Episodes

Thoughtful and creative design can change the world, from the products we use every day to innovative and climate-resilient buildings, to entire cities that prioritize the health and vitality of the people who live in them. Our guest today is Dr. Ellen Bassett, the John Portman Dean of the College of Design at Georgia Tech, where such innovation is taking place on a daily basis. Ellen’s background lies in urban planning with areas of expertise in land use planning and law, sustainability, health...

It’s officially cozy season! This week, Monica and Jennifer are back with another roundup of biophilic holiday reads, perfect for gifting or curling up with by the fireplace. So, whether you’re looking for a beautiful coffee table book, inspiring looks at the science of spirituality, or words of wisdom inspired by nature, keep on listening. Shownotes Biophilic Solutions on Bookshop.org The 2024 Biophilic Leadership Summit Wild: The Naturalistic Garden by Clare Takacs and Noel Kingsbury Design ...

Everyone should live within 10 minutes of a public park. Why? Because public green space improves overall health, strengthens community ties, combats climate change, and - when implemented correctly - reduces inequality. Our guest today is George Dusenbury, Vice President Southern Region and the Georgia State Director at the Trust for Public Land, an organization whose mission is to expand access to the outdoors by creating public parks and protecting public lands. In this episode, we explore ex...

On the surface, you may not think that the military or professional baseball have much to do with fields like wellness, mindfulness, or biophilia - but that’s exactly where you’d be wrong according to today’s guest, Dr. Mark Campbell. Dr. Mark is a performance psychologist and consultant who works with clients across a wide range of challenging industries to optimize their wellbeing. He got his start working as a lead for the US Army’s performance psychology and resilience program, worked closel...

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 you’re a regular listener of this podcast, we’d be willing to bet you haven’t - and to be honest, we hadn’t either until we met today’s guest, science journalist Emily Harwitz. Emily’s recent article, ‘Beware Creeping Biophobia’ was picked up by multiple outlets like The Atlantic, The Tyee, and Haikai due to its insightful breakdown of the cycle t...

The health benefits of biophilic design are well-established: reduced anxiety, improved focus, lower heart rate, and generally just better overall wellbeing. However, how do those health benefits translate to financial outcomes? How do we get more business leaders and policymakers to implement biophilic design on a broader scale? Enter the latest publication from Terrapin Bright Green, The Economics of Biophilia second edition. This new report, co-authored by today’s guests Bill Browning and Cat...

For the future of sustainable textiles, should we look no further than … the ocean? Today we’re speaking with Aleks Gosiewski and Tessa Callaghan, the founders of Keel Labs, a sustainable materials company built on regenerative principles. Keel Labs’ signature product is Kelsun, a seaweed-based yarn with a significantly lower environmental footprint than traditional fibers. Alex and Tessa met as design students at the Fashion Institute of Technology and went on to win the first-ever Biodesign C...

This week, we’re exploring buildings that are biophilic, climate resilient, and set the gold standard for net positive, responsible design. Specifically, we’ll dive deep into two projects by ZGF Architects, an industry leader in sustainable and regenerative design: Portland’s PAE Building, the first developer-driven Living Building, and the very biophilic expansion of the main terminal at Portland International Airport. Our guest today is Kathy Berg, a partner with ZGF, who worked closely on bo...

If a negative climate tipping point refers to a critical threshold that triggers irreversible damage, then it stands to reason that a positive tipping point is the exact opposite - a beneficial axis that, when reached, staves off the worst planetary outcomes. Our guest today, Dr. Tim Lenton, is the Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter and is the Founder of the Global Systems Institute, an organization that uses a whole systems approach to solve global chal...

This week, we’re exploring the intersection of agriculture, artistry, and history through the lens of indigo, a significant cash crop in the colonial period with inextricable ties to the slave trade. So inextricable, in fact, that slavery wasn’t even legal in Georgia until 1751, when British governors recognized the economic potential of the plant and its distinctive blue dye. Our guest today is Sheri Parks, Ph.D is a renowned community strategist, scholar, and writer who currently serves as the...

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 imbalance between traditionally masculine and feminine attributes – and she has the evidence to back that up. In her latest book, Nature, Culture, & The Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership, Nina demonstrates how interconnected many modern problems really are and she lays out the ways in which we might overcome them, with women’s leadership and Indig...

This week we’re diving into the world of human-centered architecture and its profound impact on brain health with Dr. Tuwanda Green, Adjunct Instructor in the School of Architecture at Virginia Tech. Before getting her PhD, Dr. Green ran her own architecture firm for over 20 years, working primarily in commercial and government buildings, where her experience in military housing and facilities greatly informed her practice. Dr. Green believes that a science-minded and data-driven approach to bi...

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 to do more than hang out with a good book - preferably next to some kind of body of water. Failing that, we’ll take a big, icy, reusable water bottle. So, for this week’s episode, we’ve rounded up a list of our top picks for biophilic summer reads. From romance and awe to brain health and climate science-fiction, we’ve got something for everyone. The co...

During the early weeks of the pandemic, when human activity and movement were significantly reduced, there were reports of various animals returning to urban landscapes. Think coyotes in San Francisco, wild boar in Barcelona, and dolphins in Italian port cities. These unique resurgences pose interesting questions about the relationship between humans and animals, our ability to coexist, and wildlife resilience in general. In today’s episode, we’re joined by renowned environmental philosopher Dr....

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of biodesign, exploring the amazing opportunities that arise when science, technology, and fashion come together. Think faux leather that’s made with kombucha, functional yarn derived from seaweed, and performance clothing that replaces nylon and spandex with naturally sourced, biodegradable protein. Our guest is Dr. Karen Pearson, Professor of Chemistry at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Chair of FIT’s Sustainability Council. Karen has...

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 he...

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 pr...

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 commitme...

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 commun...

Whether 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...

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...

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 Forester...

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 ...

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 The...