Serenbe Stories

Christina and Jeff Escalante first discovered the transformative power of community during a whirlwind backpacking trip that took them to intentional communities in places like Spain, Israel, and Japan. At the time, they were living in a New York City apartment building where they barely knew their neighbors, a stark contrast that left a lasting impression.

Fast forward a few years to the height of the pandemic. Christina was finishing her medical residency in Philadelphia, and the couple began searching up and down the East Coast for a new place to call home. Their commitment to the idea of intentional community was so strong that they even considered building one themselves – until a realtor in Atlanta recommended they visit Serenbe and everything clicked. Within three days of exploring the neighborhood, they were under contract on a new home.

As if that story weren’t inspiring enough, Christina is also the co-founder of Acorn to Oak, a personalized healthcare practice based right here in Serenbe. She provides care for children from birth through age 18, while her partner, Dr. Samer Blackmon, sees adult patients. Designed from the ground up, this innovative and welcoming practice is focused on building deep, meaningful relationships with every patient.

In this episode, Monica and Steve sit down with Christina to talk about planting roots in a close-knit community, the scary but rewarding journey of starting her own medical practice, and the everyday magic of Food Truck Fridays in Serenbe.

Shownotes

• Acorn to Oak Health
• Serenbe Events Calendar
• Radical Dough 
• The General Store at Serenbe

Keywords: serenbe, community, intentional community, lifestyle, medicine, healthcare, personalized healthcare, medical practice, acorn to oak, travel, backpacking, intentional living, medical school, residency, pediatric medicine, New York City, New York, Philadelphia, road trip, motherhood, parenting, parenthood

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

Josh Green is an Atlanta-based journalist whose work has appeared in prominent publications such as Garden & Gun, Atlanta Magazine, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Urbanize Atlanta, where he covers the city’s evolving real estate landscape and development trends. Josh first visited Serenbe with his family all the way back in 2013 – and while he recognized its promise, he also saw that this budding community still had a long way to go. Since that first visit, he’s had a front-row seat to Serenbe’s evolution and he’s written extensively about the urban planning and architecture that make it stand out from Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs.

Beyond journalism, Josh is also an accomplished fiction writer. His debut novel, Secrets of Ash, earned the Indie Reader Discovery Award for Literary Fiction and earned him a nomination for the 2024 Georgia Author of the Year. His latest release, Goodbye, Sweetberry Park, came out just last month and is already getting rave reviews.

In this conversation, Steve and Monica sit down with Josh to talk about Serenbe’s transformation over the years, the importance of supporting local authors, and how storytelling helps us make sense of the places we live.

Show Notes

• Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve Nygren
• Urbanize Atlanta
• Goodbye, Sweetberry Park: A Novel of City Life, Creeping Gentrification and Flesh-eating Snakes by Josh Green
• Kirkwood Spring Festival | May 17 2025
• Gothic short stories and a comic crime thriller for spring reading (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
• Serenbe Unveils Plans for Large New Neighborhood with Central Park (Urbanize Atlanta)
• Serenbe at 20 (Urbanize Atlanta)
• Hollywood to Serenbe: Finding Magic in Community with Randy Zisk (Serenbe Stories)
• ARTS ATL
• Serenbe Events Calendar

Keywords: Josh Green, Serenbe, journalism, urban planning, novel writing, Atlanta neighborhoods, family experiences, book promotion, gentrification, Atlanta, built environment, biophilic design, architecture, design, nature, biophilia

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

If you’re a longtime listener , you already know that Serenbe is more than just a place - it’s a nature-based model for living that inspires others to challenge the status quo, embrace optimism, and reimagine their communities. And along the way, many people discover they’re reinventing themselves, too.

Steve Nygren would be the first to tell you he’s learned a great deal over his 20-year journey as an “accidental developer.” Now, he’s sharing those insights in a new book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense. It’s a call to action for anyone looking to create meaningful change no matter how small their sphere of influence may seem. The book offers a blueprint for building sustainable communities where wonder lives in the everyday and people of all ages can thrive.

Steve’s ideas and solutions aren’t complex or costly. They’re grounded in simple, yet radical, common sense.

In this episode of Serenbe Stories, Steve and Monica sit down to explore what inspired him to write the book, why local solutions matter more than ever, and the guidance he’d offer to anyone who’s feeling stuck or searching for a fresh path forward.

Shownotes

• Pre-Order Start in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live With Radical Common Sense by Steve Nygren
• Subscribe to Steve Nygren on Substack
• Are You Ready for Radical Common Sense? By Steve Nygren (Substack)
• Serenbe Events Calendar
• Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

Key Words: book launch, radical common sense, community building, nature impact, practical solutions, mindset shifts, local solutions, sustainable communities, personal influence, change

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

Jennifer Band and Josh Hiller spent 13 years living in London—including a full year in lockdown—before making the move to Serenbe in 2021. As parents of two young children, they had been thinking about returning to the States for some time, but hadn’t quite found a place that felt right. That changed the moment they discovered Serenbe. It offered the perfect blend of what they loved about European life—walkability, a strong sense of community, vibrant energy—paired with the space and ease of suburban living in the U.S.

A few years in, Jen and Josh have truly found their footing and embraced the rich, connected life they've built here. Their kids are thriving at The Terra School, and Josh has even uncovered a new creative passion he didn’t know he was missing.

In this conversation, Monica and Steve sit down with Jennifer and Josh to talk about the highs and lows of moving to a new country and community, the curious and open-hearted people they’ve met, and—yes, even though it’s only April—the unexpected magic of Halloween in Serenbe.

Show Notes:

• Serenbe Events Calendar
• The Terra School at Serenbe
• The Blue Eyed Daisy
• Austin’s at Serenbe
• George Cohen’s Road to Recovery & Serenbe (Serenbe Stories)

Keywords: Serenbe, London, Europe, community, family, music, remote work, creative outlets, cultural experiences, transition, personal growth, walkability, Halloween 

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

Spring has officially arrived in Serenbe and the community is in full bloom. Despite the haze of pollen, residents are eager to embrace the outdoors, whether they’re digging into garden beds or hitting the trails.

In this special episode of Serenbe Stories, Serenbe’s Director of Landscape and Natural Resources Thomas Peters joins Monica for a conversation about all things Spring. Thomas’s dedication to ecological stewardship shines through in his thoughtful approach to land management, from implementing natural pest control methods to using prescribed burns that revitalize the ecosystem and support the growth of native species.

In this conversation Monica and Thomas dive into the intersection of environmental stewardship and community engagement, the triumphs and challenges of habitat restoration, and Thomas shares a few practical tips for anyone looking to get their hands in the soil this season.

Show Notes

• Pollinators, Songbirds, and Creepy Crawlies with Thomas Peters (Serenbe Stories)
• A Permanent Pollinator Habitat in Serenbe’s Wildflower Meadow (Serenbe Stories)
• Serenbe Plant Sale | April 26, 2025
• Serenbe Events Calendar
• MTB Atlanta: Building Trails, Connecting Communities 
• Leave the Leaves (Life at Serenbe)
• Spring Has Sprung (Life at Serenbe)

Keywords: Serenbe, biodiversity, Spring, gardening, gardening tips, pollinators, pollinator habitat, native plants, prescribed burn, Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, sustainable practices, trails, trail system, mountain biking, community trails 

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

When Natalie and TJ Aldridge first discovered Serenbe in early 2016, it felt like fate. While planning their wedding nearby, a friend suggested they direct guests to the Inn . So they decided to check it out -- and that first visit absolutely changed everything. Looking for a place to live after their wedding and ready to leave city life behind, they learned the Textile Lofts would be finished just in time. Nine months and a wedding later, they became some of Serenbe’s youngest residents.

In this episode of Serenbe Stories, Monica and Steve catch up with TJ and Natalie to hear their story, exploring TJ’s career shift from data analytics to Serenbe Real Estate, Natalie’s global adventures with iconic hotel group Belmond, and how the community has stepped up to support their journey as new parents.

Show Notes

• Serenbe Real Estate
• Serenbe Events
• Belmond Official Site
• George Cohen’s Road to Recovery and Serenbe (Serenbe Stories)
• Terra School at Serenbe
• Acorn to Oak Health
• The Wine Shop at Serenbe

Keywords: Serenbe, community, real estate, travel, parenting, Belmond, lifestyle, support, exploration, personal stories

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

Jack Kidd first heard about Serenbe as a movie-obsessed teenager growing up in Peachtree City—and from the first moment he visited, he knew this was a place where he wanted to spend more time. Fast forward a decade, and Jack is now on his third role in the community: he’s worked as a host at The Hill, in Guest Services at The Inn, and now he’s the Office Manager for Serenbe Real Estate. Unofficially, he’s also Serenbe’s most in-demand pet sitter, with a schedule so full that he practically lives here all summer. 

Oh, and did we mention he’s also a published author? Jack’s book, Seasons, is currently celebrating its one-year anniversary.

In this episode of Serenbe Stories, Jack joins HR Director Stephanie Coyne for a conversation about working and playing in Serenbe—his favorite things to do, his go-to cocktail, and even which neighbor has the best-stocked pantry.

Show Notes:

• Serenbe Real Estate
• Seasons by Jack Kidd
• Serenbe Trail Riding
• Serenbe Events Calendar
• Lifelong Friends and Sustainable Living with Stephanie Walsh & Brandon Blanchard (Serenbe Stories)
• How Tik Tok Led Lisa & Jim Challenger to Serenbe (Serenbe Stories)
• The Inn at Serenbe
• The Hill at Serenbe 

Keywords: Serenbe, community, travel, career, pets, culture shock, horseback riding, trail riding, Seasons, author, writing, real estate, community, restaurants, cocktails

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

A strong local food system isn’t just about what’s on our plates—it’s about fostering resilient communities and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. This belief has always been at the heart of Steve Nygren’s vision for Serenbe and the surrounding community of Chattahoochee Hills. And now, Lily Baucom is helping shape the next chapter.

As the Executive Director of the Georgia Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and a board member of the Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy, Lily is deeply invested in the future of local farming. Last year, she authored a comprehensive food system analysis for the city, highlighting both the region’s rich agricultural legacy as well as key areas for growth like expanding access to nutritious food, maximizing land use, and strengthening distribution infrastructure

In this episode of the Serenbe Stories podcast, Steve and Monica sit down with Lily to explore the vital role agriculture plays in our communities, the challenges and opportunities facing the next generation of farmers, and why a thriving local food system depends on the engagement of us all.

Show Notes

• Chattahoochee Hill Country Conservancy
• The Conservation Fund’s Working Farms Fund
• The Common Market
• Cottage Food | GA Department of Agriculture
• Smyly Farms Online Store
• The Good Place Farm
• Blue Heron Urban Farms and Sanctuary
• The Deer Creek Farm
• Rodale Institute
• Minro Studio
• Serenbe Farms
• Serenbe Events

Keywords: Serenbe, agriculture, Georgia, young farmers, community, sustainability, environmental issues, farming infrastructure, local food, Chattahoochee Hills, local agriculture, farmers market

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

Marilyn Specht grew up in Atlanta and always kind of knew of Serenbe, but it wasn’t until years later that she saw it as more than just a weekend retreat. During a weeklong visit – while her oldest child attended Camp Serenbe – Marilyn and her husband were completely drawn in by peaceful walks through the woods and idyllic evenings picking blueberries by the green. Two months after that visit, the Specht family had made Serenbe their home. 

But Marilyn’s connection to Serenbe goes way beyond just living here—her role as Director of Sustainability Integration at Smithgroup means she’s deeply in tune with the thoughtful planning and eco-focus that make this place so special. 

In this episode, Steve and Monica chat with Marilyn about how Serenbe’s commitment to sustainability aligns with her professional work, why this model of development is so compelling, and what she’s learned about community and connection a year and a half since making the move.

Show Notes

• Serenbe Events
• Biophilic Leadership Summit
• Camp Serenbe
• SmithGroup Architects
• Trust for Public Land

Key Words: Serenbe, community, sustainability, environmental impact, personal journey, culinary experiences, water rights, family life, outdoor activities, connection

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren. 

Elaine Dinos and her family first found Serenbe all the way back in 2011, when they started coming down for events and weekend trips while living in Atlanta. However, it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that things really shifted – and what started out as another brief getaway turned into a life-changing, transformative experience. Within just a couple of days, Elaine and her husband Shep enrolled their kids in school and made an offer on a house. And even though they kept second-guessing themselves, their hearts knew this was the place they needed to be.

In this episode of Serenbe Stories, Elaine shares how Serenbe’s unique sense of community, connection to nature, and intentional way of living drew her in—and how it continues to shape her work as the founder of Kindred Lane, a purpose-driven leadership and impact company.

Show Notes

• Kindred Lane
• The Biophilic Leadership Summit
• All Serenbe Events
• Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
• Children & Nature Network

The new book, Start In Your Own Backyard, is out and available for ordering. 

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Learn more about Serenbe and see our Events Calendar. Order your copy of Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Serenbe founder Steve Nygren.