The Dr. Brighten Show

• ADHD Burnout? Your Hormones Might Be Sabotaging You

  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, and is often misunderstood by everyone—including your doctors. This isn’t just about feeling tired. It’s about the slow, invisible unraveling of your executive function, emotional regulation, and ability to feel joy. And it's made worse by fluctuating estrogen, relentless life stress, and decades of masking in a neurotypical world. You’ll learn how to recognize ADHD burnout symptoms before they take over, what the 5 stages of burnout actually look like in real life, and the most effective tools for ADHD burnout recovery—without toxic positivity, shame, or one-size-fits-all advice. 🎙️ SPONSORSHIP LINKS Dr. Brighten Essentials: https://drbrightenessentials.com  use code POD15 for 15% off  LMNT Electrolytes: http://drinklmnt.com/Brighten receive your exclusive gift with purchase – Helping you support your child’s development with science-backed products. Sunlighten Saunas: https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten use the code drbrighten to save up to $1,400 on your sauna purchase. Pulsetto  Support our sponsors and help keep this show free and packed with amazing guests! 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  Free 5-Day Mini Course: ADHD Hormone + Brain Sync by Dr. Brighten https://drbrighten.com/sync/  Podcast Episode on Sleep + ADHD https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/adhd-sleep-hormones/ Podcast Episode on GABA and Anxiety https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/struggling-with-sleep-amp-anxiety/ Podcast Episode on Vagus Nerve Stimulation https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/why-you-need-to-stimulate-vagus-nerve/ Research: ADHD and Co-occurring Autism (70% statistic) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8918663/ 🔥 CONNECT WITH 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 perimenopause hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/plan/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Intuitive Biohacking: Ditching Perfectionism and Listening to Your Body in Pregnancy | Aggie Lal

  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 redefines what it means to be healthy when your body demands rest, not optimization. Aggie shares how pregnancy shook up her identity as a disciplined wellness devotee, and how she learned to trust her body in entirely new ways. They talk about the deep unlearning required to move from “doing it all” to simply being. This is a conversation about softness, surrender, and strength redefined. This Episode Is Brought to You By: Dr. Brighten Essentials: https://drbrightenessentials.com use code POD15 for 15% off – Supporting parents and families with tools that work. Lume Box: http://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase. Sunlighten Infrared Saunas: https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten use the code drbrighten to save up to $1,400 on your sauna purchase. Links Mentioned in This Episode: Aggie Lal's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aggie/ Aggie Lal’s Book: Biohack Like a Woman https://www.amazon.com/Biohack-Like-Woman-Effortlessly-Superpowers/dp/B0CQQL9129/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3DdPmGFgrkEAKt4ALqmtoTuIdwhTNAA3hrjUO9oxwkvPPZHS2q63lj_IAbtraHIGATy-IHeb63liLuT8ItHm5XxpSMfvxuJTxMrJjEUhpC0.FBRfjur2hCwBRyFv2VWRoy0n47ZoaH_v8ESXsn5mZlQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694580820371&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9193094&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=11867392511461301490--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11867392511461301490&hvtargid=kwd-1068218537472&hydadcr=22533_13493232&keywords=aggie+lal+book&mcid=9ffb1da8962a36baa3847c0484d8a5fe&qid=1746481798&sr=8-1 Dr. Brighten’s Prenatal Plus: https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/prenatal-plus?srsltid=AfmBOooifgMzU_ukEBAXE-FaEp00cPnyRlLLXVSaQ9rgdodGaUBhohsB&selling_plan=995786786 Dr. Jolene Brighten’s Book: Is This Normal? https://amzn.to/3wvdgWy Follow Aggie Lal: Website: https://higherselfacademy.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aggie/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@biohackingbestie 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 https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:12:30
• Fitness for Menopause Myths Busted: What Actually Works for Muscle, Metabolism, and Hormone Balance | Stephanie Estima

  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, and hormones at this stage of life. Whether your goal is to maintain muscle, reduce symptoms, or finally figure out why your workouts aren’t delivering results like they used to, this episode is your essential guide to exercise for menopause belly, metabolism, and strength. We’re cutting through the noise to bring you practical advice rooted in science, plus the compassionate, no-BS clarity you deserve. If you’ve ever wondered why the same workouts that worked in your 20s no longer cut it—or why strength training for menopause is about so much more than building muscle—this conversation delivers the tools you need to feel strong, energized, and hormonally balanced. This Episode is Brought to You By: Chorus: http://chorusforlife.com/drbrighten and receive 10 percent off your order or subscription Dr. Brighten Essentials: http://www.drbrightenessentials.com use code POD15 for 15% off Sunlighten Infrared Saunas: use the code drbrighten to save up to $1,400 on your sauna purchase. https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten If you found this helpful, please like, share, and subscribe—and don’t forget to leave a comment with your biggest takeaway from the episode! Your support helps this message reach more women who deserve evidence-based strategies for hormone health and fitness. Links Mentioned: - Perimenopausal Weight Lose Guide: https://drbrighten.com/plan/ - Related episodes: Perimenopause? How to Lose Weight https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/perimenopause-how-to-lose-weight/ Is HRT the Answer? https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/hrt-for-menopause/ What Is Perimenopause? https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/perimenopause-symptoms-solutions-explained/ Follow Stephanie Estima: 💻 Website: https://drstephanieestima.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.stephanie.estima/?hl=en 🟥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrStephanieEstima 🎙️Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-dr-stephanie/id1479074542 👩🏻‍⚕️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

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  1:16:49
• Low Testosterone, Poor Sperm, and the Silent Crisis in Men’s Health | Justin Houman

  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 hormone therapy. Whether you’re concerned about your partner, your son, your brother—or you’re a man navigating these questions yourself—this episode is packed with essential insights that every family should know. If you’ve heard that low testosterone is the reason behind every man’s low energy, low libido, or mood swings, this episode might surprise you. We’re breaking down what’s actually going on with men’s hormones today, why more young men are struggling with testosterone and fertility, and what steps can truly optimize hormone health—without jumping straight to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Plus, we discuss the often-overlooked impact of lifestyle, environmental toxins, and medications like hair loss drugs on hormone health and sperm quality. This Episode is Brought to You By: Chorus: http://chorusforlife.com/drbrighten and receive 10 percent off your order or subscription Dr. Brighten Essentials: http://www.drbrightenessentials.com use code POD15 for 15% off  Lumebox: https://drbrighten.com/lumebox  use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase.   Support our sponsors! These partners help make this show possible and allow us to keep bringing you high-quality, science-backed content. Connect with Dr. Justin Houman 💻 Website: https://houmanmd.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin.houman.md/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justin.houman.md?lang=en ⭕ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfIgw3GFY3uDXWuzR0z7OqA 👩🏻‍⚕️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

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  1:00:49
• Is It Just Gas? The Shocking Truth About Gut Pain, SIBO, and What Your Poop Is Telling You | Doc Paco de la Vega

  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 rare kind of GI expert—one who blends surgical precision with lifestyle-centered gut care. We go deep into the real root causes of bloating, constipation, and gas, the surprising link between your emotions and digestion, and why your “healthy” diet might be secretly sabotaging your microbiome. Whether you're someone navigating unexplained gut pain or simply curious about how to improve your digestion without endless supplements or elimination diets, this episode will shift how you think about your belly—for good. This Episode Is Brought to You By: Dr. Brighten Essentials: use code POD15 for 15% off – Supporting parents and families with tools that work. Lumebox: http://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase.   Chorus: http://chorusforlife.com/drbrighten and receive 10 percent off your order or subscription Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to us at [email protected] Links & Resources Mentioned: Dr. Paco de la Vega’s Instagram: @docpacodelavega Dr. Paco de la Vega’s Website: https://drfranciscodelavegafacs.com/ Book Mentioned: Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz Related Episode:  Children’s Gut Health https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/child-gut-health/  How your oral microbiome is connected to your gut microbiome https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/shocking-truth-about-gum-disease/  What your tongue says about your gut health https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/pots-treatment-fibromyalgia-chronic-illness/  Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan with 21 Recipes to get you started by Dr. Brighten: https://drbrighten.com/plan/  Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: Website: https://www.drbrighten.com Instagram:@drjolenebrighten TikTok: @drjolenebrighten Threads: @drjolenebrighten Grab my free Hormone Friendly Recipes https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:41:38

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