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!
Listen on:
Get to Know Me
Dr. McCarthy is internationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy. He has lectured physicians and pharmacists on topics such as weight loss, infertility, hormone replacement therapy, nutritional therapy and more.
Often we look at the qualifications of a physician to help us choose a doctor, but a good doctor is more than just credentials and titles. A doctor needs to be compassionate and empathic. Dr. McCarthy has built his practice upon his dedication to each individual patient. He is passionate about his work and committed to educating his patients on their medical conditions so they can gain control of their health.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
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 break down how systemic neglect, profit motives, and regulatory failures alienated women from traditional care — and what it will take to restore trust.
This episode is personal, reflective, and at times somber — but it’s an important conversation about accountability, reconciliation, and rebuilding the heart of medicine.
References: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mQKU7VpiT5KhXCFFLYtdVoWFAjKRi16J/view?usp=sharing
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!
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
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 advertising and conference influence on medical practice
Steps to rebuild trust and prioritize patient-centered care
Dr. McCarthy emphasizes accountability, understanding science objectively, and always keeping the patient’s well-being at the center of care.
📌 Citation / References: Steinman, Michael A., and Jerome P. Kassirer. “Is Continuing Medical Education a Drug-Promotion Tool? YES.” Canadian Family Physician, vol. 53, no. 10, 2007, pp. 1650–1652. PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2231419. ⸻ 2. Bowman, Marjorie A., and David L. Pearle. “Changes in Drug Prescribing Patterns Related to Commercial Company Funding of Continuing Medical Education.” Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, vol. 8, no. 1, 1988, pp. 13–20. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, https://journals.lww.com/jcehp/fulltext/1988/08010/changes_in_drug_prescribing_patterns_related_to.3.aspx. ⸻ 3. Bowman, Marjorie A., and David L. Pearle. “Industry-Sponsored Grand Rounds and Prescribing Behavior.” Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 283, no. 3, 2000, pp. 373–380. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12077958_Industry-Sponsored_Grand_Rounds_and_Prescribing_Behavior. ⸻ 4. Fickweiler, Frederike, Udo Fickweiler, and Klaus Urbach. “Interactions between Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry Generally and Sales Representatives Specifically and Their Association with Physicians’ Attitudes and Prescribing Habits: A Systematic Review.” BMJ Open, vol. 7, no. 9, 2017, e016408. BMJ Publishing Group, https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/9/e016408. ⸻ 5. Fugh-Berman, Adriane. “May I Have the Sting? Cutting CME’s Ties to Pharma.” AMA Journal of Ethics, vol. 8, no. 6, 2006, pp. 356–360. American Medical Association, https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/may-sting-bit-cutting-cmes-ties-pharma/2006-06
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!
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
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 powerful role of storytelling in alternative health.
This conversation is about more than medicine—it’s about empathy, validation, and radical transparency in how we care for one another.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why patients often reject pharmaceuticals (even when safe & effective)
The role of empathy and time in building trust
How alternative medicine wins hearts through stories
Why managed care models fail both patients and providers
How we can rebuild trust in healthcare through radical transparency
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!
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
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!
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
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!
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
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!
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
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 as a factor in infertility
A more compassionate, integrative approach to fertility care
This episode is part of a larger series on self-silencing and women’s health.
If you’ve struggled with fertility or felt unheard in medical settings, this conversation offers insight and hope.
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!
Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
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 hormones, fertility, and cardiovascular health
Why women face higher risks of heart disease when these patterns go unaddressed
What men can do to better support their partners during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause
This conversation is about more than symptoms—it’s about validation, advocacy, and the urgent need to recognize how cultural conditioning impacts women’s health.
Citations: Jack, D. C., & Dill, D. (1992). The Silencing the Self Scale: Schemas of intimacy associated with depression in women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 16(1), 97–106. • Jack, D. C. (1999). Silencing the self: Inner dialogues and outer realities. Harvard University Press. • Jack, D. C. (2011). Reflections on the silencing the self scale and its origins. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 35(3), 523–529. • Jakubowski, K. P., Barinas-Mitchell, E., et al. (2022). The cardiovascular cost of silence: Self-silencing and carotid atherosclerosis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 56(3), 282–293. • Ussher, J. M. (2004). Premenstrual syndrome and self-policing. Social Theory & Health, 2(1), 56–77. • Ussher, J. M. (2013). Diagnosing difficult women. Feminism & Psychology, 23(1), 63–77. • Beauboeuf-Lafontant, T. (2008). Listening past the lies. Qualitative Sociology, 31(2), 105–124. • Rozanski, A. (2014). Behavioral cardiology. Circulation, 129(25), 2509–2516. 1. Jack & Dill (1992) – Developed Silencing the Self Scale. Linked to depression and poor health outcomes. 2. Framingham Offspring Study (Jack, 2011) – Women with high self-silencing had ↑ heart disease and premature death. 3. Jakubowski et al. (2022, Annals of Behavioral Medicine) – Self-silencing predicted ↑ carotid atherosclerosis in midlife women. 4. Beauboeuf-Lafontant (2008, Qualitative Sociology) – Black women’s depression tied to silencing under cultural expectations of strength. 5. Ussher (2004, 2013, 2023) – Purity/self-policing associated with self-blame and somatic illness pathways. 6. Rasmussen (2014) – Self-silencing linked to anger suppression, leading to somatic symptoms. 7. Peterson (2015) – Shame and silence in purity narratives obstruct preventive health care. 8. CRP & Stress Studies – High CRP consistently linked to psychosocial stress (Rozanski, 2014, Circulation).
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!