Shows
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaMia Silverman on Choosing a Vibrant Life with AllergiesSend us a textIn this episode, Dr. Whitehouse is joined by an inspiring young adult living with multiple food allergies, Mia Silverman. Mia shares her journey of navigating the world with confidence, resilience, and clarity. Together, they discuss what it really looks like to say “yes” to life, while still taking precautions and honoring the realities of her medical needs.From dealing with bullying to building meaningful friendships and dating with food allergies, to tackling food challenges and managing the emotional ups and downs along the way, this episode is packed with practical insights and...2025-07-2946 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaOne Year of Don't Feed the Fear: Birthday EpisodeSend us a textIn this special birthday episode of Don’t Feed the Fear, I’m pausing to reflect on a whirlwind year, both personally and professionally. I answer some of the questions I get most often, including what inspired the name of the podcast, what I’ve learned through a year of growth, grief, and gratitude, and how nervous system work continues to shape everything from allergy management to parenting to healing. As we continue to discuss the choices that we do have in managing allergies well, I share how I use the Safe an...2025-07-2323 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaBuilding Bravery: Tackling Allergy Anxiety with Dr. Katherine DahlsgaardSend us a textIn this week's chat about choices, psychologist/researcher Dr. Katharine Dahlsgaard and your host Dr. Whitehouse explore what we can do about the emotional side of food allergies, exploring when everyday anxiety crosses the line into specific phobia and how to address it. Dr. Dahlsgaard walks us through her research demonstrating that exposure therapy, including the proximity challenges, like smelling or being close to an allergen, to help recalibrate fear responses.We discuss balancing safety with bravery through the healing lens of being “safe enough,” address the overlap of food allergies with...2025-07-1545 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaCreating a Healthy Food Foundation with Children's Dietitian Lucy UptonSend us a textIn this episode, host Dr. Whitehouse welcomes dietitian-author Lucy Upton @childrensdietitian to explore developing healthy relationships with food. Topics discussed include:Nervous system–informed eating strategiesSafe and science-backed early allergen introductionThe gut-brain-axis, vagus nerve, and mental health connection Medicalization of food and how to combat itLucy's "3 Fs" for encouraging balanced eating habits in childrenWhether you're already navigating food allergies, trying to prevent them for your little ones, or simply aim to feed your family with more calm and confidence, this encouraging conversation offers science-based guidance and practical tools....2025-07-0853 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaIlana Golant & the Food Allergy Fund: Turning Donations into DiscoveriesSend us a textIn this World Allergy Week episode, I'm joined by Ilana Golant, Founder and CEO of the Food Allergy Fund. She exposes the significant gap between the prevalence of food allergies and the amount of research dollars devoted to this. Ilana shares how the FAF is stepping into this gap, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to research on prevention, treatment, and eventual cures. She reports on the most exciting findings from this year's FAF Summit. We discuss:How a mother's love became a catalyst for global changeThe f...2025-07-0251 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaHow to Talk to Children About Food Allergies and DeathSend us a textThis challenging and important episode concludes our spring season, "I Don't Want to Talk About It." We tackle one of the most difficult questions food-allergic families may face: “Could I die from my food allergy?” Though we hesitate to bring it up, kids often overhear scary headlines, which there have been far too many of recently. When they ask, avoiding the topic or lying can erode trust and leave them unanchored.I share why considering your responses ahead of time is important, give insight into how to recognize that the t...2025-06-2641 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaFood Allergies and Kissing Part 3: Charlotte's StorySend us a textThis episode is the third in a series of recent discussions about Food Allergies and Intimacy. I encourage you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 to provide the medical background and social/emotional context for this episode.In this deeply touching conversation, I sit down with Portia Barton, whose tween daughter Charlotte tragically died in 2022 from a mysterious allergic reaction. While she shared part of the story at the time, understandably some details remained unclear as the family processed and mourned their child's death, and gathered information trying to understand the events...2025-06-1734 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaFather’s Day Tribute with Thomas Silvera of the Elijah-Alavi FoundationSend us a textIt was an honor to record this Father's Day and Men's Mental Health month episode with Thomas Silvera, co-founder of the Elijah‑Alavi Foundation. In this discussion, Thomas revisits the tragic passing of his 3-year-old son, Elijah, due to a fatal allergic reaction at daycare, and explore how that loss sparked a nationwide advocacy movement. He shares the Foundation's progress with Elijah's Law, and also speaks candidly about being a food allergy Dad, his own mental health journey, racial and socioeconomic inequity in food allergy and asthma, and what we can do about it...2025-06-1055 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaFood Allergies, Dating, and Intimacy with Sloane Miller, Part 2Send us a textIn Part 2 of our series on dating and intimacy with food allergies, author and mental health professional Sloane Miller joins me to explore the emotional and social dimensions of navigating relationships while managing food allergies.We delve into the complexities of identity, self-trust, communication, and vulnerability that individuals with food allergies may encounter in romantic contexts. Our conversation also focuses on how parents can proactively prepare their children for these experiences through early empowerment, fostering resilience and self-advocacy.Please note: This episode contains discussions on mature topics, including dating...2025-06-0348 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaFood Allergies, Dating, and Intimacy with Dr. Scott Sicherer and Sloane Miller, Part 1Send us a textIn this insightful episode of Don't Feed the Fear, researcher/physician Dr. Scott Sicherer and author/food allergy coach Sloane Miller join Dr. Amanda Whitehouse for a panel discussion focusing on the complexities of dating and physical intimacy for individuals with food allergies.The group discusses evidence-based guidelines for kissing and physical intimacy when managing food allergies. Dr. Sicherer shares findings from his research and provides practical advice for patients. The discussion includes common concerns and questions voiced within the allergy community, emphasizing the importance of open communication with partners and...2025-05-2754 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaThe Legal Landscape of Food Allergy Accommodations with Laurel FrancoeurSend us a textSeason 4: I Don't Want to Talk About PoliticsIn this important episode, we’re joined once again by legal advocate and friend of the show, Laurel Francoeur, to unpack the Texas v. Becerra lawsuit—a case brought by 17 states challenging how the federal government enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This law is crucial for ensuring students with disabilities, including those with food allergies, receive the medical support and accommodations they need at school.Francoeur helps us make sense of the current legal landscape, including why this lawsuit is on p...2025-05-2033 min
THE NORTHERN PODCAST (NAS STUDIO)Will the Courts Let Trump End Birthright Citizenship?May is supposed to be the calm before June’s opinion storm in SCOTUS-land, but not in Trump’s America. Melissa, Kate, and Leah kick off the show with the latest news, including Stephen Miller’s habeas suspension fantasies and the president’s blatant disregard of the emoluments clause when it comes to free jumbo jets. Then, the hosts are joined by professor Elora Mukherjee of Columbia Law School to break down last week’s oral arguments in the Court’s blockbuster birthright citizenship case. Hosts’ favorite things:Kate: Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age, Amanda Hess; Harvard Paid $2...2025-05-191h 46
Strict ScrutinyWill the Courts Let Trump End Birthright Citizenship?May is supposed to be the calm before June’s opinion storm in SCOTUS-land, but not in Trump’s America. Melissa, Kate, and Leah kick off the show with the latest news, including Stephen Miller’s habeas suspension fantasies and the president’s blatant disregard of the emoluments clause when it comes to free jumbo jets. Then, the hosts are joined by professor Elora Mukherjee of Columbia Law School to break down last week’s oral arguments in the Court’s blockbuster birthright citizenship case. Hosts’ favorite things:Kate: Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age, Am...2025-05-191h 44
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaRemembering Allison Rose & Saving Lives in Her HonorSend us a textIn this special Food Allergy Awareness Week episode, we sit down with Chief Mike and Becca Suhy, the founders of the Allison Rose Foundation. Their vibrant, fun-loving, caring, and slightly mischievous daughter Allison's life was tragically cut short by anaphylaxis during her first semester at college. Through their heartbreak, the Suhys have created the foundation as a way to continue caring for Allison—working tirelessly to ensure no other family experiences the same unimaginable loss.The Allison Rose Foundation is dedicated to preventing food allergy deaths through education, advocacy, and access to...2025-05-1444 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaMothering Through It: Dr. Ruchi Gupta on Guilt & Grace in Food Allergy ParentingSend us a textSeason 4: I Don't Want to Talk About ItIn this special Mother's Day episode, I'm joined by one of the world's leading allergy researchers — who also happens to be a food allergy mom. While Dr. Ruchi Gupta's professional credentials are impressive, today’s conversation focuses on something even more powerful: her personal experience raising a child with food allergies.We talk openly about the emotional side of this journey — the guilt, the vigilance, the second-guessing — and share some laughter over things that only food allergy moms will truly understand. It’s a candid...2025-05-0756 min
The Doomscroll News ReportSalvadoran prisons, big tech breakups, and a fond farewell to Pope FrancisThis week, we tackle a wide range of topics, starting with the consequences of the WhiteHouse welcoming the self-proclaimed "world's coolest dictator", then the effects of several antitrust suits looking to breakup META and Google, while also taking aim at other tech giants. We wrap up with a short discussion on the passing of Pope Francis, as well as our thoughts on the lists of possible successors. You can read along with us, by looking at the articles we cited for this discussion:
On the White House and Nayib Bukele: "The 'world's coolest dictator' heads to the W...2025-04-2800 min
Don't Feed the Fear: Food Allergy Anxiety & TraumaChanging Menus to Save Lives: Robyn and Addie Lao and CA SB 68 ADDESend us a textSeason 4's theme is "I Don't Want to Talk About It." Today, Robyn and Addie Lao and I are talking about it and we hope you'll do more than listen. We hope you'll take action.Mother-daughter advocates Robyn and Addie are the driving force behind California’s proposed Senate Bill 68 Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE), alongside the bill’s sponsor, Senator Caroline Menjivar.💔 At a time when so many of us in the food allergy community are feeling confused, disappointed, or discouraged by the 2025-04-2234 min