Sustainable Futures: Designing Green Communities and Buildings

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
  • 5.0 (4)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Sustainable Futures: Designing Green Communities and Buildings explores the many ways we can utilize the natural world and nature based solutions to combat climate change, enhance resilience, and improve communities

  1. The Evolution of Green Roofs with Linda Velazquez

    JAN 20

    The Evolution of Green Roofs with Linda Velazquez

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with green roof designer, advocate, and industry pioneer Linda S. Velazquez, founder and publisher of Greenroofs.com. Linda reflects on first encountering green roofs in the late 1990s, the early days of the Green Roof Professional accreditation, and how the industry has evolved over the past 25 years. Drawing from her global project database and decades of experience, she shares insights on innovation, emerging trends, market expansion, and what the future holds for green roofs and green walls in North America and beyond. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, legacy, and the next chapter of living architecture.

    44 min
  2. Exploring the Healing Power of Nature With Clare Cooper Marcus

    10/20/2025

    Exploring the Healing Power of Nature With Clare Cooper Marcus

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with the luminary planner and researcher Clare Cooper Marcus. Clare is a prominent educator in landscape architecture and architecture and a pioneer in the field of social issues in housing, open space design, and healing landscapes. She is an author and co-author of a number of books and research studies; a multi-award winner; and a tireless advocate for the importance of place in the realm of health and wellbeing. Join us for a conversation on the powerful impact connections with the natural world can have on our physical and mental wellbeing, and how design can affect and influence how we live, work, play, and grow.

    53 min
  3. Growing Children’s Connections with Nature with Laura Mylan

    10/01/2025

    Growing Children’s Connections with Nature with Laura Mylan

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with award-winning communicator and seasoned nonprofit executive Laura Mylan, the Chief Strategy Officer of the Children and Nature Network. Laura is a passionate advocate for enhancing children’s access to nature and natural spaces to live and play in across the United States. She draws upon her wealth of experience to facilitate connections and lead the way in ensuring that all children have safe and equitable spaces in which to engage with nature to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing. Join us for a conversation on the powerful impact nature has on our and our children’s development and mentality, and what her organization is doing to support citizens and educators in new and interesting ways to facilitate connections with the natural world.

    43 min
  4. Greening the Way Forward with Dr. Karen Liu

    08/14/2025

    Greening the Way Forward with Dr. Karen Liu

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with researcher, educator, design consultant, and long-time green roof expert Dr. Karen Liu of Next Level Stormwater Management. Karen has worn many hats over the course of her illustrious career playing key roles in green roof research; technical standard development; and design projects across the globe. She has applied her extensive expertise on all things green roofs to guide decisions that enhance performance, maximize co-benefits, and achieve tangible results for clients as well as engaging the next generation of designers and installers to secure the future of the field. Join us for a conversation on water management, extreme heat, and the importance of connecting with natural spaces through green infrastructure.

    50 min
  5. Addressing Urban Heat Islands with Grace Wickerson

    06/25/2025

    Addressing Urban Heat Islands with Grace Wickerson

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with science communicator, policy advocate, and scientist Grace Wickerson of the Federation of American Scientists. Grace works to connect the dots between climate science and resilience and policy initiatives that directly impact human lives, health, and wellbeing. She is a champion of human and environmental health, and the ways in which they intersect, advocating for science and data based policy solutions to the climate crisis. Join us for a conversation on extreme heat, the importance of science communication, and ways in which FAS is trying to improve our communities.

    51 min
  6. Going Slow with Benjamin Fahrer

    05/05/2025

    Going Slow with Benjamin Fahrer

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with farmer, rooftop agriculturalist, and integrated ecology advocate Benjamin Fahrer, owner of Top Leaf Farms. Benjamin is a sustainable food and farm management expert, directing his energy on regenerative farming approaches for long term sustainability, health, and food security. His ecological approach to farming and farm management aims to grow food that supports not just the people who eat it, but the land in which it grows, and the people who grow it. He is also an advocate for directly interfacing with the natural world, getting your hands dirty and finding the power in the connection with the planet that sustains us. Join us for a conversation on the importance of food, soils, and a better, more sustainable path towards growing food.

    1h 15m
  7. Bringing Up The Crops with August Stubler

    03/27/2025

    Bringing Up The Crops with August Stubler

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with rooftop farmer and sustainable food systems advocate August Stubler, who oversees the operations of the Blackwood Educational Land Institute’s Skyfarm at POST Houston. August has a passion for connecting communities with sustainable, local food and uses the farm to further that passion by exploring what is possible on a 1 acre plot of rooftop in downtown Houston, Texas. Through the Skyfarm, they are pushing the boundaries of rooftop food production and exploring how to develop sustainable, resilient food systems for Southeastern Texas. Join us for a conversation on the importance of connecting with food production and bringing farming into the city.

    54 min
  8. Getting Deep In The Soil with Molly Meyer

    01/23/2025

    Getting Deep In The Soil with Molly Meyer

    In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with pioneer and self-proclaimed soil nerd Molly Meyer, founder and CEO of Omni Ecosystems out of Chicago. Molly’s started Omni Ecosystems with the goal of democratizing nature, a vision of creating sustainable spaces and products that serve everyone and support broader ecosystems. With that goal, Molly and their team at Omni have worked tirelessly to tune the Omni Infinity Media, a lightweight, high porosity growing media that supports both plants and microbial networks to recreate whole ecosystems that are resilient, versatile, and affordable. With an emphasis and passion for soil sciences and dynamics, they are looking at ways not just to mitigate the impacts of the built environment, but to leverage constructed ecosystems to eliminate the impacts of the development industry entirely, allowing urban communities and natural ecosystems to coexist. Join us for a conversation on how Omni is taking a deep dive into the soil to better understand the world beneath our feet.

    55 min
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Sustainable Futures: Designing Green Communities and Buildings explores the many ways we can utilize the natural world and nature based solutions to combat climate change, enhance resilience, and improve communities

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