In 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 relationship with the natural world, we’re seeing signs of major strain.

That’s where optimism comes in. It may not always feel like a superpower, especially when the headlines keep piling up and the problems we face seem impossibly big. But optimism is so much more than wishful thinking. It’s the energy that drives meaningful action. It’s what allows us to picture a better future and believe we have a role in making it real.

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: hello@stevenygren.com

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Show Notes

• Pre-Order Start In Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where You Live with Radical Common Sense by Steve Nygren
• Start In Your Own Backyard Substack
• Learn more about Serenbe
• Serenbe Stories Podcast

Keywords: Serenbe, Steve Nygren, wellness community, nature-connected living, sustainable community, intentional community design, biophilic design, built environment, urban planning and wellness, community building, wellness