In this episode, allergist Dr. Nikhila Schroeder, founder of Allergenity Health, joins the podcast to discuss sublingual immunotherapy as a standalone treatment for food allergies.

As the second installment in our SLIT series, this conversation moves beyond introductory discussions and into a broader vision of what SLIT can offer. Dr. Schroeder shares how sublingual immunotherapy may provide meaningful protection, improved quality of life, and a lower intensity pathway for families who may not be pursuing higher-dose oral immunotherapy.

We explore:

• How SLIT works and how it differs from OIT
• Expanding SLIT beyond its traditional framing
• Which patients may benefit most from this approach
• The importance of aligning treatment with family goals

This episode is part of a larger season exploring immunotherapy options in allergy care, highlighting both the promise and the complexity of an expanding treatment landscape.

Every family's experience with food allergy treatment is different and hearing those lived experiences can be just as valuable as knowing the research and hearing from the experts.

This week's episode welcomes back food allergy Mom and advocate Sarah Hornung, who was first featured in Episode 11. Sarah is back for this season on immunotherapy to share what it was like to guide all three of her children through oral immunotherapy for multiple foods.

Our conversation explores the realities of treatment from a parent's perspective: the challenges, the unexpected moments, the lessons learned, and how each child's journey unfolded in its own unique way.

If you're considering immunotherapy or supporting families who are, we hope this conversation offers both practical insight and reassurance that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment experience.

In this episode, Dr. Kara Wada, known online as The Immune Confident MD, joins the podcast to discuss immune complexity from both the physician and patient perspective. Dr. Wada is a board-certified allergist, immunologist, lifestyle medicine physician, food allergy mom, and Sjogren's patient.

Living with Sjögren’s disease and dysautonomia herself, Dr. Wada shares how personal experience reshaped her approach to allergy and autoimmune care. We explore the intersection of conventional and integrative medicine, the emotional realities of navigating chronic illness, and the importance of compassionate, patient-centered care.

We also discuss intra-lymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT), a lesser-known but evidence-based allergy treatment that differs from traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy. Dr. Wada explains how ILIT works, who it may be appropriate for, and why it remains less widely available despite promising research.

This episode expands the conversation around immune health and personalized treatment pathways.

In this episode, Dr. Brian Vickery of Emory University joins the podcast to discuss biologics in food allergy treatment.

As research advances, biologics are emerging as both standalone therapies and adjuncts to other treatments such as oral immunotherapy. Dr. Vickery explains how these medications work, what they are designed to target within the immune system, and how they may shift the risk-benefit landscape for certain patients.

We also briefly discuss PEACH, a quality of life measurement tool developed to better assess the real-world impact of food allergy on families.

This episode continues our season-long exploration of evolving treatment options, with a focus on clear, balanced information to support informed decision-making.

All Episodes

Amanda Whitehouse

Season: 8

Episode: 85

How Sublingual Immunotherapy Can Increase Safety and Freedom, With Dr. Allison Freeman

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All allergy families are familiar with strict avoidance and emergency preparedness, and some have heard of oral immunotherapy (OIT). But fewer know about sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and how it may fit into a long term treatment plan.

In this episode, I sit down with allergist Dr. Allison Freeman to explore what SLIT is, how it works, and when it may be a good option for both environmental and food allergies.

Dr. Freeman is a board certified allergist and immunologist practicing in Richmond, Virginia. She has extensive experience helping patients pursue personalized immunotherapy strategies.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Christopher Parrish, a triple board-certified allergist and immunologist who leads Latitude Food Allergy Care’s Orange County clinic and has been involved in groundbreaking clinical research in both food allergy and EoE.

Dr. Parrish previously served as faculty at UT Southwestern Medical Center and helped lead a multidisciplinary program dedicated to eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. His work has contributed to clinical trials that ultimately led to the first FDA-approved therapies for food allergy and EoE.

In our conversation, Dr. Parrish explains:

• What EoE actually is

• Why it comes up so often in conversations about immunotherapy

• What families and patients often misunderstand about the condition

• How EoE is diagnosed and treated

• How patients and clinicians think through these risks when considering immunotherapy

This episode is designed to help patients, parents, and clinicians better understand the science and the decision-making around EoE and food allergy treatment.

Food allergy research is constantly evolving, but what do these studies actually mean for families making treatment decisions?

In this episode of Don't Feed the Fear, I welcome Dr. Lianne Soller Allergy Research Manager at BC Children's Hospital in Canada to help us make sense of the evidence behind food allergy immunotherapy and where the field is headed. Together, we explore some of Dr. Soller and her team's most important research findings, including what we've learned about treatment outcomes, quality of life, safety, and factors that may influence success.

Rather than focusing on headlines or individual studies in isolation, this conversation highlights why becoming curious about food allergy research can help families feel more informed and confident as they navigate treatment decisions. Dr. Soller also shares insights into how research questions are developed, why evidence continues to evolve, and how families can thoughtfully interpret new findings without becoming overwhelmed.

Research helps us ask better questions, but every family's decision is still deeply personal. My hope is that this conversation helps you see the value of research-informed decisions.

Every family approaches food allergy treatment differently, and that's exactly as it should be.

In this episode, psychologist and food allergy mom I sit down with Ina Chung, creator of @TheAsianAllergyMom to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of treatment decisions: giving yourself permission to choose the path that aligns with your family's goals, values, and season of life.

Together we discuss:

•  Why more treatment options can sometimes create more pressure 

•  Raising confident, thoughtful children with food allergies 

•  Helping kids become part of the decision-making process 

•  The importance of knowing your family's goals before choosing a treatment 

•  Why "not right now" can be a thoughtful decision 

•  Building confidence instead of comparison 

In this episode, UK allergist Prof. Adam Fox joins us to explore the emotional and psychsocial layers of oral immunotherapy.

Dr. Fox shares how he approaches difficult conversations with honesty and compassion, including addressing guilt about management decisions and understanding risk and side effects during treatment.  Dr. Fox gives us important insights and emotional validation regarding the connection between stress and allergic reactions, including how the brain, gut, and immune system interact during treatment.

This conversation expands the discussion beyond protocols and data and into the lived emotional experience of navigating food allergy treatment.

This month, the tables are turned.

In this special episode, psychologist, food allergy mom, and friend Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins joins the podcast as guest host to interview me about my new book, From Fear to Freedom: A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy.

We discuss the personal and professional experiences that inspired the book, the challenges families face when considering treatment options, and why food allergy treatment decisions are about so much more than medicine alone.

Our conversation explores the role of anxiety, uncertainty, values, family dynamics, and nervous system responses in treatment decision-making. We also discuss common misconceptions about food allergy treatments, what families often struggle with most, and why there is no single "right" path for every patient.

This episode offers an honest look at the questions, fears, hopes, and possibilities that shaped both the book and the conversations it hopes to support.

Available now:
Amazon: https://a.co/d/06s0n6ac

We covered what oral immunotherapy (OIT) is last week.

This week? We’re talking about what it’s not.

Dr. Tom Chacko joins me to bust common myths about oral immunotherapy and answer the questions families ask in his clinic and on social media every day.

Dr. Chacko gives us his honest and direct perspective on:

-When not pursuing OIT could be a missed opportunity or even a disservice to a patient
-How other treatment options compare to OIT 
-Why we should be mindful of where messages come from and who benefits

If allergy treatment options feel overwhelming right now, this episode will help you sort through the noise.

In this episode, we begin a deep dive into specific food allergy immunotherapy treatments with a conversation about (OIT).

Dr. Doug Jones, one of the early pioneers of OIT in the United States, joins us to discuss how it looks in real clinical practice, and how to think about risk, predictability, and control in food allergy management.

As treatment options expand, patients and clinicians alike are navigating increased complexity. This conversation offers a grounded, evidence-based framework for thinking through OIT and shared decision-making. Dr. Jones acknowledges the psychological impact of allergy trauma and management, and helps us to understand the difference between accidental exposure risk and structured treatment risk

This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed by treatment decisions and wanting a clearer framework for thinking about OIT.

In this solo episode, I’m wrapping up an incredibly meaningful awareness month by taking you behind the scenes of the advocacy events, conferences, legislation, research, and community moments that left me feeling hopeful about the future of food allergies and chronic illness care.

From the Food Allergy Fund Summit in New York City, to advocacy days in Washington DC and Albany, this episode explores the intersection of mental health, medical advocacy, innovation, storytelling, and policy change across the food allergy, celiac, asthma, eosinophilic disease, and alpha-gal communities.

I also share personal reflections from traveling with loved ones, bringing my son to advocacy events, and witnessing children and teens become the next generation of leaders in this space, as well as the challenging emotions of acknowledging the tragic losses our advocacy honors.

This episode is both a recap and a reminder:
 progress is happening because people continue to care, speak up, and advocate together.

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by filmmaker and advocate Mandi Kearns of Just Like You Films to discuss the upcoming food allergy docudrama, May Contain: My Life.

This conversation explores not only the making of the film, but the emotional realities behind it: parenting through food allergies, navigating fear and resilience, sibling experiences, emergency situations, advocacy, and the ways these experiences continue to live in our nervous systems long after reactions are over.

One of the things I appreciated most about this film is that it does not portray individuals with. food allergies as fragile or broken. Instead, it honestly captures the complexity of living with food allergies while still centering resilience, identity, connection, humor, and humanity.

This is an incredibly meaningful conversation for food allergy parents, adult patients, providers, advocates, and anyone wanting to better understand the lived experience of this community

In this special Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month episode, psychologist and food allergy advocate Manda Rene sits down with Kenny Mendez, President and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), for a conversation about advocacy, policy change, and the future of support for the allergy and asthma community.

Together, they discuss the emotional and practical realities families face while navigating food allergies and asthma, the importance of community-driven advocacy, and the work AAFA has done to support meaningful legislative change, including California’s groundbreaking restaurant allergen labeling law, The ADDE Law.

Kenny also shares insight into stock epinephrine laws, how advocacy efforts move through legislation, and why community involvement matters more than people often realize.

This episode offers both hope and practical perspective for parents, patients, clinicians, and advocates looking to better understand how systemic change happens.

FPIES (Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome) is a type of food allergy that often goes unrecognized, leaving families confused, dismissed, and searching for answers.

In this episode, I’m joined by iFPIES founder Fallon Schultz, MSW, LCSW, to explore both the clinical and lived experience of FPIES. Fallon shares her personal story, the challenges of navigating a diagnosis that doesn’t fit the typical food allergy mold, and how that journey led her to create a vital resource for families.

We discuss what FPIES is, how it differs from IgE-mediated food allergies, the different types and presentations, and why more families may be encountering FPIES in the context of early food introduction guidelines.

We also talk about the social/emotional impact of navigating unpredictable reactions, and the importance of community, validation, and trauma-informed support.

Whether you’re a parent, provider, or advocate, this episode offers both clarity and compassion for a frequently misunderstood condition.

Connect with iFPIES at
fpies.org
@ifpies

Environmental allergies can significantly impact daily life, from chronic congestion and itchy eyes to sleep disruption and reduced quality of life. If daily medications aren't enough, there are longer-term treatment options available.

In this episode, pediatric allergist Dr. Manisha Relan joins us to break down two forms of allergen immunotherapy: SCIT (allergy shots) and SLIT (sublingual tablets or drops). We discuss how they work, who is a good candidate, the time commitment involved, safety considerations, and how patients and families can approach the decision thoughtfully.

My second guest for this special podcast season guiding listeners through the immunotherapy process welcomes back Dr. David Stukus, Director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and  President-Elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

Dr. Stukus shares his clinical approach to preparing patients for food allergy immunotherapy, including the role of diagnostic testing, oral food challenges, and threshold challenges in clarifying treatment decisions. The discussion also addresses the mental preparation required for immunotherapy, common fears and hesitations families experience, and what realistic benefits patients can expect during and "after" treatment.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• What medical tests and food challenges may be recommended and why

• How allergists assess readiness for immunotherapy

• The common “bumps in the road” during treatment

• What happens once maintenance is reached

• And how to think about long-term outcomes when treatment is considered “done”

This episode offers practical, evidence-based guidance for families seeking clarity before beginning food allergy treatment.

We are living in an exciting time in food allergy medicine with multiple treatment options to choose some and likely more on the way soon. But more options can also mean more overwhelm. I've invited some of the world's foremost experts in allergy to join me for this exciting season guiding us through these choices and decisions to lead us from overwhelm to confidence.

In this episode, Dr. Shahzad Mustafa joins us to talk about how shared decision making helps families make treatment decisions without panic or pressure. Dr. Mustafa gives us an overview of our options and explains how he guides patients through their decisions using a collaborative, values-based approach that balances medical evidence, risk tolerance, and individual goals. This conversation is about partnership, clarifying goals and needs, and making medical decisions through an informed and individualized lens.

This season we are discussing options in food allergies. This week's episode begins a deep dive into one of the most complex and emotional parts of living with food allergies: treatment options.

With more treatment options available than ever before, patients and families are facing decisions that are both hopeful and overwhelming. These choices are not just medical. They are deeply emotional, shaped by past experiences, anxiety, trauma, and the realities of individual characteristics and daily life.

In this solo episode, I share:

• Why more choices can sometimes make decisions harder 

• The psychological side of treatment decisions that often gets overlooked 

• What anxiety and past reactions can bring into the process 

• Our personal journey through multiple allergy treatments, including the challenges, pivots, unexpected outcomes, and my most treasured moments and surprises

I’m also sharing a big announcement about something I've created to take the work from this season even deeper for those making decisions or navigating treatment.

Whether you are considering treatment, currently in it, or choosing not to pursue it, this episode will help you feel less alone and more confident in your path.