As a toddler, Mia Silverman had a near-fatal encounter with an allergen. That emergency revealed to her parents not only that she was allergic to dozens and dozens of different everyday foods and additives, but that many of those allergies were life-threatening. Later, as a teen, Mia made a TikTok listing her myriad of allergies. What she didn’t anticipate, however, was that her TikTok would go viral and give her a platform through which to advocate for awareness for others just like her.

Mia Silverman joined host Jay Ruderman to talk about her journey from allergy sufferer to allergy awareness advocate. Mia discusses her experiences from childhood, including life-threatening allergic reactions, bullying, and the lack of awareness and support for those living with food allergies. Jay and Mia also speak about the practical aspects of her life, including dining out, traveling, and her efforts to bring systemic changes to improve support, care, and empathy for those living with severe allergies.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro to Mia Silverman

(00:41) Mia Discovers Her Severe Allergies

(03:32) Understanding and Testing for Allergies

(04:37) Mia’s List of Severe Allergies

(06:48) Experiencing Bullying Due to Allergies

(09:25) Mia Goes Viral

(13:03) Navigating Daily Life with Allergies

(19:09) Traveling with Severe Allergies

(23:09) Social Media Advocacy

(27:43) Future Goals and Advocacy Efforts

(31:11) Conclusion and Credits

For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation

Stay in touch:

X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn

LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation

Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation

To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/

Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at www.jayruderman.com.