Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn

By Dr. Jenn Simmons

Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn is a podcast dedicated to empowering women and promoting breast health through a functional medicine lens. Dr. Jenn is a leading functional medicine practitioner speci

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How many episodes does Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn have?

The podcast currently has 157 episodes available.

Best of Keeping Abreast with Dr. Jenn

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: 155 : Autoimmune Disease, Root Causes, and Why the Conventional Model Misses So Much
Dr. Jenn Simmons and Dr. Bradley Campbell unpack why autoimmune disease is rising, why so many patients are dismissed for years, and why symptom suppression alone often makes things worse. This conversation focuses on root causes, especially gut dysfunction, stress, and immune triggers, and explains why individualized care matters more than one-size-fits-all treatment.Dr. Campbell shares how his work evolved from injury care into complex autoimmune cases, while Dr. Simmons brings the perspective of conventional medicine, cancer care, and the limits of training that does not teach health optimization. Key topicsIn this episode, Dr. Simmons opens with a blunt critique of how poorly autoimmune disease is understood in conventional medicine, especially when labs are “normal” but patients are clearly unwell.Dr. Campbell explains how autoimmune cases found him through patients with chronic, rare, and complex conditions that mainstream care could not resolve.We discuss the gap between medical training and real-world health care, including the difference between knowing how to prescribe and knowing how to create health.Dr. Simmons and Dr. Campbell agree that the system rewards sickness management, not healing, and that insurance incentives often push short visits, prescriptions, and procedures over root-cause work.In this episode: low iron is treated as a major red flag for digestive dysfunction, malabsorption, celiac disease, low enzymes, or bile flow problems, not just a number to supplement away.We discuss why proton pump inhibitors can create long-term digestive problems by reducing stomach acid, impairing digestion, and contributing to dysbiosis and infection risk.Dr. Campbell outlines his autoimmune screening approach, including ANA, ENA panels, thyroid antibodies, hormone testing, food sensitivity workups, and broader root-cause diagnostics.The autoimmune triad comes up in detail: genetics, gut dysfunction, and a trigger such as physical trauma, infection, medication, food reaction, or emotional stress.We discuss parasites as a controversial but real variable in some autoimmune cases, especially in the context of protozoa, gut imbalance, and chronic thyroid issues.Dr. Simmons and Dr. Campbell both push back on rigid diets and medical absolutism, arguing for individualized decisions around grains, dairy, nightshades, and autoimmune protocols.The conversation closes with a strong emphasis on stress, nervous system overload, childhood trauma, and the need for quiet, reflection, and community without constant screen input.Timestamps 00:00 - Why autoimmune disease is exploding and often missed for years 03:15 - How Dr. Campbell’s path shifted from music and injuries to autoimmune care 06:23 - Why medical training is a foundation, not a complete education in health 08:49 - Doctors as well-intentioned players inside a broken system 11:10 - Why screening versus symptom-based testing must be treated differently 13:20 - Autoimmune disease is highly individualized, even when diagnoses look similar 14:23 - Why celiac disease is often found only after a breast cancer diagnosis 16:36 - Why 30 patients a day leaves no room for root-cause medicine 19:34 - Insurance incentives reward sickness instead of health 23:55 - Years of delayed diagnosis and the cost of being told labs are “normal” 26:52 - Low iron as a clue to digestion, not just iron deficiency 28:19 - Why stomach acid matters for digestion, immune protection, and bile signaling 31:03 - How Heidelberg testing evaluates stomach acidity in real time 33:39 - What Dr. Campbell looks for that many providers miss in autoimmune cases 36:09 - The autoimmune triad: genetics, gut dysfunction, and a trigger 37:34 - Structural, biochemical, and emotional triggers that can set off autoimmunity 40:28 - Parasites, terrain, and why over-treatment is not always the answer 43:44 - Vaccine-era inflammation, informed consent, and autoimmune flare concerns 48:59 - A better model for autoimmune disease: the immune system is trying to do something 51:02 - The autoimmune protocol diet and when a less restrictive approach is better 53:31 - Nightshades, liver function, and why food rules should not be universal 56:13 - Why grains and dairy are not automatically bad for everyone, but can be poor fits in active disease 61:34 - Blood sugar, energy, mood, and why kids often need more real food 63:41 - Why processed protein bars and powders are often worse than whole foods 65:49 - Food transitions at home: why change is hard even when the benefits are obvious 67:46 - Root-cause thinking applies to MS, breast cancer, dementia, osteoporosis, and diabetes 70:03 - Dr. Campbell’s membership community, weekly teaching, and lab support 71:30 - GLP-1 drugs: useful tools for some, but not a shortcut for lifestyle change 74:42 - Stress, trauma, quiet time, and why emotional load drives chronic disease 76:55 - Why unresolved trauma and a lack of safety can affect healing for years To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working with Dr. Jenn visit: https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/clarity-call To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.perfeqtionimaging.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons
August 28, 20261h 15min
Number 2: 153: Hormone Therapy, Safety, and the Future of Women’s Health with Dr. Daved Rosensweet
In this episode of Keeping Abreast, Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Dr. Daved Rosensweet for a wide-ranging, deeply informed conversation about menopause, hormone replacement therapy, breast cancer risk, and why so many women have been left without clear, trustworthy options.Dr. Rosensweet shares how the Women’s Health Initiative created lasting fear around hormones, why that fear was built on misreported data, and how the conversation around estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone has slowly begun to change. Together, they make the case that hormones are not the enemy of women’s health and in many cases, they are central to preserving it. The conversation also turns to safety, testing, individualized dosing, and the role of breast imaging. Dr. Jenn explains why QT imaging is changing the way she thinks about screening, and Dr. Rosensweet reflects on why he has long required imaging before prescribing hormones. The result is an unusually honest, technically rich, and hopeful conversation about how to care for women better at every stage of life. What You’ll LearnWhy the Women’s Health Initiative misled both the public and providersWhat the data actually showed about estrogen and breast cancer riskWhy many women were taken off hormones unnecessarily for decadesHow Dr. Rosensweet thinks about the safety of hormone replacement after breast cancerWhy estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all matter for women’s healthHow hormone loss contributes to sleep problems, brain fog, libido loss, bone loss, and muscle lossWhy the timing of hormone therapy matters, but it may not be “too late”How Dr. Rosensweet approaches individual dosing and hormone testingWhy topical delivery matters when it comes to clotting risk and liver metabolismHow QT imaging fits into a safer, more modern breast-screening strategyChapters 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 09:50 Hormone therapy after breast cancer: what the science says 12:31 The role of estrogen and breast cancer risk 14:23 Hormones and breast cancer risk: what the latest studies show 16:22 The lag in medical progress and the 30-year delay in hormone research 17:44 Why the narrative that estrogen causes cancer persists 20:02 Recent advances and the future of hormone therapy 22:51 The importance of provider education and safe hormone protocols 25:49 Signs you should consider hormone therapy 30:44 What women can do if they missed their window for hormone therapy 33:49 Is it ever too late for hormone therapy? 36:02 Determining the right hormone levels and testing methods 37:24 How Dr. Rosensweet ensures safe hormone replacement practices 44:33 Understanding breast cancer cells and hormone receptor sites 46:03 Hormones as protectors, not causes, of breast cancer 47:08 The impact of environmental toxins on health 48:17 The need for testosterone in women and men 52:02 Addressing the lack of provider training on hormones 54:27 Empowering women to have informed conversations about hormones 55:46 Closing remarks and call to action To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working with Dr. Jenn visit: https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/clarity-call To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.perfeqtionimaging.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons
August 14, 202658min
Number 3: 154 : Between a Shot and a Hard Place: Vaccine Facts, Medical Freedom, and Trust in Medicine
Between a Shot and a Hard Place: Vaccine Facts, Medical Freedom, and Trust in Medicine Dr. Jenn Simmons speaks with pediatrician and integrative medicine practitioner Dr. Joel Warsh, known online as Dr. Gator, about vaccines, informed consent, and why trust in medicine has broken down. The conversation focuses on what parents are actually being told, what the research does and does not show, and how medical decisions get shaped by mandates, industry incentives, and fear.We discuss vaccine schedules, the difference between evidence and dogma, how chronic disease trends relate to broader lifestyle and systems issues, and why Dr. Warsh believes parents need more transparency and more room to choose. Key topicsDr. Warsh explains how he moved from conventional pediatrics into integrative medicine after seeing the value of sleep, diet, exercise, and root-cause thinking in primary care.He describes why vaccines became a major focus in his practice: parents kept asking questions, and he realized medical training had not prepared him to answer them deeply.The hosts discuss how COVID-era mandates intensified distrust, especially in states like California, where school and work requirements effectively removed choice for many families.Dr. Warsh argues that medicine has become too force-driven and too dogmatic, and that doctors should educate rather than pressure patients.The conversation turns to the idea that modern medicine is heavily shaped by pharma funding, which affects training, journals, media, and what gets studied or published.They compare longevity to healthspan, with both speakers noting that people may be living longer but not necessarily healthier, especially in the last 10 to 15 years of life.Chronic disease in children is a major theme, with discussion of rising rates of diabetes, obesity, autoimmune conditions, neurodevelopmental concerns, and autism.Dr. Warsh says the most surprising part of his research for Between a Shot and a Hard Place was realizing how little true vaccinated versus unvaccinated data has been published.He explains the vaccine schedule has expanded over time and discusses why he thinks the lack of manufacturer accountability reduces incentives to improve safety.The episode also covers newer vaccine platforms, including mRNA, and why Dr. Warsh is especially cautious about their use in children.Hepatitis B for newborns comes up as a particularly important example of a vaccine whose timing and risk-benefit calculus he thinks should be revisited.The discussion ends with a broader call for medical freedom, informed consent, and the ability for parents to make decisions without being forced.Timestamps 00:00 - Why vaccine conversations are impossible to avoid 02:10 - How integrative pediatrics changed Dr. Warsh's practice 03:31 - Why parents' vaccine questions became unavoidable 05:13 - Writing Between a Shot and a Hard Place 06:50 - Why COVID deepened mistrust in medicine 09:36 - Why school requirements don't feel like a real choice 13:22 - Medicine should educate, not coerce 17:06 - How pharma shapes training and medical thinking 20:34 - Why accountability matters for vaccine safety 23:28 - The rise of chronic disease in children 30:22 - Big Food, convenience, and multi-generational health impact 36:15 - The Henry Ford vaccinated vs. unvaccinated controversy 40:48 - Why “the science is settled” is the wrong phrase 43:43 - How the vaccine schedule expanded after 1986 48:26 - Rethinking timing, prioritization, and cumulative risk 54:14 - RFK, reform, and transparency 55:14 - What surprised Dr. Warsh most in the research 62:03 - Reassessing newborn and early childhood vaccine timing 67:30 - Why Hep B for newborns is controversial 69:58 - Traditional vaccines vs. mRNA 73:17 - Why Dr. Warsh is cautious about mRNA for kids 75:28 - Why pulled vaccines used to be removed faster 77:41 - The accountability gap 79:39 - Why medical freedom matters for the future To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working with Dr. Jenn visit: https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/clarity-call To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.perfeqtionimaging.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons
August 21, 20261h 22min
Number 4: 156 : The Truth About Hormones, Progestins, and the Breast Cancer Myth
Dr. Jenn Simmons and Dr. Erica Schwartz on hormones, individualized care, and questioning mainstream medicineDr. Jenn Simmons sits down with Dr. Erica Schwartz for a candid conversation about women’s health, hormone replacement, and the importance of individualized care. They discuss why hormone therapy is gaining renewed attention, why many providers are not adequately trained to prescribe it, and how patients can make more informed decisions about their health. They also explore breast screening, overdiagnosis, metabolic health, medical fear, and the value of having a trusted provider who looks at the whole person. Together, Dr. Jenn and Dr. Schwartz challenge one-size-fits-all medicine and make the case for thoughtful, relationship-based care. What You'll Learn:Why hormone therapy requires better provider education, not just wider accessHow outdated medical training continues to affect women’s healthWhy individualized care is often more important than rigid protocols The difference between breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, and overdiagnosisWhy metabolic health is central to breast health and long-term wellnessHow watchful waiting can sometimes be safer than immediate testing or biopsyWhy progesterone and synthetic progestins should not be treated as the same thingWhat women should consider before using supplements, peptides, or extreme dietsWhy having a trusted healthcare provider can prevent conflicting and unnecessary treatmentsHow patients can question medical assumptions while taking greater responsibility for their health Timestamps 00:00 - Why hormone conversations are surging and why training matters 02:10 - Dr. Schwartz’s path from conventional medicine to individualized care 04:00 - Medical paternalism, discrimination, and resistance to change 15:46 - Why mammography is diagnosis, not prevention 17:32 - Hormone replacement, oral estrogen, and breast cancer concerns 24:07 - Perimenopause labels, social media, and inadequate training 30:30 - Why relationships matter more than protocols and lab results 43:13 - Watchful waiting, breast biopsies, and the value of doing less 45:55 - Metabolic health as a foundation for breast cancer prevention 56:34 - Questioning mammography and taking responsibility for your care 60:08 - Why modern medicine needs more time for patient relationships To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working with Dr. Jenn visit: https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/clarity-call To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.perfeqtionimaging.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons
September 04, 20261h 3min
Number 5: 148: Overcoming Fear and Reclaiming the Life You Keep Putting Off with Erika Rothenberger
In this episode of Keeping Abreast Dr. Jenn Simmons sits down with keynote speaker, author, and 2025 Dynamic Woman of the Year Erika Rothenberger for a conversation about what happens when life forces you to stop playing small. Erika had a day in 2022 that changed everything. What she did on the other side of it is what this conversation is about. Dr. Jenn and Erika get into the trauma we avoid, the life we keep deferring, and why the hardest moments tend to be the most clarifying ones. If you have ever survived something hard and wondered what you are supposed to do with it, this episode will give you your answer. In this episode, you'll learn:What Erika survived in 2022 and why she considers it the greatest turning point of her lifeWhy playing it safe is the most dangerous thing a woman can doWhy Dr. Jenn believes a breast cancer diagnosis can be an opportunity and what that actually looks like in practiceThe real reason most women never go after the life they want and why it has nothing to do with time, money, or circumstancesWhy the trauma you have been avoiding is not behind you. It is driving you.A simple daily method that takes 36 minutes and rebuilds your entire mindset from the ground upThe science behind why the people you surround yourself with are either quietly lifting you or quietly costing youThe gap in Pennsylvania law that leaves women unprotected and the legislation Erika is fighting to changeWhy the most powerful thing a woman can do for her health right now has nothing to do with her body Episode Timeline 01:07 Introducing Erika Rothenberger 03:09 Energy, seasons, and the permission to give 60% 06:56 Erika's story and the morning that changed everything 12:41 Playing small vs. playing large 16:36 Fear, inertia, and the life you keep putting off 19:45 Writing the book and going public with her story 27:32 Why healing is a choice you make every day 32:27 How to protect your time and fuel yourself first 35:35 Why no is a complete sentence 38:01 Finding the good in every setback 40:02 Why a breast cancer diagnosis can be its own kind of punch 43:00 Why your circle determines your ceiling 45:22 What Erika took away from watching Mel Robbins 50:57 The Audacious Summit, October 2025 52:45 Money, legacy, and what you are building 59:22 Finding your thing and going after it 1:05:44 Where to find Erika and closing thoughts Where to Find Find Erika Rothenberger: Website: erikarothenberger.com Instagram: @erikalearothenberger Book: Audacious Expansion To talk to a member of Dr. Jenn's team and learn more about working with Dr. Jenn visit: https://calendly.com/stephanie-1031/clarity-call To get your copy of Dr. Jenn's book, The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer, visit: https://tinyurl.com/SmartWomansBreastCancerGuide Connect with Dr. Jenn: Website: https://www.perfeqtionimaging.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJennSimmons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennsimmons/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jennsimmons
June 13, 20261h 10min