The Awakening Spaces Podcast - Conscious Construction for a Healthy Home

Ashley Spanovich

Awakening Spaces explores the profound connection between our physical environments and our inner consciousness. We guide homeowners, designers, and wellness seekers beyond simply discussing "toxin-free" building methods to examine who we actually become on our "toxin-free" journey. In this podcast we’re not only talking about windows, walls, and wiring. Through expert interviews, case studies, and actionable guidance, we will explore how mindful design choices affect our relationships, stress levels, and overall well-being. Drawing from my background in design, building biology, and building science I guide listeners through both the practical and philosophical aspects of creating homes that elevate our health and consciousness. Each week, you’ll receive grounded guidance and actionable tips to help you eliminate the stress and overwhelm of finding, renovating, building, or maintaining your healthy home—so that you can create a space that truly supports who you are becoming. Just by tuning in, you’re already stepping into what it means to be an Awakened Homeowner. Together, we’re building a new way forward—one conscious choice at a time.

  1. Episode 24: Dehumidification, Crawl Spaces, and Indoor Air Quality with Nikki Kreuger

    1D AGO

    Episode 24: Dehumidification, Crawl Spaces, and Indoor Air Quality with Nikki Kreuger

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! In this episode of The Awakening Spaces Podcast, Ashley sits down with Nikki Krueger, one of the most respected voices in indoor air quality, dehumidification, and crawl space science to unpack why moisture is quietly one of the most destructive forces in our homes and our health. Together, they explore how crawl spaces, ventilation strategies, oversized HVAC systems, and misunderstood dehumidifiers contribute to mold, off-gassing, comfort issues, and chronic health challenges. Nikki shares real-world case studies, explains why so many dehumidifiers “fail,” and reveals the critical building science principles homeowners and professionals must understand before trying to fix moisture problems. This conversation is especially important for anyone dealing with mold exposure, environmental illness, or renovating an older home without realizing how one change can ripple through the entire building system. This episode is for homeowners, builders, remodelers, and anyone who wants to understand how to manage moisture intentionally, so your home supports your health instead of undermining it. THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Santa Fe Dehumidifiers (whole-house and crawl space systems)HVAC Talk forum (Ken Gehring / “Teddy Bear”)CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families build and renovate homes to prevent mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. If you’re looking to build or renovate a new home, Ashley has courses to empower and one on one offerings to guide you through the whole process so you can avoid costly mistakes and enjoy the process again! Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. CONNECT WITH GUEST Instagram | Website Nikki Krueger is the Director of Marketing & Business Development for Therma-Stor’s residential indoor air quality brand - Santa Fe freestanding dehumidifiers and whole house ventilating dehumidifiers. She has been involved in the indoor air quality industry for over 20 years. She is a RESNET certified home energy rater, a member of the ACCA Manual Low Load Homes (LLH) Advisory Committee, sits on the building envelope committee for the Spray Polyurethane Foam Association, has completed the ACCA Residential Design for Quality Installation Certification, and recently served on the 2024 National Green Building Standard update committee. She educates builders, HVAC contractors, architects, engineers, crawl space contractors, and other professionals in the industry on the building science of ventilation and moisture control in buildings. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend

    58 min
  2. Episode 23: All About Circadian Health: Screens, LEDs, Flicker, and EMFs with Tristan Scott

    FEB 12

    Episode 23: All About Circadian Health: Screens, LEDs, Flicker, and EMFs with Tristan Scott

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! In this episode of The Awakening Spaces Podcast, Ashley sits down with electrical engineer, circadian health educator, and Daylight Computer Co. co-founder Tristan Scott for a wide-ranging, deeply grounded conversation about the invisible forces shaping modern health. Together, they explore how light, electromagnetics, and technology design are quietly influencing our nervous systems, hormones, sleep, focus, and sense of connection to the natural world. Tristan brings a rare bridge between engineering, biology, and lived experience, breaking down complex topics like circadian rhythm, artificial lighting, EMFs, screen flicker, and tech addiction in a way that’s both accessible and empowering. They discuss why smartphones may be the single most disruptive environmental exposure of our time, why harmonizers and pendants often miss the mark, and what it actually looks like to design technology that supports human biology instead of exploiting it. This episode is for anyone building or renovating a home, raising children in a digital world, questioning their relationship with technology, or seeking practical ways to restore rhythm, clarity, and nervous system regulation in a modern environment. THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Daylight Kids: kids.daylightcomputer.comTristan’s Substack: tristanhealth.substack.com CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families build and renovate homes to prevent mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. If you’re looking to build or renovate a new home, Ashley has courses to empower and one on one offerings to guide you through the whole process so you can avoid costly mistakes and enjoy the process again! Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. CONNECT WITH GUEST Daylight's IG | Tristan’s IG | X | Website Tristan Scott is an Electrical Engineer (M.S.) and current Head of Hardware, Operations & Marketing at Daylight Computer Co. He has deeply researched the connection between electromagnetism and human biology, with a specific interest in how man made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) could be negatively impacting human health. He is now applying that knowledge at Daylight Computer, whose mission as a company is to create technology that is healthier and more synergistic with humanity. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

    1h 12m
  3. Episode 22: Removing Biotoxins From Our Home and Body with Lauren Lowenstein

    FEB 5

    Episode 22: Removing Biotoxins From Our Home and Body with Lauren Lowenstein

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! In this episode of The Awakening Spaces Podcast, Ashley sits down with Lauren Lowenstein, known to many as The Biotoxin Lady, to explore what’s really happening beneath the surface of chronic, unexplained illness. Lauren shares her deeply personal journey through years of neurological decline, misdiagnosis, and family-wide suffering before discovering Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and the environmental biotoxins driving it. Together, they unpack why it’s not “just mold,” but a complex web of biotoxins, including endotoxins and actinobacteria that are often overlooked in both medical and building conversations. This episode bridges science, lived experience, and nervous system wisdom as Lauren opens up about the toll biotoxin illness took on her marriage, her children’s health, and her own sense of self and how healing required both environmental action and deep internal regulation. This is an essential listen for anyone navigating chronic illness, building or renovating a home, or seeking a more holistic lens on health, healing, and resilience. THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) test and CIRS Cluster Symptom Chart: https://boards.com/a/zIJLT.iMxnzBHLA haplotype explanation resources: https://thebiotoxinlady.com/haplotypes CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families build and renovate homes to prevent mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. If you’re looking to build or renovate a new home, Ashley has courses to empower and one on one offerings to guide you through the whole process so you can avoid costly mistakes and enjoy the process again! Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. CONNECT WITH GUEST Instagram | Website Lauren Lowenstein, also known as The Biotoxin Lady, is a leading CIRS coach, educator, and advocate. Through her own battle with chronic illness to diagnosis, she’s built one of the largest CIRS communities online, inspiring patients and professionals to see environmental health through a new lens. Today she’s one of the most trusted voices in the CIRS community—simplifying complex science and guiding others from survival to true recovery. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

    56 min
  4. JAN 29

    Episode 21: What Most Home Inspectors Miss with Matt Brading of Texas Edge Inspect

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! In this episode of The Awakening Spaces Podcast, Ashley sits down with Texas-based home inspector Matt Brading, known for his viral “It’s Not Supposed to Do That” series, for a grounded, honest conversation about what’s really happening inside our homes and why so many issues go unnoticed until they affect health. Together, they unpack the hidden systems that quietly shape our living environments: moisture movement, pressure imbalances, HVAC design flaws, crawl spaces, sprinklers, and the overlooked maintenance issues that can snowball into serious damage. Matt shares what he notices the moment he walks into a house, why newer homes aren’t automatically healthier, and how homeowners can stay curious rather than fearful when something feels “off.” The episode also explores how to choose a good inspector, what questions to ask, why communication matters more than credentials alone, and the simple signs every homeowner should know, like when water dripping outside your house is actually a warning signal. Ashley and Matt close with a powerful reflection on curiosity, vigilance, and paying attention to small problems before they become big ones, inside our homes and within ourselves. CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families reduce mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. Her clients gain homes that are not only functional and beautiful, but truly support their well-being and peace of mind. Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. CONNECT WITH MATT Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Website Matt Brading is the owner and lead inspector of Texas Edge Home Inspections, a company he built on passion, precision, and a genuine desire to help people better understand their homes. Since founding Texas Edge in 2017, Matt has performed more than 2,000 inspections across the greater Houston area. He holds a Professional Home Inspector license, is a Certified Master Inspector, and a Licensed Wood Destroying Insect Inspector. From the beginning, Matt’s reputation has been defined by thoroughness and outstanding customer service. His detailed inspection reports and clear communication have set the standard for what clients can expect from Texas Edge. Beyond the field, Matt continues to study advanced building science and modern construction practices, knowledge he passes along to every inspector he trains. His deep commitment to quality education and client care ensures that every inspection performed under the Texas Edge name meets the same high standard he’s become known for. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating

    48 min
  5. Episode 20: Why You Might Want to Reconsider a Smart Home

    JAN 22

    Episode 20: Why You Might Want to Reconsider a Smart Home

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! Electromagnetic fields are often dismissed as a secondary concern in the healthy home conversation, especially when mold feels like the obvious threat. In this episode, Ashley Spanovich invites listeners to look deeper. She explores how invisible electromagnetic fields, particularly radio frequency radiation, quietly shape our nervous systems, mitochondrial health, and ability to truly heal from mold and other chronic stressors. Drawing from her personal health journey and professional training as an electromagnetic radiation specialist, Ashley breaks down what EMFs actually are, why current safety standards are deeply flawed, and how constant digital noise keeps the body locked in survival mode. This episode is both an education and an invitation: to become a skeptic, to ask better questions, and to reclaim your home and body as places of regulation, restoration, and clarity. If you are detoxing from mold, managing chronic symptoms, building or renovating a home, or simply feeling overstimulated and exhausted by modern life, this conversation offers grounding insight and practical next steps. THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: EMF Skeptics blog post on your website: https://awakeningspaces.com/2025/05/19/emf-research-2/Your online shop with EMF-related products (smart meter covers, etc.): https://awakeningspaces.com/shop CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families build and renovate homes to prevent mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. If you’re looking to build or renovate a new home, Ashley has courses to empower and one on one offerings to guide you through the whole process so you can avoid costly mistakes and enjoy the process again! Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

    42 min
  6. Episode 19: Inside a Mold Inspection with John Skelly

    JAN 15

    Episode 19: Inside a Mold Inspection with John Skelly

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! What actually matters when you’re trying to understand mold in your home, and how much of the fear around it is truly warranted? In this episode, Ashley sits down with John Skelly, a Council-Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant with over 20 years of experience, to unpack what most people get wrong about mold inspections, remediation, and healthy homes. Together, they explore the difference between awareness and alarmism, why so many homes don’t need to be “burned down,” and how a calm, holistic, and phased approach can dramatically change both outcomes and nervous systems. John shares what he sees every day inside real homes, from dust reservoirs and poorly managed basements to renovation mistakes hidden behind walls, and explains how homeowners can become empowered advocates rather than overwhelmed patients. This conversation is for anyone navigating mold sensitivity, health challenges, renovations, or simply wanting to understand their home at a deeper, more responsible level. CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families reduce mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. Her clients gain homes that are not only functional and beautiful, but truly support their well-being and peace of mind. Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. CONNECT WITH GUEST Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website John Skelly is a Council-Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC), New York State–licensed Mold Assessor, and USEPA-certified Lead and Asbestos Inspector with over 20 years of experience in the environmental health and indoor air quality industry. He is the owner of HNST Environmental and has completed more than 6,500 mold and environmental inspections, along with hundreds of asbestos surveys, for residential and commercial properties. John specializes in comprehensive mold and indoor air quality assessments, moisture diagnostics, and the development of clear, site-specific remediation protocols. With a background that spans fieldwork, project management, and air duct system remediation, he is especially known for working with environmentally sensitive clients and for offering grounded, non-alarmist guidance rooted in building science and real-world experience. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

    44 min
  7. 12/04/2025

    Episode 18 - My Building Story and Your Renovation Guide

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! This week’s episode is part personal story, part building-science wake-up call. Ashley shares a tender reflection on her dad’s legacy, her family’s roots in small-business grit, and how those early years walking construction sites shaped the work she does today. From there, she unpacks one of the biggest misconceptions she sees in renovation projects: the near-total disregard for what’s happening inside our walls. If you’re planning a renovation, whether you’re adding a small addition or tearing your home back to studs, this episode gives you the foundational lens you need before choosing fixtures, finishes, or appliances. You’ll learn why building envelopes fail, how architects and builders often miss critical details, and what questions every homeowner should be asking to protect the longevity, comfort, and health of their home. CHECK OUT THE CCC send us an email at hello@awakeningspaces.com to learn more about the conscious construction container where you can become the empowered leader of your own project. CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families reduce mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. Her clients gain homes that are not only functional and beautiful, but truly support their well-being and peace of mind. Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

    38 min
  8. Episode 17: A Non-Toxic Architect’s Guide to Circadian Living, Materials, and Modern Wellness

    11/27/2025

    Episode 17: A Non-Toxic Architect’s Guide to Circadian Living, Materials, and Modern Wellness

    Send us a text with your questions, thoughts, and/or a love note regarding the podcast episode to help us know what to create more of! In this episode, Ashley sits down with architect Kelly Grace, known online as The Non-Toxic Architect, to explore what it truly means to design homes that support human biology, emotional well-being, and long-term resilience. Kelly shares how her journey into non-toxic design began through her own family’s health challenges, and how that opened the door to deeper work with circadian biology, grounding, natural materials, and building assemblies that actually breathe. Together they unpack the uncomfortable truth about modern code, the gaps in residential enforcement, and why so many “standard” design decisions quietly undermine the health of the people living inside. From bedroom placement and sunlight exposure, to grounding rooms, sauna design, permeability, mold prevention, and even surprising materials like granite and spray foam, this conversation is a masterclass in building homes that heal. If you’re building, renovating, recovering from environmental illness, or simply curious about how your home shapes your biology, this episode will expand the way you see every wall, window, and beam. CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website Ashley helps you renovate and build healthier homes to prevent future health issues from arising from your environment. Whether you’re searching for a new home, assessing concerns with your current one, or embarking on a renovation or new build, Awakening Spaces can guide you every step of the way. Ashley brings her background in Building Biology and Building Science and years of hands-on experience helping families reduce mold, chemical exposure, and EMFs in their living spaces. Her clients gain homes that are not only functional and beautiful, but truly support their well-being and peace of mind. Curious about how we can help with your project? Explore our offerings here. CONNECT WITH GUEST Instagram |Facebook | Youtube | Website Kelly Grace is the Managing Principal at Travis Price Architects based out of Washington D.C. Kelly received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Catholic University of America. After graduating, she went on to work for a construction on Capitol Hill for several years, before landing at Travis Price Architects full-time. Kelly is dedicated to designing healthy, high-performance buildings, using non-toxic products to promote wellness and efficiency. Her firm specializes in holistic modern residential, innovative commercial and institutional architecture. Kelly and her husband Matt live in Davidsonville MD with their three children Atlas Adelyn and Roark twenty chickens and a great pup named Blue SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

    48 min
5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Awakening Spaces explores the profound connection between our physical environments and our inner consciousness. We guide homeowners, designers, and wellness seekers beyond simply discussing "toxin-free" building methods to examine who we actually become on our "toxin-free" journey. In this podcast we’re not only talking about windows, walls, and wiring. Through expert interviews, case studies, and actionable guidance, we will explore how mindful design choices affect our relationships, stress levels, and overall well-being. Drawing from my background in design, building biology, and building science I guide listeners through both the practical and philosophical aspects of creating homes that elevate our health and consciousness. Each week, you’ll receive grounded guidance and actionable tips to help you eliminate the stress and overwhelm of finding, renovating, building, or maintaining your healthy home—so that you can create a space that truly supports who you are becoming. Just by tuning in, you’re already stepping into what it means to be an Awakened Homeowner. Together, we’re building a new way forward—one conscious choice at a time.

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