Full Measure After Hours

Episode: A Quiet Place for the ‘Electrically Sensitive’

Host: Sharyl Attkisson
Guest: Andrew McAfee, Licensed Electrician
Date: April 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the unique community of Green Bank, West Virginia—the only federally protected Radio Quiet Zone in the U.S.—and its role as a haven for people who identify as "electrically sensitive." Sharyl Attkisson interviews Andrew McAfee, a licensed electrician specializing in helping people reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in their homes. Together, they discuss the science, the controversy, the legislative challenges, and practical strategies for living with or alleviating electrical sensitivity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Is Electrical Sensitivity?

• Definition and Terminology

  • McAfee prefers “electrical sentience” or “awareness of perception” over “sensitivity,” framing it as a beneficial biological adaptation to a toxic environment ([03:07]).
  • He argues that the body’s reactions (pain, mood shifts, awareness) are mechanisms to avoid harmful exposures.

• Variability and Triggers

  • “Everybody has sensitivities to electrical sources. Some people have become extremely aware…because of Lyme, mold, Epstein Barr virus and other co-infections that just explode around the influences of electromagnetic fields.” (C, [04:10])
  • Co-factors like illness or immune issues can make some individuals more susceptible ([05:15]).

• Documented Health Effects

  • Links to chronic disorders, cancer, mood swings, fatigue, and blood sugar issues.
  • Removing EMF exposure “absolutely 100%” reduces certain diseases, including Ms. and Parkinson’s ([05:29]).

2. Green Bank: The Radio Quiet Zone

• History & Importance

  • Protected since WWII to enable sensitive work with the giant radio telescope.
  • Certain signals (cellular, Wi-Fi) are banned to prevent interference.

• Why It’s a Magnet for the Electrically Sensitive

  • The lack of pervasive EM signals has attracted a small, growing group seeking relief from symptoms they attribute to EMF exposure.
  • Sharyl highlights: “Some people…live in the Green Bank, West Virginia area precisely because certain signals are not allowed there.” (A, [00:32])

3. Threats and Changes: Wi-Fi Encroachment

• Changes to Wi-Fi Policy

  • Since August, schools and some public spaces have been permitted to use Wi-Fi, breaking decades of radio silence ([07:07]).

• Community Concerns

  • McAfee: “It’s really a death knell to all of us who have invested in this area to have it protected … infrastructure will be built…broadcasted onto our properties.” (C, [07:23])
  • The community, supported by Children’s Health Defense and the Mercola Group, is lobbying to strengthen state law (West Virginia §37A) to reinforce property rights and environmental protections ([08:26]).

4. McAfee’s Work and Practical Solutions

• His Business Model

  • “Help electrically sensitive people rewire their houses.” (C, [02:59])
  • Conducts home assessments, “bed maps” of EM fields, and corrects code violations or wiring issues with shielded cables ([06:03]–[06:47]).
  • Focuses on sleeping areas first for maximum restorative benefit.

• Advice for Listeners

  • “Nobody needs a cell phone in their bedroom at night…Turn off your Wi-Fi...Move all wireless devices out of your sleeping area…and turn the power off with your breaker around the bed.” (C, [10:08])
  • Suggests simple measures can improve sleep quality by “90, 95%” ([10:45]).

5. Advocacy and Safe Home Initiative

• Supporting the Community

  • McAfee is board president of Safe Home, an organization helping electrically sensitive people relocate to Green Bank ([10:50]).
  • “Electrically sensitive people are coming here two or three times a month, new people, and they’re desperate. There’s no place that they can stay.” ([10:55])
  • Membership organization offers temporary lodging solutions and relocation assistance.

• Emphasizing Sensitivity as Strength

  • “It’s not a weakness, it’s a strength...The children, their eggs, their future generations are exponentially more affected than we are as adults.” (C, [11:45])

6. Reflections, Skepticism, and Family Dynamics

• Current Size of the Community

  • McAfee estimates around 100 electrically sensitive residents in the Green Bank area ([12:38]).

• Responding to Skeptics

  • “Keep using your devices. Have at it. Good times. But if your wife, your child is having a health problem…would you be considering maybe changing your behavior a little bit for their benefit?” (C, [13:22])
  • McAfee underscores how disbelief can strain families to the breaking point.

Notable Quotes

• On the benefit of biological adaptation:

  • “I call it a beneficial biological adaptation to a toxic environment that helps us avoid repeated harmful exposures.”
    – Andrew McAfee ([03:13])

• On differences in perception:

  • “Men especially are proud of taking pain and not complaining. And women are opposite. Thank goodness for them. They have the sensitivity to protect their children and can raise awareness…”
    – Andrew McAfee ([04:32])

• On recent legislative threats:

  • “It’s really a death knell to all of us who have invested in this area to have it protected.”
    – Andrew McAfee ([07:28])

• On skepticism and empathy:

  • “If your wife, your child is having a health problem … would you be considering maybe changing your behavior a little bit for their benefit?”
    – Andrew McAfee ([13:22])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:32] — Introduction to Green Bank, its history, and the electrically sensitive community
• [02:55] — Andrew McAfee explains his business and definitions
• [04:10] — Discussion of physiological effects and why some are more affected
• [06:03] — McAfee describes his assessment and remediation work
• [07:07] — Changes to local Wi-Fi policy and community concerns
• [08:26] — Legislative and property rights background
• [10:08] — McAfee’s practical advice for reducing EMF risk
• [10:50] — Safe Home’s mission and services
• [12:38] — Community size estimate
• [13:22] — Responding to skeptics and impact on families

Memorable Moments

• McAfee's pragmatic yet passionate advocacy for both personal and community rights.
• Candid reflections on family conflict and the social dynamics of disbelief.
• The revelation of ongoing migration to Green Bank by those desperate for EMF relief.
• Calls to action for practical changes anyone can make, regardless of skepticism.

For Further Information

• Catch the related TV segment on “Full Measure” to hear from more community members and Green Bank’s telescope operators.
• Visit Safe Home and FullMeasure.News for additional resources and updates.