Author Leidy Klotz ON: How Environment Shapes Habits, Creativity, and Connection

How much do the places around us shape the way we think, behave, and connect with others? In this episode of Motherhood Unstressed, I sit down with behavioral scientist and author Leidy Klotz to explore the hidden influence of our environments. Drawing from his new book In a Good Place: How the Places Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive, Klotz explains how homes, workplaces, schools, and cities quietly shape our habits, relationships, and overall well-being. The conversation explores how thoughtful design can encourage creativity, connection, and healthier routines and how small changes to our surroundings can dramatically shift the way we experience daily life. For parents, entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone interested in building a life that feels more intentional, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the environments that shape us. In this episode we discuss: Why the environments around us influence behavior more than we realize How the design of homes and workplaces affects stress, creativity, and connection Small environmental changes that can improve family life Why certain places foster friendships and community How changing environments can spark new thinking and habits The psychology behind why some spaces help us thrive while others drain us About the Guest Leidy Klotz is a behavioral scientist, University of Virginia professor, and author whose research focuses on how design and environment shape human behavior. His work examines how small changes to the spaces around us can improve well-being, relationships, and decision-making. His latest book, In a Good Place, explores how the environments where we live, work, and play influence our ability to flourish. Connect with Leidy at https://leidyklotz.com Get the book In a Good Place: How the Places Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive Connect with Motherhood Unstressed Instagram: @elizabeth_carlile