Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers
Have you ever noticed how DNA’s spiraling structure mirrors the shape of seashells and flowers? How our circulatory system branches like tree roots? Nature doesn’t just surround us—we are nature. Our bodies, minds, and societies are woven into its rhythms, yet in today’s modern world, we’ve severed that bond, and the consequences ripple through our environment, politics, culture, and even spirituality.
Every other week, hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh explore the profound connections between planetary health and human well-being. Through conversations with leading experts, they uncover how nature influences everything—from the way we design our cities to the way we govern, heal, and find meaning in our lives. As we face climate change, biodiversity loss, and deep societal shifts, rediscovering our place in the natural world isn’t just necessary—it’s transformative.
Join us on this biophilic journey. Follow and listen today, because nature holds the answers.
Episodes
95 episodes
Biophilia in Turbulent Times
As we launch Season 5, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the vital role of nature in uncertain times. Our connection to the natural world isn’t just about aesthetics – it profoundly shapes our mental health, strengthens community bonds, and i...
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Season 5
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Episode 92
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32:16
Introducing Season 5 of Biophilic Solutions
Season 5 of Biophilic Solutions premieres on Tuesday, March 4th! This season, we're taking a broader approach to biophilia—going beyond architecture and design to examine nature’s role in culture, politics, and spirituality. We’ll tack...
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Season 5
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Episode 91
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1:11
Less Rush, More Cheer: What We’re Reading This Winter
This year, we’re embracing the slower pace of winter and our mantra is less rush, more cheer. More time with family and friends, more warm cups of tea, more long walks in the woods, and of course more time spent curled up with a good book. So, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 90
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29:25
A Darker Wilderness with Erin Sharkey
Does the natural world bear witness to history? What lessons can nature teach us about survival, adaptation, and connection? This week, we’re exploring those questions and so much more alongside Erin Sharkey. Erin Sharkey is the editor of A...
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Season 4
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Episode 89
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47:23
Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves with Dr. Howard Frumkin
This week, we’re diving deep into the interconnectedness of human health and planetary health. We know that nature provides us with a myriad of health benefits, both as individuals and socially. However, challenges like climate change and biodi...
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Season 4
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Episode 88
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51:38
Redefining Wildness with 'Wild Souls' Author Emma Marris
Is the idea of pristine, untouched nature a misguided fantasy? Are any animals truly wild on a planet so dominated by human impact? And while we’re on the topic - what do we mean by wildness in the first place? Join us for a thought-provoking c...
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Season 4
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Episode 87
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49:10
What Do We Owe Animals? With ‘Meet the Neighbors’ Author Brandon Keim
We know that many animals possess “human-like” qualities: the ability to play, sustain friendships, mate for life, and even reflect on the past. But what should we actually do with that information? That’s the crucial question that Bra...
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Season 4
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Episode 86
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39:18
A Thriving City is a Walkable City with Jeff Speck
With the rise of suburban sprawl and city planning that has prioritized car travel above all else, modern American cities seriously lack comfortable walking and biking infrastructure. It’s a massive issue - but solutions do exist and importantl...
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Season 4
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Episode 85
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47:04
Mushroom Hunting and the Joy of Discovery with Emily & Gregory Han
Mushrooms are fascinating. They’re not quite plants and they’re not quite animals. Unique and charming mushroom caps are just the fruit of a massive, interconnected mycelium network. And there are millions of mushroom species yet to be discover...
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Season 4
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Episode 84
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40:33
Social Prescribing and Nature as Medicine with Author Julia Hotz
What would you think if your doctor wrote you a prescription to take a walk outside? To visit an art museum? To take a yoga class? It may sound unconventional, but the practice of prescribing nonmedical interventions to improve health, known as...
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Season 4
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Episode 83
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48:41
Author Talk: Wellness Architecture and Urban Design with Dr. Phill Tabb
Wellness is a buzzword that gets thrown a lot these days - but at its core, what does wellness really mean? And how do we design homes, towns, and entire cities where the wellness of residents is a top priority? In this special episode...
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Season 4
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Episode 82
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34:39
The Mini-Forest Revolution with Hannah Lewis
Today’s guest, Hannah Lewis, is on a mission to restore biodiversity in our towns and cities by planting native trees, pollinators, and shrubs on abandoned lots, degraded land, and in backyards. In her acclaimed new book, Mini-Forest Revolution...
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Season 4
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Episode 81
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45:30
Biophilic Leaders Fireside Chat: Ryan Gravel, Michael Phillips & Steve Nygren
In this episode of Biophilic Solutions, we are presenting a Fireside Chat recorded live at the 2024 Biophilic Leadership Summit, a multi-day conference for leaders in the Biohpilic world to come together, share ideas, and learn from one another...
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Season 4
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Episode 80
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47:47
Biophilic Summer Reading: Our 2024 Picks
Hello! Monica and Jennifer here, back yet again with some of our favorite books from the past year. We think that there is no better way to enjoy the summer months than by unwinding with a good book and we've got just that. Our picks range in s...
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Season 4
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Episode 79
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28:45
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Beauty, Awe, and Biodiversity in Old Growth Forests with Joan Maloof
Old Growth Forests, natural forests that have grown undisturbed over a long period of time, offer a wide variety of benefits including storing more carbon and nitrogen than typical forests, providing a unique structure that supports rich ecosys...
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Season 4
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Episode 78
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38:53
Harnessing the Power of New Technology for Greener Cities with Nadina Galle
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 tow...
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Season 4
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Episode 77
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53:45
Myth, Science, and the Age of Deer with Erika Howsare
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-do...
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Season 4
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Episode 76
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41:07
How Austin L. Ray is Fixing Atlanta
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 E...
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Season 4
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Episode 75
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38:16
Calling Business Leaders to Action with David S. Eady
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 th...
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Season 4
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Episode 74
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39:08
Nature in Recovery & Corridors of Beauty with Karen Lloyd
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 compellin...
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Season 4
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Episode 73
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47:55
Expedition Behavior: Growing Leaders with NOLS President Sandy Colhoun
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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 72
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38:27
Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration with Doug Tallamy
E.O. Wilson once said, “if insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos”- and he wasn’t wrong. In fact, our entire food system depends on the energy that tiny bugs transfer to vertebrates. So, what’s the issue? Insects them...
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Season 4
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Episode 71
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38:05
The Life Changing Power of Outdoor Adventure with Shelby Stanger
Our guest today, Shelby Stanger, believes that a little bit of outdoor adventure is the key to a full and happy life. In fact, Shelby credits her own experiences surfing and escaping her comfort zone with catapulting her into a totally new life...
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Season 4
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Episode 70
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46:24
The High Line, Therme, & Social Infrastructure with Robert Hammond
Our guest today, Robert Hammond, has dedicated his life to creating vibrant public spaces that foster human connection, wellbeing, and bring out the best in our communities. In the late 90’s, Robert, alongside business partner Joshua David, co-...
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Season 4
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Episode 69
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1:03:58
Ellen M. Bassett on Design Innovation, Urban Planning, and Global Perspectives
Thoughtful and creative design can change the world, from the products we use every day to innovative and climate-resilient buildings, to entire cities that prioritize the health and vitality of the people who live in them. Our guest today is D...
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Season 3
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Episode 68
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48:46
