A podcast about the human connection to nature.

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, host Monica Olsen sits down with leading experts to explore the profound connections between planetary health and human well-being. Through these conversations, 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.

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Where Place Meets Spirit: A Conversation with Phill Tabb
120
June 16, 2026

Where Place Meets Spirit: A Conversation with Phill Tabb

How do the places we inhabit shape our sense of meaning, connection, and well-being? In this episode, Monica sits down with architect, author, and placemaker Dr. Phill Tabb for a wide-ranging conversation on the relationship between place, spirituality, and human flourishing. Together, they explore how thoughtful design, biophilia, ritual, awe, and sensory experience can help create environments that support deeper connections to ourselves, to one another, and to the natural world. The conver...
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Earth’s Generous Alchemy with Lindsay Branham & Florence Williams
119
June 2, 2026

Earth’s Generous Alchemy with Lindsay Branham & Florence Williams

In this episode, we explore a question that feels more urgent than ever: what if healing ourselves and healing the planet are deeply interconnected? Monica is joined by author Lindsay Branham, whose book Heartwood: The Wisdom and Healing Kinship of Trees chronicles her personal journey through chronic illness and toward a deeper relationship with the natural world. Guest co-host Florence Williams, bestselling author of The Nature Fix , also brings her expertise on nature, health, and well-being
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Building Bridges for the Wild with Beth Pratt & Tim Beatley
118
May 19, 2026

Building Bridges for the Wild with Beth Pratt & Tim Beatley

On this episode of Biophilic Solutions , Monica Olsen is joined by wildlife conservationist and author Beth Pratt alongside special guest co-host Tim Beatley for a conversation about urban wildlife, national parks, and the future of conservation in our cities. As California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation, Beth shares the story behind the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Los Angeles, the cultural impact of mountain lion P-22, and how storytelling can inspire
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History, Memory, and the Fight for Environmental Justice with The Corridor's Jaha Nailah Avery
117
May 5, 2026

History, Memory, and the Fight for Environmental Justice with The Corridor's Jaha Nailah Avery

Cancer Alley, an 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River in Louisiana, has become shorthand for one of the most urgent environmental justice crises in the United States. Lined with more than a hundred petrochemical plants, it’s often talked about in terms of statistics and headlines. But in the new podcast The Corridor , those abstractions start to fall away, revealing something much more human: the lived experiences, histories, and deep-rooted connections of the communities who call this re
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Charting Our Path Forward with Dr. Katharine Wilkinson
116
April 21, 2026

Charting Our Path Forward with Dr. Katharine Wilkinson

Climate change can feel overwhelming, especially for those already deeply attuned to the natural world. Alongside that awareness often comes anxiety, grief, and a lingering question: how do we move from overwhelm to action? In this episode, we’re joined by climate leader and author Dr. Katharine Wilkinson to explore her fantastic new book Climate Wayfinding . In it, Katharine offers a hopeful framework for navigating climate emotions and finding a sense of purpose. Co-host Steve Nygren brings hi
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The Lost Art of Being Human
115
April 7, 2026

The Lost Art of Being Human

As we welcome a new season of Biophilic Solutions , we’re also sharing a bittersweet farewell to our wonderful co-host, Jennifer Walsh. From the very beginning, Jennifer has brought a thoughtful, grounded perspective to nearly every conversation, drawing on her work as a business leader and expert on biophilia. The silver lining is that she’s stepping away precisely because her message is resonating. From speaking engagements to nature walks to wellness room design, her essential work is in grea
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Solutions Rewind | Alfie Vick on Native Plants, Wildness, and Ecological Responsibility
114
March 3, 2026

Solutions Rewind | Alfie Vick on Native Plants, Wildness, and Ecological Responsibility

Is it important to understand the cultural context of a place? And how can landscape architects help us feel more connected to the natural world? This week, we’re revisiting our most popular episode ever, a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation with Alfie Vick on Native American ethnobotany, environmental ethics, and the delicate balance between wildness and order. Alfie is the Georgia Power Professor of Environmental Ethics at the University of Georgia and the Director of its Environmental Ethi
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Solutions Rewind | Beauty, Biophilia, & Your Brain with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee
113
Feb. 17, 2026

Solutions Rewind | Beauty, Biophilia, & Your Brain with Dr. Anjan Chatterjee

Today, we’re revisiting a favorite from the Biophilic Solutions archive: a thoughtful conversation on beauty, the brain, and our relationship to nature with Anjan Chatterjee. In this episode, we explore whether our aesthetic preferences are culturally shaped or more universal, why nature brings deep calm to some people while evoking unease in others, and how researchers are beginning to measure the real cognitive and emotional impacts of biophilic design. Dr. Chatterjee is a Professor of Neurolo
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Solutions Rewind | Why Nature Makes Us Happier with Florence Williams
112
Feb. 3, 2026

Solutions Rewind | Why Nature Makes Us Happier with Florence Williams

We’re excited to bring back a favorite conversation from 2021 with the incomparable Florence Williams. Florence is, of course, the acclaimed author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative , a book that beautifully explores the science behind nature’s profound effect on our minds, bodies, and sense of connection. It’s biophilia in its purest form. In this episode, we dive into the experience of awe in nature and how it can make us more open, generous, and conn
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Solutions Rewind | Doug Tallamy on Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration
Jan. 20, 2026

Solutions Rewind | Doug Tallamy on Native Plants, Keystone Species, and Ecosystem Restoration

As we gear up to launch another season of incredible guest interviews we’re revisiting a few of our most beloved episodes, starting with the fabulous Doug Tallamy. Over the course of his career, Doug has become a leading voice helping people understand why native plants matter and how simple and accessible it can be to support biodiversity right in your backyard. In this conversation, we talk about the power of keystone species, the remarkable progress he’s made restoring native plants on his ow
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Where Science and Spirit Meet with Lyanda Lynn Haupt
110
Dec. 2, 2025

Where Science and Spirit Meet with Lyanda Lynn Haupt

In a world where many of us feel increasingly disconnected from the Earth and from one another, author Lyanda Lynn Haupt offers us a way back. Through her blend of science, nature, and spiritual insight, she invites us to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the wildness of everyday life. Her award-winning book Rooted explores what it means to cultivate inner wisdom and a deep sense of belonging with the natural world, no matter where we live or what we believe. In this episode, Monica sits
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Maria Rodale on Love, Magic, and Listening to Her Garden
109
Nov. 18, 2025

Maria Rodale on Love, Magic, and Listening to Her Garden

What does it mean to truly love the natural world? And what happens when we start listening deeply to it? In this episode, we sit down with author and activist Maria Rodale to explore the themes in her latest book, Love, Nature, Magic : Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden. A lifelong advocate for organic living and regenerative agriculture, Maria has carried forward her family’s legacy as the former CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc., helping to pioneer the organic movement. In L ove, Nat
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About the Host

Monica Olsen Profile Photo
Monica Olsen

Monica is the CMO of Serenbe, the leading biophilic wellness community, overseeing all development, hospitality, and real estate brands including content creation, partnerships, and brand licensing. She also executive-produces and hosts Serenbe Stories and the Biophilic Solutions podcasts.

Past work and clients include Sony Pictures, Sprint, Gap Inc. and Old Navy, start-up Tellme Networks (acquired by Microsoft), Interface FLOR, Seventh Generation, Johnston & Murphy, USA Today, and The Atlantic Monthly among others.

Monica sits on the board of directors for Georgia Organics and The Biophilic Institute with past board seats on AIR Serenbe, artist residency program, Communications Chair of The Serenbe Institute, and co-founded and served as Vice Chair, Chattahoochee Hills Charter School, an innovative nature-based public school. She lives in Serenbe with her husband and two teenage boys.