Dr. Brendan McCarthy

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Brendan McCarthy—Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona—continues his in-depth progesterone series with a deep dive into reverse responders and an often-overlooked mechanism: hormone sulfation.

Many women take progesterone expecting better sleep, calmer moods, and reduced anxiety—yet feel more alert, only mildly calmer, or see no benefit at all. This episode explains why...

Have you taken progesterone expecting calm, better sleep, or relief from PMS… only to feel more anxious, wired, or worse overall? You are not a failure—and progesterone is not failing you. Your body is responding exactly as physiology dictates. The issue is how progesterone is being delivered and metabolized.

In this episode, Dr. McCarthy explains:

• What it means to be a progesterone reverse responder

• How progesterone normal...

In Episode 2 of this deep-dive hormone series, Dr. Brendan McCarthy—Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Tempe, AZ—breaks down the part of progesterone almost no one talks about: its powerful role as a brain hormone.

Most women are only taught that progesterone is about fertility and uterine lining. But the truth? Progesterone is a neurosteroid that influences your amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex—three key...

In today’s episode, I’m opening the first chapter of what I believe is the most important series I’ve ever created — a deep dive into progesterone and why it became the heart of my medical practice.

For more than 20 years, I’ve watched this “simple, humble hormone” transform women’s lives in ways most conventional medicine overlooks. What started in two small treatment rooms has grown into a 25,000 sq ft facility, and the core of o...

Join Dr. Brendan McCarthy, Chief Medical Officer at Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona, for a deep, practical breakdown of estrone—one of the most misunderstood and under-tested hormones in women’s health.

In this episode, Dr. McCarthy explains:

• Why estrone matters far more than most routine labs suggest

• How estrone relates to inflammation, insulin resistance, body fat, and chronic disease

• What your estrone actually ...

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:

• How estrone functions after menopause

• 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:

• Why estrone isn’t the “bad” estrogen it’s made out to be

• How body fat, inflammation, and lifestyle influence estrone levels

• The connection between estrone, insulin resistance, and breast health

• Why oral estrogen can worsen symptoms for some women

• 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:

• The differences between estradiol, estriol, and estrone

• How estrone levels shift during perimenopause and menopause

• Why oral estrogen can dramatically increase estrone

• 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...