What does it really mean to be healthy?

On this episode of About Your House, Ray Terry sits down with Dr. Cami Benton for a wide-ranging conversation about health, mental health, family, children, nutrition, environmental factors, brain health, and the changing landscape of modern medicine.

Ray and Dr. Benton discuss the pressures families face today, including the impact of busy schedules, youth sports, technology, and the loss of quality family time. They also explore how environmental factors, lifestyle, and other influences can affect children's development and overall well-being.

The conversation expands into integrative and functional medicine, brain health, chronic illness, longevity, healthcare accessibility, and the importance of looking at the whole person rather than simply treating individual symptoms. Dr. Benton also shares how her practice is expanding its approach to helping people pursue better health, vitality, and quality of life.

Plus, Ray shares the latest updates from Put Tools in Schools, including the mission to connect students with hands-on learning, skilled trades, critical thinking, and career opportunities.

Topics include: • Mental health and children's well-being • Family time and the pressures of youth sports • Nutrition and environmental factors • Brain health and cognition • Integrative and functional medicine • Chronic illness and overall wellness • Healthcare, insurance and accessibility • Longevity and healthy aging • Finding purpose, vitality and happiness • Put Tools in Schools and opportunities for students

About Your House is hosted by Ray Terry and focuses on homes, remodeling, the skilled trades, education, health, community and the issues affecting Charlotte-area families.

Subscribe and join us every Tuesday for more conversations from About Your House and Put Tools in Schools.

On this episode of About Your House with Ray Terry, Ray sits down with Matt Schwartz of Lighthouse Legacy Advisors for a wide-ranging conversation about financial literacy, life skills, education, the trades, and helping young people build a stronger future.

Ray and Matt discuss why financial education should start early, how young people can better understand money and prepare for the future, and why learning practical skills can be just as important as traditional classroom education.

The conversation also explores foster care and adoption, mentoring, career exposure, and how programs like Put Tools in Schools can give young people opportunities they may never have been exposed to before.

Ray also talks about the importance of teaching kids practical skills like reading a tape measure, critical thinking, craftsmanship, and understanding career pathways in the skilled trades.

The goal is simple: give students the tools, knowledge, mentorship and opportunities they need to succeed.

📌 Topics include: • Financial literacy and planning for the future • Teaching kids about money and financial responsibility • Foster care, adoption and mentoring • Life skills and career education • Skilled trades and career pathways • Reading a tape measure and practical mathematics • Critical thinking and hands-on learning • Put Tools in Schools • Supporting students and connecting industry with education • Building stronger communities through collaboration

ABOUT YOUR HOUSE WITH RAY TERRY A weekly conversation about homes, remodeling, the skilled trades, education, life skills and the people working to make our communities better.

PUT TOOLS IN SCHOOLS Learn more, get involved, volunteer or support the mission of connecting students with tools, trades and career opportunities.

Subscribe to the channel and follow along as Ray Terry continues working to connect students, professionals and the community.

#AboutYourHouse #PutToolsInSchools #RayTerry #FinancialLiteracy #SkilledTrades #LifeSkills #CareerEducation #Trades #Education #Mentorship #FosterCare #Adoption #FinancialPlanning #CharlotteNC

On this episode of About Your House with Ray Terry, Ray takes a hard look at the current state of the skilled trades and why hands-on education is more important than ever.

Ray discusses the growing skills gap, the importance of knowing how to read a tape measure, blueprint reading, small-engine repair, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work and other essential trade skills that are becoming harder to find.

The conversation also focuses on the mission behind Put Tools in Schools and the need to reconnect students with hands-on learning, tools and real-world career opportunities. Ray shares updates on the organization, including the addition of David Richardson as Executive Director, upcoming career days and efforts to bring industry professionals into schools and the classroom.

The episode also explores the future of About Your House as the show transitions further into podcasting, expands its digital presence and begins developing more conversations directly with students, teachers and professionals in the trades.

🔨 Topics covered: • The current skilled-trades shortage • Why reading a tape measure still matters • Blueprint reading and hands-on education • Small-engine repair and disappearing trades • The importance of teaching kids how to use tools • The aging trades workforce • Career opportunities in the skilled trades • Put Tools in Schools updates • Upcoming trades career days • David Richardson joining Put Tools in Schools • The future of About Your House and podcasting • Why industry and education need to work together

Learn more and support Put Tools in Schools: Put Tools in Schools is working to connect students with tools, trades education and career pathways while helping address the growing skilled-labor shortage.

Subscribe to About Your House and Put Tools in Schools for more conversations about homes, trades, education and the future of the skilled workforce.

#AboutYourHouse #PutToolsInSchools #SkilledTrades #TradesEducation #TradeCareers #CharlotteNC #RayTerry #VocationalEducation #HandsOnLearning #SkilledTradesShortage

In this episode of About Your House with Ray Terry, Ray sits down with Sam of Accents Painting CLT to talk about his journey through the skilled trades — from remodeling and working in a lumber yard to building a career in painting and eventually becoming a part owner of a painting company.

Sam shares how communication, customer service, construction knowledge, and hands-on experience helped shape his career and ultimately led him to entrepreneurship. The conversation also dives into what separates quality professional painting from rushed work, the importance of proper surface preparation, primers and paint, and why experience across multiple trades can make such a difference in home improvement.

Ray and Sam also discuss the broader mission of Put Tools in Schools and the importance of exposing students to hands-on careers, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and alternative pathways beyond a traditional four-year college degree.

The episode explores the growing shortage of skilled workers, the importance of craftsmanship and quality, and how learning a trade can create opportunities to build a career — and eventually become your own boss.

Topics include:

• Sam's journey into the skilled trades
• Remodeling and construction experience
• Building a career through hands-on experience
• Painting industry insights
• Surface preparation and proper painting techniques
• Quality craftsmanship
• Customer service and communication
• Entrepreneurship and business ownership
• Skilled trades career opportunities
• The labor shortage
• Put Tools in Schools
• Connecting students with real-world career pathways
• Why hands-on education matters

Learn more about Put Tools in Schools and help connect students with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to succeed.

Summer heat brings more than high temperatures—it brings hidden home maintenance issues that every homeowner should know about.

In this episode of About Your House with Ray Terry, Ray shares practical advice to help homeowners prepare for the hottest months of the year. Learn why clogged HVAC condensate drains can cause expensive water damage, how attic ventilation and insulation affect your energy bills, and why crawlspace moisture becomes a major issue during humid weather.

Ray also discusses lightning protection, common construction quality concerns found in newer homes, and why skilled trades education through Put Tools in Schools remains more important than ever. Plus, he shares simple preventative maintenance tips that can save homeowners thousands of dollars while improving comfort and efficiency.

Topics Covered:

• Summer HVAC maintenance
• Condensate drain cleaning and prevention
• Preventing water damage from air conditioning systems
• Attic ventilation and attic tents
• Encapsulated attics and crawlspaces
• Humidity control and energy efficiency
• Whole-home surge protection for lightning storms
• Construction quality concerns in newer homes
• Critical thinking in the skilled trades
• The importance of Put Tools in Schools
• Preventative home maintenance tips

Whether you're a homeowner, contractor, or simply want to protect your investment, this episode is packed with practical advice to keep your home running efficiently throughout the summer.

Listen to more episodes of About Your House with Ray Terry for trusted home improvement advice, construction education, and homeowner tips.

Summer in the Carolinas brings heat, humidity, afternoon storms, and hidden home maintenance issues that can become expensive if ignored. In this episode of About Your House, Ray Terry shares practical advice every homeowner should know before the hottest months arrive.

Ray explains why condensate drains are one of the most overlooked parts of an HVAC system, how attic ventilation and insulation affect energy bills, why crawlspace moisture can damage your home, and what to watch for during summer thunderstorms. He also discusses encapsulated attics, lightning protection, HVAC service upselling, and simple maintenance steps that can save homeowners thousands of dollars.

Beyond home maintenance, Ray shares a real-world example of solving a difficult installation challenge through experience and critical thinking, leading into a larger conversation about declining construction quality and why rebuilding the skilled trades pipeline through Put Tools in Schools is more important than ever.

In this episode:

• Summer HVAC maintenance tips
• Why condensate drains clog and how to prevent water damage
• Understanding humidity and home comfort
• Attic ventilation and attic tents explained
• Encapsulated attics vs. traditional ventilation
• Crawlspace moisture and duct condensation
• Common HVAC repair upsells homeowners should know about
• Lightning protection for your home
• Summer storm preparation
• Construction quality concerns
• Why skilled trades education matters
• Put Tools in Schools mission

Whether you're a homeowner, contractor, or simply looking to better understand how your home works, this episode offers practical advice that can help improve comfort, reduce energy costs, and avoid expensive repairs.

Learn more about Put Tools in Schools and the skilled trades movement by visiting: https://puttoolsinschools.org

Summer heat brings more than uncomfortable temperatures—it can also lead to expensive home repairs if you're not prepared.

In this episode of About Your House with Ray Terry, Ray discusses essential summer homeowner maintenance, including how your air conditioning system removes humidity, why condensate drains clog, attic ventilation, crawlspace moisture problems, and practical ways to improve your home's energy efficiency before the hottest months arrive.

Ray also shares a real-world example of solving a difficult vent hood installation using experience and critical thinking, highlighting why craftsmanship and skilled trades education are becoming increasingly important. The conversation expands into the growing concerns surrounding construction quality, fear-driven media, and the importance of teaching practical problem-solving through the Put Tools in Schools initiative.

In this episode:

• Summer HVAC maintenance tips
• Why condensate drains clog
• Preventing costly water damage
• Attic ventilation and attic tents explained
• Encapsulated attics and energy savings
• Crawlspace moisture and humidity problems
• Air leaks that increase cooling costs
• Common HVAC repair upsells homeowners should understand
• Lightning protection and whole-home surge protection
• Construction quality concerns in modern homes
• Critical thinking in the skilled trades
• Fear, social media, and maintaining perspective
• The mission behind Put Tools in Schools

Whether you're a homeowner looking to lower your energy bills or someone passionate about skilled trades and home construction, this episode offers practical advice that can save money and prevent future headaches.

Summer is here, and that means heat, humidity, afternoon storms, and potential home maintenance headaches.

In this episode of About Your House, Ray Terry shares practical advice every homeowner should know before temperatures climb even higher. From preventing expensive HVAC failures to reducing energy bills and avoiding moisture problems, this episode is packed with real-world tips backed by decades of hands-on experience.

Ray also discusses why critical thinking and craftsmanship matter in today's construction industry, shares a real-life service call that demonstrates the importance of trade skills, and explains how the mission of Put Tools in Schools continues to address the growing skilled trades shortage.

Topics include:

• Summer HVAC maintenance • How condensate drains work—and why homeowners should inspect them • Preventing costly water damage from clogged AC drains • Crawlspace humidity and moisture control • Attic ventilation and attic tents • Spray foam attic encapsulation • Lowering cooling costs during hot weather • Lightning protection and whole-house surge protection • Afternoon thunderstorms and summer weather preparation • Construction quality and critical thinking in the skilled trades • Why Put Tools in Schools is helping inspire the next generation of tradespeople

Whether you're a homeowner looking to save money, improve comfort, or prevent expensive repairs, this episode offers practical advice you can use right away.

Learn more about Put Tools in Schools and helping connect students with careers in the skilled trades.

Subscribe for more homeowner tips, construction education, and skilled trades conversations from About Your House with Ray Terry.

Summer in the Carolinas brings heat, humidity, afternoon storms, and hidden home maintenance problems that every homeowner should understand.

In this episode of About Your House, host Ray Terry discusses practical ways to protect your home during the hottest months of the year while saving money on energy costs and avoiding expensive repairs.

Topics include:

• How your air conditioning system removes humidity from your home • Why condensate drain maintenance is one of the most overlooked homeowner responsibilities • Preventing water damage from clogged HVAC drains • Attic ventilation and why attic temperatures affect comfort and energy bills • How attic tents improve energy efficiency • Encapsulated attics and spray foam insulation explained • Crawlspace moisture, duct condensation, and humidity control • Summer thunderstorms and whole-home surge protection • Common HVAC upselling tactics homeowners should understand • Construction quality concerns in today's homes • Why critical thinking and skilled trades education matter more than ever • The mission behind Put Tools in Schools and rebuilding craftsmanship

Ray also shares real-world examples from recent home service calls, explaining how experience, craftsmanship, and critical thinking solve problems that shortcuts often cannot.

Whether you're a homeowner looking to reduce energy costs, prevent costly repairs, or better understand how your home works, this episode is packed with practical advice you can use today.

Learn more about Put Tools in Schools and the skilled trades movement by following the About Your House podcast and supporting the next generation of craftsmen.

The future of America depends on the next generation of skilled trades professionals—and it starts in our schools.

In this episode of About Your House with Ray Terry, the conversation shifts to Put Tools in Schools, a growing movement dedicated to reconnecting students with the skilled trades and showing young people that rewarding careers exist beyond the traditional four-year college path.

Ray Terry and his guest discuss the growing labor shortage, why craftsmanship and critical thinking matter more than ever, and how communities, businesses, educators, and parents can work together to inspire the next generation of electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, carpenters, welders, mechanics, and other skilled professionals.

They also explore mentorship, hands-on education, workforce development, career pathways, and the importance of restoring pride in the trades while giving students opportunities to discover their talents early.

If you've ever wondered why it's becoming harder to find qualified tradespeople—or what we can do to change that—this conversation is for you.

Learn more about Put Tools in Schools: https://puttoolsinschools.org

About Your House with Ray Terry combines decades of construction expertise with practical homeowner advice while championing the future of skilled trades education through Put Tools in Schools.

#PutToolsInSchools #AboutYourHouse #RayTerry #SkilledTrades #TradesEducation #Construction #WorkforceDevelopment #CareerPaths #BlueCollar #TradeSchool #CriticalThinking #HomeImprovement #CharlotteNC