The Awakening Spaces Podcast - Conscious Construction for a Healthy Home – Details, episodes & analysis

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 Dr. Emily Kiberd, chiropractor, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of Thyroid Strong, to explore the deep connection between autoimmune disease, mold exposure, and the environments we live in.

Emily shares her personal journey through Hashimoto’s, multiple mold remediations, and what it truly takes to rebuild health and trust after environmental illness.

Together, they unpack how to build resilience in the body, why so many women struggle with fatigue and weight loss resistance, and the misunderstood role of strength training in healing. This conversation goes beyond symptom management, it’s about reclaiming safety in your body and your space so you can thrive again.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (functional medicine doctor)
• Dr. Neil Nathan and Dr. Jill Crista (mold and environmental illness experts)
• Thyroid Strong program by Dr. Emily Kiberd
• Primal Trust, DNRS, and Your Daily Health app (for nervous system regulation)
• Conscious Construction Container by Awakening Spaces

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

Website | Instagram | Tiktok | Facebook

Dr. Emily Kiberd, chiropractor of 18 years, mama of two, and founder of Thyroid Strong, knows firsthand what it takes to heal from mold. After five mold remediations over the last decade, she discovered that addressing mold exposure was the missing link in putting her Hashimoto’s into remission.

Now, she’s on a mission to help women heal their bodies and their homes, because it’s not a matter of if you’ll be exposed to mold, but when. The goal? To build a body so resilient that you can thrive no matter your environment.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

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 episode invites you to slow down and bring more intention into your home this holiday season. Ashley explores the often-overlooked ways that our modern holiday habits, from twinkling LED lights to endless tech gadgets, can quietly impact our health, our nervous system, and the energetic balance of our space.

You’ll learn how to reduce EMF exposure, choose healthier lighting, and align your home with the natural rhythm of winter, a season designed for rest, reflection, and regeneration. Ashley shares simple, practical steps to create a conscious Christmas that nourishes both your body and your spirit.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Awakening Spaces Blog: EMF Research and Resources
• Episode with Cathy Cook on Dirty Electricity

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 ✨

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 speaks with author and building biologist John Banta, whose decades of work in mold remediation have helped countless families reclaim safe, healing homes.

John shares his journey into this field and the experiences that fuel his commitment to helping others. They explore how mold, building flaws, and genetic vulnerabilities can create a “perfect storm” for illness. He also introduces his book, a practical guide with strategies and illustrations for preventing and remediating mold.

This conversation offers both technical insights and grounded hope for anyone navigating environmental illness or questioning the health of their home.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Books written and co-written by John Banta:

• Mold Controlled by John Banta, CIH
• Prescriptions for A Healthy House by Paula Baker-Laporte, FAIA and John Banta, CIH

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY BELOW 

TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF OUR PODCAST, WE ARE GIVING AWAY ONE SPOT INTO OUR CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION CONTAINER ($12K IN VALUE!).

ENTER TO WIN BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:

1. LISTEN TO ONE EPISODE OF THE AWAKENING SPACES PODCAST
2. SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCAST
3. LEAVE A RATING + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCAST (AN EXTRA POINT IF YOU ALSO SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW ON SPOTIFY!)
4. HEAD TO THIS INSTAGRAM  POST AND TAG ONE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SHOW. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU TAG THE MORE ENTRIES YOU GET.
5. BONUS: RE-SHARE TO YOUR STORIES FOR ANOTHER ENTRY (TAG US @AWAKENINGSPACES SO WE KNOW YOU POSTED)!

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 JOHN

Website | Facebook | Youtube

John C. Banta is an Indoor Environmental Quality Specialist with a degree in Environmental Health Science and over 35 years of experience. He coauthored Prescriptions for a Healthy House: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders, and Homeowners with Paula Baker-Laporte and Dr. Erica Elliott, now in its 4th edition and also available as an e-book.

For 27 years, John focused on mold and water damage, conducting investigations, supervising remediation projects across the U.S., and training crews in disaster recovery and safe building restoration.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

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 functional nutritionist Hannah Aylward to uncover the overlooked layers of gut healing that go far beyond food. Hannah opens up about her years of bloating, food restriction, and frustration despite following all the “right” dietary rules—and the surprising root causes that finally shifted her health.

From mold exposure and heavy metal toxicity to mineral imbalances and the role of the nervous system, Hannah brings a grounded, evidence-based perspective to why so many people stay stuck, even on a perfect diet. She shares what worked, what didn’t, and how she helps clients heal without endless restriction or fear of food.

Whether you’re dealing with reflux, rashes, IBS, or lingering inflammation, this conversation offers both fresh insight and practical tools to address the deeper factors affecting your digestion—while giving you hope that your body isn’t broken, it’s protecting you.

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY BELOW 

TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF OUR PODCAST, WE ARE GIVING AWAY ONE SPOT INTO OUR CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION CONTAINER ($12K IN VALUE!).

ENTER TO WIN BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:

1. LISTEN TO ONE EPISODE OF THE AWAKENING SPACES PODCAST
2. SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCAST
3. LEAVE A RATING + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCAST (AN EXTRA POINT IF YOU ALSO SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW ON SPOTIFY!)
4. HEAD TO THIS INSTAGRAM  POST AND TAG ONE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SHOW. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU TAG THE MORE ENTRIES YOU GET.
5. BONUS: RE-SHARE TO YOUR STORIES FOR ANOTHER ENTRY (TAG US @AWAKENINGSPACES SO WE KNOW YOU POSTED)!

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 HANNAH 

Instagram | The Nutrient Dense Podcast 

Hannah Aylward is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, functional gut health practitioner and the founder of  HAN, a functional nutrition practice that helps women around the world overcome chronic digestive issues utilizing functional nutrition, targeted supplementation, and advanced lab work.. After struggling with her own chronic digestive issues for years, Hannah dove headfirst into the latest in gut health research, seeking answers to her bloating, food sensitivities, and pain. With her science-backed  formula, Hannah has overcome her own digestive issues and helped hundreds of other women around the world do the same. 

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT 

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

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 Paula Marie to explore the intersection of emotional healing, nervous system regulation, and physical recovery from complex chronic illness. Paula shares her own journey of navigating MCAS, environmental sensitivities, and years of intense detox protocols and what ultimately moved the needle most in her healing.

From practical somatic tools like parasympathetic breathing to unexpected lessons about nutrition, boundaries, and self-worth, Paula brings both grounded wisdom and refreshing honesty about what works, what doesn’t, and why healing is rarely a straight line. This conversation is for anyone feeling stuck, overly reactive, or desperate for relief, offering both tangible practices and a bigger picture perspective that invites more peace, resilience, and connection with yourself.

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY BELOW 
TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF OUR PODCAST, WE ARE GIVING AWAY ONE SPOT INTO OUR CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION CONTAINER ($12K IN VALUE!).

ENTER TO WIN BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:

1. LISTEN TO ONE EPISODE OF THE AWAKENING SPACES PODCAST
2. SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCAST
3. LEAVE A RATING + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCAST (AN EXTRA POINT IF YOU ALSO SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW ON SPOTIFY!)
4. HEAD TO THIS INSTAGRAM POST AND TAG ONE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SHOW. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU TAG THE MORE ENTRIES YOU GET.  
5. BONUS: RE-SHARE TO YOUR STORIES FOR ANOTHER ENTRY (TAG US @AWAKENINGSPACES SO WE KNOW YOU POSTED)!

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 PAULA
Instagram | Website

Paula Salas is a Holistic Health Practitioner specializing in emotional and energetic release, nervous system regulation, and somatic healing. She helps clients release the patterns and emotions that keep them in survival mode so they can feel safe, present, and connected in their bodies. After years of struggling with MCAS, mold toxicity, Lyme, thyroid, and gut issues, Paula discovered that unprocessed emotions and core belief patterns were the missing link in her healing. Now, through her signature clearing method, she guides clients through profound transformations that allow the body to return to safety, heal, and thrive.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

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!

Buying a new home can be exciting, but also dangerous if you don’t know what to look for. In this episode of The Awakening Spaces Podcast, Ashley Spanovich walks you through the top environmental and structural red flags to be aware of before purchasing a home, especially if you’re prioritizing health, low-tox living, and long-term safety.

This episode goes far beyond aesthetic appeal and home inspection basics. Ashley offers a comprehensive guide to investigating what's around and underneath a property, things most inspectors miss but can have serious consequences for your well-being and wallet. Whether you're chemically sensitive, healing from mold illness, or just want to make an empowered, educated decision, this episode is your roadmap to confidently vetting your future home.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Air Pollution Near Highways

• CDC report on near-roadway pollution
• NIH environmental health perspectives

Air Pollution Near Airports

• Study on air pollution from airport operations
• NIH airport emissions health study

Mold in Crawlspaces

• NIH mold transmission study on crawlspaces

Understanding EMFs

• Link to our blog post on EMFs

TOOLS + GUIDES

• Aspen Air Filter  (use code AS200 for $200 off)
• Tri-Filed TF2 EMF Meter
• Safe and Sound Radio Frequency Meter 
• Moisture Meter
• Thermal Imaging Camera
• FEMA Flood Plain Maps
• Awakened Home Search Guide

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY BELOW
TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF OUR PODCAST, WE ARE GIVING AWAY ONE SPOT INTO OUR CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION CONTAINER ($12K IN VALUE!).

ENTER TO WIN BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:

1. LISTEN TO ONE EPISODE OF THE AWAKENING SPACES PODCAST
2. SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCAST
3. LEAVE A RATING + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCAST (AN EXTRA POINT IF YOU ALSO SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW ON SPOTIFY!)
4. HEAD TO THIS INSTAGRAM  POST AND TAG ONE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SHOW. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU TAG THE MORE ENTRIES YOU GET.  
5. BONUS: RE-SHARE TO YOUR STORIES FOR ANOTHER ENTRY (TAG US @AWAKENINGSPACES SO WE KNOW YOU POSTED)!

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT 
If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating and review! Thank you for listening ✨

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 solo episode, Ashley breaks down one of the biggest dilemmas her clients face, should you build a home from scratch or buy and renovate an existing one? With wisdom drawn from both personal experience and years of consulting, she unpacks the nuanced pros and cons of each path through the lens of creating a truly healthy home.

You’ll learn why control is the most valuable currency in new construction, what pitfalls to watch for when inheriting someone else’s building decisions, and how to avoid the costly mistakes that can derail either process. Whether you’re navigating mold sensitivity, EMF issues, or just want more sovereignty over your living space, this episode will help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and grounded discernment.

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY BELOW
TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF OUR PODCAST, WE ARE GIVING AWAY ONE SPOT INTO OUR CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION CONTAINER ($12K IN VALUE!).

ENTER TO WIN BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:

1. LISTEN TO ONE EPISODE OF THE AWAKENING SPACES PODCAST
2. SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCAST
3. LEAVE A RATING + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCAST (AN EXTRA POINT IF YOU ALSO SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW ON SPOTIFY!)
4. HEAD TO THIS INSTAGRAM POST AND TAG ONE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SHOW. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU TAG THE MORE ENTRIES YOU GET.  
5. BONUS: RE-SHARE TO YOUR STORIES FOR ANOTHER ENTRY (TAG US @AWAKENINGSPACES SO WE KNOW YOU POSTED)!

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 and review! Thank you for listening! ✨ 

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 debut episode, Ashley Spanovich unpacks the foundational question: What does it really mean to have a healthy home? From mold toxins to EMFs to the energy of your space, Ashley walks you through the biggest environmental threats hiding in plain sight and how to begin building a more supportive, healing space, no matter your starting point.

She offers empowering insights into the difference between baseline safety and deep nourishment, all grounded in real-world realities like budget, capacity, and personal sensitivity. Whether you're recovering from environmental illness, planning your next move, or simply curious about optimizing your space, this episode is a must-listen primer.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Change the air foundation (Research on Mold Exposure)
• Awakening Spaces (Research on EMF exposure)
• Radon meter Ashley recommends
• Check out Branch Basics’ surfactant-based cleaners here

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY BELOW
TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF OUR PODCAST, WE ARE GIVING AWAY ONE SPOT INTO OUR CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION CONTAINER ($12K IN VALUE!).

ENTER TO WIN BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:

1. LISTEN TO ONE EPISODE OF THE AWAKENING SPACES PODCAST
2. SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCAST
3. LEAVE A RATING + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCAST (AN EXTRA POINT IF YOU ALSO SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW ON SPOTIFY!)
4. HEAD TO THIS INSTAGRAM POST AND TAG ONE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SHOW. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU TAG THE MORE ENTRIES YOU GET.  
5. BONUS: RE-SHARE TO YOUR STORIES FOR ANOTHER ENTRY (TAG US @AWAKENINGSPACES SO WE KNOW YOU POSTED)!

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 and review! Thank you for listening ✨

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!

Welcome to The Awakening Spaces Podcast — a show about building homes that heal, and the sacred journey within. Hosted by Ashley Spanovich, a building biology and EMF specialist, certified passive house tradesperson, and founder of Awakening Spaces, this podcast is your grounded guide to designing, renovating, and living in a home that supports your health, nervous system, and evolving sense of self.

In this foundational episode, Ashley shares what this podcast is all about, why health can no longer be an afterthought in how we build, and how your home can become a powerful ally in your personal transformation. Whether you're navigating environmental illness, designing a new home, or simply craving more clarity and connection in your space—you're in the right place. Get ready for deep conversations, practical tools, and a vision for home that reconnects you to nature, intuition, and possibility.

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 Jonathan from JF Healthy Homes to explore the invisible energies shaping the spaces we live in, EMFs, dirty electricity, geopathic stress, and more. Together, they unpack how modern technology affects the body’s natural rhythms and why true healing begins by re-rooting ourselves in nature.

From using an AM radio to detect “dirty” LED lights to discussing ancient wisdom around building placement and biogeometry, this conversation bridges science and spirituality in a refreshingly honest way. Jonathan also opens up about his own healing journey, balancing business, family, and health, while offering grounded encouragement for anyone feeling overwhelmed by toxins or information overload.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Ashley’s EMF research blog: https://awakeningspaces.com/2025/03/31/emf-research/

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

Website | Instagram | Tiktok

Jonathan Farrar is a building biologist and healthy home advocate who runs an environmental consultation company called JF Healthy Homes. He began his journey through many health struggles of his own, the most recent and ultimate one being moving into a house with toxic black mold which made him and his young children and spouse very sick. Through his struggles and strifes, he has found building biology and is on a wrecking path the help other families live better.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨