Q. Being advocates for healthy homes, how often do you get contacted concerning black mold and how to remove it?
Lisa: We get contacted quite often for mold inquiries from people all across the country, but most people are unaware if they actually have mold, the scope of the problem or how to properly remove it. Many people will experience hay fever like symptoms, but if they can’t see visible mold, they tend to think it doesn’t exist or isn’t a real threat.
Ron: We always start by advising the person test, not guess. Too many people unknowingly put themselves and/or their loved ones in danger by ignoring the visible signs of moisture or water damage and/or a musty smell. They assume it will go away on its own. Many people wait too long before addressing the root cause of the issue – typically a leaky water source.
Q. Your book, Just GREEN It!, is absolutely genius, by the way. I absolutely love how you compare brand-name products to help consumers make environmentally-friendly choices. With so many of us being set in our ways, using products like bleach because we believe it “kills everything”, how do you suggest we get better informed?
Lisa: We actually offer a free online webinar called The Healthy Home Challenge. It’s really fun + informative and takes under one hour. Anyone can sign up at: www.TheHealthHomeChallenge.com to learn more and start understanding how everyday toxic exposures in and around our homes are wreaking havoc on our health.
Ron: The good news, is we all have the power to take charge of our health. Walk away from the computer or TV and get informed. Knowledge is truly power. Our website, www.RonandLisa.com offers over 500 articles to help anyone get started. We also offer a free Healthy Home Quiz and dozens of videos online at: https://www.youtube.com/user/HealthyHomeDreamTeam
When Lisa got sick from toxins in her home, our life turned upside down. We, like most people, were living completely unaware of the daily dangers that are ubiquitous in our world today, with indoor air pollution being two to five times more polluted than the outdoors.
Q: Getting a little personal, you two are clearly a match made in heaven. I mean, how often do you meet someone who is just as passionate, working day and night to help others, as you?
Lisa: Thank you! I have immense gratitude for the fact I get to do what I love by helping others live their best life, but the icing on the cake is working with my husband. While we have met a handful entrepreneurial couples, a lot of happily married couples say they could never work together. It’s certainly not for everyone ?
Ron: I never thought I would be in this business or working with Lisa, but everything changed when she got sick. It became the catalyst for change and we committed ourselves to sharing this important and life-saving knowledge with others. We certainly learned good habits (like when to give each other space) and to respect each other’s boundaries. But ultimately, we’re a yin-yang energy in that we balance each other while contributing something different and unique to the relationship.
Q. What’s it like changing lives for the good, alongside your spouse?
Lisa: Priceless. I never dreamed we’d work together, but have always believed in following your passion in life. Today, I get to do both and it makes the rewards so much greater and the challenges a bit easier.
Ron: It’s truly exceptional. We know that we always have each other’s back and continue to push each other to be our best, grow and constantly step out of our comfort zones (something most entrepreneurs are very familiar with).
Q. Okay, getting back on track – as you know, there are a lot of black mold scammers out there. What advice do you have for anyone looking to get their home tested safely and securely?
Lisa: Look for certifications! This is key to making sure you are protected and will not get scammed. It seems everyone has a business, blog or website these days, making it extremely easy for scammers to set up shop and rip consumers off. Look for theCertified Microbial Investigator (CMI) accredited though the ACAC (American Council for Accredited Certification) – the largest accreditation body for the indoor air quality industry. Or find a licensed mold inspector/assessor or qualified remediator through NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors.
Ron: Never have the same company test and remediate a mold problem. When hiring a mold remediation company, also look for third party certifications such as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Also, if you’re doing your own DIY mold test to start, be sure you are getting results from an accredited laboratory.
Q: Toxic materials in the home are more common than we think. How do you suggest people learn what common products are toxic, and how to recognize any symptoms if affected?
Lisa: It can be overwhelming for busy people today (and who isn’t busy today?). That’s why, in addition to our published books, we’ve created a 30-day online program called, Change Your Home, Change Your Health in 30 Days! It’s our work and research from the past 15 years, simplified into digestible bites of practical and affordable solutions to help anyone improve their health in just 30 days. We cover 13 topics – from pesticides and mold to cleaning products, EMF’s and more! We make it fun and easy to learn without sifting through hundreds of hours, piles of books or misinformation (i.e.: green washing).
Ron: We even have a Mini Course that is so affordable – costing less than 2 lattes a month! Just scroll down to the bottom of the page (link above) to learn more and join our valuable community. We have cheat sheets that members can print out that are chock full of easy recipes for nontoxic cleaners and pest control, checklists, label reading and more!
Q: Sadly, the number of individuals getting sick from the toxic materials in their home is increasing. What tips could you give our viewers on what questions to ask their doctors, so as to get to the bottom of why they’re feeling sick?
Lisa: Don’t wait for lax legislation to catch up. Today, you have to be proactive with your health and many times your own detective.
I would suggest seeking out a great functional MD or environmental MD. A lot of physicians today are not trained in toxic exposures – the sources or the solutions. You can visit The American Academy of Environmental Medicine’s website HERE. The AAEM was founded in 1965, and is an international association of physicians and other professionals interested in the clinical aspects of humans and their environment. As always, listen to your body and your intuition. No one knows the signs like you do, so trust that.
Ron: The body burden today is real and scary. Children are being born already pre-polluted with hundreds of toxic chemicals in their body. Eating healthy today isn’t enough. But, we have soo much power to eliminate dangerous toxic chemicals and even prevent allergies, asthma, hormone disruption, obesity and even cancer. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, ‘exposure to a wide variety of natural and man-made substances in the environment accounts for at least two-thirds of all the cases of cancer in the United States.’
