Better Buildings For Humans

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Guy Geier, Senior Partner at FXCollaborative, for a fascinating conversation about how architecture can shape the way people work, interact, and experience the spaces around them. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Guy brings a wealth of experience in architectural design, workplace strategy, sustainability, and firm leadership. From his early fascination with architecture to his work helping organizations translate their missions into physical environments, Guy shares how his perspective on what makes a successful building has evolved.

The conversation explores the relationship between architecture and organizational culture, including how thoughtful design can do much more than simply accommodate a company's functional needs. Joe and Guy discuss why understanding the people behind a project is essential, how the design process can create opportunities for meaningful change, and why the most successful spaces often emerge from collaboration rather than a single creative vision. Along the way, Guy shares an example of how rethinking a workplace helped transform the way an organization operated.

They also dig into the evolution of sustainable design and why environmental responsibility has increasingly become an expectation rather than an optional feature. From high-performance building envelopes and healthier workplaces to the changing role of glass, daylight, and energy-efficient systems, Guy offers his perspective on what sustainability looks like in today's architectural landscape. The conversation also touches on the future of construction, including mass timber, adaptive reuse, and the growing importance of resilience in a changing climate.

Ultimately, the episode asks what truly makes a building successful in a world where technology, environmental priorities, and human expectations are constantly evolving. Drawing on lessons from his career and conversations from his own podcast, Architecture 5 10 20, Guy reflects on the balance between performance, purpose, and the human experience. It's a conversation about designing for today while remaining curious about what buildings—and the people who use them—will need tomorrow.

More About Guy Geier

Architects are dreamers: they want to do things that are going to make the world a better place. As Senior Partner at FXCollaborative, Guy divides his time between marketing, business development and project leadership, fostering a continual dialogue between our team and the client, patron, and public. He also leads the firm's Corporate and Interior Design practices, with a focus on developing environments that reflect a client's mission and current program, as well anticipated future needs. Born and raised in New Jersey, Guy was exposed to design at an early age by his father who was in the residential furniture business, and an interior designer. Growing up as a teen during the Space Race, he initially dreamt of being an aeronautical engineer, a path that ultimately led to his discovery and passion for architecture as a mode of seeing, analyzing, and improving the world around us. With more than three decades of experience in architecture and interior design, Guy is an active voice of the wider design community, and has received numerous honors and recognitions for his contributions to the profession.

CONTACT:

www.fxcollaborative.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/guygeier/ 

https://www.instagram.com/guygeier/ 

https://surroundpodcasts.com/architecture-5-10-20/ 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Mark Loudermilk of Mark Loudermilk Architecture for a fascinating conversation about why great architecture begins with understanding people rather than simply designing beautiful buildings. With more than three decades of experience across workplaces, healthcare facilities, churches, fire stations, and residential projects, Mark shares how his approach to architecture has evolved—and why listening, trust, and relationships have become just as important to his work as the buildings themselves.

The conversation explores what it really means to put people at the centre of the design process. Joe and Mark discuss why successful architecture isn't always about following trends, creating impressive photographs, or imposing a particular design vision. Instead, they examine how understanding the people who will occupy a space can lead to environments that feel more comfortable, functional, and meaningful. From designing around tight budgets to balancing aesthetics with everyday needs, Mark offers a refreshing perspective on what makes a project successful.

They also dig into the relationship between daylight, building orientation, and human well-being, exploring how seemingly simple decisions can dramatically influence the experience of a space. Mark shares examples from his work, including a dental office designed around natural light and a workplace renovation that draws inspiration from the owner's connection to the water. Along the way, the conversation turns to the changing role of technology in architecture, from traditional hand sketching to digital modelling and artificial intelligence—and whether these tools are bringing designers closer to the people they serve or pushing them further away.

Ultimately, the episode challenges the idea that great architecture can be measured by appearance alone. Mark shares a thoughtful perspective on the qualities that make buildings welcoming, supportive, and connected to their communities. It's a conversation about creativity, trust, technology, and the responsibility architects have to create places where people don't just function, but genuinely thrive.

More About Mark Loudermilk

Mark earned his professional degree from the University of Tennessee '94 and has since been passionately creating spaces which give meaning to their residents. He is licensed as an architect in FL, GA, NC, SC, AL, TN, and VA. Mark loves his family, music, writing, downtown Wilmington, the region's glorious beaches, and the slow, meandering, mighty Cape Fear River. He is an avid guitarist. He and his wife Sandie are continually planning and taking road trips to explore the beauty and diversity of the U.S. landscape. Mark is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization Welcome Home Angel.

CONTACT:

https://www.loudermilkarch.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087051801767 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/71561445/ 

https://www.instagram.com/markloudermilkarchitecture 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with architect Eliza Engle of MTFA Architecture for a fascinating conversation about how the spaces we inhabit influence our comfort, emotions, and overall well-being. With a background in sociology, mental health, and sustainable architecture, Eliza brings a uniquely human perspective to design—one that looks beyond aesthetics to consider how buildings make people feel and how thoughtful design can support healthier, more comfortable everyday experiences.

The conversation explores the connection between architecture and emotional well-being, including how temperature, acoustics, lighting, materials, and colour can influence our experience of a space. Joe and Eliza discuss why some environments leave us feeling stressed or uncomfortable while others create an almost immediate sense of calm. They also examine the importance of designing for different human needs and why the smallest details can sometimes have the greatest impact on how people experience a building.

Joe and Eliza also dig into trauma-informed design, exploring Eliza's work on a juvenile and domestic relations courtroom designed to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for people navigating difficult circumstances. From softer materials and calming colours to acoustics, daylight, and thoughtfully designed spaces for children, the project raises interesting questions about how architecture can change the experience of traditionally intimidating environments. Along the way, they discuss sustainable materials, healthy building practices, and the subtle design decisions that can make a space feel truly special.

Ultimately, the episode challenges the idea that great architecture is defined primarily by appearance. Eliza shares her perspective on creating spaces that respond to people's needs, including those they may not even know how to articulate. It's a conversation about comfort, empathy, sustainability, and the often-invisible qualities that turn an ordinary building into a place people genuinely enjoy being in.

More About Eliza Engle

Eliza brings her light and a smile to all her projects, along with her over 25 years of experience in a wide variety of project types and clients. She enjoys taking projects from inception (interview) to fruition (construction administration)—learning and teaching along the way. Managing various architectural project types for government, institutional, and commercial clients—and providing personalized client services to meet and exceed their needs—is her idea of fun. She works collaboratively with clients, consultants, and colleagues to design solutions to architectural problems while creating high-performing, healthy, and sustainable environments to work, play, and grow; she creates communities of the future one project at a time. Eliza serves as the Political Action Committee trustee chair for AIA Virginia. 

Eliza lives in Del Ray with her architect husband and very artistic son, volunteering with the Boy Scout troop. When there is time, she likes training for Aqua Bikes, baking, and making mosaics.

CONTACT:

https://www.mtfa.net/eliza-engle 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliza-beth-engle-aia-ncidq-aa884a8/ 

https://www.instagram.com/mtfa_architecture/ 

linkedin.com/company/mtfa-architecture/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true 

https://www.facebook.com/MTFAArchitecture 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Lona Rerick and Jesce Walz of Perkins&Will to explore regenerative design, circularity, and rethinking buildings and materials as valuable resources rather than disposable products.

The conversation examines the shift away from construction’s traditional take-make-waste model, why usable materials are discarded during renovations, and the environmental impacts of interior fit-outs. They discuss the cultural and economic barriers to reuse and what it takes to challenge the preference for new materials.

Drawing on Perkins&Will’s Circular Design Primer for Interiors, the discussion explores material longevity, creative reuse, deconstruction, refurbishment, bio-based materials, and designing for disassembly. It also highlights opportunities for architects, contractors, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs in a circular building economy.

Ultimately, this episode challenges how we define waste and value, encouraging designers to see existing materials as opportunities and create buildings that benefit people, communities, and the environment long into the future.

More About Lona Rerick and Jesce Walz

Lona Rerick

Lona Rerick is an Architect and Firmwide Director of Regenerative Design Materials at Perkins&Will. She leads the firm's efforts to select responsible materials supporting human health, climate health, ecosystem health, and social equity within a circular economy.

Lona guides teams through material research, supply chains, and specifications while advocating for industry transformation. She serves on the mindful MATERIALS Board, the Living Future Material Health TAG, and co-leads the Portland Materials Transparency Collaborative. She also helped establish the AIA Materials Pledge and its reporting framework.

Jesce Walz

Jesce Walz is a Senior Research Lead at Perkins&Will, specializing in regenerative design, circular economy, and bio-based materials. With a background in architecture and landscape architecture, she collaborates with leading organizations advancing sustainable building practices.

Within Perkins&Will's Research and Development Group, Jesce leads initiatives supporting ecologically responsible design. She authored the firm's Circular Design Primer for Interiors, led its embodied carbon benchmarking research, and co-authored publications on mass timber, embodied carbon, and innovative bio-based materials.

CONTACT:

https://perkinswill.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lona-rerick/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesce/

https://linktr.ee/jmwalz

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.com

https://www.advancedglazings.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-glazings-ltd

https://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/

https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltd

https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with architects Cristina Ballester and Mitchell Ramseur for a lively conversation about the subtle ways architecture shapes how we feel, move, interact, and experience everyday life. Coming to architecture from very different backgrounds—Cristina originally studied biology, while Mitchell’s path began with music and art—they share a common fascination with modern design and the human experience behind the spaces we create. 

The conversation explores what Mitchell calls being an “architectural alchemist”: taking a client’s ideas, needs, constraints, and sometimes seemingly impossible program and turning them into something that actually works. Joe, Cristina, and Mitchell discuss building codes not simply as restrictions, but as tools architects can understand deeply enough to create safer, more comfortable spaces—particularly when adapting older buildings for entirely new uses. 

They also dig into the details people may never consciously notice but experience every day. Ceiling height, circulation, acoustics, sunlight, seating arrangements, and even the location of a table can influence whether a space feels comfortable, exciting, intimate, or awkward. Cristina shares an example of using lighting as a wayfinding tool in a redesigned medical clinic, while both guests reflect on what studying in Italy taught them about natural ventilation, outdoor spaces, walkability, piazzas, and the connection between architecture and community. 

Ultimately, the episode is a reminder that architecture is about much more than what a building looks like. Great design can guide us without signs, bring people together, connect us with nature, and create experiences that stay with us long after we leave—often without us ever realizing exactly why the space worked so well.

More About Cristina Ballester and Mitchell Ramseur

Cristina Ballester

Cristina Ballester, RA is a licensed architect in Puerto Rico with a multidisciplinary background in architecture, interior design, and fine arts. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Interior Design from George Washington University and her Master of Architecture from Politecnico di Milano, graduating in 2017. With over five years of professional experience, Cristina leads projects from concept through construction across commercial, hospitality, and residential sectors. She has specialized experience in historic restoration and regulatory compliance, integrating design excellence with technical precision and compliance.

Mitchell Ramseur

Mitchell Ramseur is a licensed architect with more than 15 years of experience in the AEC industry, spanning both the public and private sectors. His background in design, project management, and stakeholder collaboration has shaped a detail-oriented and thoughtful approach to both architecture and leadership.

Driven by curiosity and continuous growth, Mitchell is passionate about learning, developing as a leader, and making a meaningful impact through his work and within the broader AEC community.

Coming soon, Mitchell will join Cristina for “Interns in the Hallway,” a podcast conversation exploring experiences, perspectives, and lessons from within the architecture profession.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinanballester/  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-ramseur/ 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Dr. George Guszcza, President and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), for a thought-provoking conversation about innovation, resilience, technology, and the systems shaping the future of our built environment. Drawing on a career spanning military healthcare facilities, federal service, engineering, consulting, and organizational transformation, George brings a uniquely broad perspective to why better buildings and infrastructure matter—not just for performance, but for the people and communities that depend on them.

The conversation explores NIBS' role in bringing together the many groups responsible for how buildings are designed, regulated, constructed, and operated. Joe and George discuss why promising ideas can take so long to move from innovation into everyday practice, what happens when buildings and infrastructure are viewed in isolation, and why understanding the built environment as a connected "system of systems" could change how we approach resilience and risk.

Joe and George also look toward the future, exploring digital twins, artificial intelligence, offsite construction, data, and the economic and cultural forces influencing how quickly the industry evolves. Along the way, they question whether our traditional focus on first cost is preventing us from recognizing the longer-term value of better-performing, more resilient buildings—and what needs to change for proven innovations to reach the mainstream.

Ultimately, the episode challenges us to think beyond individual buildings and consider the larger systems, incentives, and people that determine whether innovation actually succeeds. And when Joe asks his signature question—what makes a great building?—George offers an answer that brings the entire conversation back to the reason we build in the first place.

More About Dr. George Guszcza

George K. Guszcza, D.Eng, CPEM, CCM, is President and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences. Prior to NIBS, Dr. Guszcza served as Chief Transformation Officer of Michael Baker International, an Engineering News Record (ENR) Top 50 Design Firm. He was also an adjunct professor at The George Washington University and strategic advisor to the Middle East Institute’s Board of Directors. He brings over 25 years of built environment experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the US, UK, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Dr. Guszcza previously served as COO (CRO) of the Neal Richards Group and EVP for Finance and Administration (CFO/CIO) of Adams and Associates, a 2400-person ESOP operating across 19 US locations. As founder/CEO of the Aedifos Group, he helped restart the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital project on behalf of Project HOPE and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In 2003, as a US Army Medical Service Corp officer and National Director of Healthcare Facilities for Iraq, Dr. Guszcza led 3000 architects and engineers to restart 240 hospitals, 10 specialty centers, and 1200 clinics. Dr. Guszcza earned a BS in Sociology from West Point, an MS in Major Program Management from the University of Oxford’s Said Business School, and a Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management from The George Washington University. He has served on boards for George Mason University’s Civil Engineering Institute, the Society of American Military Engineers Northern Virginia Post, and WiRED International.

CONTACT:

www.nibs.org 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bldgsciences/ 

https://x.com/bldgsciences 

https://www.facebook.com/bldgsciences 

https://www.youtube.com/@bldgsciences 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Eric Waller of VitalSpace to explore how modular construction is changing the way healthcare environments are designed and delivered. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience in healthcare operations, facilities, and construction strategy, Eric shares why speed, safety, and the human experience don’t have to be competing priorities.

The conversation explores the unique challenges of healthcare construction, from infection control and patient privacy to durability, caregiver workflow, and behavioral health. Joe and Eric discuss how moving construction offsite can reduce disruption inside active healthcare facilities while delivering purpose-built spaces faster and with greater predictability.

They also dig into daylighting, biophilic design, acoustics, resilience, and the importance of creating healthcare spaces that feel therapeutic rather than institutional. Eric makes the case for environments that support the people inside them, adapt to changing needs, and improve outcomes for patients and caregivers alike.

Want to continue the conversation with Eric and the VitalSpace team? They’ll be exhibiting at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo, September 27–30 in Charlotte, NC, followed by the Healthcare Design Conference, October 17–20 in New Orleans, LA.

It’s a thought-provoking look at why building healthcare faster doesn’t have to mean sacrificing what makes these environments better for the humans who depend on them.

More About Eric Waller

Eric Waller is dedicated to advancing modular, patient-centered healthcare solutions that prioritize safety, efficiency, and innovation. With more than 29 years of experience in healthcare facilities management, construction, regulatory compliance, and emergency services, he brings strategic and operational expertise to the development of high-performing clinical environments.

Eric currently serves CareAffirm, where he focuses on developing and expanding modular solutions for medical, mental health, and behavioral health environments. His work aligns design, compliance, and operational performance to create adaptable care settings that support patients, staff, and health systems.

Previously, Eric spent more than a decade in executive and senior leadership roles with Medxcel/Ascension, including Vice President of Support Services, Area Vice President, and Regional Director. He led operational strategies across national hospital portfolios, managed major capital programs, negotiated enterprise service contracts, and advanced compliance initiatives aligned with Joint Commission and DNV standards.

Eric holds an MBA from Purdue University and is completing a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Strategy and Innovation. His work is guided by the belief that strong partnerships, healthcare expertise, and intentional collaboration are essential to creating resilient environments that support exceptional care.

CONTACT:

https://careaffirm.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjwaller/ 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with architect and sustainability expert Gunnar Hubbard, co-founder of Solenworks, for a fascinating exploration of what it means to move beyond sustainable buildings toward buildings that actively make the world better. Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Gunnar shares how growing up in a self-built log cabin in Vermont shaped his passion for architecture, passive design, and creating buildings that work with nature rather than against it.

The conversation explores the shift from sustainability to climate-positive design and why the decisions made at the very beginning of a project can have such a profound impact on its long-term performance. Joe and Gunnar dig into integrative design, the relationship between building performance and financial value, and why creating healthier, more sustainable environments requires looking beyond conventional approaches to design and construction.

Joe and Gunnar also venture into the future of the building industry, exploring emerging technologies, offsite construction, mass timber, and the potential for buildings to become part of the solution to growing energy demands. They discuss the role of daylighting in creating better spaces and why thoughtful design—not simply adding more glass or more technology—is essential to balancing comfort, performance, and human experience.

Ultimately, the conversation makes a compelling case for buildings that do more good than harm. Gunnar shares his vision for Solenworks and the opportunities ahead for advancing climate-positive design, while reminding us that great architecture begins with understanding the people, the place, and the natural systems that connect them.

More About Gunnar Hubbard

Gunnar Hubbard, FAIA, LEED Fellow. Gunnar is an architect, entrepreneur, and sustainability leader with over 30 years of global experience who founded Fore Solutions—a pioneering green building consultancy acquired by Thornton Tomasetti, where he led their global sustainability practice for 22 years. As both a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and LEED Fellow, he has shaped sustainability strategies across continents on projects ranging from Brooklyn's 69-story Alloy Development to 158 LEED for Existing Buildings in Sweden for Vasakronan to Shanghai's five-million-square-foot International Financial Center. His unique combination of technical expertise, entrepreneurial insight, and educational leadership—including teaching at Cornell University, Executive Director of the Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and serving on the national AIA Committee on the Environment—positions him as a recognized expert in scaling sustainable solutions from vision to measurable impact. Since the fall of 2024, he has been a mentor-in-residence for the Roux Institute’s ClimateTech Incubator, and now is an entrepreneur-in-residence.

CONTACT:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/solen-works/posts/?feedView=all 

https://solenworks.com/ 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with builder, building biologist, and Synergy 360 founder Brian Johnson for a fascinating exploration of what it really means to create a home that supports human health. Drawing on a unique journey through construction, athletics, biohacking, and human optimization, Brian explains how those worlds eventually came together around a simple idea: instead of relying on products and technologies to compensate for unhealthy environments, why not design the building itself to support the people inside it?

The conversation explores the difference between a building that is simply code compliant and one intentionally designed for health. Joe and Brian dig into indoor air quality, mold and moisture management, ventilation, filtration, non-toxic materials, mechanical systems, and the intersection between building science and building biology. Brian explains why energy efficiency and sustainability don't automatically equal a healthy building—and why understanding the relationship between our biology and the environments we inhabit requires looking far beyond conventional performance metrics.

Joe and Brian also venture into water quality, electrical and wireless technologies, cleaning and maintenance, natural building materials, and Brian's concept of "biological durability"—designing homes that can remain healthy, resilient, and useful for generations. They also tackle the perception that healthy building is reserved for luxury homes, exploring how thoughtful design, better prioritization, and increasingly accessible materials and technologies could help bring these principles into more attainable housing.

Ultimately, the conversation makes a compelling case for moving beyond buildings that simply avoid harming us toward environments intentionally designed to help us thrive. Brian shares his vision for scaling that movement through the Element healthy-home community and the Healthy Building Alliance, while reminding us that a truly great building begins with something that can't be measured by a certification or performance metric: the intention, care, and human connection behind the people who create it.

More About Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson is the founder and CEO of SENERGY360, a general contractor, building biologist, and human-optimization specialist. Combining decades of experience in construction, athletic performance, and environmental health, he designs homes as integrated systems that support health, longevity, and human performance.

Through his 12 Core Systems for Healthy Building, Brian helps homeowners, architects, and contractors implement strategies for clean air, pure water, healthy lighting, low-toxicity materials, and resilient building envelopes. He is also building the Healthy Building Alliance, a national platform connecting healthy-home experts, consumers, and education. His mission is to redefine what a home can be when it is engineered to actively support human health.

CONTACT:

https://element.senergy360.com/  

https://www.healthybuildingalliance.org/   

Https://senergy360.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-johnson-senergy360-building-healthy-living-environments/ 

https://www.instagram.com/senergy360/?hl=en 

https://www.facebook.com/brian4power/ 

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with science journalist and author Lynne Peeples for a fascinating exploration of our internal clocks—and the profound role that light and the built environment play in human health. Drawing from her book The Inner Clock, Lynne explains how circadian rhythms coordinate nearly every system in the body, why our biology depends on the natural cycle of bright days and dark nights, and what can happen when modern life pulls us out of sync.

The conversation explores what happens when we spend the vast majority of our lives indoors, often disconnected from the natural light cues our bodies evolved to expect. Joe and Lynne dig into circadian disruption, sleep, cognitive performance, metabolic and cardiovascular health, shift work, and the concept of "light justice"—including the daylight and darkness deserts that disproportionately affect people living, working, learning, or healing in spaces with inadequate access to natural light. They also examine the importance of daylight in schools, hospitals, NICUs, and assisted living facilities, and why building design needs to consider biological health alongside energy efficiency and visual comfort.

Joe and Lynne also venture into the emerging science surrounding full-spectrum light, including red and near-infrared wavelengths, mitochondria, and the potential relationship between indoor environments and rising rates of myopia. Along the way, Lynne shares simple ways we can better support our circadian health—from getting outside first thing in the morning and taking "circadian snacks" throughout the day to creating greater contrast between bright days and dark nights. Ultimately, the conversation makes a compelling case for buildings that reconnect us with the dynamic natural environment our bodies were designed for—through daylight, fresh air, movement, changing temperatures, and connection with other people.

More About Lynn Peeples

Lynne Peeples is an author, keynote speaker, and journalist covering science, health, and the environment. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, National Geographic, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Nature, and other publications. Peeples herself has appeared on various podcasts, television, and radio shows including NPR’s Fresh Air, MSNBC, and BBC News. She previously covered environmental health for The Huffington Post and began her career as a biostatistician for HIV clinical trials and environmental health studies. Peeples is a recipient of an MIT Knight Science Journalism fellowship and an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation book grant. She holds master’s degrees in biostatistics from the Harvard School of Public Health and in science journalism from New York University. She lives in Seattle.

CONTACT:

https://www.facebook.com/lynne.peeples

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnepeeples/

https://x.com/lynnepeeps

https://www.instagram.com/lynne.peeples/

https://lynnepeeples.com/

Where To Find Us:

https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/

www.advancedglazings.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast

www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625

https://twitter.com/bbfhpod