The Dr. Brighten Show

Think estrogen replacement causes cancer? Think again. In this game-changing episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with world-renowned OB-GYN and integrative medicine pioneer Dr. Felice Gersh to dismantle one of the most damaging myths in women's health. From hormone confusion and cancer fear to the power of estradiol in protecting your brain, heart, and mitochondria—this conversation is a full-b...

Think your gut is just about digestion? Think again. In this eye-opening episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten uncovers the surprising truth about how gut health probiotics and the right foods—especially fermented foods for gut health—can deeply impact your hormones, immune system, mood, and more. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by fatigue, bloating, heavy periods, thyroid issues, o...

What if the stress, exhaustion, and emotional reactivity you’re battling every day aren’t just personality quirks, but symptoms of nervous system dysregulation? In this deeply moving and enlightening episode, I sit down with Meliza Mokrani—trauma-informed health coach, founder of Worthy Wellness Studio, and nervous system educator—to explore how chronic stress, cultural conditioning, and unhealed...

In this eye-opening episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten unpacks the three hidden causes of fatigue most doctors miss and the real reasons so many women are running on empty. If you've ever been told it's just stress, aging, or that you need more sleep, this episode will feel like both a truth bomb and a roadmap. Through powerful insights on PCOS, neurodivergence, and cortisol dys...

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, Why is my body changing even though I haven’t? — this episode is your permission slip to stop blaming yourself. In this deep, funny, and jaw-droppingly real conversation, I sit down with Liz Wolfe, certified personal trainer, nutrition expert, and author of Eat the Yolks, to break down the real reasons women feel like their metabolism crashes in the...

Did you know that when estrogen drops during perimenopause and menopause, ADHD symptoms can skyrocket? If you’ve felt like your ADHD got worse overnight—or that your once-manageable brain fog, mood swings, or forgetfulness have taken over—you're not imagining things.  In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, we uncover the science behind how hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, insulin...

What if your autoimmune symptoms aren’t just about food, infections, or even your labs, but about the unresolved pain your body has carried for decades? In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with Justin Janoska, founder of The Autoimmune Revolution, to unpack the invisible—but measurable—impact of Complex Trauma on women’s health. From the emotional injuries of ch...

What if everything you’ve been told about period pain is wrong? In this eye-opening episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten—board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and hormone expert—blows the lid off the myth that suffering through painful periods is just part of being a woman. With a deeply personal story of being dismissed for nearly three decades before finally being diagnos...

What happens when you're in your 20s, seemingly healthy, and then your body turns on you overnight? In this powerful episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, model and wellness advocate Alaia Baldwin shares the deeply human side of living with polycystic ovarian syndrome insulin resistance, misdiagnosed cortisol face, and the complex journey of learning how to treat endometriosis. She talks intimately ab...

You stopped taking the pill… now what? For millions of women, the birth control pill has been a lifeline or a frustrating mystery. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten unpacks what really happens when you stop hormonal birth control and why no one in the doctor’s office seems to prepare you for the aftermath. Whether you're quitting the pill to get pregnant, manage side ef...

Are we really still using 70-year-old tools in women’s health? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with award-winning journalist and author Marina Gerner to expose how outdated our current reproductive health care system really is—from the epidural as the “last big innovation” in birth care to the lack of real advancement in birth control methods. But this conversation isn’t...

If you're in your 40s and wondering why your go-to health strategies aren’t working anymore, this episode is your wake-up call. Up to 80% of women develop insulin resistance during perimenopause—and most don’t even know it. Weight gain, cravings, brain fog, poor sleep, and stubborn belly fat could all be signs your metabolism is being hijacked by hormonal shifts. But here’s the kicker: you don’t h...

In this eye-opening episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with world-renowned dietitian and bestselling author Ilana Muhlstein to dismantle the myths and madness of the typical weight loss diet. Ilana doesn’t just talk the talk—she lost over 100 pounds, kept it off through three pregnancies, and helps millions do the same with her signature “Water First, Veggies Most” phi...

In this eye-opening episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with hormone expert and OB-GYN Dr. Tara Scott to debunk the most damaging myths about menopause and hormone therapy. If you’ve ever been told to “just deal with it” when it comes to menopause symptoms, or you’ve been scared off from exploring hormone replacement therapy (HRT), this is the empowering deep dive you’v...

In this eye-opening episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with Ashley Greene Khoury—actress, entrepreneur, and Twilight alum—and her co-founder Olivia Khoury, to talk about the one thing the health industry still gets so wrong: women’s pain. Together, they’re rewriting the story on periods, PMDD, and hormone health through their company, Hummingway—a brand disrupting the femcare space with...

What do forever chemicals, food dye bans, and the future of autism care have in common? According to Dr. Will Cole—more than you might think. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, we’re pulling back the curtain on the environmental toxins hiding in your clothes, cookware, and makeup, how the FDA banning food dye is just the tip of the iceberg, and what RFK Jr.’s controversial statements during...

Welcome to The Dr. Brighten Show! If you’ve ever wondered about your fertility, the quality of your eggs, or whether freezing them might be a smart move, this episode is a must-listen. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Debbie Cassis, an OBGYN, who has helped countless women navigate fertility preservation.  Whether you’re thinking about starting a family now or just want to preserve your options and unders...

If you’ve been dismissed with “normal labs” while still struggling with hair loss, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, anxiety, infertility, or exhaustion, this episode will feel like a lifeline. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with Dr. Izabella Wentz, clinical pharmacist, thyroid expert, and bestselling author, to uncover the real root causes of Hashimoto’s hypothyroidis...

If you’ve ever felt like your body is stuck in overdrive—wired, inflamed, exhausted—and no amount of supplements or protocols seem to help, this episode is for you. Dr. John Kim, functional medicine pharmacist and expert in cellular health, joins me to pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked root causes of chronic disease: the cell danger response. Born from autism research and grounde...

If you’ve ever felt like your brain is moving through molasses, your to-do list is shouting at you, and no amount of caffeine can bring you back to life—this episode is for you. In this raw and real conversation, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down the science, the lived experience, and the hormonal chaos behind ADHD burnout. Especially for women in perimenopause, burnout hits harder, lasts longer, an...

If you’ve ever gone from waking up at 5am to cold plunge, journal, and hit a high-protein breakfast… to crying on the couch while eating saltines and wondering if you’ll ever feel like yourself again—this episode is for you. Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with Aggie Lal to pull back the curtain on what pregnancy really feels like for high-performing women. It’s raw. It’s validating. And it redefine...

If you’ve been told that the key to thriving in perimenopause or menopause is endless cardio, eating less, or fasting longer—you’ve been sold a myth. In this powerhouse episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Stephanie Estima joins me to bust some of the biggest myths about fitness for menopause, including why traditional approaches often fail and what actually works to support your body, metabolism...

Testosterone therapy might be all the buzz—but is it actually the best choice for your health, your hormones, and your future fertility? In this powerful episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with top urologist and men’s health expert Dr. Justin Houman to uncover the truth about testosterone, sperm health, erectile dysfunction, and the real risks men aren’t being told before starting hormon...

If you’ve ever been told your bloating, reflux, or abdominal pain is “just IBS” or “probably stress,” you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I’m joined by leading surgeon and endoscopist, Dr. Paco de la Vega, to uncover the truth about gut dysfunction and why your digestive system deserves better answers. Dr. de la Vega practices in Mexico City and is a ra...

What happens when a pro athlete, model, wife, mother, and wellness powerhouse sits down to speak the unfiltered truth about being a woman in midlife? You get one of the most real, raw, and revolutionary conversations we’ve ever had on this show. In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Gabby Reece to unpack the evolution of strength, womanhood, parenting, and partnership—especially in a worl...