how he raises money to pay those writers well, and how he uses the How I’d Fix Atlanta series to build awareness at the city council and beyond.

Show Notes

Photo Credit: Jason Travis

Calling Business Leaders to Action with David S. Eady

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400

It’s easy to think that business interests are diametrically opposed to environmental progress - and in many cases, you wouldn’t be wrong. However, meaningful evidence suggests that many businesses would actually improve their bottom line if they adopted more sustainable practices. Enter today’s guest, David S. Eady, the director of industry engagement at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. In this role, David works with companies in the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, which leverages the collective impact of the Georgia business community to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the state through a just, prosperous, and sustainable transition. In his (limited) spare time, David also serves as the mayor of Oxford, Georgia, where his lifelong career in environmentalism has inspired a number of important sustainability initiatives.

In this interview, Monica catches up with David about the power of collective action and partnership, measuring impact over time, and meeting business leaders where they are.

Show Notes

Key Words: Climate Change, Climate Action, Environmental Issues, Corporate Responsibility, Georgia Tech, GA Tech, David S. Eady, Drawdown, Drawdown GA, Ray C. Anderson, Carbon, Carbon Emissions, Biophilia, Biophilic Design

Nature in Recovery & Corridors of Beauty with Karen Lloyd

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400

What does it really mean when we talk about reconnecting with nature? To actually connect with nature, is it enough to simply get outside? Who speaks for the rights of nature to remain undisturbed? These are just a few of the compelling questions raised by our guest today, Dr. Karen Lloyd. Karen is the author of acclaimed book Abundance: Nature in Recovery and is a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, as well as writer in residence at the university’s Future Places Institute. Her work largely explores themes like abundance, restoration and repair in the natural world.

In this episode, we chat with Karen about a wide range of issues including habitat loss in her native Lake District, why the tendency to shift our baseline isn’t helping us in the climate fight, the city that has declared pollinators as citizens, and how we can meaningfully re-entangle ourselves with the natural world.

Show Notes

About Karen Lloyd (University of Lancaster)
Karen Lloyd Website
Abundance: Nature in Recovery by Karen Lloyd
Are You Suffering From Shifting Baseline Syndrome? (Earth.Org)
Sweet City: Defeating the City-Nature Antagonism (Congress for the New Urbanism)
Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology After the End of the World by Tim Morton
Follow Karen on Facebook and X

Key Words: Nature, Nature Based Solutions, University of Lancaster, Lake District, English Lake District, Pollinators, Pollinator Habitats, Hyperobject, Climate, Climate Change, Climate Solutions, Biophilia, Biophilic Design

Expedition Behavior: Growing Leaders with NOLS President Sandy Colhoun

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Time and time again, we’ve seen that spending time in nature has profound effects on our physical and mental wellbeing, but did you know that the outdoors are also uniquely suited for imparting leadership skills? This week, we’re chatting with Sandy Colhoun, the President of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), a global nonprofit wilderness school that is dedicated to stewardship & sustainability, diversity in the outdoors, education, leadership, safety, and community. Their programs range from expeditions for young students and semester-away programs to executive leadership and even NASA training courses.

In this conversation, we chat with Sandy about his own formative experience in a NOLS program, discovering yourself in the wild, and we define a core tenet of the NOLS philosophy, expedition behavior.

Show Notes

Key Words: NOLS, Outdoor Education, Leadership, Outdoor Adventure, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature Based Solutions, Nature Based Learning, Wilderness, Wilderness Medicine

Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration with Doug Tallamy

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0500

E.O. Wilson once said, “if insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos”- and he wasn’t wrong. In fact, our entire food system depends on the energy that tiny bugs transfer to vertebrates. So, what’s the issue? Insects themselves depend on native plants and larger portions of our outdoor spaces have been overtaken by non-native, invasive species and resource-intensive, environmentally futile lawns.

It sounds dire, but there are plenty of solutions according to today’s guest Douglas Tallamy, the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Dr. Tallamy has dedicated much of his career to raising awareness about the significance of native plants and outlining the simple, common-sense solutions that everyone can use to improve biodiversity in their own backyard. In this conversation, we chat with Doug about the promise of keystone species, the amazing progress he’s made reintroducing native plants on his own Pennsylvania property, and the nonprofit he founded to encourage private landowners to join the movement.

Show Notes

About Douglas Tallamy
Homegrown National Park
Homegrown National Park: Native Plant Resource Directory
Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy
The Living Landscape by Rick Darke and Douglas W. Tallamy
Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy
The Nature of Oaks by Douglas W. Tallamy
Meet the Ecologist Who Wants You to Unleash the Wild on Your Backyard (Smithsonian)

Key Words: Native Plants, Pollinator Garden, Oak Trees, Keystone Species, Ecosystem, Ecosystem Restoration, Biodiversity, Biodiversity Crisis, Douglas Tallamy, Doug Tallamy, Food System, Biophilia, Biophilic Design

The Life Changing Power of Outdoor Adventure with Shelby Stanger

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Our guest today, Shelby Stanger, believes that a little bit of outdoor adventure is the key to a full and happy life. In fact, Shelby credits her own experiences surfing and escaping her comfort zone with catapulting her into a totally new life path. Today, Shelby is the host of the Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast and the author of Will To Wild: Adventures Big and Small to Change Your Life, a field guide of sorts for anyone interested in seeking more adventure. The best part? For Shelby, deep transformation doesn’t require an expensive retreat or tons of self-help books - simply getting outside on a consistent basis can completely shift your perspective and lead to meaningful growth.

In this episode, we chat with Shelby about the power of awe, a few particularly inspiring stories from her amazing book (seriously - we can’t recommend it enough!) and the magic you find out on the trails.

Show Notes

Key Words: Nature, Adventure, Wildness, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Wellness, Self Help, Recreation, Outdoor Recreation, Surfing, Surf, Nature, Nature Based Solutions

The High Line, Therme, & Social Infrastructure with Robert Hammond

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Our guest today, Robert Hammond, has dedicated his life to creating vibrant public spaces that foster human connection, wellbeing, and bring out the best in our communities. In the late 90’s, Robert, alongside business partner Joshua David, co-founded New York City’s iconic High Line, transforming an abandoned rail line into a lush greenway that connects 1.5 miles of Manhattan. After over two decades at The High Line, Robert took on a new role as President and Chief Strategy Officer at Therme US, a global company that is revolutionizing the ancient practice of thermal bathing in order to bring wellness to people from all walks of life.

In this episode, we chat with Robert about his incredible career, the importance of public spaces that foster social infrastructure, and his ultimate goal to democratize wellness (and make it a little more fun in the process).

Show Notes

Key Words: High Line, Friends of the High Line, New York, New York City, Green Infrastructure, Social Infrastructure, Therme, Thermal Bathing, Wellness, Biophilia, Biophilic, Nature Based Solutions, Nature

Ellen M. Bassett on Design Innovation, Urban Planning, and Global Perspectives

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Thoughtful and creative design can change the world, from the products we use every day to innovative and climate-resilient buildings, to entire cities that prioritize the health and vitality of the people who live in them. Our guest today is Dr. Ellen Bassett, the John Portman Dean of the College of Design at Georgia Tech, where such innovation is taking place on a daily basis. Ellen’s background lies in urban planning with areas of expertise in land use planning and law, sustainability, health and the built environment, and international development particularly in the Global South.

In this interview, Monica and Jennifer catch up with Ellen about where her interest in urban planning began, the importance of using biophilic design across disciplines, and the impactful years she spent abroad working in Kenya.

Show Notes

Key Words: Georgia Tech, Design, College of Design, Urban Planning, Land Use, Land Planning, Land Law, Kenya, Africa, Architecture, Built Environment, Urban Sprawl, Atlanta, Nature, Nature Based Solutions, Climate Change, Climate Resilience, Biophilia, Biophilic Design

The 2023 Biophilic Holiday Reading List

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0500

It’s officially cozy season! This week, Monica and Jennifer are back with another roundup of biophilic holiday reads, perfect for gifting or curling up with by the fireplace. So, whether you’re looking for a beautiful coffee table book, inspiring looks at the science of spirituality, or words of wisdom inspired by nature, keep on listening.

Shownotes

Biophilic Solutions on Bookshop.org
The 2024 Biophilic Leadership Summit
Wild: The Naturalistic Garden by Clare Takacs and Noel Kingsbury
Design a healthy home by Oliver Heath
How to Be More Tree: Essential Life Lessons for Perennial Happiness by Potter Gift and Annie Davidson
Thin Place Design: The Architecture of the Numinous by Dr. Phillip James Tabb
The Transcendent Brain: Spirituality in the Age of Science by Alan Lightman
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holten

Key Words: Biophilic, Biophilia, Nature, Nature Based Solutions, Reading, Holiday, Gifts, Book, Book List, Science, Spirituality, Trees, Garden, Gardening, Natural Garden, Thin Places, Creativity, Literature, Landscape, Clare Takacs, Noel Kingsbury, Oliver Heath, Potter Gift, Annie Davidson, Phil Tabb, Phillip James Tabb, Alan Ligthman, Rick Rubin, Katie Holten

Public Green Space is Essential Infrastructure with George Dusenbury

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Everyone should live within 10 minutes of a public park. Why? Because public green space improves overall health, strengthens community ties, combats climate change, and - when implemented correctly - reduces inequality. Our guest today is George Dusenbury, Vice President Southern Region and the Georgia State Director at the Trust for Public Land, an organization whose mission is to expand access to the outdoors by creating public parks and protecting public lands. In this episode, we explore exciting TPL initiatives like green schoolyards in New York City and the exciting Chattahoochee RiverLands Project that promises to transform the Atlanta metro area and beyond. We also discuss greenspace as essential infrastructure, the importance of local input,, and the resources available for anyone who wants to expand access to nature in their own communities.

Show Notes

Key Words: Trust For Public Land, Public Parks, Parks & Recreation, Green Space, Climate, Climate Change, Chattahoochee River, Chattahoochee RiverLands Project, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature, Outdoors, Nature Based Solutions

Finding Deeper Wellness in Nature with Dr. Mark Campbell

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0500

On the surface, you may not think that the military or professional baseball have much to do with fields like wellness, mindfulness, or biophilia - but that’s exactly where you’d be wrong according to today’s guest, Dr. Mark Campbell. Dr. Mark is a performance psychologist and consultant who works with clients across a wide range of challenging industries to optimize their wellbeing. He got his start working as a lead for the US Army’s performance psychology and resilience program, worked closely on the DoD's Warrior Games and Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, and served as the Director of Mental Conditioning for the Washington Nationals.

Throughout his impressive career, Mark noticed the transformative impact that nature had on every single one of his clients and has made the outdoors a hallmark of his approach. He even hosts a podcast on the topic called the Nature of Wellness (NOW). We were thrilled to catch up with Mark this week to explore his impressive career, how he brings more people into nature by meeting them where they are, and his ultimate goal to legitimize the term wellness.

Show Notes

Key Words: Wellness, Psychology, Performance Psychology, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans, Invictus Games, Warrior Games, Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Mindfulness, Sports, Athletics

Beware of Biophobia with Journalist Emily Harwitz

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

At this point, we all know that biophilia literally means the love of nature, right? But have you ever stopped to consider its opposite, biophobia? If you’re a regular listener of this podcast, we’d be willing to bet you haven’t - and to be honest, we hadn’t either until we met today’s guest, science journalist Emily Harwitz. Emily’s recent article, ‘Beware Creeping Biophobia’ was picked up by multiple outlets like The Atlantic, The Tyee, and Haikai due to its insightful breakdown of the cycle that begins when humans become irrevocably disconnected from the natural world. Basically, disconnection leads to fear, which leads to outright rejection and even destruction.

We were thrilled to catch up with Emily to break down the cycle of biophobia, how we can convert the biophobic to the biophilic, and we also dive into the reasons why humans are drawn to collecting rare species.

Show Notes

Beware Creeping Biophobia (Haikai Magazine)
Humans Fondness for the Odd and Rare Make Us Particularly Overwhelming Predators (Haikai Magazine)
I’ll Go If You Go Podcast
Emily Harwitz Website
Emily Harwitz Instagram
Jackson Wild Summit - 2023 Media Lab Fellows

Key Words: Biophobia, Biophilia, Nature, Outdoors, Journalism, Science Journalism, Ecosystem, Environment, Wildlife, Wildlife Restoration

The Economics of Biophilic Design with Bill Browning and Catie Ryan

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

The health benefits of biophilic design are well-established: reduced anxiety, improved focus, lower heart rate, and generally just better overall wellbeing. However, how do those health benefits translate to financial outcomes? How do we get more business leaders and policymakers to implement biophilic design on a broader scale? Enter the latest publication from Terrapin Bright Green, The Economics of Biophilia second edition. This new report, co-authored by today’s guests Bill Browning and Catie Ryan, looks at five sectors - offices, education, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and community - detailing the benefits of biophilic design interventions for each and then making the financial case in great detail.

In this episode, Bill and Catie share how a flood of new research led them to update their original 2012 report, how businesses and policymakers can utilize biophilic design to meet their financial objectives, and why it really all comes back to long term thinking.

Show Notes

The Economics of Biophilia: Why Designing with Nature Makes Financial Sense, second edition by Bill Browning, Catie Ryan, and Dakota Walker
Nature Inside A Biophilic Design Guide by Bill Browning and Catie Ryan
Terrapin Bright Green
Interface

Keywords: Economics, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature Based Design, Nature Based, Finance, Architecture, Built Environment, Green Building, Nature, Finance

Getting Into the (Sea)Weeds with Keel Labs’ Aleks Gosiewski and Tessa Callaghan

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

For the future of sustainable textiles, should we look no further than … the ocean? Today we’re speaking with Aleks Gosiewski and Tessa Callaghan, the founders of Keel Labs, a sustainable materials company built on regenerative principles. Keel Labs’ signature product is Kelsun, a seaweed-based yarn with a significantly lower environmental footprint than traditional fibers.

Alex and Tessa met as design students at the Fashion Institute of Technology and went on to win the first-ever Biodesign Challenge in 2016. In the years since they founded Keel Labs, both women have been named as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30. In this episode, we chat with Tessa and Aleks about the promise of kelp as a regenerative raw material, the process of turning kelp into a functional textile, and we dive into - no pun intended - the challenges and rewards of building a company with sustainable innovation at its very core.

Show Notes

Keel Labs
Forbes’ 30 Under 30 2022 (Manufacturing)
Would You Wear a Sweater Made Out of Seaweed? (HighSnobiety)
A new material made from seaweed will transform the entire textile industry by Tessa Callaghan (Upworthy)
Keel Labs on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
The Biodesign Challenge

Key Words: Keel, Keel Labs, Ocean, Seaweed, Kelp, Algae, Fashion, Design, Fashion Design, Textiles, Materials, Sustainability, Regenerative, Regenerative Materials, Environment, Climate, Climate Change, Climate Solutions, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Biodesign

Buildings That Last For 500 Years with ZGF Architects’ Kathy Berg

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re exploring buildings that are biophilic, climate resilient, and set the gold standard for net positive, responsible design. Specifically, we’ll dive deep into two projects by ZGF Architects, an industry leader in sustainable and regenerative design: Portland’s PAE Building, the first developer-driven Living Building, and the very biophilic expansion of the main terminal at Portland International Airport.

Our guest today is Kathy Berg, a partner with ZGF, who worked closely on both projects. In this episode, we chat with Kahty about bringing nature into the built environment, designing buildings meant to last into the distant future, and the amazing technology that supports climate resilience.

Show Notes

ZGF Architects
About Kathy Berg
PAE Engineers, The PAE Living Building
Port of Portland, PDX Airport Main Terminal Expansion
Follow ZGF Architects on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube

Key Words: Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Biophilic Architecture, Architecture, Living Building, Living Building Challenge, Sustainability, Climate Resilience, Green Building, Built Environment, Nature, Nature Based Solutions

Positive Tipping Points & Transformative Change with Dr. Tim Lenton

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0400

If a negative climate tipping point refers to a critical threshold that triggers irreversible damage, then it stands to reason that a positive tipping point is the exact opposite - a beneficial axis that, when reached, staves off the worst planetary outcomes. Our guest today, Dr. Tim Lenton, is the Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter and is the Founder of the Global Systems Institute, an organization that uses a whole systems approach to solve global challenges and build a flourishing future. In this interview, we look at some examples of positive tipping points, discuss the social movements that are having real impact, and the individual actions we can all take to lower our carbon footprint.

Show Notes

Professor Tim Lenton, University of Exeter
Global Systems Institute
Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction by Tim Lenton
Revolutions That Made the Earth by Tim Lenton and Andrew Watson
Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth by Jim Lovelock
Positive Tipping Points Could Save the Climate - This Man is Showing Us How (Positive.News)

How Dr. Sheri Parks is Reviving Indigo Dye and Cultivating Community in Maryland and Beyond

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re exploring the intersection of agriculture, artistry, and history through the lens of indigo, a significant cash crop in the colonial period with inextricable ties to the slave trade. So inextricable, in fact, that slavery wasn’t even legal in Georgia until 1751, when British governors recognized the economic potential of the plant and its distinctive blue dye. Our guest today is Sheri Parks, Ph.D is a renowned community strategist, scholar, and writer who currently serves as the Program Director of the Natural Dye Initiative, a multi-part project whose aim is to explore the cultural and economic impact of indigo in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions by reintroducing it to Black farmers and artists. In this episode, we discuss the transformative impact of reclaiming indigo production in the southern United States, how the Natural Dye Initiative makes it economically viable for a new generation of farmers, and touch on the global significance of this remarkable plant.

Dr. Parks formerly served as the VP of Strategic Initiatives at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and as Associate Dean of Arts and Humanities and Professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland. Her scholarly work focuses on how art and aesthetics affect our day to day lives and how aesthetics can be used as a tool for social justice.

Show Notes

How Beauty Works Panel (YouTube)
Fierce Angels: Living with the Legacy from the Sacred Dark Feminine to the Strong Black Woman by Sheri Parks, Ph.D
Upton Planning Committee
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Natural Dye Initiative Origin Story
Neighborhood Fiber Co. Aims to Weave Positive Social Change (Baltimore Magazine)

Key Words: Indigo, Indigo Dye, Colonial, Colonialism, Nature Dye, Maryland, Baltimore, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Agriculture, Farming, Organic Farming, Art, Aesthetics, Southern United States, US history

Nature, Culture & The Sacred with Bioneers Co-Founder Nina Simons

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Our guest today, Nina, Simons, believes that the root of many social and environmental problems we face today can be traced back to a fundamental imbalance between traditionally masculine and feminine attributes – and she has the evidence to back that up. In her latest book, Nature, Culture, & The Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership, Nina demonstrates how interconnected many modern problems really are and she lays out the ways in which we might overcome them, with women’s leadership and Indigenous wisdom at the forefront.

Alongside her husband Kenny Ausubel, Nina is the co-founder of Bioneers, a nonprofit with a mission to platform common-sense solutions to social and ecological challenges with a whole systems approach. In 2017, she and Kenny were the recipients of the Goi Peace Award. In addition to Nature, Culture, and the Scared, Nina is the author of Ecological and Social Healing: Multicultural Women’s Woes and Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart.

Show Notes

Nature, Culture, & the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership by Nina Simons
Nina Simons Website
Bioneers
Ecological and Social Healing: Multicultural Women’s Woes by Nina Simons
Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart by Nina Simons with Anneke Campbell
The Burning Times Documentary
The Athena Doctrine: How Women (and the Men Who Think Like Them) Will Rule the Future by John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio

Key Words: Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Environment, Ecosystem, Spirituality, Sacred, Feminism, Women’s Leadership, Patriarchy, Patriarchal System, Indigenous, Indigenous Wisdom, Healer, Wellness, Climate, Climate Change

The Brain Is Your Client: Biophilic Architecture with Dr. Tuwanda Green

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This week we’re diving into the world of human-centered architecture and its profound impact on brain health with Dr. Tuwanda Green, Adjunct Instructor in the School of Architecture at Virginia Tech. Before getting her PhD, Dr. Green ran her own architecture firm for over 20 years, working primarily in commercial and government buildings, where her experience in military housing and facilities greatly informed her practice.

Dr. Green believes that a science-minded and data-driven approach to biophilic architecture is the key for achieving greater scale, that the built environment plays a major role in human wellbeing, and that all architecture students should understand basic human biology.

Show Notes

Biophilic Summer Reading: Our 2023 Picks

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0400

Jennifer and Monica here! We’ve officially reached the height of Summer. The days are long, it’s (very) hot outside, and there’s nothing we want to do more than hang out with a good book - preferably next to some kind of body of water. Failing that, we’ll take a big, icy, reusable water bottle. So, for this week’s episode, we’ve rounded up a list of our top picks for biophilic summer reads. From romance and awe to brain health and climate science-fiction, we’ve got something for everyone. The common theme? Nature is always center stage.

Show Notes

Your Brain on Art: How Art Transforms Us by Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross
Your Brain on Nature: Neuroaesthetics and Biophilia with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee
Form Follows Feeling: Serenity, Human Emotion, and Design with Suchi Reddy
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life by Kristen Ghodsee
Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Oddell
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

Key Words: Summer Reading, Reading, Books, Book List, Nature, Biophilia, Art, Awe, Elizabeth Gilbert, Utopia Jenny Oddell, Ken Stanley Robinson, Dacher Keltner, Susan Magsamen, Neuroscience, Neuroaesthetics, Climate Change, Climate Science, Wellness

Beast Mode: Wildlife Recovery & Ecological Restoration with Environmental Philosopher Christopher J. Preston

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400

During the early weeks of the pandemic, when human activity and movement were significantly reduced, there were reports of various animals returning to urban landscapes. Think coyotes in San Francisco, wild boar in Barcelona, and dolphins in Italian port cities. These unique resurgences pose interesting questions about the relationship between humans and animals, our ability to coexist, and wildlife resilience in general. In today’s episode, we’re joined by renowned environmental philosopher Dr. Christopher J. Preston to discuss his most recent book, Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think About Animals. This book highlights the incredible species that have come back from the brink of extinction against all odds. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Preston poses fascinating questions about the role of technology, the right level of human intervention, and how climate change impacts this entire conversation.

Christopher Preston is an environmental philosopher who teaches at the University of Montana. His writing has appeared in publications such as The Atlantic, Smithsonian Magazine, Discover, Slate, the Wall Street Journal, Salon, and The BBC. He is the author of two books, The Synthetic Age: Outdesigning Evolution, Resurrecting Species, and Reengineering Our World, and a new book Tenacious Beasts.

Show Notes

Christopher J. Preston Website
Christopher J. Preston Blog
Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries that Change How We Think About Animals by Christopher J. Preston
The Synthetic Age: Outdesigning Evolution, Resurrecting Species, and Reengineering Our World by Christopher J. Preston

Key Words: Animal, Animal Recovery, Wildlife, Wildlife Restoration, Ecology, Ecological Restoration, Ecosystem, Animal Welfare, Endangered Species, Environment, Environmental Philosophy, Philosophy, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature, Nature Based Solutions

Biodesign, Chemistry, & The Future of Fashion with Dr. Karen Pearson

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of biodesign, exploring the amazing opportunities that arise when science, technology, and fashion come together. Think faux leather that’s made with kombucha, functional yarn derived from seaweed, and performance clothing that replaces nylon and spandex with naturally sourced, biodegradable protein.

Our guest is Dr. Karen Pearson, Professor of Chemistry at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Chair of FIT’s Sustainability Council. Karen has been widely recognized for her commitment to cross-disciplinary education: she is the recipient of the President’s Award for Curricular Innovation and has been acknowledged as one of the top 100 Most Influential Women in STEM. In this episode, we discuss the intersection of science and design, the innovative work being done by FIT students and faculty, and talk through some amazing examples of biodesign in action.

Show Notes

Key Words: Biophilia, Biophilic, Biophilic Design, Biodesign, Biotechnology, Biology, Chemistry, STEM, STEAM, Fashion, Fashion Institute of Technology, Technology, Design, Fashion Design, Materials, Innovation, Sustainability, Sustainable, Climate Change, Climate, Nature Based, Nature Based Solutions

Eco-Conscious Fashion & Nature’s Wisdom with Mara Hoffman

Tue, 23 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re thrilled to be speaking with fashion designer Mara Hoffman, the President and Creative Director of her own namesake brand, known throughout the world for its innovation and creativity. Nowadays, Mara is also widely known for her fierce commitment to sustainability; however, when she founded her company in 2000, there was very little dialogue (if any) about the fashion industry’s impact on the planet. In this conversation, we explore how Mara methodically and carefully shifted her brand to an eco-conscious model starting in 2015, how movement, nature, and femininity inspire her creatively, and how she finds solace and wisdom from time spent in nature, especially among the trees near her home in upstate New York.

Show Notes

Key Words: Fashion, Fashion Industry, Sustainability, Sustainable, Sustainable Fashion, Mara Hoffman, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Retail, Environment, Climate, Climate Change, Nature, Trees, Overstory, Nature Wisdom, Sacred Nature, Design

Biophilic Leadership Summit: The Nature of Wood with Bill Browning

Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

As humans, we have notable biophilic responses to natural materials, forms, fractal patterns, and so much more. However, one material stands out from the rest for the particularly strong fascination it seems to hold - wood. In this special edition of Biophilic Solutions, hear from green building expert Bill Browning as he explores the science behind our distinct inclination for wood and wood patterns and why the presence of this particular material has been shown to lower stress, reduce blood pressure, and provide a sense of comfort and warmth.

Dive deeper into this fascinating concept by reading The Nature of Wood white paper, authored by Bill Browning, Catie Ryan, and Claire DeMarco in our shownotes.

Show Notes:

The Nature of Wood (Terrapin Bright Green)
Forestry Innovation Investment
Softwood Lumber Board
Sasanqua Spa Kiawah Island (Clodagh)
Oliver Heath Studio
Maggie’s Leeds Center by Heatherwick Studio (ArchDaily)
14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green)

Key Words: Biophilia, Biophilic, Biophilic Design, Green Building, Architecture, Green Architecture, Nature, Nature Based Design, Nature Based Solutions, Wood, Wood Grain, Mass Timber, Mass Timber Building, Psychology, Wellness

Sustainable Packaging, In-Store Recycling, and Clean Standards with Credo Beauty Founder Annie Jackson

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

We caught up with Credo Co-Founder & COO Annie Jackson at the 17th FIT Sustainable Business & Design Conference to talk all about clean beauty and the movement towards circularity in the beauty industry. Discover how Credo is a leader in sustainability with groundbreaking sustainable packaging guidelines and in-store recycling programs. Also, no substance gets past Credo; over 2,700 ingredients are banned through “The Dirty List.” The Credo Clean Standard embodies the company’s complete commitment to beauty, health, and well-being and serves to connect to a vibrant and rapidly growing ecosystem of clean beauty brands with a new generation of informed consumers.

In this conversation, we talk to Annie all about her background in the beauty industry, dig into the Credo Clean Standard, and explore how shifting consumer expectations will change the industry for the better.

Show Notes

Register for the Biophilic Leadership Summit (Ticket Sales End April 20!)
WATCH Biophilic Solutions Live with Credo Beauty at FIT’s 17th Sustainable Business & Design Conference (Vimeo)
Credo Beauty
Credo Clean Standard
The Dirty List®
Credo For Change
FIT Sustainable Business & Design Conference
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Key Words: Beauty, Beauty Industry, Sustainability, Sustainable Packaging, Recycling, Circularity, Circular Economy, Regenerative, Regenerative, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Wellness, Fashion, Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, FIT

Conversational Communities in Nature with Author Fred Dust

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0400

In a world where people are so divided, what does it mean to have meaningful, thoughtful conversations? And is it even possible? If you asked today’s guest, Fred Dust, author of Making Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication, the quick answer would be a resounding yes. However, we often lack the tools we need to communicate effectively. In today’s episode of Biophilic Solutions, we’ll look at the state of conversation today, explore the concept of conversational communities, and of course, we’ll discuss how nature provides the best backdrop for thoughtful communication.

Fred Dust will be the keynote speaker at the 2023 Biophilic Leadership Summit, April 23-26 in Serenbe. A former Senior Partner and Global Managing Director for acclaimed design firm IDEO, Fred Dust works at the intersection of business, society and creativity. Most recently, he has been investigating new ways to ignite constructive dialogue in a climate of widespread polarization, cynicism and disruption. His keynote address will center on creating meaningful dialogue about biophilic principles.⁠

Show Notes

Learn More & Register: The Biophilic Leadership Summit, April 23-26 in Serenbe
About Fred Dust
Making Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication by Fred Dust
Better Conversations: the 7 essential elements of meaningful communication by Fred Dust (Fortune)
House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy | 11.30.22 | Episode 12: Fred Dust: Can We Talk? (YouTube)
IDEO

Key Words: Communication, Conversation, Dialogue, Biophilia, Biophilic, Biophilic Design, Design, Architecture, Conversational Communities, Biophilic Community, Nature Based Solutions, Nature Based Learning, Keynote, Keynote Speaker, Environment, Climate, Climate Change

The Simple Power of Being Outside with Merrell’s Lindsey Lindemulder

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0400

lWhether we like to admit it or not, the outdoor industry can sometimes feel like an exclusive club. If you didn’t grow up camping, hiking, canoeing, or mountain biking, all of the gear, specialized clothing, and different types of footwear can feel cumbersome and overwhelming to say the least. Enter Lindsey Lindemulder and her team at Merrell, industry leaders in the outdoor footwear space, who are actively seeking ways to expand access to the outdoors so that everyone can enjoy the simple power of time spent in nature.

As Merrel’s Senior Director of Brand Marketing, Lindsey understands the importance of establishing a brand that feels approachable and inclusive, whether you’re an experienced hiker or a total novice. In this episode, we talk about representation in the outdoor industry, Merrell’s approach to sustainability and their 2025 goals, and answer the question, “when did self-care get so hard?”

Show Notes

Key Words: Merrell, Merrell Footwear, Footwear, Outdoors, Outdoor Industry, Nature, Marketing, Biophilia, Biophilic, Sustainability, Sustainable Design, Recycling, Recycling Program, Inclusivity, Representation, Diversity, Self-Care, Wellness, Recreation

Thin Places, Sacred Architecture, and Biophilic Patterns with Dr. Phill Tabb

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Have you ever felt that you were on the precipice of a sacred experience? Or visited a place that left you with a profound sense of awe or serenity? If so, you’ve had a thin place experience. On today’s episode of the podcast, Dr. Phill Tabb, our first ever guest, is back to talk about his new research on this fascinating and mysterious topic. In this conversation, we define thin places, talk about emotional responses to thin places, and discuss the overlap between thin places and biophilia.

Dr. Phillip James Tabb is the Emeritus Professor of Architecture at Texas A&M University. He will present his research on thin places and biophilia at the upcoming Biophilic Leadership Summit, happening April 23rd - 26th in Serenbe. His new book, Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous, comes out this Summer.

Show Notes

Tickets: Biophilic Leadership Summit, April 23 - 26
Confirmed Speakers: Biophilic Leadership Summit
Pre-Order Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous by Dr. Phillip James Tabb
Dr. Keith Critchlow | The Art of Sacred Geometry (Keith Critchlow Legacy)
Rudolf Otto and the Numinous (Wikipedia)
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
Serenity as a Goal for Nursing Practice by Kay T. Roberts, Ann Whall (Journal of Nursing Scholarship)
Plutchik’s Emotion Wheel: Purpose, Definition, and Uses (Berkeley Wellbeing Institute)
14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green)

Key Words: Thin Places, Serenity, Serene, Awe, Dacher Keltner, Biophilia, Biophilic, Biophilic Design, Biophilic Patterns, Sacred, Sacred Geometry, Spirituality, Architecture, Sacred Architecture, Ireland, Skellig Islands

Olmsted, Awe, and America’s Public Lands with Author Jeffrey H. Ryan

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Have you ever hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail? Taken a family vacation to the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone? Or strolled through Central Park for some respite from the Manhattan hustle? If so, you can thank a handful of early American environmentalists who advocated for, designed, and built the public lands we enjoy today.

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Jeffrey H. Ryan, author of This Land Was Saved for You and Me: How Gifford Pinchot, Frederick Law Olmsted, and a Band of Foresters Saved America’s Public Lands. Jeffrey, an avid outdoorsman in his own right, walks us through the fascinating history of the early environmental movement and its major players. We also discuss the difference between preservation and conservation, Jeffrey’s own experiences as a writer and hiker, and the awe-inspiring moments we find in nature.

Show Notes

This Land Was Saved for You and Me: How Gifford Pinchot, Frederick Law Olmstead, and a Band of Foresters Saved America’s Public Lands by Jeffrey H. Ryan
Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-Year Hike on America’s Trail by Jeffrey H. Ryan
Man and Nature by George Perkins Marsh
Northeast Wilderness Trust - Rewilding the Northeast
About Jeffrey H. Ryan
The Biophilic Leadership Summit, April 23-26 in Serenbe

Key Words: History, Environmentalism, Public Parks, National Parks, National Parks Service, Central Park, Environmental Movement, Biophilia, Biophilic, Biophilic Design, Urban Planning, Frederick Law Olmstead, Jeffrey Ryan, Nature, Outdoors, Hiking, Appalachian Trail

Nature and Renewal with Mindfulness Expert Nina Smiley

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Adherents of biophilia know that humans have an innate connection to nature and living things. But in a fast-paced and technology-driven world, how do we cultivate - or even discover - that connection in the first place? Today we’re speaking with Nina Smiley, Director of Mindfulness at Mohonk Mountain House, an iconic resort in New York’s Hudson Valley renowned for its environmental stewardship and focus on outdoor recreation. Nina walks us through the ways that practicing mindfulness in nature calms our bodies and clears our minds, from reducing blood pressure and cortisol levels, easing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and even widening our perspective. We also get pretty scientific in our discussion about the airborne organic compounds found in forests that have antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Nina Smiley is the co-author of multiple books including The Three Minute Meditator and Mindfulness in Nature. She earned her doctorate in Psychology from Princeton University, teaching at the University of Maryland and directing public relations at the American Psychological Association, before she and her husband became full-time steward of Mohonk in 1990.

Show Notes

Mohonk Mountain House
Mindfulness at Mohonk
Mindfulness in Nature by David Harp and Nina Smiley
The Three Minute Meditator: Reduce Stress. Control Fear. Diminish Anger. In Almost No Time At All by David Harp and Nina Smiley
An Intro to Forest Bathing: Where Mindfulness Meets Nature by Nina Smiley
History of Mohonk Mountain House
Environmental Stewardship at Mohonk Mountain House

Key Words: nature, mindfulness, wellness, meditation, mindfulness meditation, Mohonk, Mohonk Mountain House, forest bathing, biophilia, biophilic, biophilic design, environment, eco tourism, tourism

The Case For Climate Optimism with Anne Therese Gennari

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0500

An optimistic outlook on life tends to make people happier, more successful, and even healthier - but how do we apply optimism to a situation that oftentimes feels as serious and dire as the climate crisis? Enter today’s guest Anne Therese Gennari, author of The Climate Optimist Handbook. In this book, Anne Therese hopes to shift the narrative on climate change so that those of us in the fight can work from a place of courage and excitement rather than fear and anger. In this interview, Anne Therese traces her own journey from burnt out activist to climate optimist, tells us why she thinks individual action is crucial, and walks us through some action steps we can take to shift our own perspectives.

Show Notes

The Biophilic Leadership Summit
The Climate Optimist Handbook: How to shift the narrative on climate change and find the courage to choose change by Anne Therese Gennari
About Anne Therese Gennari
The Climate Optimist Newsletter on Substack
Hey Change: A Podcast On How To Change The World
From Angry Activist to Climate Optimist (TEDxOneonta)
Follow Anne Theres on Instagram

Key Words: climate change, climate action, climate optimism, climate optimist, optimism, wellness, activism, activist, climate activism, biophilia, biophilic

Introducing Season 3 of Biophilic Solutions

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0500

Season 3 of Biophilic Solutions premieres on January 24th! This season, we'll explore some new topics like climate optimism, national parks, and eco tourism. We'll also take a deeper dive into some familiar territory like thin places, awe, and biophilic design. Be sure to tune in!

Amplifying Your Impact with The Carbon Almanac’s Paige NeJame

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 06:00:00 -0500

This week, we’re talking all about how to amplify your impact with Carbon Almanac contributing writer Paige NeJame. Have you ever wondered whether your efforts to recycle, compost, and eat a plant-based diet make a real difference for the planet? While individual action is good, Paige provides tangible, creative - and most importantly, doable - ways to take our action steps to the next level and create actual, systems-level change. The best part? Paige is living proof that regular people can make a huge difference; even with all of her work with the Carbon Almanac network, she has continued in her role with a commercial paint company and has used her knowledge to affect major, positive changes.

The Carbon Almanac is a collaboration of hundreds of volunteer writers, researchers, thinkers, illustrators, and experts. Using drawings, histories, and lots and lots of data, The Carbon Almanac is the definitive (and highly approachable) guide to carbon’s impact on our food system, oceans, energy, the economy, human health, and extreme weather. Paige NeJame wrote the “Climate Change for Rookies” section of The Carbon Almanac, as well as a children’s guide to climate change, Generation Carbon.

Show Notes

Key Words: Carbon, Carbon Emissions, Climate, Climate Change, Emissions, Nature, Environment, Sustainability, Solutions, Environmentalism, Alternative Energy, Carbon Almanac, Seth Godin, Biophilic, Biophilic Design, Biophilia

Biophilic Books for the Holidays

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0500

We firmly believe that this time of year should be all about slowing down, enjoying quality time with friends and family, and of course enjoying some time outdoors (weather permitting). So, as the holiday season approaches, we’re back with another roundup of biophilic books to curl up with on those cold, cozy nights or give as gifts to the nature lovers in your life. Themes include brain health, climate change, fungi, and even the intersection of botany and booze.

Show Notes

The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life by Lisa Miller, PhD
The Carbon Almanac: It’s Not Too Late, edited by The Carbon Almanac Network and Seth Godin
The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake
The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create The World’s Great Drinks by Amy Stewart

Buy all these books and more from our favorite local bookstore Hills & Hamlets or their online partner BooksShop.

Key Words: nature, holiday, reading list, nature books, biophilia, biophilic, biophilic design, climate change, climate, climate crisis, mindfulness, wellness, carbon footprint, carbon, fungi, mushrooms, bewilderment, richard powers, the overstory, botany, cocktails, holiday cocktails

Building With Nature & Scaling Biophilic Ideas with Mary Davidge

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Mary Davidge has spent her career at the forefront of biophilic design. Between 2014 and 2021, Mary served as Google’s Director of Global Design, where she worked closely with biophilic leaders like Bill Browning and Judi Heerwagen to implement design solutions across Google’s campuses that prioritize health, happiness, and the environment. Prior to that, she ran her own firm, where her groundbreaking work in biophilic design and green building helped lay the foundation for certifications like LEED Platinum and the Living Building Challenge. Nowadays, Mary serves on the board of the Biophilic Institute and on the advisory board of the International Living Future Institute Biophilic Design Initiative, advocating tirelessly for biophilic solutions at scale. In this episode, we discuss Mary’s career at the intersection of tech and green building, the importance of placemaking, and why greening cities can solve multiple societal problems at once.

Show Notes

About Mary Davidge
Google’s Mary Davidge Talks Sustainability Changes in Silicon Valley Over the Years (Green Building Matters)
Why Does Biophilic Design Make Us Feel So Good? With Bill Browning (Biophilic Solutions)
Biophilic Design and the Human Habitat with Dr. Judith Heerwagen (Biophilic Solutions)
Terrapin Bright Green
LEED Rating System (U.S. Green Building Council)
Living Building Challenge (Living Future)
Defining the Worst Type of Street Design (City Lab)
What is Placemaking? (ArchDaily)
Opinion | Since When Have Trees Existed Only for Rich Americans? (New York Times)
The Biophilic Institute

Keywords: Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Green Building, Google, Google Campus, Silicon Valley, Tech, Tech Industry, Design, Architecture, Equity, Environmental Justice, Health

The Campaign for Nature: Safeguarding Biodiversity with Brian O’Donnell

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0400

The world is losing its biodiversity at a rapid rate, due in large part to habitat loss caused by climate change. These dual threats pose serious risks to human health and wellbeing, particularly if global leaders fail to take meaningful and quick action. Our guest today is Brian O’Donnell, Director of the Campaign for Nature, an organization whose goal is to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. The Campaign for Nature works with scientists, environmentalists, and policymakers to advance solutions on a global scale. In this episode, we talk to Brian about why 30% is a benchmark number, why biodiversity loss is as great a threat to us as climate change, the highly significant Biodiversity Conference (COP15) which will take place in Montreal this December, and much more.

Show Notes

Campaign for Nature
30 x 30
Sign the 30 x 30 Petition
UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15)
Rodale Institute
New report shows why fighting climate change and nature loss must be interlinked (World Economic Forum)
Shifting to a Green Economy with Dr. Edward B. Barbier (Biophilic Solutions)
Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World? (Biophilic Solutions)

Key Words: Nature, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Infrastructure, Government, Environment, Environmental Policy, COP15, Montreal, Biodiversity, Biodiversity Loss, Climate, Climate Change

Plant Based Snacks For A Healthy Planet with Eat the Change Co-founder Seth Goldman

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0400

One of our most effective tools for improving planetary health is the food we choose to eat. In environmental terms, a vegetarian diet is great and a vegan diet is even better. However, imagining that the bulk of the population will willingly shift to a vegan diet over the next few years seems pretty unlikely (to put it mildly). So, where does that leave us? In today’s episode, we’re joined by Eat the Change co-founder Seth Goldman to advocate for a plant-based approach to food and diet. In a plant-based model, vegetables, fruits, fungi, and legumes are the key players - but there’s not a single food group that’s entirely off-limits. In this episode, we chat about Seth’s line of delicious and healthy snacks made from back-to-basics ingredients like carrots and mushrooms, his background as an entrepreneur in the health food space, and why you can’t sacrifice taste if you want to change peoples’ eating habits.

Show Notes

Eat the Change
About Seth Goldman
PLNT Burger
Beyond Burger
Honest Tea
ETC Impact
Innovator’s Agenda: How We Approach Innovation at Eat the Change
Eat the Change on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Saving The World’s Quiet Places with Matt Mikkelsen

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Natural places, untouched by man made noise pollution, are practically nonexistent in the modern world. Unfortunately, the lack of quiet in today’s world doesn’t bode well for our health; noise pollution is tied to an array of health problems like cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, and attention disorders. Our guest today, Matt Mikkelsen, is a sound engineer, audio recordist, and documentary filmmaker who also serves as the Executive Director of Wilderness Parks at Quiet Parks International, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save quiet for the benefit of all life. Preserving these places for our own calm and respite - and for the biodiversity and habitats of other species - is absolutely vital. In this episode, we chat with Matt about his work governments all over the world, the importance of true listening, and finding hygge in the wilderness.

Show Notes

Key Words: Quiet, Silence, Wellness, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Environment, Noise, Noise Pollution, Parks, State Parks, Park, Conservation, Land Conservation, Climate Change, Hygge

Restorative Spaces Inspired by Nature with Oliver Heath

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Picture this: you’re at the office and you’re having a terrible day. We’ve all been there at one time or another. So … where do you go to cry? That is the question that designer Oliver Heath poses to all of his prospective clients. More often than not, the response he gets back is the bathroom. From Oliver’s perspective, this answer reflects a larger issue in the built environment, especially in the workplace: a lack of spaces specifically designed with restoration and wellbeing in mind. Oliver is the founder of Oliver Heath Design, an architecture and interior design practice that focuses on health and wellbeing in the built environment and he is one of the leading experts on biophilic design. In this episode, we chat with Oliver about his approach to nature-inspired spaces, the fascinating and approachable white papers he has co-authored with Interface, and why we need to design with individual needs in mind.

Show Notes

Design a healthy home: 100 ways to transform your space for physical and mental wellbeing by Oliver Heath
Oliver Heath Design
Biophilic Design Courses from Oliver Heath Design
Whitepapers, Reports & Guides (Oliver Heath Design x Interface)
Interface
14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green)
Exploring the Nature Pyramid by Tim Beatley (The Nature of Cities)
Oliver Heath Design Instagram
Oliver Heath Design Twitter
Oliver Heath Design Facebook

Key Words: Nature, Design, Interior Design, Architecture, Sensory Experience, Biophilic, Biophilic Design, Biophilia, Restorative, Attention Restoration Therapy, Wellness, Wellbeing, Built Environment, Office, Work, Covid-19

Shifting to a Green Economy with Dr. Edward B. Barbier

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week we’re diving into environmental economics, specifically how global economies can start valuing nature and shift to a model that is greener, more inclusive, and more democratic. Have you ever wondered why many environmentally damaging industries receive government subsidies while natural raw materials are treated like inexhaustible resources? What about businesses who maintain the status quo even though their bottom line would benefit from incorporating more sustainable practices? We’re tackling all of this and much more with economist Edward B. Barbier.

Dr. Barbier is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Economics at Colorado State University, where his main expertise is in environmental and resource economics as well as international environmental policy. He has served as a consultant and policy analyst for a variety of national, international and non-governmental agencies, including many UN organizations and the World Bank. His latest book, Economics for a Fragile Planet, provides solutions and action items for building a green economy.

Show Notes

Edward B. Barbier
Economics for a Fragile Planet by Edward B. Barbier
A New Blueprint for a Green Economy by Edward B. Barbier and Anil Markandya
Paris Climate Agreement
Adopt a carbon tax to protect tropical forests (Nature)
The Water Paradox: Overcoming the Global Crisis in Water Management by Edward B. Barbier
Several states will follow California’s lead in banning gas-powered car sales by 2035 (The Hill)
Inflation Reduction Act
How to Help People in Jackson, MS Right Now (The Cut)

Key Words: Nature, Climate, Climate Change, Economy, Economic Systems, Fossil Fuels, Fossil Fuel Industry, Emissions, Democracy, Deforestation, Natural Resources, Sustainability, Environment, Environmental Policy

Native Plants, Wildness, and Landscape Architecture with Dr. Alfred Vick

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Is it important to know the cultural context of a place? How do landscape architects help connect us to nature? This week we’re talking all about Native American ethnobotany, environmental ethics, and finding the right balance between wildness and order with Dr. Alfred “Alfie” Vick, the Georgia Power Professor of Environmental Ethics at the University of Georgia and Director of the Environmental Ethics Certificate Program. With Alfie as our guide, we explore the cross-section of landscape architecture and Native American studies, the changes he’s observed in the fields of landscape architecture and biophilic design, and he even reveals a hot tip for combating poison ivy naturally.

Show Notes

UGA Environmental Ethics Program
About Alfie Vick
The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective by Rachel Kaplan and Stephen Kaplan
Los Angeles River Revitalization Project
Flight Path and Lost Waters with Urban Designer Hannah Palmer (Biophilic Solutions Podcast)
State Botanical Gardens of Georgia - UGA

Key Words: Native American, Indigenous Wisdom, Plants, Botany, Ethnobotany, Landscape Architecture, Landscape, Environment, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Climate, Climate Change, UGA, Serenbe

Rethinking Housing with ‘Brave New Home’ Author Diana Lind

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 06:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re exploring the rise of the single-family home and its many pitfalls, including the isolation brought on by large homes on expansive plots of land, exclusionary zoning that exacerbates social issues, and environmental factors like resource-intensive turf grass, massive energy usage for few people, and the necessity of cars. Luckily, however, new trends in housing are reshaping the way we live - from co-living spaces with shared utilities, resources, and perks to chic tiny homes to eco-conscious villages like Serenbe that encourage community, wellness, and biophilia.

Our guest is Diana Lind, author of ‘Brave New Home', which investigates how the single-family home became synonymous with the American Dream before delving into the paradigm shifts making housing more accessible and environmentally aware. Diana is a writer and urban policy specialist whose writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Architectural Record and Next City, where she also served as Executive Director and Editor in Chief. Currently, she is the incoming Communications & Publications Director for the Penn Institute for Urban Research.

Show Notes

Brave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing by Diana Lind
About Diana Lind
Against the White Picket Fence (New York Times)
WATCH: Five Things Diana Lind taught us about housing (Philadelphia Citizen)
Ideas We Should Steal: Treat Homelessness as a Health Issue by Diana Lind (The Philadelphia Citizen)

Key Words: Urban Policy, Urban Planning, Housing, Housing Crisis, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Wellness, Health, Zoning Laws, Suburban, Suburbia, Tiny Home, Environment, Climate Change, Climate Policy

Silence, Awe, and Being Present with 'Golden' Authors Leigh Marz & Justin Zorn

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

What is the deepest silence you’ve ever known? That’s the key question posed by Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn in their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise. For Justin and Leigh, silence means many things beyond the literal absence of noise. Silence can be found in moments of calm, moments of awe, and self-transcendent experiences like witnessing a birth or death. When we venture out into nature, we hear nature’s sounds all around us but the feeling of calm and tranquility gives us the quiet contemplation we desperately need. In today’s episode of Biophilic Solutions, we chat with Justin & Leigh about the incessant noise and pace of modern life, finding silence to foster greater connection to the world and to each other, and why true silence is completely different for everyone.

Show Notes

Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise by Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz
How to Build a Culture that Honors Quiet Time (Harvard Business Review)
The Busier You Are, The More You Need Quiet Time (Harvard Business Review)
Is noise bad for us? The authors of ‘Golden’ on why silence is good for your brain (Salon)
A new book considers what silence is and how it can enrich us (Boston Globe)
Astrea Stategies

Key Words: Silence, Quiet, Nature, Biophilia, Focus, Attention, Technology, Meditation, Mindfulness, Wellness, Activism

The Highway of the Future with The Ray’s Allie Kelly

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re talking all things highway transportation. Transportation infrastructure is one of the most damaging systems on the planet, both in terms of human safety and environmental impact. What solutions could we possibly employ to transform highways, making them safer, more efficient, and carbon neutral? It may seem like a pipe dream, but many solutions are right at our fingertips.

Our guest is Allie Kelly, Executive Director of The Ray, a stretch of highway in southern Georgia that acts as a living laboratory for some of the most innovative ideas in transportation. Imagine the impact of installing solar panels on unutilized right of ways, replacing resource-intensive turf grass with pollinator plants, or even being able to charge your electric vehicle by simply driving over pavement embedded with solar-powered cells? These examples barely scratch the surface of all the incredible work that’s happening at The Ray. Listen in and learn about how The Ray is revolutionizing a notoriously inefficient system to create a zero impact, zero waste, and zero death highway of the future.

Show Notes

The Ray
Allie Kelly, Executive Director of The Ray
Technology: The Ray Today
Technology: Launching Soon
Technology: Down The Road
How 3 Technologies will revolutionize roads and highways (TEDxAtlanta)
Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Advances Expansion & Modernization of the Electric Grid (The White House)

Key Words: Transportation, Department of Transportation, Highway, Technology, Energy, Clean Energy, Solar, Solar Power, Right of Way Solar, Electric Vehicle, EV, biodiversity, pollinator, biophilia, nature, net zero, carbon neutral, climate change, climate solutions, carbon emissions, renewable energy, infrastructure, highway infrastructure

The Ultimate Biophilic Summer Reading List

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0400

This week, Monica and Jennifer are sharing their top picks for the ultimate biophilic summer reading list! Whether you’re just starting out on your biophilic journey or are a seasoned pro looking to expand your knowledge, there is something for everyone to enjoy (ideally poolside, beachside, or on your favorite park bench). Themes include connecting to nature through mindful walking (no surprise there!), working to combat the climate crisis through thoughtful action, and tips for simply slowing down in a fast-paced world.

Show Notes

Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change by George Marshall
The Electricity of Every Living Thing: A Woman’s Walk in the Wild to Find Her Way Home by Katherine May
Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
Why we can’t pay attention anymore (Vox Conversations)
Johann Hari On Why You Can’t Pay Attention (& How to Reclaim Focus) (Rich Roll)
Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson
Why Are Climate Justice & Racial Justice Inextricably Linked? (Biophilic Solutions)
Telling Stories to Save the Earth: Dr. Katharine Wilkinson & Mary Annaise Heglar (Serenbe Stories)
HEATED from Emily Atkin (Substack)
Walk Your Way Calm by Jennifer Walsh

Key Words: nature, summer reading, reading list, nature books, biophilia, biophilic, biophilic design, climate change, climate, climate crisis, focus, attention, attention span, attention deficit, technology, tech, tech and society, environment, race and ethnicity

Anger vs. Optimism and the Way Forward: BONUS with David Orr

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to be an engaged citizen or an effective activist? How can we shift from anger to hope and then create meaningful change? We’re back this week with a special bonus episode, an off-the-cuff conversation with David Orr, renowned scholar of political and environmental science and co-editor of Democracy Unchained: How to Rebuild Government for the People. We chat about finding the right balance between anger and optimism, recognizing and overcoming the flaws baked into our system of government, and why we should be regulating tech.

Show Notes

Democracy Unchained: How To Rebuild Government For The People, edited by David W. Orr, Andrew Gumbel, Bakari Kitwana, and William S. Becker
Dangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward by David Orr
Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change by George Marshall
Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas by Natasha Dow Schull

Key Words: nature, biophilic design, biophilia, politics, political science, tech, technology, technology and politics, democracy, climate, climate action, climate solutions, social media

How Biophilia Makes Our Democracy Stronger with David Orr

Tue, 24 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re diving deep into the intersection of democracy and the environmental movement, why it’s imperative that all lawmakers agree to the rules of the game, and how biophilia might act as a bridge to the equitable, green future we want. We also weigh the merits of a circular economy and discuss what it means to be responsible citizens and stewards for future generations.

Our guest is renowned scholar of environmental and political studies at Oberlin College David Orr, author of eight books, including Dangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward (2016) and co-editor of three others including Democracy Unchained: How To Rebuild Government For The People (2019). While at Oberlin, Dr. Orr led the effort to design and build the Adam Joseph Lewis Center, one of the first truly biophilic buildings in the United States. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Lyndhurst Prize, a National Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation, and a Visionary Leadership Award from Second Nature.

Show Notes

About David Orr
The Oberlin Project
The Adam Joseph Lewis Center
Democracy Unchained: How To Rebuild Government For The People, edited by David W. Orr, Andrew Gumbel, Bakari Kitwana, and William S. Becker
Dangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward by David Orr
Democracy in a Hotter Time, presentation at Elon University (YouTube)
Design with Nature by Ian L. McHarg
The Biophilia Hypothesis, edited by E.O. Wilson and Stephen R. Kellert
Dr. David Orr and Dr. Miranda Yaver on the Stand Up! With Pete Dominick Podcast
Children & Nature Network
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist by Kate Raworth

Keywords: Biophilia, Climate Change, Climate, Environment, Policy, Politics, Environmental Policy, Biophilic Design, Nature, Wellness, Democracy, Economics, Circular Economy

Form Follows Feeling: Serenity, Human Emotion, and Design with Suchi Reddy

Tue, 10 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

How do we connect human emotion to the built environment? Is it possible to design spaces that produce serenity and wellbeing? Can we harness technology as a force for good rather than division? We’re diving into all of this and more with renowned architect, artist, and self-professed “serene-ist” Suchi Reddy, founder of Reddymade. Throughout her career, Suchi has strived to put human emotion at the center of everything she creates, from a biophilic, LEED Platinum Google flagship store to an interactive art installation in the Smithsonian that challenges viewers to imagine our collective future. Suchi credits her childhood in India, where biophilia was embedded into everyday life, with shaping her extraordinary perspective.

Suchi Reddy founded Reddymade in 2002 and in the years since, the firm has built a reputation for experimentation with materials, color, and technology - as well as their approach to the overlapping fields of architecture, design, and immersive works of art. Reddymade is the recipient of numerous awards including the NYCxDesign award, AIA Brooklyn + Queens Award, AIA New York Excelsior Award, and Interior Design’s best of the year awards.

Show Notes

Reddymade
Form Follows Feeling
Google at Milan 2019 Design Week: A Place for Being (YouTube)
Suchi Reddy, Architect of Serenity (W Magazine)
Designing a Digital Future by Suchi Reddy (New York Times Opinion)
21 Questions with Architect Suchi Reddy (Curbed)
Suchi Reddy and the Neuroaesthetics of Architecture (Design Well)
Suchi Reddy talks about space, community, and tech in art with me + you (Stir World)

Key Words: design, architecture, art, installation, technology, technology and culture, technology and society, nature, nature based learning, biophilia, biophilic design, Suchi Reddy, innovation, technology and innovation, neuroaesthetics, equity and inclusion

Your Brain on Nature: Neuroaesthetics and Biophilia with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week we’re exploring the neuroscience behind our relationship to beauty. Are we culturally conditioned to prefer certain landscapes, works of art, and types of buildings or are those preferences universal? Why do some people embrace nature while others are fearful? Is there a way to measure biophilic design’s effect on neurodivergent individuals? We investigate all of those questions and more with our guest Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, a renowned professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chatterjee is at the forefront of a relatively new field called neuroaesthetics which examines the neural basis of aesthetic experiences. In other words, why do we deem certain things beautiful or pleasurable over others? Particularly with nature and biophilia, the answer may not be as clear-cut as you think.

Show Notes

Anjan Chatterjee, M.D.
Neuroaesthetics
Biophilia as Evolutionary Adaptation: An Onto- and Phylogenetic Framework for Biophilic Design (Frontiers in Psychology)
Biophilia by Edward O. Wilson
Buildings, Beauty and the Brain: Q&A with Anjan Chatterjee (CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society)
What We Like About Built and Natural Spaces (Psychology Today)
How Our Brains Decide What Is Beautiful (TED)

Biophilic Patterns, Awe, and a New Industrial Revolution with Interface’s Kari Pei

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

What if we told you that a global commercial flooring company has achieved carbon neutrality and is well on their way to net negative emissions? This week, we’re joined by Kari Pei, the Vice President of Product Design at Interface, to discuss the inspiration she finds in nature, the sustainable materials and manufacturing techniques that have made Interface a standard-bearer for environmentally friendly corporate practices, and the importance of awe. We also touch on some overlooked aspects of biophilic design, including texture and the impact that ambient noise has on our wellbeing.

Interface is a commercial flooring company that specializes in carbon neutral tile and resilient flooring. Interface helps their customers create interior spaces that support wellbeing, productivity, creativity, and the health of the planet. As VP of Global Product Design, Kari Pei brings her fine art background to every aspect of the design process, drawing inspiration from nature and biophilic patterns. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2020 Manufacturer Leader HIP Award presented by Interior Design Magazine.

Key Words: Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature, Sustainable, Corporate Responsibility, Net Zero Emissions, Carbon Negative, Awe, Product Design, Wellness

Show Notes

Kari Pei of Interface Takes Home 2020 Manufacturer Leader HIP Award (Interior Design)
Interface’s Sustainability Journey
Interface Achieves Carbon Negative Milestone with the Launch of Innovative Products to Decarbonize the Built Environment (PR Newswire)
Ep. 156 Creating Happier Places with Biophilic Design (Clever Extra Podcast)
Walk with Walsh at Serenbe with Kari Pei
14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green)
Awe (Terrapin Bright Green) - Coming Soon!
Spotlight: I.M. Pei (ArchDaily)

Biophilic Design and the Human Habitat with Dr. Judith Heerwagen

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re diving into the psychology of biophilic design - why we find it so appealing, the evolutionary basis for preferring certain landscapes to others, and the reasons we fear certain natural elements like snakes and spiders. We also chat about the social experiences we find in nature, like camping with friends and sharing stories around a fire, and the ways in which climate change complicates our relationship with the natural world.

Our guest is Dr. Judith Heerwagen, a psychologist who specializes in the behavioral, social, and health impacts of buildings. Dr. Heerwagen has worked extensively on the psychology of biophilic design and is the co-editor of Biophilic Design: the Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life which won the 2009 Publishers Award in architecture and urban planning. She is also the recipient of 2014 Design for Humanity Award from the American Society of Interior Designers.

Show Notes

About Dr. Judith Heerwagen
Biophilic Design: the Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life by Judith Heerwagen, Martin Mador, and Stephen R. Kellert
Building Biophilia: Connecting People to Nature in Building Design by By Judith Heerwagen, Ph.D., and Betty Hase, IIDA, ASID
Biophilic Design and Climate Change: Performance Parameters for Health by Julie Africa, Judith Heerwagen, Vivian Loftness, and Catherine Ryan Balagtas, Frontiers In Built Environment
Biophilia by Edward O. Wilson
Sociobiology: The New Synthesis by Edward O. Wilson
Nature Inside: A biophilic design guide by William D. Browning and Catherine O. Ryan
‘Savanna Preference,’ Universal Principles of Design: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler

Key Words: Biophilic Design, Biophilia, Climate Change, Evolutionary Psychology, Psychology, Environment, Climate, Health and Wellness, Habitat, Nature,

Creating A Destination for Holistic Healing with Dr. Elizabeth Trattner

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re chatting with Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a renowned acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese Integrative Medicine, who works with clients on everything from autoimmune support to holistic beauty. Elizabeth has received widespread acclaim for her work and has been featured in publications like Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Allure. Elizabeth’s journey to holistic medicine began early in life, but her own experience battling chronic illness led to a very personal interest in green, nontoxic beauty, household, and building materials. In this episode, we chat with Elizabeth about Helia House, the new wellness center she just launched in Miami using the strictest standards for environmental impact.

Show Notes

Dr. Elizabeth Trattner
The Helia House
Sick Building Syndrome (WebMD)
Living Building Challenge (Living Futures)
Sacred Geometry Is Literally Everywhere - Here’s Where To Look & How To Use It (MindBodyGreen)
15 Green building materials for an eco-conscious home (The Zebra)
Elizabeth Trattner Debuts Helia House, a Non-Toxic Healing and Wellness Oasis for Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (Well Defined)
Elizabeth Trattner Uses Alternative Medicine and Gemstone Facials to Treat Patients (Allure)
Could We Be Inhaling Plastic? (Coveteur)
7 Ways Acupuncture Changes Your Brain, According to Science (Bustle)

Key Terms: Wellness and Beauty, Green Beauty, Health and Wellness, Holistic Medicine, Alternative Medicine, Clean Beauty, Sustainable Living, Biophilia, Biophilic Design

What’s Your Nature Score? With NatureQuant Founder Jared Hanley

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0500

This week, we’re speaking with Jared Hanely, the CEO and founder of NatureQuant, a company whose mission is to leverage technology to promote a greater connection to nature. The idea for NatureQuant came out of a multi-day ski trip with Jared’s co-founders Christopher Minson and Christopher Bailey, when they realized that the power of metrics and trackable data could encourage people to get outside and reap the benefits of time spent in nature. NatureQuant’s applications include NatureScore, which measures the quality of greenspace in a given area, and NatureDose which individuals can use to keep track of their time spent outdoors. In this episode, we talk to Jared about the exciting applications of his technology beyond individual health, the possibilities of measuring biophilic design benefits, and if he is at all worried about “app fatigue.”

Show Notes

NatureQuant
NatureScore
Nature Dose
NatureQuant White Paper: Delivering Technology to Assess and Promote Nature Exposure
Nature is Medicine. But What’s the Right Dose? (Outside Magazine)
The benefits of green exercise go far beyond physical fitness (The Globe and Mail)
10 Minute Walk Pledge

Key Ideas: Nature based solutions, technology and society, environmental issues, health and wellness, biophilic design

Water and Wellbeing with Blue Mind Author Wallace J. Nichols

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Have you ever felt instantly calm upon arriving at the ocean or a rural lake? Or even felt the need to dip into a hot bath after a tough day? This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re chatting with Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, scientist, activist, and author of Blue Mind, about why we are so innately drawn to water and the neuroscience behind water’s healing properties. We’ll dive (pun intended) into the ways we might reconnect with our favorite bodies of water, the innate spiritual properties that water contains, and even why too much “blue mind” isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Show Notes

The Blue Mind: How Water Makes You Happier, More Connected and Better at What You Do by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols
The Blue Mind Book Club
Book review: ‘Blue Mind,’ on the benefits of being near water, by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols (Washington Post)
Our Love of Living Near Water Persists Despite the Dangers (New York Times)
Applying Blue Mind to Our Ocean Conservation Mindset (Plastic Oceans)
Dr. Wallace J. Nichols: Getting in touch with Blue Mind (Creative Mornings HQ)

Flight Path and Lost Waters with Urban Designer Hannah Palmer

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

This week, we’re chatting with urban designer and author Hannah S. Palmer about the second longest river in Georgia, the Flint River - a river that few Atlantans have even heard of because it’s headwaters run underneath Hartsfield Jackson, the world’s busiest airport. Hannah is the Project Coordinator for Finding the Flint, a partnership between The Conservation Fund, American Rivers, and the Atlanta Regional Commission, whose mission is to bring this forgotten river to light, opening up spaces for public access, and connecting the wider South Atlanta community.

Show Notes

Hannah S. Palmer
Finding the Flint
Flight Path: A Search for Roots Beneath the World’s Busiest Airport by Hannah S. Palmer
The River Beneath the World’s Busiest Airport by Hannah S. Palmer
Wet Boundary: How the Flint River Defined Atlanta by Hannah S. Palmer
New photo show explores the hidden beauty of the Flint River in metro Atlanta by Felicia Feaster
The Lake and the Landfill: In Search of Atlanta’s Lake Charlotte by Hannah S. Palmer
The Sum of Us: How Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee

E.O. Wilson’s Life and Legacy with Biographer Richard Rhodes

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

“Biophilia is the connection that human beings innately seek with the natural world.” - E.O. Wilson

This week on Biophilic Solutions, Monica and Jennifer speak with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Rhodes about his latest work, Scientist: E.O. Wilson: A Life in Nature. Recorded in early December, a few weeks before Wilson passed away at the age of 92, this interview delves into Wilson’s extraordinary life and contributions to the field of biology, Richard’s interest in him as a subject, and the important role that science plays in society. We also explore Wilson’s conception of biophilia and Richard’s own relationship with the natural world.

Show Notes

Scientist: E.O. Wilson: A Life in Nature by Richard Rhodes (2021)
E.O. Wilson, A Pioneer of Evolutionary Biology, Dies at 92 (New York Times)
A Biography of E.O. Wilson, the Scientist Who Foresaw Our Troubles (New York Times)
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction(1987)
Why They Kill: Discoveries of a Maverick Criminologist by Richard Rhodes (2000)

Introducing Season 2 of Biophilic Solutions

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Biophilic Solutions will be back on January 18th! Here, Monica and Jennifer check in about what they've learned over the past year and give our listeners a sneak peak of what to expect in Season 2.

The Economics of Conservation with Stacy Funderburke

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re talking to Stacy Funderburke, Associate State Director for Georgia and Alabama and Regional Counsel for the Conservation Fund, an organization that strives to integrate environmental and economic outcomes via land conservation. Through his work on projects like the Working Farms Fund, Stacy walks us through the mechanics of how we might shift to a more ethical and environmentally friendly model for working land -- and how we as consumers can be a part of the solution.

Show Notes

The Conservation Fund
Donate to The Conservation Fund
Stacy Funderburke, Regional Counsel and Associate State Director for Alabama and Georgia
The Working Forests Fund
The Working Farms Fund
How To Make a Neighborhood Farm for an Entire Metropolis (The New York Times)
Chattahoochee Brick site to memorialize convict leasing victims (Axios)

Plant-Based Snacking and the Joy of Nature with R.E.D.D. Founder Alden Blease

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re talking to Alden Blease, the founder and Chief Creative officer of R.E.D.D., a highly successful (not to mention delicious) line of plant-based energy bars and elixirs. When he ran out of money on his college meal plan, Alden began making his own bars using bulk ingredients from his local health food store and the first iteration of R.E.D.D. was born. Since then, R.E.D.D. (which stands for Radiant Energy Deliciously Delivered) has been hailed by publications like Minimalist Baker, Poosh, Runner’s World, and Popsugar. In this interview, we chat about everything from starting a successful plant-based business and sourcing the most ethical ingredients to the joys and inspiration found in nature.

Show Notes

R.E.D.D: Radiant Energy Deliciously Delivered
REDD refreshes brand, raises $2.2M in new funding (Maine Startups Insider)
The Best Protein Bars Have These Ingredients (Poosh)
Plant-Based Protein Bar Review (Minimalist Baker)
The 10 Best Energy Bars for Runners (Runner’s World)
Alden Blease on Tik Tok

Front Lawns, Biodiversity & Bylaws: Nina-Marie Lister

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

This week, Monica and Jennifer sit down with Nina-Marie Lister, Graduate Director and Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University, located in Toronto, Canada. Building off of her captivating presentation at last month’s Biophilic Leadership Summit, Nina-Marie lays out the little-known history of the front lawn’s hold on North American households, the barriers for achieving greater biodiversity on private property, and the city bylaws that prioritize conformity over environmental health.

Nina-Marie holds the Margolese National Design for Living Prize for her work in ecology and design and she was awarded honorary membership in the American Society of Landscape Architects. Her work connects people to nature in cities, through green infrastructure design for climate resilience, biodiversity and human wellbeing.

Show Notes

About Nina-Marie Lister (School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University)
Ecological Design Lab
PLANDFORM
Projective Ecologies: Ecology, Research, and Design in the Climate Age, edited by Chris Reed and Nina-Marie Lister
The Ecosystem Approach: Complexity, Uncertainty, and Managing for Sustainability (Complexity in Ecological Systems) by by David Waltner-Toews, James Kay, and Nina-Marie Lister
The Well-Placed Weed: The Bountiful Life of Ryan Gainey, a film by Steve Branford and Cooper Sanchez
Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast, A Field Guide by Peter Del Tredici
Landscape Citizenships, edited by Tim Waterman, Jane Wolff, and Ed Wall

Creating Outdoor Citizens: Appalachian Mountain Club’s John Judge

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0400

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we speak with John Judge, President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the oldest conservation organization in the United States. The mission of the Appalachian Mountain Club is to foster protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors in order to create a world in which nature is fundamentally valued. AMC achieves this mission through education, outdoor programming, and robust research and conservation efforts to tackle climate change in the Northeastern U.S. In this episode, we talk to John about shifting the way we interact with the natural environment, how we can all put nature at the center of decision-making, and what it means to be an outdoor citizen.

Show Notes

Appalachian Mountain Club, outdoors.org
The Outdoor Citizen: Get Out, Give Back, Get Active by John Judge (2019)
Adventures via the Appalachian Mountain Club
Dragonfly Mercury Project (U.S. National Park Service)
Maine Woods Initiative
Become a Member of the Appalachian Mountain Club
Appalachia, America’s longest-running journal of mountaineering and conservation
Shop the Appalachian Mountain Club

John Piotti on the Future of Food & Our Planet

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0400

What do farmland loss and a rapidly changing climate mean for the future of food? How can we harness the power of agriculture, urban farming, and regenerative practices to protect next-generation farmers and the planet? In his presentation at the 2021 Biophilic Leadership Summit, President of American Farmland Trust John Piotti tackles all of these questions and more, illuminating AFT’s history as a changemaking organization and looking towards the future of agriculture.

Show Notes

About John Piotti, President and CEO of American Farmland Trust
Donate to American Farmland Trust and Help Save the Land that Sustains Us
Get Your FREE ‘No Farms No Food’ Bumper Sticker
Get Involved with American Farmland Trust
Statement from John Piotti, AFT President and CEO: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Sixth Assessment Report
Regenerative Agriculture is a System, Not a Single Practice, American Farmland Trust

Everything You Need to Know About The Biophilic Leadership Summit

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400

The Biophilic Leadership Summit brings together thought-leaders from fields like agriculture, urban planning, architecture, and climate science to learn about and discuss the most impactful biophilic projects, principles and research happening today. Hear from our Summit Coordinator Katrina Erni Cohen, about the speakers, topics, and themes that you can expect to learn more about at the 2021 Virtual Summit, happening next week on October 11th and 12th.

Biophilic Solutions listeners get a special rate on tickets! Enter the code BiophilicSolutions on the 2021 Virtual Summit Event Page for almost 40% off our regular rate.

Show Notes

Learn More About The Biophilic Leadership Summit
Biophilic Leadership Summit : Full 2021 Agenda
American Farmland Trust
The Biophilic Institute
Serenbe
Biophilic Cities

Biophilia is Imperative to Our National Security: Col. Mark “Puck” Mykelby

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

From our good friends over at Serenbe Stories, hear Monica and Steve Nygren’s interview with retired marine Colonel Mark “Puck” Mykleby. In this episode, Mark explains why biophilic communities are an important aspect of national security, how sustainability drives economic growth, and why smart growth at home becomes smart power abroad. You will also learn about the origins of the Biophilic Institute, as well as the work Mark is doing in the private sector to create more walkable communities. Though this interview is from December 2019, its themes are as timely as ever.

If you are interested in learning more about how we can scale biophilic design, join us for the virtual Biophilic Leadership Summit on October 11th and 12th. Biophilic Solutions listeners get a special rate when they use the code BiophilicSolutions.

Show Notes

Register for the 2021 Biophilic Leadership Summit (Oct. 11 & 12, 2021) with code BiophilicSolutions
The Biophilic Institute
The Grand New Strategy: Restoring America’s Prosperity, Security, and Sustainability in the 21st Century by Mark Mykelby, Patrick Doherty, and Joel Makower
Admiral Michael Glenn Mullen, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Congress for the New Urbanism
The New America Foundation
Long Haul Capital Group

Skincare That's Grounded In Nature with Indie Lee

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we chat with Indie Lee, founder of the wildly successful skincare line of the same name. Hear how Indie went from a CPA working with major companies, to an advocate for the slow food movement, to the CEO and founder of her own beauty brand, where she puts nature and ethics at the forefront. Indie's story of overcoming major health challenges, starting a business from the ground up, and holding her company to the highest ethical environmental standards will inspire you. In this episode, we tackle conscious consumerism, not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, and how we can all champion the clean beauty industry.

Show Notes

Indie Lee, Founder & CEO of Indie Lee & Co (The Everygirl)
The Skin-Care Line That Began With a Brain Tumor (The Cut)
COSMOS, Natural and Organic Certification for Skincare
Indie Lee’s Clean Commitments
Indie Lee Ingredients
Indie Lee Recycling Program
Indie Lee on Instagram
AILLEA - Pure. Trusted. Beauty.

Why Does Spending Time in Nature Make Us Happier?

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

This week, Monica and Jennifer sit down with Florence Williams, acclaimed author of "The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative." When it comes to understanding the science behind why time spent in nature is so beneficial for mental health, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who is more knowledgeable than Florence Williams. In this episode, we chat about prosocial emotions like serenity and awe, the benefits of forest bathing, the impact of city noises on our central nervous system, and why investing in some great outerwear is key to enjoying the outdoors every day of the year.

Show Notes

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams (2017)
Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv (2006)
To Fight the Winter Blues, Try a Dose of Nature, by Florence Williams (Wall Street Journal)
Is Your Noisy Neighborhood Slowly Killing You? by Florence Williams (Mother Jones)
The 3-Day Effect (Audible)
Florence Williams Podcasts
Pre-order Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams (2022)
Why Does Biophilic Design Make Us Feel So Good? With Bil Browning (Biophilic Solutions Episode 2)
How Do We Build Resilient Communities for the Future? With Dr. Phill Tabb (Biophilic Solutions Episode 1)

Building Living Machines with Biology, The Original Technology

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

This week, Monica and Jennifer sit down with Jasmina Aganovic to talk about all things beauty and biotechnology. After earning a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering from MIT, Jasmina worked with well-known beauty brands like Fresh and Living Proof before founding her own line, Mother Dirt, a brand that uses the naturally occurring bacteria found on human skin to treat and cleanse without stripping. Currently, Jasmina is the entrepreneur in residence at Gingko Bioworks, a biotechnology company working to bring nature to the forefront in innovation. We cover a lot of ground in this episode including Gingko’s partnership with Moderna, the weaknesses of the ‘clean’ beauty industry, and why biology is the ultimate technology.

Show Notes

Gingko Bioworks: The Organism Company
Grow by Gingko
No Soap, No Shampoo, Bacteria-Rich Hygiene Experiment, by Julia Scott (The New York Times)
Laboratory of Longings by Ani Liu

Why “No Farms, No Food” is a Biophilic Rallying Cry

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

This week, we're speaking with Beth Sauerhaft, the Vice President of Programs at American Farmland Trust. If you've seen the 'No Farms, No Food' bumper stickers, you're familiar with AFT whether you know it or not. In her current role, Beth oversees all of the programming that helps American Farmland Trust achieve its mission of preserving farmland, protecting farmers, and promoting environmentally sound farming practices. Prior to joining AFT, Beth has worked in sustainability roles at EPA, the Department of Agriculture, and even Pepsico. We'll talk about corporate responsibility, the importance of farmland for combating climate change, and the practices that can help farmers (and the planet) thrive.

Show Notes:

Beth Sauerhaft, Vice President of Programs, PhD, American Farmland Trust
Regenerative Agriculture is a System, Not a Single Practice, American Farmland Trust
Farmland for a New Generation in New York, by Erica Goodman (American Farmland Trust)
Farms Under Threat: Biodiversity and Agriculture, American Farmland Trust
Cover Crops Create Resilient Farms and Landscapes, by April Ann Opatik Murray (American Farmland Trust)
Women for the Land Initiative, American Farmland Trust
Donate to American Farmland Trust and Help Save the Land that Sustains Us
Get Your FREE ‘No Farms No Food’ Bumper Sticker
Vote in the 13th Annual Farmers’ Market Celebration

How Are Climate and Racial Justice Inextricably Linked?

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Biophilic Solutions, we talk to Jacqui Patterson, the Senior Director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program, about why we cannot separate our fight for planetary health from the fight for racial justice. Why is race, even more so that socioeconomic status, the single biggest indicator for placement of toxic facilities in the United States? Why do we silo issues like public health, race, and climate, when they are so closely related? Why is campaign finance reform essential as we move toward a greener and more equitable planet? We’ll address all of these questions and more.

Show Notes

Environmental and Climate Justice (NAACP)
At the Intersections by Jacqueline Patterson in All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, ed. by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson, 2020
Just Energy: Reducing Pollution, Creating Jobs Toolkit (NAACP)
20 Things We Can Do to Advance a Just and Sustainable Planet by Jacqueline Patterson
The Necessity of Harmony for a Sustainable Planet by Jacqueline Patterson (Humans & Nature), 2013
Q&A with Jacqueline Patterson, director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program by Holly Bowers (Arcadia), 2021
Move to Amend
Democracy Initiative
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): A home for white people working for justice

How Do We Build a Biophilic Movement?

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400

How do we build a biophilic movement? Halfway through our first season, Monica and Jennifer reflect on the lessons they have learned so far and bring it all back to our innate love of and need for nature. They’ll dive deeper into their own backstories and relationships with nature, discuss why biophilia is a useful way to reframe the environmental conversation, and explore the importance of consciousness raising when growing a movement.

Show Notes

Follow The Biophilic Institute on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Prescribing Nature by Jennifer Walsh with Beth McGroarty (for the Global Wellness Summit
I Lived in a Tent for 3 Months. It Changed Everything … In a Good Way by Jennifer Walsh (Medium)
Serenbe

Follow Monica and Jennifer on Twitter

Bird Watching, Love & Diversity: How Biophilia Pushes Us Forward

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

We spoke with Dr. Drew Lanham, a distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Clemson University and the author of the Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature, to discuss the intersection of nature, humanity, and race. How have the natural sciences progressed since Dr. Lanham first began in his career and what work is there still to do? Why are conservation and activism inextricably linked? And why is it impossible to separate the simple act of birding from systemic racism? We’ll grapple with all of these questions (and so much more) on our seventh episode of Biophilic Solutions.

Show Notes

Dr. Drew Lanham, Distinguished Alumni Professor of Wildlife Ecology in the College of Agriculture, Clemson University
The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature (Milkweed Editions, 2017)
9 Rules for the Black Bird Watcher by J. Drew Lanham (Orion Magazine, 2013)
Nine New Revelations for the Black American Bird-Watcher by J. Drew Lanham (Vanity Fair, 2020)
What Do We Do About John James Audubon? by J. Drew Lanham (Audubon Magazine, 2021)

Can Biophilia & The Fashion Industry Work Together?

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Fast fashion’s impact on the environment is well-known, but do you have to sacrifice style in order to protect the environment? Marci Zaroff, the founder and CEO of EcofashionCORP and a sustainable fashion pioneer, says absolutely not. Learn about the hidden impacts of the fashion industry, from the massive environmental and human toll to the microfibers that make their way into our food supply. We also talk to Marci about where the industry is headed, the shift in consumer expectations, and why she is optimistic about the future of fashion.

Follow Marci on Instagram and check out her brands: Metawear Organic, Farm to Home, Seed to Style, and YES AND.

Show Notes

Ecorenaissance: A Lifestyle Guide for Co-creating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World, by Marci Zaroff (2018).
The 5 Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Verywell Mind)
The environment and economy are paying the price for fast fashion -- but there’s hope (Vox).
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
Farm to Home launches second collection with TENCEL™ Lyocell available exclusively at QVC (Textile World).
The Outside View: Looking Back at 2020’s Balancing Act by Marci Zaroff (Women’s Wear Daily).
The Outside View: The Cool Factor of Sustainability by Marci Zaroff (Women’s Wear Daily).
The Textile Exchange | Creating Material Change

Can Regenerative Agriculture Scale?

Tue, 25 May 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Through cutting-edge research, consumer education, and farmer training, Rodale Institute has been at the forefront of the organic movement for over 70 years, so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with their Chief Impact Officer, Jeff Tkach, to discuss all things agriculture. In this episode, we’ll dive into regenerative farming, the scalability of organic production, fostering a greater connection to the food we consume, and why human & planetary health starts with soil. Without giving anything away, there were multiple jaw-dropping moments during this interview; trust us, you don’t want to miss it!

Follow Rodale Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Follow your hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on Twitter.

Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by the Biophilic Institute and the Biophilic Leadership Summit.

Show Notes

Rodale Institute Southeast Organic Research Center in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
Regenerative Organic Certified™ led by the Regenerative Organic Alliance
Shop Regenerative Organic Certified™ products at Patagonia Provisions
Vegetable Systems Trial (VST), a side by side comparison of organically and conventionally grown vegetables.
Help solve nutrition insecurity by checking out Wholesome Wave
Bell & Evans U.S. Organic Grain Initiative - partnership between Rodale, Cargill, and Bell & Evans
Regenerative Ag Could Sequester 100 Percent of Annual Carbon Emissions (Rodale Institute)
Regenerative Organic Agriculture and the Soil Carbon Solution (Jeff Moyer, Andrew Smith, PhD, Yichao Rui, PhD, Jennifer Hayden, PhD).

Why Do Children Need Nature to Thrive?

Tue, 11 May 2021 04:00:00 -0400

For this week’s episode, we sat down (in person!) with Sarah Milligan-Toffler, President and CEO of the Children and Nature Network, an organization that is dedicated to increasing equitable access to the outdoors so that both children and the environment can thrive. In this episode, we discuss nature’s impact on brain development in early childhood, ways that we might reimagine the traditional schoolyard, and the historic barriers that have prevented underserved communities from enjoying nature’s benefits. We also dive into the tools that city officials and engaged citizens alike can use to advocate for the rights of all children to play outside.

Show Notes:

About the Children & Nature Network
Urban Nature: Promoting Nature in Cities, Children & Nature Network
Creating Systems Level Change in Cities: A Toolkit, Children & Nature Network
Advancing Equity in Children’s Connections to Nature, Cities Connecting Children to Nature (Children & Nature Network + National League of Cities)
The Urgent Case for Green Schoolyards During and After Covid-19, by Sarah Milligan-Toffler and Richard Louv
To Build a Healthier City, Atlanta is Opening its Schoolyards to Everyone, by Monica Humphries (Nationwell)
Policy Spotlight: Georgia Creates Outdoor Learning Committee (National Caucus of Environmental Legislation)
How the City of Grand Rapids Became a Leader in Connecting Children to Nature, by Alejandra Pallais (National League of Cities)
We’re Here, You Just Don’t See Us, by Latria Graham (Outside)
Register for Sum of Us: A Conversation with Heather McGee and Dr. Gail Christopher, presented by the Children & Nature Network (June 10, 2021 at 1:00pm).

Can Nature Make A City More Ethical?

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0400

What does it mean for a city to be ethical? To explore this thought-provoking idea, we spoke with Tim Beatley, professor of sustainable communities at the University of Virginia and founder of the Biophilic Cities network. In a new book proposal, Tim argues that we need to move away from a view of cities as purely legal and political entities and expand our definition to include the city’s moral obligations. Do cities have a duty to measure their impact beyond local boundaries? Should a city government consider the lives and wellbeing of future citizens? What ethical obligations do cities have towards local wildlife? How does nature (and crucially, access to nature) play a role in all of this? We’ll attempt to answer all of these questions and more on today’s episode of Biophilic Solutions.

Follow Tim and Biophilic Cities on Twitter.
Follow your hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on Twitter.
Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by the Biophilic Institute and the Biophilic Leadership Summit.

Show Notes

Biophilic Cities for an Urban Century: why nature is essential for the success of cities, by Timothy Beatley, 2020.
The Bird-Friendly City: Creating Safe Urban Habitats, by Timothy Beatley, 2020.
The Good Ancestor: A Radical Prescription For Long-Term Thinking, by Roman Krznaric, 2020.
The Charter for Compassion
Cully Park in Portland, Oregon
South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona
Mayor Stoney announces 5 new green spaces in Richmond’s southside (NBC12)

Why Does Biophilic Design Make Us Feel So Good?

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we sat down with Bill Browning, co-founder of Terrapin Bright Green and one of the green building industry’s foremost thinkers, to talk about bringing nature into the built environment and the science behind why it so effectively enhances human wellbeing. Using the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design as our guide, we explore the ways in which architects, designers, and individuals can incorporate nature-based principles into their spaces and the wealth of possible positive outcomes, from improving workplace performance and productivity, producing a greater sense of calm, and even promoting a more charitable and sociable mindset.

Follow Bill on Twitter.

Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by the Biophilic Institute and the Biophilic Leadership Summit.

Follow your hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on Twitter.

Show Notes

14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health and Wellbeing in the Built Environment, by William Browning, Catherine O’Ryan, and Joseph Clancy
Nature Inside: a biophilic design guide, by William Browning and Catherine O’Ryan, 2020
What is Biophilic Design? This Nature-Based Interiors Trend Promises Wellness by Lilah Ramzi for Vogue
Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life, by Judith Heerwagen, 2008
Koo Teck Puat and Ng Teng Fong Hospitals, CPG Corporation
The experience of nature: a psychological perspective, by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, 2014
View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery, by Roger Ulrich, 1984
The rediscovery of the wild, ed. by Peter Kahn, Jr. and Patricia Hasbach, 2013
Fractal Fluency: An Intimate relationship Between the Brain and Processing Fractal Stimuli, by Richard Taylor and Branka Spehar
Prospects and Refuges Re-visited, Jay Appleton, 1984

How Do We Build Resilient Communities For The Future?

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0400

To answer this question, we spoke with Dr. Phill Tabb, Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Texas A&M and the author of multiple publications on topics such as solar energy, green architecture and sustainable urban design. His most recent work, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Communities for the Future, explores the tools to create nature-based urban environments that are climate positive, sustainable, and healthy. In this episode we discuss the five positive outcomes of biophilic urban planning, the factors at play when scaling biophilic principles from the individual to the community to the city-wide level, and we’ll dive into the mystery of ‘thin places.’

Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by The Biophilic Institute, creating a world in which individuals take local and global actions that nurture the living, social and economic systems that will sustain future generations. Learn more about programs, research and the Annual Biophilic Leadership Summit at biophilicinstitute.com

Introducing Biophilic Solutions

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Biophilia is the innate connection that human beings seek with the natural world. Join the growing biophilic movement to understand, elevate, and amplify biophilic solutions across a broad range of industries. How can we take local and global actions that nurture the living, social, and economic systems that will sustain future generations? Nature has the answers. Every other week, hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh pose questions centered around finding common-sense solutions to some of society's biggest problems. They'll speak with experts in the growing field of biophilia and environmental research about everything from offsetting your personal carbon footprint to putting pressure on the corporations and policy-makers that can affect major, systemic change. We hope you'll join us on our biophilic journey. Subscribe, follow and listen today.

Biophilic Solutions podcast is brought to you by The Biophilic Institute, creating a world in which individuals take local and global actions that nurture the living, social and economic systems that will sustain future generations. Learn more about programs, research and the Annual Biophilic Leadership Summit at biophilicinstitute.com

Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

Solutions Rewind | Alfie Vick on Native Plants, Wildness, and Ecological Responsibility

Solutions Rewind | Beauty, Biophilia, & Your Brain with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee

Biophilia as Evolutionary Adaptation: An Onto- and Phylogenetic Framework for Biophilic Design (Frontiers in Psychology)

Solutions Rewind | Why Nature Makes Us Happier with Florence Williams

Solutions Rewind | Doug Tallamy on Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration

Where Science and Spirit Meet with Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Maria Rodale on Love, Magic, and Listening to Her Garden

Nature, Coherence, and Constructing Health with Tye Farrow

Solutions Rewind: David Orr on Saving Democracy—and the Planet

Nature, Transformation, and Radical Common Sense with Steve Nygren

Regenerative Agriculture and the Heart of the World with Kelsey Timmerman

How Regenerative Farming Can Feed the Future (The Packer)

The Magic and Mystery of Nighttime with Leigh Ann Henion

Journal of Biophilic Design: How to Design a Biophilic Community

What the Earth Is Telling Us with Threshold’s Amy Martin

Small Steps, Big Waves: How You Can Help Protect Our Oceans with Katie Day

Nature Has The Answers: Lessons Learned After 100 Biophilic Conversations

Rooted in Wisdom: Indigenous Voices and the Amazon Rainforest with Dr. Tracey Osborne

The Future Is Local: Rebuilding Economies and Healing the Earth with Helena Norberg-Hodge

Miki Agrawal on Motherhood, Nature-Inspired Business, and Mushrooms That Eat Plastic

What Nature Teaches Us About Belonging with Radha Agrawal

A Wild New Way To Work with Megan Leatherman

Designing Landscapes of the Future with Superbloom

Douglas Rushkoff on Reclaiming Our Humanity with Nature & Collaboration

Seasonal Wisdom: Learning from Nature’s Cycles

Biophilia in Turbulent Times

Introducing Season 5 of Biophilic Solutions

Less Rush, More Cheer: What We’re Reading This Winter

A Darker Wilderness with Erin Sharkey

Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves with Dr. Howard Frumkin

Redefining Wildness with 'Wild Souls' Author Emma Marris

What Do We Owe Animals? With ‘Meet the Neighbors’ Author Brandon Keim

A Thriving City is a Walkable City with Jeff Speck

Mushroom Hunting and the Joy of Discovery with Emily & Gregory Han

Social Prescribing and Nature as Medicine with Author Julia Hotz

Author Talk: Wellness Architecture and Urban Design with Dr. Phill Tabb

The Mini-Forest Revolution with Hannah Lewis

Biophilic Leaders Fireside Chat: Ryan Gravel, Michael Phillips & Steve Nygren

Biophilic Summer Reading: Our 2024 Picks

Beauty, Awe, and Biodiversity in Old Growth Forests with Joan Maloof

Harnessing the Power of New Technology for Greener Cities with Nadina Galle

Myth, Science, and the Age of Deer with Erika Howsare

How Austin L. Ray is Fixing Atlanta

Calling Business Leaders to Action with David S. Eady

Nature in Recovery & Corridors of Beauty with Karen Lloyd

Expedition Behavior: Growing Leaders with NOLS President Sandy Colhoun

Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration with Doug Tallamy

The Life Changing Power of Outdoor Adventure with Shelby Stanger

The High Line, Therme, & Social Infrastructure with Robert Hammond

Ellen M. Bassett on Design Innovation, Urban Planning, and Global Perspectives

The 2023 Biophilic Holiday Reading List

Public Green Space is Essential Infrastructure with George Dusenbury

Finding Deeper Wellness in Nature with Dr. Mark Campbell

Beware of Biophobia with Journalist Emily Harwitz

The Economics of Biophilic Design with Bill Browning and Catie Ryan

Getting Into the (Sea)Weeds with Keel Labs’ Aleks Gosiewski and Tessa Callaghan

Buildings That Last For 500 Years with ZGF Architects’ Kathy Berg

Positive Tipping Points & Transformative Change with Dr. Tim Lenton

How Dr. Sheri Parks is Reviving Indigo Dye and Cultivating Community in Maryland and Beyond

Nature, Culture & The Sacred with Bioneers Co-Founder Nina Simons

The Brain Is Your Client: Biophilic Architecture with Dr. Tuwanda Green

Biophilic Summer Reading: Our 2023 Picks

Beast Mode: Wildlife Recovery & Ecological Restoration with Environmental Philosopher Christopher J. Preston

Biodesign, Chemistry, & The Future of Fashion with Dr. Karen Pearson

Eco-Conscious Fashion & Nature’s Wisdom with Mara Hoffman

Biophilic Leadership Summit: The Nature of Wood with Bill Browning

Sustainable Packaging, In-Store Recycling, and Clean Standards with Credo Beauty Founder Annie Jackson

Conversational Communities in Nature with Author Fred Dust

House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy | 11.30.22 | Episode 12: Fred Dust: Can We Talk? (YouTube)

The Simple Power of Being Outside with Merrell’s Lindsey Lindemulder

Thin Places, Sacred Architecture, and Biophilic Patterns with Dr. Phill Tabb

Olmsted, Awe, and America’s Public Lands with Author Jeffrey H. Ryan

Nature and Renewal with Mindfulness Expert Nina Smiley

The Case For Climate Optimism with Anne Therese Gennari

Introducing Season 3 of Biophilic Solutions

Amplifying Your Impact with The Carbon Almanac’s Paige NeJame

Biophilic Books for the Holidays

Building With Nature & Scaling Biophilic Ideas with Mary Davidge

The Campaign for Nature: Safeguarding Biodiversity with Brian O’Donnell