Your Indoor Air Podcast

What does a mold inspection report look like?

Jessica McQuade pulls back the curtain on what separates a useful, actionable report from a report that stalls the whole process. Learn which information truly matters, how inspectors and remediators can work together effectively, and why clear communication and accountability are essential for a smooth, effective remediation process. 

Have a question about mold, water damage, or indoor ...

If I am looking for a mold-safe home, what age home am I looking for?

Jessica McQuade explains why the answer isn’t so simple, and why a home’s history, past water damage, and overall condition matter far more than its age. Learn how to evaluate your home from multiple angles, build a trusted inspection team, and approach homebuying with realistic expectations and a prevention‑first mindset. 

Have a question about mold, water damage,...

Could your mold test be telling you only a fraction of the story or even giving you a false sense of security? 

Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) Jessica McQuade of Mold Mentor, LLC and Mold Ease, LLC joins us to pull back the curtain on the most commonly used professional mold testing methods, including non-viable air sampling, tape lift, swab testing, and ERMI/MSQPCR. Jessica shares her six rules of sampling, explains the cr...

What if the key to recovering from mold illness isn't rushing straight to binders and antifungals, but instead starting with sleep, diet, and basic health fundamentals?

 Dr. Joe Mather shares his evolved approach to treating mold-related illness, explaining why he moved away from the complex Shoemaker protocol toward a more practical, patient-centered method. He reveals his diagnostic framework and emphasizes that successful tr...

Could the invisible energy fields in your home be disrupting your sleep, triggering anxiety, or causing other unexplained health symptoms? 

Certified electromagnetic radiation specialist Cathy Cooke breaks down what electromagnetic fields (EMFs) really are, where you're being exposed in everyday life, and how they may be affecting your health. From baby monitors with shockingly high fields to the surprising connection between m...

What happens when your body is screaming that something is wrong, but every test says you’re “healthy”? 

In this empowering episode, fitness professional Kristie Calise shares her decade-long battle with mold-related illness, misdiagnosis, and debilitating conditions like mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and hyperadrenergic POTS. Kristie recounts the frightening symptoms that derailed her career, the gaslighting she faced in the...

What does it take to cultivate a healthy home without getting blindsided by costly mistakes? 

Ashley Spanovich of Awakening Spaces shares her deeply personal journey into healthy home design and how environmental exposures shaped both her health and her career. She explains why planning, education, and the right team matter far more than chasing the lowest rates or design trends. Ashley unpacks why so many homeowners regret expensiv...

What if the most important factor in navigating mold inspection and remediation is not the number of tests performed, but a homeowner’s ability to think calmly and clearly? 

In this thoughtful conversation, Andrew Melrose of Melrose Mold Solutions challenges overreliance on testing and reframes mold inspection as a true “health procedure for the home.” 

Drawing on years of education and hundreds of on-site assessments, Andrew explain...

Where do molds like Stachybotrys and Chaetomium hide in homes? 

Jessica McQuade explains exactly where she finds them most often and why understanding mold ecology matters more than test results alone. From backside drywall and baseboards to shower walls, flooring, and hidden framing, you’ll learn how bulk water and cellulose-based materials create the perfect conditions for these molds to thrive.

Have a question about mold, water da...

Can mold hidden behind your walls really affect the air you breathe and your health? 

Jessica McQuade answers this common (and hotly debated) question with a clear, evidence-based “yes.” Using real-life demonstrations and visuals, she explains how air pressure, wall penetrations, and everyday household activities can pull contaminants from hidden spaces directly into your living area.

Have a question about mold, water damage, or indo...

What if the key to uncovering hidden mold in your home had four legs, an extraordinarily sensitive nose, and a partner who knows exactly how to verify what she finds? 

In this episode, Lindsay Reeves introduces us to Hope, a highly trained mold-detection dog whose remarkable abilities help reveal problems that often remain invisible to the eye. Lindsay explains how Hope works alongside her husband, Blake, a certified Indoor Environm...

Should the men and women protecting our country be expected to live in barracks riddled with mold, pest infestations, collapsing ceiling tiles, broken locks, and other dangerous conditions? 

In this compelling interview, veteran Rob Evans reveals how he is providing service members living in barracks with a safe, anonymous way to document unsafe living environments and receive help through his app Hots and Cots. Rob explains how the...

Are hidden hazards in military housing threatening the health and readiness of America’s service members? 

In this moving episode, attorney Kristina Baehr and Change the Air Foundation’s Michael Rubino expose the shocking realities inside privatized military housing across the United States, where toxins such as mold, asbestos, and lead are making families seriously sick. Despite a Tenant Bill of Rights designed to protect residents...

Have you ever wondered what happens to the chemicals inside your home once they leave the bottle… or the carpet, paint, or sofa? 

Dr. Charles Weschler joins us to unpack the surprising science of indoor chemistry, revealing how modern materials quietly release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home’s air, onto dust, and even through your skin. He explains how post–World War II innovations such as synthetic compounds, polym...

Think all HVAC companies are the same?

Before you sign your next contract, hear what Becky Callegan has to share. From verifying certifications and warranties to recognizing best installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting practices, you’ll learn how to distinguish true professionals from corner-cutters. 

With insider tips, actionable checklists, and empowering questions to bring to your contractor, you’ll leave this class knowing...

Could mold, Lyme, or other hidden pathogens trigger an immune response so powerful that it actually rewires the body’s defenses? 

In this highly informative episode, Dr. Christian Navarro-Torres of CIRS Lab takes us on a deep dive into Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). He unpacks the science of how biotoxins from water-damaged buildings, bacteria, and chronic infections can drive the immune system into a constant state ...

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...