Shows
Low Tox Life461. Want a better world? Steven Nygren teaches us how to build itYou have to see it to be it, right? Well for the better world we want and more prosperous, healthy communities we want to be, this week gives you exactly that sense of optimism that it’s possible to build. “Serenbe” just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, was an idea that instead of ‘urban sprawl’ with endless streets of concrete, houses and lawns, towns could be built to preserve 70% agriculture/green spaces while also bringing in the best of what connected us to each other in cities, through healthy commerce, arts, sports and education.
2025-11-271h 02
Stay In Good CompanyS9. | E5. Serenbe | Atlanta, Georgia | Steve Nygren Proves That Changing The World Begins In Your Own Backyard With His Award-Winning Biophilic Community“Generally you have to choose one and drive to the other. You have to choose either a rural setting or an area that has all these services with it—you walk to the schools, the hospitality, the shops, the medical services. And so one of the key things is it's all here—you just decide which door you're gonna go out.”We’re in great company with Steve Nygren, the visionary behind, and steward of Serenbe, an award winning biophilic community on the edge of Atlanta that connects its residents and guests to nature and each other. A place wh...
2025-11-2540 min
Closer Look with Rose ScottCongresswoman Greene to resign; New book details how sustainable neighborhoods lead to healthier communities; New podcast tells history of Atlanta’s cultureRepublican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning from Congress in January. Greene, who represents Georgia’s 14th congressional district, recently announced the news via social media. WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali joins “Closer Look” with the latest. He also shares details about how some Georgia lawmakers are reacting to the news, when a special election could be held to fill Greene’s seat and what this all means for Georgia’s 14th congressional district. Plus, Serenbe is a 1,000-acre community, located in Chattahoochee Hills. The biophilic community, comprised of geothermal, solar and net zero homes, was founded by Steve N...
2025-11-2450 min
Elevate EldercareFrom Farm to Future: A Model for Sustainable, Intergenerational LivingIn this episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan welcomes Steve Nygren, visionary founder of Serenbe, a pioneering biophilic community outside Atlanta that blends sustainability, wellness, and human connection. Beginning in 1991 as an impromptu farm purchase, Serenbe has become a decades-long experiment in how people can live harmoniously with nature—and with each other. Steve shares his story, which includes a transition from a successful hospitality career to a life dedicated to community building and land preservation. Confronted by the threat of urban sprawl, he turned his private sanctuary into a model for regenerative development. Serenbe's design—complete with centra...
2025-11-1257 min
Commonwealth Club of California PodcastStart in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common SenseSteve Nygren is the founder and CEO of Serenbe, a wellness community created as a model to demonstrate that preserving green space interlaced with agriculture, housing and retail is not only economically viable, but the future of community wellbeing. Nygren, a visionary placemaker—someone who specializes in transforming public spaces into areas that foster community, connection and well-being—has pulled together his expertise in Start in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense, a blueprint for developing sustainable communities where citizens of all generations can thrive, "and awe is found in everyday moments."
He s...
2025-10-291h 07
Stand Up! with Pete Dominick1466 Steve Nygren + News & ClipsMy conversation with Steve Nygren starts at about 45 minutes after headlines and clips Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls National bestselling author, Steve Nygren is Founder and CEO...
2025-10-231h 19
Start In Your Own BackyardThe Spark of PossibilityIn this final episode of the Start In Your Own Backyard mini-series, Steve Nygren reflects on the journey of building Serenbe. What started out as an unlikely idea, sparked in a moment of fear and panic is now a living, breathing community where nature and people are woven back together.You’ll hear from neighbors like Gil Mathis, who traded a corporate finance career for a more authentic life rooted in connection, and Gigi Wilborne, an artist and entrepreneur who has poured her creativity into nearly every corner of Serenbe. You’ll also meet Price Bell, whos...
2025-10-0721 min
Serenbe StoriesThe Spark of PossibilityIn this final episode of the Start In Your Own Backyard mini-series, Steve Nygren reflects on the journey of building Serenbe. What started out as an unlikely idea, sparked in a moment of fear and panic is now a living, breathing community where nature and people are woven back together.You’ll hear from neighbors like Gil Mathis, who traded a corporate finance career for a more authentic life rooted in connection, and Gigi Wilborne, an artist and entrepreneur who has poured her creativity into nearly every corner of Serenbe. You’ll also meet Price Bell, whos...
2025-10-0722 min
Care More Be Better: A Podcast For Sustainable Social Impact and RegenerationBuilding A Sustainable Wellness Community With Steve NygrenIntegrating green spaces, agriculture, housing, and retail may be extremely challenging, but it is never impossible. Steve Nygren managed to pull this off by helping build Serenbe, a wellness community connected to nature on the edge of Atlanta. He joins Corinna Bellizzi to share how their responsibly developed, high-value community serves as a model for applying biophilic design in small and intentional ways, boosting regenerative practices everywhere. Steve also discusses what it means to rediscover awe in everyday moments, the unintended consequences of fast-paced living, and how individual choices can contribute to driving systemic transformation.
COMPLETE BLOG...
2025-10-0146 min
Conversations with the Best Minds in Real EstateBest Minds: Steve Nygren
Best Minds: Steve Nygren
September 30, 2025
By Gregg Logan, Managing Director, RCLCO
How can we build more connected, sustainable, and joyful communities?
In this episode of Conversations with the Best Minds in Real Estate, Managing Director Gregg Logan sits down with Steve Nygren, the visionary developer behind Serenbe, a pioneering biophilic community just outside Atlanta, that’s become a national model for sustainable, wellness-centered living.
Steve’s upcoming book, Start in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense (out Oct 7), is bot...
2025-09-3042 min
Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the AnswersNature, Transformation, and Radical Common Sense with Steve NygrenModern life often leaves us on the treadmill of constant striving, chasing markers of success that don’t necessarily bring fulfillment. But what happens when you step off that treadmill and reimagine what’s possible?Our guest this week, Steve Nygren, did exactly that. As the founder and visionary behind Serenbe, a biophilic community just outside Atlanta, Steve has spent decades exploring how the places we live can better support our health, happiness, and connection to nature. Now, he’s sharing that journey in his new book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radica...
2025-09-3052 minStart In Your Own BackyardA Place That Feels Like HomeA lot of what we’ve been exploring on this podcast comes back to an idea known as placemaking: the art of designing spaces that feel meaningful, welcoming, and rooted in community. At its core, it’s about creating places where people truly want to gather and belong.At Serenbe, that spirit comes alive every day. Visitors might arrive for goat yoga or a stroll through the nature trails and end up moving. A coffee-and-ceramics studio, dreamed up and run by neighbors, has become a beloved local hangout. And community traditions like Porchfest transform front porches into conc...
2025-09-3022 min
Serenbe StoriesA Place That Feels Like HomeA lot of what we’ve been exploring on this podcast comes back to an idea known as placemaking: the art of designing spaces that feel meaningful, welcoming, and rooted in community. At its core, it’s about creating places where people truly want to gather and belong.At Serenbe, that spirit comes alive every day. Visitors might arrive for goat yoga or a stroll through the nature trails and end up moving. A coffee-and-ceramics studio, dreamed up and run by neighbors, has become a beloved local hangout. And community traditions like Porchfest transform front porches into conc...
2025-09-3023 min
Culture Changers with Allison HareSerenbe’s Radical Blueprint for Living Well with pioneer Steve NygrenWhat if the cure for our collective heartbreak isn't therapy or medication, but completely reimagining where we live? Steve Nygren, founder of Serenbe and author of the new book "Start in Your Backyard," discovered this truth when he stepped off the treadmill of life 30 years ago and accidentally created one of the most revolutionary sustainable community living models in America. His friends living at Serenbe describe their lives as "feeling like college again" - not because they're partying, but because they've rediscovered what it means to live in true community where nobody locks their doors and relationships flourish through...
2025-09-251h 10Start In Your Own BackyardThe Deepest Wells of the Human SpiritFood, shelter, walkable streets, even access to nature are all vital ingredients for a thriving community. But on their own, they aren’t quite enough. To truly flourish, people also need beauty, inspiration, and creativity woven into daily life. That’s where the arts come in.In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores why music, theater, sculpture, literature, and public art are so vitally important. You’ll hear insights from Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, on how our brains respond to beauty, as well as stories from artist...
2025-09-2322 min
Serenbe StoriesThe Deepest Wells of the Human SpiritFood, shelter, walkable streets, even access to nature are all vital ingredients for a thriving community. But on their own, they aren’t quite enough. To truly flourish, people also need beauty, inspiration, and creativity woven into daily life. That’s where the arts come in.In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores why music, theater, sculpture, literature, and public art are so vitally important. You’ll hear insights from Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, on how our brains respond to beauty, as well as stories from artist...
2025-09-2323 min
The Wellness Real Estate Podcast - Modern Marketing For Real Estate ProfessionalsThe Power of Place: Real Estate with Purpose With Steve Nygren, Founder of SerenbeIf you're wondering how one person—you—can create meaningful change through real estate, this conversation will show you what’s possible.In this episode, I talk with Steve Nygren, founder of Serenbe, about how a single decision to “start in his own backyard” became a 21-year-old wellness community and a national model for healthy development.What I learned:* How biophilic design and sacred geometry shaped Serenbe’s flow* The power of 70% conservation / 30% high-density development* Real health benefits residents have experienced* What realtors can do—even when selling existing homes* Why place matters in how we live, connect, and thrivePlus, we...
2025-09-2250 minStart In Your Own BackyardCommunity PotluckOnce upon a time, community wasn’t something you had to schedule, swipe for, or search out in a Facebook group. It was simply part of daily life. In this episode, Steve Nygren explores the loneliness epidemic, how our modern world has stripped away built-in community, and what it will take to bring it back.He dives into how thoughtful design choices like walkable streets, welcoming front porches, and all-important “third places” can help weave back some of the social fabric we’ve lost. And this sense of connection isn’t just for adults. Kids and elders, the booken...
2025-09-1623 min
Serenbe StoriesCommunity PotluckOnce upon a time, community wasn’t something you had to schedule, swipe for, or search out in a Facebook group. It was simply part of daily life. In this episode, Steve Nygren explores the loneliness epidemic, how our modern world has stripped away built-in community, and what it will take to bring it back.He dives into how thoughtful design choices like walkable streets, welcoming front porches, and all-important “third places” can help weave back some of the social fabric we’ve lost. And this sense of connection isn’t just for adults. Kids and elders, the booken...
2025-09-1624 min
Serenbe StoriesWhere Wellness GrowsMost of us know that a sedentary, stress-filled lifestyle can take a heavy toll on our wellbeing. Yet when communities are designed for cars instead of people, when fast food is easier to find than fresh produce, and when green space feels totally out of reach, it becomes increasingly apparent that healthy choices are about so much more than willpower.In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores why true wellness has little to do with fitness trackers, supplements, or trendy diets and everything to do with the environments we live in. From...
2025-09-0927 minStart In Your Own BackyardWhere Wellness GrowsMost of us know that a sedentary, stress-filled lifestyle can take a heavy toll on our wellbeing. Yet when communities are designed for cars instead of people, when fast food is easier to find than fresh produce, and when green space feels totally out of reach, it becomes increasingly apparent that healthy choices are about so much more than willpower.In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores why true wellness has little to do with fitness trackers, supplements, or trendy diets and everything to do with the environments we live in. From...
2025-09-0926 minStart In Your Own BackyardWhy Beauty MattersWhat makes a place feel magnetic? Why do some neighborhoods and buildings leave you feeling inspired, while others feel sterile and disconnected? In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, we explore how the built environment shapes our sense of joy, connection, and belonging.You’ll hear from neurologist Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, who explains how our brains respond to beauty and why elements like coherence, fascination, and hominess are essential to creating spaces that feel truly welcoming. Serenbe’s land planner Dr. Phil Tabb and urbanist Diana Lind also join the conversation to discuss how architectural vari...
2025-09-0222 min
Serenbe StoriesWhy Beauty MattersWhat makes a place feel magnetic? Why do some neighborhoods and buildings leave you feeling inspired, while others feel sterile and disconnected? In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, we explore how the built environment shapes our sense of joy, connection, and belonging.You’ll hear from neurologist Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, who explains how our brains respond to beauty and why elements like coherence, fascination, and hominess are essential to creating spaces that feel truly welcoming. Serenbe’s land planner Dr. Phil Tabb and urbanist Diana Lind also join the conversation to discuss how architectural vari...
2025-09-0223 min
Serenbe StoriesA Village at the Forest’s EdgeAccess to nature isn’t just a luxury. It's essential for our health, our well-being, and the resilience of our communities. But what happens when the fields, forests, and streams we once knew are paved over by highways, strip malls, and suburban sprawl?In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores our deep connection to (and disconnection from) the natural world. From the science of nature deficit disorder to the philosophy of biophilia, from America’s problematic obsession with manicured lawns to the potential of pollinator-friendly and edible landscapes, Steve unpacks how nature shap...
2025-08-2623 minStart In Your Own BackyardA Village at the Forest’s EdgeAccess to nature isn’t just a luxury. It's essential for our health, our well-being, and the resilience of our communities. But what happens when the fields, forests, and streams we once knew are paved over by highways, strip malls, and suburban sprawl?In this episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve Nygren explores our deep connection to (and disconnection from) the natural world. From the science of nature deficit disorder to the philosophy of biophilia, from America’s problematic obsession with manicured lawns to the potential of pollinator-friendly and edible landscapes, Steve unpacks how nature shap...
2025-08-2622 min
Serenbe StoriesThe Land That Changed EverythingStart In Your Own Backyard is a mini-series about how the choices we make, both big and small, can transform the world around us. For host Steve Nygren, this is personal. Two decades ago, while running through the woods on his beloved family farm, he spotted bulldozers toppling trees for what he feared was another soulless suburban development. That sobering moment sparked a question that changed the course of his life: Isn’t there a better way to build community? One that works with nature, not against it?The answer became Serenbe, a community built on biophilic pr...
2025-08-1926 min
Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the AnswersJournal of Biophilic Design: How to Design a Biophilic CommunityThis week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re bringing you something a little different (yet very close to home). While Serenbe isn’t the main focus of this podcast, it is where Monica lives and works, and it’s one of the most vibrant examples of biophilic community in action.In anticipation of his forthcoming book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live with Radical Common Sense, Serenbe founder Steve Nygren sat down with Vanessa Champion for the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast. Together, they explore how to apply biophilic principles in real and meaningful ways to tra...
2025-08-1958 min
Start In Your Own BackyardThe Land That Changed EverythingIn the first episode of Start In Your Own Backyard, Steve shares his transformative path to founding Serenbe, a thriving community rooted in nature on the outskirts of Atlanta. He talks about why the built environment lies at the heart of so many modern challenges, the personal healing he discovered in nature, and how each of us can take steps toward positive change starting right where we are.Because, let’s be honest: life in America isn’t working the way it should. Not for most people. Across the board, whether it’s public health, community trust, or our...
2025-08-1825 min
Pod Your WayUsing Radical Common Sense To Build Great Places, With Steve Nygrenhttps://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025/6/23/using-radical-common-sense-to-build-great-places-with-steve-nygren; OpenAI; echo; 27169090
2025-07-0549 min
The Strong Towns PodcastUsing Radical Common Sense To Build Great Places, With Steve NygrenSerenbe is a unique community just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. It’s based on the development pattern of traditional English villages, with walkable, mixed-use “hamlets” surrounded by nature. In today’s episode, Chuck sits down with Serenbe founder Steve Nygren to discuss the process of developing this kind of community, as well as Steve’s development philosophy of “radical common sense.”
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES
“Start in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live With Radical Common Sense” by Steve Nygren
Learn more about Serenbe.
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
This podcast is made possible by...
2025-06-2351 minThink and Act LocallyThe Strong Towns Podcast - Using Radical Common Sense To Build Great Places, With Steve NygrenSerenbe is a unique community just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. It’s based on the development pattern of traditional English villages, with walkable, mixed-use “hamlets” surrounded by nature. In today’s episode, Chuck sits down with Serenbe founder Steve Nygren to discuss the process of developing this kind of community, as well as Steve’s development philosophy of “radical common sense.”
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES
“Start in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live With Radical Common Sense” by Steve Nygren
Learn more about Serenbe.
Chuck Marohn (Substack)
This podcast is made possible by...
2025-06-2351 min
Serenbe StoriesJosh Green on Serenbe’s Growth and Why Storytelling MattersJosh 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 archit...
2025-05-0533 min
Serenbe StoriesSimple, Radical, Local: Steve Nygren on His Upcoming Book “Start In Your Own Backyard”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...
2025-04-2829 min
Serenbe StoriesFarm-To-Table: The Promise of Local Agriculture with Lily BaucomA 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 comprehe...
2025-03-2430 min
Serenbe StoriesTwo Pioneers & an Icon Reimagine Wellness Real EstateWhen health and wellbeing is built into the very fabric of a community, traditional development gets turned on its head – and as it turns out, living somewhere that makes you feel good is in high demand. Wellness real estate is the fastest growing sector of the 6 trilliondollar wellness industry.This week on Serenbe Stories, we’re thrilled to share a recent interview from the Global Wellness Conversations podcast featuring Serenbe founder Steve Nygren – referred to here as the “godfather of wellness real estate” – alongside Chuck Heath, the founder of Ameyalli in Deer Valley Colorado, and wellness icon Deepak Chopr...
2024-12-091h 18
Global Wellness ConversationsSteve Nygren, Chuck Heath, Deepak Chopra – Two Pioneers & an Icon Reimagine Wellness Real EstateIn this very special episode host Kim Marshall talks to two real estate development pioneers—Steve Nygren of Serenbe and Chuck Heath of AMEYALLI—as well as wellness icon Deepak Chopra about wellness real estate, the fastest growing sector of the global wellness economy according to the Global Wellness Institute. Steve shares why he founded Serenbe 20 years ago near Atlanta, Georgia, and how it developed into an award-winning neighborhood known for pioneering biophilic design, sustainability, and health-forward intergenerational living. Joining Steve is 40-year veteran of real estate development, Chuck Heath, who is building AMEYALLI near Deer Valley, Utah. Developed arou...
2024-11-211h 15
Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the AnswersBiophilic Leaders Fireside Chat: Ryan Gravel, Michael Phillips & Steve NygrenIn 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. This features Serenbe founder, Steve Nygren, moderating a conversation with Ryan Gravel, Atlanta BeltLine creator, and Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown. Ryan discusses the process behind developing the BeltLine and explains how incorporating biophilia in Atlanta’s architecture has and will continue to help change the city for the better. Similarly, Michael shares his perspective as a key player in...
2024-06-2546 min
Serenbe StoriesKeeping Up with Collin & Sydney JonesOver 6 years ago, Collin and Sydney Jones moved with their two young boys from Roswell, Georgia. It was a surprise weekend away for Collin that turned into a home purchase 9 days later. During that weekend, they happened upon a party at the Grange Green, discovered golf cart charcuterie and met a family who encouraged them to tour homes while that family watched their son. Serenbe turned out to be the community they didn’t know they needed. In today’s episode, Steve Nygren and I catch up with the Jones and we not only do we find out what they...
2024-05-1341 min
Breaking GreenThe Navajo Nation's Battle with Uranium Mining's Toxic Legacy with Justin AhasteenSend us a textChristopher Nolan's movie Oppenheimer captured the imagination of the nation as it dramatized the super-secret Manhattan Project that was responsible for creating the first atomic bomb. But what about the legacy of radioactive waste that the US weapons Development Program left across the United States? According to victims whose diseases were caused by exposure to US weapons development programs, the movie's oversight of the project's toxic legacy was an insult. Now a bill in Congress may help address some illnesses caused by nuclear weapons development. It may also recognize victims exposed to radiation...
2024-04-2640 min
Serenbe Stories20 Years of Community with Steve NygrenAs we kick off the 10th season of this podcast, Serenbe is hitting a major milestone - 2024 marks 20 years since Serenbe’s groundbreaking, when the very first homes were being built and the first residents were taking a chance on a very new and evolving type of neighborhood development. In this episode, Monica and Steve take a trip down memory lane, discussing what the world looked like in 2004, the earliest days of the green building movement, and some of the major milestones that influenced Serenbe’s path forward. We also discuss the way the community itself has evolved over the...
2024-03-1841 minSerenbe StoriesIntroducing Season 10 of Serenbe StoriesSerenbe Stories will be back on Monday, March 18th for our milestone TENTH season and we couldn’t be more excited. In this upcoming season, we’re sharing more stories about the people that make Serenbe such a lively, interesting, and dynamic community. Hear from Steve Nygren about how Serenbe has grown in the 20 years since breaking ground, from residents who have uprooted their busy lives to move here and slow down, visiting artists who enrich our everyday experiences, and so much more. You can catch up on the first 9 seasons of Serenbe Stories anywhere you listen to pod...
2024-03-1403 min
Non Toxic Environments Home Health & WellnessLiving in a Wellness Community - Steve Nygren, CEO of SerenbeHave you ever dreamed of living in community that focuses on OUR health and well being above all else? Serenbe is an award winning biophilic community that connects people to nature and each other. Each of Serenbe’s hamlets have complementary commercial centers focused on the elements of a well-lived life: arts for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health for wellbeing, play for a joy-filled life, and education for awareness. Fresh food is another of Serenbe’s natural assets, with a 25-acre organic farm, seasonal Saturday Farmer’s Market, thriving CSA program and edible landscaping, including blueberry bushes...
2024-02-2048 minSerenbe StoriesIntergenerational Living & Aging in Place w/ Steve NgyrenOn this week’s episode of Serenbe Stories, we’re sharing an interview that Steve Nygren gave on the Glowing Older podcast, alongside their host Nancy Griffin. Serenbe has big plans to break ground on a state of the art aging-in-place campus, designed to take down the barriers that often leave older generations siloed away from the greater community. This campus will have no gates, no locked away areas, and interestingly, no age restrictions. It will also be located in the heart of Serenbe’s Mado hamlet, connected to shops and restaurants, the new Acton Academy school campus, and plenty...
2023-10-3122 minSerenbe StoriesUnveiling Serenbe’s Thin Places with Dr. Phill TabbIf you’ve listened to Serenbe Stories for a while, then our guest today, Phill Tabb, will need no introduction. For those who need a refresher, Phill Tabb is Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Texas A&M University and has been involved with Serenbe since its earliest days, creating the community’s masterplan using the principles of sacred geometry. He is the author of numerous publications including Serene Urbanism: A Biophilic Theory and Practice of Sustainable Placemaking, and Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future. His latest is Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous. This fascinating new stud...
2023-10-0935 min
Glowing OlderEpisode 15:8 Steve Nygren on Serenbe’s Free Range Kids and Uncaged EldersThe founder and CEO of Serenbe talks about the importance of fresh air, farm to table food, art, and education, and the community’s 20-year progression from breaking ground in 2004 to 500 houses, five restaurants, 35 businesses, and development of a leading-edge aging in place campus.
About Steve
Steve Nygren began his career in the hospitality industry, eventually starting a restaurant corporation that grew to 36 restaurants. In 1994, he and his wife Marie retired to a farm outside Atlanta, with their three daughters. Six years later, he became concerned about urban sprawl invading their adopted country paradise and in...
2023-09-1522 minSerenbe StoriesBONUS: Building the Serenbe Brand with Monica Olsen & Garnie NygrenIn this special bonus episode of Serenbe Stories, Garnie Nygren and Monica Olsen sit down with marketing expert Tony Triumph for a conversation all about building the Serenbe brand. Tony is the founder and CEO of the Triumphant Group, a New York based marketing agency that has worked with major brands such as Nordstrom, Kettle Vodka, and Hyatt Hotels just to name a few. Before visiting Serenbe, Tony had never been to Atlanta outside of the typical Hartsfield Jackson layover and he was immediately struck by Serenbe’s sustainable approach to building and its biophilic philosophy. In thi...
2023-07-251h 01
Building A Better Brand®Serenbe's Garnie Nygren & Monica Olsen: On How to Build Sustainable Communities, the Biophilic Business, and A Brand That Outlives YouAn illustrious community of thriving citizens, Serenbe serves as a haven for those seeking sanctuaries away from the bustling city life, yet lust for the bountifulness of a clean, yet urban zen within nature. Serenbe founders Steve Nygren and Marie Lupo Nygren believe that if you want to change the world, start in your own backyard. The couple discovered the property now known as Serenbe on a weekend outing to introduce their three girls to the Georgia countryside in 1991. Weekend visits for the family transformed their lives, and three years later they sold their Atlanta home and relocated full-time...
2023-05-171h 07Serenbe StoriesBONUS History Tour w/ Steve NygrenIn this special bonus episode of Serenbe Stories, Steve shares a quick tour of the Inn property, diving into the history of the old Farmhouse, the early days of the surrounding cottages, and how the property transitioned from weekend getaway to family home to luxury retreat. We’ll meet at the Farmhouse, walk out onto the wraparound porch, through the Inn grounds, and end up over by the Pavilion.Show Notes & Further Reading The Inn at SerenbeThe Inn at Serenbe HistoryThe FarmhouseAnimal House (Life at Serenbe blog)Mary Mac’s Tea RoomChartres Cathed...
2022-11-2110 minSerenbe StoriesCreating A Sense of Place: Walking Tour with Steve NygrenAs you wander through Serenbe’s hamlets, taking in the details, the architecture, and feeling nature all around you, you can’t help but feel a true sense of place. Placemaking is the process of building high-quality spaces that encourage learning, play, happiness, and health - it’s the intentionality that’s been built into Serenbe’s model from day one. In this special episode of Serenbe Stories, join Steve Nygren for a walking tour of the community and learn all about how he designed the public areas and community at large in order to promote connection to nature, wellness...
2022-10-1745 min
Serenbe StoriesLand Conservation, Renewable Energy & The Road to Net ZeroThis week, Monica and Steve sit down and have a frank discussion about Serenbe’s roadmap to achieving net zero carbon emissions. From land conservation and stormwater management to our organic farm, which provides fresh, local food for our residents and restaurants. sustainability has been built into Serenbe’s community model from the very beginning. Looking ahead, solar energy, transportation, and EV charging are at the forefront of Steve’s mind. In this episode, we explore the human benefits of environmentally friendly practices (ahem, noise pollution and air quality) as well as the challenges. Show Notes
2022-09-2643 min
Serenbe StoriesThe Details Matter with Steve NygrenHave you ever wondered why Serenbe feels special or different from the vast majority of large developments? Or why there’s a certain feeling of calm in Serenbe that you can’t quite put your finger on? It all comes down to the details. From street signs, lamp posts, and trash cans, to front lawns (or lack thereof) and a very intentional street layout, Steve Nygren shares the small details that make all the difference when it comes to achieving a sense of place, a sense of community, and perfect imperfection.Show Notes & Further ReadingThe...
2022-08-2237 min
Questioning LeadershipAn Interview with Steve NygrenDo you have the courage to take a 90 degree turn into the unknown? It can be difficult to leave what’s comfortable and enter risk—but with risk you can experience great reward. Steve Nygren, Founder of Serenbe, an award-winning biophilic community, did just that. He is a place-maker who created an environment in the rural hills of Georgia that focuses on arts, agriculture, health and education. He envisioned the future he wanted and made it happen. Serenbe has won numerous awards for its sustainability and excellent development. In this bonus episode of Questioning Leadership, learn from Steve while he a...
2021-12-071h 01
Serenbe StoriesGeothermal, Neuroplasticity, & Steve HurwitzToday we welcome Steve Hurwitz, one of our earliest residents who has a long history in marketing and advertising and now specializes in consulting with developers and builders, including Serenbe, on Geothermal HVAC and infrastructure for homes and communities. In this episode, we talk with him about how Coca-Cola brought him to Atlanta from New York and his garage band Neuroplasticity - which he formed with other residents, even though he didn't know how to play an instrument. Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories...
2021-08-0940 min
Wild Spaces12: Steve Nygren on Serenbe, a Nature-connected Wellness NeighborhoodOn this episode of the Wild Spaces Podcast, we interview Steve Nygren, the Founder of Serenbe, a nature-connected wellness community on the edge of Atlanta, Georgia. Steve shares his evolving story about growing up on a farm in Colorado, running a successful hospitality and real estate company, re-discovering the benefits of connecting to nature, and then developing Serenbe, a neighborhood full of fresh food, fresh air and focused on wellbeing. This community is set among acres of preserved forests and meadows with miles of nature trails that connect homes and restaurants with arts, businesses, and biophilia.On...
2021-08-0647 minElevate EldercareThe Serenbe Story of Biophilic LivingSusan Ryan sits down with Steve Nygren, founder and CEO of Serenbe, an award-winning biophilic community that connects people to nature and each other. Located in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., each of Serenbe's hamlets has a complementary commercial center focused on the elements of a well-lived life: arts for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health for wellbeing, and education for awareness. Serenbe has been called a wellness sanctuary, an environmental prototype, an agrihood, and even a utopia. Nygren, who has won awards for his work with Serenbe, paints a picture that illustrates its virtues and holistic value proposition as...
2021-05-261h 02
Citizen FarmersPlanting the seeds of Serenbe with Steve NygrenIn this episode, Farmer D and Steve Nygren dig in to the origins of Serenbe and how it's grown from a seed planted decades ago into a model Biophilic community of the future.Join Our Community!Our Partners:Brilliant Marketing - A boutique marketing consulting collective helping passionate businesses create impact and achieve their dreams through mindful based marketing.Show Notes:Serenbe Nygren PlacemakingKiss The Ground MovieAdditional Resources:Citizen Farmers Resources
2021-02-251h 07Serenbe StoriesIntroducing Season 5 of Serenbe StoriesStop any resident on the streets of Serenbe, and they’ll have a story to tell you about how they got here. How they first discovered Serenbe and the friends they’ve made. Parents will share why they’re raising their children, and others share how they’ve built their own extended family. Some have started a business, built a new home, or found creative inspiration to write a book or create art. Others have found solace on the trails or taken up a new hobby with new friends. All of these stories have a common thread: a curiosi...
2021-02-1503 min
Leadership Well®Steve Nygren, CEO/Founder, Serenbe wellness communityProducer & Host: Natalie Butto WillsGuest : Steve Nygren, Founder & CEO of Serenbe, a global role model wellness and biophilic real estate community.Topics: Wellness, real estate, community, sustainability, engagement, biophilic designInformation and links at the Leadership Well Center.
2021-01-2820 min
The Permaculture PodcastSustainable Suburbs - Serenbe | Steve Nygren
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The episode with Jeff Speck left me curious about what the details Jeff mentioned look like in practice. I followed up that conversation by sitting down with my guest for this episode, Steve Nygren, founder of Serenbe.
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2020-12-1337 min
101 Ways To Save The PlanetSaving the Planet by Reimagining the Neighborhood (with Steve Nygren, CEO and Founder of Serenbe)After going on a (virtual) tour of the idyllic Atlanta suburb of Serenbe, we couldn't wait to sit down with its founder and CEO, Steve Nygren...We also can't wait to plan our visit! In this episode, we bring his beautiful and inspiring vision for sustainable community living to our listeners. Full of warmth and passion, Steve shares how he created Serenbe as a wellness community to demonstrate that preserving 70% of green space interlaced with agriculture, housing and retail is a win-win-win - promoting healthy people, a healthy planet and of course, a healthy return on investment....
2020-11-181h 00
Serenbe StoriesBringing Nature Inside with Bill Browning and Catie RyanToday we're talking with Bill Browning and Catie Ryan from Terrapin Bright Green. Bill is one of the green building and real estate industry’s foremost thinkers and strategists, and is an advocate for sustainable design solutions. As Co-Founder of Terrapin Bright Green, he is no stranger to biophilic design. Bill has worked with the Pentagon, Starwood Hotels, Google, the city of New York Building Resiliency, and the Rocky Mountain Institute, among many others. Catie joined Terrapin in 2008, and is their Director of Projects. She is the co-author of several books, including 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design and The Economics of...
2020-11-0956 min
The Regenerative Real Estate PodcastSerenbe: A pioneering community model connected to nature with Steve NygrenMany people dream of creating a new kind of community. One that is both sustainable and beautiful. A place where they can raise their kids, connect with neighbors, yet still rejuvenate in nature. Most of these dreams remain just that.On this episode Steven Nygren, the visionary and developer, shares his story about creating the community of his dreams. A place outside of Atlanta called Serenbe.There are not many people in the world like Steve. His creation is truly a feat that many would deem too large to even attempt. From rural hamlets run...
2020-11-031h 13The Regenerative Real Estate PodcastSerenbe: A pioneering community model connected to nature with Steve NygrenMany people dream of creating a new kind of community. One that is both sustainable and beautiful. A place where they can raise their kids, connect with neighbors, yet still rejuvenate in nature. Most of these dreams remain just that.On this episode Steven Nygren, the visionary and developer, shares his story about creating the community of his dreams. A place outside of Atlanta called Serenbe.There are not many people in the world like Steve. His creation is truly a feat that many would deem too large to even attempt. From rural hamlets run...
2020-11-031h 13
Serenbe StoriesTelling Stories To Save The Earth: Dr. Katharine Wilkinson & Mary Annaïse HeglarIn this episode, Steve Nygren and Monica Olsen talk with New York Times bestselling author Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and writer + podcaster Mary Annaïse Heglar about the power of voice, their love of nature, and the new book "All We Can Save," which showcases the work of women at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward. As Mary Annaïse says, "Climate isn't a story, it's a saga," and "we are the heroes in the tale of saving the planet.” Katharine calls on us all to be "clim...
2020-10-121h 08Serenbe StoriesIntroducing Season 4 of Serenbe StoriesBiophilia is hard to spell and hard to pronounce, but is easy to understand and makes all the sense in the world once you know it's meaning. Biophilia is the innate connection humans have with nature and all living things, and this deep affiliation is rooted in our biology. The theme of our fourth season is "Building a Biophilic Movement" and the wisdom behind the radical common sense solutions we can all find in nature.One year ago, we released our first season as a meaningful way to tell the story of Serenbe's Founder Steve...
2020-09-1403 min
Serenbe StoriesDaren Wang Creates Community Around The ArtsToday's episode of Serenbe Stories features Daren Wang, Founder of the Decatur Book Festival, which one of the largest festivals in the country. In this episode he shares how his love of music brought him to Atlanta, how he started the Decatur Book Festival, the artist residency selection process, and his vision for the future of the arts. He and Steve Nygren even make plans to put those dreams in motion! We hope you enjoy this episode of Serenbe Stories.Mentioned In The EpisodeThe Hidden Light of Northern FiresVerb L...
2020-06-2945 min
Serenbe StoriesWhat Is An Eco-Enclave? With Gisela WillamsToday we are talking with journalist Gisela Williams, who's written for The New York Times, Elle Décor, The Financial Times, and Vogue among others. In her own words, she's always been interested in people who pursue humanitarian projects and make the effort everyday to be a better human. In her most recent article for Bloomberg Businessweek she writes about the people who are building for the future of community and features Steve Nygren and Serenbe.We discuss the article and why she thinks it's important to cover this topic for the more skeptical reader and a b...
2020-05-181h 06
Serenbe StoriesComedic Insight With Podcaster Pete DominickIn today's 2-part interview, our very good friend, comedian and podcaster Pete Dominick talks poignantly about big life changes and finding his way after losing his dream job. We recorded that conversation last Fall and he graciously agreed to chat with us again this April to talk further now that the world is going through some big "life" changes and we're all trying to find our way. We hope you will find comfort, common ground, and definitely a chuckle or two with Pete. So stick around for parts 1 and 2 of today's episode. Mentioned In...
2020-05-111h 13
Serenbe StoriesIntroducing Season 3 of Serenbe StoriesIn seasons 1 & 2, we heard from Steve Nygren and his personal journey of creating Serenbe, his vision for the future of community and we spoke to many of the people integral to Serenbe's success.Our next season, kicks off Monday, April 27, with an entire new set of guests and stories. We will move beyond Steve's story to talk with people who have experienced Serenbe - people who have visited, reported on or have deep relationships over the years with us. Our guests are journalists, influencers and entrepreneurs and all believe in a more hopeful future with nature at...
2020-04-2203 min
Serenbe Stories7 Generations of Peeks: How Chatt Hills Neighbors Make CommunityNed and Janice Peek were the first people Steve Nygren met when he moved to Chattahoochee Hills, and their table was the first he went to when he needed help protecting their shared rural paradise. Rodney Peek, their son, was on the first City Council after Chattahoochee Hills was incorporated, and his children are the 7th generation in their family to be born and raised in Chattahoochee Hills. The Peeks and Steve look back at a time when the Nygrens were the "city folk" moving next door, and tell stories about life in the country. ...
2020-04-1341 min
The Creative RisingDesigning Inspiring Spaces with Steve NygrenIf the work from home walls are closing in, this episode will give you room to breathe. Host Blake Howard sits down with entrepreneur and developer Steve Nygren to unpack how our physical spaces have the potential to impact and inspire. From a famed Atlanta restaurant to an entire community built with intention, Nygren’s creations put a premium on community-building, art and human interaction.For more on Steve Nygren and Serenbe visit: www.serenbe.comSpecial thanks to Matchstic: www.matchstic.comHosted and produced by Blake HowardIntermission music & editing by Michael Engelking
2020-03-3148 minSerenbe StoriesCreating Art Out of The Ordinary with Robert RauschOn this episode of Serenbe Stories we talk with Robert Rausch, the man who created the works of art that are Serenbe's street lamps, sidewalk benches, bike racks, and even trash cans. We talk about Robert, Steve Nygren, and famed landscape architect Ryan Gainey collaborating to create Serenbe's original branding, and how Robert and Steve have continued finding ways to bring art and creativity to community, turning the ordinary to extraordinary. Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or...
2020-03-2339 min
Serenbe StoriesHow The Serenbe Institute Drew John Graham InWe are so glad that the Nygrens incorporated art into Serenbe, and today's guest was a major part of making that possible. Today we talk with John Graham, the founding executive director of the Serenbe Institute is engaging the metro Atlanta area, and the future of art and culture in this community. Definitions, People + Organizations MentionedSandra StorrarGarnie NygrenJanice BartonSerenbe FellowsTom SwanstonGail FosterDaren Wang Decatur Book FestivalPhyllis BleiweisMark Mykleby
2020-03-0942 min
Serenbe StoriesCol. Mark Mykleby: How Sustainable Solutions Drive Economic GrowthYou might not see the connection between biophilic design and national security, but today's guest outlines how communities like Serenbe are imperative in our global defense strategy. We're excited for you to hear Monica Olsen and Steve Nygren's conversation with Colonel Mark "Puck" Mykleby. Puck talks about meeting Phyllis Bleiweis and coming to Serenbe, where he bonded with Steve Nygren over biophilia and pushed for the establishment of the Biophilic Institute. Puck also talks about the economics of sustainability and how his company, Long Haul Capital Group, is putting dollars toward propelling walkable communities. As he says...
2020-02-2442 min
Serenbe StoriesChef Nicolas Bour's Journey Back To Serenbe & Food AdvocacyOn today's episode we're talking with Chef Nicolas Bour, who was at The Farmhouse during its early years nearly a decade ago before opening the famed Iris restaurant in Atlanta. He has worked in restaurants across the country, and even cooked for President Barack Obama for the first inaugural gala. Chef Nic is now back at Serenbe as the Executive Chef and VP of food and beverage over all Serenbe restaurants. We'll talk about his journey back to Serenbe, his deep relationship and passion for fresh food, sourcing and local farms and the future of culinary in Chattahoochee Hills.
2020-02-1747 min
Serenbe StoriesLand Planning & Sacred Geometry's Influence with Phill TabbToday we're talking to Serenbe's master land planner, Dr. Phillip Tabb. Phill discusses sacred geometry and the spiritual and symbolic side of planning and architecture. He also reminisces about the all-nighter he pulled working on the Serenbe charrette - where the omega shape for the neighborhoods took hold - and the weekend he, The Nygrens, and many other friends came together to build Serenbe's stone labyrinth.Definitions, People + Organizations Mentioned Transect- Used by Biologists and ecologists to study symbiotic elements in habitats where specific plants and animals flourish. Photovoltaic (PV) Sys...
2020-02-101h 14
The Atlanta Foodcast: A Food PodcastSteve NygrenSteve Nygren is one with a long history here in Atlanta. Back in 2004, the first house at Serenbe was built in realization of a community in Chattahoochee Hills — just a short drive outside of Atlanta proper.There’s a quote that stuck out to me before I got to hear Steve’s story — “If you want to change the world, you should start in your own backyard.” What Serenbe is, especially in such close proximity to everything happening in Atlanta, is truly remarkable. Here’s Steve and his story.
2020-02-1000 min
Culture Changers with Allison HareWhat If You Could Live In Utopia? Steve Nygren, Founder of SerenbeHave you ever dreamed of living in an actual utopia? Sound too good to be true? Turns out it’s closer than you think! Serenbe is the world renowned pioneering self sustaining community about 40 minutes south of Atlanta. Recognized by Time Magazine, The New York Times, Oprah and more, Serenbe boasts edible trees, a professional farm, a focus on art, education, and a lifestyle steeped in wellness. Today, I got to speak to the sought after CEO and founder Steve Nygren. One thing that stood out is the amount of a-ha moments of what we can do in o...
2020-01-281h 05Serenbe StoriesIntroducing Season 2 of Serenbe StoriesThanks for listening to our first season, where host Monica Olsen and Serenbe Founder Steve Nygren went back to the beginning, in his life and career and in Serenbe's history, to tell the in-depth story about how this community just outside of Atlanta came to be. If you haven't listened yet, now is the time to catch up on all the episodes of Season 1. We are kicking off Season 2 on Monday, January 27th with 14 brand new episodes. You'll hear from many of the people that were integral to Serenbe's creation and development and hear THEIR Serenbe stories.
2020-01-1303 min
Sustainability In Your EarEarth911 Podcast: Steve Nygren, Founder of Eco-community SerenbeSerenbe is an ecologically responsible 1,000-acre community in the Chattahoochee Hill Country just outside Atlanta. With more than 700 residents living around four village centers, Serenbe maintains more than 70 percent of its land as green space, offering a lovely combination of environmental living with culture, food, and shopping designed for local consumption. Former restauranteur Steve Nygren, the founder of Serenbe, joins Earth911 to discuss his vision and progress toward a new model for communities. He shares how his love of the hill country started with a weekend retreat that has led three generations of his family to live in Serenbe.
2019-12-3027 min
Serenbe StoriesLegacy & Hope: Advancing Biophilic PrinciplesSerenbe’s design is based around Biophilia - the idea that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature - and in the final episode of season 1, Steve Nygren talks about finding his purpose in building this utopia for his grandchildren and all the residents that have chosen to spend their lives here. The biophilic principles are meant to provide personal wellbeing, community engagement, national security and global balance. Those 12 principles are: Land Use, Education, Food Systems, Economic Development, Tax Base, Transportation, Energy, Structures, Waste Management, Community Engagement, Green Infrastructure and Water.Qu...
2019-11-2539 min
Serenbe StoriesSteve’s Daughters Share Stories: Hear From Garnie, Kara & QuinnBefore there was a community full of people and families, there was just "the farm" and the Nygren's. Garnie, Kara and Quinn Nygren join Steve Nygren to talk about what it was like to grow up in the woods and to tell stories from their childhood. They talk about their first jobs at Serenbe, how it changed when people started moving in, and their journeys away and then back to Serenbe as adults. Questions AnsweredWho are Garnie, Kara and Quinn Nygren and what roles do they play at Serenbe?What...
2019-11-1854 min
Serenbe StoriesThe Story Before Serenbe: Steve Nygren's Early YearsNot many people find their career path at 18, but as soon as Steve Nygren saw how the restaurant business worked he knew he was in the right place.Questions AnsweredHow does a hospitality guy end up placemaking in the woods?Why was Steve Nygren the right person to create a place like Serenbe?How did Steve go from bus boy to maitre 'd in one summer? What brought Steve to Atlanta?What was different about the Stouffer's Hotel in Atlanta?What was Steve's Big Splash marketing campaign f...
2019-11-1146 min
Serenbe StoriesDevelopment: The New Patron of the ArtsWhat exactly is the Serenbe Institute for Art, Culture and the Environment and why did Steve Nygren start it? The first arts program, AIR Serenbe, an artist-in-residence program, kicked off the Institute, with big plans to fund a pottery studio. There was early success with the residency but no permanent home, artists stayed in resident’s extra bedrooms or garage apartments. Since then Serenbe partnered with Auburn University’s design build architecture program, Rural Studio, to build two dedicated artist cottages on the Art Farm at Serenbe. Since then, the Institute has grown, introducing Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in 2017, a Se...
2019-11-0442 min
Serenbe StoriesHow Steve Nygren Convinced Serenbe's First Residents To Make The MoveHow did Steve Nygren get people to move to Serenbe when there was nothing here but trees and an idea? After investors balked at his idea and declined, he knew it was up to him to show people what Serenbe would be. Steve worked with Robert Rausch and Ryan Gainey to develop an image box with drawings, imaginations and descriptions of what he was building in Chattahoochee Hills.Questions AnsweredWhy did the first residents choose to move to Serenbe?How did Steve Nygren show future residents what his vision was...
2019-10-2845 min
Serenbe StoriesPlacemaking In The WoodsIn this episode, Steve Nygren talks about how he took his successful hospitality career and applied it to building a community from scratch. They were creating places through hospitality, and Steve knew when building Serenbe that they needed to have a place for people to gather around food. That first place was the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop. Questions AnsweredWhat is placemaking?How does scale and massing in architecture contribute to the authentic feel of a place?What is a condition sheet?What is a thornbird transect?
2019-10-2153 min
Serenbe StoriesBuilding A Community From ScratchSteve Nygren dives into how to actually begin the build process when you're starting from nothing. He knew he had to save his backyard and had worked with his neighbors to go to the state to make the laws work for Chattahoochee Hills, but he didn't yet know he was going to create the Serenbe community. That realization was never a moment, but rather over a gradual course of time. Questions AnsweredHow do you build a neighborhood from scratch?If not you, who? If not now, when?When...
2019-10-141h 00
Serenbe StoriesSaving Nature: Balancing Development & ConservationAfter Steve Nygren brought small and large land owners in Chattahoochee Hills on board his development plan, it was time to take the project to the state. Three state foundations and a few private citizens had pledged money to invest in the project, and Governor Barnes was ready to push legislation through to allow Chattahoochee Hill Country to change land rights in the region. When Barnes didn't get re-elected, most of these investments disappeared. One person stayed in, and that money was used to buy the first TDRs from two land owners. This was only the beginning o...
2019-10-0736 min
Serenbe StoriesDinner Parties And Peach CobblerSteve Nygren knew he had to protect the land that was his backyard, but he didn't yet know what that looked like. Always the hospitality man, Steve brought his neighbors together over dinners and homemade desserts to create the Chattahoochee Hill Country Alliance, which started the process of determining what everyone wanted and what their best option was for preservation and development. Questions AnsweredWhat was going on globally, nationally in 2000?When you knew you were going to build Serenbe, what kind of rules did you have to change?H...
2019-09-3047 min
Serenbe StoriesCatalyst To Create SerenbeMonica Olsen and Steve Nygren go into detail about the pivotal moment in Steve and Serenbe’s beginning. Steve and his daughter, Garnie, came upon a bulldozer taking out trees while they were running trails on their 300 acres. Steve worried about urban sprawl in their paradise and immediately made calls to land owners in Chattahoochee Hills, asking them to call if they ever decided to sell. The three largest parcels that touched the Nygren farmhouse had to sell for different reasons, and in 5 weeks, Steve had another 600 acres under contract. Steve realized he wasn’t thinking large enoug...
2019-09-2346 min
Serenbe StoriesFinding the Farmhouse, Reconnecting to NatureSometimes the groove we’re in is actually a rut. That’s how Steve Nygren describes his feelings when he decided to step off the corporate treadmill and make the move to Chattahoochee Hill Country. Before Serenbe’s homes, shops, restaurants and events, there was the discovery of open, rolling hills and a 1904 farmhouse. In this episode, Steve Nygren shares about his family’s life in Atlanta and the value shift that brought them to the country full time. Steve also discusses opening a bed & breakfast, now known as The Inn at Serenbe, during the 1996 Olympics.Question...
2019-09-1635 minSerenbe StoriesWhat Is Serenbe?Many people wonder “What is Serenbe?” Host Monica Olsen introduces Serenbe founder, developer and CEO Steve Nygren as they sit down to talk about why he created Serenbe, and what Serenbe is today. Interview took place September 2019.Questions AnsweredWhat is Serenbe?What else is here other than people and trees?Who lives here?What drove you to build Serenbe?What should we know about Serenbe’s neighborhoods?What is a well-lived life?What can I do here?
2019-09-0942 min
Serenbe StoriesIntroducing Serenbe StoriesWelcome to Serenbe Stories, a podcast chronicling life in the leading wellness community. Hosted by Monica Olsen, we are thrilled to share this 12 episode season capturing the story of Serenbe, directly from the founder, Steve Nygren. We had this seed of an idea over a year ago and over the past 6 months, we have taken this journey of recording and producing our very first podcast in-house and are excited to invite you along. We're so proud of the team for taking on this challenge of bringing Steve's story to you on this platform. And you'll...
2019-08-3003 min
The PorterNotes PodcastK&C Podcast Matthew Nygren 8/2019This episode of the Kettle & Cup Podcast is an interview with Matthew Nygren. Matt is an EDM music artist otherwise known as TØRCH. You can get to his soundcloud page here. Alex and Matt discuss the evolution of his music and the personal growth along the way as well.
As a wrap up, Laurie and Alex discuss upcoming changes to the podcast and plans for the future.
Visit the K&C facebook page here.
All things PorterNotes can be accessed here.
K&C Podcast title music: Alex Porter
Trans...
2019-08-261h 40
Better Planners Podcast“Master Planned Communities (Designing with Nature for Community Well-being)” with Steve Nygren[OLD PODCAST EPISODE] Steve Nygren joins the PWP mobile studio to talk about master planning for community wellness. Steve is the founder and CEO of Serenbe, a wellness community created as a model to demonstrate that preserving 70% of green space interlaced with agriculture, housing, and retail is not only economically viable but the future of community well-being. This episode focuses on Steve’s experience in the foundation of Serenbe, and how he has become a thought leader in meaningful and innovative community design in the spirit of Ebenezer Howard and Ian McHarg. Steve’s passion shines through in this wide...
2019-08-061h 18Low Tox Life146: Utopian community of Serenbe with Steve NygrenOne of my favourite things to do for the show is to research people who are thought leaders and boy have I found one in Steve Nygren, co creator of “Serenbe”. Imagine a land plan that could provide for 20% more housing while saving 70% of the land for agriculture and recreation. Sounds impossible, right? In 2004, the Nygrens began development of Serenbe the community to demonstrate that it was absolutely possible and I talk to Steve about how it came to be that he could imagine this place and then bring it to life. The result is reminiscent of century-old communities conn...
2019-06-3043 min