Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

Where Science and Spirit Meet with Lyanda Lynn Haupt

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 her blend of science, nature, and spiritual insight, she invites us to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the wildness of everyday life. Her award-winning book Rooted explores what it means to cultivate inner wisdom and a deep sense of belonging with the natural world, no matter where we live or what we believe. In this episode, Monica sits down with Lyanda to explore how nature can be a source of solace, creativity, and meaning. They talk about why wonder is backed by science, why spirituality doesn’t have to be religious, and why it’s healthy (ahem, necessary) to be a little weird. You’ll hear more about why our cultural norms aren’t serving us, a fresh perspective on hope, responsibility, and grief, and how simple practices like walking barefoot can gently reconnect us to something more reciprocal and real. If you’re longing for a deeper relationship with the natural world, or you’re searching for a grounded sense of hope heading into a new year, this conversation is a beautiful place to begin. Shownotes * About Lyanda Lynn Haupt [https://www.lyandalynnhaupt.com/] * Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt [https://bookshop.org/lists/author-interviews-biophilic-solutions] * Encounter the Everyday Wilderness: Lyanda Lynn Haupt at TEDxRainier [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJckQUleStw] * Thich Nhat Hanh [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh] * Silent Spring by Rachel Carson [https://bookshop.org/p/books/silent-spring-rachel-carson/b797631377260b2d?ean=9780618249060&next=t] * Zadie Smith [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zadie_Smith] Keywords: nature connection, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Rooted book, spiritual ecology, awe and wonder, science and spirituality, biophilic living, environmental mindfulness, reconnection with earth, intentional living, hope and grief, human evolution outdoors, cultural norms, nature-based wisdom, mindful practices, podcast interview Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biophilicsolutions/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/biophilic-solutions-nature-has-the-answers/] and learn more on our website [https://www.biophilicsolutions.com/]. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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

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 activist Maria Rodale to explore the themes in her latest book, Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden. A lifelong advocate for organic living and regenerative agriculture, Maria has carried forward her family’s legacy as the former CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc., helping to pioneer the organic movement. In Love, Nature, Magic, she blends memoir and environmental reflection to invite us into a relationship with the living world that’s grounded in curiosity and deep mutual respect. Together, we talk about what it means to communicate with plants (literally!), the balance between spirituality and science, and how embracing the so-called “weeds” in our lives can lead to unexpected growth. Maria also shares her perspective on leadership, personal responsibility, and the simple yet radical act of slowing down to reconnect with nature. It’s an inspiring, funny, and thought-provoking conversation with one of the leading voices in the movement toward a more conscious, regenerative world. Show Notes * Maria Rodale [https://www.mariarodale.com/] * Love, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys Into the Heart of My Garden by Maria Rodale [https://bookshop.org/lists/author-interviews-biophilic-solutions] * Organic Manifesto: How Organic Food Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe by Maria Rodale [https://bookshop.org/lists/author-interviews-biophilic-solutions] * Maria’s Newsletter on Substack [https://mariarodale.substack.com/] * Doug Tallamy’s Hub (Homegrown National Park) [https://mariarodale.substack.com/] * Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard [https://bookshop.org/p/books/finding-the-mother-tree-discovering-the-wisdom-of-the-forest-suzanne-simard/09e5811bc923abdc?ean=9780525565994&next=t] Keywords: Maria Rodale, Love Nature Magic, biophilia, biophilic design, organic living, regenerative agriculture, gardening, plant communication, environmental spirituality, sustainability, nature connection, leadership, mindfulness, ecological wellness, Doug Tallamy, pollinators, soil health, holistic living, curiosity, slowing down, conscious living, reconnecting with nature, environmental storytelling, personal growth, resilience, intentional living Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biophilicsolutions/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/biophilic-solutions-nature-has-the-answers/] and learn more on our website [https://www.biophilicsolutions.com/]. #NatureHasTheAnswers

Nature, Coherence, and Constructing Health with Tye Farrow

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 influence our physical and mental well-being, from hospitals and workplaces to the spaces we move through every day. Our guest, Tye Farrow, is a world-renowned architect and pioneer at the intersection of neuroscience and design. His new book, Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health, reveals how buildings can either harm or heal us. We talk with Tye about salutogenic design, the importance of coherence, and why there’s no such thing as a neutral space. Plus we explore how nature and biophilic design play a key role in creating environments that give health rather than take it away. If you’ve ever wondered why some spaces make you feel alive while others drain you, this conversation will change the way you see the built environment. Show Notes * Constructing Health: How the Built Environment Enhances Your Mind’s Health [https://bookshop.org/lists/author-interviews-biophilic-solutions] * Farrow Partners [https://www.farrowpartners.ca/] * Farrow Partners Knowledge Hub | Enriched Environments [https://www.farrowpartners.ca/enriched-environments] * Farrow Partners Knowledge Hub | Embreathment  [https://www.farrowpartners.ca/enriched-environments-1] * The 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design  [https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/report/14-patterns/] Image Credit:  Farrow Partners Architects, Photographer Tom Arban Keywords: architecture, neuroscience, biophilic design, salutogenic design, coherence, built environment, health and wellness, environmental psychology, design for healing, nature and design, sustainable architecture, mental health, spatial design, human-centered design, Tye Farrow, Constructing Health, healthy buildings, urban design, Serenbe, podcast, wellbeing, placemaking Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biophilicsolutions/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/biophilic-solutions-nature-has-the-answers/] and learn more on our website [https://www.biophilicsolutions.com/]. #NatureHasTheAnswers

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

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 natural world? In this episode, we revisit a powerful 2022 conversation with David Orr, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, editor of Democracy in a Hotter Time, and one of the leading voices at the intersection of ecology, education, and politics. Orr challenges us to think beyond short-term fixes and consider how a “biophilic democracy” rooted in care for each other and the planet could transform the way we live and govern. We explore why democracies fail, how our brains are wired for both division and connection, and how education might help us build a more resilient and compassionate society. Show Notes: * Democracy in a Hotter Time: Climate Change and Democratic Transformation [https://bookshop.org/lists/author-interviews-biophilic-solutions], edited by David W. Orr * Democracy Unchained: How To Rebuild Government For The People [https://bookshop.org/books/democracy-unchained-how-to-rebuild-government-for-the-people/9781620975138], edited by David W. Orr, Andrew Gumbel, Bakari Kitwana, and William S. Becker * Dangerous Years: Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward [https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300234602/dangerous-years/] by David Orr * Democracy in a Hotter Time [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4asfd6KKi_I], presentation at Elon University (YouTube) * Design with Nature [https://www.amazon.com/Design-Nature-Ian-L-McHarg/dp/047111460X] by Ian L. McHarg * The Biophilia Hypothesis [https://bookshop.org/books/the-biophilia-hypothesis/9781559631471], edited by E.O. Wilson and Stephen R. Kellert * Dr. David Orr and Dr. Miranda Yaver [https://standupwithpete.libsyn.com/-dr-david-orr-and-dr-miranda-yaver-episode-435] on the Stand Up! With Pete Dominick Podcast * Children & Nature Network [https://www.childrenandnature.org/] * Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder [https://bookshop.org/books/last-child-in-the-woods-saving-our-children-from-nature-deficit-disorder/9781565126053] by Richard Louv * Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist [https://bookshop.org/books/doughnut-economics-seven-ways-to-think-like-a-21st-century-economist/9781603587969] by Kate Raworth Keywords:  David Orr, biophilic democracy, nature and politics, ecological design, climate crisis, democracy reform, environmental education, sustainability, biophilia, civic engagement, ecological literacy, long-term thinking, political polarization, community resilience, democratic transformation, environmental ethics, nature connection, systems thinking, education and ecology, hope and renewal, doughnut economics, circular economy Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biophilicsolutions/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/biophilic-solutions-nature-has-the-answers/] and learn more on our website [https://www.biophilicsolutions.com/]. #NatureHasTheAnswers

Nature, Transformation, and Radical Common Sense with Steve Nygren

Modern life often leaves us on the treadmill of constant striving, chasing markers of success that don’t necessarily bring fulfillment. But what happens when you step off that treadmill and reimagine what’s possible? Our guest this week, Steve Nygren, did exactly that. As the founder and visionary behind Serenbe, a biophilic community just outside Atlanta, Steve has spent decades exploring how the places we live can better support our health, happiness, and connection to nature. Now, he’s sharing that journey in his new book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense. Part memoir, part guidebook, it offers a blueprint for building sustainable, connected communities, places where wonder exists in the everyday and people of all ages can truly thrive. It’s out on October 7th, 2025, just one week from today. In this conversation, we cover a lot of ground: Steve’s early path as a placemaker, the turning point that inspired Serenbe, what it really means to take care of your own “backyard,” and how each of us can make change in the spaces we influence. It’s an inspiring reminder that meaningful transformation often begins very close to home. Show Notes * Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense [https://stevenygren.com/] by Steve Nygren * Listen to the Start In Your Own Backyard Podcast [https://startinyourownbackyard.buzzsprout.com/] * Steve Nygren on Substack [https://stevenygren.substack.com/] * Steve Nygren on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stevenygren/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenygren/] * Learn more about Serenbe [https://www.serenbe.com/]  Keywords: biophilia, radical common sense, sustainable living, placemaking, community design, intentional living, Serenbe, Steve Nygren, nature connection, regenerative communities, backyard solutions, sustainable communities, holistic design, living with nature, environmental design, human-nature connection, mindful development, local change, ecological living, design for well-being Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biophilicsolutions/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/biophilic-solutions-nature-has-the-answers/] and learn more on our website [https://www.biophilicsolutions.com/]. #NatureHasTheAnswers