Mold Avoidance with Bryan Rosner: Recent Episodes
Bryan Rosner
Bryan Rosner discusses using mold avoidance to supercharge the recovery process. Come join Bryan and guests!
Lately I have been dividing my life basically into two distinct "behaviors," or categories. This framework has helped me set goals and conceptualize how to deal with the inevitable mold avoidance crossroads and compromises. This topic is a bit similar to "laptop stability", which I have covered in the past. However, changing times call for changing strategies... so this is a new mental model I've been working with lately. Hope you find it interesting!
There is one pivotal concept when it comes to Locations-Based Mold Avoidance, from which all other concepts stem. I think the largest challenge when first studying mold avoidance, is overcoming this intellectual hurdle. That makes it an excellent leverage point, if you are interested in investing a small amount of time with the expectation of a large payoff in knowledge. It took me many years to fully grasp this, I hope you can accomplish the same in a faster period of time!
This new free episode is either really smart or really dumb. But I'm going all-in on this concept. After all, you only get one body. And in this economy, you probably have one body and not very many dollars. The stakes are high. Choose wisely.
Normally I write a long and interesting description here, but that would spoil the artfully crafted teaser title :) So, just listen, I think you’ll be glad you did.
Something so mind-blownig just happened to me. The only way I can explain it is comparing it to how I had to jump-start my truck at the airport recently. The truck was TOTALLY useless while the battery was dead. It could not run heat, it could not take me home, it could not do anything. The experience I had recently was so profound, that this analogy is accurate. A must-listen!
So in Spring of this year I spent 20 days in Europe. When I got back to the USA, my body was totally different for 2 months. I completely mistook this for "having found good spots in the USA", but actually it was a delayed reaction to the Power Curve benefits gained from being OUTSIDE the USA. I am astonished at this realization and that it took me so many months to put the pieces of the puzzle together. But I'm here to tell the story now after having just left the USA again, twice, in the last month.
Shrinkflation, worsening toxicity, utility prices, toxic food, with a side of "this is normal, don't question it." Yes, it is finally time to talk about real measures to save yourself first. Next year might be too late. I am not being dramatic. If you can't relate to this yet, just wait. Your turn is coming.
OK the title might be a little bit of an exaggeration, maybe not the "next available flight." But my experience in Europe earlier this year was so profound that it has taken me months to unpack all of the implications. I share some more lessons here, and reasons why I actually am trying to go back soon. If you want detailed airport reports and other tactical tools, check out my premium podcast episodes too.
Bryan just got done traveling all around the USA and Europe. The grass isn't greener (unless you are in the Eastern states, LOL). It's been too overwhelming to think about summarizing my travels and lessons, so I've started - and abandoned - a few attempts. However, there was one interesting aspect that stood out to me, so I figured I'd make an attempt at creating an episode about my travels, centered on that one aspect. If all else fails at least I know there's one juicy nugget in this 60 minute rant. Enjoy!
I've learned since starting avoidance that FRAT - the outdoor mold supertoxin that often causes the onset of mold illness in individuals who are debilitated - is basically my "primary" toxin. Meaning it is the one that harms me the most. Lately I have some bad news to report in relation to the recent Los Angeles area "mega fires." I'm making this podcast as a PSA and warning to my fellow avoiders.
If you are a member of my Facebook Group called Mold Avoidance Milestones, you probably saw my recent post detailing some very bad things that have happened to me over the last 6 months. In this episode, I dive deeper into some of these challenges and try to extract some lessons and solutions for my situation.
If you already believe that mold can be harmful, which is established fact even in mainstream medicine (mold remediation companies wear full body protection suits in affected homes), then the bridge to understanding “extreme mold avoidance” is a lot shorter than you realize. And this point is critical.
In this episode I systematically deconstruct the logic behind why mold avoidance represents an actual scientific breakthrough, rather than just another opinion on how to get well. I explain why such a revolutionary breakthrough has managed to go totally unrecognized, and why this ominous blunder might cost you EVERYTHING. If you are still sick with Lyme or CFS, it may already be costing you everything. You can't afford to miss this episode.
The decline from being moderately sick to very sick is not a linear process. There is a single pivotal moment that changes everything. Understanding this moment also provides insight about all the mysteries of mold avoidance, including: why it is necessary, what to expect, and what conventional and alternative medicine is MISSING when it comes to mold toxicity. This is a can't-miss episode!
What changed the most as an advanced mold avoider? Everything and nothing at the same time. These are some things I wish I knew sooner. Or, more articulately... things I was told but just didn't fully understand or believe. This episode covers a lot of ground and is a good listen for newbies as well as experienced avoiders.
Probably the biggest mistake new mold avoiders make is not learning to tell the difference between nuisance secondary reactivities and primary illness-causing reactivities. As a mentor once told me, "you can't avoid all toxins, you have to pick and choose." This is why most people never end up picking the right toxins, and never get better.
I've been wanting to make this podcast episode for months, but have always felt too overwhelmed by how much information there is to share. So I just hit record and started talking, and while I didn't cover EVERYTHING, I certainly got the discussion started. If you want to learn more "tips and tricks" regarding my experience using RV's for mold avoidance, check out my related eBook: RVs & Mold Avoidance Ebook
Even a dog can tell these Two Big Assumptions are LIES. When you hear this episode you'll be BLOWN AWAY that anyone believes these Two Big Lies. Yet 99% of mold sick people still believe this. I've used two analogies to reveal these lies so dramatically that they can never hide in the darkness again. If you enjoy this episode you'll LOVE my premium podcast episodes available for $10/mo.
There's a little-known reality about healing from mold illness: it's HARD to leave a moldy house. And not for the reasons you think. Mold is a microbial lifeform that WANTS to survive, and it poisons our brains into thinking that leaving the mold is basically impossible, or at the very least, terrifying. Today I share a lesson I learned from one of my favorite podcasters, Tim Ferriss, and how it applies to mold illness recovery. It's important stuff, this might save your life... 😳
In the crypto world, there are these things called NFT's, which means "non-fungible token." They are often pieces of art that are special and unique. On the other hand, "fungible" items are all the same: for example, dollar bills. No one cares which dollar bill they have; they are all the same. This podcast episode is about learning to think of housing as a fungible resource.
You might be tempted to skip this episode but it actually addresses the MOST IMPORTANT mold avoidance skill of all. Which skill am I talking about? You'll have to listen to find out ;) There's a scene in Interstellar that drove me crazy for YEARS, but I finally understand it now, and it makes all the difference.
Have you ever loved a movie only to have Hollywood ruin the story with a sequel? Yeah, sequels are risky. That's why it took a lot of confidence for me to make a "Part 2" for one of my best-ever podcast episodes: The original Singularity of Mold Avoidance episode published almost exactly 3 years ago in August, 2020. Well, you can be the judge, but I think this episode justified its own existence...such an important topic to learn or just be reminded of.
If you listen to any of my podcast episodes, PLEASE listen to this one. Especially if you are relatively new to mold avoidance. Successful healing in mold avoidance is less about "learning new information" and more about "UN-learning old information." Trust me, I know: I was an alternative health journalist and author for 15 years. I've done it all, seen it all. Please share this episode with family and friends who are new to comprehending mold avoidance.
OK guys. It's been a while since I've been this fresh and had this much to say. You'll find out why in the episode. We cover a LOT of bases today. I don't even know how to describe this episode, because I think it is one of my best and broadest. Also it is 2:51am so I'm going to bed now - just listen to it.
In early mold avoidance, the road to healing IS "out there" - meaning location's effect, meaning you have to MOVE your body to a clear location in order to recover. But I am at the phase now where the road is more "inside me" - which is great news, since moving around all the time is a pain in the butt. So you'll hear me talk about this theme quite a bit in recent podcast episodes. Of course, if you are brand new to mold avoidance, you should start by listening to my older episodes... which are more appropriate for brand new avoiders.
This is a long episode, almost an hour. But I feel like I was able to address a topic that is so foreign to those who are new to mold avoidance, that it is almost like speaking a different language. We all know that some words in other languages don't translate well to English, and therefore it takes quite a conversation in order to explain what the word means. Reaching "escape velocity" from mold exposure introduces a few such topics, which is why it took me almost an hour to "translate" these topics into "everyday language"!
There is a HUGE difference between mold avoidance and "regular" conventional or alternative medicine. This difference is probably the Number 1 reason why people fail to recover, so I suggest listening to this episode, and sharing it with others who have chronic Lyme or CFS.
Someone asked me recently my thoughts on taking supplements during early mold avoidance. The thing about this question is that it scratches the surface of a much bigger, more important topic. The only way to properly address this was with a new podcast episode. If you enjoyed this, consider subscribing for $10/mo to my paid/bonus podcast episodes.
When I was very sick, I always intuitively felt that I had much to pay for. I wasn't damaging my body on purpose, but the damage that was being done would take years to fix. This is why I was disappointed when typical supplements and treatments only worked for a couple of days. But when my mentors told me the "intensification" process during mold avoidance might last "2 to 3 years," I was elated! I could finally "pay my debt" and heal my body.
This episode is for people on the "fringes" of mold avoidance who aren't quite sure if this illness applies to them. It is also for family and friends. Plus, it contains a new, simplified, streamlined conceptual framework for mold avoidance that I really like. I hope you enjoy it, I think it is an important episode! This episode is free, but if you enjoy it, please consider subscribing to my premium podcast service which gives you access to the best new episodes and the entire archive of 80+ past episodes.
Believe it or not, this is a nuclear topic loaded with controversy. I've been wanting to talk about MCAS for a long time, so here is the podcast episode that addresses it.
There are two variables that NO ONE is talking about in terms of healing from chronic illnesses such as Lyme and CFS. These variables are on the opposite ends of a scale, balancing each other. But their short term consequences are much different from their long term consequences. Listen to the episode and ask yourself if you've done a proper analysis on how these variables are impacting your recovery.
Lately I've been in touch with a lot of folks who left their moldy homes and belongings, set up a life somewhere, but never did "extreme" avoidance. Eventually, they all seem to actually go extreme. Why is this? What factors could possibly motivate them to start all over AGAIN? Let's take a look...
The knee-jerk reaction of most people is just the opposite of what is truly logical when it comes to mold avoidance. This podcast takes a quick look at one of the great ironies we face as mold avoiders.
Future podcast episodes and the majority of existing episodes (about 75) will now require a $10/mo subscription for access. Today's recording explains how to access this content, and why I made this decision. About 20 past episodes will remain free.
A monthly subscription (which includes all past episodes as well as all future episodes) can be purchased with this link: https://patron.podbean.com/bryanrosner
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Listen to today's episode above for more information. Thank you for your support!
This episode is for family, friends, parents, who are skeptical of the various aspects of extreme mold avoidance. This topic is near-and-dear to my heart, because I myself spent DECADES wandering the halls of endless Lyme disease treatments and empty promises.
What people "know" about parasites COMPLETELY CHANGES in the context of adequate mold avoidance (big surprise right?). It's a "brave new world" when you talk about the two subjects at the same time. Hopefully this podcast sheds some light and "reveals" what's hiding below. Be sure to listen to the end.
I was doing a livestream video on the FB group that I co-lead tonight, and the topic was housing. However, half way through the stream I realized that I stumbled upon a new way to explain a CRITICAL mold avoidance lesson. I'm calling it, "choose your slam." This episode is a banger!
Just like you can't read a book on scuba diving and then go do it (you need a teacher), I also feel you need a mold avoidance mentor. Many people seem "stuck" when it comes to finding a mentor or two, so here is how I did it, and why it helped me so much. Disclaimer: I DO NOT suggest people seek mold avoidance mentoring in place of medical care. I am strictly limiting the definition of "mentor" here to NON-MEDICAL aspects, such as managing an RV, dealing with mold contamination, etc. Seek a real doctor if you have medical problems.
I haven't made a podcast in about 6 months, but I get so many questions on these topics that I wanted to put some data in one central location for those seeking my opinion on these topics. This episode is NOT really a "beginner" episode... my podcast spans topics ranging from complete newb to more advanced.
A well-known doctor recently said that extreme mold avoidance may be needed for some people. That was a great vindication, and needed progress! Still though, it isn't enough. This episode also discusses my experience with various treatments and therapies in early mold avoidance.
If I would have known this one fact 10 years ago, I could have prevented endless suffering and wasted time. It is my hope that this podcast episode would be widely shared among family, friends, and loved ones, of those who are suffering today. As well as (in a perfect world) researchers and doctors.
This one thing is completely neutralizing peoples' odds of recovering. It impacted me in a massive way, and is probably impacting you too.
Finally, a podcast episode for brand new beginners! This is the "A to Z" of mold avoidance basics. For new folks who have no idea what this is all about. Obviously, I had to skip over many important details for such a short podcast episode, but I felt that we were about due for a birds-eye-view look at the process.
I haven't made one of my longer, in-depth podcast episodes in months. This one delves deeper into the mechanics of mold avoidance. The details are everything, here. This episode should be helpful to new avoiders as well as those further along.
Is it possible that the mold avoidance crossroads we face now, might have much bigger consequences than we realize? The butterfly effect is a principle in physics where the small act of a butterfly flapping its wings might have big consequences around the world.
How many backup plans should we have? In this episode I share some rambling thoughts on this topic based on our experience with 6 RV's, 3 rental houses, and countless hotels and AIR B n B's.
This is a lesson that has been so fundamental to my progress, that I almost forgot to even articulate it. Like, it's been built into the very fabric of my mold avoidance journey. I am finally trying to explain it to you, today!
Looking back over my own 4 years of mold avoidance, I have identified this as being an important mistake to look out for - both in my own journey, and those I have seen. Sometimes, the easy way out is actually the hard way out!
I realized that a lot of the articles, videos and blog posts I have created about our RV mold avoidance journey, are now a few years old and buried in the archives. So I wanted to create a fresh episode that summarizes lessons I've learned about doing avoidance in RV's. However, please cautiously note that this episode is JUST A SUMMARY. Reference my YouTube, other podcast episodes, blog, and articles, for more details on RV's.
This episode is the culmination of something I've been trying to put my finger on for months. The question was: "why do I look back and am glad that we didn't have the books or the group early on?" I really think you'll enjoy this episode. The information was critical for me.
I really think today's message is just about the most important message I can convey about mold avoidance. Alex Honnold, who free-soloed the monstrous rock "El Capitan" in Yosemite, has taught me a thing or two. NOTE: The original inspiration for the Alex Honnold analogy comes from Lisa Petrison, PhD, of Paradigm Change Foundation, so I want to give her credit for this idea.
This single mold avoidance skill has served me extremely well. Of course, it isn't ALWAYS accurate. The 90/10 rule applies to this just like anything else in life (no strategy is perfect). But I felt like sharing this with you guys. Remember, if you're new to the podcast, start off by listening to older episodes FIRST.
I haven't made a podcast in a while. It's all there; I've said everything you need to know. Just go listen. However, this topic comes up over and over, so I wanted to clarify it once and for all. Many people still don't know what I mean when I say "mold avoidance is awesome." DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor. This podcast is for informational purposes only.
This theme needs to be repeated over and over. However, remember that if you are new to my podcast, you should start listening to the EARLIEST episodes first.
"When can I live a normal life?", many people ask. Well, let's start with the basics. It is hard to live a normal life if you can't even survive. You have to Survive before you can Thrive.
You guys know that I prefer minimal treatments during mold avoidance. In fact, currently (3.5 years into avoidance) I've given up 99% of all medical treatments. Today, though, I'm talking about one of the few modalities which DID help me during early mold avoidance: the FREmedica Wave 1. You can get 10% off the device by using code BIOMED, if you're interested.
This topic is SO SO SO SO misunderstood. Intensification itself is blissful. It is the body FINALLY feeling better and healing. It isn't scary. However, in order for the body to do the heavy lifting and heal, the body's defenses are "lowered." This makes one more susceptible to mold hits. This is why it is intense. But the season of healing itself - intensification - is quite joyful and rewarding. Which is why people do it in the first place :)
Are we blessed, or cursed? Is life good, or bad? Is the glass half empty, or half full? You have to admit that just about ANY circumstance can be seen through either polarity. In this episode I am going to talk about the reality of my near-death experience, and why I think mold avoidance is a blessing.
My podcast is getting big with dozens of episodes. Not all episodes are tailored toward beginners. This is a good one to start with, and not too long. Also, this episode mentions some other episodes you can listen to in order to get started. What are we focusing on today? First of all, on REALIZING that mold avoidance is a massive paradigm shift. Then, on HOW to help transition into the new paradigm (because it isn't always easy or intuitive). If you're not new to mold avoidance, you can skip this episode!
I can't believe I never published this episode; I found it in my drafts from a few months ago. This might be one of my favorite concepts of all time. And when you listen to this, don't forget to evaluate your life not just as of TODAY, but also looking forward 2, 5, 10 years from now. Choose Your Hard!
Although exercise is kind of a boring topic and one that we are very familiar with if we've read Erik's work, I actually found quite a few surprises, twists & turns, and lessons related to this topic. So I feel that this podcast episode is packed with insights that go a lot deeper than simply using exercise to detox. Hope you enjoy it!
One of my mentors said, "the goal of mold avoidance is to eventually be able to detox in less and less good locations." Which makes a lot of sense: early on, we require really insanely pristine areas to heal. Obviously, it wouldn't be ideal to stay like that forever. So as you progress through avoidance, the "win" is to be able to have that kind of detox occur, but in imperfect locations. This is where the power curve comes in.
When I was super sick, it was always alarming how the "latest and greatest" therapies didn't do much for me. I knew I was much, much sicker than the people who were helped by those therapies. So, when mold avoidance started working (but when it also was taking forever to heal with mold avoidance) I was encouraged. I knew I was very sick and I knew the right medicine would not be a quick fix.
Listen up! No one is listening to this. Mold avoidance is a bodily function. It is like your pancreas. We don't all make flowery "you do you" Instagram posts about our pancreas. The pancreas just does what it does. Mold avoidance isn't something you make up and express your creativity with. It is a function you learn how to understand. Skip this episode if you already get it :)
Reactivity (the degree to which mold toxins harm you) and sensitivity (the degree to which you are aware of mold exposure) are two variables which change drastically during recovery. I find this topic fascinating and insightful.
Wow, what a question. Due to the travel restrictions and lockdown these days, a lot more people are advocating for a "moderate" form of mold avoidance that is more practical for the current times. And, I can't say that I disagree with that idea. However, instead of getting caught in the crossfire with this debate, I am going to instead tell you a portion of my own story, and let you come to your own conclusions.
This topic is so important on multiple levels. First, a personal level: please stop asking me what I think about your convoluted theories on where the "bad mold" comes from. You aren't qualified to have useful theories, and I'm not qualified to evaluate them. Second, realize that the people I've seen stay the sickest for the longest, are those who insist that their own opinions are somehow superior to established mold avoidance wisdom.
Someone had listened to some of my podcast episodes but still didn't have a clear understanding of this difference. So I realized I needed to zoom out a little, and offer a birds-eye comparison. Please, also watch my related video. My YouTube channel is "Bryan Rosner," go watch the 7-minute video, "mold tests vs. mold avoidance."
I try very hard to keep this podcast practical. However, sometimes the "backstory" is what drives home the significance of what we are experiencing today. Let's dive into wacky stories about sewage dumping in Mexico, the Mafia in Tahoe, and why you may be missing clues about what's keeping you sick. (Note: credit for original discoveries and publication of some of these concepts goes to Erik Johnson & Lisa Petrison of Paradigm Change).
One of my mentors said, "go where you feel happy." Today's episode starts off with a survey I conducted in which 85% of participants reported experiencing euphoria when in a pristine location. I talk about what this means...but we end up getting into some other really important topics as well. I hope you enjoy the episode!
(Five minutes or less) This may seem like semantics, but I think it is an important discussion to pursue. Onlookers may perceive the actions of those pursuing mold avoidance to be invalid. This leads to demoralization, lack of support, and lack of scientific investigation into this phenomenon. However, if mold avoidance is seen for what it actually is - inconvenient, rather than invalid - then the situation would be much better.
Erik Johnson, the pioneer of mold avoidance, coined the phrase "power curve" to describe how much mold people can tolerate before they experience a severe setback or relapse. And when we talk about this power curve, we can unpack a lot of other useful concepts and ideas, too. Today I am using a simple analogy to help explain what the power curve is, how it works, and even some little-known implications that come along with it.
Mold avoidance goes against the grain. It is an act of REMOVING things from the body, not adding things to the body. Therefore, almost every available treatment is just going to get in the way. If you just read that sentence and ignore this podcast, you'll probably do great! However, if you just can't shake that itch to grab a bottle of supplements, you should listen to this first...
Winter presents unique challenges for people pursuing mold avoidance. In this podcast, I will describe those challenges - so you know what to expect - and share some strategies, tools, and hacks that I have used to make it through the wintertime. Remember: Spring is almost here! We don't need perfect in the wintertime - just "good enough."
I am very excited to share an interview with my friend Andrew, who reports that 8 months of extreme mold avoidance in a tent allowed him to return to his hometown of Boulder, CO and live in a normal house. This interview is a 2-part series, the first part is this podcast episode, the second part is a written Q&A on my blog which can be found at https://lymebook.com/bryan/2020/11/08/andrews-story/
Part of my goal in making podcast episodes is to bring much-deserved legitimacy to the healing approach of mold avoidance. Without legitimacy, mold avoidance will be very difficult to pursue, and many people will never even find out about it. I believe that there are two big ingredients that build a convincing argument in favor of mold avoidance. Listen to this episode to find out what they are.
This is SUCH an important topic. We need to learn the difference between a theory, or school of thought, or opinion... and an actual SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. When you are learning about mold avoidance, and the super toxins that mold avoiders are careful to avoid, remember that you are learning about an objective, paradigm-shifting scientific discovery, not just another "medical theory."
This topic came up in the moderator chat of our Facebook Group, Practical Mold Avoidance. How much time should you spend LEARNING about mold avoidance online, vs. how much time should you spend EXPERIMENTING with mold avoidance in real life? This podcast addresses that balance.
I often strive for new ways to explain mold avoidance. Because even for me (someone with a background in medical journalism) it was hard to conceptualize mold avoidance and explain it to others. Thinking of mold avoidance as a natural bodily function is an excellent model, in my opinion.