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This 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 that led to her passing. Portia now feels ready to share the full story in order to inform and protect the food allergy community.

This episode is a quiet conversation with powerful resonance. Portia's courage in sharing her story invites empathy and fosters awareness that intimacy with food allergies can have life-and-death consequences.

Trigger Warning:
This episode contains detailed discussion of the events leading to the tragic death of a child due to an allergic reaction triggered by a kiss. This description may be distressing—please listen with care and consider skipping if you're experiencing the loss of a loved one or have young children present. This episode may be best processed with supportive company.

Please know that we did not share this conversation in order to shock or ignite fear in the food allergy community. Instead, we feel this is important information for young people and parents to understand in order to grasp the reality of the potential risks of kissing with food allergies.

Portia has generously made herself available to any questions/discussions that the audience may have. Please be respectful and considerate of the family's loss in any comments shared with her directly or on social media.

You can follow Charlotte's legacy here:
About | Live Like Charlotte
@livelikechar

You can follow Portia's grief journey on social media @iamportiabarton

Thank you again to Portia for sharing this important story. 💙

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

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It 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.

Elijah-Alavi Foundation | Non-profit
The Anaphylaxis Strike! a book by Arevlis Sa-Moht and Thomas Silvera - Bookshop.org US

Reach out to me via my website Connect — Amanda Whitehouse Phd or on Instagram @thefoodallergypsychologist to be entered in the giveaway of Thomas' new book, The Anaphylaxis Strike.

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

In Part 2 of our series on dating and intimacy with food allergies, food allergy memoirist 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, intimacy, and emotional well-being in the context of food allergies. These subjects may not be suitable for young children. Listener discretion is advised.

Join us as we consider:

• Emotional challenges and worries about dating with food allergies
• The importance of teaching consent and boundaries from a young age
• Strategies for effective communication about allergies in relationships
• Parental guidance on building children's confidence and preparedness

This episode aims to empower individuals with food allergies to navigate their personal relationships confidently and safely. Whether you're navigating these experiences yourself or guiding your child through them, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice.

To support this discussion, Dr. Whitehouse has created a free handout summarizing the key takeaways from this two-part series. Listeners can request this resource by contacting her through Instagram at @thefoodallergypsychologist or through her website: Connect — Amanda Whitehouse Phd.

You can find Sloane Miller at www.allergicgirl.com and buy her books here: Bookshop.org US including Allergic Girl Guide to Dating a book by Sloane Miller - Bookshop.org US

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

In 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 proactive planning to prevent allergic reactions during intimate moments.

Please note: This episode contains discussions on mature topics, including dating, intimacy, and emotional well-being in the context of food allergies. These subjects may not be suitable for young children. Listener discretion is advised.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into:

• The science behind allergen persistence in saliva and its implications for physical intimacy.
• Practical steps to minimize the risk of allergic reactions during close contact.
• Strategies for discussing food allergies with partners to foster understanding and safety.
• Examples of ways to talk about this with children beginning at a young age.

To support this discussion, Dr. Whitehouse has created a free handout summarizing the key takeaways from this two-part series. Listeners can request this resource by contacting her through Instagram at @thefoodallergypsychologist or through her website: Connect — Amanda Whitehouse Phd.

This episode aims to empower individuals with food allergies to navigate their personal relationships confidently and safely.

Dr. Sicherer and colleagues' 2006 study: Peanut allergen exposure through saliva: Assessment and interventions to reduce exposure - ScienceDirect

Sloane Miller: www.allergicgirl.com

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

Season 4: I Don't Want to Talk About Politics

In 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 pause for now, what’s at stake for students with food allergies and other medical needs, and how the outcome could shape school-based accommodations across the country.

3 Action Steps You Can Take After Listening:

1. Stay informed by revisiting our previous episode with Laurel, where we took a deeper dive into the legal rights of students with food allergies and explained key laws like the ADA and 504 in more detail.
   https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371319/episodes/15860506
   Blog — The Allergy Lawyer
2. Follow COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates), who are working tirelessly to protect the rights of students and families.
   Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.
3. Share your story and celebrate the importance of 504 with FAACT
   Accommodations - Celebrate Section 504 - Celebrate Section 504 | FAACT

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

In 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 epinephrine. You’ll hear about the incredible impact they’re making, including:

• Creating life-saving food allergy and anaphylaxis curriculum for students of all ages
• Partnering with first responders to provide epinephrine training in schools, restaurants, and communities
• Supplying stock epinephrine free of charge to schools and organizations ready to take action

Their story is one of grief transformed into service—a call to all of us to learn, act, and help build a world where children with food allergies are safer, more supported, and never forgotten.

Tune in to honor Allison’s legacy and be inspired to take action, because Food Allergy Awareness isn't just about celebration and education, it's about saving lives.

Home - Allison Rose Foundation
@allisonrosefoundation

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

Season 4: I Don't Want to Talk About It
In 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, heartfelt conversation about what it means to carry both the clinical knowledge and the lived reality of food allergy parenting.

Some of this episode's many highlights:

• Role playing to educate our children
• Dr. Gupta's sneaky way of making sure her daughter was reading food labels carefully
• Her daughter's allergic reaction at a recent family event
• Gaining and losing allergies during/after pregnancy
• Different approaches of food allergy Moms/Dads and why both are useful
• The positive impact of food allergies on our kids' development

Links from this episode:

• @drruchigupta_
• @cfaarnu
• CFAAR Home Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research: Feinberg School of Medicine
• 2025 CFAAR FOOD ALLERGY SUMMIT Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research: Feinberg School of Medicine

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com

Send us a text

Season 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 lack of support for this bill from FARE, our largest national advocacy organization… this conversation couldn’t be more timely or more important.

We talk about what it’s like to be connected to the food allergy community through advocacy. What it’s like to be so close to change — and still feel resistance. What it’s like to keep going and turn that resistance into more momentum.

And why clear, consistent allergen labeling in restaurants is not just possible — but urgently needed.

👂 Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about legislation, transparency, and what it means when our community leads from within.

✨ This episode is a reminder that sometimes the hardest conversations…
are the ones that move us forward the most.

When you're done listening, please take action via the links below:
addie tells all | food allergy
SB 68: Major food allergens. | Digital Democracy

Contact FARE and let them know we want their support for this bill, and the amendments they promised are needed ASAP: Contact Us - FoodAllergy.org

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
-welcome@dramandawhitehouse.com