Listen up: A roundup of the best building science podasts
By June Donenfeld
Building science podcasts are a terrific way to increase your knowledge of all facets of this seemingly bottomless subject, whether you’re a newbie or have already ventured deep in the weeds before. Whether tuning in during dinner prep, on the road in your car, or out on a walk, you’ll hear thought-provoking information and opinions that will open your eyes and stimulate your mind. These are some of the best building science podcasts around, with an enormous range of topics and styles. Choose some sample episodes based on your own interests and try them on for size.
The Building Science Podcast
Over the 155 episodes hosted since 2015, Kristof Irwin, principal of Austin-based Positive Energy engineering firm, has explored building science and human-centered design with top-notch experts from around the world. Recent episodes have included subjects as varied as hydronics, windows and systems thinking, with the common thread being how to create healthier, more comfortable and resilient indoor environments whose systems help, as they say, move society forward and away from fossil fuels.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify or their website.
The BS+Beer Show
While not strictly a podcast, this monthly one-hour online show uses a discussion group/panelist format to spread knowledge and building community, live and via YouTube video or audio. Hosts from architecture, building and design, including Green & Healthy Maine HOMES advisors architect Emily Mottram and designer Michael Maines, engage with guest experts who present on a broad range of topics, from the importance of interior lighting to indoor air quality. The show is currently unavailable on regular podcast platforms, but you can listen to past episodes via YouTube audio and sign up for their live shows on their website.
(Note: The show differs from the 50 BS+Beer chapters across the country, where people gather in person to talk shop or delve into building science).
UnBuild It
Don’t let the casual banter of the hosts fool you: Peter Yost, Jake Bruton and Steven Baczek are nationally recognized industry leaders in building science, construction and architecture. At 143 half hour episodes and counting, the UnBuild It team separates the wheat from the chaff in building technology, materials, business and more. Yost also provides additional resources on the website following the summary of each episode.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Listen Notes, Podchaser, Spotify, YouTube or their website.
Green Architects’ Lounge
Maine architects Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan share their experience, knowledge, music preferences and cocktail recipes in this twice-monthly relaxed and engaging show that offers a wealth of information useful to homeowners, builders and designers alike. Both Briley and Kaplan are principals at their respective Portland firms, BRIBURN and Kaplan Thompson Architects. Past topics include best practices in ventilation, offsite construction, wildfire resilience and using building specs to ensure desired outcomes.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Simplecast and Spotify.
E3: Energy & Efficiency with Emily
A monthly interview show focusing on building science, architecture and female entrepreneurship, E3 is now in its eighth season. Host Emily Mottram, a Maine custom residential architect and an advisor to Green & Healthy Maine HOMES, discusses how to build integrated, energy-efficient homes that are also comfortable, durable and healthy to live in. Past episodes have included discussions of homeowner experiences, new high performance materials and the legal aspects of running your own business.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Pandora and Spotify.
Passive House Podcast
The show is a weekly production of the Passive House Accelerator, a catalyst for zero-carbon building that brings together experts and thought leaders to share innovations and ideas in Passive House design and construction. Hosts interview leaders, practitioners and changemakers in the global Passive House movement—including passivhausMAINE founder and executive director Naomi Beal. Past topics include ecological building systems, decarbonizing domestic hot water and reimagining retrofits.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and their website.
This Must Be The Place: The Building Science Podcast
Shawna Henderson hosts this hour-long show that focuses on net zero building, energy retrofits, and building performance, with an eye to improving housing, reducing energy use and challenging the industry status quo. Henderson is the founder of Blue House Energy, a Canadian training company specializing in professional development in building science and construction technology.
Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The Build Show Podcast
Each week, host Matt Risinger, a nationally recognized expert in building science and high performance construction, talks with his guests about best practices, business and what he calls “epic fails (and how to avoid them)”. Sample topics include flashing, window performance and insulation. Risinger gained fame as host of The Build Show on YouTube, where you can pick among the more than 200 videos he’s made so far.
Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The Building Performance Podcast
Since 2009, this show has been educating its listeners by drawing on the expertise of professionals in the high performance building industry, including engineers, policy makers, architects and builders. Corbett Lunsford (sometimes joined by his wife, Grace) tackle a vast array of topics, such as improving bedroom air quality for better sleep, the microbiology of homes, and affordable home development for buyers and builders. The Lunsfords are also the hosts and co-creators of the television series Home Diagnostics, as well as trainers and consultants on the science of homes.
Available on Apple Podcasts or their website.
BUILDTank/buildCAST
Robby Schwarz hosts buildCAST, the bimonthly show that’s an offshoot of BUILDTank, Inc., the Colorado-based pragmatic building think tank he founded to use building science solutions to effect change in the construction industry. During hour-long interviews, he elicits guests’ stories so they can be catalysts of change in the mainstream building world. Recent guests include a designer-builder, an insulation specialist and an architect and educator who works to “democratize sustainability” in housing, by building and training in “ways that others can learn from, adapt and build upon.”
Available on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser and Spotify.
This article appeared in the Spring 2026 edition of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES. Subscribe today!
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