Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

Where Science and Spirit Meet with Lyanda Lynn Haupt

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a world where many of us feel increasingly disconnected from the Earth and from one another, author Lyanda Lynn Haupt offers us a way back. Through...

Maria Rodale on Love, Magic, and Listening to Her Garden

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Nature, Coherence, and Constructing Health with Tye Farrow

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Solutions Rewind: David Orr on Saving Democracy—and the Planet

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 natura...

Nature, Transformation, and Radical Common Sense with Steve Nygren

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Modern life often leaves us on the treadmill of constant striving, chasing markers of success that don’t necessarily bring fulfillment. But what hap...

Regenerative Agriculture and the Heart of the World with Kelsey Timmerman

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Regenerative agriculture isn’t new. To quote today’s guest, it’s an “exciting old thing.” Yet in the modern world, this ancient, innate wisd...

The Magic and Mystery of Nighttime with Leigh Ann Henion

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When was the last time you really experienced nighttime? In our modern world of glowing screens, bright porch lights, and 24/7 brightness, true darkne...

Journal of Biophilic Design: How to Design a Biophilic Community

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

What the Earth Is Telling Us with Threshold’s Amy Martin

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Small Steps, Big Waves: How You Can Help Protect Our Oceans with Katie Day

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, Monic...

Nature Has The Answers: Lessons Learned After 100 Biophilic Conversations

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past few years, we've had the privilege of sitting down with visionaries, scientists, designers, farmers, poets, and policymakers. Each ...

Rooted in Wisdom: Indigenous Voices and the Amazon Rainforest with Dr. Tracey Osborne

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we’re diving into one of the most urgent and complex challenges of our time: how to truly and equitably mitigate climate change, starting in ...

The Future Is Local: Rebuilding Economies and Healing the Earth with Helena Norberg-Hodge

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Time and again, we've examined how the challenges we face – poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and more – are deeply intertwined...

Miki Agrawal on Motherhood, Nature-Inspired Business, and Mushrooms That Eat Plastic

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s face it. Our waste habits are, well, pretty wasteful. Every single day, more than 27,000 trees are cut down just to make toilet paper. Meanwhi...

What Nature Teaches Us About Belonging with Radha Agrawal

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode, we’re delving into the growing epidemic of loneliness, examining its root causes, far-reaching impacts, and what it will take ...

A Wild New Way To Work with Megan Leatherman

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For many people, work simply isn’t working anymore. Wages have stagnated while the cost of living continues to rise. Endless hours in front of a scr...

Designing Landscapes of the Future with Superbloom

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we’re exploring the landscapes of the future with Stacy Passmore and Diane Lipovsky, co-founders of the award-winning landscape architecture ...

Douglas Rushkoff on Reclaiming Our Humanity with Nature & Collaboration

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re living in an era largely defined by consumerism, social media addiction, climate change, and political unrest. Given all of that, it’s reall...

Seasonal Wisdom: Learning from Nature’s Cycles

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re sitting down with Rebecca Magee to discuss the importance of seasonal living, the need to honor periods of rest, and how reconnecti...

Biophilia in Turbulent Times

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As we launch Season 5, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the vital role of nature in uncertain times. Our connection to the natural world isn’t ...

Introducing Season 5 of Biophilic Solutions

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Season 5 of Biophilic Solutions premieres on Tuesday, March 4th! This season, we're taking a broader approach to biophilia—going beyond archite...

Less Rush, More Cheer: What We’re Reading This Winter

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This year, we’re embracing the slower pace of winter and our mantra is less rush, more cheer. More time with family and friends, more warm cups of t...

A Darker Wilderness with Erin Sharkey

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does the natural world bear witness to history? What lessons can nature teach us about survival, adaptation, and connection? This week, we’re explor...

Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves with Dr. Howard Frumkin

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 heal...

Redefining Wildness with 'Wild Souls' Author Emma Marris

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

What Do We Owe Animals? With ‘Meet the Neighbors’ Author Brandon Keim

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We know that many animals possess “human-like” qualities: the ability to play, sustain friendships, mate for life, and even reflect on the past. B...

A Thriving City is a Walkable City with Jeff Speck

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the rise of suburban sprawl and city planning that has prioritized car travel above all else, modern American cities seriously lack comfortable w...

Mushroom Hunting and the Joy of Discovery with Emily & Gregory Han

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mushrooms are fascinating. They’re not quite plants and they’re not quite animals. Unique and charming mushroom caps are just the fruit of a massi...

Social Prescribing and Nature as Medicine with Author Julia Hotz

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 unconv...

Author Talk: Wellness Architecture and Urban Design with Dr. Phill Tabb

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ent...

The Mini-Forest Revolution with Hannah Lewis

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ab...

Biophilic Leaders Fireside Chat: Ryan Gravel, Michael Phillips & Steve Nygren

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Biophilic Solutions, we are presenting a Fireside Chat recorded live at the 2024 Biophilic Leadership Summit, a multi-day conferenc...

Biophilic Summer Reading: Our 2024 Picks

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hello! Monica and Jennifer here, back yet again with some of our favorite books from the past year. We think that there is no better way to enjoy the ...

Beauty, Awe, and Biodiversity in Old Growth Forests with Joan Maloof

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Old Growth Forests, natural forests that have grown undisturbed over a long period of time, offer a wide variety of benefits including storing more ca...

Harnessing the Power of New Technology for Greener Cities with Nadina Galle

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The smart cities movement, which seeks to optimize public wellbeing through the use of technology and data, and the biophilic cities movement are happ...

Myth, Science, and the Age of Deer with Erika Howsare

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the lives of many humans, deer occupy a really fascinating middle ground between so many binaries: domestic and wild, familiar and alien, beautiful...

How Austin L. Ray is Fixing Atlanta

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is a great example of using your unique skills to amplify your impact. This week, Monica is chatting with Atlanta-based writer Austi...

Calling Business Leaders to Action with David S. Eady

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy to think that business interests are diametrically opposed to environmental progress - and in many cases, you wouldn’t be wrong. However...

Nature in Recovery & Corridors of Beauty with Karen Lloyd

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does it really mean when we talk about reconnecting with nature? To actually connect with nature, is it enough to simply get outside? Who speaks ...

Expedition Behavior: Growing Leaders with NOLS President Sandy Colhoun

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Time and time again, we’ve seen that spending time in nature has profound effects on our physical and mental wellbeing, but did you know that the ou...

Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration with Doug Tallamy

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

E.O. Wilson once said, “if insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos”- and he wasn’t wrong. In fact, our entire food sys...

The Life Changing Power of Outdoor Adventure with Shelby Stanger

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today, Shelby Stanger, believes that a little bit of outdoor adventure is the key to a full and happy life. In fact, Shelby credits her own ...

The High Line, Therme, & Social Infrastructure with Robert Hammond

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today, Robert Hammond, has dedicated his life to creating vibrant public spaces that foster human connection, wellbeing, and bring out the b...

Ellen M. Bassett on Design Innovation, Urban Planning, and Global Perspectives

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thoughtful and creative design can change the world, from the products we use every day to innovative and climate-resilient buildings, to entire citie...

The 2023 Biophilic Holiday Reading List

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s officially cozy season! This week, Monica and Jennifer are back with another roundup of biophilic holiday reads, perfect for gifting or curling...

Public Green Space is Essential Infrastructure with George Dusenbury

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone should live within 10 minutes of a public park. Why? Because public green space improves overall health, strengthens community ties, combats ...

Finding Deeper Wellness in Nature with Dr. Mark Campbell

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On the surface, you may not think that the military or professional baseball have much to do with fields like wellness, mindfulness, or biophilia - bu...

Beware of Biophobia with Journalist Emily Harwitz

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At this point, we all know that biophilia literally means the love of nature, right? But have you ever stopped to consider its opposite, biophobia? If...

The Economics of Biophilic Design with Bill Browning and Catie Ryan

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The health benefits of biophilic design are well-established: reduced anxiety, improved focus, lower heart rate, and generally just better overall wel...

Getting Into the (Sea)Weeds with Keel Labs’ Aleks Gosiewski and Tessa Callaghan

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For the future of sustainable textiles, should we look no further than … the ocean? Today we’re speaking with Aleks Gosiewski and Tessa Callaghan,...

Buildings That Last For 500 Years with ZGF Architects’ Kathy Berg

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re exploring buildings that are biophilic, climate resilient, and set the gold standard for net positive, responsible design. Specific...

Positive Tipping Points & Transformative Change with Dr. Tim Lenton

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If a negative climate tipping point refers to a critical threshold that triggers irreversible damage, then it stands to reason that a positive tipping...

How Dr. Sheri Parks is Reviving Indigo Dye and Cultivating Community in Maryland and Beyond

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re exploring the intersection of agriculture, artistry, and history through the lens of indigo, a significant cash crop in the colonia...

Nature, Culture & The Sacred with Bioneers Co-Founder Nina Simons

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today, Nina, Simons, believes that the root of many social and environmental problems we face today can be traced back to a fundamental imba...

The Brain Is Your Client: Biophilic Architecture with Dr. Tuwanda Green

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re diving into the world of human-centered architecture and its profound impact on brain health with Dr. Tuwanda Green, Adjunct Instruc...

Biophilic Summer Reading: Our 2023 Picks

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer and Monica here! We’ve officially reached the height of Summer. The days are long, it’s (very) hot outside, and there’s nothing we want...

Beast Mode: Wildlife Recovery & Ecological Restoration with Environmental Philosopher Christopher J. Preston

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During the early weeks of the pandemic, when human activity and movement were significantly reduced, there were reports of various animals returning t...

Biodesign, Chemistry, & The Future of Fashion with Dr. Karen Pearson

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of biodesign, exploring the amazing opportunities that arise when science, technology, and fashion come t...

Eco-Conscious Fashion & Nature’s Wisdom with Mara Hoffman

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re thrilled to be speaking with fashion designer Mara Hoffman, the President and Creative Director of her own namesake brand, known th...

Biophilic Leadership Summit: The Nature of Wood with Bill Browning

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As humans, we have notable biophilic responses to natural materials, forms, fractal patterns, and so much more. However, one material stands out from ...

Sustainable Packaging, In-Store Recycling, and Clean Standards with Credo Beauty Founder Annie Jackson

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We caught up with Credo Co-Founder & COO Annie Jackson at the 17th FIT Sustainable Business & Design Conference to talk all about clean beauty...

Conversational Communities in Nature with Author Fred Dust

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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’...

The Simple Power of Being Outside with Merrell’s Lindsey Lindemulder

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Thin Places, Sacred Architecture, and Biophilic Patterns with Dr. Phill Tabb

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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? I...

Olmsted, Awe, and America’s Public Lands with Author Jeffrey H. Ryan

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

Nature and Renewal with Mindfulness Expert Nina Smiley

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Case For Climate Optimism with Anne Therese Gennari

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 oft...

Introducing Season 3 of Biophilic Solutions

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Season 3 of Biophilic Solutions premieres on January 24th! This season, we'll explore some new topics like climate optimism, national parks, and ...

Amplifying Your Impact with The Carbon Almanac’s Paige NeJame

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re talking all about how to amplify your impact with Carbon Almanac contributing writer Paige NeJame. Have you ever wondered whether y...

Biophilic Books for the Holidays

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We firmly believe that this time of year should be all about slowing down, enjoying quality time with friends and family, and of course enjoying some ...

Building With Nature & Scaling Biophilic Ideas with Mary Davidge

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Davidge has spent her career at the forefront of biophilic design. Between 2014 and 2021, Mary served as Google’s Director of Global Design, wh...

The Campaign for Nature: Safeguarding Biodiversity with Brian O’Donnell

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world is losing its biodiversity at a rapid rate, due in large part to habitat loss caused by climate change. These dual threats pose serious risk...

Plant Based Snacks For A Healthy Planet with Eat the Change Co-founder Seth Goldman

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of our most effective tools for improving planetary health is the food we choose to eat. In environmental terms, a vegetarian diet is great and a ...

Saving The World’s Quiet Places with Matt Mikkelsen

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Natural places, untouched by man made noise pollution, are practically nonexistent in the modern world. Unfortunately, the lack of quiet in today’s ...

Restorative Spaces Inspired by Nature with Oliver Heath

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Picture this: you’re at the office and you’re having a terrible day. We’ve all been there at one time or another. So … where do you go to cry?...

Shifting to a Green Economy with Dr. Edward B. Barbier

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re diving into environmental economics, specifically how global economies can start valuing nature and shift to a model that is greener...

Native Plants, Wildness, and Landscape Architecture with Dr. Alfred Vick

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is it important to know the cultural context of a place? How do landscape architects help connect us to nature? This week we’re talking all about Na...

Rethinking Housing with ‘Brave New Home’ Author Diana Lind

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re exploring the rise of the single-family home and its many pitfalls, including the isolation brought on by large homes on expansive ...

Silence, Awe, and Being Present with 'Golden' Authors Leigh Marz & Justin Zorn

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Highway of the Future with The Ray’s Allie Kelly

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re talking all things highway transportation. Transportation infrastructure is one of the most damaging systems...

The Ultimate Biophilic Summer Reading List

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Monica and Jennifer are sharing their top picks for the ultimate biophilic summer reading list! Whether you’re just starting out on your ...

Anger vs. Optimism and the Way Forward: BONUS with David Orr

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ba...

How Biophilia Makes Our Democracy Stronger with David Orr

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re diving deep into the intersection of democracy and the environmental movement, why it’s imperative that all lawmakers agree to th...

Form Follows Feeling: Serenity, Human Emotion, and Design with Suchi Reddy

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do we connect human emotion to the built environment? Is it possible to design spaces that produce serenity and wellbeing? Can we harness technolo...

Your Brain on Nature: Neuroaesthetics and Biophilia with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re exploring the neuroscience behind our relationship to beauty. Are we culturally conditioned to prefer certain landscapes, works of a...

Biophilic Patterns, Awe, and a New Industrial Revolution with Interface’s Kari Pei

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Biophilic Design and the Human Habitat with Dr. Judith Heerwagen

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re diving into the psychology of biophilic design -  why we find it so appealing, the evolutionary basis for preferring certain lands...

Creating A Destination for Holistic Healing with Dr. Elizabeth Trattner

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re chatting with Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a renowned acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese Integrative Medicine, who works with cli...

What’s Your Nature Score? With NatureQuant Founder Jared Hanley

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re speaking with Jared Hanely, the CEO and founder of NatureQuant, a company whose mission is to leverage technology to promote a grea...

Water and Wellbeing with Blue Mind Author Wallace J. Nichols

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever felt instantly calm upon arriving at the ocean or a rural lake? Or even felt the need to dip into a hot bath after a tough day? This wee...

Flight Path and Lost Waters with Urban Designer Hannah Palmer

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re chatting with urban designer and author Hannah S. Palmer about the second longest river in Georgia, the Flint River - a river that ...

E.O. Wilson’s Life and Legacy with Biographer Richard Rhodes

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“Biophilia is the connection that human beings innately seek with the natural world.” - E.O. WilsonThis week on Biophilic Solutions, Monica and Je...

Introducing Season 2 of Biophilic Solutions

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Biophilic Solutions will be back on January 18th! Here, Monica and Jennifer check in about what they've learned over the past year and give our l...

The Economics of Conservation with Stacy Funderburke

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re talking to Stacy Funderburke, Associate State Director for Georgia and Alabama and Regional Counsel for the ...

Plant-Based Snacking and the Joy of Nature with R.E.D.D. Founder Alden Blease

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re talking to Alden Blease, the founder and Chief Creative officer of R.E.D.D., a highly successful  (not to m...

Front Lawns, Biodiversity & Bylaws: Nina-Marie Lister

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Monica and Jennifer sit down with Nina-Marie Lister, Graduate Director and Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerso...

Creating Outdoor Citizens: Appalachian Mountain Club’s John Judge

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we speak with John Judge, President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the oldest conservation organization i...

John Piotti on the Future of Food & Our Planet

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What do farmland loss and a rapidly changing climate mean for the future of food? How can we harness the power of agriculture, urban farming, and rege...

Everything You Need to Know About The Biophilic Leadership Summit

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Biophilic Leadership Summit brings together thought-leaders from fields like agriculture, urban planning, architecture, and climate science to lea...

Biophilia is Imperative to Our National Security: Col. Mark “Puck” Mykelby

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From our good friends over at Serenbe Stories, hear Monica and Steve Nygren’s interview with retired marine Colonel Mark “Puck” Mykleby. In this...