Finding the Wild in the City with Neha Sinha Video

Can businesses make money while protecting nature? NatureAlpha CEO Nick Hough-Robbins joins Dr. Vian Sharif to explore how business, technology, and environmental conservation can work together. Every business depends on nature, whether through the water it uses, the land it occupies, or the resources behind the products we rely on. Yet the natural world has long been overlooked in some of our most important financial decisions. In this episode of Wild by Nature, Dr. Vian Sharif welcomes Nick Hough-Robbins, CEO of NatureAlpha, the nature intelligence company she founded. Together, they've spent years working to bring nature into the heart of financial decision-making. Now, they take that conversation beyond the boardroom to explore a bigger question: Can businesses be successful while also protecting the natural world? Nick shares how childhood summers spent beside a stream in the British countryside shaped his lifelong connection to nature, and how a career in technology and data eventually led him to one of the world's most complex challenges: helping businesses understand their dependence on the living planet. Their conversation travels from threatened olive groves in southern Italy to the Amazon rainforest, which revealed the environmental footprint of mining. In Namibia, Nick recalls an extraordinary experience witnessing how a former diamond mining site had been restored, offering a different vision of what responsible business might look like. Along the way, they explore how artificial intelligence is making nature's hidden value visible, why investors are beginning to recognize the financial risks of environmental degradation, and how restoring rivers and forests can protect both communities and economies. But beyond the technology and economics lies something deeply human: our relationship with the natural world and our responsibility to the generations who will inherit it. In This Episode, We Explore Why nature matters to every business: How water, soil, forests, and biodiversity underpin the products, services, and economies we depend on.

What if some of the most important lessons about leadership aren't found in a boardroom—but in nature? In this episode of Wild by Nature, Dr. Vian Sharif sits down with business leader, conservationist and philanthropist Jochen Zeitz to explore how nature has shaped the way he thinks about leadership, business, responsibility and success. Jochen shares how childhood weekends spent in the forests of Germany and a fascination with Africa developed into a lifelong relationship with the natural world. He recalls a pivotal moment early in his career at PUMA, when witnessing pollution and poor conditions at a factory in Asia forced him to confront the environmental consequences of business—and his own responsibility as a leader. The conversation travels to Segera Conservancy in Kenya, where Jochen has spent more than two decades helping restore a landscape once depleted of much of its wildlife. Today, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs and other species have returned, while the critically endangered black rhino has been reintroduced after decades of absence. Through that experience, Jochen discovered that conservation cannot succeed by protecting wildlife alone. Communities, culture and economic opportunity must be part of the equation—a philosophy that became his 4Cs: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. And nature, he says, offers lessons that extend far beyond conservation. Unlike traditional models of endless growth, nature operates through cycles, seasons, regeneration and resilience. It teaches patience, interconnectedness and the importance of thinking long term. Ultimately, this is a conversation about more than leadership. It is about remembering something modern life can make easy to forget: we are not separate from nature. We are part of it. IN THIS EPISODE The childhood experiences that shaped Jochen's connection to nature

What if simply looking up at a canopy of trees could help children feel calmer, focus better, and reconnect with the natural world? In this episode of Wild by Nature, Dr. Vian Sharif sits down with Ernesto Rodriguez, founder of Nature in the Classroom, a nonprofit transforming learning environments by bringing immersive tree canopy installations into schools. A former school psychologist, park ranger, award-winning photographer, and certified interpretive naturalist, Ernesto shares how decades of research inspired a simple but profound idea: helping children experience the restorative effects of nature—even when they can't go outside. From the science of Attention Restoration Theory to inspiring stories from classrooms, hospitals, and even juvenile detention facilities, this conversation explores how reconnecting with nature may be one of the most powerful tools we have for improving mental health, learning, and human connection. In This Episode Why modern children are experiencing an unprecedented "nature disconnect" The science behind Attention Restoration Theory How viewing trees—even photographs of trees—can reduce stress and improve focus The surprising research behind the 3-30-300 Rule Why millions of children learn in classrooms without windows How Nature in the Classroom transforms ceilings into living tree canopies The connection between green spaces and improved mental health Ernesto's remarkable journey from school psychologist to photographer, park ranger, and nonprofit founder How photography, psychology, and conservation unexpectedly came together The profound wilderness experience that changed Ernesto's life forever Why children instinctively respond to nature How hospitals, schools, and correctional facilities are using nature imagery to improve wellbeing What neuroscience tells us about why our brains crave natural environments Practical ways schools and families can reconnect children with nature

What if the biggest breakthrough for nature isn't a new technology—but a better conversation? In this episode of Wild By Nature, Dr. Vian Sharif speaks with Serena Oppenheim, founder of Fin-Erth, about why trust, relationships, and meaningful human connection may be the missing ingredients in solving the climate and biodiversity crisis. Serena shares her unexpected journey from developing some of Scotland's earliest wind farms to creating Fin-Erth, a global community that brings together leaders across finance, business, policy, technology, and conservation to accelerate climate and nature solutions. Along the way, she reflects on the moments that transformed her perspective—from watching alpine glaciers disappear to attending a dinner that revealed how climate change could reshape the foods we eat. Together, Serena and Vian explore what leadership can learn from nature, why optimism is essential, how collaboration unlocks capital for environmental solutions, and why trust—not transactions—is the foundation for meaningful progress. This conversation is an inspiring reminder that solving complex global challenges begins by bringing the right people together. In This Episode: Serena's unexpected path to founding Fin-Erth How family meals inspired a philosophy of connection and collaboration Witnessing climate change through retreating glaciers The dinner that changed Serena's understanding of biodiversity loss Why traditional conferences often fail to create meaningful relationships Breaking down silos between finance, technology, policy, and conservation Why trust is essential for unlocking climate finance Lessons leadership can learn from nature's resilience How Fin-Erth has sparked real-world partnerships and investment Finding hope through communities of people creating solutions Recommended Reading Messy: How to Be Creative and Resilient in a Tidy-Minded World by Tim Harford https://timharford.com/books/messy/ During the conversation, Serena recommends Messy as a book that influenced her thinking about innovation, collaboration, and why breakthrough ideas often emerge from unexpected, "messy" interactions between people from different disciplines. The book explores how creativity, resilience, and innovation frequently flourish in environments that embrace complexity rather than rigid order. About Serena Oppenheim Serena Oppenheim is the founder of Fin-Erth, a global community connecting leaders across finance, business, technology, policy, and conservation to accelerate investment in nature and climate solutions. Through curated dinners, forums, and the Fin-Erth Climate Awards, she helps build trusted relationships that unlock collaboration, innovation, and capital for a more resilient future. Serena previously worked in renewable energy, including developing some of Scotland's early wind farms, and has become a recognized convener at the intersection of climate, finance, and leadership. About Wild By Nature Wild By Nature explores the relationship between people and the natural world through conversations with scientists, entrepreneurs, conservationists, investors, and changemakers shaping a more resilient future. Hosted by Dr. Vian Sharif, the podcast examines how nature influences leadership, innovation, wellbeing, and the decisions that will define our collective future. If this conversation inspired you, please help us grow the Wild By Nature community. 🌿 Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. ⭐ Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these conversations. 📲 Share this episode with someone who believes people and nature are deeply connected. 🎙️ Watch the full video on YouTube and join the conversation in the comments. 💌 Have an idea for a future guest or topic? We'd love to hear from you at [email protected]. Connect with Wild By Nature📸

What if the greatest gift in modern life isn't productivity, efficiency, or technology—but attention? In this episode of Wild by Nature, Dr. Vian Sharif sits down with environmental writer, educator, and author John Farnsworth to explore the transformative practice of "deep birding"—a way of engaging with birds that goes far beyond species identification. Together, they examine how birds can become teachers of curiosity, wonder, humility, and presence. Through stories from decades spent observing birds in wild places, John reveals how paying closer attention to the natural world can sharpen our minds, deepen our sense of connection, and help us embrace uncertainty in a culture that prizes certainty. The conversation explores why wonder begins where expertise ends, how birding can improve cognitive health and neuroplasticity, and why the loss of more than three billion birds in North America should concern all of us. At its heart, this episode is not simply about birds. It is about learning to see. To notice. To listen. And to rediscover our place within the living world. In This Episode Why attention may be one of the most valuable skills of modern life The difference between traditional birding and "deep birding" How birds teach us curiosity, observation, and wonder Why certainty can limit discovery The surprising connection between birding and brain health What scientists are learning about birding and neuroplasticity The story of the surf scoter and the mysteries science still can't explain Learning to stop chasing nature and let nature come to you Patch birding and developing relationships with local ecosystems Why common birds deserve as much appreciation as rare species The role birds play in healthy ecosystems The loss of more than three billion birds in North America Why conservation must become part of the birding practice Humility, resilience, and what birds can teach us about living well