Questions People Ask is the podcast that answers the questions people ask most about Alpha-Gal Syndrome and more. Hosted by allergist and leading researcher Dr. Scott Commins, the show breaks down the mysteries of red meat allergy, tick bites, food reactions, diagnosis, treatment, and everyday life with AGS.... plus just questions Dr. Scott gets asked all the time as a clinician! Whether you're newly diagnosed with AGS or other allergies, a doctor working with AGS patients, or simply interested in the latest medical & scientific updates, this podcast brings expert insight, practical information, and real-world understanding to complex topics.
AGS, malaria, and a potential treatment with Dr Peter Crompton
Dr Commins is joined by Dr Peter Crompton of the NIH / NIAID to discuss their recent publication. They cover how their recent collaborative work could lead to a potential treatment for AGS as well as how resistance to malaria impacts our understanding of AGS.
6 Oct 2026
Heart valves and heparin in AGS: cardiac surgeons' perspectives
Dr Commins is joined by two cardiothoracic surgeons, Drs Turek and Kucera, who have replaced heart valves in over 100 patients with AGS. These two experts answer questions about this controversial and important topic, share their first-hand knowledge and discuss their experience managing valves from pigs or cows in patients allergic to both.
27 Aug 2026
AGS and Transfusion Reactions
Dr. Nancy Dunbar and Dr. Richard Kaufman join Dr. Commins to discuss the recent JAMA Internal Medicine paper that reports higher rates of transfusion reactions in U.S. medical centers located within lone star tick territory. They talk through the basics of blood type, transfusion reactions and end with the surprising findings of the appropriately named UPTICK study.
20 Aug 2026
National alpha-gal surveillance with Dr. Eleanor Saunders
Dr. Eleanor Saunders, MD, MPH joins Dr. Commins to discuss the recent MMWR paper that reports results from surveillance testing of blood donors from 10 states for alpha-gal IgE. They talk through the surprising findings, as well as Dr. Saunders' insights from screening a unique cohort from the US Army (unpublished data).
1 Aug 2026
The Martha's Vineyard perspective on AGS
Dr. Scott Commins is joined by Lea Hamner, an epidemiologist with the Martha's Vineyard Tick Program, and Aubrey Ryan, an emergency medicine physician assistant and clinician at Tick Wise MV, to discuss the rise of Alpha-gal Syndrome and lone star ticks on Martha's Vineyard. They also share key takeaways from the recent Alpha-gal Syndrome Scientific Meeting and what they mean for patients, clinicians, and ongoing research.
20 Jul 2026
Episode 4 - A dietary & nutrition focus on Alpha-gal Syndrome with Julie Kennedy
In this episode of Questions People Ask, Dr. Scott Commins is joined by registered dietitian Julie Kennedy, who specializes in helping people navigate life after complex food-related diagnoses, including Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Together they discuss what happens after the doctor's appointment, when patients are left to rebuild their relationship with food.
Julie shares practical advice for managing nutrition without unnecessary restrictions, avoiding common mistakes, finding safe sources of protein and key nutrients, and learning how to separate fear from facts. They also explore why food is about much more than nutrition, touching on grief, anxiety, quality of life, and the emotional impact of losing foods that are tied to family, traditions, and identity. How can the right support system help people regain confidence around eating?
6 Jul 2026
Alpha-gal Syndrome with Dr. Sachin Shah of Pill Clarity
Dr. Commins sits down with Dr. Sachin Shah, a pharmacist and co-founder/CEO of Pill Clarity, to talk about how hard it can be to figure out what’s actually in your medications. They get into the hidden ingredients in drugs and supplements, and why that matters for people with allergies or specific dietary needs. Pill Clarity works to make this process easier by helping both patients and healthcare providers identify products that are free from animal-derived ingredients and common allergens.
Learn more: https://www.pillclarity.org/
10 Jun 2026
Trailer
Questions People Ask is the podcast that answers the questions people ask most about Alpha-Gal Syndrome and more. Hosted by allergist and leading researcher Dr. Scott Commins, the show breaks down the mysteries of red meat allergy, tick bites, food reactions, diagnosis, treatment, and everyday life with AGS.... plus just questions Dr. Scott gets asked all the time as a clinician! Whether you’re newly diagnosed with AGS or other allergies, a doctor working with AGS patients, or simply interested in the latest medical & scientific updates, this podcast brings expert insight, practical information, and real-world understanding to complex topics. Out now, wherever you get your podcasts.
10 Jun 2026
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Background & Basics
What is Alpha-gal syndrome? How do you get it? Why do reactions happen hours after eating? And can it actually go away? In the first episode of Questions People Ask, allergist, researcher, and leading Alpha-Gal expert Dr. Scott Commins answers the questions he hears most often from patients newly diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), the tick-associated allergy linked to red meat and mammalian products. Dr. Commins breaks down what Alpha-Gal actually is, how AGS develops after tick bites, and why reactions can be delayed, inconsistent, and difficult to recognize. He walks through the symptoms that may point toward a diagnosis, from hives, itching, and swelling to gastrointestinal distress, breathing symptoms, and isolated GI reactions that often go overlooked.
10 Jun 2026
Alpha-Gal Syndrome for Healthcare Providers
In Episode 2 of Questions People Ask, Dr. Scott Commins takes a deeper dive into the clinical side of Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), sharing practical insights drawn from years of treating patients and researching this complex condition.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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