The Holistic Homes Podcast

If you think you can just tell your contractor "no moldy lumber" and expect perfect results, you're setting yourself up for a nightmare scenario. You don't want to be standing in a 90% framed house that's riddled with visible mold and no way to fix it without starting over. Today, I'm sharing the exact step-by-step process I use to ensure clean lumber gets installed from day one. Because I've witn...

If you think all architects are the same or that hiring a "designer" will give you the same results as a licensed architect, this episode could save you from making a costly mistake that derails your entire custom home project. Today I'm breaking down one of the biggest mistakes I see in new build journeys: hiring the wrong type of professional to design your home. This isn't just about semantics....

If you think buying a brand new home guarantees you'll be free from defects, Brittney's story will completely shatter that assumption, and potentially save you from a nightmare that nearly destroyed her family's health and finances. Today I'm sharing a deeply personal and eye-opening conversation with Brittney, who purchased what she thought was her dream home from a well-known Texas builder in De...

Signing a contract with your contractor is like signing a marriage certificate. If you don't know what you're actually getting, you're setting yourself up for a very expensive divorce. Today, I'm diving into the financial side of contractor selection that can make or break your project. I've seen too many homeowners get blindsided by inadequate contracts, surprise costs, and change orders that nob...

Everyone thinks selecting healthy paint is just about finding something that says "zero VOC" on the label. I'm here to tell you that's barely scratching the surface, and it might actually be hurting your home's performance. In today's episode, I'm answering the most common question I get about paint selection, and it goes way beyond just avoiding volatile organic compounds. As a licensed GC and ho...

Last week I was working with a client going through her second mold remediation when I caught a massive flooring issue that everyone else involved in the project had completely overlooked. As a licensed general contractor and holistic construction consultant and I see this same costly mistake over and over again. Everyone gets so focused on selecting the lowest VOC, non-toxic flooring materials (w...

Most homeowners think a "leak detection system" covers everything in their house, but the truth is your whole-home device only monitors plumbing lines. They leave out the drain lines that cause some of the most expensive water damage! In this second part of my leak management series, I'm breaking down the critical difference between plumbing lines (hot and cold water coming into your home) and dra...

One in every 60 homes will experience a devastating plumbing leak this year, with the average insurance claim reaching $14,000 in damages—but most homeowners have no idea it's happening until it's too late. As a licensed GC and holistic home consultant, I've seen too many families devastated by water damage that could have been prevented. In today's episode, I'm sharing my three favorite "no-brain...

One in 60 homes will experience a plumbing leak this year, resulting in over 1,400 insurance claims daily with an average payout of $14,000, but most of these disasters are completely preventable. In today's episode, I'm breaking down the leak management strategies that should be standard in every home but rarely are. Whether you're building new, renovating, or have been living in your home for ye...

Your contractor is probably recommending spray foam insulation without telling you about the class action lawsuits, permanent installation risks, and potential for years of toxic off-gassing. In today's episode, I'm breaking down everything you need to know about spray foam insulation before making this permanent decision for your home. While spray foam offers excellent performance as an air barri...

Your builder might be skipping a required building code test that could save your home from mold, humidity problems, and toxic indoor air, and you probably don't even know it exists. In this episode, I'm breaking down the dangerous myth that homes need to "breathe" through their walls and why this outdated thinking is creating serious health problems in modern construction. The truth is, your home...

Many of us get into this industry because we have personal horror stories with mold. For me, I bought a home that had floor to ceiling mold in the kitchen. It was completely invisible to the naked eye, until we started the renovation process and took walls down to the studs. For today’s guest, Megan Carson, she was reaching a sever level of mold toxicity and couldn’t identify the source until havi...

Less than 2% of homes survived the devastating LA fires, and they all share one critical feature that most builders ignore. Four months after the LA fires destroyed over 16,000 homes across 50,000 acres, a clear pattern has emerged among the few structures left standing. I've been analyzing what separates the homes that survived from the thousands that burned to the ground. So let's chat about it,...

Most people spend more time planning their wedding than the home they'll live in for decades, and that's a costly mistake. Join me while I break down the critical six-month design development phase that should happen before breaking ground on your new construction or major renovation. As the founder of Holistic Homes, I've seen countless projects go sideways because homeowners rushed through this...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Holistic Homes Podcast! Season 2 is all about in depth solo content from Christine! In episode 5, Christine takes us on a deep dive into all things contractors! In this episode, Christine goes over why it's important to start with the right architect and architectural plans before selecting your contractor. In this episode, Christine chatted about: Getting clear architec...

Being forced out of your home because the walls are filled with Black Mold is a nightmare. Finding no legal recourse for the damages inflicted on your health and your finances is even worse. So today, we’re digging into the legal side of holistic home building. Kristina is a national trial lawyer who represents sick people against the companies that made them sick. She founded Just Well Law to hel...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Holistic Homes Podcast! Season 2 is all about in depth solo content from Christine! In episode 4, Christine takes us on a deep dive into three strategies for building a water tight basements! In this episode, Christine goes over the pros and cons of various materials and construction strategies for basement build outs. Listen to this episode to find out the nitty gritty...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Holistic Homes Podcast! Season 2 is all about in depth solo content from Christine! In episode 3, Christine takes us on a deep dive about all things healthy flooring! Concrete, tile, wood, laminate oh my! In this episode, Christine goes over the pros and cons for each floor option, as well as specific tests you should do for different flooring options. Listen to this epi...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Holistic Homes Podcast! Season 2 is all about in depth solo content from Christine! In episode 2, Christine takes us on a deep dive about all things attics! Ventilated vs conditioned attics! In this episode, Christine goes over the pros and cons of ventilated attics vs conditioned attics. Listen to this episode to find out the nitty gritty on ventilated attics and condit...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Holistic Homes Podcast! Season 2 is all about in depth solo content from Christine! In our first episode of Season 2, Christine takes us on a deep dive about all things architects! From advocating for yourself when meeting a new architect, to why it's important to have as much details in your architectural plans, to examples of possible details you may want in your archi...

A healthy home doesn't start and end with construction. Every single product, from cookware to perfume, can have a huge impact on your overall health. So today, I'm joined by Wendy Kathryn , a clean living coach and environmental toxins attorney. She's also the host of Toxin Free-ish Podcast where you can find all things toxin-free living, for real life. When it comes to household products, greenw...

Houses don’t need to breathe. People need to breathe. Houses on the other hand, need to dry. These are the wise words of today’s guest, Emily Mottram. Emily is an architect and principal of Mottram Architecture. She is a building science educator, co-host on “The BS & Beer Show” and hosts a monthly podcast “E3 - Energy and Efficiency with Emily,” focusing on building science, architecture and...

Indoor air quality can make or break a home! Fresh air and clean water are the silent, and often forgotten, ingredients to a healthy living space. Today’s guest is Zack Pelzel, the Founder of The Purified Home. And no, we’re not just talking about air purifiers. After backpacking through the Sierra Nevadas, Zack became more attuned to nature than ever before. Suddenly, he understood the power of l...

Can you imagine a house without windows? Sounds more like a prison to me and my guest today, Peter Duppenthaler AKA @FenestrationGuy. Windows serve a purpose for the occupants mental health. With no sunlight streaming into a space, it can become depressing - fast. They also provide access to fresh air! And aesthetically, they’re an important aspect of your home. So when you’re in the building or r...

Many of us get into this industry because we have personal horror stories with mold. For me, I bought a home that had floor to ceiling mold in the kitchen. It was completely invisible to the naked eye, until we started the renovation process and took walls down to the studs. For today’s guest, Megan Carson, she was reaching a sever level of mold toxicity and couldn’t identify the source until havi...