The Dr. Brighten Show

Have you ever forgotten mid-sentence what you were saying, or walked into a room only to wonder why you went there in the first place? You’re not alone and it’s not “just aging.” In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten explains how hormonal shifts, poor sleep, and chronic stress can steal mental clarity and shares practical, evidence-based strategies to reverse it. This episo...

What if your doctor told you endometriosis was just “bad periods” — and the only solution was surgery or the pill? In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, functional nutritionist and former engineer Khush Sra shares how she went from five surgeries and two decades of endometriosis pain to living pain-free for 20 years. Her transformation came not from another prescription, but from a whole-body,...

Hot flashes can feel overwhelming—leaving you drenched in sweat at 2 AM, exhausted during the day, and wondering if relief is even possible. The good news? There are natural remedies for hot flashes that go beyond quick fixes and are backed by science. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, we uncover simple, effective strategies that not only ease hot flashes but also support clearer thinking,...

Struggling with mood swings, anxiety, or depression before your period and wondering if it’s more than just “PMS”? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Hill, trailblazing researcher and author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain, to uncover the hidden symptoms of PMDD and PMS that most doctors miss. We dive deep into how horm...

ADHD in women is often misunderstood and autism in women is even more invisible. In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Samantha Hiew, award-winning speaker, researcher, and author of Tip of the ADHD Iceberg. Together, we break down the myths, the biology, and the lived experience that medicine has ignored for too long. In this episode, you’ll discover why so many women are dismissed i...

Kick the “eat less, move more” myth to the curb. In this episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with strength coach Tara LaFerrara to explain why resistance training is the queen for perimenopausal and menopausal women who want real results—better body recomposition, stronger bones, steadier energy, and less belly fat—without living on a treadmill or wrecking their hormones. You’ll learn how to tr...

Interested in trying OneSkin for yourself Visit http://oneskin.co/BRIGHTEN and use code BRIGHTEN for 15% off your first purchase. Discover the best skincare products for aging skin and the science behind peptides that target “zombie cells” to support hair growth and skin longevity. View full show notes and all links at https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/oneskin/. Chapters — Key Moments 00:00 — Episod...

If you’ve ever struggled with bloating, brain fog, or unexplained fatigue, you’ve probably wondered: Is it IBS, SIBO, or something else? In this episode of the Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with gut health powerhouse Dr. Carolina Gonzalez to uncover the truth about digestive disorders that are often misdiagnosed. They cut through the noise around parasite cleanses, leaky gut, an...

Menopause brain fog is the short-term difficulty with focus, word-finding, and memory that can show up in perimenopause and early postmenopause. It’s driven by estradiol fluctuations, declining progesterone/allopregnanolone (ALLO), and sleep fragmentation from hot flashes. The good news? It’s usually reversible with symptom treatment and daily habit shifts. Listen to this episode for the full brai...

Natural treatments eczema, eczema moisturisers, and dyshidrotic dermatitis—what actually helps and what quietly makes skin worse. View the full show notes and all links mentioned at https://drbrighten.com. This episode is brought to you by: Dr. Brighten Essentials Use the Code: POD15 to save 15% on your order https://drbrightenessentials.com/ Chorus Exclusive for podcast listeners: http://chorusfo...

If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when you desperately wanted to say “no,” you’re not alone—especially if you’re a woman living with ADHD. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with ADHD coach and author Meredith Carder to uncover why chronic people pleasing in ADHD women is so common, how it connects to masking, guilt, and burnout, and most importantly—how you can break fr...

In this conversation, Dr. Jolene Brighten and quadruple–board-certified allergist & immunologist Dr. Kara Wada unpack why sjogren's disease is widely under-recognized, how “perfectionist” health habits can backfire into autoimmune flares, and exactly how to think about sjogren's treatment, testing, microbiome/barrier health, dysautonomia, POTS, MCAS, and smarter allergy therapies. A sjogren’s test...

If your midlife metabolism suddenly stopped playing by the old rules, you’re not imagining it. In this episode, Dr. Brighten breaks down how perimenopause and menopause shift insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, appetite, and recovery and where glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (think semaglutide/Ozempic, Wegovy, liraglutide, tirzepatide as a related incretin therapy) can fit saf...

Does endometriosis go away after menopause? Many women hope so, but the reality is more complex. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with Dr. Melissa McHale to unpack the latest science, surgical risks, and what women truly need to know about navigating endometriosis during perimenopause and menopause. This Episode Is Brought to You By LUMEBOX 💡 LUME Box delivers professional-gra...

So you finally got your progesterone prescription to help you sleep better, feel calmer, and support your hormones, but instead of feeling better, you’re more anxious, moody, and wide awake at night. You might have progesterone intolerance. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I uncover why some women experience the opposite of the “calming” benefits they’re promised, and what new research re...

Are you unknowingly feeding your kids foods that sabotage their gut health, disrupt hormones, and even affect brain performance? In this eye‑opening conversation, I sit down with pediatric functional medicine expert Dr. Elisa Song to uncover the hidden ingredients and environmental exposures shaping your child’s mood, focus, immune health, and long‑term development. From sugar and brain function t...

Dermatologist Dr. Sara Cherem joins Dr. Jolene Brighten to share proven tips, bust myths, and reveal treatments that actually protect, restore, and rejuvenate your skin at every stage of life. This episode is brought to you by:  LUMEBOX LUME Box delivers professional-grade LED light therapy in a sleek, easy-to-use device that targets fine lines, pigmentation, and dullness at the cellular level. It...

Better sleep means better hormones and in this episode, I’ll show you exactly how to sleep better by tackling three often-overlooked disruptors: blood sugar crashes, histamine surges, and ADHD-related sleep challenges. If you’ve already tried balancing estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol (covered in Part One), but you’re still waking up in the middle of the night, this is the episode you need. 🎧...

Struggling to fall asleep… stay asleep… or waking up at 2 AM with your heart racing and your sheets soaked? These sleep disturbances are not in your head and they’re not something you just have to live with. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, we dive deep into what’s really going on when women can’t sleep during perimenopause. You’ll learn why melatonin alone won’t fix it, how to naturally...

What if the foods you eat could literally turn back the clock on your biological age—and even delay menopause? In this groundbreaking episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I’m joined by Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, a functional medicine leader and author of Younger You, to explore the science behind ovarian rejuvenation, age reversal, and how a longevity diet rich in polyphenols could hold the key to staying...

If you feel achy, foggy, nauseous, or feverish before your period—only to have it all vanish once your bleed begins—you’re not alone. You may be experiencing menstrual flu, a cluster of flu-like symptoms that affect countless women during the luteal phase, yet remains mostly unrecognized by conventional medicine. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, we break the silence around period flu symp...

What if the nutrition advice you’ve followed for decades—like low-fat foods, “toning” workouts, or calorie restriction—was actually sabotaging your metabolism and hormones? In this episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with Liz Plosser, former editor-in-chief of Women’s Health magazine, to uncover the truth about high protein diets, strength training, and the power of creatine for women, especial...

What if the best diet for ADHD isn’t about strict elimination or food fear, but about nourishing your brain to function at its best? In this powerful conversation, Tim Frie, nutritional neuroscience researcher, joins me to unpack how your food environment, nutrient intake, and even your stress levels shape your focus, mood, and executive function. We go far beyond the hype and fear-mongering aroun...

If you’ve been searching for the real answers about PCOS, fertility, and what actually works to balance your hormones, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. Cory Ruth, Registered Dietitian and women’s hormone expert, joins me to share exactly how your diet, gut health, and key supplements can transform your health, improve fertility, and help you feel like yourself again—without perfectioni...

Have you ever wondered if your brain fog, fatigue, and painful periods might actually be connected? In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I share groundbreaking research and personal experience showing how women diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to also have endometriosis and vice versa. This is a conversation every woman struggling with hormone-driven symptoms, chronic pain, or neurodiverge...