We recently connected with Kelsie Overacre and have shared our conversation below.
Kelsie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
I hope to build a legacy that empowers individuals and families to live healthier, safer, and more fulfilling lives. After I’m gone, I would love for people to say that I made a difference by helping them navigate some of the toughest challenges they faced—whether that was health struggles from toxic mold exposure, the stress of navigating unsafe living environments, or simply feeling empowered to take control of their well-being.
The legacy I am working toward is one rooted in service and empowerment. My journey has been shaped by personal hardship, especially the devastating impact of toxic mold on my family’s health. This experience has ignited my drive to build a business around mold detection canines to help families identify hidden mold early and protect their homes. I want to be remembered for giving families the tools and peace of mind they need to safeguard their health and the health of their loved ones, especially when it comes to something as invisible and harmful as mold.
In addition to this, I hope to be remembered for the creative work I’ve done through photography, social media management, and content creation. I believe in the power of storytelling to connect people and raise awareness, and I want my work to have contributed to positive change in people’s lives—whether through inspiring them to take action in their health, or simply sharing stories that resonate on a deeper level.
Finally, I am currently completing my certification as a wellness and fitness coach, which will allow me to support individuals in rebuilding their health and resilience. I hope to leave behind a legacy of holistic empowerment—one that combines practical solutions with emotional and mental wellness. I want people to remember me for my unwavering commitment to helping others regain control of their lives, rebuild after hardship, and live in environments that support both their physical and emotional well-being.
Above all, I hope to be remembered for my dedication to making the world a better place—whether through the businesses I’ve built or the relationships I’ve nurtured. My hope is that I will have inspired others to take action in their own lives, to fight for their health and well-being, and to never stop striving for a better, safer future.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Kelsie Overacre, and I’m a mother, educator, photographer, and entrepreneur with a deep commitment to empowering individuals and families to lead healthier, safer lives. My path into the businesses I currently run wasn’t linear—it’s been shaped by personal experiences, a lot of resilience, and a desire to help others navigate the very challenges I’ve faced.
In 2021, my family bought our first home in Virginia Beach, dreaming of a fresh start. Unfortunately, that dream quickly turned into a nightmare when we discovered toxic mold in our home, which led to serious health problems for my daughter and me. This experience changed the course of my life. It made me realize just how many families are unknowingly living in unsafe environments, and how difficult it can be to get proper detection and remediation for mold. I decided to use my own struggles as the catalyst for change, and I am in the process of launching a mold detection canine business. Through this venture, I aim to provide families with affordable, accurate, and accessible mold detection services, helping them identify toxic mold early, before it causes irreversible damage to their health and homes.
In addition to this new business, I am also a photographer, social media manager, and content creator. I help businesses and individuals tell their stories through visual content and strategic social media management, creating authentic connections and building strong brands. Whether it’s professional photography, creative campaigns, or content marketing, I specialize in using storytelling to amplify the voices of my clients and raise awareness around issues that matter, such as mold exposure and wellness.
Furthermore, I am currently completing my certification as a wellness and fitness coach. As I work toward this certification, my goal is to help individuals reclaim their health and resilience, especially after facing environmental stressors like mold exposure. I offer personalized coaching to help people build strength, improve their mental wellness, and find balance in their lives.
The problems I solve are deeply personal, but they resonate with many. My work is centered around holistic wellness—helping people live in environments that support their physical and emotional well-being. By offering mold detection services, wellness coaching, and creative services, I am able to provide a comprehensive approach to health that doesn’t just focus on physical fitness, but also on creating safe, nurturing environments and fostering emotional resilience.
What sets me apart is that I combine all of these passions and skills into a single, integrated mission. I’m not just offering a service; I’m offering a lifeline. Whether it’s helping families find mold before it impacts their health, helping businesses tell their stories, or coaching individuals through the process of healing and reclaiming their wellness, I approach each of my services with empathy and a genuine desire to make a difference.
What I am most proud of is the work I’m doing now, where all of these passions come together to make a real impact. I’m proud to be building a business that provides families with the tools they need to live safely, and I’m proud to be pursuing my wellness coaching certification to better support individuals on their journey toward health. But perhaps most of all, I’m proud of the resilience I’ve developed, both personally and professionally, in the face of adversity.
To potential clients, followers, and fans, I want you to know that I am deeply committed to making a positive change in your life. My brand is built on trust, empowerment, and a holistic approach to well-being. Whether you’re looking to protect your family from the hidden dangers of mold, need help creating content that speaks to your audience, or are seeking guidance on how to improve your health and wellness, I’m here to support you. I don’t just offer services; I offer solutions to real-life problems and a path to a healthier, more balanced life.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the moments that truly illustrates my resilience happened shortly after we discovered the toxic mold in our new home in Virginia Beach. It was April 2021, and my family had just moved into what we thought was our dream home. My husband, my newborn daughter, and I were excited about the fresh start, but things quickly took a turn for the worse.
After we began noticing health issues, particularly severe respiratory problems and unexplained fatigue, we realized that something was wrong with our home. It took months of testing, doctor visits, and countless sleepless nights before we got the devastating news: the mold that had been hidden beneath the flooring was not only extensive but toxic, affecting my daughter and me in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
At the time, I was a teacher and had just started to explore my passion for photography and content creation. I had dreams of building a new career, of doing something creative and impactful, but suddenly, I was faced with a mountain of medical appointments, financial strain, and a sinking feeling that everything I had worked for was slipping away. I had to leave my teaching career due to my declining health, and the photography business I was trying to grow felt like a distant dream. The mold contaminated nearly everything we owned, and our insurance didn’t cover the extensive damage, so we had to sell the house for much less than we paid for it. We lost almost all of our belongings, our health was deteriorating, and our future felt uncertain.
But in that moment of devastation, I made a conscious decision—not to give up, but to find a way to use this hardship to create something meaningful. It wasn’t easy. There were days when it felt like the weight of everything was too much to bear, but I kept pushing forward, not for myself alone, but for my family and for other families who were unknowingly living in homes that could be affecting their health in ways they didn’t even realize. I started researching mold detection, particularly using canine teams, and became inspired by the accuracy and effectiveness of this approach. I knew that if I could make it accessible to families like mine—families who didn’t have the resources to afford expensive detection services—I could make a real difference.
The resilience I discovered within myself during this time wasn’t just about surviving; it was about transforming a painful experience into an opportunity to help others. My journey led me to launch a business that provides mold detection canine services, something I’m incredibly passionate about because I know firsthand how devastating mold exposure can be. I’m also continuing to build on my skills as a photographer and content creator, and I’m pursuing my certification as a wellness coach to help others rebuild their lives, just as I’ve had to rebuild mine.
It hasn’t been easy, and there are still days where the weight of it all feels overwhelming, but I know that resilience isn’t about never facing challenges—it’s about refusing to let those challenges define your future. Through this journey, I’ve learned that no matter how difficult things get, there’s always a way to keep moving forward, and I’m committed to making the most of every opportunity to help others find their way too.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the most powerful lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that success always follows a linear path. For most of my life, I believed that if you worked hard enough, followed the rules, and stayed focused, you would naturally reach your goals in a predictable and straightforward way. I followed this mindset throughout my career as a teacher and later, in my pursuit of photography. I always believed that dedication and planning would eventually lead to success.
However, the discovery of toxic mold in our home in 2021 completely shattered that belief. I had spent years building a stable career and a loving home for my family, only to watch it all unravel. The financial burden of medical bills, home repairs, and the emotional toll of watching my daughter and I suffer from mold exposure left me feeling like everything I had worked for was lost. It was as though everything I had done to build a “successful” life was suddenly irrelevant.
In the aftermath, I realized I had to unlearn the notion that success is linear. Life is unpredictable, and things often don’t unfold the way you expect—no matter how much you plan or work toward a particular outcome. For a while, I was caught in the belief that setbacks were failures. But I slowly learned that the true measure of success isn’t about avoiding setbacks; it’s about how you respond to them, how you adapt, and how you use your challenges as fuel for growth.
When I decided to start my mold detection canine business, it was a step into uncharted territory. I had no formal experience in the field, and the process of learning everything from the ground up felt overwhelming. But what I had to remind myself was that this journey wasn’t going to be linear either. It was going to be messy, filled with trial and error, and full of unexpected challenges. And that was okay.
I also had to unlearn the fear of uncertainty. Instead of sticking to what I knew and playing it safe, I chose to lean into the unknown and embrace the uncertainty that comes with starting a new venture. The result has been something I never expected: a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of what true success means. It’s not about following a set, predictable path. It’s about taking bold risks, learning along the way, and being willing to pivot when life takes you in an unexpected direction.
Ultimately, what I learned—and continue to learn—is that resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty are often more important than a perfect plan. Success isn’t about avoiding failure or staying on a single course. It’s about persevering in the face of the unknown and having the courage to move forward, no matter what obstacles lie ahead.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @_kelsie_shae_, @kelsie_shae_photography, @_rootedinfaithandwellness_, @coastalcaninemolddetection
