Advertise on podcast: Serenbe Stories

In 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, whose visits to Serenbe inspired him to spark change in his own hometown. Together, their stories remind us that change doesn’t always start with grand plans. Instead, it begins in backyards, on front porches, and in everyday choices that ripple outward to transform lives. As we close this series, we return to the bigger lesson running beneath it all: you don’t need to wait for permission to imagine a better way of living. Wherever you are, the spark of possibility is already in your hands. Sometimes all it takes is the courage to begin. Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories Podcast Keywords: Serenbe, community building, placemaking, biophilic design, sustainable living, connection to nature, intentional communities, local food, community gardens, shared meals, walkability, small sparks of change, starting in your own backyard, radical common sense, meaningful change, authentic living, neighborhood design, creativity, wellness, joy, beauty, possibility, better way of living 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

A 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 concert stages and art galleries, turning ordinary moments into something magical. These experiences are joyful on the surface, but they also weave the deeper social and cultural fabric that makes a community thrive. In this episode, Steve Nygren explores how visitors bring fresh energy and perspective, how local businesses reflect and shape a community’s values, and why even the simplest neighborhood gatherings can spark lasting connections.  Whether you’re dreaming of creating something new in your own town or simply curious about how thriving communities take shape, this episode offers inspiration and practical ideas for inviting people in and building places that feel like home. Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastMinro StudioPorchfest at SerenbeSerenbe Real EstateKeywords: placemaking, community, hospitality, belonging, Serenbe, Steve Nygren, intentional living, visitors, local businesses, Porchfest, goat yoga, nature trails, meaningful design, walkable communities, neighborhood traditions, connection, joy, events, potlucks, concerts, bake sales, sustainability, thriving communities, home, invitation, culture 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Food, 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 artists themselves who have seen firsthand how art can knit people together and shape a place’s identity. We’ll also share how Serenbe pioneered a permanent funding model for the arts by dedicating 1% of real estate sales to its nonprofit Art Farm, ensuring that creativity remains central to community life for generations to come. Whether it’s a sculpture tucked along a forest trail, neighbors gathering for a midsummer play in the woods, or children inspired by visiting artists, this episode reveals how the arts sustain not just culture, but the human spirit itself. Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastThe Art Farm at SerenbeThe Aesthetic Brain: How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art by Dr. Anjan ChatterjeeSerenbe community celebrates Curtis Patterson’s striking new sculpture by Gail O’Neill (ArtsATL)Naturally Fragile & Durable with Rachel Garceau (Serenbe Stories)Morgan Boszilkov StudioKeywords: art in community, arts funding, Serenbe, Start In Your Own Backyard podcast, Steve Nygren, Art Farm, public art, creativity, culture, biophilic community, artist residencies, sculptures, theater in nature, concerts by the pond, transfer fee model, community building, creative placemaking, arts and wellbeing, art and neuroscience, Curtis Patterson, community design, sustainable community, supporting artists 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Once 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 bookends of every community, are often the most isolated today. Giving children the freedom to roam and ensuring older adults remain woven into daily life isn’t nostalgic, it's essential for building healthy, resilient, and connected communities. You’ll also hear from designer and conversation expert Fred Dust, city planner and walkability expert Jeff Speck, and Serenbe’s own Garnie Nygren and Dr. Phil Tabb, as together we explore how small design choices, intergenerational living, and even casual encounters with neighbors can transform our health and happiness. This episode is an invitation to imagine a world of free-range kids, uncaged elders, and communities where connection is built into the everyday. Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastWellness Begins With Community: 5 Ways That Serenbe Builds For Human Connection by Steve Nygren (Substack)Serenbe Urbanism: A biophilic theory and practice of sustainable placemaking by Phillip James TabbMaking Conversation: Seven Essential Elements for Meaningful Communication by Fred DustWalkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff SpeckKeywords: community, community building, walkable cities, walkability, walkable, connection, loneliness epidemic, conversation, Fred Dust, Jeff Speck, Phill Tabb, Steve Nygren, Serenbe, biophilic design, biophilic cities, third places, urban planning, urban design 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Most 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 walkable streets and nourishing food to sacred geometry and a deeper connection with nature, the design of our communities profoundly shapes our health and happiness. You’ll hear from thought leaders like Dr. Phill Tabb on building in harmony with nature, Maria Rodale on the importance of cooking and eating real food, and Professor Alfred Vick on the power of edible landscapes. Along the way, we look at how Serenbe’s organic farm, trail system, and intentional design offer a model where wellness is woven into daily life. If you’ve ever wondered why the wellness industry leaves us chasing solutions that rarely last, or how our communities themselves can be reimagined to support better health, this episode offers a new perspective on what it means to truly thrive. Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastSerenbe Urbanism: A biophilic theory and practice of sustainable placemaking by Phillip James TabbAbout Keith CritchlowLove, Nature, Magic: Shamanic Journeys into the Heart of My Garden by Maria RodaleAflie Vick Eats Plants (And Talks Environmental Ethics) on the Serenbe Stories PodcastKeywords: wellness, community design, Serenbe, biophilic design, walkability, local food, edible landscapes, sacred geometry, health and environment, sustainable living, intentional community, nature connection, regenerative design, public health, placemaking, real food, holistic wellbeing, everyday wellness, trails and green space, healthy communities, Phillip Tabb, Maria Rodale, Alfie Vick, Steve Nygren 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

What 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 variety, thoughtful placement, and mixed-use design infuse neighborhoods with both beauty and charm. At Serenbe, that means wide porches, walkable streets, and hamlets with distinct personalities. These choices echo timeless towns while offering something fresh. From zoning laws that sap character to design principles that spark delight, this episode uncovers why beauty and charm are vital ingredients for places that feel alive, authentic, and deeply human. Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastThe Aesthetic Brain: How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art by Dr. Anjan ChatterjeeBrave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing by Diana LindBiophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future Phillip Tabb Keywords: Beauty, Charm, Architecture, Neuroaesthetics Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, Phil Tabb, Diana Lind, Serenbe, Placemaking, urban design, walkability, community design, authentic neighborhoods, zoning, mixed-use development, timeless towns, porches, hamlets, connection, belonging, sense of place, fascination, coherence, hominess, human-centered design, why beauty matters in architecture, charming neighborhoods design, neuroaesthetics and architecture, walkable community design. creating authentic neighborhoods, timeless architecture principles, mixed-use community benefits, how zoning laws shape neighborhoods, sense of place in architecture 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Access 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 shapes us in profound ways. Along the way, he’s joined by some of the leading voices in this movement: Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, environmental health expert Dr. Howard Frumkin, architect Liz Calabrese, and land planner Phil Tabb. Together, they make a powerful case for why reconnecting with nature is both common sense and urgent. A greener, healthier future is possible. It’s already taking root in communities across the country. The only question is, will you choose to be part of it?  Want to dive deeper? Steve’s book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense, comes out on October 7th, 2025, and is available for pre-order now wherever you get books. Part memoir, part guidebook, it offers a blueprint for building sustainable, connected communities, places where wonder exists in the everyday and people of all ages can truly thrive. Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastBiophilic Solutions PodcastLast Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard LouvBiophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future Phillip TabbPlanetary Health: Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves by Samuel Myers and Howard Frumkin 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

Start 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 principles, sustainable living, and the idea that well-being starts in the everyday spaces where we live, work, and connect with others. Through stories, guest experts, and personal reflections, Start In Your Own Backyard invites listeners to find their own sense of agency. Whether it’s rethinking your diet, running for school board, planting edible landscapes, or advocating for change in your city, the podcast explores what it means to take action right where you are. With a strong belief in the power of optimism, even when things feel tough, this series shows how each of us can create ripples of positive change.  In this first episode, 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. Want to dive deeper? Steve’s book, Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense, comes out on October 7th, 2025, and is available for pre-order now wherever you get books. Part memoir, part guidebook, it offers a blueprint for building sustainable, connected communities, places where wonder exists in the everyday and people of all ages can truly thrive. Published by Matt Holt Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster. General Inquiries: [email protected] Press Inquiries: [email protected] Speaking Engagements: [email protected] For Bulk Orders, please complete this form Show Notes Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve NygrenStart In Your Own Backyard SubstackLearn more about SerenbeSerenbe Stories PodcastKeywords: Serenbe, Steve Nygren, wellness community, nature-connected living, sustainable community, intentional community design, biophilic design, built environment, urban plann 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

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 HealthSerenbe Events CalendarRadical Dough The General Store at SerenbeKeywords: 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 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

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 NygrenUrbanize AtlantaGoodbye, Sweetberry Park: A Novel of City Life, Creeping Gentrification and Flesh-eating Snakes by Josh GreenKirkwood Spring Festival | May 17 2025Gothic 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 ATLSerenbe 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 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

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 NygrenSubscribe to Steve Nygren on SubstackAre You Ready for Radical Common Sense? By Steve Nygren (Substack)Serenbe Events CalendarLast 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 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

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 CalendarThe Terra School at SerenbeThe Blue Eyed DaisyAustin’s at SerenbeGeorge 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  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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

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, 2025Serenbe Events CalendarMTB 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  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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

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 EstateSerenbe EventsBelmond Official SiteGeorge Cohen’s Road to Recovery and Serenbe (Serenbe Stories)Terra School at SerenbeAcorn to Oak HealthThe Wine Shop at Serenbe Keywords: Serenbe, community, real estate, travel, parenting, Belmond, lifestyle, support, exploration, personal stories 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.

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 EstateSeasons by Jack KiddSerenbe Trail RidingSerenbe Events CalendarLifelong 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 SerenbeThe Hill at Serenbe  Keywords: Serenbe, community, travel, career, pets, culture shock, horseback riding, trail riding, Seasons, author, writing, real estate, community, restaurants, cocktails 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! Today through October 12, order a copy of Start In Your Own Backyard and you'll receive a tote bag, keychain and signed bookplate from Steve Nygren. Get a Start In Your Own Backyard Book Bundle Today Pre-Order from your favorite bookseller, send in your receipt and we'll mail you a book bundle as our gift.