Your Indoor Air Podcast

Could toxic mold exposure at work be mistaken for something as serious as Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)? In this episode, attorney Ryan Schnack shares his harrowing journey about how he became gravely ill from exposure to mold inside the courthouse where he worked. From shocking air test results showing mold at hundreds of times above safe levels to the disbelief and pushback he and his colleagues faced when speaking out, Ryan’s story...

What if one of the most overlooked influences on learning isn’t curriculum or technology, but the very air students and teachers breathe? Former teacher turned indoor air quality advocate Lisa Greenfield exposes how aging buildings, deferred maintenance, and misguided cost-saving measures are triggering mold growth, illness, and cognitive harm in schools across America. 

With some estimates claiming up to 90% of U.S. schools have in...

How far would you go to protect your child if they became sick from mold at school?

In this powerful interview, parents Patrick Lee and John and Lindsay Strezewski share how their children were severely impacted by mold exposure in one Chicago-area school and their relentless fight for change. From intense dizziness and wheelchairs to months of missed school and legal battles, their stories reveal a disturbing lack of accountability...

What would you do if the classroom you taught in was riddled with mold? 

In this moving episode, former teacher Michele Fisher recounts how her once-joyful classroom became a nightmare of moldy books, stained ceiling tiles, and air so contaminated it made her sick. Despite visible damage and a formal diagnosis of mold toxicity, school officials dismissed her concerns and refused proper testing or remediation. Michele had to make the...

What if the most toxic materials in your home are lying beneath your feet? 

In this educational episode, healthy building expert Andy Pace returns to unpack the surprising ways your flooring may be polluting your indoor air and harming your well-being. From formaldehyde in carpet and wood flooring to moisture traps beneath tile and vinyl, Andy explores the chemical and structural risks hidden underfoot. Dive deep as you learn the pr...

Is there a reliable way to find out which VOCs are lingering in your indoor air, and in what amounts? 

Sarah Mack of Enthalpy Analytical joins us to explain how to test for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), how to interpret the results, and what to do about their presence in your home. Sarah breaks down the differences between VOCs, SVOCs, and VVOCs, and outlines common sources and health effects of chemicals such as formaldehyde, ...

Could the secret to buying a healthier home start with choosing the right realtor? Tune in as holistic realtor and building biology advocate Tori McGee shares how her unique approach helps buyers spot red flags and uncover hidden health risks such as poor indoor air quality, moisture issues, and environmental exposures during the home-buying process. From finding signs of water damage and navigating disclosures to radon testing and...

Can an invisible gas reveal hidden issues with your home's air quality? 

Building scientist Dr. Allison Bailes makes a complicated topic accessible as he breaks down the seven-part layered approach to keeping your indoor air in tip-top shape. Learn the three strategies for whole-house ventilation and the surprising way carbon dioxide (CO₂) can reveal how well your home is ventilated. Find out which indoor air monitors are the m...

What if even small exposures to common chemicals, like perfumes and cleaning products, could make you sick for hours, days, or even weeks? Dr. Shahir Masri explains how this reality affects those suffering from Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)—where a single exposure can trigger a lifetime of sensitivities. 

Dr. Masri discusses diagnosis, potential treatments, and offers practical adv...

Imagine being forced to live in a van—not for the thrill of the open road, but because your body can’t tolerate the air inside most buildings. That’s the reality for Marie LeBlanc, an artist and advocate living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). In this moving episode, Marie shares what it’s like to navigate a world full of invisible threats—fragrances, pesticides, laundry exhaust, and even Wi-Fi.

From organ failure...

From fabric softener sheets to cigarette smoke and pesticide fumes—when you become intolerant to chemicals, how do you navigate a toxic world? 

Aaron Goodman, host of "The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast," shares his personal experience with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT). Aaron discusses causes and misconceptions behind MCS while providing strategies for navigating...

Avoiding toxic chemicals in today’s world takes intentional effort, but your health is worth it. So how can you prevent synthetic chemicals from making their way into your home’s indoor air? Lara Adler shares how to protect the air you breathe from chemicals such as formaldehyde and flame retardants that leach from items like couches, mattresses, and dry-cleaned clothing. She provides guidance on how to choose healthier product alt...

The Truth About VOCs, Greenwashing, and Healthy Homes: Part 1

Could the materials in your home be releasing harmful chemicals into the air you breathe? 

In part one of this two-part interview, Andy Pace exposes the hidden toxins in your walls, floors, and furniture—volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Andy explains how modern energy-efficient designs have contributed to “sick building syndrome,” why ...

Can VOCs be absorbed through your skin? How do fungi and other organisms use mVOCs to communicate with one another? 

Dr. Joan Bennett, a leading fungal geneticist, unpacks these intriguing questions in this science-packed episode. Explore the differences between microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) and mycotoxins, and what the odors they release reveal. Find out if the absence of musty smells means your home is mol...

Struggling with puzzling health issues that just won’t go away? Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) could be the missing piece. 

Jacie Gregory and Barbara Williams of The CIRS Group join us to explain the science behind CIRS, how it’s diagnosed, and why symptoms vary from person to person. They share the top strategies for treatment, the importance of avoiding biotoxin exposure, and how the Shoemaker Protocol can be a...

Is a carbon monoxide alarm all you need to protect your family from CO leaks?

Charon McNabb, President of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association (NCOAA), shares how this “silent killer” stole 11 years of her family’s health before she uncovered multiple low-level CO leaks in her home. She reveals why standard alarms aren’t enough, how a supplemental CO monitor can catch hidden dangers, and what you need to kno...

Have you ever walked into a room and thought, “What’s that smell?” Musty odors aren’t just unpleasant—they could be a red flag that microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) are invading your air.

Jason Earle joins us to reveal how mVOCs find their way into your home and lungs, why mold and chemical sensitivity often go hand-in-hand, and how these compounds can trigger serious health issues. Discover how mold dogs can help sniff ...

From ADHD and anxiety to chronic fatigue and unexplainable rage—what if the mysterious symptoms plaguing your family weren’t random but all traced back to one hidden culprit? For Wendy Berndt and her family, their health issues had the same underlying cause: toxic mold. 

In this episode, Wendy shares how uncovering hidden mold in their home unraveled years of health struggles, the hard-won lessons she learned through remed...

When it comes to having your home inspected for water damage, not all professionals are created equal.

In this informative episode, John Skelly explains how to find the best Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) to identify mold and water damage lurking in our home. John highlights the differences between IEPs and home inspectors, shares how to spot red flags, and encourages you to become an empowered consumer. Discover...