In this episode, I open up about my personal journey into medicine, how my son’s health crisis during medical school shaped the doctor I am today, and why I believe in practicing medicine with time, care, and accountability. As a licensed naturopathic medical doctor and primary care provider, I share how I balance conventional treatments with holistic approaches, and why I think medicine needs both science and humanity.

You’ll hear:

The personal story that drove me to become the kind of doctor I am today

Why I spend extra time with patients and focus on building trust

The strengths and challenges of both conventional and alternative medicine

How patients can learn who to trust in today’s confusing healthcare world

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

In this powerful series finale, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, shares a personal story about the humble beginnings of his practice—and then dives deep into a critical but often overlooked topic in medicine: self-silencing in women and how it profoundly impacts health.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How emotional suppression and chronic stress affect weight gain, fertility, autoimmunity, and thyroid function

Why simply telling women to “eat less” or “relax” is not real medicine—and what actually works

The role of intermittent fasting, hormonal support, and therapy in restoring health

How to identify self-silencing behaviors and start healing from the inside out

A discussion of GLP-1s, LDN, cold plunges, testosterone, thyroid labs, and more

A call for modern medicine to return to true, whole-person care

Whether you're a patient, physician, or just curious about the future of compassionate medicine—this one’s for you.

Citations: https://academic.oup.com/mend/article/15/11/1864/2747880 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2012.00177/full

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!

Why do so many women struggle with autoimmune issues, fertility challenges, cardiovascular disease, and weight gain—despite following medical advice?

In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, NMD, explores the overlooked connection between self-silencing—the habit of suppressing your voice, needs, and emotions—and women’s health. Drawing on years of patient care and research, he explains how chronic stress from silencing yourself impacts the body at a biochemical level, and what you can do about it.

You’ll learn: ✔️ How self-silencing triggers stress pathways that worsen inflammation and disease ✔️ Why heart rate variability is a powerful tool for tracking stress ✔️ Simple, science-backed therapies—from cold plunging to nutrition to breathing techniques ✔️ How physicians can address both the cause and the symptoms of stress-related illness ✔️ What treatments may help stabilize autoimmunity, cardiovascular risk, and fertility issues

This episode wraps up Dr. McCarthy’s series on self-silencing and offers practical strategies to support healing while doing the deeper inner work.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he’s helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He’s also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you’re ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.

👇 Tap Subscribe to learn more about what’s actually happening in your body, and what to do about it.

📘 Read Dr. McCarthy’s Book: Jump Off the Mood Swing – A Sane Woman’s Guide to Her Crazy Hormones https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-Swing-Hormones/dp/0999649604

📲 Follow Dr. McCarthy:

Instagram: @drbrendanmccarthy

TikTok: @drbrendanmccarthy

Website: www.protealife.com

💬 Got a question or topic for a future episode? Let us know in the comments!