Home Comfort Zone Podcast

Can a community come together to preserve a family farm for the next 100 years? Stan Hinckley, founder of Bloomin’ Farm Cooperative in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, returns to the Home Comfort Zone Podcast with an urgent update on his mission to preserve a 7.8-acre farm for future generations. What began as a five-year plan has become a race against time. Due to health challenges, Stan has put the farm...

Madison Theatre Guild: One Year Later | Restoring the Firehouse and Bringing Stories to Life A year ago, Madison Theatre Guild President Kendra Thompson joined the Home Comfort Zone Podcast to discuss an ambitious fundraising campaign to restore the historic Firehouse on Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin. Now she's back with some exciting news! The Firehouse has a new roof, bathroom renovations...

Meet Eric Sherwood, General Manager of All Comfort Services, and learn about the experiences that shaped his career in the skilled trades and his vision for the future of the employee-owned home services company. Eric joins host Theresa Girardi to talk about his journey from HVAC technician and installer to dispatcher, service manager, operations manager, and General Manager. He also discusses All...

Get ready for Greek Fest Madison 2026! On this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa talks with Telly Fetsis, co-organizer of Greek Fest Madison, about the food, traditions, people, and history behind this longtime Madison, Wisconsin community festival. Greek Fest Madison returns Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 11 N. 7th Street in Madison. Telly share...

When a teen is struggling with their mental health, knowing where to turn for help can make all the difference. In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa talks with Julie Elfers, founder of Brooke’s Brigade, a Wisconsin nonprofit created after Julie and her family lost their daughter Brooke to suicide in April 2024. Julie shares Brooke’s story and explains how Brooke’s Brigade is w...

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , Theresa Girardi from All Comfort Services sits down with Lisa Bernard, Development and Communications Supervisor at Dane County Humane Society , to explore the incredible work happening every day to help animals throughout Dane County and Madison, Wisconsin . Learn how Dane County Humane Society helps dogs, cats, rabbits, small animals, and local...

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa Girardi talks with Katherine Primo-Mingione of the North Star Neighborhood Association about how neighborhood organizations strengthen communities, advocate for residents, and create opportunities for neighbors to connect. Discover how North Star Neighborhood has built a welcoming community through events like North Star Fest, its neighborh...

Young people thrive when they have someone in their corner. In this episode, Theresa talks with Irelyn Baumberger from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County about how one-to-one mentoring helps local youth gain confidence, build meaningful relationships, and discover new opportunities. They discuss how the program works, the commitment required to become a mentor, inspiring success stories, fund...

Carbon monoxide is often called the silent killer because it's colorless, odorless, and impossible to detect without the proper equipment. Yet many homeowners don't realize how many potential sources of carbon monoxide exist inside and around their homes. In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , Theresa sits down with Louise Keller, National Training Manager at UEI Test Instrumen...

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa welcomes Carlos Albelo from IPEX USA to discuss an important but often overlooked part of your home's heating system: furnace venting. As building codes and industry standards continue to evolve, homeowners are hearing more about UL 1738 venting systems and what they may mean for future furnace installations and home improvement project...

🎙️ What started as a small idea in Wisconsin has grown into a North American movement of giving back. In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa Girardi from All Comfort Services talks with Lennox Territory Manager Troy Schaefer about the Lennox Feel The Love program, an initiative that provides donated heating and cooling systems to deserving families and community members in need....

Project Home has been helping Wisconsin homeowners stay safe, comfortable, and energy efficient for more than 55 years. In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa talks with Adam Weisse, Executive Director of Project Home, about the nonprofit’s weatherization assistance programs, emergency heating repair services, home rehabilitation programs, and community partnerships. They discus...

Bloomin’ Farm Cooperative in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. What started as a simple act—giving away flowers in honor of his mother—grew into a powerful vision: creating a community-owned farm designed to last for the next 100 years. Stan shares his journey from CEO to first-time farmer, the inspiration behind the cooperative model, and how this farm is becoming a place for connection, celebration, and c...

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , Theresa sits down with Maggie Schultz, HR Manager at 1901, a leading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) construction company celebrating 125 years in business. They dive into what really makes a company successful—from strong leadership and company culture to building trust, developing employees, and creating a workplace where people actua...

As the number of unhoused individuals continues to grow in Madison, Wisconsin, so does the need for accessible healthcare. In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , Theresa sits down with Donna Maysak, Community Engagement Coordinator at Madison Street Medicine, a nonprofit delivering free medical care directly to people living outside. From shelter clinics to mobile outreach, their team...

The Inflation Reduction Act is bringing major energy rebates to Wisconsin homeowners — but many people don’t realize they qualify. In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , Theresa sits down with Dylan Crye, Inflation Reduction Act Program Manager at Focus on Energy , to explain how the new HOMES and HEAR programs work and how homeowners can access thousands of dollars in energy efficienc...

What if a sewing machine could change someone’s life? In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , Theresa sits down with Margaret Jankowski, founder and director of The Sewing Machine Project, a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit celebrating 20 years of impact. Margaret shares the powerful story that sparked the organization after the 2004 tsunami, how thousands of donated sewing machines h...

What really happens to everything we flush, rinse, and wash down the drain? In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone podcast , Theresa from All Comfort Services talks with Kathy Lake, Pollution Prevention Manager at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District , about how everyday household habits impact our wastewater system and the health of our local lakes and rivers. From “flushable” wipes and p...

Wisconsin’s fresh water is one of our most valuable resources—and everyday choices inside our homes play a bigger role in protecting it than many of us realize. On this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , host Theresa sits down with Katherine Harris , Pollution Prevention Specialist at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District , to talk about salt reduction and the surprising impact water soft...

Salt is a normal part of winter in Wisconsin—but it doesn’t just disappear when the snow melts. In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast , host Theresa sits down with Allison Madison , Program Manager at Wisconsin Salt Wise , to talk about how salt pollution impacts drinking water, human health, and freshwater ecosystems across the state. Allison explains how road salt and water softeners...

What does it really mean to “buy local” in 2025? In this episode of the All Comfort Services Home Comfort Zone , host Theresa sits down with Meghan Stern , Interim Executive Director of Dane Buy Local , to unpack how the organization has evolved from a “shop local” campaign into a purpose-driven connector for locally owned businesses across Dane County Wisconsin and beyond. You’ll hear how Dane Bu...

In this episode, host Theresa sits down with Lisa Reihl , Director of Brand Strategy at AprilAire, to explore what really goes into creating healthy indoor air. From whole-home filtration and humidity control to fresh air ventilation, Lisa explains the surprising truth about indoor air quality and what homeowners can do to improve it. Listeners will learn: • How AprilAire’s history shaped modern I...

Making holiday giving more accessible, connected, and community-driven. In this episode of The Home Comfort Zone , Theresa interviews Hannah Stowell , Director of Corporate & Community Engagement at United Way of Dane County , to break down how Toys for Tots truly works behind the scenes—and how it has evolved to better serve families across the county. Hannah shares how United Way partners wi...

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone podcast, Theresa sits down with Kristi GoForth , Executive Director of Bikes for Kids Wisconsin , for a powerful conversation about bikes, transportation equity, and the life-changing impact of a simple bicycle. Kristi shares: Why she says to skip the training wheels and start kids on balance bikes How Bikes for Kids Wisconsin grew from a seasonal bike give...

Transformational coach and yoga teacher Zach Ketterhagen joins Teresa on the Home Comfort Zone Podcast to talk about mindfulness, stress, and how we can all “come home” to ourselves — no matter what life throws our way. Learn how breath, awareness, and simple mindfulness practices can help you feel more grounded, whether you’re dealing with a home repair, workplace stress, or just a busy day. 🌐 L...