The People's Study
*The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests in this show are not necessarily the views of Children’s Health Defense.
Hidden Danger of Mold
Jun 9, 2026
Elise Puglisi shares her family’s remarkable journey from misdiagnosis to recovery after uncovering hidden mold toxicity in their home.
Despite following a completely natural, unvaccinated, organic lifestyle, her son Levi developed severe autistic-like symptoms, speech delays, vocal tics, and developmental regression. After years of therapies and labels, Elise discovered high levels of Aspergillus mold affecting her children and herself—triggering everything from OCD behaviors and trichotillomania to chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS).
By identifying the environmental trigger, relocating, and supporting detoxification, Levi experienced a dramatic turnaround: regaining speech, learning his ABCs and colors, and progressing rapidly. Elise also discusses practical steps for detecting mold, improving indoor air quality, working with functional medicine practitioners, and the importance of looking deeper before accepting a diagnosis.
