Embracing Awe & Wonder in the Co-Creative Process with Dr. Jenna Mikus

In this episode of the Enchanted Earth Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jenna Mikus, founder and managing partner of the UDA Group, a design consultancy based in the US, UK, and Australia. Dr. Mikus, a creative engineer and honorary fellow with the University of Melbourne's Centre for Wellbeing Science, shares her fascinating journey blending engineering with a profound love for nature. Throughout the conversation, we explore her unique approach to building environments that nourish both humans and the natural world, as well as the importance of awe, flourishing, and interrelationality in design. Tune in to discover how Dr. Mikus is breaking down silos in her field and advocating for a holistic, interconnected approach to solving some of the world's most wicked problems.

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:41 Meet Dr. Jenna Mikus

01:53 Jenna's Unique Career Path

06:58 Childhood and Nature

09:20 Experiences of Awe and Connection

22:31 The Importance of Interrelationality

27:16 Final Thoughts and Farewell

About Dr. Jenna Mikus

Dr Jenna Mikus is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Eudae Group, which provides research and advisory services for clients seeking new ways of realizing environments curated for individual, societal, and environmental health and wellbeing, particularly in the context of the built environment. Dr Mikus is a bridging professional, balancing industry acumen with academic substance. She is recognized as an Honorary Fellow with University of Melbourne’s Centre for Wellbeing Science, a Fellow with the Centre for Conscious Design, a Research Advisor for the International WELL Building Institute, and the Founder of Harvard University's Human Flourishing Network's Flourishing by Design special interest group. She is from the US, lives in Australia, but is currently working as a Visiting Scholar at UHasselt in Belgium, collaborating with a team aptly name the Designing for More research group. Leveraging her global education across engineering (BSc in the US), architecture (MSc in the UK), and design (PhD in Australia) with her depth and breadth of work experience relating to design thinking, strategy, and change management, Dr Mikus guides the pragmatic creation and intrinsically motivated crafting of intelligent, sustainable, and flourishing environments for all--humans and non-humans alike.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jennamikus 

Website: www.eudaegroup.com 

About Maureen Calamia
Maureen Calamia has been a seeker all her life, tapping into the magic of nature, dreams, and consciousness to unearth truths of our ancient connection to heaven and earth. A teacher, author, and podcaster, she shares stories of greater meaning, purpose, and resonance with all of nature’s beings. Founded the Luminous Spaces School with online courses in feng shui, earth energy healing, biophilic design, and nature spirituality. Maureen offers private mentoring to those seeking self-discovery support. Her newest book, The Enchanted Earth: Embracing the Power of Nature to Discover the Wild in You (Mango, 2024), is available wherever online books are sold.

COURSE OFFERINGS AND CONSULTATIONS: https://www.luminous-spaces.com/

BOOK - The Enchanted Earth: Embracing the Power of Nature to Discover the Wild in You: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-enchanted-earth-maureen-calamia/21477870?ean=9781684816859

SPEAKING: https://www.luminous-spaces.com/feng-shui-speaker/

SUBSTACK: https://substack.com/@maureencalamia