Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

What is the deepest silence you’ve ever known? That’s the key question posed by Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn in their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise. For Justin and Leigh, silence means many things beyond the literal absence of noise. Silence can be found in moments of calm, moments of awe, and self-transcendent experiences like witnessing a birth or death. When we venture out into nature, we hear nature’s sounds all around us but the feeling of calm and tranquility gives us the quiet contemplation we desperately need. In today’s episode of Biophilic Solutions, we chat with Justin & Leigh about the incessant noise and pace of modern life, finding silence to foster greater connection to the world and to each other, and why true silence is completely different for everyone. Show NotesGolden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise by Justin Zorn & Leigh MarzHow to Build a Culture that Honors Quiet Time (Harvard Business Review)The Busier You Are, The More You Need Quiet Time (Harvard Business Review)Is noise bad for us? The authors of ‘Golden’ on why silence is good for your brain (Salon)A new book considers what silence is and how it can enrich us (Boston Globe)Astrea StategiesKey Words: Silence, Quiet, Nature, Biophilia, Focus, Attention, Technology, Meditation, Mindfulness, Wellness, ActivismBiophilic 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 talking all things highway transportation. Transportation infrastructure is one of the most damaging systems on the planet, both in terms of human safety and environmental impact. What solutions could we possibly employ to transform highways, making them safer, more efficient, and carbon neutral? It may seem like a pipe dream, but many solutions are right at our fingertips. Our guest is Allie Kelly, Executive Director of The Ray, a stretch of highway in southern Georgia that acts as a living laboratory for some of the most innovative ideas in transportation. Imagine the impact of installing solar panels on unutilized right of ways, replacing resource-intensive turf grass with pollinator plants, or even being able to charge your electric vehicle by simply driving over pavement embedded with solar-powered cells? These examples barely scratch the surface of all the incredible work that’s happening at The Ray. Listen in and learn about how The Ray is revolutionizing a notoriously inefficient system to create a zero impact, zero waste, and zero death highway of the future. Show NotesThe RayAllie Kelly, Executive Director of The RayTechnology: The Ray TodayTechnology: Launching SoonTechnology: Down The RoadHow 3 Technologies will revolutionize roads and highways (TEDxAtlanta)Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Advances Expansion & Modernization of the Electric Grid (The White House)Key Words: Transportation, Department of Transportation, Highway, Technology, Energy, Clean Energy, Solar, Solar Power, Right of Way Solar, Electric Vehicle, EV, biodiversity, pollinator, biophilia, nature, net zero, carbon neutral, climate change, climate solutions, carbon emissions, renewable energy, infrastructure, highway infrastructure 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

Monica and Jennifer share a biophilic summer reading list with books on climate change, self-discovery, and focus. They explore the impact of technology distractions on cognitive abilities and the benefits of connecting with nature. Embrace stillness, slow down in the summer, and enjoy reading outdoors while supporting local bookstores.

What does it mean to be an engaged citizen or an effective activist? How can we shift from anger to hope and then create meaningful change? We’re back this week with a special bonus episode, an off-the-cuff conversation with David Orr, renowned scholar of political and environmental science and co-editor of Democracy Unchained: How to Rebuild Government for the People. We chat about finding the right balance between anger and optimism, recognizing and overcoming the flaws baked into our system of government, and why we should be regulating tech. Show Notes Democracy 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 OrrDon’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change by George MarshallAddiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas by Natasha Dow Schull Key Words: nature, biophilic design, biophilia, politics, political science, tech, technology, technology and politics, democracy, climate, climate action, climate solutions, social media 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, we’re diving deep into the intersection of democracy and the environmental movement, why it’s imperative that all lawmakers agree to the rules of the game, and how biophilia might act as a bridge to the equitable, green future we want. We also weigh the merits of a circular economy and discuss what it means to be responsible citizens and stewards for future generations. Our guest is renowned scholar of environmental and political studies at Oberlin College David Orr, author of eight books, including Dangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward (2016) and co-editor of three others including Democracy Unchained: How To Rebuild Government For The People (2019). While at Oberlin, Dr. Orr led the effort to design and build the Adam Joseph Lewis Center, one of the first truly biophilic buildings in the United States. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Lyndhurst Prize, a National Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation, and a Visionary Leadership Award from Second Nature.Show NotesAbout David OrrThe Oberlin ProjectThe Adam Joseph Lewis CenterDemocracy 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: Biophilia, Climate Change, Climate, Environment, Policy, Politics, Environmental Policy, Biophilic Design, Nature, Wellness, Democracy, 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

Architect Suchi Reddy discusses connecting human emotion to design, biophilic spaces, and technology's role in a serene world. Reddymade's innovative approach, blending art and architecture, is highlighted. The podcast explores the impact of architecture on well-being and the cultural significance of nature in design. Suchi's focus on emotional well-being, recovery, and creating serene spaces is a central theme, emphasizing hope, beauty, and serenity in design.

This week we’re exploring the neuroscience behind our relationship to beauty. Are we culturally conditioned to prefer certain landscapes, works of art, and types of buildings or are those preferences universal? Why do some people embrace nature while others are fearful? Is there a way to measure biophilic design’s effect on neurodivergent individuals? We investigate all of those questions and more with our guest Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, a renowned professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chatterjee is at the forefront of a relatively new field called neuroaesthetics which examines the neural basis of aesthetic experiences. In other words, why do we deem certain things beautiful or pleasurable over others? Particularly with nature and biophilia, the answer may not be as clear-cut as you think. Show NotesAnjan Chatterjee, M.D.NeuroaestheticsBiophilia as Evolutionary Adaptation: An Onto- and Phylogenetic Framework for Biophilic Design (Frontiers in Psychology)Biophilia by Edward O. WilsonBuildings, Beauty and the Brain: Q&A with Anjan Chatterjee (CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society)What We Like About Built and Natural Spaces (Psychology Today)How Our Brains Decide What Is Beautiful (TED)Key Words: Neuroscience, Neurology, Neuroaesthetics, Neuroarchitecture, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Brain Health, Beauty, Art History, Architecture, Aesthetics, Nature, Psychology, Science, Research, Research and DevelopmentBiophilic 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 a global commercial flooring company has achieved carbon neutrality and is well on their way to net negative emissions? This week, we’re joined by Kari Pei, the Vice President of Product Design at Interface, to discuss the inspiration she finds in nature, the sustainable materials and manufacturing techniques that have made Interface a standard-bearer for environmentally friendly corporate practices, and the importance of awe. We also touch on some overlooked aspects of biophilic design, including texture and the impact that ambient noise has on our wellbeing. Interface is a commercial flooring company that specializes in carbon neutral tile and resilient flooring. Interface helps their customers create interior spaces that support wellbeing, productivity, creativity, and the health of the planet. As VP of Global Product Design, Kari Pei brings her fine art background to every aspect of the design process, drawing inspiration from nature and biophilic patterns. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2020 Manufacturer Leader HIP Award presented by Interior Design Magazine.Key Words: Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature, Sustainable, Corporate Responsibility, Net Zero Emissions, Carbon Negative, Awe, Product Design, Wellness Show NotesKari Pei of Interface Takes Home 2020 Manufacturer Leader HIP Award (Interior Design)Interface’s Sustainability JourneyInterface Achieves Carbon Negative Milestone with the Launch of Innovative Products to Decarbonize the Built Environment (PR Newswire)Ep. 156 Creating Happier Places with Biophilic Design (Clever Extra Podcast)Walk with Walsh at Serenbe with Kari Pei14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green)Awe (Terrapin Bright Green) - Coming Soon!Spotlight: I.M. Pei (ArchDaily)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

Delve into the psychology of biophilic design, the evolutionary basis of landscape preference, and fears of natural elements like snakes. Explore social experiences in nature, the impact of climate change, and Dr. Judith Heerwagen's expertise in behavioral impacts of buildings. Unpack the importance of integrating nature into building design for human health and well-being, and the challenges of education programs in biophilic design.

This week, we’re chatting with Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a renowned acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese Integrative Medicine, who works with clients on everything from autoimmune support to holistic beauty. Elizabeth has received widespread acclaim for her work and has been featured in publications like Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Allure. Elizabeth’s journey to holistic medicine began early in life, but her own experience battling chronic illness led to a very personal interest in green, nontoxic beauty, household, and building materials. In this episode, we chat with Elizabeth about Helia House, the new wellness center she just launched in Miami using the strictest standards for environmental impact. Show NotesDr. Elizabeth TrattnerThe Helia HouseSick Building Syndrome (WebMD)Living Building Challenge (Living Futures)Sacred Geometry Is Literally Everywhere - Here’s Where To Look & How To Use It (MindBodyGreen)15 Green building materials for an eco-conscious home (The Zebra)Elizabeth Trattner Debuts Helia House, a Non-Toxic Healing and Wellness Oasis for Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (Well Defined)Elizabeth Trattner Uses Alternative Medicine and Gemstone Facials to Treat Patients (Allure)Could We Be Inhaling Plastic? (Coveteur)7 Ways Acupuncture Changes Your Brain, According to Science (Bustle)Key Terms: Wellness and Beauty, Green Beauty, Health and Wellness, Holistic Medicine, Alternative Medicine, Clean Beauty, Sustainable Living, Biophilia, 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