My Allergist Dad

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z are joined by Drew’s uncle, dentist Dr. Sam Zwetchkenbaum (former chief of the oral health program at the Rhode Island Department of Health), to discuss how oral health connects to allergies, asthma, and whole-body inflammation.  They explore how the oral and gut microbiomes influence each other, how mouth breathing from untreated allergies can a...

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z discuss practical ways to prevent and treat symptoms from wildfire smoke inhalation and air pollution, especially for people with asthma and sensitive airways. They explain how fine particulate matter can bypass normal airway defenses, worsen inflammation, and—along with sunlight-driven ground-level ozone—trigger bronchospasm and breathing proble...

Drew and Dr. Z welcome Dr. Chris Dalldorf, a computational biology and bioinformatics researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, to discuss his machine-learning research on chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (or COPD) and related lung diseases using large human lung tissue datasets. They clarify how COPD differs from asthma, why smoking is a major risk factor but not the sole cause, and how m...

Drew and Dr. Z welcome Dr. Stephanie Culler, co-founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences, to discuss the infant gut microbiome and findings from the MyBabyBiome study, the largest U.S. infant gut microbiome study published. Culler explains that 9 in 10 U.S. babies are missing one or more key Bifidobacterium, and that by age two, babies with low or absent levels were three to four times more at ri...

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z discuss a phase 3 trial for severe cat allergy targeting the Fel d 1 allergen with a monoclonal antibody injection lasting about three months, improving ocular symptoms and reducing skin test reactivity, with potential seasonal/targeted use and related work in birch pollen. They also talk about a patient who experienced a life-threatening reactio...

Drew and Dr. Z welcome Drew’s fiancée, Sydney, to discuss her experience living with two autoimmune diseases—Type 1 diabetes since age five and Hashimoto’s since adolescence—and how autoimmune conditions overlap with allergies through inflammation and the immune system. They explore genetic predisposition plus triggers, the importance of taking control of chronic illness through education and dail...

Drew and Dr. Z discuss the 2026 cyclospora outbreak and practical steps to reduce exposure, including washing hands, thoroughly scrubbing produce, cutting away bruised areas, and cooking produce to at least 158°F/70°C since washing alone can’t guarantee removal. They note CDC reports of at least 10,000 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases since May 1, 2026, and talk about how food-system factors li...

This week on My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z sit down with fine art photographer and longtime family friend Lucas Foglia to talk about health, happiness, and how lifestyle and mindset can shape stress, immunity, and overall well-being. Lucas shares the inspiration behind his book and exhibition Constant Bloom, which follows the painted lady butterfly migration from Kenya to Norway as a symbol of...

Drew and Dr. Z welcome Dr. Elizabeth O’Day, CEO, CSO, and founder of Olaris, to discuss how her company combines biology, metabolomics, and machine learning to create diagnostics that support real clinical decision-making. Liz shares how her brother’s childhood cancer experience motivated her to pursue tools that reduce today’s trial-and-error medicine and better match therapies to individuals. Sh...

FARE criticized the show Not Suitable for Work for portraying a character repeatedly eating shellfish despite an allergy and self-injecting epinephrine, then going to the ER for “adrenaline poisoning,” prompting Drew and Dr. Z to discuss how allergies are depicted in film and TV and what’s medically accurate. Dr. Z emphasizes epinephrine as the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis and explains why...

Drew and Dr. Z discuss Alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-bite–associated allergy to non-primate mammal products that can cause delayed reactions, including hives, throat tightness, GI symptoms like diarrhea, and even anaphylaxis hours after eating. They explain that Alpha-gal was once tied mainly to the lone star tick in the South but is now being seen more widely, including Rhode Island, with other tick...

In this follow-up episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z welcome back Abby to share updates on her infant son Joey’s progress with eczema and multiple allergies. Abby describes Joey’s early severe atopic dermatitis, egg-triggered hives, positive tests to dog, pistachio, and cashew, and how a daily routine improved his skin: nightly baths, ceramide baby moisturizer, heavy Crisco layering, and...

Drew and Dr. Z are joined by Dr. Elnaz Firoz, Medical Director of Dermatology at The Miriam Hospital and founder of the Skin of Color Clinic, to discuss the major overlap between dermatology and allergy and why fragmented, multi-specialist care can delay diagnosis. They cover the importance of thorough skin exams, challenges recognizing inflammation and eczema on darker skin, and common issues in...

In this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z welcome gastroenterologist Dr. Alan Epstein to discuss gut health and its relationship to overall health, focusing on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and why it has become more common since the 2000s. Dr. Epstein explains how EoE is diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsy (over 15 eosinophils per high-power field), how it can cause food impactions, and...

This episode of My Allergist Dad explores how mental stress can affect the body, immune system, and allergies. Drew and Dr. Z are joined by Santa Monica psychiatrist Dr. Bryson Lochte, who discusses treating root causes rather than only symptoms, including psychotherapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and tools like meditation and breathwork. Dr. Z describes patients with persistent hives, itchi...

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z talk with Dr. Jonathan Friedlander, Chief Business Officer at Atanis Biotech about FAST-PASE®, a diagnostic test that uses a stable, functional engineered mast cell line to measure whether a patient’s serum actually triggers mast cell activation when exposed to specific allergens. Unlike basophil activation testing that requires fresh whole blood...

Drew and Dr. Z answer a listener question about a nine-year-old with severe seasonal oral allergy syndrome, explaining cross-reactivity between pollens (often birch) and raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts, how cooking can denature allergens, and how immunotherapy (shots or sublingual drops, sometimes seasonal or year-round) and microbiome-focused habits like reducing processed foods and sugar, manag...

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z talk with James White, the CEO of KBMO Diagnostics, about where food sensitivity testing fits in for patients with chronic symptoms that don’t show up on standard IgE allergy tests. James explains KBMO’s patented approach that combines IgG exposure markers with innate immune inflammation markers to reduce false positives and narrow results from d...

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z are joined by Dr. Tapp, Rhode Island’s only board-certified veterinary dermatologist, to explain allergies in pets—focusing on what pets are allergic to and how it differs from humans. Dr. Tapp describes canine atopic dermatitis as a genetic, skin-barrier–driven condition that commonly shows up as paw licking, face rubbing, ear infections, and it...

Drew and his dad, Dr. Z, review the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s tips for reducing seasonal pollen exposure, agreeing they can help but challenging the “avoidance” philosophy that keeps people inside. Dr. Z argues for “treat the cause, defeat the symptom” by improving tolerance through immunotherapy and proactive anti-inflammatory treatment so patients can enjoy spring. H...

Drew and his dad, Dr. Z, discuss why some people get severe-looking mosquito bite reactions while others don’t, explaining that mosquitoes don’t have venom and big welts are often due to a heightened histamine response rather than a true allergy. They compare this to stinging insect venom allergies, emphasizing that bee/wasp anaphylaxis can be life-threatening but is highly treatable with venom im...

Drew and Dr. Z discuss the nine major foods responsible for most allergic reactions in the U.S.—milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame—and use them to explain how food allergy (IgE-mediated) differs from food sensitivity and broader inflammation tied to gut and skin microbiomes. Dr. Z describes eosinophilic esophagitis as a likely food-sensitivity condition th...

Drew and Dr. Z welcome Dr. Mark Charbonneau, a microbiologist and biotech leader at Solaria Bio, to discuss why it’s challenging to beneficially modify the gut microbiome despite major advances in understanding its role in health, immunity, and disease. They explain the microbiome as an ecosystem that influences immune balance between inflammation and tolerance, including regulatory T cells, and h...

Drew and his dad, allergist Dr. Z, explain angioedema as deep tissue swelling that can occur with hives or as part of anaphylaxis, sometimes affecting lips, eyes, tongue, or the airway. They distinguish common, usually non–life-threatening angioedema from the rare but dangerous hereditary/acquired form involving the complement pathway and C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, which can be triggered by...

In this episode, we go beyond the medical advice and get real about the day-to-day reality—from scary first reactions and EpiPen moments to the constant planning around food, school, and social life. Dr. Z is joined by his wife (who’s been through it all) and their daughter, a new mom navigating allergies for the first time. Together, they share honest stories, practical tips, and the emotional si...