Alright, so here's one I get asked constantly: Do I really need to throw out all my belongings if there's mold in my house?

If that question's been keeping you up at night, or if you're stuck wondering whether dealing with mold means going bankrupt and starting over, take a deep breath. This episode's for you.

I brought back Mike Schrantz, one of the most networked indoor environmental professionals in the country. He's what I call a "doctor of houses and buildings." And we got into the real, practical reality of what mold remediation actually looks like. Not the fear-based stuff you find all over social media. The truth.

Here's what we talked about:

What to actually expect from a mold inspection and report. Mike breaks down why "normal" looks different depending on where you live, and how outdoor mold is different from indoor sources.

The four categories of remediation: surface cleaning, air quality, contents (furniture, clothing, papers), and deeper structural issues. Not everything requires ripping down walls.

Why the contents question brings up the most emotion. This is where people panic about throwing everything away. Mike explains what "clean enough" actually means and why treating mold like plutonium creates unnecessary fear.

The truth about mycotoxins. They have short half-lives. Normal laundering removes them from fabrics. You can clean furniture without throwing it away. And no, you probably don't need to get rid of everything.

Why the fear itself might be doing more harm than the actual exposure. We talk about the emotional toll, the financial strain, and why so many people end up spending tens of thousands on things they didn't need to do.

Bottom line: Most situations don't require moving out or going bankrupt. There are sequential steps you can take. And clarity itself can be medicine.

If you're dealing with mold concerns, chronic illness, or wondering if your environment is making you sick, this conversation will help you move forward with less overwhelm and more confidence.

Next steps: Visit RootSeekHealth.com to take our free health quiz or schedule a discovery call.

Connect with us:

Root Seek Health: https://rootseekhealth.com/
Dr. Mark Su's Podcast: Functional Medicine Reality Podcast

📊 Got Lab Results But No Real Answers?

You're not alone. Many patients are stuck with test results but no clear path forward. I've created a free resource to help you understand what your labs might actually be telling you about your health.

Download your free guide: https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/opt-in-page-landing-page-for-lab-results-without-answers

Let's get real and get results.

Hey friends, this one's for both practitioners and patients who've been around the functional medicine world for a while.

Here's the thing. When you've been dealing with chronic symptoms for months or years, it's really easy to fall into patterns. You start assuming every flare-up is the same old story. SIBO acting up again. Mold toxicity. Food sensitivities.

But what if it's not?

I'm talking about the differential diagnostic list, which is just a fancy way of saying: all the possible things that could be causing your symptoms. And here's where it gets tricky for those of us working in the functional medicine world.

We get so focused on the chronic inflammatory stuff, the SIBO, the parasites, the mycotoxins, that sometimes we can overlook the conventional diagnoses. The diverticulitis. The cancer, God forbid. The kidney stones. The things that need attention now.

I'll be honest, this is something I actively remind myself about. When I'm seeing a patient I've worked with for two years, and they come in describing abdominal pain, it's tempting to just pick up where we left off. But if they tell me the pain is different somehow, more intense, or now there's bleeding when there wasn't before, I cannot just chalk that up to hemorrhoids and move on.

Now, if you're a patient, here's what I want you to hear. Pay attention when symptoms vary, even just a little bit. Maybe they're 20% more intense. Maybe they're not triggered by the usual things.

And here's the critical part: don't present it to your practitioner with presumptions already baked in. Don't say, "Oh, my SIBO is flaring up again." Just describe what you're experiencing. Let them go through their checklist.

The differential diagnostic list in functional medicine is way more expansive than in conventional medicine. That's both a gift and a challenge. We're thinking about things other practitioners might miss. But we cannot let that blind us to the conventional stuff.

Being comfortable is not always a good thing. Experience helps us work faster, but complacency can be a real stealth enemy.

That my friends, is definitely the reality of medicine, especially at the intersect of functional and conventional medicine. Worth it, but more work.

In This Episode:

• Why the differential diagnostic list matters for both practitioners and patients
• The risk of getting too comfortable with chronic symptoms
• How to communicate symptoms without presumptions
• Balancing functional and conventional medicine approaches

Key Takeaways:

• When symptoms vary even by 20-30%, pay attention
• Don't attach labels to your symptoms before presenting them
• Practitioners must guard against overlooking conventional diagnoses
• Clear communication protects both patient and practitioner

📊 Got Lab Results But No Real Answers?

You're not alone. Many patients are stuck with test results but no clear path forward. I've created a free resource to help you understand what your labs might actually be telling you about your health.

Download your free guide: Understanding Your Lab Results

From GI Struggles to Stability: Anti-Aging in Real Life

A Patient Conversation with Jean

In this episode, I’m joined by Jean, a long-time patient who generously shares her real-life health journey, not from a place of perfection, but from lived experience.

This conversation is about what healing actually looks like over time. It is about chronic gut issues, instability, fatigue, and inflammation, but also about perspective, gratitude, resilience, and what it means to pursue longevity in a realistic, human way.

What This Episode Covers

• Jean’s transition into a new chapter of life, including relocation, retirement, and change
• Years of chronic GI symptoms and the complexity of digestive healing
• The role of journaling, self-awareness, and trial-and-error in recovery
• How inflammation shows up across multiple systems over time
• Why healing is often cyclical, not linear
• What “anti-aging” really means outside of hype and extremes
• The difference between chronological age and biological aging
• How energy, cognition, stability, and connection define quality of life
• The importance of movement, nature, sleep, and routine
• Why social connection and lifelong learning matter for longevity
• How to think through anti-aging options without overwhelm or fear

A Realistic View of Longevity

Rather than chasing every new trend, this episode walks through how to think clearly about longevity based on values, resources, tolerance, and life stage.

We discuss data-driven strategies like nutrition, exercise, and inflammation reduction, alongside emerging longevity concepts, while always coming back to what is sustainable and meaningful for the individual.

Key Takeaway

Longevity is not about doing everything.
It is about doing the right things for you, at the right time, in the right way.

Stability, resilience, curiosity, and connection matter just as much as supplements or tests.

And healing does not mean erasing the past. It means building a steadier future.

Important Note

This episode reflects a real patient conversation shared for educational purposes only. Nothing discussed should be taken as individual medical advice. Each person’s health journey is unique and should be navigated with appropriate professional support.

Thank you to Jean for her honesty, wisdom, and willingness to share.
This is what real-life healing looks like.