This week, Monica and Jennifer sit down with Nina-Marie Lister, Graduate Director and Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University, located in Toronto, Canada. Building off of her captivating presentation at last month’s Biophilic Leadership Summit, Nina-Marie lays out the little-known history of the front lawn’s hold on North American households, the barriers for achieving greater biodiversity on private property, and the city bylaws that prioritize conformity over environmental health. 

Nina-Marie holds the Margolese National Design for Living Prize for her work in ecology and design and she was awarded honorary membership in the American Society of Landscape Architects. Her work connects people to nature in cities, through green infrastructure design for climate resilience, biodiversity and human wellbeing.

Show Notes

• About Nina-Marie Lister (School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University)
• Ecological Design Lab
• PLANDFORM
• Projective Ecologies: Ecology, Research, and Design in the Climate Age, edited by Chris Reed and Nina-Marie Lister
• The Ecosystem Approach: Complexity, Uncertainty, and Managing for Sustainability (Complexity in Ecological Systems) by by David Waltner-Toews, James Kay, and Nina-Marie Lister
• The Well-Placed Weed: The Bountiful Life of Ryan Gainey, a film by Steve Branford and Cooper Sanchez
• Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast, A Field Guide by Peter Del Tredici 
• Landscape Citizenships, edited by Tim Waterman, Jane Wolff, and Ed Wall

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we speak with John Judge, President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the oldest conservation organization in the United States. The mission of the Appalachian Mountain Club is to foster protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors in order to create a world in which nature is fundamentally valued. AMC achieves this mission through education, outdoor programming, and robust research and conservation efforts to tackle climate change in the Northeastern U.S. In this episode, we talk to John about shifting the way we interact with the natural environment, how we can all put nature at the center of decision-making, and what it means to be an outdoor citizen. 

Show Notes

• Appalachian Mountain Club, outdoors.org 
• The Outdoor Citizen: Get Out, Give Back, Get Active by John Judge (2019)
• Adventures via the Appalachian Mountain Club
• Dragonfly Mercury Project (U.S. National Park Service)
• Maine Woods Initiative
• Become a Member of the Appalachian Mountain Club 
• Appalachia, America’s longest-running journal of mountaineering and conservation
• Shop the Appalachian Mountain Club

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

What do farmland loss and a rapidly changing climate mean for the future of food? How can we harness the power of agriculture, urban farming, and regenerative practices to protect next-generation farmers and the planet? In his presentation at the 2021 Biophilic Leadership Summit, President of American Farmland Trust John Piotti tackles all of these questions and more, illuminating AFT’s history as a changemaking organization and looking towards the future of agriculture.

Show Notes

• About John Piotti, President and CEO of 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
• Get Involved with American Farmland Trust
• Statement from John Piotti, AFT President and CEO: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Sixth Assessment Report
• Regenerative Agriculture is a System, Not a Single Practice, American Farmland Trust

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

The Biophilic Leadership Summit brings together thought-leaders from fields like agriculture, urban planning, architecture, and climate science to learn about and discuss the most impactful biophilic projects, principles and research happening today. Hear from our Summit Coordinator Katrina Erni Cohen, about the speakers, topics, and themes that you can expect to learn more about at the 2021 Virtual Summit, happening next week on October 11th and 12th.

Biophilic Solutions listeners get a special rate on tickets! Enter the code BiophilicSolutions on the 2021 Virtual Summit Event Page for almost 40% off our regular rate. 

Show Notes

• Learn More About The Biophilic Leadership Summit
• Biophilic Leadership Summit : Full 2021 Agenda
• American Farmland Trust
• The Biophilic Institute
• Serenbe
• Biophilic Cities

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

From our good friends over at Serenbe Stories, hear Monica and Steve Nygren’s interview with retired marine Colonel Mark “Puck” Mykleby. In this episode, Mark explains why biophilic communities are an important aspect of national security, how sustainability drives economic growth, and why smart growth at home becomes smart power abroad. You will also learn about the origins of the Biophilic Institute, as well as the work Mark is doing in the private sector to create more walkable communities. Though this interview is from December 2019, its themes are as timely as ever. 

If you are interested in learning more about how we can scale biophilic design, join us for the virtual Biophilic Leadership Summit on October 11th and 12th. Biophilic Solutions listeners get a special rate when they use the code BiophilicSolutions.

Show Notes

• Register for the 2021 Biophilic Leadership Summit (Oct. 11 & 12, 2021) with code BiophilicSolutions
• The Biophilic Institute
• The Grand New Strategy: Restoring America’s Prosperity, Security, and Sustainability in the 21st Century by Mark Mykelby, Patrick Doherty, and Joel Makower
• Admiral Michael Glenn Mullen, Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Congress for the New Urbanism
• The New America Foundation
• Long Haul Capital Group

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

This week on Biophilic Solutions, we chat with Indie Lee, founder of the wildly successful skincare line of the same name. Hear how Indie went from a CPA working with major companies, to an advocate for the slow food movement, to the CEO and founder of her own beauty brand, where she puts nature and ethics at the forefront. Indie's story of overcoming major health challenges, starting a business from the ground up, and holding her company to the highest ethical environmental standards will inspire you. In this episode, we tackle conscious consumerism, not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, and how we can all champion the clean beauty industry. 

Show Notes

• Indie Lee, Founder & CEO of Indie Lee & Co (The Everygirl)
• The Skin-Care Line That Began With a Brain Tumor (The Cut)
• COSMOS, Natural and Organic Certification for Skincare
• Indie Lee’s Clean Commitments
• Indie Lee Ingredients
• Indie Lee Recycling Program
• Indie Lee on Instagram
• AILLEA - Pure. Trusted. Beauty.

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

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

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

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

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 

Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review.

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#NatureHasTheAnswers

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

Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review.

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#NatureHasTheAnswers