Serenbe Stories

In this final episode of the Start In Your Own Backyard mini-series, Steve Nygren reflects on the journey of building Serenbe. What started out as an unlikely idea, sparked in a moment of fear and panic is now a living, breathing community where nature and people are woven back together.You’ll hear from neighbors like Gil Mathis, who traded a corporate finance career for a more authentic life rooted in connection, and Gigi Wilborne, an artist and entrepreneur who has poured her creativity into nearly every corner of Serenbe. You’ll also meet Price Bell, whose visits to Serenbe inspired him to spark change in his own hometown.Together, their stories remind us that change doesn’t always start with grand plans. Instead, it begins in backyards, on front porches, and in everyday choices that ripple outward to transform lives.As we close this series, we return to the bigger lesson running beneath it all: you don’t need to wait for permission to imagine a better way of living. Wherever you are, the spark of possibility is already in your hands. Sometimes all it takes is the courage to begin.Show NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastKeywords: Serenbe, community building, placemaking, biophilic design, sustainable living, connection to nature, intentional communities, local food, community gardens, shared meals, walkability, small sparks of change, starting in your own backyard, radical common sense, meaningful change, authentic living, neighborhood design, creativity, wellness, joy, beauty, possibility, better way of living Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

A lot of what we’ve been exploring on this podcast comes back to an idea known as placemaking: the art of designing spaces that feel meaningful, welcoming, and rooted in community. At its core, it’s about creating places where people truly want to gather and belong.At Serenbe, that spirit comes alive every day. Visitors might arrive for goat yoga or a stroll through the nature trails and end up moving. A coffee-and-ceramics studio, dreamed up and run by neighbors, has become a beloved local hangout. And community traditions like Porchfest transform front porches into concert stages and art galleries, turning ordinary moments into something magical. These experiences are joyful on the surface, but they also weave the deeper social and cultural fabric that makes a community thrive.In this episode, Steve Nygren explores how visitors bring fresh energy and perspective, how local businesses reflect and shape a community’s values, and why even the simplest neighborhood gatherings can spark lasting connections. Whether you’re dreaming of creating something new in your own town or simply curious about how thriving communities take shape, this episode offers inspiration and practical ideas for inviting people in and building places that feel like home.Show NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastMinro StudioPorchfest at SerenbeSerenbe Real EstateKeywords: placemaking, community, hospitality, belonging, Serenbe, Steve Nygren, intentional living, visitors, local businesses, Porchfest, goat yoga, nature trails, meaningful design, walkable communities, neighborhood traditions, connection, joy, events, potlucks, concerts, bake sales, sustainability, thriving communities, home, invitation, culture Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Food, shelter, walkable streets, even access to nature are all vital ingredients for a thriving community. But on their own, they aren’t quite enough. To truly flourish, people also need beauty, inspiration, and creativity woven into daily life. That’s where the arts come in.In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores why music, theater, sculpture, literature, and public art are so vitally important. You’ll hear insights from Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, on how our brains respond to beauty, as well as stories from artists themselves who have seen firsthand how art can knit people together and shape a place’s identity.We’ll also share how Serenbe pioneered a permanent funding model for the arts by dedicating 1% of real estate sales to its nonprofit Art Farm, ensuring that creativity remains central to community life for generations to come.Whether it’s a sculpture tucked along a forest trail, neighbors gathering for a midsummer play in the woods, or children inspired by visiting artists, this episode reveals how the arts sustain not just culture, but the human spirit itself.Show NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastThe Art Farm at SerenbeThe Aesthetic Brain: How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art by Dr. Anjan ChatterjeeSerenbe community celebrates Curtis Patterson’s striking new sculpture by Gail O’Neill (ArtsATL)Naturally Fragile & Durable with Rachel Garceau (Serenbe Stories)Morgan Boszilkov StudioKeywords: art in community, arts funding, Serenbe, Start In Your Own Backyard podcast, Steve Nygren, Art Farm, public art, creativity, culture, biophilic community, artist residencies, sculptures, theater in nature, concerts by the pond, transfer fee model, community building, creative placemaking, arts and wellbeing, art and neuroscience, Curtis Patterson, community design, sustainable community, supporting artists Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Once upon a time, community wasn’t something you had to schedule, swipe for, or search out in a Facebook group. It was simply part of daily life. In this episode, Steve Nygren explores the loneliness epidemic, how our modern world has stripped away built-in community, and what it will take to bring it back.He dives into how thoughtful design choices like walkable streets, welcoming front porches, and all-important “third places” can help weave back some of the social fabric we’ve lost. And this sense of connection isn’t just for adults. Kids and elders, the bookends of every community, are often the most isolated today. Giving children the freedom to roam and ensuring older adults remain woven into daily life isn’t nostalgic, it's essential for building healthy, resilient, and connected communities.You’ll also hear from designer and conversation expert Fred Dust, city planner and walkability expert Jeff Speck, and Serenbe’s own Garnie Nygren and Dr. Phil Tabb, as together we explore how small design choices, intergenerational living, and even casual encounters with neighbors can transform our health and happiness.This episode is an invitation to imagine a world of free-range kids, uncaged elders, and communities where connection is built into the everyday.Show NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastWellness Begins With Community: 5 Ways That Serenbe Builds For Human Connection by Steve Nygren (Substack)Serenbe Urbanism: A biophilic theory and practice of sustainable placemaking by Phillip James TabbMaking Conversation: Seven Essential Elements for Meaningful Communication by Fred DustWalkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff SpeckKeywords: community, community building, walkable cities, walkability, walkable, connection, loneliness epidemic, conversation, Fred Dust, Jeff Speck, Phill Tabb, Steve Nygren, Serenbe, biophilic design, biophilic cities, third places, urban planning, urban design Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Explore how community design influences wellness, not just fitness trends. Discover the power of local food systems in fostering health and connection, with insights on sustainable practices. Learn about the importance of organic gardening and the relationships it nurtures with the environment. Hear thought leaders discuss how sacred geometry ties into health and community responsibility. This vibrant conversation reimagines spaces for better health and happiness, emphasizing that thriving is a collective endeavor.

What makes a place feel magnetic? Why do some neighborhoods and buildings leave you feeling inspired, while others feel sterile and disconnected? In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, we explore how the built environment shapes our sense of joy, connection, and belonging.You’ll hear from neurologist Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, who explains how our brains respond to beauty and why elements like coherence, fascination, and hominess are essential to creating spaces that feel truly welcoming. Serenbe’s land planner Dr. Phil Tabb and urbanist Diana Lind also join the conversation to discuss how architectural variety, thoughtful placement, and mixed-use design infuse neighborhoods with both beauty and charm.At Serenbe, that means wide porches, walkable streets, and hamlets with distinct personalities. These choices echo timeless towns while offering something fresh. From zoning laws that sap character to design principles that spark delight, this episode uncovers why beauty and charm are vital ingredients for places that feel alive, authentic, and deeply human.Show NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastThe Aesthetic Brain: How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art by Dr. Anjan ChatterjeeBrave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing by Diana LindBiophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future Phillip TabbKeywords: Beauty, Charm, Architecture, Neuroaesthetics Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, Phil Tabb, Diana Lind, Serenbe, Placemaking, urban design, walkability, community design, authentic neighborhoods, zoning, mixed-use development, timeless towns, porches, hamlets, connection, belonging, sense of place, fascination, coherence, hominess, human-centered design, why beauty matters in architecture, charming neighborhoods design, neuroaesthetics and architecture, walkable community design. creating authentic neighborhoods, timeless architecture principles, mixed-use community benefits, how zoning laws shape neighborhoods, sense of place in architecture Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Access to nature isn’t just a luxury. It's essential for our health, our well-being, and the resilience of our communities. But what happens when the fields, forests, and streams we once knew are paved over by highways, strip malls, and suburban sprawl?In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores our deep connection to (and disconnection from) the natural world. From the science of nature deficit disorder to the philosophy of biophilia, from America’s problematic obsession with manicured lawns to the potential of pollinator-friendly and edible landscapes, Steve unpacks how nature shapes us in profound ways.Along the way, he’s joined by some of the leading voices in this movement: Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, environmental health expert Dr. Howard Frumkin, architect Liz Calabrese, and land planner Phil Tabb. Together, they make a powerful case for why reconnecting with nature is both common sense and urgent.A greener, healthier future is possible. It’s already taking root in communities across the country. The only question is, will you choose to be part of it? Want to dive deeper? Steve’s book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense, comes out on October 7th, 2025, and is available for pre-order now wherever you get books. 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.Show NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastBiophilic Solutions PodcastLast Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard LouvBiophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future Phillip TabbPlanetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves by Samuel Myers and Howard Frumkin Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Start In Your Own Backyard is a mini-series about how the choices we make, both big and small, can transform the world around us. For host Steve Nygren, this is personal. Two decades ago, while running through the woods on his beloved family farm, he spotted bulldozers toppling trees for what he feared was another soulless suburban development. That sobering moment sparked a question that changed the course of his life: Isn’t there a better way to build community? One that works with nature, not against it?The answer became Serenbe, a community built on biophilic principles, sustainable living, and the idea that well-being starts in the everyday spaces where we live, work, and connect with others.Through stories, guest experts, and personal reflections, Start In Your Own Backyard invites listeners to find their own sense of agency. Whether it’s rethinking your diet, running for school board, planting edible landscapes, or advocating for change in your city, the podcast explores what it means to take action right where you are.With a strong belief in the power of optimism, even when things feel tough, this series shows how each of us can create ripples of positive change. In this first episode, Steve shares his transformative path to founding Serenbe, a thriving community rooted in nature on the outskirts of Atlanta. He talks about why the built environment lies at the heart of so many modern challenges, the personal healing he discovered in nature, and how each of us can take steps toward positive change starting right where we are.Want to dive deeper? Steve’s book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense, comes out on October 7th, 2025, and is available for pre-order now wherever you get books. 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. Published by Matt Holt Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster.General Inquiries: hello@stevenygren.comPress Inquiries: press@stevenygren.comSpeaking Engagements: speaking@stevenygren.comFor Bulk Orders, please complete this formShow NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastKeywords: Serenbe, Steve Nygren, wellness community, nature-connected living, sustainable community, intentional community design, biophilic design, built environment, urban plann Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Christina and Jeff Escalante first discovered the transformative power of community during a whirlwind backpacking trip that took them to intentional communities in places like Spain, Israel, and Japan. At the time, they were living in a New York City apartment building where they barely knew their neighbors, a stark contrast that left a lasting impression.Fast forward a few years to the height of the pandemic. Christina was finishing her medical residency in Philadelphia, and the couple began searching up and down the East Coast for a new place to call home. Their commitment to the idea of intentional community was so strong that they even considered building one themselves – until a realtor in Atlanta recommended they visit Serenbe and everything clicked. Within three days of exploring the neighborhood, they were under contract on a new home.As if that story weren’t inspiring enough, Christina is also the co-founder of Acorn to Oak, a personalized healthcare practice based right here in Serenbe. She provides care for children from birth through age 18, while her partner, Dr. Samer Blackmon, sees adult patients. Designed from the ground up, this innovative and welcoming practice is focused on building deep, meaningful relationships with every patient.In this episode, Monica and Steve sit down with Christina to talk about planting roots in a close-knit community, the scary but rewarding journey of starting her own medical practice, and the everyday magic of Food Truck Fridays in Serenbe.ShownotesAcorn to Oak HealthSerenbe Events CalendarRadical Dough The General Store at SerenbeKeywords: serenbe, community, intentional community, lifestyle, medicine, healthcare, personalized healthcare, medical practice, acorn to oak, travel, backpacking, intentional living, medical school, residency, pediatric medicine, New York City, New York, Philadelphia, road trip, motherhood, parenting, parenthood Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Josh Green is an Atlanta-based journalist whose work has appeared in prominent publications such as Garden & Gun, Atlanta Magazine, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Urbanize Atlanta, where he covers the city’s evolving real estate landscape and development trends. Josh first visited Serenbe with his family all the way back in 2013 – and while he recognized its promise, he also saw that this budding community still had a long way to go. Since that first visit, he’s had a front-row seat to Serenbe’s evolution and he’s written extensively about the urban planning and architecture that make it stand out from Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs.Beyond journalism, Josh is also an accomplished fiction writer. His debut novel, Secrets of Ash, earned the Indie Reader Discovery Award for Literary Fiction and earned him a nomination for the 2024 Georgia Author of the Year. His latest release, Goodbye, Sweetberry Park, came out just last month and is already getting rave reviews.In this conversation, Steve and Monica sit down with Josh to talk about Serenbe’s transformation over the years, the importance of supporting local authors, and how storytelling helps us make sense of the places we live.Show NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenUrbanize AtlantaGoodbye, Sweetberry Park: A Novel of City Life, Creeping Gentrification and Flesh-eating Snakes by Josh GreenKirkwood Spring Festival | May 17 2025Gothic short stories and a comic crime thriller for spring reading (Atlanta Journal Constitution)Serenbe Unveils Plans for Large New Neighborhood with Central Park (Urbanize Atlanta)Serenbe at 20 (Urbanize Atlanta)Hollywood to Serenbe: Finding Magic in Community with Randy Zisk (Serenbe Stories)ARTS ATLSerenbe Events CalendarKeywords: Josh Green, Serenbe, journalism, urban planning, novel writing, Atlanta neighborhoods, family experiences, book promotion, gentrification, Atlanta, built environment, biophilic design, architecture, design, nature, biophilia Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren.Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle TodayPre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.