Conversing with Nature

On this episode, we welcome two of The Nature Conservancy's leaders in South Carolina land protection: Katy McWilliams, the director of land protection, and Dr. David Bishop, senior project director. Together, Katy and David explain how The Nature Conservancy (and partners) are investing in land protection across the state to protect South Carolina's wild places through land purchases and conservation easements. As Katy and David explain their process of identifying, protecting, restoring, and maintaining these unique spaces, we are reminded that land protection isn't just about promoting biodiversity or maintaining wildlife corridors, it's also about us - how the preservation of these lands leaves behind a legacy of clean water, fresh air, and open spaces for current and future generations to enjoy.

Learn more:
Explore more of South Carolina’s protected lands on The Nature Conservancy’s Land Protection Dashboard.
Visit the South Carolina Heritage Trust to discover a heritage preserve near you.
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Conversing with Nature is hosted by Dr. Liz Fly, edited by Nicole Pehl, and produced by The Nature Conservancy. Original music provided by Matt Williams, cover art designed by Amy Nguyen, and funding provided by the Therblig Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. To learn more, visit our website (www.naturebasedexchange.org) or follow Nature-Based Exchange on Instagram @naturebasedexchange and Facebook.

On this episode, we welcome April Magill, the owner of Root Down Designs, an architectural firm focused on sustainable design; April is also the executive director of the non-profit Root Down Building Collective, which provides architectural services, consulting, and house plans for climate-smart structures. An advocate for natural building materials, April explains how plant-based and mineral-based building products help reduce our carbon footprint, increase building performance, and are better for our health than commonly used plastic-based products. As April navigates this growing movement of sustainable design for us, she reminds us of two very important things: 1) making even one sustainable building choice matters and 2) community building, skill building, and empowerment work together to elevate the health of our neighbors and our environment.

Learn more:
For more information on natural building materials, check out the US Hemp Building Association.
(Coming soon!) Be sure to check out Root Down Building Collective's "Events" page throughout the year to discover new women-centered programming.

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Conversing with Nature is hosted by Dr. Liz Fly, edited by Nicole Pehl, and produced by The Nature Conservancy. Original music provided by Matt Williams, cover art designed by Amy Nguyen, and funding provided by the Therblig Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. To learn more, visit our website (www.naturebasedexchange.org) or follow Nature-Based Exchange on Instagram @naturebasedexchange and Facebook.

On this exciting crossover episode we welcome Rick Crawford, the president of Emerger Strategies and host of the wildly popular podcast, The Sustainable Angler. A lover of all things fishing, Rick talks about his efforts to educate and excite anglers and businesses to take positive action towards sustainability. Together, Liz and Rick explore what it looks like when science, conservation, business, and the bottom line come together for the betterment of our society and the environment. As we are reminded of the interconnectedness of all things – our business practices and supply chain choices, reducing emissions, combating biodiversity loss, and conserving nature – we see that this is an area where all people from all types of industries and interests can unite for a common goal.

Want to learn more about how we can bridge the gap between nature-based solutions and business? Rick and Liz will be teaming up for a follow-up episode in the near future. Leave a comment if there is a topic or question you would like them to discuss.

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Conversing with Nature is hosted by Dr. Liz Fly, edited by Nicole Pehl, and produced by The Nature Conservancy. Original music provided by Matt Williams, cover art designed by Amy Nguyen, and funding provided by the Therblig Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. To learn more, visit our website (www.naturebasedexchange.org) or follow Nature-Based Exchange on Instagram @naturebasedexchange and Facebook.

On this episode, we welcome Jesse Blom, the executive director of the Green Heart Project, an organization that builds garden-based experiential learning projects and school garden programs to educate and connect people in Charleston, SC. As Jesse describes the benefits of urban agriculture and school garden programs, he celebrates food, not just as a source of nutrition, but also for its role in bringing people together across neighborhoods and generations and for its ability to help us maintain cultural traditions. Everyone benefits from nature-based experiences, and spending time in the garden (no matter how small the garden) is one way that we can instill a love of nature (and a love of vegetables) in ourselves and our communities.

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Conversing with Nature is hosted by Dr. Liz Fly, edited by Nicole Pehl, and produced by The Nature Conservancy. Original music provided by Matt Williams, cover art designed by Amy Nguyen, and funding provided by the Therblig Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. To learn more, visit our website (www.naturebasedexchange.org) or follow Nature-Based Exchange on Instagram @naturebasedexchange and Facebook.

On this episode, we welcome Dr. Susan Johnson, the founder and CEO of Nature at Work, a statewide initiative working to improve workplace wellbeing through an intentional connection with nature. As Susan draws parallels between human health, the workplace environment, and the benefits of being surrounded by nature, she reinforces what many of us already know: nature makes us healthier, happier, smarter, and better stewards of our environment. In describing the Nature at Work framework, Susan reminds us that there are many ways we can incorporate nature into our lives – both at work and at home, through our design choices and our behaviors – and that the investment in nature (and ultimately ourselves) is well worth it.  

Learn more:
Check out the South Carolina Healthy Business Challenge.
View the Nature Pyramid in this article by The Nature Conservancy’s New Mexico chapter that offers some tips on tapping into nature’s benefits.

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Conversing with Nature is hosted by Dr. Liz Fly, edited by Nicole Pehl, and produced by The Nature Conservancy. Original music provided by Matt Williams, cover art designed by Amy Nguyen, and funding provided by the Therblig Foundation and The Nature Conservancy. To learn more, visit our website (www.naturebasedexchange.org) or follow Nature-Based Exchange on Instagram @naturebasedexchange and Facebook.