I Did My Own Research

In this episode, Dr. Fran sits down with Dr. Sara Neill (@SarOBGYN), a complex family planning specialist, to unpack the flood of misinformation swirling around birth control and abortion care. Dr. Neill walks through what complex family planning actually involves — abortion care, contraception, and pregnancy loss care — and shares what a typical (if unpredictable) week looks like between clinic,...

This week, Dr. Fran sits down with clinical pharmacist Dr. Melissa, PharmD ( @Pharmomacist ), whose online platform tackles postpartum mental health, vaccine data, over-the-counter medications, and skincare. Dr. Melissa walks through her path into ambulatory care pharmacy, including her work in cardiology and a pharmacist-run clinic focused on high-risk patients — and explains why pharmacists ofte...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research, Dr. Fran sits down with Dr. Padget Skogman — Iowa-based pediatrician, mom of three, and medical content creator — for a wide-ranging conversation about modern parenthood, the pressure of too much information, and how to raise kids confidently in a screen-saturated world. They dig into why parents today are more anxious than ever (hint: it's not a lack of i...

Dr. Fran sits down with Melinda French Gates — philanthropist and founder of Pivotal, a group of organizations she founded to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people in the U.S. and around the world. Following an announcement of new funding commitments that bring her total investment in women's health to over $600 million in the last two years. Melinda shares why she is d...

Dr. Fran sits down in person with Dr. Betsy Grunch, board-certified neurosurgeon and creator behind the popular Lady Spine Doc brand, recorded live at the Pinnacle Conference in Austin. Dr. Grunch shares the deeply personal story that drew her to neurosurgery — her mother's spinal cord injury as a police officer — and walks listeners through her path from the University of Georgia to a six-year re...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with registered dietitian and prenatal nutrition expert Jessica Monroe to unpack the complicated — and often oversimplified — world of fertility nutrition. From PCOS and endometriosis to IVF, supplements, and male factor infertility, they dive into what the evidence actually says versus what social media wants you to believe. Together,...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with her sister, board-certified family medicine physician Dr. Victoria Hasselhof, for a conversation about practicing medicine across two countries, navigating medical misinformation online, and what patients are really looking for from doctors in the social media era. Dr. Hasselhof shares her unique path through medical school in Germ...

Dr. Fran sits down with registered dietitian, researcher, and science communicator Kevin Klatt for a wide-ranging conversation about nutrition science, public health, and how misinformation thrives when complex problems get reduced to simplistic solutions. From the realities of becoming a PhD/RD and conducting actual nutrition research, to the rise of wellness influencers, functional medicine, and...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with labor and delivery nurse, social media educator, and chicken swaddler Jen Hamilton to unpack how birth conversations have evolved online—and what’s getting lost in the noise. Together, they challenge the growing narrative that all medical intervention is inherently harmful, reframing it instead as a set of tools that can be thought...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with triple board-certified intensivist and pulmonologist Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim to unpack what’s really happening at the intersection of medicine, misinformation, and social media. They explore how dismissing patients’ online research can backfire—and why listening first may be the most powerful tool clinicians have. From ICU misconceptio...

Dr. Fran is joined by board-certified pediatrician Dr. Cerissa Key to unpack the overwhelming world of pediatric and parenting misinformation—and how social media is both fueling and fighting it. From viral “wellness” trends to dangerous supplement misuse, they dive into why “natural” doesn’t always mean safe, and how even vitamins can cause real harm when misused. They explore the reality that pa...

Diminished ovarian reserve can feel deeply personal—and often deeply misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Fran is joined by reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lucky Sekhon to break down one of the most anxiety-provoking fertility topics online. Together, they unpack why egg count does not equal fertility, and how misinformation—especially around supplements, hormones, and “natural” fertility fixes—ca...

This episode of I Did My Own Research dives into the world of nutrition misinformation and why it’s everywhere. Dr. Fran is joined by Colleen Sloan, PA-C and registered dietitian behind Exam Room Nutrition , to break down how social media has blurred the lines between evidence-based guidance and viral diet trends. They discuss why “everyone eats” — and therefore everyone feels like an expert — and...

In the first-ever in-person episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with pediatric emergency physician and viral educator Dr. Beachgem to talk about the real impact of medical misinformation—and what it’s like to fight it from both the ER and the internet. From building a platform during COVID to reaching millions with life-saving content, Dr. Beachgem shares how social media has tra...

This week on I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran is joined by pelvic floor physical therapist Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas (aka The Pelvic Dance Floor) to break down one of the most misunderstood areas of health online. From the myth that everyone should be doing Kegels to the reality that pelvic floor dysfunction isn’t one-size-fits-all, they unpack how viral “quick fixes” often miss the mark. Alicia expla...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with Dr. Robin Roth, breast radiologist and creator of “ The Boobie Docs ,” to tackle the growing problem of medical misinformation on social media—especially around breast cancer screening. They break down myths about mammograms, thermography, and dense breast tissue, and discuss how financial incentives often fuel harmful disinformati...

Dr. Fran is joined by Dr. Olivia Richman to discuss the rise of physician influencers and the power of social media to drive real change in healthcare. Dr. Richman shares her journey from educating peers about sexual health to building Docfluencer MDO —a growing community of medical creators using their platforms to combat misinformation, amplify public health messaging, and advocate for reform. T...

“Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist—but becoming a registered dietitian takes years of training.” In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran is joined by registered dietitian and PCOS educator Cori Ruth, also known online as The Women’s Dietitian , to break down the difference between evidence-based nutrition advice and the wellness misinformation circulating across social media. C...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with pediatrician Sandeepa Raj to talk about what it’s really like practicing medicine—and parenting—in the age of social media. With over 20 years of experience in pediatrics across private practice, hospital systems, and volunteer work at free clinics, Dr. Raj shares how the landscape of pediatric care has changed and why misinformati...

Longevity, biohacking, peptides, supplements—social media is full of promises about how to live longer. But how much of it is actually backed by evidence? In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran is joined by geriatrician Dr. Stephanie Rogers (Age Well with Dr. Steph) , Associate Chief of Geriatrics Clinical Programs at UCSF. Together, they unpack what actually helps people age well—and...

In this episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran is joined by Dr. Emily Pfender, a PhD-trained health communication researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, to break down what’s actually happening with women’s health information on social media. From viral birth control fear-mongering to preeclampsia misinformation shared by self-identified “medical providers,” Dr. Pfender walks us through...

When misinformation about decreased fetal movement nearly cost her nephew his life, Sarah RN ( @Labor_Junkie_RN) knew she couldn’t stay silent. In this powerful episode of I Did My Own Research , Dr. Fran sits down with Sarah—better known online as LaborJunkieRN—an experienced high-risk OB nurse with over a decade at the bedside and more than 1.3 million followers across social media. Sarah shares...

The podcast 'I Did My Own Research' explores the impact of medical misinformation and the role of healthcare professionals in combating it. Dr. Fran shares her personal journey, the challenges of residency, and her engagement with medical content on social media. The podcast addresses the spread of misleading medical information, patient frustration, and the need for open conversations to combat m...