Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

Latest Episodes:

Why Does Spending Time in Nature Make Us Happier? Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

This week, Monica and Jennifer sit down with Florence Williams, acclaimed author of "The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative." When it comes to understanding the science behind why time spent in nature is so beneficial for mental health, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who is more knowledgeable than Florence Williams. In this episode, we chat about prosocial emotions like serenity and awe, the benefits of forest bathing, the impact of city noises on our central nervous system, and why investing in some great outerwear is key to enjoying the outdoors every day of the year.
Show Notes

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams (2017)
Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv (2006)
To Fight the Winter Blues, Try a Dose of Nature, by Florence Williams (Wall Street Journal)
Is Your Noisy Neighborhood Slowly Killing You? by Florence Williams (Mother Jones)
The 3-Day Effect (Audible)
Florence Williams Podcasts
Pre-order Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams (2022)
Why Does Biophilic Design Make Us Feel So Good? With Bil Browning (Biophilic Solutions Episode 2)
How Do We Build Resilient Communities for the Future? With Dr. Phill Tabb (Biophilic Solutions Episode 1)

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

Building Living Machines with Biology, The Original Technology Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

This week, Monica and Jennifer sit down with Jasmina Aganovic to talk about all things beauty and biotechnology. After earning a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering from MIT, Jasmina worked with well-known beauty brands like Fresh and Living Proof before founding her own line, Mother Dirt, a brand that uses the naturally occurring bacteria found on human skin to treat and cleanse without stripping. Currently, Jasmina is the entrepreneur in residence at Gingko Bioworks, a biotechnology company working to bring nature to the forefront in innovation. We cover a lot of ground in this episode including Gingko’s partnership with Moderna, the weaknesses of the ‘clean’ beauty industry, and why biology is the ultimate technology.
Show Notes

Gingko Bioworks: The Organism Company
Grow by Gingko
No Soap, No Shampoo, Bacteria-Rich Hygiene Experiment, by Julia Scott (The New York Times)
Laboratory of Longings by Ani Liu

Why “No Farms, No Food” is a Biophilic Rallying Cry Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

This week, we're speaking with Beth Sauerhaft, the Vice President of Programs at American Farmland Trust. If you've seen the 'No Farms, No Food' bumper stickers, you're familiar with AFT whether you know it or not. In her current role, Beth oversees all of the programming that helps American Farmland Trust achieve its mission of preserving farmland, protecting farmers, and promoting environmentally sound farming practices. Prior to joining AFT, Beth has worked in sustainability roles at EPA, the Department of Agriculture, and even Pepsico. We'll talk about corporate responsibility, the importance of farmland for combating climate change, and the practices that can help farmers (and the planet) thrive.
Show Notes:

Beth Sauerhaft, Vice President of Programs, PhD, American Farmland Trust
Regenerative Agriculture is a System, Not a Single Practice, American Farmland Trust
Farmland for a New Generation in New York, by Erica Goodman (American Farmland Trust)
Farms Under Threat: Biodiversity and Agriculture, American Farmland Trust
Cover Crops Create Resilient Farms and Landscapes, by April Ann Opatik Murray (American Farmland Trust)
Women for the Land Initiative, American Farmland Trust
Donate to American Farmland Trust and Help Save the Land that Sustains Us
Get Your FREE ‘No Farms No Food’ Bumper Sticker
Vote in the 13th Annual Farmers’ Market Celebration

How Are Climate and Racial Justice Inextricably Linked? Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Biophilic Solutions, we talk to Jacqui Patterson, the Senior Director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program, about why we cannot separate our fight for planetary health from the fight for racial justice. Why is race, even more so that socioeconomic status, the single biggest indicator for placement of toxic facilities in the United States? Why do we silo issues like public health, race, and climate, when they are so closely related? Why is campaign finance reform essential as we move toward a greener and more equitable planet? We’ll address all of these questions and more.

Show Notes

Environmental and Climate Justice (NAACP)
At the Intersections by Jacqueline Patterson in All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, ed. by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson, 2020
Just Energy: Reducing Pollution, Creating Jobs Toolkit (NAACP)
20 Things We Can Do to Advance a Just and Sustainable Planet by Jacqueline Patterson
The Necessity of Harmony for a Sustainable Planet by Jacqueline Patterson (Humans & Nature), 2013
Q&A with Jacqueline Patterson, director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program by Holly Bowers (Arcadia), 2021
Move to Amend
Democracy Initiative
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): A home for white people working for justice

How Do We Build a Biophilic Movement? Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

How do we build a biophilic movement? Halfway through our first season, Monica and Jennifer reflect on the lessons they have learned so far and bring it all back to our innate love of and need for nature. They’ll dive deeper into their own backstories and relationships with nature, discuss why biophilia is a useful way to reframe the environmental conversation, and explore the importance of consciousness raising when growing a movement.

Show Notes

Follow The Biophilic Institute on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Prescribing Nature by Jennifer Walsh with Beth McGroarty (for the Global Wellness Summit
I Lived in a Tent for 3 Months. It Changed Everything … In a Good Way by Jennifer Walsh (Medium)
Serenbe

Follow Monica and Jennifer on Twitter

Bird Watching, Love & Diversity: How Biophilia Pushes Us Forward Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

We spoke with Dr. Drew Lanham, a distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Clemson University and the author of the Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature, to discuss the intersection of nature, humanity, and race. How have the natural sciences progressed since Dr. Lanham first began in his career and what work is there still to do? Why are conservation and activism inextricably linked? And why is it impossible to separate the simple act of birding from systemic racism? We’ll grapple with all of these questions (and so much more) on our seventh episode of Biophilic Solutions.

Show Notes

Dr. Drew Lanham, Distinguished Alumni Professor of Wildlife Ecology in the College of Agriculture, Clemson University
The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature (Milkweed Editions, 2017)
9 Rules for the Black Bird Watcher by J. Drew Lanham (Orion Magazine, 2013)
Nine New Revelations for the Black American Bird-Watcher by J. Drew Lanham (Vanity Fair, 2020)
What Do We Do About John James Audubon? by J. Drew Lanham (Audubon Magazine, 2021)

Can Biophilia & The Fashion Industry Work Together? Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Fast fashion’s impact on the environment is well-known, but do you have to sacrifice style in order to protect the environment? Marci Zaroff, the founder and CEO of EcofashionCORP and a sustainable fashion pioneer, says absolutely not. Learn about the hidden impacts of the fashion industry, from the massive environmental and human toll to the microfibers that make their way into our food supply. We also talk to Marci about where the industry is headed, the shift in consumer expectations, and why she is optimistic about the future of fashion.

Follow Marci on Instagram and check out her brands: Metawear Organic, Farm to Home, Seed to Style, and YES AND.

Show Notes

Ecorenaissance: A Lifestyle Guide for Co-creating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World, by Marci Zaroff (2018).
The 5 Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Verywell Mind)
The environment and economy are paying the price for fast fashion -- but there’s hope (Vox).
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
Farm to Home launches second collection with TENCEL™ Lyocell available exclusively at QVC (Textile World).
The Outside View: Looking Back at 2020’s Balancing Act by Marci Zaroff (Women’s Wear Daily).
The Outside View: The Cool Factor of Sustainability by Marci Zaroff (Women’s Wear Daily).
The Textile Exchange | Creating Material Change

Can Regenerative Agriculture Scale? May 25, 2021

Show notes

Through cutting-edge research, consumer education, and farmer training, Rodale Institute has been at the forefront of the organic movement for over 70 years, so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with their Chief Impact Officer, Jeff Tkach, to discuss all things agriculture. In this episode, we’ll dive into regenerative farming, the scalability of organic production, fostering a greater connection to the food we consume, and why human & planetary health starts with soil. Without giving anything away, there were multiple jaw-dropping moments during this interview; trust us, you don’t want to miss it!

Follow Rodale Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Follow your hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on Twitter.

Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by the Biophilic Institute and the Biophilic Leadership Summit.

Show Notes

Rodale Institute Southeast Organic Research Center in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
Regenerative Organic Certified™ led by the Regenerative Organic Alliance
Shop Regenerative Organic Certified™ products at Patagonia Provisions
Vegetable Systems Trial (VST), a side by side comparison of organically and conventionally grown vegetables.
Help solve nutrition insecurity by checking out Wholesome Wave
Bell & Evans U.S. Organic Grain Initiative - partnership between Rodale, Cargill, and Bell & Evans
Regenerative Ag Could Sequester 100 Percent of Annual Carbon Emissions (Rodale Institute)
Regenerative Organic Agriculture and the Soil Carbon Solution (Jeff Moyer, Andrew Smith, PhD, Yichao Rui, PhD, Jennifer Hayden, PhD).

Why Do Children Need Nature to Thrive? May 11, 2021

Show notes

For this week’s episode, we sat down (in person!) with Sarah Milligan-Toffler, President and CEO of the Children and Nature Network, an organization that is dedicated to increasing equitable access to the outdoors so that both children and the environment can thrive. In this episode, we discuss nature’s impact on brain development in early childhood, ways that we might reimagine the traditional schoolyard, and the historic barriers that have prevented underserved communities from enjoying nature’s benefits. We also dive into the tools that city officials and engaged citizens alike can use to advocate for the rights of all children to play outside.

Show Notes:

About the Children & Nature Network
Urban Nature: Promoting Nature in Cities, Children & Nature Network
Creating Systems Level Change in Cities: A Toolkit, Children & Nature Network
Advancing Equity in Children’s Connections to Nature, Cities Connecting Children to Nature (Children & Nature Network + National League of Cities)
The Urgent Case for Green Schoolyards During and After Covid-19, by Sarah Milligan-Toffler and Richard Louv
To Build a Healthier City, Atlanta is Opening its Schoolyards to Everyone, by Monica Humphries (Nationwell)
Policy Spotlight: Georgia Creates Outdoor Learning Committee (National Caucus of Environmental Legislation)
How the City of Grand Rapids Became a Leader in Connecting Children to Nature, by Alejandra Pallais (National League of Cities)
We’re Here, You Just Don’t See Us, by Latria Graham (Outside)
Register for Sum of Us: A Conversation with Heather McGee and Dr. Gail Christopher, presented by the Children & Nature Network (June 10, 2021 at 1:00pm).

Can Nature Make A City More Ethical? Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

What does it mean for a city to be ethical? To explore this thought-provoking idea, we spoke with Tim Beatley, professor of sustainable communities at the University of Virginia and founder of the Biophilic Cities network. In a new book proposal, Tim argues that we need to move away from a view of cities as purely legal and political entities and expand our definition to include the city’s moral obligations. Do cities have a duty to measure their impact beyond local boundaries? Should a city government consider the lives and wellbeing of future citizens? What ethical obligations do cities have towards local wildlife? How does nature (and crucially, access to nature) play a role in all of this? We’ll attempt to answer all of these questions and more on today’s episode of Biophilic Solutions.

Follow Tim and Biophilic Cities on Twitter.
Follow your hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on Twitter.
Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by the Biophilic Institute and the Biophilic Leadership Summit.

Show Notes