Podcast Summary: Autism Parenting Secrets

Episode: Sometimes You Need To MOVE

Hosts: Len & Cass Arcuri
Date: April 13, 2023

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the theme: Sometimes You Need To MOVE. Drawing on their personal experience, hosts Len and Cass Arcuri unpack the critical role your environment plays in your child’s health and healing journey after an autism diagnosis. They detail why they made the difficult decision to relocate their family—twice—prioritizing environmental safety and health, and share the practical lessons learned so parents can make informed decisions about optimizing their own homes for their children's wellbeing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Environment for Healing ([01:25])

• The Arcuris emphasize that your physical environment has a direct effect on your child’s overall “total load” of stressors and toxins:
  • "We learned early on from phenomenal leaders... all of them fully agree on this concept of total load, that for the child who's on the autism spectrum...there's a total load that just becomes too much." – Len (03:52)
  • Even newborns may already have a "body burden," making it essential to reduce additional exposures.
• When their son Ry was diagnosed and his health was in crisis, they left their "dream house" for a rented apartment with non-toxic materials and purified air and water ([02:35–03:50]).

2. The 'Total Load' Theory – Why Changes Matter ([03:52–05:36])

• Modern children face more toxins than ever before.
• Reducing environmental toxins—food, water, air, products—matters:
  • "As much as you can kind of minimize any additional stressors, especially from the environment, things like food, things like personal care products, all of these things matter." – Cass (04:58)

3. When Small Changes Aren't Enough: Deciding to Move ([07:05–08:25])

• Sometimes home modifications help, but when issues are too severe, moving can be necessary—even if inconvenient.
• "Nobody likes to move. It's the most inconvenient thing you can do. But early on it was necessary for us." – Len (07:53)

4. Criteria for a Healing Home Environment

a) Minimizing EMFs and Smart Home Tech ([08:25–11:12])

• Look for homes with low electromagnetic fields (EMF); avoid living near power lines or cell towers.
• New smart homes default to high WiFi and EMFs; the Arcuris sought homes wired for ethernet.
  • "Dumbing down your house is a power move." – Len ([09:52])
  • Use timers on WiFi routers to power them down at night.
• Avoid home Internet services based on 5G.
  • "There's no evidence that 5G is harmful. There's also no evidence that 5G is safe. So we take the precautionary principle..." – Len (12:04)

b) Managing Dirty Electricity ([12:43–14:53])

• Use a dirty electricity meter to assess and filters to reduce electrical pollution.
• Acceptable levels: below 100; older homes tend to have higher levels.
  • "Our last house was over 400 on average...After we used the filters, we knocked it down to around 100." – Len (14:00)

c) Prioritizing Air Quality & Ventilation ([15:13–16:56])

• Having windows that open, good airflow, and air quality monitoring is crucial.
• Devices like Air Visual give real-time feedback and alerts for air quality.
  • "This Air Visual actually shows me when it's time to open the windows or open the door because of the gas that you are using to cook with." – Cass (16:07)

d) Ensuring Clean Water ([17:59–20:37])

• Use effective filters, ideally reverse osmosis, for drinking and bathing water.
  • "It's also really important for bathing and taking a shower." – Len (18:24)
• Don’t rely solely on municipal reports for water safety.

e) Maximizing Natural Light & Outdoor Access ([20:37–21:43])

• Outdoor exposure and natural light, especially morning light, support circadian rhythm and general wellbeing.
  • "Morning light is so important for so many of your systems." – Cass (21:09)

f) Avoiding Mold ([21:43–24:07])

• Mold exposure is highly impactful and challenging to remediate.
• Mold can be an unrecognized but major contributor to health issues:
  • "Dr. K was saying that about, at least in his estimation, 50% of autism cases are mold related." – Cass (23:22)
  • Proper inspection (not just basic house testing) is a must; musty smells are a red flag.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Dumbing down your house is a power move." — Len (09:52)
• "Want to discover your Autism Parenting Blind Spot? Take our free quiz today..." — Cass (27:30)

Guidance & Reassurance ([00:00], [24:07], [26:33])

• Don’t aim for perfection or panic—incremental changes help significantly.
  • "You don't need to get to perfect. You definitely don't need to freak out and panic. It's about understanding where you are taking some actions." – Len (24:07)
• Be open to moving if necessary, but substantial improvements are possible in most environments.

Personal Reflections and Physical Outcomes

• Cass experienced her own health benefits—eczema resolved within days of moving ([25:57]).

  • "Within a couple of days of moving here, my eczema's kind of gone. So...my own burden had my cup hath runneth over." – Cass

• The family is optimistic that improving their environment will bring further health gains, both for their son and themselves.

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:25: Introducing the secret: "Sometimes You Need To Move"
• 02:35–03:52: Story of the first move after their son's diagnosis
• 03:52–05:36: Explaining the "total load" theory
• 08:25–11:12: Discussing EMFs and minimizing smart tech in the home
• 12:43–14:53: Dirty electricity—measurement and mitigation
• 15:13–16:56: Importance of air flow, using air quality monitors
• 17:59–20:37: Water—why and how to filter drinking and bathing water
• 21:43–24:07: Mold—why it’s a critical consideration
• 25:57–26:33: Personal anecdote—health improvements post-move
• 26:33–27:30: Big takeaway—environment matters, and control is possible

Core Takeaways

• Your home environment has a direct, powerful impact on your child's well-being—sometimes more than any other factor you can control.
• Begin with small, actionable steps to lower toxins and improve atmosphere—but stay open to relocation if necessary.
• Assess: EMFs, dirty electricity, air quality, water, natural light, and especially mold.
• Trust yourself to make incremental improvements. But if compromises or remediation aren’t enough, moving may be the healthiest option—even if inconvenient.
• You don't have to tolerate a toxic environment. Your family’s well-being is worth the effort to make a change.

Listen for detailed resources, book and guest episode recommendations in the show notes.