My Allergist Dad

My Allergist Dad
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Weekly

My Allergist Dad is the show where comedian Drew Zwetchkenbaum teams up with his real-life father - board-certified allergist and immunologist Dr. Z - to break down the mysteries of allergies . Every week they answer real questions from listeners and from Dr. Z’s own patients, mixing expert answers with father–son banter, jokes, and the occasional family story. New episodes every Monday!

  1. 3d ago

    Did She Cure Her Shellfish Allergy?? Exercise, Histamine & Bad Shrimp! ft. Lauren Bans

    On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and Rhode Island allergist Dr. Z welcome comedy writer Lauren Bans to discuss a severe reaction she had in college after eating shrimp with lobster sauce and then going straight to the gym, where she developed itchy eyes, breathing trouble, and red blotches and was treated at urgent care. Lauren avoided shellfish for a year or two, later had mild symptoms at a Providence clambake, then gradually resumed eating shellfish and now can eat shrimp or lobster without issues. Dr. Z explains this pattern may not be true desensitization and could reflect a non-IgE “allergic-like” histamine reaction influenced by factors like preservatives/MSG, food sitting out, alcohol, exercise, hormones, and overall tolerance, and he emphasizes testing and that epinephrine is first-line treatment for severe reactions. 00:00 Comedy and Shrimp Setup 01:04 Meet Drew and Dr Z 01:17 Introducing Lauren Bans 02:17 Al Forno Family Lore 05:07 The PF Changs Reaction 07:19 Clambake Self Testing 08:10 Dad Breaks Down Desensitization 11:09 Histamine and Pseudo Allergies 15:08 Exercise Alcohol and Hormones 18:12 PF vs PJ Changs Jokes 19:21 Is Allergy Always Constant 19:33 Tests vs History 20:15 Drug Allergy Logic 20:58 Tolerance and Tipping Points 24:20 Reaction Risk and EpiPens 26:39 Family Allergies and Microbiome 31:44 Testing Anxiety and Mindset 33:19 Alpha Gal and IBS Clues 36:09 Eating Out Safely 37:51 Wrap Up and Epinephrine 40:11 Medical Disclaimer

  2. Oct 12

    Nose Breathing, Mouth Taping & Better Asthma Symptoms (reviewing Breath by James Nestor)

    This week on My Allergist Dad, Drew and Dr. Z discuss key takeaways from James Nestor’s book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, prompted by listener Richard Kowal’s question about nose breathing, asthma/allergies, and mouth taping during sleep. Dr. Z explains that many patients who feel they “can’t take a full breath” may be dealing with nasal congestion and upper-airway issues rather than lung problems, and why nasal breathing—humidifying and filtering air via the turbinates—can improve comfort and help asthma symptoms.  They talk about how chronic mouth breathing can affect teeth and facial structure, why severe nasal blockage can feel suffocating, and Dr. Z’s own experience trying mouth taping at night (including practical downsides). They also touch on breathing techniques, sleep quality, anxiety around shortness of breath, and how better breathing can improve overall function. 00:00 Breath Power Teaser 00:37 Show Intro and Hosts 00:52 Listener Question Setup 01:43 Book Overview and Nose Focus 03:14 Mouth Taping Experiment 07:28 Nasal Congestion vs Asthma 10:53 How the Nose Works 12:50 Breathwork and Whole Body Health 15:20 Athletes Musicians and Breath 19:02 Breathing Anxiety and Patient Stories 20:33 Wrap Up and Book Recommendation 21:14 Final Thoughts and Disclaimer

  3. Oct 5

    Fall Allergy Gameplan: Preparing for Ragweed, Mold Spores, Dust Mites & Leaf Piles (with Dr. Z)

    Drew and his dad, allergist Dr. Z, discuss what really drives fall allergy symptoms and how to prepare. Dr. Z explains that while fall weeds like ragweed, mugwort, and pigweed typically run from mid-August to the first frost, warmer weather can extend symptoms, and many people who think they’re reacting to pollen are actually reacting to outdoor mold spores—especially on dry, windy days after rain, in leaf piles, hayrides, and around pumpkins.  He also highlights how high humidity increases dust mites and indoor mold, especially when people stop running AC, and notes that mold can feed dust mites. Tips include identifying triggers with testing, pre-treating with non-sedating antihistamines before exposure, wearing a mask for raking/cleaning, reducing indoor humidity below 50% with dehumidifiers, having floors rather than carpet, and considering desensitization drops. 00:00 Leaf Pile Mold Warning 00:27 Fall Allergies Kickoff 01:43 Why Fall Feels Worse 02:33 Ragweed Season Explained 04:11 Outdoor Mold Spores 06:52 Humidity And Dust Mites 08:44 Leaves Pets And Indoors 09:42 Prevention And Treatment Tips 11:36 Home Controls And Cleaning 14:35 Moldy Food Reactions 15:49 Petrichor Vs Mold Smell 18:00 Ticks And Seasonal Wrapup 20:31 Final Takeaways And Signoff

  4. Sep 28

    How Oral Health Is Connected to the Immune System with My Dentist Uncle Dr. Sam Z!

    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 affect palate development and orthodontic needs, and how asthma and allergy medications (including inhaled steroids and drying drugs) can increase cavity risk by reducing saliva.  Sam explains fluoride’s role in protecting teeth, highlights findings from Medicaid claims showing kids on asthma medications needed more restorative care and extractions, and stresses brushing, flossing, rinsing after inhalers, healthier snacks, and consistent dental checkups—especially for older adults on multiple drying medications. 00:00 Dentistry Meets Allergies 00:40 Meet Dr Sam Z 01:41 The Dr Z Name 03:20 Oral Gut Microbiome 04:08 No Brushing Experiment 06:21 Allergies Change Mouth 07:31 Palate Growth Explained 10:05 Diet And Jaw Evolution 12:29 Meds Dry Mouth Risks 14:59 Fluoride Basics Debate 16:39 How Fluoride Works 17:31 Acid Sugar And Bacteria 18:31 Baking Soda Toothpaste 19:19 Sensodyne Family Stories 20:00 Fluoride Microbiome Debate 20:24 Inflammation And Oral Health 21:39 Flossing Diabetes Connection 22:24 Dog Teeth And Whole Body 24:12 Dry Mouth Med Side Effects 26:30 Dental Chair Allergy Myths 30:55 Metals Crowns Biocompatibility 32:18 Burning Mouth Syndrome 34:54 Asthma Meds Teeth Dominoes 38:28 Snack Swaps For Cavities 40:13 System Gaps And Messaging 43:13 Final Takeaways And Disclaimer

  5. Sep 21

    Wildfire Smoke, Asthma & Air Pollution: What Actually Helps (Masks, HEPA, Meds & More)

    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 problems, even in people whose asthma has been “in remission.” Key strategies include reducing exposure by staying indoors, sealing windows and doors, using air conditioning and HEPA purifiers, wearing an N95 or P100 respirator outside, limiting strenuous outdoor activity, and washing off residual particulates. Dr. Z emphasizes taking asthma medications consistently—particularly inhaled steroids (including budesonide/formoterol like Symbicort per GINA guidance)—and notes that recovery depends on limiting ongoing exposure, contrasting it with the cumulative damage from daily smoking.00:00 Wildfire Smoke Episode01:33 Dad’s Smoke Story02:47 Wildfire vs Cigarettes07:25 Pollution Ozone Double Hit10:00 Reduce Exposure Basics11:23 Asthma Meds During Smoke14:47 Asthma Can Return16:08 Why Fires Feel Worse Now24:21 Clean Air Policy Talk28:37 Practical Symptom Relief29:32 Wrap Up and Call In📩 Have a question for the show?Email: myallergistdad@gmail.com

  6. Sep 14

    MicroRNAs, COPD, and Lung Disease: How Tiny Regulators May Drive Chronic Inflammation (with Chris Dalldorf)

    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 microRNAs regulate gene expression by silencing messenger RNAs.  Chris explains that smoking can strongly alter microRNA expression, that certain microRNAs (including microRNA-29) and mutations may be associated with COPD and IPF, and that proving causation in human disease is difficult. They also discuss extracellular matrix genes as potential drivers of fibrosis and how microRNA regulation of these genes could point toward future therapeutic approaches. 00:00 Meet Chris Dalldorf 00:26 Show Intro Theme 00:43 Providence Catch Up 02:41 Why Rhode Island 03:36 MicroRNA Basics 05:47 COPD Versus Asthma 11:40 Why Study COPD 13:24 Smoking And MicroRNA 14:42 Inflammation Parallels 19:37 Causation And Controls 24:09 Animal Models And Data 28:08 Machine Learning Role 32:41 Extracellular Matrix 33:34 Wrap Up And Disclaimer 📩 Have a question for the show?Email: myallergistdad@gmail.com

  7. Sep 7

    9 in 10 Babies Are Missing Key Gut Bacteria featuring Researcher and CEO Dr. Stephanie Culler

    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 risk for atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and asthma. They discuss how the microbiome develops from birth through early childhood, how factors like C-sections, antibiotics, and diet shape it, and why breast milk HMOs support Bifidobacterium. Culler describes Persephone’s infant/toddler synbiotic combining Bifidobacterium with HMOs, its safety, and parent- and clinician-reported improvements including sleep and mood, plus broader links between microbiome, inflammation, and immune function.00:00 Shocking Baby Biome Data00:39 Welcome And Guest Intro04:49 Microbiome Basics And Timing08:28 Allergy Desensitization Parallels11:39 Beyond Gut Skin And Airways14:32 Immune Programming First 100 Days15:27 Gut Brain And Behavior Links19:21 Diet Fiber And Lifestyle Synergy22:07 Safety And Modern Microbe Loss23:39 Founder Story From Cancer To Babies28:12 New Mom Moment And Missing Bifido29:30 Reflux Colic And EOE Questions35:06 Root Causes And Public Health40:40 Generational Shifts And Food Additives41:49 Product Details Discount And Wrap Up43:44 Final Takeaways And Disclaimer

  8. Aug 31

    Dr. Z’s Research Trial For a Breakthrough Cat Allergy Shot and Tryptase Testing

    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 reaction during anesthesia induction for a hernia repair, including severe bronchospasm and hypotension, and how timely tryptase testing helped support that it was true anaphylaxis rather than medication side effects. Dr. Z explains baseline vs reaction tryptase levels, the mast cell activation formula, and why tryptase must be drawn within 2–3 hours, then shares that the patient is being referred to Brigham’s Drug Hypersensitivity and Desensitization Center to test likely triggers such as neuromuscular blocking agents and cefazolin (Ancef). 00:00 Cold Open Breakthrough00:34 Show Intro Theme00:51 Meet Drew and Dr Z01:14 Diet Restrictions Dinner02:34 Anesthesia Anaphylaxis Case06:17 Tryptase Test Explained09:33 Referral and Key Triggers12:35 Haircut Tangent and Shoutout14:40 Cat Allergy Shot Trial20:36 How Blocking Antibodies Work25:46 Timing Shots and Future Uses27:05 Wrap Up and Disclaimer📩 Have a question for the show?Email: myallergistdad@gmail.com

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out of 5
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About

My Allergist Dad is the show where comedian Drew Zwetchkenbaum teams up with his real-life father - board-certified allergist and immunologist Dr. Z - to break down the mysteries of allergies . Every week they answer real questions from listeners and from Dr. Z’s own patients, mixing expert answers with father–son banter, jokes, and the occasional family story. New episodes every Monday!

Information

  • Creator
    My Allergist Dad
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © My Allergist Dad
  • Show Website
    My Allergist Dad

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