What if a sewing machine could change someone’s life?

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa sits down with Margaret Jankowski, founder and director of The Sewing Machine Project, a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit celebrating 20 years of impact.

Margaret shares the powerful story that sparked the organization after the 2004 tsunami, how thousands of donated sewing machines have been distributed across the country, and how sewing builds more than skills — it builds confidence, income, creativity, and community.

From refugee resettlement programs to women’s shelters and local library mending events, this episode highlights how one simple tool can create connection and opportunity.

Learn how you can donate, volunteer, or get involved at thesewingmachineproject.org.

All Comfort Services is an employee owned heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical company in Madison Wisconsin with community minded vision.

What really happens to everything we flush, rinse, and wash down the drain?

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone podcast, Theresa from All Comfort Services talks with Kathy Lake, Pollution Prevention Manager at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, about how everyday household habits impact our wastewater system and the health of our local lakes and rivers.

From “flushable” wipes and pet waste to water softeners, road salt, and personal care products, Kathy explains what wastewater treatment plants can handle, why salt is one of the biggest challenges they face, and why pollution prevention is far more effective than expensive treatment after the fact.

You’ll learn:

• What should never go down your drains or toilets

• How salt from water softeners and roads affects freshwater

• Why small changes by homeowners and businesses matter

• Simple steps you can take today to help protect Wisconsin’s water

A practical, eye-opening conversation for anyone who uses water, which is all of us.

All Comfort Services

Wisconsin’s fresh water is one of our most valuable resources—and everyday choices inside our homes play a bigger role in protecting it than many of us realize.

On this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, host Theresa sits down with Katherine Harris, Pollution Prevention Specialist at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, to talk about salt reduction and the surprising impact water softeners have on our lakes, rivers, and drinking water.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why water softeners are the largest source of salt entering local waterways

• How to tell if your softener is using too much salt

• Simple DIY ways to test where softened water is used in your home

• Why toilets and outdoor faucets don’t need softened water

• What blending valves are and how they improve efficiency

• How small changes at home can make an immediate environmental impact

This practical, hopeful conversation shows how homeowners, plumbers, and communities can work together to protect Wisconsin’s fresh water—one small change at a time.

🔗 Helpful LinksMadison Metropolitan Sewerage District: https://www.madsewer.orgWisconsin SaltWise: https://www.wisaltwise.comAll Comfort Services: https://www.allcomfortservices.com

🎙️ Home Comfort Zone is hosted by Theresa, Marketing Manager at All Comfort Services.

Salt is a normal part of winter in Wisconsin—but it doesn’t just disappear when the snow melts.

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, host Theresa sits down with Allison Madison, Program Manager at Wisconsin Salt Wise, to talk about how salt pollution impacts drinking water, human health, and freshwater ecosystems across the state.

Allison explains how road salt and water softeners contribute to rising sodium and chloride levels, why that matters for people on low-sodium diets, and how increased salt can cause other contaminants—like manganese, arsenic, and radium—to enter drinking water. They also discuss the effects on lakes, fish, and algae, and share real-world solutions that communities are using to dramatically reduce salt use while keeping roads safe.

You’ll learn:

• Why nearly 40% of Wisconsin public wells exceed recommended sodium levels

• How salt affects lakes, fish, and water quality

• The role water softeners play in salt pollution

• What municipalities are doing differently to reduce salt use

• Practical steps homeowners can take to make a difference

🎧 Learn more about Wisconsin SaltWise: https://wisaltwise.com

🌊 Learn more about All Comfort Services: https://www.allcomfortservices.com

What does it really mean to “buy local” in 2025? In this episode of the All Comfort Services Home Comfort Zone, host Theresa sits down with Meghan Stern, Interim Executive Director of Dane Buy Local, to unpack how the organization has evolved from a “shop local” campaign into a purpose-driven connector for locally owned businesses across Dane County Wisconsin and beyond.

You’ll hear how Dane Buy Local helps members make meaningful connections with decision-makers, supports workforce and trades initiatives, and tackles big-picture “systems work” like strengthening local food infrastructure (including cold storage solutions) and expanding access to shared resources. Meghan also shares practical ways consumers and business owners can get involved—and why telling your story about great local service matters more than you think.

In this episode, host Theresa sits down with Lisa Reihl, Director of Brand Strategy at AprilAire, to explore what really goes into creating healthy indoor air. From whole-home filtration and humidity control to fresh air ventilation, Lisa explains the surprising truth about indoor air quality and what homeowners can do to improve it.

Listeners will learn:
• How AprilAire’s history shaped modern IAQ solutions
• The difference between MERV 16 and MERV 13 filtration
• Why the 40–60% humidity range is considered healthiest
• Why today’s tightly built homes need ventilation
• Key questions to ask your HVAC contractor

🔗All Comfort Services

🔗 AprilAire

Making holiday giving more accessible, connected, and community-driven.

In this episode of The Home Comfort Zone, Theresa interviews Hannah Stowell, Director of Corporate & Community Engagement at United Way of Dane County, to break down how Toys for Tots truly works behind the scenes—and how it has evolved to better serve families across the county.

Hannah shares how United Way partners with the U.S. Marine Corps, school districts, nonprofits, and over 1,000 volunteers to ensure kids ages 0–14 receive meaningful gifts during the holidays. No long drives. No long lines. Just community, connection, and care.

🎁 You’ll learn:

• How the Toys for Tots partnership began in Dane County

• Why accessibility and trusted community partners make a huge difference

• What gifts are most needed—especially for ages 9–14

• How local schools and nonprofits help identify families in need

• Ways to support the program through donations or volunteering

If you’d like to donate toys, drop them off at All Comfort Services or find one of 100+ drop-off sites across Dane County.
🎁 Toy drop-off: At All Comfort Services at 5245 Voges Road, Madison, Wisconsin or more than 100 locations across Dane County. 🔗http://www.allcomfortservices.com

🧸 Amazon wishlist: Available at 🔗 http://www.unitedwayofdanecounty.org

🙋‍♀️ Volunteer opportunities: 🔗 http://www.volunteertime.org

Together, we can make the holidays brighter for local families. ❤️

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone podcast, Theresa sits down with Kristi GoForth, Executive Director of Bikes for Kids Wisconsin, for a powerful conversation about bikes, transportation equity, and the life-changing impact of a simple bicycle.

Kristi shares:

• Why she says to skip the training wheels and start kids on balance bikes

• How Bikes for Kids Wisconsin grew from a seasonal bike giveaway to a statewide transportation equity nonprofit

• The emotional story of a young girl from Honduras getting her first bike in Madison

• How donated bikes are collected, refurbished, and matched with people facing financial instability

• The real costs behind giving away a safe, high-quality bike (and why parts like grips and tubes matter so much)

• Creative ways they source parts and bikes, from community donations to circular economy partnerships

• The organization’s dream of building a permanent warehouse and educational center on a bike path

You’ll also hear how public schools, nonprofits, tribes, and job centers can apply for bikes, and how families, kids, and volunteers of all ages can get involved.

🔧 Learn more, donate, or apply for bikes: http://www.bikesforkidswi.org
📍 Madison-based, serving communities throughout Wisconsin

Hosted by Theresa, Marketing Manager at All Comfort Services. http://www.allcomfortservices.com

Transformational coach and yoga teacher Zach Ketterhagen joins Teresa on the Home Comfort Zone Podcast to talk about mindfulness, stress, and how we can all “come home” to ourselves — no matter what life throws our way.

Learn how breath, awareness, and simple mindfulness practices can help you feel more grounded, whether you’re dealing with a home repair, workplace stress, or just a busy day.

🌐 Learn more about Zach: ZachKetterhagen.com

🎧 Presented by All Comfort Services — heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, and sewer & drain experts serving Madison, Wisconsin

#HomeComfortZone #Mindfulness #MadisonWI #Breathwork #AllComfortServices

In this episode of the Home Comfort Zone Podcast, Theresa from All Comfort Services sits down with Ben Stanger, founder of Green Box Compost, to talk about turning food waste into a local sustainability success story.

Since launching in 2022, Green Box Compost has diverted more than 2.4 million pounds of food scraps from Dane County landfills—transforming waste into nutrient-rich compost that supports gardens, schools, and community projects.

Ben shares how the company started from scratch, the science behind composting everything from fruit peels to bones, and how homeowners and businesses can join the movement toward a more sustainable future.

👉 Learn more or sign up at withgreenbox.com