Dr. Brendan McCarthy
Welcome! Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. Through successful case after successful case, Dr. McCarthy has been dedicated to hormone balance, healthy metabolism, and the best quality of life. Dr. McCarthy’s hallmark is his unorthodox approach to mental/emotional wellness and its link to hormone balance in women and men. Through the use of blood work and clinical investigation, Dr. McCarthy gets to the bottom of possible causes for common conditions such as anxiety, PMS, depression, slow metabolism, weight gain, insomnia and now wants to share his knowledge to the viewers with his podcast. Join the discussion, ask questions, and welcome to the podcast!
Episodes
In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona, takes you deep into the science of Estrone metabolism, why it becomes dominant during perimenopause and menopause, and the exact lab tests that uncover real root causes of symptoms like weight gain, mood swings, breast tenderness, irritability, fatigue, and sleep disruption.
This is Part 4 of our Estrone Series — and today’s foc...
In Part 3 of the Forgotten Estrogen series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy—Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona—dives deep into the misunderstood relationship between estrone and cancer.
For decades, women have been told to fear estrogen. But is estrogen really the enemy—or is it the environment within the body that determines risk?
Dr. McCarthy explains:
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How estrone functions after menopause
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Why estrogen ...
In this episode — Part 2 of our Estrone Series — Dr. McCarthy takes a deeper dive into estrone, the often misunderstood and overlooked estrogen. Learn:
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Why estrone isn’t the “bad” estrogen it’s made out to be
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How body fat, inflammation, and lifestyle influence estrone levels
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The connection between estrone, insulin resistance, and breast health
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Why oral estrogen can worsen symptoms for some women
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Natural ways to suppor...
In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, dives deep into estrone, one of the three key estrogens, and explains why understanding it is crucial for women’s health.
Learn about:
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The differences between estradiol, estriol, and estrone
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How estrone levels shift during perimenopause and menopause
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Why oral estrogen can dramatically increase estrone
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The impact of lifestyle factors l...
In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy dives deep into why women are turning away from conventional medicine and seeking care in alternative spaces.
He explores the growing Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) and Make America Medical Again (MAMA) movements, sharing his perspective as a naturopathic medical doctor trained in both conventional and integrative medicine.
Dr. McCarthy discusses empathy in healthcare, accountabili...
In this powerful episode, Dr. McCarthy continues his “Make America Healthy Again” series — exploring how conventional medicine has failed women through dismissal, invalidation, and profit-driven care. He discusses why so many women are turning to online influencers and alternative medicine for answers, and how we can begin to reconcile modern medicine with true, compassionate healthcare.
👉 Topics covered:
The systemic dismissal ...
In this episode, I dive deep into “Mama vs. Maha” — the Make America Medical Again movement versus the Make America Healthy Again movement — and explore how both emerged from a broken medical system. We’ll trace how modern medicine drifted from its original purpose, focusing more on economics than empathy, and how that shift has profoundly impacted women’s health over the past 60 years. From the “Valium era” to SSRIs and Ambien, I ...
Join Dr. Brendan McCarthy, as he dives into Part 2 of our series on understanding the divide in modern medicine.
In this episode, Dr. McCarthy explores:
How education, corporate influence, and lobbying have shaped medicine and nutrition advice
The history and impact of the food pyramid and dietary guidelines
Why trust in traditional medicine has eroded and how alternative approaches gained popularity
The role of pharmaceutical adve...
In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center, opens up about why so many patients lose trust in traditional, insurance-based medical care—and why they often turn exclusively to alternative medicine.
Dr. McCarthy shares personal experiences and patient stories that reveal the deeper issues in today’s healthcare system: short appointment times, lack of empathy, profit-driven models, and the po...
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...
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 th...
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 impa...
In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona, explores how self-silencing—the cultural pressure for women to suppress their voices and needs—can directly affect fertility.
Dr. McCarthy discusses:
The emotional toll of self-silencing on women’s identity and value
How chronic stress impacts ovulation, progesterone, and conception
Why the medical system often overlooks stress ...
Why do so many women struggle with stress-related health issues without ever speaking up?
In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy continues his series on self-silencing in women—a powerful yet often overlooked cultural and psychological pattern.
Dr. McCarthy breaks down:
What “self-silencing” really means and how it shows up in everyday life
The four categories of self-silencing
How chronic stress and emotional suppression affect hor...
In this episode, Dr. Brendan McCarthy explores how self-silencing behaviors—putting others first, suppressing your own needs, and avoiding conflict—can contribute to chronic stress and trigger autoimmune conditions in women. From the science of immune misfires to the cultural pressures women face, Dr. McCarthy shares how deep, patient-centered care goes beyond prescriptions to address the root causes of illness. He discusses the li...
Welcome to the first episode in a five-part series on self-silencing and its profound effect on women’s health. I’m Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center, and in this episode, I break down how self-silencing — the learned suppression of one’s needs, emotions, and voice — directly influences weight gain, hormone disruption, autoimmunity, cardiovascular risk, and more. This is a deeply personal and evid...
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the role men play in fertility and women’s health. Too often, the fertility journey places the burden entirely on women, physically, emotionally, and medically. Dr. McCarthy unpacks why that’s both inaccurate and damaging, and shares what true masculinity looks like during this chapter: support, presence, and courage. From hormone imbalances and sperm health to the overlooked emotional toll m...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
In this episode, Dr. McCarthy opens up about the psychological hurdles men face when it comes to reproductive health, how avoidance can create deep relationship wounds, and why it's critical for male partners to step into fertility conversations with courage and compassion.
He breaks down:
✔️ The emotional weight women carry in fertility journeys
✔️ How low testosterone and sperm...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
PMS isn’t just a hormone issue—it affects relationships too.
In this episode, Dr. McCarthy breaks down how hormone shifts impact emotions, communication, and connection. It’s a message for men who want to understand what’s really going on—and how to show up better.
💡 Topics:
Why PMS can trigger relationship tension
The science behind progesterone and mood
How self-silencing buil...
Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!
Today he continues answering your most pressing questions about testosterone and hormone therapy in Part 2 of our Testosterone Q&A series.
In this episode, Dr. McCarthy dives into:
Why your labs can look "normal" while you still feel terrible
The difference between DHEA and actual testosterone therapy
The role of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in blocking free testoste...
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