July 18, 2024 • 50 mins
In this inspiring episode, I sit down with a remarkable musician and educator Kyle Dine who has turned his personal challenges with food allergies into a powerful platform for awareness and advocacy. Join us as Kyle shares his journey of living with food allergies, from his own struggles in childhood to becoming a confident advocate.
Kyle delves into how and why music became a unique and effective medium to spread awareness about food allergies. He discusses how his songs entertain and educate listeners on the realities of managing food allergies, fostering empathy and understanding.
Listeners will hear firsthand accounts of how Kyle navigated his own food allergy management, developing strategies to build confidence and ensure safety. He even describes what it feels like to use his epinephrine injector, in hopes of reducing fear and increasing trust in the treatment. By sharing his experiences, he hopes to empower others to live fully and fearlessly despite their allergies.
www.kyledine.com
www.equaleats.com
Mentioned by Kyle in this episode:
www.foodallergy.org (FARE)
foodallergycanada.ca
www.jacionline.org
Plan ahead for August's Book Club episode now by reading Big, Brave Voice by Emily Reed:
bookshop.org/p/books/big-brave-voice-advice-for-children-living-with-food-allergies-emily-a-reed/21215362?ean=9798822915657
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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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
Many of the people I work withseek help because they want to
stop doing something that isn'tworking for them.
They might want to stop feelinga certain way, thinking about
something in a certain way oravoiding a certain thing.
But usually the thing that theywant to stop doing is the way
that they're coping at thatpoint in time.
Even if it isn't the healthiestor the ideal way, even if it's
(00:24):
not solving the real problem.
It's something that they'redoing in order to get them
through.
So the starting point isn't totake away the few or the only
coping skills that they haveit's to give them new ones
first.
I want it to follow that samemodel here on the podcast.
And if you know me, my twofavorite coping skills are music
and books.
So I'm happy to let you knowthat with each season of the
(00:46):
podcast, I'm going to try toinclude a book club episode.
In August, we'll be hearing fromEmily Reed, author of big brave
voice, a beautiful picture bookabout her son, George and his
food allergies.
I wanted to let you know aheadof time so you can get the book
and read it and look at it withus together.
As we talk, when we have Emilyon the show.
(01:07):
And today we're going to talkabout how we can use music to
help us through tough things.
I'm so excited to have Kyle dineas my very first guest on the
show to talk about his work,using music, to educate and
empower people with foodallergies, with his school
assemblies and presentations,Kyle has brought his message to
over a million students and hecertainly has reached many more
(01:28):
with his music.
Since childhood Kyle has managedhis own allergies to peanuts,
tree nuts, eggs, seafood, andmustard.
Today.
We'll talk about his music, hisexperiences, growing up with
food allergies and how he doeslife.
Now as an adult still managingmultiple food allergies.
Welcome to the Don't Feed theFear podcast, where we dive into
(01:50):
the complex world of foodallergy anxiety.
I'm your host, Dr.
Amanda Whitehouse, food allergyanxiety psychologist and food
allergy mom.
Whether you're dealing withallergies yourself or supporting
someone who is, join us for anempathetic and informative
journey toward food allergy calmand confidence.
Kyle, thank you so much fortaking the time to sit and chat
(02:12):
with me and to be here on theshow.
As I'm getting this new podcastgoing, I'm so excited to have
you.
I would love to start by havingyou explain to us how you became
a food allergy music educator,and how this all unfolded for
you.
Yeah.
It's, it's a bit of a randompath that I don't think I
really.
planned on when I was a teenagerto get into music.
(02:35):
But, uh, essentially, you know,I grew up with multiple food
allergies, uh, way back when inthe eighties and nineties and,
um, always really liked music.
And when I started working at asummer camp, it all kind of came
together.
There was a lot of kids therethat had food allergies.
And we, we use music as a wayjust to kind of, uh, let it out
and vent and, um, get some toughfeelings out.
(02:58):
And mostly it was fun littlesongs about, you know, how much
we wanted peanuts off the earthand things like this.
But, uh, it started to growinto, into something that was
very cathartic for, for all ofus.
And, uh, one thing led toanother, and these songs kind of
took an educational aspect.
And started to record them,started to go into schools and
(03:18):
do workshops that turned intoassemblies.
And then turned into TheAssembly Guy, where I got to
educate masses of children aboutfood allergies.
In a way that can really helpchildren learn, um, with
repetition in music.
And also just to relate to.
It's not just someone talking atthem, but someone getting them
engaged.
Tapping their foot and makingmemories for them too.
(03:42):
It's no surprise to me that thiskind of came about and the way
that you described, because Ican see you as a camp counselor
sitting around and trying toconnect with these kids.
And this is kind of justunfolding as a natural way to
put them at ease and to relateto them and kind of meet them
where they were at.
Yeah, I, you know, essentially Icreated what I wish was around
(04:03):
when I was a kid.
I wish there was someone thatwould go talk to my buddies and
say, you know, Hey, take thisseriously.
Uh, this, this is what it's allabout.
And your buddies have foodallergies and don't, you know,
take it seriously.
Be a good friend.
Don't share food, wash yourhands.
There's some pretty simplethings that when you have
someone else telling them, uh,it comes across in a different
(04:24):
way.
So essentially it's, it's justgrowing peer support,
understanding and empathy.
Empathy is so important.
So many of our kids are beingpicked on.
I think the statistics are thatabout a third of kids with food
allergies are bullied.
Um, and a lot of parents arepeople working with kids in
schools.
Don't.
I really know how to addressthat.
What have you seen from spendingtime in the schools with the
(04:45):
kids and talking to them?
Oh, it's tough.
Bullying has just been aroundfor so long and it continues to
be prevalent.
But I do think, you know, thatthe root cause of it is
ignorance.
It's just not knowing.
It's knowledge.
So it's, it really is giving theopportunity to kids to learn in
a way that they, um, that worksfor them.
The way that I come intoschools, I really am trying to
(05:07):
approach them on a level where Irespect where they're coming,
coming from with this knowledge,and maybe they have none.
And that's okay.
I'm there to help find wherethey're at and bring them to the
next level.
And usually by the time myassembly is done, which is
really interactive, veryengaging, I just, you know, what
do we know about food allergies?
Who knows somebody with anallergy?
(05:29):
What are the top allergies and Ijust get them talking engaged
and by the end of the assemblyThey're there they're in and
they're really at that pointwhere they're shouting food
allergies rock at the end Butit's that process of just
assuming that Maybe they don'tknow anything and maybe their
food allergy education has justbeen through media and movies
(05:49):
and Terrible depictions ofallergic reactions on TV and
here's a chance to really uplevel them because I think you
know They we all know somebodywith something and sometimes we
just don't know how to deal withit because we just haven't
received the proper info So I'mreally happy just to provide
that opportunity for them.
And you do this all over, right?
This is available for anybodywho wants to have you, you
(06:10):
travel all over.
It's not just local to where youare.
Yeah, geez, I've been doing thissince 2008 going on the road
every year and it's it's been along haul I've been over a
thousand schools now and Ialways say geez If you want it
to happen at your school, I willmake it happen.
Um, so I always tour in May andliterally, um, it's, it's a
(06:30):
different situation for everyschool.
Some it's from the admin down.
The principal really values thiseducation in their school.
They want a fun, engaging way todo it.
Uh, majority of the times it's avery proactive parent from, from
our community, that's getting myinformation from my website, a
brochure and proposing it to thePTA or PTO at a school, getting
(06:51):
the approvals.
And, um, I provide as much infoas possible to help facilitate
that.
And there's resistance sometimesin different spots of that
process, whether it's PTO oradministration.
Um, so I have a lot oftestimonials.
I have a lot of reassurance onmy website that I'm not coming
in saying these are the policiesyou need to put in place, but
(07:12):
it's, you know, reallyreassuring that.
Uh, this is about just growingsupport for whatever policies
that you have in place.
I will double down on them andmake sure that they're
understood and, um, appreciatedand followed through as much as
possible.
It's so hard to imagine thatanyone would have resistance to
you coming in and doing what youdo.
Is that what it's about?
Are they afraid?
You're going to come in and saysomething that makes it hard for
(07:34):
the school to follow through onor provide.
I know, right?
Um, at one point, I had someonewonder if I was, I think the
quote was like, are you like theBob Dylan of food allergy?
Are you going to like push allof this advocacy?
I just push whatever you want meto push, but there's always a
base of understanding andeducation.
(07:55):
Um, so if, if you're trying toget some new policies understood
in your school about, you know,it's a no food policy, it's no
cupcakes for birthdays, I willreiterate those messages, no
problem.
Uh, but I'm not coming in andpushing my politics or anything
like this.
So I think it's resistancebecause it's so new for a lot of
schools.
For some, they're just adoptingtheir first food allergy policy,
(08:17):
and it's never happened before.
And, it's not easy because a lotof policies are from the top
down.
It's admin directed.
My mom was an elementary schoolprincipal.
And that relationship with PTAand parents, there's some things
where, you know, you really needto lay down, this is how it
needs to be.
And then there's some thingswhere, from a ground up
approach, It's really valuableto hear parents out of what is a
(08:41):
safe classroom environment tothem and what policies can
really make their child saferand feel more comfortable.
So there's different dynamicsthere and I appreciate that and
I'm just there to have, youknow, come in and help out with
whatever is settled on in aschool and make sure it's, it's
helped out.
And using music to do this assuch a great way to help bring
(09:01):
down those defenses, not justwith the kids, but with all of
those adults involved too,because music calms the nervous
system that it, the rhythm andthe beat of it.
Um, you know, Activates multipleparts of the brain and the body.
And it gives us thisself-awareness and regulation.
It gets us to remember thingsthat we're trying to help people
learn without trying or forcing,forcing it upon them.
(09:23):
Um, so I think music is just thebest way to integrate this and
to get everyone's defenses downto build that empathy that
you're talking about.
Yeah, it's, it's a differentapproach.
That's for sure.
I think, you know, there's a lotof alternatives out there.
I know, um, you know, health,healthcare nurses will come in
and, and, uh, people in ourcommunity that are professional
(09:43):
speakers, parents will come in,um, school nurse, this is an
approach where I try to make itreally fun and that at the end
of the day, I, I, I always say Itrick.
Kids into learning about foodallergies where they have so
much fun.
I have puppets, I have music,there's trivia, there's
storytelling.
And at the end of the day,they're so engaged in the
(10:06):
presentation.
The content really does getthrough to them.
There's no moment where I feellike kids are drifting off.
I've really got it down to apoint where it's 40 minutes of
just pure action and fun.
And at the end, uh, I know whatmy key learning points are, and
they've gotten through, throughall of these different.
Um, educational tools.
(10:27):
So, um, I find it's effective.
A lot of kids find it cool.
They come up to me afterwardsafter asking for autographs,
which is hilarious.
Um, so it's just anotherapproach and I find it's been
pretty effective.
And you said that's what youwish someone would've done with
you and you were a kid, right?
Like approach this in adifferent way.
Um, so it makes me curious aboutwhat it was like for you when
(10:47):
you were younger and you werethe kid with food allergies
growing up.
Yeah, I think back then and youknow, some things have gotten
better and some things neverreally changed or maybe
marginally better.
But I think overall theawareness was really low and I
think awareness can always behigher, that's for sure.
But I think the impact that thathas on, on children, especially,
(11:11):
you know, I remember when I wasyoung, I just made me want to
hide the fact that I had foodallergies altogether.
Uh, I didn't want to be knownfor it.
I didn't want to be a burden toothers.
And I think just experienceafter experience, when you
actually put yourself out there,um, and people start, whether
it's asking really sillyquestions or making fun, it
(11:31):
makes you just want to hide thatfact.
So at the end, you know, the endresult of that is risk taking,
where you start hiding yourEpiPen, it's not with you
always, you're not disclosingall the times when you should
be, and put yourself in morerisky situations.
So, you know, the impact for meessentially was more reactions
that were probably verypreventable.
(11:52):
And it really came back to a lotof the psychosocial aspect of
dealing with allergies, which isunfortunate.
Because at the end of the day, Iknow how to stay safe.
I'm pretty good at readinglabels and can read.
Um, but it's, it's those socialsituations that are always the
toughest.
And I think that never changes.
But, um, I think there's moresupport nowadays in owning your
(12:13):
food allergies and speaking upfor yourself and self advocacy
than there would have been backthen.
So what's your advice then forhelping our kids to develop that
and, and speak up for themselvesand be their own best advocates.
For those of us as adults whoare.
Trying to guide them throughthat process.
What helps to make that easier?
Or what do you think helped youto do that?
(12:36):
Yeah, it takes time.
I wish there was just someonline course that, you know,
guaranteed better advocate foryourself tomorrow.
It is a process.
And I really think it comes downto growing your circle of
comfort.
And that's with all things foodallergy, whether it's travel,
whether it's self advocacy,speaking up for yourself, uh,
you name it, you start somewhereand you grow bit by bit and
(13:00):
it's, you know, whether it'sspeaking up at restaurants, um,
and telling friends how youreally feel, it really starts at
some point and it's a musclethat you need to exercise.
So the more that you do it, Ifind it's, it is empowering that
you start to expand that, thatcircle and your, your border
starts to grow.
And you get to a point where Ithink it actually, there's a
(13:22):
point of no return where yourealize life is actually better
when you are speaking up foryourself and being safe for
yourself.
Because, you know, at the end ofthe day, we want to avoid
reactions.
And I think when we areempowered to that point where
we're taking all of thesepositive steps, it's less scary
(13:45):
than it was before when we aretaking risks and we are living
with doubts and we have allthese extra thoughts in our
heads and worries and anxieties.
I think when we start to facethem head on, it actually gets
easier.
And I think about who I was inmy early 20s and allergies.
(14:06):
And I, it scares me to thinkabout, you know, going back to,
to, to that place.
I was a bit rogue, uh, with, um,compared to now I feel a lot
more confident and I'm reallyhappy that I got to that place.
That scares me too.
As a mom hearing you talk aboutdoing those things and, and, you
know, taking risks and thereasons that you did it all
because of wanting to hide that.
(14:27):
So I'm glad that we have someonelike you, um, setting a good
example of, of not doing that.
And I also think it's importantthe way you're talking about it
and for kids and, and adults.
Who are managing this to realizethat.
If you do have, you know, a bumpin the road or an issue, it
doesn't mean that all is failed.
It's not a straight line tobetter.
(14:48):
And crossing some imaginary.
Uh, line where we reached thisplace and we've figured it all
out.
And now we know all the thingsand there's no more.
Uh, Problems ahead for usbecause there is always going to
be new challenges that arise.
And things that change overtime.
So it's just like to reiteratethat it's not.
All is lost.
If we backtrack a little bit, ifwe, if we circle back to
(15:10):
something and need to repeat.
A lesson or practices scenariomore than once.
That's a really great point inthat it's okay to backtrack a
little bit too.
Thank you for saying that.
You know, sometimes I always, Ithink of it as taking two steps
forward, one step back at times.
And, and that one step back isokay.
Because I find if we're alwayscharging ahead and always, you
(15:31):
know, it's, we're going to makelife better.
And I'm adamant about it.
Slip ups happen.
Um, incidents happen.
And I think those step backs arejust as important because it
helps you reflect on why you'retaking a step back and how do we
move on from any type ofsetbacks that we have.
If anything, it's a retoolingperiods of time where it's we
(15:53):
keep going forward always butwe're we have more armor We have
more knowledge.
We have more that can help uswith the next phase of that
road.
I think that hearing that isgoing to be really helpful for a
lot of people who are listening,who carry that guilt and that
shame that we have about makingmistakes and, and really that's
rooted in the fear of like, whatcould have happened.
I forgot this, or I didn't knowthis and.
(16:15):
And this could have happened,but we can't know everything all
at once.
It has to be a gradual learningprocess and we all make
mistakes.
I think we need to normalizethat.
Um, and wondering if you haveany in particular that you feel
comfortable sharing with us,even though it's probably hard
to tell.
Yeah, absolutely That's that'swhy I'm here.
So I can definitely think of onethat's really recent which I had
(16:38):
a reaction.
That was pretty severe justAbout a month ago now.
And, um, yeah, I would call it asetback in some ways and, uh, a
great retooling of, of myself inother ways where, um, you know,
we all have these slip ups.
And for me, it's been quite afew years since I had a
(16:59):
significant slip up.
And, um, I'm really trying notto focus too much on the story
because I'm finding that.
It's beside the point at thistime.
It's how I actually have movedon from it.
It's really how, what, how I'vehelped myself.
deal with it.
But, um, it was a slip up wheresomeone gave me over assurance
(17:21):
on food and, um, that type ofover assurance where you start
to let your guard down in wayswhere it's, don't worry about
it.
It's all good.
I a hundred times checked it.
And it makes you get into a spotwhere you just want to be
normal.
And not have to triple check foronce and just believe someone.
And I just let my guard down inthat type of moment where I knew
(17:44):
better, but I also thatpsychosocial aspect of just
like, Oh, just be normal.
Everything should be fine.
If all the boxes are checkedhere, even though my gut feeling
says, don't do it, don't do it,don't do it.
I didn't trust my gut.
And, uh, yeah, it's, it was, um,an anaphylactic reaction right
away that started with, uh, justthroat closing over.
I could just feel it, uh,instantly, which was quite
(18:06):
scary.
And, um, what I'm most proudabout the reaction was just how
I treated it and how I handledit where absolutely I had about
10 seconds of that, um, sense ofdoom feeling and world is
crashing down and, Oh, awful,awful feeling and was able to
shake it and get my head onstraight and then act.
(18:29):
And it was literally justcommand center in my brain of,
okay, I have a plan.
I have an emergency plan.
And to me, looking back, it'sreally fascinating.
Of the psychological what ishappening in our brains during
reaction compared to this blackand white emergency plan that
we're all told to do We all knowthese best practices and it was
(18:51):
actually focusing in on okay.
I have a plan And now it's timeand it was okay get get my
epinephrine used it right awaytold my friend, you know, get
the kids out of here Um, theydon't need to see any of this.
My other friend called 9 1 1.
Let's get the ambulance comingand Even there, um, we're
wondering, are you sure?
(19:12):
You know, is it?
Do I, should I call 911?
You know, we don't call 911every day.
I'm like, yes, call 911immediately.
And it was just that type ofcertainty that I'm really proud
of that it just all happened.
Got outside, waited forambulance.
All right, do you want to standover here?
Like, no, I need to sit downbecause my blood pressure.
Uh, in the ambulance, they, uh,told me we're going to give you
(19:34):
antihistamine now and I said,no, I feel the reaction actually
coming back.
It's, it's starting to closeover again.
I need more epinephrine.
So it was that certainty ofoverriding a professional
paramedic where I just was, hadthat presence in my plan.
I just know enough.
I've done enough research.
I know my body that at the endof the day, It rocked me to the
(19:55):
core.
I was quite emotionalafterwards, but I'm now really
proud that I can say I rocked myreaction.
And I think that's the storythat I really enjoy telling now
is that reactions do happen andthey will happen, unfortunately,
but we will be okay.
And I think that's a messagethat more people need to hear
(20:15):
versus how scary reactions canbe, but how confidently we can
manage them and be okay I'mgoing to steal that phrase.
I rocked my reaction.
I love it.
I think that's so important tolook back and think, what did I
do?
Right.
Look at all these things that Iknew.
Yeah, and it's easy to beatourselves up.
It's really easy.
I can, I can focus on thenegatives there all day long and
(20:36):
I did, I, I got through that thenext day and I was really sad
and I was really upset withmyself and now, you know, that,
that only serves me so much.
It only helps me so much and Ifelt like a day was enough to,
to wallow.
And to punch myself around a bitand to learn my lessons and then
I've got it those lessons arethere And then I don't need to
(20:57):
keep reiterating you're idiot,you know better that doesn't
help me i've switched thepunches to The pat on the backs
and I think that for me movingforward in a positive way Where
i've learned something but i'mbetter for it now And i'm still
on my track ahead of beingconfident and normal.
You mentioned your gut, knowingsomething was wrong, just
(21:19):
knowing deep inside thatsomething was off.
And I think that's part of, oneof the most important parts of
this.
Is it.
Being able to listen to that andunderstand that voice inside of
you and trust it over all of theworries and the what if thoughts
and all of those fearful,anxious things that can come up
in our heads.
I, I, I think this is probablythe biggest difference between
(21:41):
younger Kyle and, and modern dayKyle vintage Kyle and, and
today's Kyle, is that, uh, the,the ability to be aware of, of
what's going on and acceptingit.
And I think that acceptance is,is a hard, hard thing to develop
because the opposite of that isdenial.
And I think for, for a lot ofus, it's very easy to fall back
(22:04):
on, is this real?
Do we really need to press thepanic button?
Is this, are you really feelingthese symptoms and to ask
yourself these questions or yourchild, because, you know, it's
going to enact a whole processand, and totally ruin your,
whatever plans you had for thenight.
That's for sure.
Um, and that's a hard thing toswallow.
And I think to actually justembrace the fact that you're
(22:29):
feeling it and there's nothingwrong with that.
There's not, we don't need to,uh, feel bad about it.
Cause I think we often start toget into, Oh my goodness.
I, I'm going to take the blamefor this or my mom's going to
feel awful about this and westart to have all these other
crazy thoughts go through ourminds that are not focused on
(22:50):
treatment and safety, just onhow is this going to make me
look, do I have the insurance,all of these things where it's,
there's a lot of thoughts thatcan go through your head and I
think just to be aware yourthroat's closing and that's
scary and there is a treatmentcalled epinephrine That will
actually stop all of that in itstracks if you use it quickly.
(23:13):
And I think when we live in withdenial and second thoughts, this
is where we hear of, of, oftragic stories.
And this is where I thinkreactions get a lot more scary
than they actually need to bejust because we wait and we see.
So, um, yeah, awareness, notonly of your body and your
symptoms is key.
Um, being aware of your plan ofhow to enact a treatment on
(23:36):
that.
But it's not easy.
And I think just hopefully justhearing from somebody else
helps, but also just remindingourselves that there's no shame
in an allergic reaction.
There's no blame.
And even when I did make apublic post about this last
reaction, I really just said inblack and white, I'm like, I'm
(23:56):
not going to go into thedetails.
What happened?
And nobody asked me to go intothe details.
And that really was, um, wasnice for me that no one's prying
about, you know, give us thegossip whose fault.
What happened, really?
Nobody asked me that.
And I think that's justcomforting to know that people
are really just happy thatyou're okay.
(24:16):
And sometimes we just need toremind ourselves that's really
all that matters.
We do see that often what you'redescribing, where someone
mentioned something, there's astory.
That circulates within thecommunity and people panic.
And there's this sense of fearand immediacy of knowing the
details and understanding whatwent wrong.
I think it's our protectivemechanism trying to step in and
(24:37):
prevent that thing from everhappening to us.
But it's not at all supportiveto the person who's going
through the experience.
I think it's such a goodrepresentation of how we feel.
The sense of responsibility allthe time, carrying all the
weight of managing this anddoing everything right in order
to stay safe.
Yeah, it's unfortunate for acommunity, but I think, you
(24:59):
know, there's a lot of this selfblame that we put on ourselves.
Even just, you know, The factthat your child got food
allergies, you know, we havethese different things that are
available now in terms of earlyintroduction.
And, you know, it's just, it'seasy to beat ourselves up for
things that we reallyessentially cannot control.
Maybe we have a tiny bit ofinfluence, but, um, this is the
(25:20):
hand that we're dealt and wejust need to own it.
What does owning it mean to you?
Or what does that look like foryou in your life?
When we have to both.
Take responsibility for it.
We do have to be the ones tokeep ourselves safe.
And yet there's so much that wecan't control.
Yeah, it's, it's a balance.
Um, the, the, the what ifs, youknow, there's always a healthy
(25:45):
amount of fear, right?
And to actually respect thatit's, it's a serious life
threatening condition.
Um, and I think for me, it's, Ifind it, crippling to, to always
be living with those what ifs.
I know I'm, I'm no dummy.
I know exactly how seriousanaphylaxis is and I've had
(26:08):
reactions that just scare me.
Um, and that, that lives withme, but I also know that that
doesn't serve me on a day to daybasis.
Um, I want to live a full lifecapable life where I get to
achieve all my dreams.
And, um, it's, it's, I find forme really diving into research
(26:28):
helps.
Knowing the real risks, knowingwhat anaphylaxis really is,
knowing that, you know, whatepinephrine really does in a
reaction when it's used quickly,knowing the real risks on
airlines, knowing the realrisks, um, all around me.
I find it's all right there withresearch.
And I find in today's societyit's so Facebook and get our
(26:53):
information from, from otherpeople who probably share a lot
of the same concerns andanxieties that we have.
which is FAIR.
It's a great place for supportat times, but I find websites
like FAIR, Food Allergy Canada,uh, Jackie, the Journal of
Allergy and Clinical Immunology,not probably bookmarked by many,
but oh my goodness, it's allthere in terms of, you know,
(27:15):
what is the real risk of peanutdust circulating on an airline
to the point where it can elicitan allergic reaction?
It's all been documented, butwe, for many of us, we don't go
down those roads.
But for me, it's all I need tojust keep those anxieties in
check, to know what's the realrisk, and then I can judge
accordingly.
(27:35):
Whether I want to engage in thatsituation, what preventions I
need to stay safe, but I'drather get my info from sources
like that.
Um, and then I'd love to getinformation from our community
on, you know, where, where didyou have a good experience
dining out?
What, where did you get treatedfairly and where did they take
you seriously?
I'd love to get that info fromthe source, but I do like to get
(27:57):
a lot of credible informationfrom, from different sources For
those listening who find thatintimidating, what Kyle's
talking about, going straight tothe source.
I just want to make sure peopleknow, reading a journal article
doesn't mean you have to be aresearcher or understand all
these medical terms.
You can find what's called theabstract of any journal article.
And that just means that it's asummary and you don't have to
(28:18):
know what all of the terminologymeans, but you can usually get a
great, like two or threesentence.
Uh, summary at the end of that,or a statistic like Kyle is
saying to help you use then tochallenge, we call it cognitive
challenging.
That worry that's in your headof, am I going to react to this?
Well, The facts that I know arethat this it's this unlikely
(28:40):
because of what I read here andhere, and they did this study
and it really does take the edgeand take the intensity and power
away from the worried that.
Absolutely.
And yeah, I'm not an advocatefor everyone going to subscribe
to medical journals to stay upon research.
That's next level.
But I do think the non profitgroups are wonderful at bringing
(29:00):
current research into layterminology, into ways that we
can understand it.
And, um, those groups, they'renot, they're not influencers on
Instagram.
They're solid, credibleinformations that, uh, or
organizations that really workwith allergists and, and
researchers and, and decipherwhat's really going on right
now, whether it's earlyintroduction, whether it's
(29:21):
immunotherapy, any of thesecurrent things that are circling
around.
They're the ones that can giveyou a lot of that source
information in a way that'sreally understand it,
understandable.
So, um, they might not have thebiggest followings, but geez,
through content is fantastic.
And I advise to check out theresearch section of their
websites.
That's a great point.
(29:42):
And I think that havinginformation is so powerful to
us, and I think there's someinformation that we really need
to hear.
Like you said, from ourcommunities from others
firsthand.
And one of those.
I believe is about using ourepinephrin.
We can read a study about it.
We can look at the statistics onhow quickly it helps her and
what percentages of cases it'seffective.
(30:02):
But to actually think of usingour epinephrin injectors.
I think hearing a firsthandaccount is something that's more
powerful.
Um, Then reading research.
And I was hoping you'd bewilling to talk about that since
obviously you're someone who hasexperience using and doing that.
And try to help people to fliptheir fears about the needle and
(30:24):
about the epidemic.
I think it's probably the thingthat our community hesitates the
most on, you know, it's, we havethat initial reaction of wanting
to just deny that is this real,can we actually accept that this
is a rat reaction and, and partof the That denial is influenced
(30:45):
by the fact that we're about touse a needle that, um, we have,
it's easy to have needle phobiato, to know that once we use
that, it's absolutely real.
There's no going back at thatpoint.
We need to call 9 1 1.
We need to get to the hospital.
Um, what's really helped me, andI think it took a really severe
reaction for me to realize isthat A, it doesn't hurt.
(31:08):
It's the tiniest little pinprickthat you can even imagine.
It's really nothing.
Um, and B, the feeling that youget immediately after is
wonderful.
It's like getting, it's reallyhard to make an analogy, but
think of having a terrible painsomewhere in your body, and then
(31:29):
someone puts their hands andstarts massaging you.
It's just like, why wouldn't youwant that?
It feels better.
And I think that's what peopledon't realize is that it's
medicine that's really going tostop is happening on this really
negative spiral, uh, in its, inits course.
So I found for me, it really didtake me using it in a reaction
(31:51):
to realize, whoa, this is goodstuff.
This is, this helped me out.
Um, and I think, you know, forothers, it's just trust, trust
in medicine.
And that process when, if it'syour first time, know that it's
a great experience to go throughyour plan and your process and
(32:11):
see, see that it worksfirsthand.
And there's really, researchshows there's no negative
consequence of using epinephrineunless you have a heart
condition.
But adrenaline is a very safe,natural thing.
It's part of our treatment plan.
Your allergist gave you some, wespend hundreds of dollars on
them every year.
So let's get, get our money'sworth, right?
Yeah.
Um, but essentially it's, it'sjust something that's going to
(32:33):
help.
And I think more that we embracethat fact, it's a help and not
something to be afraid of.
Um, the more that you can reallyuse it when you really need it.
It sounds like you had to learnsome of this the hard way,
unfortunately, through your own.
Tough experiences.
And this learning curve that youwent through on your own from
trying to hide it.
(32:54):
To developing a strongerawareness and then not just to
that awareness, but then thisperson who travels the world, it
just sounds like such a shift ina huge growth process throughout
your life.
That's really shaped you.
Yeah.
Well, I think it was a sign ofthe times, one in terms of
awareness was low and I reallydidn't know anybody with food
(33:16):
allergies growing up, but Ididn't know anybody until I was
about 17, 18 years old.
And it just felt like, I was ona deserted island and then
someone else was on anotherisland right next to mine all of
a sudden, like, uh, it wasreally, really neat to meet
somebody.
Um, so I think, you know, justknowing that we're, um, we're
not alone is really importantnow.
I think, I feel like we havepower in numbers now, where when
(33:41):
I was younger, it was reallyisolating.
So when you did speak up foryourself, you know, it was very
common to get met with eyerolls, to get met with eye
rolls.
You're overblowing it.
It can't be that serious.
It was a constant dismissal.
And I think when you'redismissed on anything about
(34:03):
something vulnerable aboutyourself, it makes you just want
to hide it.
It makes you want to avoid it.
The conversation.
Uh, and inevitably take a lot ofrisks.
So, you know, for younger me, itwas a lot of risk taking.
It was not always speaking upfor myself.
It was not disclosing it wasreactions.
And then really the reaction,every reaction I can think of
(34:24):
was every single one of them wasvery preventable.
And it was mostly because I justdidn't do, um, enough of, of, of
a job staying safe.
So, yeah, uh, a lot ofreactions, uh, but the one that
really shifted my axis was onethat was just incredibly, um,
significant, um, anaphylacticreaction when I was about 21.
(34:46):
And that was the one that reallyjust woke me up to, to how
severe this condition really is.
And I just remember in the daysfollowing just needing to
reevaluate how I managed, how Iinteracted with this health
condition, which I did not takeas seriously as I should.
And I really realized that atthat moment that A, I can never
(35:09):
have that happen again, ever.
It was enough.
And B, I would like to helpother people to not experience
that either, it really justshifted me altogether.
I was a different person thenext day and, um, different
priorities, different outlook, Ijust felt lucky.
You know, I'm really lucky thatI got through it.
So, um, kind of that borrowedtime syndrome where I just, you
(35:32):
know, what, what am I going todo now, now that that's over?
And I just really felt this needto help and help the community
and live my best life.
So, uh, you know, I graduatedwith a business degree and chose
not to do anything in business.
I wanted to do music.
I wanted to just do my ownthing.
So I started this allergy music.
(35:52):
Um, path and enjoyed it so muchtouring and music and really
loved it.
And it actually then led me totraveling.
And the more I traveled, themore I kept pushing those
boundaries and going further.
And then once I got to a pointwhere I realized there's some
real challenges traveling,especially with languages and
different cultures, um, itspawned the idea of equal eats.
(36:14):
And started a business thatcould really help people
communicate their allergies allover the world.
And, and that's really led me tomy current, current day where,
um, I'm operating a businessthat's growing.
It's a lot of fun.
It's helping our community.
And still getting to do music onthe side and still tour.
So, um, it's all just reallystemmed from one really bad
reaction where I just wanted tonot let it slow me down at all
(36:37):
in my life, but also helpothers.
Will you tell us more aboutequally.
Yeah, um, of course, I alwayshave a card around my desk,
that's for sure.
But we specialize in allergytranslation cards, where on one
side you'll have English, on theother side a language of your
choice of the country thatyou're traveling to.
(36:58):
And essentially, it just helpsyou put it in writing, um, what
your allergies are, so they'llbe not only taken seriously.
We've invested in theseprofessional credit card
printers to make sure that it'snice and durable, life lasting
plastic cards.
Um, but also that they'll benoted.
If you have a long list ofallergies, it can be really
helpful.
(37:18):
Um, but also understood.
And that's the main differencewith, with the company that,
that I created.
I want it to be really accurate.
And our process is really crazyin terms of using professional
translators as step one, we useexpert, um, proofreaders as step
two on every language we have.
And then we use as a third step,native speakers to actually
check to make sure it reallytalks the talk.
(37:40):
So, uh, effective and reallyaccurate to make sure our
community, when they do use acard, they can feel confident.
That it's going to be takenseriously and understood, which
I think is what we deserve.
And personally makes me feelbetter when I'm traveling the
world.
I want to be understood hugely.
In addition to using an equaleats translation card.
What other advice would you givepeople who wants to travel and.
(38:02):
See more of the world.
I would say number one, make itfun.
Travel's got to be fun.
And if it's not fun, then whatare we doing this for?
So start small and look for thequick wins.
And maybe it's a different cityfor a weekend or a different
state or province.
Go just bit by bit.
And, and don't overdo it to thepoint where it's stressful
(38:22):
because, you know, it can easilyget to that point where it's
overwhelming and I hear that allthe time.
Like, I don't even know if Iwant to go on this trip.
It's all so much.
Don't start there.
Start on the little wins andthen get, get the kids on board.
They love travel.
You've found your rhythms, youcan do this.
And then keep growing it to thepoint where maybe it's Europe or
(38:43):
Asia or farther, um, canactually be a possibility, but
you've worked up to it and it'snot so overwhelming and daunting
at the start.
So have fun and also justreframe travel.
Um, for a lot of us, I think forpeople with kids with allergies,
travel was probably about foodin a large part at one point in
time and shifting our focus.
(39:05):
Where it's not so much aboutfood, but the wonderful things
of culture, geography, history,art, and travel can be so, so
much more than food.
And for me, that's why I lovetraveling so much.
Food is, is really the bottomrung on my travel equation.
It's for so many other reasons.
So, um, focus on the positivesand then you're a lot less
(39:27):
likely to be let down when it'snot about food.
Ellie.
It doesn't have to be about foodall the time.
Like people sometimes tend tosee the world.
Not missing out on somethingcompletely, just because you
can't eat the food.
And with our kids, what we do iswe just have them pointed out.
And if there's something thatlooks really good and they're
feeling bad that they can't tryit, we take pictures, we look it
(39:47):
up and we make it at home and itextends the experience that we
were having.
To bring it into our home andconnect over, making that food
in a way that's safe.
I think that gives them somepower and a sense of control.
And another thing that does thesame thing I want to point out
is using your cars.
Not just for travelinginternationally, but to
communicate in English, whenkids are learning to take over
(40:10):
the job of communicating theirallergies, these cards can help
them to make sure that they listtheir full list of allergens.
If it's a long list or that theyexpress fully, what might be
difficult for them to remember,to put into words when they're
on the spot, if they're feelingnervous or they're feeling shy
in front of their friends, Tomake sure that they get all the
(40:32):
information across about whatthey need to eat somewhere
safely.
Absolutely.
I agree.
It's, it's, it's great thatyou're empowering your, your
young ones on, on all thingswith their allergies.
Cause I think that's exactly it.
It's, it's that transitioningover time, slowly, gradually of
responsibilities where they'restarting to take over their own
advocacy, their own healthcondition, because that's really
(40:55):
what it's all about with kidsand raising kids is.
Once they're 18, they're ready.
And, um, and that's, that can bea scary thought, but that's when
you know that you've done yourjob when off they go.
And you're confident thatthey're going to stay safe and
manage their allergies exactlythe way you hoped they would.
So it's, it's not all at once.
Good luck.
Here's everything you need toknow.
(41:16):
Get out of here.
Good luck.
But you know, by it's gradualevery age and stage that they're
taking ownership.
What do you want all of usparents to know about how to do
that process gradually?
General advice.
It's they start young,empowering very young to get
them, you know, reading, readingit lists and pushing them to
really do the work to help them.
(41:36):
themselves, um, to looking atgrocery store ingredients and
helping being part of thatselection process, to asking
questions at restaurants andbeing right there beside them
and supporting them really youngages to, to help guide them.
So it's natural and it's, it'sin their gut.
So when they are older, theyjust know, I know my red flags
(41:58):
and I know where they come from.
It's from being taught and beingguided on what's right and
what's wrong with these, withthese allergies.
I'd also say, you know, not onlyjust empowering your child, but
empowering your partner isreally important to me.
Where, unfortunately for ourcommunity, this is a
predominantly mom driven, uh,area, mom driven space.
(42:19):
And I think about, you know,it's, why is that?
Why aren't more dads steppingup?
Why aren't more men takingcomplete ownership?
Uh, over, over their child'shealth condition.
And I think it's something thatI would love for more men to, to
be involved in and, and take,take that responsibility.
(42:40):
It's, you know, I think with,um, with parents, it's easy for
one partner just to take thebrunt of it all.
And at one sign of a partner notshowing that they're stepping
up, dismissing to the pointwhere, Okay, you obviously can't
handle this.
I've got it.
And then that just rolls andthen that person's out, you
(43:01):
know, for me, it's reallyimportant, even just knowing my
child's sizes that I can buyshirts and pants, I want to be
equally involved in all of thesethings.
And I think that needs to be thesame with food allergies is that
even if your partner messes up,hopefully on a small scale, um,
that it's not over that you keeplearning from that and
empowering because it starts tomake divides.
(43:23):
And it starts to just lay all ofthat burden on one person when
that's just not fair.
And I think the more that we'reas a community, a unified front,
male, female, mom's dads, that'sa different voice.
All of a sudden that'sadvocating and making things
better.
And our kids see that.
So that's my, my one piece ofadvice is that it is a shared
responsibility and don't letyourself off the hook and don't
(43:46):
let your partner off the hook.
You got to keep at it.
I love that you're talking aboutthis because I think it's so
important.
To show our kids this as aUnited front.
In terms of how do we handle itand how seriously do we have to
take it?
I work a lot with people who arestruggling with what you're
describing in their homes and intheir families.
And what I, um, kind of frame itas for them is how we have these
(44:08):
tendencies to cope differently.
And when we frame it as copingskills, not who's right, or
who's wrong, or who made amistake and who got it right.
Is that.
Some of us tend to be more, um,In the fight or flight reaction
to some of us tend to be morefight.
I'm going to fight back againstthis thing that we're up
against.
And can I get all theinformation I'm going to take
(44:29):
charge?
I'm going to ask these hardquestions.
I'm going to advocate and speakup.
And then some people tend tohave more of a flight reaction,
which sounds like it's not thatbig of a deal.
We don't have to make a big dealout of it.
Let's not.
Um, you know, overreact, wecan't worry about it all the
time.
We need to live a normal lifeand both of those things are
true and both of those thingsare helpful.
(44:49):
Coping skills.
If we team up and we balanceeach other out, instead of
always being one way all thetime, then that gives the kids a
wider range of examples and amore balanced approach to how.
Absolutely.
So my last question is, tell ussomething great about having
food allergies.
(45:11):
Oh, wow.
Uh, well, I did write the songFood Allergies Rock.
Let me just recite the lyrics.
Right?
Uh, but no, that's what it's allabout.
You know, we're dealt with thesecards and how do we play them?
And I think for me, it'srealizing the positives that,
um, you know, for starters, Isee food very differently than
(45:33):
most people.
And I think that's a superpowerin its own right.
I get to be very conscious ofwhat goes into my body.
Food Allergy I'm very aware.
And I think in this day and agewhere, um, that that can be an
actual good thing to just interms of our own health and body
of being healthy and nutritious,um, being very creative in the
kitchen.
I think nothing that's presentedto me, you know, a cake recipe
(45:55):
or any of this is ever anobstacle.
It's just, okay, how do we goaround that?
And I think that spawnscreativity in a lot of different
ways of like.
You don't just accept the waythat things are.
You can find ways to make itwork for you.
And I think that's kind of ahidden superpower of, of having
food allergies.
I think empathy for each other'sdifferences is a huge one.
You know, we are dealing withsomething that is heavy on the
(46:18):
mind.
And knowing that other peoplehave different conditions and,
uh, issues.
I think this is also a hugething to understand where people
are coming from because we'vegot something that we're dealing
with every day.
Uh, and we're like, we can readthe biggest or the, sorry, the
smallest fine print in theworld, right?
With those ingredient labels,we've got just x rays, give me a
(46:39):
legal document.
I will read all the small print.
No problem.
So, you know, there's a lot ofbenefits, but I think at the end
of the day, it's embracing thosetwo.
Um, and not just the negativesof what was me, but you know, it
is what it is.
We might have this for the longrun.
How do we make the most?
I've loved having you here.
Thank you so much for all ofyour time and your generosity
with me and your patience withthe learning curve of me,
(47:02):
figuring out how to do apodcast.
Um, I, you have so much, that'svaluable to share both in your
work that you do and just whoyou are as a person and what you
share.
So I really appreciate yousharing that with all of us.
This is really great.
Yeah.
It's been really fun.
And, uh, I look forward tohearing it and I look forward to
following it to all the otherguests that you have.
I think this is a really cool,um, yeah, angle Looking for
(47:28):
someone to save the day lookingfor someone with super strength,
and if I eat something, I shouldman in a flying.
(47:53):
Epiman doesn't Everybody willsay the same.
A giant, thank you to Kyle dine.
What an amazing person.
It was great to chat.
That was a taste of his song.
Epi man, stay tuned, follow thepodcast, subscribe to my
(48:17):
newsletter on my website so thatyou won't miss what's coming up
next, which is what I'm verycheesily going to call the next
episode, where we explore ourepinephrin injectors, all of our
thoughts and feelings and fearswe have about using epi
confusion about when and how.
How to use it and how to flipthe script and make it something
(48:37):
that we view as.
Uh, superhero, like Kyle sayssomething to protect us and help
us out.
So that will be coming up soon.
In the meantime.
Here are three things you can donow, as you wrap up this episode
today to take some steps, tofeeling better and more
confident about food allergies,number one, check out Kyle's
music.
(48:57):
I just played a little bit ofepi man for you.
His song, the doghouse as myintro.
Thanks to him, generouslysharing that with me and
allowing me to use it.
His music is so much fun.
Share it with the kids in yourlife, not just the ones that
have food allergies, share itwith all of them, because it's
the information that we wanteverybody to know, and it gets
it across in a really fun andmemorable way.
(49:18):
You can listen to Kyle's music,wherever you stream your music.
Number two, you can also findout more information about Kyle
on his website.
Kyle dine.com, K Y L E D I Ne.com.
The link will be in the shownotes along with some of the
other resources that Kyle sharedwith you.
During the episode.
Go to his website and find outmore about the resources that he
(49:41):
has.
He has some great things to goalong with his music, some
things that you can purchase.
That's where you can connectwith him.
And request that he come to yourcommunity and share his
presentation and your child'sschool when he's out on tour and
educate the kids and the adultsin your community.
It's a really great way toapproach this topic from a
different angle and you won'tregret it.
(50:02):
And number three is to go toKyle's business website that he
told you about equal eats.com.
And that's where you can orderthe food and dining cards that
he was talking about.
Both the English version and thetranslation cards to help you
with travel, to help you withdining out, just to take a
little bit of a weight off ofyour shoulders and put it into
the hands of the experts thatKyle has worked with to develop
(50:24):
that product.
This podcast is forinformational and educational
purposes only.
It's not a substitute forprofessional medical advice,
diagnosis or treatment.
I'm Dr.
Amanda White house.
Thanks for joining me.
And until we chat again,remember don't feed the fear.
Many of the people I work withseek help because they want to
stop doing something that isn'tworking for them.
They might want to stop feelinga certain way, thinking about
something in a certain way oravoiding a certain thing.
But usually the thing that theywant to stop doing is the way
that they're coping at thatpoint in time.
Even if it isn't the healthiestor the ideal way, even if it's
(00:24):
not solving the real problem.
It's something that they'redoing in order to get them
through.
So the starting point isn't totake away the few or the only
coping skills that they haveit's to give them new ones
first.
I want it to follow that samemodel here on the podcast.
And if you know me, my twofavorite coping skills are music
and books.
So I'm happy to let you knowthat with each season of the
(00:46):
podcast, I'm going to try toinclude a book club episode.
In August, we'll be hearing fromEmily Reed, author of big brave
voice, a beautiful picture bookabout her son, George and his
food allergies.
I wanted to let you know aheadof time so you can get the book
and read it and look at it withus together.
As we talk, when we have Emilyon the show.
(01:07):
And today we're going to talkabout how we can use music to
help us through tough things.
I'm so excited to have Kyle dineas my very first guest on the
show to talk about his work,using music, to educate and
empower people with foodallergies, with his school
assemblies and presentations,Kyle has brought his message to
over a million students and hecertainly has reached many more
(01:28):
with his music.
Since childhood Kyle has managedhis own allergies to peanuts,
tree nuts, eggs, seafood, andmustard.
Today.
We'll talk about his music, hisexperiences, growing up with
food allergies and how he doeslife.
Now as an adult still managingmultiple food allergies.
Welcome to the Don't Feed theFear podcast, where we dive into
(01:50):
the complex world of foodallergy anxiety.
I'm your host, Dr.
Amanda Whitehouse, food allergyanxiety psychologist and food
allergy mom.
Whether you're dealing withallergies yourself or supporting
someone who is, join us for anempathetic and informative
journey toward food allergy calmand confidence.
Kyle, thank you so much fortaking the time to sit and chat
(02:12):
with me and to be here on theshow.
As I'm getting this new podcastgoing, I'm so excited to have
you.
I would love to start by havingyou explain to us how you became
a food allergy music educator,and how this all unfolded for
you.
Yeah.
It's, it's a bit of a randompath that I don't think I
really.
planned on when I was a teenagerto get into music.
(02:35):
But, uh, essentially, you know,I grew up with multiple food
allergies, uh, way back when inthe eighties and nineties and,
um, always really liked music.
And when I started working at asummer camp, it all kind of came
together.
There was a lot of kids therethat had food allergies.
And we, we use music as a wayjust to kind of, uh, let it out
and vent and, um, get some toughfeelings out.
(02:58):
And mostly it was fun littlesongs about, you know, how much
we wanted peanuts off the earthand things like this.
But, uh, it started to growinto, into something that was
very cathartic for, for all ofus.
And, uh, one thing led toanother, and these songs kind of
took an educational aspect.
And started to record them,started to go into schools and
(03:18):
do workshops that turned intoassemblies.
And then turned into TheAssembly Guy, where I got to
educate masses of children aboutfood allergies.
In a way that can really helpchildren learn, um, with
repetition in music.
And also just to relate to.
It's not just someone talking atthem, but someone getting them
engaged.
Tapping their foot and makingmemories for them too.
(03:42):
It's no surprise to me that thiskind of came about and the way
that you described, because Ican see you as a camp counselor
sitting around and trying toconnect with these kids.
And this is kind of justunfolding as a natural way to
put them at ease and to relateto them and kind of meet them
where they were at.
Yeah, I, you know, essentially Icreated what I wish was around
(04:03):
when I was a kid.
I wish there was someone thatwould go talk to my buddies and
say, you know, Hey, take thisseriously.
Uh, this, this is what it's allabout.
And your buddies have foodallergies and don't, you know,
take it seriously.
Be a good friend.
Don't share food, wash yourhands.
There's some pretty simplethings that when you have
someone else telling them, uh,it comes across in a different
(04:24):
way.
So essentially it's, it's justgrowing peer support,
understanding and empathy.
Empathy is so important.
So many of our kids are beingpicked on.
I think the statistics are thatabout a third of kids with food
allergies are bullied.
Um, and a lot of parents arepeople working with kids in
schools.
Don't.
I really know how to addressthat.
What have you seen from spendingtime in the schools with the
(04:45):
kids and talking to them?
Oh, it's tough.
Bullying has just been aroundfor so long and it continues to
be prevalent.
But I do think, you know, thatthe root cause of it is
ignorance.
It's just not knowing.
It's knowledge.
So it's, it really is giving theopportunity to kids to learn in
a way that they, um, that worksfor them.
The way that I come intoschools, I really am trying to
(05:07):
approach them on a level where Irespect where they're coming,
coming from with this knowledge,and maybe they have none.
And that's okay.
I'm there to help find wherethey're at and bring them to the
next level.
And usually by the time myassembly is done, which is
really interactive, veryengaging, I just, you know, what
do we know about food allergies?
Who knows somebody with anallergy?
(05:29):
What are the top allergies and Ijust get them talking engaged
and by the end of the assemblyThey're there they're in and
they're really at that pointwhere they're shouting food
allergies rock at the end Butit's that process of just
assuming that Maybe they don'tknow anything and maybe their
food allergy education has justbeen through media and movies
(05:49):
and Terrible depictions ofallergic reactions on TV and
here's a chance to really uplevel them because I think you
know They we all know somebodywith something and sometimes we
just don't know how to deal withit because we just haven't
received the proper info So I'mreally happy just to provide
that opportunity for them.
And you do this all over, right?
This is available for anybodywho wants to have you, you
(06:10):
travel all over.
It's not just local to where youare.
Yeah, geez, I've been doing thissince 2008 going on the road
every year and it's it's been along haul I've been over a
thousand schools now and Ialways say geez If you want it
to happen at your school, I willmake it happen.
Um, so I always tour in May andliterally, um, it's, it's a
(06:30):
different situation for everyschool.
Some it's from the admin down.
The principal really values thiseducation in their school.
They want a fun, engaging way todo it.
Uh, majority of the times it's avery proactive parent from, from
our community, that's getting myinformation from my website, a
brochure and proposing it to thePTA or PTO at a school, getting
(06:51):
the approvals.
And, um, I provide as much infoas possible to help facilitate
that.
And there's resistance sometimesin different spots of that
process, whether it's PTO oradministration.
Um, so I have a lot oftestimonials.
I have a lot of reassurance onmy website that I'm not coming
in saying these are the policiesyou need to put in place, but
(07:12):
it's, you know, reallyreassuring that.
Uh, this is about just growingsupport for whatever policies
that you have in place.
I will double down on them andmake sure that they're
understood and, um, appreciatedand followed through as much as
possible.
It's so hard to imagine thatanyone would have resistance to
you coming in and doing what youdo.
Is that what it's about?
Are they afraid?
You're going to come in and saysomething that makes it hard for
(07:34):
the school to follow through onor provide.
I know, right?
Um, at one point, I had someonewonder if I was, I think the
quote was like, are you like theBob Dylan of food allergy?
Are you going to like push allof this advocacy?
I just push whatever you want meto push, but there's always a
base of understanding andeducation.
(07:55):
Um, so if, if you're trying toget some new policies understood
in your school about, you know,it's a no food policy, it's no
cupcakes for birthdays, I willreiterate those messages, no
problem.
Uh, but I'm not coming in andpushing my politics or anything
like this.
So I think it's resistancebecause it's so new for a lot of
schools.
For some, they're just adoptingtheir first food allergy policy,
(08:17):
and it's never happened before.
And, it's not easy because a lotof policies are from the top
down.
It's admin directed.
My mom was an elementary schoolprincipal.
And that relationship with PTAand parents, there's some things
where, you know, you really needto lay down, this is how it
needs to be.
And then there's some thingswhere, from a ground up
approach, It's really valuableto hear parents out of what is a
(08:41):
safe classroom environment tothem and what policies can
really make their child saferand feel more comfortable.
So there's different dynamicsthere and I appreciate that and
I'm just there to have, youknow, come in and help out with
whatever is settled on in aschool and make sure it's, it's
helped out.
And using music to do this assuch a great way to help bring
(09:01):
down those defenses, not justwith the kids, but with all of
those adults involved too,because music calms the nervous
system that it, the rhythm andthe beat of it.
Um, you know, Activates multipleparts of the brain and the body.
And it gives us thisself-awareness and regulation.
It gets us to remember thingsthat we're trying to help people
learn without trying or forcing,forcing it upon them.
(09:23):
Um, so I think music is just thebest way to integrate this and
to get everyone's defenses downto build that empathy that
you're talking about.
Yeah, it's, it's a differentapproach.
That's for sure.
I think, you know, there's a lotof alternatives out there.
I know, um, you know, health,healthcare nurses will come in
and, and, uh, people in ourcommunity that are professional
(09:43):
speakers, parents will come in,um, school nurse, this is an
approach where I try to make itreally fun and that at the end
of the day, I, I, I always say Itrick.
Kids into learning about foodallergies where they have so
much fun.
I have puppets, I have music,there's trivia, there's
storytelling.
And at the end of the day,they're so engaged in the
(10:06):
presentation.
The content really does getthrough to them.
There's no moment where I feellike kids are drifting off.
I've really got it down to apoint where it's 40 minutes of
just pure action and fun.
And at the end, uh, I know whatmy key learning points are, and
they've gotten through, throughall of these different.
Um, educational tools.
(10:27):
So, um, I find it's effective.
A lot of kids find it cool.
They come up to me afterwardsafter asking for autographs,
which is hilarious.
Um, so it's just anotherapproach and I find it's been
pretty effective.
And you said that's what youwish someone would've done with
you and you were a kid, right?
Like approach this in adifferent way.
Um, so it makes me curious aboutwhat it was like for you when
(10:47):
you were younger and you werethe kid with food allergies
growing up.
Yeah, I think back then and youknow, some things have gotten
better and some things neverreally changed or maybe
marginally better.
But I think overall theawareness was really low and I
think awareness can always behigher, that's for sure.
But I think the impact that thathas on, on children, especially,
(11:11):
you know, I remember when I wasyoung, I just made me want to
hide the fact that I had foodallergies altogether.
Uh, I didn't want to be knownfor it.
I didn't want to be a burden toothers.
And I think just experienceafter experience, when you
actually put yourself out there,um, and people start, whether
it's asking really sillyquestions or making fun, it
(11:31):
makes you just want to hide thatfact.
So at the end, you know, the endresult of that is risk taking,
where you start hiding yourEpiPen, it's not with you
always, you're not disclosingall the times when you should
be, and put yourself in morerisky situations.
So, you know, the impact for meessentially was more reactions
that were probably verypreventable.
(11:52):
And it really came back to a lotof the psychosocial aspect of
dealing with allergies, which isunfortunate.
Because at the end of the day, Iknow how to stay safe.
I'm pretty good at readinglabels and can read.
Um, but it's, it's those socialsituations that are always the
toughest.
And I think that never changes.
But, um, I think there's moresupport nowadays in owning your
(12:13):
food allergies and speaking upfor yourself and self advocacy
than there would have been backthen.
So what's your advice then forhelping our kids to develop that
and, and speak up for themselvesand be their own best advocates.
For those of us as adults whoare.
Trying to guide them throughthat process.
What helps to make that easier?
Or what do you think helped youto do that?
(12:36):
Yeah, it takes time.
I wish there was just someonline course that, you know,
guaranteed better advocate foryourself tomorrow.
It is a process.
And I really think it comes downto growing your circle of
comfort.
And that's with all things foodallergy, whether it's travel,
whether it's self advocacy,speaking up for yourself, uh,
you name it, you start somewhereand you grow bit by bit and
(13:00):
it's, you know, whether it'sspeaking up at restaurants, um,
and telling friends how youreally feel, it really starts at
some point and it's a musclethat you need to exercise.
So the more that you do it, Ifind it's, it is empowering that
you start to expand that, thatcircle and your, your border
starts to grow.
And you get to a point where Ithink it actually, there's a
(13:22):
point of no return where yourealize life is actually better
when you are speaking up foryourself and being safe for
yourself.
Because, you know, at the end ofthe day, we want to avoid
reactions.
And I think when we areempowered to that point where
we're taking all of thesepositive steps, it's less scary
(13:45):
than it was before when we aretaking risks and we are living
with doubts and we have allthese extra thoughts in our
heads and worries and anxieties.
I think when we start to facethem head on, it actually gets
easier.
And I think about who I was inmy early 20s and allergies.
(14:06):
And I, it scares me to thinkabout, you know, going back to,
to, to that place.
I was a bit rogue, uh, with, um,compared to now I feel a lot
more confident and I'm reallyhappy that I got to that place.
That scares me too.
As a mom hearing you talk aboutdoing those things and, and, you
know, taking risks and thereasons that you did it all
because of wanting to hide that.
(14:27):
So I'm glad that we have someonelike you, um, setting a good
example of, of not doing that.
And I also think it's importantthe way you're talking about it
and for kids and, and adults.
Who are managing this to realizethat.
If you do have, you know, a bumpin the road or an issue, it
doesn't mean that all is failed.
It's not a straight line tobetter.
(14:48):
And crossing some imaginary.
Uh, line where we reached thisplace and we've figured it all
out.
And now we know all the thingsand there's no more.
Uh, Problems ahead for usbecause there is always going to
be new challenges that arise.
And things that change overtime.
So it's just like to reiteratethat it's not.
All is lost.
If we backtrack a little bit, ifwe, if we circle back to
(15:10):
something and need to repeat.
A lesson or practices scenariomore than once.
That's a really great point inthat it's okay to backtrack a
little bit too.
Thank you for saying that.
You know, sometimes I always, Ithink of it as taking two steps
forward, one step back at times.
And, and that one step back isokay.
Because I find if we're alwayscharging ahead and always, you
(15:31):
know, it's, we're going to makelife better.
And I'm adamant about it.
Slip ups happen.
Um, incidents happen.
And I think those step backs arejust as important because it
helps you reflect on why you'retaking a step back and how do we
move on from any type ofsetbacks that we have.
If anything, it's a retoolingperiods of time where it's we
(15:53):
keep going forward always butwe're we have more armor We have
more knowledge.
We have more that can help uswith the next phase of that
road.
I think that hearing that isgoing to be really helpful for a
lot of people who are listening,who carry that guilt and that
shame that we have about makingmistakes and, and really that's
rooted in the fear of like, whatcould have happened.
I forgot this, or I didn't knowthis and.
(16:15):
And this could have happened,but we can't know everything all
at once.
It has to be a gradual learningprocess and we all make
mistakes.
I think we need to normalizethat.
Um, and wondering if you haveany in particular that you feel
comfortable sharing with us,even though it's probably hard
to tell.
Yeah, absolutely That's that'swhy I'm here.
So I can definitely think of onethat's really recent which I had
(16:38):
a reaction.
That was pretty severe justAbout a month ago now.
And, um, yeah, I would call it asetback in some ways and, uh, a
great retooling of, of myself inother ways where, um, you know,
we all have these slip ups.
And for me, it's been quite afew years since I had a
(16:59):
significant slip up.
And, um, I'm really trying notto focus too much on the story
because I'm finding that.
It's beside the point at thistime.
It's how I actually have movedon from it.
It's really how, what, how I'vehelped myself.
deal with it.
But, um, it was a slip up wheresomeone gave me over assurance
(17:21):
on food and, um, that type ofover assurance where you start
to let your guard down in wayswhere it's, don't worry about
it.
It's all good.
I a hundred times checked it.
And it makes you get into a spotwhere you just want to be
normal.
And not have to triple check foronce and just believe someone.
And I just let my guard down inthat type of moment where I knew
(17:44):
better, but I also thatpsychosocial aspect of just
like, Oh, just be normal.
Everything should be fine.
If all the boxes are checkedhere, even though my gut feeling
says, don't do it, don't do it,don't do it.
I didn't trust my gut.
And, uh, yeah, it's, it was, um,an anaphylactic reaction right
away that started with, uh, justthroat closing over.
I could just feel it, uh,instantly, which was quite
(18:06):
scary.
And, um, what I'm most proudabout the reaction was just how
I treated it and how I handledit where absolutely I had about
10 seconds of that, um, sense ofdoom feeling and world is
crashing down and, Oh, awful,awful feeling and was able to
shake it and get my head onstraight and then act.
(18:29):
And it was literally justcommand center in my brain of,
okay, I have a plan.
I have an emergency plan.
And to me, looking back, it'sreally fascinating.
Of the psychological what ishappening in our brains during
reaction compared to this blackand white emergency plan that
we're all told to do We all knowthese best practices and it was
(18:51):
actually focusing in on okay.
I have a plan And now it's timeand it was okay get get my
epinephrine used it right awaytold my friend, you know, get
the kids out of here Um, theydon't need to see any of this.
My other friend called 9 1 1.
Let's get the ambulance comingand Even there, um, we're
wondering, are you sure?
(19:12):
You know, is it?
Do I, should I call 911?
You know, we don't call 911every day.
I'm like, yes, call 911immediately.
And it was just that type ofcertainty that I'm really proud
of that it just all happened.
Got outside, waited forambulance.
All right, do you want to standover here?
Like, no, I need to sit downbecause my blood pressure.
Uh, in the ambulance, they, uh,told me we're going to give you
(19:34):
antihistamine now and I said,no, I feel the reaction actually
coming back.
It's, it's starting to closeover again.
I need more epinephrine.
So it was that certainty ofoverriding a professional
paramedic where I just was, hadthat presence in my plan.
I just know enough.
I've done enough research.
I know my body that at the endof the day, It rocked me to the
(19:55):
core.
I was quite emotionalafterwards, but I'm now really
proud that I can say I rocked myreaction.
And I think that's the storythat I really enjoy telling now
is that reactions do happen andthey will happen, unfortunately,
but we will be okay.
And I think that's a messagethat more people need to hear
(20:15):
versus how scary reactions canbe, but how confidently we can
manage them and be okay I'mgoing to steal that phrase.
I rocked my reaction.
I love it.
I think that's so important tolook back and think, what did I
do?
Right.
Look at all these things that Iknew.
Yeah, and it's easy to beatourselves up.
It's really easy.
I can, I can focus on thenegatives there all day long and
(20:36):
I did, I, I got through that thenext day and I was really sad
and I was really upset withmyself and now, you know, that,
that only serves me so much.
It only helps me so much and Ifelt like a day was enough to,
to wallow.
And to punch myself around a bitand to learn my lessons and then
I've got it those lessons arethere And then I don't need to
(20:57):
keep reiterating you're idiot,you know better that doesn't
help me i've switched thepunches to The pat on the backs
and I think that for me movingforward in a positive way Where
i've learned something but i'mbetter for it now And i'm still
on my track ahead of beingconfident and normal.
You mentioned your gut, knowingsomething was wrong, just
(21:19):
knowing deep inside thatsomething was off.
And I think that's part of, oneof the most important parts of
this.
Is it.
Being able to listen to that andunderstand that voice inside of
you and trust it over all of theworries and the what if thoughts
and all of those fearful,anxious things that can come up
in our heads.
I, I, I think this is probablythe biggest difference between
(21:41):
younger Kyle and, and modern dayKyle vintage Kyle and, and
today's Kyle, is that, uh, the,the ability to be aware of, of
what's going on and acceptingit.
And I think that acceptance is,is a hard, hard thing to develop
because the opposite of that isdenial.
And I think for, for a lot ofus, it's very easy to fall back
(22:04):
on, is this real?
Do we really need to press thepanic button?
Is this, are you really feelingthese symptoms and to ask
yourself these questions or yourchild, because, you know, it's
going to enact a whole processand, and totally ruin your,
whatever plans you had for thenight.
That's for sure.
Um, and that's a hard thing toswallow.
And I think to actually justembrace the fact that you're
(22:29):
feeling it and there's nothingwrong with that.
There's not, we don't need to,uh, feel bad about it.
Cause I think we often start toget into, Oh my goodness.
I, I'm going to take the blamefor this or my mom's going to
feel awful about this and westart to have all these other
crazy thoughts go through ourminds that are not focused on
(22:50):
treatment and safety, just onhow is this going to make me
look, do I have the insurance,all of these things where it's,
there's a lot of thoughts thatcan go through your head and I
think just to be aware yourthroat's closing and that's
scary and there is a treatmentcalled epinephrine That will
actually stop all of that in itstracks if you use it quickly.
(23:13):
And I think when we live in withdenial and second thoughts, this
is where we hear of, of, oftragic stories.
And this is where I thinkreactions get a lot more scary
than they actually need to bejust because we wait and we see.
So, um, yeah, awareness, notonly of your body and your
symptoms is key.
Um, being aware of your plan ofhow to enact a treatment on
(23:36):
that.
But it's not easy.
And I think just hopefully justhearing from somebody else
helps, but also just remindingourselves that there's no shame
in an allergic reaction.
There's no blame.
And even when I did make apublic post about this last
reaction, I really just said inblack and white, I'm like, I'm
(23:56):
not going to go into thedetails.
What happened?
And nobody asked me to go intothe details.
And that really was, um, wasnice for me that no one's prying
about, you know, give us thegossip whose fault.
What happened, really?
Nobody asked me that.
And I think that's justcomforting to know that people
are really just happy thatyou're okay.
(24:16):
And sometimes we just need toremind ourselves that's really
all that matters.
We do see that often what you'redescribing, where someone
mentioned something, there's astory.
That circulates within thecommunity and people panic.
And there's this sense of fearand immediacy of knowing the
details and understanding whatwent wrong.
I think it's our protectivemechanism trying to step in and
(24:37):
prevent that thing from everhappening to us.
But it's not at all supportiveto the person who's going
through the experience.
I think it's such a goodrepresentation of how we feel.
The sense of responsibility allthe time, carrying all the
weight of managing this anddoing everything right in order
to stay safe.
Yeah, it's unfortunate for acommunity, but I think, you
(24:59):
know, there's a lot of this selfblame that we put on ourselves.
Even just, you know, The factthat your child got food
allergies, you know, we havethese different things that are
available now in terms of earlyintroduction.
And, you know, it's just, it'seasy to beat ourselves up for
things that we reallyessentially cannot control.
Maybe we have a tiny bit ofinfluence, but, um, this is the
(25:20):
hand that we're dealt and wejust need to own it.
What does owning it mean to you?
Or what does that look like foryou in your life?
When we have to both.
Take responsibility for it.
We do have to be the ones tokeep ourselves safe.
And yet there's so much that wecan't control.
Yeah, it's, it's a balance.
Um, the, the, the what ifs, youknow, there's always a healthy
(25:45):
amount of fear, right?
And to actually respect thatit's, it's a serious life
threatening condition.
Um, and I think for me, it's, Ifind it, crippling to, to always
be living with those what ifs.
I know I'm, I'm no dummy.
I know exactly how seriousanaphylaxis is and I've had
(26:08):
reactions that just scare me.
Um, and that, that lives withme, but I also know that that
doesn't serve me on a day to daybasis.
Um, I want to live a full lifecapable life where I get to
achieve all my dreams.
And, um, it's, it's, I find forme really diving into research
(26:28):
helps.
Knowing the real risks, knowingwhat anaphylaxis really is,
knowing that, you know, whatepinephrine really does in a
reaction when it's used quickly,knowing the real risks on
airlines, knowing the realrisks, um, all around me.
I find it's all right there withresearch.
And I find in today's societyit's so Facebook and get our
(26:53):
information from, from otherpeople who probably share a lot
of the same concerns andanxieties that we have.
which is FAIR.
It's a great place for supportat times, but I find websites
like FAIR, Food Allergy Canada,uh, Jackie, the Journal of
Allergy and Clinical Immunology,not probably bookmarked by many,
but oh my goodness, it's allthere in terms of, you know,
(27:15):
what is the real risk of peanutdust circulating on an airline
to the point where it can elicitan allergic reaction?
It's all been documented, butwe, for many of us, we don't go
down those roads.
But for me, it's all I need tojust keep those anxieties in
check, to know what's the realrisk, and then I can judge
accordingly.
(27:35):
Whether I want to engage in thatsituation, what preventions I
need to stay safe, but I'drather get my info from sources
like that.
Um, and then I'd love to getinformation from our community
on, you know, where, where didyou have a good experience
dining out?
What, where did you get treatedfairly and where did they take
you seriously?
I'd love to get that info fromthe source, but I do like to get
(27:57):
a lot of credible informationfrom, from different sources For
those listening who find thatintimidating, what Kyle's
talking about, going straight tothe source.
I just want to make sure peopleknow, reading a journal article
doesn't mean you have to be aresearcher or understand all
these medical terms.
You can find what's called theabstract of any journal article.
And that just means that it's asummary and you don't have to
(28:18):
know what all of the terminologymeans, but you can usually get a
great, like two or threesentence.
Uh, summary at the end of that,or a statistic like Kyle is
saying to help you use then tochallenge, we call it cognitive
challenging.
That worry that's in your headof, am I going to react to this?
Well, The facts that I know arethat this it's this unlikely
(28:40):
because of what I read here andhere, and they did this study
and it really does take the edgeand take the intensity and power
away from the worried that.
Absolutely.
And yeah, I'm not an advocatefor everyone going to subscribe
to medical journals to stay upon research.
That's next level.
But I do think the non profitgroups are wonderful at bringing
(29:00):
current research into layterminology, into ways that we
can understand it.
And, um, those groups, they'renot, they're not influencers on
Instagram.
They're solid, credibleinformations that, uh, or
organizations that really workwith allergists and, and
researchers and, and decipherwhat's really going on right
now, whether it's earlyintroduction, whether it's
(29:21):
immunotherapy, any of thesecurrent things that are circling
around.
They're the ones that can giveyou a lot of that source
information in a way that'sreally understand it,
understandable.
So, um, they might not have thebiggest followings, but geez,
through content is fantastic.
And I advise to check out theresearch section of their
websites.
That's a great point.
(29:42):
And I think that havinginformation is so powerful to
us, and I think there's someinformation that we really need
to hear.
Like you said, from ourcommunities from others
firsthand.
And one of those.
I believe is about using ourepinephrin.
We can read a study about it.
We can look at the statistics onhow quickly it helps her and
what percentages of cases it'seffective.
(30:02):
But to actually think of usingour epinephrin injectors.
I think hearing a firsthandaccount is something that's more
powerful.
Um, Then reading research.
And I was hoping you'd bewilling to talk about that since
obviously you're someone who hasexperience using and doing that.
And try to help people to fliptheir fears about the needle and
(30:24):
about the epidemic.
I think it's probably the thingthat our community hesitates the
most on, you know, it's, we havethat initial reaction of wanting
to just deny that is this real,can we actually accept that this
is a rat reaction and, and partof the That denial is influenced
(30:45):
by the fact that we're about touse a needle that, um, we have,
it's easy to have needle phobiato, to know that once we use
that, it's absolutely real.
There's no going back at thatpoint.
We need to call 9 1 1.
We need to get to the hospital.
Um, what's really helped me, andI think it took a really severe
reaction for me to realize isthat A, it doesn't hurt.
(31:08):
It's the tiniest little pinprickthat you can even imagine.
It's really nothing.
Um, and B, the feeling that youget immediately after is
wonderful.
It's like getting, it's reallyhard to make an analogy, but
think of having a terrible painsomewhere in your body, and then
(31:29):
someone puts their hands andstarts massaging you.
It's just like, why wouldn't youwant that?
It feels better.
And I think that's what peopledon't realize is that it's
medicine that's really going tostop is happening on this really
negative spiral, uh, in its, inits course.
So I found for me, it really didtake me using it in a reaction
(31:51):
to realize, whoa, this is goodstuff.
This is, this helped me out.
Um, and I think, you know, forothers, it's just trust, trust
in medicine.
And that process when, if it'syour first time, know that it's
a great experience to go throughyour plan and your process and
(32:11):
see, see that it worksfirsthand.
And there's really, researchshows there's no negative
consequence of using epinephrineunless you have a heart
condition.
But adrenaline is a very safe,natural thing.
It's part of our treatment plan.
Your allergist gave you some, wespend hundreds of dollars on
them every year.
So let's get, get our money'sworth, right?
Yeah.
Um, but essentially it's, it'sjust something that's going to
(32:33):
help.
And I think more that we embracethat fact, it's a help and not
something to be afraid of.
Um, the more that you can reallyuse it when you really need it.
It sounds like you had to learnsome of this the hard way,
unfortunately, through your own.
Tough experiences.
And this learning curve that youwent through on your own from
trying to hide it.
(32:54):
To developing a strongerawareness and then not just to
that awareness, but then thisperson who travels the world, it
just sounds like such a shift ina huge growth process throughout
your life.
That's really shaped you.
Yeah.
Well, I think it was a sign ofthe times, one in terms of
awareness was low and I reallydidn't know anybody with food
(33:16):
allergies growing up, but Ididn't know anybody until I was
about 17, 18 years old.
And it just felt like, I was ona deserted island and then
someone else was on anotherisland right next to mine all of
a sudden, like, uh, it wasreally, really neat to meet
somebody.
Um, so I think, you know, justknowing that we're, um, we're
not alone is really importantnow.
I think, I feel like we havepower in numbers now, where when
(33:41):
I was younger, it was reallyisolating.
So when you did speak up foryourself, you know, it was very
common to get met with eyerolls, to get met with eye
rolls.
You're overblowing it.
It can't be that serious.
It was a constant dismissal.
And I think when you'redismissed on anything about
(34:03):
something vulnerable aboutyourself, it makes you just want
to hide it.
It makes you want to avoid it.
The conversation.
Uh, and inevitably take a lot ofrisks.
So, you know, for younger me, itwas a lot of risk taking.
It was not always speaking upfor myself.
It was not disclosing it wasreactions.
And then really the reaction,every reaction I can think of
(34:24):
was every single one of them wasvery preventable.
And it was mostly because I justdidn't do, um, enough of, of, of
a job staying safe.
So, yeah, uh, a lot ofreactions, uh, but the one that
really shifted my axis was onethat was just incredibly, um,
significant, um, anaphylacticreaction when I was about 21.
(34:46):
And that was the one that reallyjust woke me up to, to how
severe this condition really is.
And I just remember in the daysfollowing just needing to
reevaluate how I managed, how Iinteracted with this health
condition, which I did not takeas seriously as I should.
And I really realized that atthat moment that A, I can never
(35:09):
have that happen again, ever.
It was enough.
And B, I would like to helpother people to not experience
that either, it really justshifted me altogether.
I was a different person thenext day and, um, different
priorities, different outlook, Ijust felt lucky.
You know, I'm really lucky thatI got through it.
So, um, kind of that borrowedtime syndrome where I just, you
(35:32):
know, what, what am I going todo now, now that that's over?
And I just really felt this needto help and help the community
and live my best life.
So, uh, you know, I graduatedwith a business degree and chose
not to do anything in business.
I wanted to do music.
I wanted to just do my ownthing.
So I started this allergy music.
(35:52):
Um, path and enjoyed it so muchtouring and music and really
loved it.
And it actually then led me totraveling.
And the more I traveled, themore I kept pushing those
boundaries and going further.
And then once I got to a pointwhere I realized there's some
real challenges traveling,especially with languages and
different cultures, um, itspawned the idea of equal eats.
(36:14):
And started a business thatcould really help people
communicate their allergies allover the world.
And, and that's really led me tomy current, current day where,
um, I'm operating a businessthat's growing.
It's a lot of fun.
It's helping our community.
And still getting to do music onthe side and still tour.
So, um, it's all just reallystemmed from one really bad
reaction where I just wanted tonot let it slow me down at all
(36:37):
in my life, but also helpothers.
Will you tell us more aboutequally.
Yeah, um, of course, I alwayshave a card around my desk,
that's for sure.
But we specialize in allergytranslation cards, where on one
side you'll have English, on theother side a language of your
choice of the country thatyou're traveling to.
(36:58):
And essentially, it just helpsyou put it in writing, um, what
your allergies are, so they'llbe not only taken seriously.
We've invested in theseprofessional credit card
printers to make sure that it'snice and durable, life lasting
plastic cards.
Um, but also that they'll benoted.
If you have a long list ofallergies, it can be really
helpful.
(37:18):
Um, but also understood.
And that's the main differencewith, with the company that,
that I created.
I want it to be really accurate.
And our process is really crazyin terms of using professional
translators as step one, we useexpert, um, proofreaders as step
two on every language we have.
And then we use as a third step,native speakers to actually
check to make sure it reallytalks the talk.
(37:40):
So, uh, effective and reallyaccurate to make sure our
community, when they do use acard, they can feel confident.
That it's going to be takenseriously and understood, which
I think is what we deserve.
And personally makes me feelbetter when I'm traveling the
world.
I want to be understood hugely.
In addition to using an equaleats translation card.
What other advice would you givepeople who wants to travel and.
(38:02):
See more of the world.
I would say number one, make itfun.
Travel's got to be fun.
And if it's not fun, then whatare we doing this for?
So start small and look for thequick wins.
And maybe it's a different cityfor a weekend or a different
state or province.
Go just bit by bit.
And, and don't overdo it to thepoint where it's stressful
(38:22):
because, you know, it can easilyget to that point where it's
overwhelming and I hear that allthe time.
Like, I don't even know if Iwant to go on this trip.
It's all so much.
Don't start there.
Start on the little wins andthen get, get the kids on board.
They love travel.
You've found your rhythms, youcan do this.
And then keep growing it to thepoint where maybe it's Europe or
(38:43):
Asia or farther, um, canactually be a possibility, but
you've worked up to it and it'snot so overwhelming and daunting
at the start.
So have fun and also justreframe travel.
Um, for a lot of us, I think forpeople with kids with allergies,
travel was probably about foodin a large part at one point in
time and shifting our focus.
(39:05):
Where it's not so much aboutfood, but the wonderful things
of culture, geography, history,art, and travel can be so, so
much more than food.
And for me, that's why I lovetraveling so much.
Food is, is really the bottomrung on my travel equation.
It's for so many other reasons.
So, um, focus on the positivesand then you're a lot less
(39:27):
likely to be let down when it'snot about food.
Ellie.
It doesn't have to be about foodall the time.
Like people sometimes tend tosee the world.
Not missing out on somethingcompletely, just because you
can't eat the food.
And with our kids, what we do iswe just have them pointed out.
And if there's something thatlooks really good and they're
feeling bad that they can't tryit, we take pictures, we look it
(39:47):
up and we make it at home and itextends the experience that we
were having.
To bring it into our home andconnect over, making that food
in a way that's safe.
I think that gives them somepower and a sense of control.
And another thing that does thesame thing I want to point out
is using your cars.
Not just for travelinginternationally, but to
communicate in English, whenkids are learning to take over
(40:10):
the job of communicating theirallergies, these cards can help
them to make sure that they listtheir full list of allergens.
If it's a long list or that theyexpress fully, what might be
difficult for them to remember,to put into words when they're
on the spot, if they're feelingnervous or they're feeling shy
in front of their friends, Tomake sure that they get all the
(40:32):
information across about whatthey need to eat somewhere
safely.
Absolutely.
I agree.
It's, it's, it's great thatyou're empowering your, your
young ones on, on all thingswith their allergies.
Cause I think that's exactly it.
It's, it's that transitioningover time, slowly, gradually of
responsibilities where they'restarting to take over their own
advocacy, their own healthcondition, because that's really
(40:55):
what it's all about with kidsand raising kids is.
Once they're 18, they're ready.
And, um, and that's, that can bea scary thought, but that's when
you know that you've done yourjob when off they go.
And you're confident thatthey're going to stay safe and
manage their allergies exactlythe way you hoped they would.
So it's, it's not all at once.
Good luck.
Here's everything you need toknow.
(41:16):
Get out of here.
Good luck.
But you know, by it's gradualevery age and stage that they're
taking ownership.
What do you want all of usparents to know about how to do
that process gradually?
General advice.
It's they start young,empowering very young to get
them, you know, reading, readingit lists and pushing them to
really do the work to help them.
(41:36):
themselves, um, to looking atgrocery store ingredients and
helping being part of thatselection process, to asking
questions at restaurants andbeing right there beside them
and supporting them really youngages to, to help guide them.
So it's natural and it's, it'sin their gut.
So when they are older, theyjust know, I know my red flags
(41:58):
and I know where they come from.
It's from being taught and beingguided on what's right and
what's wrong with these, withthese allergies.
I'd also say, you know, not onlyjust empowering your child, but
empowering your partner isreally important to me.
Where, unfortunately for ourcommunity, this is a
predominantly mom driven, uh,area, mom driven space.
(42:19):
And I think about, you know,it's, why is that?
Why aren't more dads steppingup?
Why aren't more men takingcomplete ownership?
Uh, over, over their child'shealth condition.
And I think it's something thatI would love for more men to, to
be involved in and, and take,take that responsibility.
(42:40):
It's, you know, I think with,um, with parents, it's easy for
one partner just to take thebrunt of it all.
And at one sign of a partner notshowing that they're stepping
up, dismissing to the pointwhere, Okay, you obviously can't
handle this.
I've got it.
And then that just rolls andthen that person's out, you
(43:01):
know, for me, it's reallyimportant, even just knowing my
child's sizes that I can buyshirts and pants, I want to be
equally involved in all of thesethings.
And I think that needs to be thesame with food allergies is that
even if your partner messes up,hopefully on a small scale, um,
that it's not over that you keeplearning from that and
empowering because it starts tomake divides.
(43:23):
And it starts to just lay all ofthat burden on one person when
that's just not fair.
And I think the more that we'reas a community, a unified front,
male, female, mom's dads, that'sa different voice.
All of a sudden that'sadvocating and making things
better.
And our kids see that.
So that's my, my one piece ofadvice is that it is a shared
responsibility and don't letyourself off the hook and don't
(43:46):
let your partner off the hook.
You got to keep at it.
I love that you're talking aboutthis because I think it's so
important.
To show our kids this as aUnited front.
In terms of how do we handle itand how seriously do we have to
take it?
I work a lot with people who arestruggling with what you're
describing in their homes and intheir families.
And what I, um, kind of frame itas for them is how we have these
(44:08):
tendencies to cope differently.
And when we frame it as copingskills, not who's right, or
who's wrong, or who made amistake and who got it right.
Is that.
Some of us tend to be more, um,In the fight or flight reaction
to some of us tend to be morefight.
I'm going to fight back againstthis thing that we're up
against.
And can I get all theinformation I'm going to take
(44:29):
charge?
I'm going to ask these hardquestions.
I'm going to advocate and speakup.
And then some people tend tohave more of a flight reaction,
which sounds like it's not thatbig of a deal.
We don't have to make a big dealout of it.
Let's not.
Um, you know, overreact, wecan't worry about it all the
time.
We need to live a normal lifeand both of those things are
true and both of those thingsare helpful.
(44:49):
Coping skills.
If we team up and we balanceeach other out, instead of
always being one way all thetime, then that gives the kids a
wider range of examples and amore balanced approach to how.
Absolutely.
So my last question is, tell ussomething great about having
food allergies.
(45:11):
Oh, wow.
Uh, well, I did write the songFood Allergies Rock.
Let me just recite the lyrics.
Right?
Uh, but no, that's what it's allabout.
You know, we're dealt with thesecards and how do we play them?
And I think for me, it'srealizing the positives that,
um, you know, for starters, Isee food very differently than
(45:33):
most people.
And I think that's a superpowerin its own right.
I get to be very conscious ofwhat goes into my body.
Food Allergy I'm very aware.
And I think in this day and agewhere, um, that that can be an
actual good thing to just interms of our own health and body
of being healthy and nutritious,um, being very creative in the
kitchen.
I think nothing that's presentedto me, you know, a cake recipe
(45:55):
or any of this is ever anobstacle.
It's just, okay, how do we goaround that?
And I think that spawnscreativity in a lot of different
ways of like.
You don't just accept the waythat things are.
You can find ways to make itwork for you.
And I think that's kind of ahidden superpower of, of having
food allergies.
I think empathy for each other'sdifferences is a huge one.
You know, we are dealing withsomething that is heavy on the
(46:18):
mind.
And knowing that other peoplehave different conditions and,
uh, issues.
I think this is also a hugething to understand where people
are coming from because we'vegot something that we're dealing
with every day.
Uh, and we're like, we can readthe biggest or the, sorry, the
smallest fine print in theworld, right?
With those ingredient labels,we've got just x rays, give me a
(46:39):
legal document.
I will read all the small print.
No problem.
So, you know, there's a lot ofbenefits, but I think at the end
of the day, it's embracing thosetwo.
Um, and not just the negativesof what was me, but you know, it
is what it is.
We might have this for the longrun.
How do we make the most?
I've loved having you here.
Thank you so much for all ofyour time and your generosity
with me and your patience withthe learning curve of me,
(47:02):
figuring out how to do apodcast.
Um, I, you have so much, that'svaluable to share both in your
work that you do and just whoyou are as a person and what you
share.
So I really appreciate yousharing that with all of us.
This is really great.
Yeah.
It's been really fun.
And, uh, I look forward tohearing it and I look forward to
following it to all the otherguests that you have.
I think this is a really cool,um, yeah, angle Looking for
(47:28):
someone to save the day lookingfor someone with super strength,
and if I eat something, I shouldman in a flying.
(47:53):
Epiman doesn't Everybody willsay the same.
A giant, thank you to Kyle dine.
What an amazing person.
It was great to chat.
That was a taste of his song.
Epi man, stay tuned, follow thepodcast, subscribe to my
(48:17):
newsletter on my website so thatyou won't miss what's coming up
next, which is what I'm verycheesily going to call the next
episode, where we explore ourepinephrin injectors, all of our
thoughts and feelings and fearswe have about using epi
confusion about when and how.
How to use it and how to flipthe script and make it something
(48:37):
that we view as.
Uh, superhero, like Kyle sayssomething to protect us and help
us out.
So that will be coming up soon.
In the meantime.
Here are three things you can donow, as you wrap up this episode
today to take some steps, tofeeling better and more
confident about food allergies,number one, check out Kyle's
music.
(48:57):
I just played a little bit ofepi man for you.
His song, the doghouse as myintro.
Thanks to him, generouslysharing that with me and
allowing me to use it.
His music is so much fun.
Share it with the kids in yourlife, not just the ones that
have food allergies, share itwith all of them, because it's
the information that we wanteverybody to know, and it gets
it across in a really fun andmemorable way.
(49:18):
You can listen to Kyle's music,wherever you stream your music.
Number two, you can also findout more information about Kyle
on his website.
Kyle dine.com, K Y L E D I Ne.com.
The link will be in the shownotes along with some of the
other resources that Kyle sharedwith you.
During the episode.
Go to his website and find outmore about the resources that he
(49:41):
has.
He has some great things to goalong with his music, some
things that you can purchase.
That's where you can connectwith him.
And request that he come to yourcommunity and share his
presentation and your child'sschool when he's out on tour and
educate the kids and the adultsin your community.
It's a really great way toapproach this topic from a
different angle and you won'tregret it.
(50:02):
And number three is to go toKyle's business website that he
told you about equal eats.com.
And that's where you can orderthe food and dining cards that
he was talking about.
Both the English version and thetranslation cards to help you
with travel, to help you withdining out, just to take a
little bit of a weight off ofyour shoulders and put it into
the hands of the experts thatKyle has worked with to develop
(50:24):
that product.
This podcast is forinformational and educational
purposes only.
It's not a substitute forprofessional medical advice,
diagnosis or treatment.
I'm Dr.
Amanda White house.
Thanks for joining me.
And until we chat again,remember don't feed the fear.
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