Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

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 NotesMaria RodaleLove, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys Into the Heart of My Garden by Maria RodaleOrganic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe by Maria RodaleMaria’s Newsletter on SubstackDoug Tallamy’s Hub (Homegrown National Park)Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne SimardKeywords: 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 livingBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesConstructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s HealthFarrow PartnersFarrow Partners Knowledge Hub | Enriched EnvironmentsFarrow Partners Knowledge Hub | Embreathment The 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design Image Credit:  Farrow Partners Architects, Photographer Tom ArbanKeywords: 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, placemakingBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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. OrrDemocracy Unchained: How To Rebuild Government For The People, edited by David W. Orr, Andrew Gumbel, Bakari Kitwana, and William S. BeckerDangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward by David OrrDemocracy in a Hotter Time, presentation at Elon University (YouTube)Design with Nature by Ian L. McHargThe Biophilia Hypothesis, edited by E.O. Wilson and Stephen R. KellertDr. David Orr and Dr. Miranda Yaver on the Stand Up! With Pete Dominick PodcastChildren & Nature NetworkLast Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard LouvDoughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist by Kate RaworthKeywords:  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 economyBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesOrder your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenListen to the Start In Your Own Backyard PodcastSteve Nygren on SubstackSteve Nygren on Instagram and LinkedInLearn 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-beingBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesAbout Kelsey TimmermanRegenerating Earth: Farmers Working with Nature to Feed Our Future by Kelsey TimmermanWhere Am I Eating? By Kelsey TimmermanWhere Am I Giving? By Kelsey TimmermanWhere Am I Wearing? By Kelsey TimmermanHow Regenerative Farming Can Feed the Future (The Packer)Rodale InstituteHealth & Happiness ProjectSoil 4 ClimateKey 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 mindsBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesNight Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann HenionLeigh Ann Henion on InstagramAbout Leigh Ann HenionBurnout 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 Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesPre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenListen to the Start In Your Own Backyard PodcastSteve Nygren on SubstackThe Journal of Biophilic DesignLearn More about SerenbeBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesThresholdAbout AmyNature’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)Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesAction Alert: Protect Our Coasts From Offshore Oil DrillingAbout Katie DaySurfrider FoundationReef Friendly Sunscreen GuideHaereticus LabsKey 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 Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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 NotesSister Seasons | Regenerate Yourself and the Planet at the Same TimePlanetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves edited by Samuel Myers and Howard FrumkinLocal FuturesPositive 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 SpeckNina-Marie ListerTeam Human by Douglas RushkoffThe Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence WilliamsKeywords: 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 Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers