The Dr. Brighten Show

Is estrogen cream for the face really the new holy grail of anti-aging—or is it another skincare trend overselling its promise? In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down the biology behind estrogen and skin aging, why women’s skin often changes rapidly after 35, and what clinical studies actually show about using topical estrogen on the face. This isn’t about chasing youth—it’s about understanding collagen loss, inflammation, and how hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause directly affect the skin. What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode, you’ll learn how estrogen interacts with the skin at a cellular level, why traditional skincare often stops working in midlife, and how clinicians are using estrogen cream for the face—specifically estriol and estradiol—in a thoughtful, medically supervised way. Dr. Brighten explains who may benefit, how these creams are typically used, what results are realistic, and which healthcare providers are qualified to prescribe them, all through a women’s-health-first, evidence-based lens. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience.  Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/ OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 LUMEBOX Ready to take your skincare results to the next level—right from home? 💡 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. Just minutes a day can help boost collagen, calm inflammation, and reveal that lit-from-within glow. It’s the same science trusted in top dermatology clinics, now in your hands. Shop now → https://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase. 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website:⁠⁠ https://www.drbrighten.com⁠⁠ 📸  Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠ 🎥 TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠ 🧵Threads: ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠ 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠⁠ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠⁠ 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Endometriosis shouldn’t require fame, influence, or extraordinary persistence to be taken seriously—yet that’s exactly what Lili Reinhart’s viral post reveals. In her deeply vulnerable message, she shared years of worsening symptoms, medical dismissal, and confusion that ultimately led her to discover she had both endometriosis and adenomyosis. Her experience mirrors the journey of millions of people who have been repeatedly told their pain is normal, exaggerated, or unrelated to their reproductive health. In this powerful episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten reacts to Lili’s post and uses it as a launch point to expose the endometriosis diagnosis myth, highlight the systemic failures that keep patients undiagnosed for years, and provide a clear, practical path for listeners who suspect endo but haven’t been taken seriously. Drawing from her own 29-year delay to diagnosis, her clinical expertise, and the lived experiences of her community, Dr. Brighten breaks down the biggest misconceptions, the biases baked into diagnostic processes, and the tools that actually help patients get answers. You’ll learn why “normal” imaging is often meaningless, how endometriosis can hide from inexperienced radiologists, and why patients who tell doctors they want to conceive get diagnosed faster—even when their symptoms are the same. You’ll also learn how pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder symptoms, digestive issues, fatigue, and systemic inflammation all intersect with endometriosis and what this means for your care. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience.  Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/ Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten LUMEBOX Ready to take your skincare results to the next level—right from home? 💡 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. Just minutes a day can help boost collagen, calm inflammation, and reveal that lit-from-within glow. It’s the same science trusted in top dermatology clinics, now in your hands. Shop now → https://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase. 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website:⁠ https://www.drbrighten.com⁠ 📸  Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠ 🧵Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠ 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠⁠ 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt like stress runs the show, your cortisol is permanently stuck on “high,” or mindfulness sounds great in theory but completely unrealistic in real life… this episode is about to change everything. Bestselling author and mindfulness teacher Rosie Acosta joins Dr. Jolene Brighten to reveal how you can lower cortisol, calm your nervous system, and shift out of survival mode in as little as 90 seconds — even if you’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or navigating perimenopause. From the science of vagus nerve breathing to the emotional reactivity of modern life, Rosie and Dr. Brighten break down how tiny, realistic mindfulness practices can literally reshape your brain, support hormone balance, and anchor you back into the person you want to be. This is one of those episodes that makes you pause, breathe differently, and rethink what it means to feel grounded. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience.  Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/ Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten LUMEBOX Ready to take your skincare results to the next level—right from home? 💡 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. Just minutes a day can help boost collagen, calm inflammation, and reveal that lit-from-within glow. It’s the same science trusted in top dermatology clinics, now in your hands. Shop now → https://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase. 💫 Follow Rosie Acosta: 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosieacosta/ 👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie/ ⭕ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/rosieacosta 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Loneliness isn’t just an emotional experience—it’s a biological event that behaves like a hidden hormone disorder. In this episode, Shawn Stevenson joins Dr. Brighten to expose how the effects of social isolation ripple across your cortisol levels, immune system, emotional stability, and even your genes. You’ll hear how technology, toxic relationships, fractured community networks, and modern family dynamics are driving a quiet but powerful shift in women’s health and longevity. What follows is one of the most illuminating, compassionate, and actionable conversations you’ll ever hear about connection, stress, and the biology of belonging. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant. Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 🔥 Follow Shawn Stevenson: 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnmodel/ 👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheModelHealthShow ⭕ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFV6nJ5zZ0__SXBkikfLlg 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve been waking up exhausted, crashing in the afternoon, gaining weight around your belly, or feeling overwhelmed by even the smallest things, this episode is going to be a turning point for you. So many women—especially women over 35 and women moving through perimenopause—are unknowingly dealing with chronic cortisol dysregulation, even when they’re eating well, exercising, and doing “everything right.” In today’s conversation, I walk you through how to reduce stress hormones naturally, using a simple and effective four-step plan you can begin today. You’ll also learn why the holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year for women’s hormones, and how to make small changes that allow you to enjoy the season without crashing in January. This episode blends science with practicality, and gives you the tools, data, and strategies you need to support cortisol in a way that’s sustainable, accessible, and incredibly effective. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Optimal Adrenal Kit — a science-backed system created to support women’s stress response, energy, and hormonal balance through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the exhaustion of chronic stress, the wired-and-tired cycles of adrenal imbalance, or the way burnout can amplify challenges with mood, focus, or sleep, you’re not alone. The Optimal Adrenal Kit brings together clinically informed adaptogens, targeted B-vitamins, and foundational adrenal nutrients to help nourish your stress pathways and support steady energy, emotional resilience, and whole-body vitality. Shop now https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/optimal-adrenal-kit?_pos=1&_psq=adrenal+kit&_ss=e&_v=1.0&selling_plan=995590178 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: ⁠https://www.drbrighten.com⁠ 📸  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠ 🎥 TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠ 🧵Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten⁠ 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! ⁠https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/⁠ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠ 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've noticed more hair in your brush, shedding in the shower, or a widening part line, you're in the right place. This episode breaks down the real reasons women lose hair and exactly what you can do about it. Because I promised in the episode that everything would be clearly divided into categories in the show notes, this page includes a step-by-step, science-backed protocol, organized by mechanism so you can easily follow and implement the plan. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience.  Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/ OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful and deeply validating conversation, we unpack what pain is actually telling you, how doctors should evaluate it, why so many women are misdiagnosed, and the anatomical truths every woman deserves to know about her pelvic health. If you've ever wondered why sex is painful and what to do next, this is the most comprehensive and actionable explanation you’ve ever heard—all based entirely on the insights from the episode transcript. For full episode notes see: https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/pain-during-sex/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think of traumatic brain injury (TBI) as something caused by a fall, car accident, or physical impact. But new research is redefining TBI entirely — and it has major implications for women. Emotional trauma, chronic stress, and prolonged cortisol elevation can create measurable changes in the brain that mimic the neurological patterns traditionally seen after concussions. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Peatross to explore the emerging science of stress-induced brain injury, why women are uniquely affected, and how emotional trauma disrupts everything from neurotransmitter production to gut permeability to hormone balance. We also discuss Jessica’s personal experience: a cascade of traumatic events, B-vitamin deficiencies, functional freeze, personality changes, and escalating neurological symptoms that eventually led to the discovery of a right-sided brain injury. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience.  Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/ Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten LUMEBOX Ready to take your skincare results to the next level—right from home? 💡 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. Just minutes a day can help boost collagen, calm inflammation, and reveal that lit-from-within glow. It’s the same science trusted in top dermatology clinics, now in your hands. Shop now → https://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase. ⭐ Follow Dr. Jessica Peatross: 💻  Website: https://drjessmd.com/ 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.jess.md/?hl=en 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women make up two out of three cases of Alzheimer’s disease, yet most are never told why—or what they can do to protect themselves long before symptoms appear. In this powerful conversation, Max Lugavere breaks down the misunderstood early drivers of cognitive decline, the role of metabolic health, how environmental toxins contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, and the research showing that the foods you eat every day can shift your brain’s trajectory decades before a diagnosis. If you’ve ever wondered why brain-related conditions disproportionately affect women, or whether prevention is actually possible, this episode is a must-listen. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience.  Shop now https://drbrighten.com/radiant/ Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 🔥 Follow Max Lugavere: 💻 Website: https://www.instagram.com/maxlugavere/?hl=en 📸  Instagram: https://www.maxlugavere.com/ ⭕ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/maxlugavere 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PCOS symptoms often intensify after 30 due to compounding insulin resistance, adrenal stress patterns, and brain–ovary signaling changes. As estrogen and progesterone begin subtle shifts in the mid-30s, many women experience more anovulatory cycles, higher cortisol responses, and worsening androgen symptoms. This episode takes a whole-system view of PCOS across the lifespan and reframes the condition not as a failure—but as a genetically programmed survival adaptation interacting with a modern environment that our biology wasn’t built for. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant. Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 🌟 Follow Fiona McCulloch : 💻 Website: https://drfionand.com/ 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfionand/ 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever wondered why your “IBS,” nausea, bowel pain, or gut flare-ups always seem to sync with your cycle, this conversation will feel like someone finally turned the lights on. In this episode, chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis specialist Dr. Jill Ingenito breaks down the deeply misunderstood connection between gut symptoms and endometriosis—why so many women are misdiagnosed, how prostaglandins wreak havoc on digestion, and what conventional gynecology is still getting wrong. If you’ve been dismissed, gaslit, or told “everything looks normal,” this episode is your roadmap to real answers. Overview of What You’ll Learn Using real patient stories, surgical insights, and the latest understanding of endometriosis biology, we unpack why gut symptoms are often the earliest sign of endo, how imaging fails women, and why the right kind of specialist matters. You’ll leave with an informed, empowered approach to your symptoms—plus clarity on what’s normal, what’s not, and what to do next. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 💫 Follow Dr. Jill Ingenito: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpelvicpaindo/ 👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086744101466&ref=_xav_ig_profile_page_web 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.com/@drpelvicpaindo 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if nearly everything you were taught about your menstrual cycle—and when you can actually get pregnant—was wrong? In this powerful episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with fertility awareness educator Lisa Hendrickson-Jack to expose myths that have shaped women’s health for generations. From the six-day fertile window to the real science behind ovulation, this conversation dismantles decades of misinformation about birth control, fertility, and how the medical system continues to fail women. You’ll never think about your cycle—or your doctor’s advice—the same way again. For full show notes and transcript see: https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/fertility-awareness-method/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like your body is running on the wrong schedule—wide awake at night, exhausted mid-morning, and wired by 10 p.m.? You’re not lazy or broken; you may just be living out of sync with your biology. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with sleep and hormone specialist Dr. Elisa Sacal to decode the science of chronotypes and hormones—how your genetics, gut health, and hormonal rhythms determine the best times to sleep, eat, and think clearly. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant. Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 Follow Dr. Elisa Sacal: 💻 Website: https://draelisasacal.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dra.elisasacal/ 👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dra.elisasacal/ 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling foggy, forgetful, or like your brain has lost its edge? You’re not imagining it. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten explains what your TSH lab test really tells you and what it doesn’t. Most doctors stop testing after TSH, but this brain-to-thyroid signal is only one piece of your hormonal story. You’ll learn how thyroid hormones influence energy, metabolism, mood, and focus, why women are far more likely to struggle with thyroid disorders, and which labs and nutrients can help you finally clear the brain fog for good. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Thyroid Support https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/thyroid-support — featuring selenium, zinc, coleus forskohlii, and tyrosine to support healthy thyroid hormone production and conversion. Also mentioned: Women’s Twice Daily https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/womens-twice-daily multivitamin (for vitamin A, B2, and manganese) Vitamin D https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/vitamin-d3-k2 & Omega Plus https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/omega-plus for immune and thyroid balance Beyond the Pill https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/beyond-the-pill and Is This Normal? https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/is-this-normal by Dr. Jolene Brighten 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your focus, mood, and memory seem to fluctuate with your menstrual cycle, or your brain fog worsened during perimenopause, you’re not imagining things. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten sits down with ADHD therapist and educator Andrew Robinson, MSW, to uncover how hormones directly influence ADHD symptoms — and why so many women are still being overlooked, dismissed, or misdiagnosed. You’ll learn how ADHD can cut 8 years off life expectancy when untreated, why stimulant medications save lives, and how tracking hormonal shifts can reveal patterns that help you manage your brain instead of fighting it. Dr. Brighten and Andrew share the science, the stories, and the strategies women need to finally understand their brains — not blame them. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant. Follow Andrew Robinson: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myadhdcounselor/?hl=en 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myadhdcounselor 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.com/@myadhdcounselor?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When your body starts changing in your late 30s and 40s, fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog are often blamed on “just perimenopause.” But the truth? Your thyroid is probably struggling too. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten and Dr. Christine Maren expose why thyroid issues surge during perimenopause, how gut health plays a surprising role, and what real hormone balance looks like when you stop being dismissed by conventional medicine. This Episode Is Brought to You By: Dr. Brighten Essentials  Want science-backed supplements formulated by a doctor who actually understands women’s health? 🌿 At Dr. Brighten Essentials, every product is crafted to support your hormones, boost your energy, and help you feel your best—inside and out. From targeted nutrients for glowing skin to essentials that fuel your daily vitality, you’ll get the highest-quality ingredients in forms your body can truly use. Exclusive for podcast listeners: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off your order. Shop now → https://drbrightenessentials.com⁠ 💫 Follow Dr. Christine Maren: 💻 Website: https://drchristinemaren.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchristinemaren/?hl=en 👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrChristineMaren/ 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com⁠ 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten⁠ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you tired of hearing that the teenage years are guaranteed to be a struggle? What if the traditional advice about raising teens is actually making things harder? In this revealing episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart uncovers why 79% of Gen Z parents are stepping in to solve their kids’ problems—and what this trend exposes about modern parenting. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your teen or unsure how to support their mental health, this conversation will reshape how you understand and navigate adolescence. You’ll learn practical, science-based strategies to help your teen build confidence, resilience, and emotional independence—while strengthening your relationship so they’ll actually open up about the tough stuff, from anxiety and depression to academic pressure and identity challenges. 💫 Follow Ann-Louise Lockhart: 💻 Website: https://www.anewdaysa.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart 🧵Threads:  https://www.threads.net/@dr.annlouise.lockhart 👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart/ 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:   YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten⁠ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we still trust modern medicine? In this eye-opening episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten speaks with integrative pediatrician Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh about how the pharmaceutical industry influences medicine, research, and public health. Together, they expose where the system puts profit over people—and share how transparency, prevention, and empowerment can help rebuild real trust in healthcare. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials 🧠  Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied Affron® saffron, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant. Links Mentioned in This Episode JAMA Network Open: Trends in Public Trust in the U.S. Health Care System, 2020–2024 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821693 World Health Organization: Vitamin A Supplementation in Measles Treatment https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/vitamin-a-supplementation-in-measles The Flexner Report (1910) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3178858/ Consumer Reports: Heavy Metals in Infant Formula https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/baby-formula/baby-formula-contaminants-test-results-a7140095293/ NIH Review: Effects of Food Dyes on Children’s Behavior https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9052604/ Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli at Pfizer Settlement Press Conference https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/speech/associate-attorney-general-tom-perrelli-pfizer-settlement-press-conference?utm_source=chatgpt.com 🩺 Follow Dr. Joel Gator Warsh: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjoelgator/?hl=en 🏥 Clinic: https://integrativepediatricsandmedicine.com/about/ 📖 Book: https://amzn.to/4opx82D 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered why your sex life changes over time — or why what once worked no longer lights you up? In this powerful episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, a tenured professor of sexual communication at California State University, Fullerton, joins Dr. Jolene Brighten to share the science of sexual personality and the psychology of pleasure, communication, and confidence. Together, they explore what it really takes to improve your sex life, deepen intimacy, and understand your partner on a whole new level — using data-driven insights and decades of research in sexual mindfulness, relational communication, and women’s sexual well-being. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant. Sunlighten Saunas Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind?  At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten OneSkin  Founded by an all-woman team of PhD-level scientists, OneSkin is revolutionizing aging with the OS-01™ peptide, the first ingredient proven to reverse skin’s biological age by targeting cellular senescence. The result? Skin that looks, feels, and acts younger. It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in your skin health. Shop now https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/1950532/2885132/31050 ❤️‍🔥 Follow Dr. Tara: 💻 Website: https://www.luvbites.co/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luvbites.co/?hl=en 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luvbites.co ⭕ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrbW6PCKjgcxkq3dTvjjeyQ 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Human connection isn’t optional—it’s a biological survival mechanism. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, neuroscientist Dr. Ben Rein exposes the shocking truth about the loneliness epidemic—how chronic isolation alters your brain, weakens your immune system, and increases your risk of death. Together, we explore the neuroscience of empathy, the hormonal roots of connection, and why the modern world is quietly reshaping our ability to feel for one another. This episode is brought to you by: Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind—a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. And for a limited time, when you order Radiant Mind, you’ll also receive a free bottle of our best-selling Magnesium Plus—the perfect partner for restorative sleep and steady mood. Learn more at http://drbrighten.com/radiant. Follow Dr. Ben Rein: 💻 Website: https://www.benrein.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.benrein/?hl=en 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.benrein 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoleneBrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices