Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

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. ShownotesPlanetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves edited by Samuel Myers and Howard Frumkin Trust for Public LandThe Land & People LabAwe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher KeltnerVitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature Rich Life by Richard LouvNational Nature Assessment COP29: What you need to know about the global climate summitKey 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 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

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 NotesEmma Marris WebsiteWild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World by Emma MarrisRambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World by Emma MarrisBeloved 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 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

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 NotesMeet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than Human World by Brandon KeimBrandon Keim WebsiteSubscribe to Brandon’s SubstackNonhuman Rights ProjectBooks by Richard LouvKey Words: Animals, Animal Welfare, Animal Rights, Nature, Nature Based Solutions, Biophilia, Biophilic, Animal Personhood, Zoo, Animal Intelligence, ScienceBiophilic 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

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 SpeckThe Smart Growth Manual by Jeff SpeckWalkable City Rules by Jeff SpeckSuburban 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 SolomonowConfessions of a Recovering Engineer by Charles L. MarohnKilled by a Traffic Engineer by Wes Marshall Andres Duany: Principles of New Urbanism (YouTube)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

Emily Han is a co-author of "Mushroom Hunting" and an advocate for nature connection, while Gregory Han is a design journalist and mushroom enthusiast. They explore the joy of mushroom hunting as a mindfulness practice, emphasizing its mental health benefits and the wonder of diverse fungi. The duo shares their personal stories, encourages curiosity in nature, and discusses responsible foraging. They also highlight the complexities of mushroom ecosystems and the importance of slowing down to connect deeply with the natural world.

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 NotesThe Connection Cure: he Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging by Julia HotzSocial Prescribing WebsiteYou’re Not Sick – Your Environment Is (Slate)The Connection Cure explores social prescriptions to improve mental health (NPR)Key Words: healthcare, public health, preventative medicine, nature, biophilia, biophilic design, culture, art, wellness, social prescribing, loneliness, health, lifestyle, mental health 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

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 NotesWellness Architecture and Urban Design by Phillip James Tabb and Lahra TatrielePresentation SlideshowGlobal Wellness InstituteMini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Restore the World by Hannah LewisSerenbeTerra School at SerenbeFivelements Retreat BaliKey Words: wellness, urban planning, urban design, biophilic design, biophilia, wellness real estate, real estate, nature, climate change, climate solutions, architecture, green architectureBiophilic 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

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 NotesRenewing the Countryside Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Restore the WorldBiodiversity for a Livable Climate Hannah Lewis WebsiteMaking a Mini-Forest DocumentaryKeywords: Biodiversity, Biophilia, Climate, Ecosystems, Forest, Hannah Lewis, Mini-Forest, Miyawaki Forest, Paris, Trees, VegetationBiophilic 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 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 PropertiesMichael Phillips BioPonce City MarketThe High LineRyan Gravel BookRyan Gravel WebsiteThe BeltLineBiophilic 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

Join Monica and Jennifer as they share their top book picks for the summer, focusing on mental health, architecture, and the natural environment. Discover how reconnecting with nature can enhance our well-being and lead to a more fulfilling life. From plant intelligence to bird watching, these recommendations will inspire you to embrace the beauty of the natural world this season.