Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

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 NotesMara Hoffman: Our ApproachMara Hoffman: Our MaterialsMara Hoffman: Our ManufacturingMara Hoffman: Our CommitmentsMara Hoffman: Wear More Wash LessMara Hoffman: Our GuidelinesMara Hoffman ResaleMara Hoffman NYC Flagship StoreBiophilic Cities ProjectThe Overstory by Richard PowersInterview: Designer Mara Hoffman on Sustainability in Fashion (Teen Vogue)Mara Hoffman’s Environmental Efforts Extend Beyond Clothing (Zoe Report)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, DesignBiophilic 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

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 InvestmentSoftwood Lumber BoardSasanqua 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 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 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 NotesRegister 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 BeautyCredo Clean StandardThe Dirty List®Credo For ChangeFIT Sustainable Business & Design ConferenceFashion 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, FITBiophilic 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 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 NotesLearn More & Register: The Biophilic Leadership Summit, April 23-26 in SerenbeAbout Fred DustMaking Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication by Fred DustBetter 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)IDEOKey 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 ChangeBiophilic 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

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 NotesMerrellInside MerrellReport: Inclusivity in the OutdoorsMerrell Launches Collaboration with Painter Jordan Ann Craig (PR Newswire)Sustainability at MerrellMerrell ReTread ProgramKey Words: Merrell, Merrell Footwear, Footwear, Outdoors, Outdoor Industry, Nature, Marketing, Biophilia, Biophilic, Sustainability, Sustainable Design, Recycling, Recycling Program, Inclusivity, Representation, Diversity, Self-Care, Wellness, RecreationBiophilic 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

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 NotesTickets: Biophilic Leadership Summit, April 23 - 26Confirmed Speakers: Biophilic Leadership SummitPre-Order Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous by Dr. Phillip James TabbDr. 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 KeltnerSerenity 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 IslandsBiophilic 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

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 NotesThis 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. RyanAppalachian Odyssey: A 28-Year Hike on America’s Trail by Jeffrey H. RyanMan and Nature by George Perkins MarshNortheast Wilderness Trust - Rewilding the NortheastAbout Jeffrey H. RyanThe Biophilic Leadership Summit, April 23-26 in SerenbeKey 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 TrailBiophilic 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

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 NotesMohonk Mountain HouseMindfulness at MohonkMindfulness in Nature by David Harp and Nina SmileyThe Three Minute Meditator: Reduce Stress. Control Fear. Diminish Anger. In Almost No Time At All by David Harp and Nina SmileyAn Intro to Forest Bathing: Where Mindfulness Meets Nature by Nina Smiley History of Mohonk Mountain HouseEnvironmental Stewardship at Mohonk Mountain HouseKey Words: nature, mindfulness, wellness, meditation, mindfulness meditation, Mohonk, Mohonk Mountain House, forest bathing, biophilia, biophilic, biophilic design, environment, eco tourism, tourismBiophilic 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

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 NotesThe Biophilic Leadership SummitThe Climate Optimist Handbook: How to shift the narrative on climate change and find the courage to choose change by Anne Therese GennariAbout Anne Therese Gennari The Climate Optimist Newsletter on SubstackHey Change: A Podcast On How To Change The WorldFrom Angry Activist to Climate Optimist (TEDxOneonta)Follow Anne Theres on InstagramKey Words: climate change, climate action, climate optimism, climate optimist, optimism, wellness, activism, activist, climate activism, biophilia, biophilicBiophilic 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

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!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