Serenbe Stories

Yoli Ouiya is passionate about sustainability and wellness, and is best known for her eco-lifestyle portal Yoli’s Green Living, which earned her the moniker “Queen of Green” by Black Enterprise Magazine. Her self-professed “first passion,” though, is food, and when COVID struck the world in early 2020, she turned her focus to food equity, co-founding The Food + Wellness Equity Collective. The collective is a diverse group of content creators and entrepreneurs committed to being change agents for equity, diversity, and anti-racism in the food and wellness industries.In this episode, Monica and Steve reminisce with Yoli about their kindred connection when meeting in New York at the 2017 Global Wellness Summit, and how that meeting brought Yoli to the first Biophilic Leadership Summit at Serenbe. They also talk about how Wholesome Wave, SNaP, and Rodale Institute are impacting food policy on local and national levels, how Yoli is changing the face of food and wellness by providing a safe place to talk about food policy issues, and how we can all #sharetheplate. 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.

Today we're talking with Bill Browning and Catie Ryan from Terrapin Bright Green. Bill is one of the green building and real estate industry’s foremost thinkers and strategists, and is an advocate for sustainable design solutions. As Co-Founder of Terrapin Bright Green, he is no stranger to biophilic design. Bill has worked with the Pentagon, Starwood Hotels, Google, the city of New York Building Resiliency, and the Rocky Mountain Institute, among many others. Catie joined Terrapin in 2008, and is their Director of Projects. She is the co-author of several books, including 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design and The Economics of Biophilia, which is a leading piece in the industry for case studies for designing with nature in mind.It's been more than 20 years since Steve Nygren met Bill Browning and was introduced to the concept of "biophilia." In today's episode, we talk about their early connections, and the major influencers in the green building industry as well as in developing Serenbe.Bill and Catie (and Bill's Zebra Finches) share their stories about their work at Terrapin Bright Green furthering the biophilic design research. They also discuss their new book Nature Inside: A Biophilic Design Guide, which we highly recommend and is out now. 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.

You may have thought "wellness" was just a buzzword, but it's also a $4.5 trillion dollar economy, with the wellness real estate sector making up $134 billion dollars of that. These figures were determined through extensive research done by The Global Wellness Institute, which is the non-profit research organization that grew out of the Global Wellness Summit, an annual think tank event made up of wellness industry leaders and releases annual trend forecasts. In today's episode, we talk with Institute Chairman and CEO Susie Ellis and Chief Creative Office and Executive Director Nancy Davis about the importance of sharing research and information to help people live healthier lives, and proving the value of global wellness. Hear how wellness is more than a great spa day. 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.

Today we're talking with one of the planet's most avid environmental advocates, Laura Turner Seydel. Laura works with and supports organizations that address urgent challenges affecting the health, functionality, and vitality of our life support system: Our air, water, land, food, biodiversity, and climate. She co-founded Chattahoochee Riverkeeper to help protect Georgians' drinking water, as well as Mothers & Others for Clean Air, which works to improve air quality for at-risk populations. Laura also serves on the boards for Children & Nature Network helping children realize the benefits of exposure to nature, Project Drawdown, which focuses on the top scalable solutions to address global warming, the United Nations Foundation,  the Nuclear Threat Initiative, and she is the Chair of the Captain Planet Foundation and Director of the Turner Foundation.In this episode, we talk about how her father, Ted Turner, instilled a love for the environment in her at an early age and how she's continued that legacy with her own children. She also tells us about what she's doing to teach all children about the environment and inspiring them to be Planeteers, and how we should all be coming together to to save our one and only home, Earth.Mentioned In The EpisodeCaptain Planet Foundation Project Drawdown Children & Nature Network Chattahoochee RiverkeeperSally Bethea  Hudson RiverkeeperTed TurnerGreta Thunberg Georgia ConservancyThe Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau 17 Goals of Sustainable Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs EcoSense for Living Jennie GarlingtonEdward Osborne (E.O.) Wilson  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.

Today's episode features Dr. Tim Beatley, who is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last twenty-five years. Much of Tim's work focuses on the subject of sustainable communities, and creative strategies by which cities and towns can fundamentally reduce their ecological footprints, while at the same time becoming more livable and equitable places. Tim Beatley believes that sustainable and resilient cities represent our best hope for addressing today’s environmental challenges, but as he says in this episode, "we have to move quickly."  Join us as we talk with Tim about what makes a Biophilic City, the importance of sustainability and resilience in city planning and design, and our ethical obligation to create a better future.Mentioned In The EpisodeBiophilic CitiesTim BeatleyGreen Urbanism: Learning from European CitiesRobin C. Moore Natural Learning Initiative Bill Browning Terrapin Bright Green SXSW EcoAmanda Sturgeon The Biophilic Institute Biophilic Cities Biophilic Leadership Summit Living Building Challenge Dianna Budds, Curbed Ethical Land Use: Principles of Policy and Planning1918 Influenza PandemicSingapore - The City in NatureRyan Gainey’s The Well-Placed WeedEnvironmental Resilience Institute Zealandia Nina Marie Lister’s natural garden in Toronto, CanadaNygren PlacemakingThe Nature of Cities Dr. Stephen R. 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.

In this episode, Steve Nygren and Monica Olsen talk with New York Times bestselling author Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and writer + podcaster Mary Annaïse Heglar about the power of voice, their love of nature, and the new book "All We Can Save," which showcases the work of women at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward. As Mary Annaïse says, "Climate isn't a story, it's a saga," and "we are the heroes in the tale of saving the planet.” Katharine calls on us all to be "climate curious,” and to open your heart and use your super powers. Join us as we discuss the power of storytelling in affecting change.Mentioned In The EpisodeAll We Can Save Hot Take podcast Subscribers to their weekly newsletter Chattahoochee NOW Trust for Public Land  Chattahoochee RiverLands Project Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson DRILLED Amy WesterveltLeah Stokes Kate Orff SCAPEEmily Atkin HEATED HEATED podcastThe Outdoor AcademyMary OliverAnnie Dillard Terry Tempest Williams The Pisgah National ForestLindsay Baker  Globescan “How empowering women and girls can stop global warming” Ray C. Anderson InterfaceGreen New DealMary Anne Hitt Sierra ClubCatherine Pierce Alice Walker Sewanee: The University of the South Madeleine Jubilee Saito  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.

As we kick off our season on Biophilia and how together we can build a Biophilic Movement, we first want to define its meaning. Joining us today is Liz Calabrese, an architect and leading educator of biophilic design. She co-authored "The Practice of Biophilic Design" with Dr. Stephen Kellert and has been an integral figure for over 30 years, working closely with many of the key players who popularized the term and concept of "biophilia" and does extensive work on projects seeking the Living Building Challenge and WELL Building Certifications. In this episode, Liz leads us through the history of the term and shares how its definition and practice has involved both philosophical circles and the building industry. She shares beautiful quotes by those considered to be the founders of the movement, and talks about what the future holds for biophilia. Other People + Organizations MentionedBill Browning Terrapin Bright Green John Todd Steven PeckThe Biophilic Institute Biophilic Cities Biophilic Leadership Summit Jon Hudson BrandCultureBiophilia Poster ExhibitionDr. Phillip Tabb Florence Williams Jennifer Walsh The Biophilia HypothesisRoger Ulrich Judith Heerwagen Living Building Challenge 14 Patterns of Biophilic DesignBiophilic CitiesTim Beatley WELL Building Standard Amanda Sturgeon Dennis Creech Southface Kendeda FundEkvn-Yefolecv  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.

Biophilia is hard to spell and hard to pronounce, but is easy to understand and makes all the sense in the world once you know it's meaning. Biophilia is the innate connection humans have with nature and all living things, and this deep affiliation is rooted in our biology. The theme of our fourth season is "Building a Biophilic Movement" and the wisdom behind the radical common sense solutions we can all find in nature.One year ago, we released our first season as a meaningful way to tell the story of Serenbe's Founder Steve Nygren. Today it has become a must listen for those seeking stories about having an impact and building a better life for you, your family and your neighbors. Over the course of twelve weeks, join us as we explore biophilia, what it is, why it's important and who are the leaders doing the work to grow this essential movement. We will dive into wellness, regenerative agriculture, public education, climate advocacy, equity and environmentalism, we'll ask what makes a biophilic city and more.The fourth season of Serenbe Stories returns on October 5. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere else you enjoy podcasts. 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.

Danny Seo is known for his national magazine and Emmy awarding winning TV show both named "Naturally, Danny Seo". Danny believes life should be naturally delicious, naturally beautiful and naturally easy, all presented with style and sustainability. Today we talk about his start as an Earth Day activist at 12 years old, how he became known as the sustainable Martha Stewart, when a postcard got him onto the Oprah show and using donated paper as a negotiating tool. We hope you enjoy this final episode of Season 3 of Serenbe Stories.Mentioned In The Episode Earth 2000 - The non-profit organization Danny started when he was 12 years old. By 18, he’d transformed it into the country’s largest teenage activist charity.Earth DayGeneration React: Activism for Beginners - Danny’s first bookMohawk Paper - Gave Danny their product for free so he could start his namesake magazine Naturally, Danny SeoNaturally, Danny Seo House at SerenbeNaturally, Danny Seo MagazineNaturally, Danny Seo TV ShowSimmons Natural Care by Danny Seo - Danny’s mattress collection with Atlanta-based Simmons Mattress Company. He first visited Serenbe in the early 2000s to do video and photo promotions for this line. Alternative-Lifestyle Guru Danny Seo, Doing Very Well By Doing Good - The Washington Post article dubbed Danny “the green Martha Stewart” 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.

Today's episode of Serenbe Stories features Daren Wang, Founder of the Decatur Book Festival, which one of the largest festivals in the country.  In this episode he shares how his love of music brought him to Atlanta, how he started the Decatur Book Festival, the artist residency selection process, and his vision for the future of the arts. He and Steve Nygren even make plans to put those dreams in motion! We hope you enjoy this episode of Serenbe Stories.Mentioned In The EpisodeThe Hidden Light of Northern FiresVerb Literary Magazine 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.