View the Show Notes For This Episode
Mold, Indoor Air Quality, and Building a Healthy Home with Michael Rubino Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews mold remediation and indoor air quality expert Michael Rubino of Home Cleanse and the Change the Air Foundation about mold, indoor air quality, and creating a healthy home. Rubino describes entering the field after Hurricane Sandy, observing people remaining ill despite cosmetic restorations driven by insurance limits and cost-cutting, and notes an EPA statistic that people spend about 90% of their time indoors. They discuss widespread water damage in homes, mold and bacteria as linked problems, and how new construction can develop mold from poor material handling and inadequate moisture control. Rubino addresses wildfire-related indoor contamination (heavy metals, VOCs, ash), recommends dust and VOC testing, critiques fogging and bleach-based approaches, emphasizes HVAC maintenance and filtration, and outlines the foundation's education, research, and policy goals.
00:59 Meet Michael Rubino
01:50 Why Indoor Air Matters
03:26 Hurricane Sandy Wakeup
05:40 Insurance Drives Remediation
06:45 Mold Coverage Caps
08:57 Denied Claim Story
11:13 How Common Is Water Damage
12:14 Mold In New Builds
17:49 Dried In Explained
19:09 Fire Smoke Toxins Indoors
22:35 Testing After Fires
27:15 Drywall And Safer Walls
29:14 Mold Inspection Dust Test
30:10 ERMI Confusion Solved
32:48 Ordering And Next Steps
32:57 Mold Plus Bacteria
34:02 Mold vs Bacteria Basics
34:54 Next Wave Testing
35:41 Bleach Fogging Myths
37:00 Porous vs Nonporous Cleanup
40:42 What to Toss or Keep
42:26 Tape Testing Belongings
45:12 Laundry and Air Purifiers
46:37 Filters MERV and Ozone
50:30 Ventilation Fires Humidity
53:02 Change the Air Mission
57:01 HVAC Lungs of Home
01:01:20 Clinician Takeaways Wrap
01:03:21 Where to Find More
Michael Rubino is one of the country's leading experts on mold remediation and indoor air quality. He's the founder of HomeCleanse, Chairman of the Change the Air Foundation, and he is also a council-certified Mold Remediator by IICRC and ACAC and a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association. He is also the host of the Never Been Sicker podcast.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
