Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers Serenbe Media Network

The smart cities movement, which seeks to optimize public wellbeing through the use of technology and data, and the biophilic cities movement are happening at the same time - but it rarely feels like these two movements are working together towards a common goal. Our guest today, Dr. Nadina Galle, hopes to change that. 
Nadina is an ecological engineer who studies emerging technologies that can enhance nature in urban environments, a concept she calls the Internet of Nature (ION). Her forthcoming book, "The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet", offers insight and examples of how nature benefits when we use new technologies the right way. In this episode, we chat with Nadina about her impressive body of work and dive into some examples - from emailing and texting trees to AI robots that can actually perform a controlled burn with less smoke.
Show Notes
Dr. Nadina GallePre-order The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing PlanetThe Internet of Nature (ION)Nature Has The Answers with Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh of Biophilic Solutions (Internet of Nature Podcast)How Central Park Keeps New Yorkers Healthy with Jennifer Walsh of Biophilic Solutions (Internet of Nature Podcast)Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv 

In the lives of many humans, deer occupy a really fascinating middle ground between so many binaries: domestic and wild, familiar and alien, beautiful and pest. They’re also, interestingly, the only large mammal that seems to thrive in human-dominated environments. So, what exactly is going on with deer? On today’s episode of the podcast, we’re joined by Age of Deer author Erika Howsare to discuss the role that deer play in human life - from mythology to natural history to science - and what these enigmatic creatures can teach us about our own relationship to wildness.


Erika Howsare is a writer and journalist based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her new book, The Age of Deer, has been hailed as a “masterpiece” by the Washington Post. 


Show Notes
The Age of Deer by Erika HowsareIf You See a Deer PodcastAbout ErikaDeer: friend or foe? Or how about both? - Washington Post book reviewFrom endangered to cuddly to ‘pests’: What the Age of Deer says about the human mind - LA Times book Review

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 Austin Louis Ray, who has contributed to publications like Rolling Stone, GQ, Creative Loafing, and Eater, just to name a few. He is also the publisher of How I’d Fix Atlanta, a seasonal collection of essays from Atlanta natives about the action steps they would take to improve their city. Topics include Biophilic Solutions favorites like walkability, wildlife in the city, supporting pollinator habitats, clean energy, and more. 
The conversation today, however, really revolves around how Austin does it: how he finds his writers, how he raises money to pay those writers well, and how he uses the How I’d Fix Atlanta series to build awareness at the city council and beyond.  
Show Notes
About Austin L. RayHow I’d Fix AtlantaSupport How I’d Fix AtlantaPurchase  Season Two How I’d Fix Atlanta Zine Follow Austin on XPhoto Credit: Jason Travis 

It’s easy to think that business interests are diametrically opposed to environmental progress - and in many cases, you wouldn’t be wrong. However, meaningful evidence suggests that many businesses would actually improve their bottom line if they adopted more sustainable practices. Enter today’s guest, David S. Eady, the director of industry engagement at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. In this role, David works with companies in the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, which leverages the collective impact of the Georgia business community to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the state through a just, prosperous, and sustainable transition. In his (limited) spare time, David also serves as the mayor of Oxford, Georgia, where his lifelong career in environmentalism has inspired a number of important sustainability initiatives.
In this interview, Monica catches up with David about the power of collective action and partnership, measuring impact over time, and meeting business leaders where they are. 
Show Notes
About David EadyDrawdown Georgia Business CompactDrawdown GeorgiaRay C. Anderson Center for Sustainable BusinessOxford GA Official City WebsiteBiophilic Solutions | Shifting to a Green Economy with Edward B. Barbier

Key Words: Climate Change, Climate Action, Environmental Issues, Corporate Responsibility, Georgia Tech, GA Tech, David S. Eady, Drawdown, Drawdown GA, Ray C. Anderson, Carbon, Carbon Emissions, Biophilia, Biophilic Design 

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 for the rights of nature to remain undisturbed? These are just a few of the compelling questions raised by our guest today, Dr. Karen Lloyd. Karen is the author of acclaimed book Abundance: Nature in Recovery and is a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, as well as writer in residence at the university’s Future Places Institute. Her work largely explores themes like abundance, restoration and repair in the natural world.
In this episode, we chat with Karen about a wide range of issues including habitat loss in her native Lake District, why the tendency to shift our baseline isn’t helping us in the climate fight, the city that has declared pollinators as citizens, and how we can meaningfully re-entangle ourselves with the natural world. 
Show Notes
About Karen Lloyd (University of Lancaster)Karen Lloyd WebsiteAbundance: Nature in Recovery by Karen LloydAre You Suffering From Shifting Baseline Syndrome? (Earth.Org)Sweet City: Defeating the City-Nature Antagonism (Congress for the New Urbanism)Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology After the End of the World by Tim Morton Follow Karen on Facebook and X

Key Words: Nature, Nature Based Solutions, University of Lancaster, Lake District, English Lake District, Pollinators, Pollinator Habitats, Hyperobject, Climate, Climate Change, Climate Solutions, Biophilia, Biophilic Design 

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 outdoors are also uniquely suited for imparting leadership skills? This week, we’re chatting with Sandy Colhoun, the President of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), a global nonprofit wilderness school that is dedicated to stewardship & sustainability, diversity in the outdoors, education, leadership, safety, and community. Their programs range from expeditions for young students and semester-away programs to executive leadership and even NASA training courses. 
In this conversation, we chat with Sandy about his own formative experience in a NOLS program, discovering yourself in the wild, and we define a core tenet of the NOLS philosophy, expedition behavior.
Show Notes
NOLSAbout Sandy ColhounNOLS Stewardship & SustainabilityNOLS Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion NOLS Programs & CoursesResourcesFollow NOLS on InstagramChattahoochee Hills Charter SchoolWalk Your Way Calm: A Guided Journal for Uncluttering Your Mind with Every Step by Jennifer Walsh
Key Words: NOLS, Outdoor Education, Leadership, Outdoor Adventure, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature Based Solutions, Nature Based Learning, Wilderness, Wilderness Medicine