The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show Dr. Jen Ashton on Unimaginable Loss, Mental Health, and Post-Traumatic Growth
Public Shock And Private Grief
- Jen Ashton describes the day three police officers knocked on her door and her world shattered into pieces.
- She says the tragedy was public and forced her to learn she could be vulnerable and still lead.
Motherhood As A Lifeline
- Jen Ashton says she was clinically in shock and couldn't perform basic tasks like driving to get her daughter.
- She credits her children as the lifeline that forced her to move forward day by day.
Use Your Platform To Normalize Pain
- Jen Ashton says use your platform to talk about uncomfortable topics like suicide because it helps others heal.
- She urges transparency to counter social media's deceptive optics and reduce stigma.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a mental health crisis, call or text 988, or chat via 988lifeline.org.
Support is available 24/7. You are not alone, and help is available.
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Dr. Gabrielle Lyon sits down with renowned medical correspondent and OB/GYN, Dr. Jen Ashton, for a profoundly personal and candid conversation about navigating life's most intense tragedies while maintaining a public career.
Dr. Ashton bravely opens up about the devastating suicide of her first husband, a world-class surgeon, 18 days after their divorce was finalized. She shares the raw reality of being in clinical shock and how the immense tragedy became an unexpected catalyst for post-traumatic growth.
Dr. Ashton, who holds a Master's degree in Nutritional Sciences, also brings her medical expertise to current health debates:
- The Power of Fitness: Learn how resistance training became Dr. Ashton's lifeline to snap her out of emotional numbness and shock.
- The Hormone Misinformation Crisis: They discuss the flawed data and flawed media that led to 20 years of women being under-treated for menopause after the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).
- GLP-1 Myths: Dr. Ashton breaks down the top myths surrounding GLP-1 medications, the difference between absolute vs. relative risk, and the non-weight related benefits that are just beginning to emerge.
- The Problem with Extremes: They address the societal tendency to seek out quick-fix solutions in health, menopause, and obesity care, arguing that the true sweet spot is in a nuanced, moderate position.
- Finding Love Again: Dr. Ashton shares the unexpected miracle of finding profound love with her current husband, legendary sports executive and TV producer, Tom Werner.
About Jen Ashton: Retiring stiff paper gowns and unrelatable medical advice, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, a Board-certified Ob-Gyn, author, and TV medical correspondent, breaks the barrier between doctor and patient. Affectionately referred to as your all-in-one ‘BFF’/Ob-Gyn, Dr. Jennifer Ashton marries an unparalleled medical background with an accessible‘girl’s-girl’ attitude. Though Dr. Ashton can easily speak to the latest beauty and fashion trends, this Ivy League graduate means business when it comes to women’s health.
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro: Tragedy and The Journey of Dr. Jen Ashton 2:05 - The Suicide of a Spouse: The Aftermath of Unimaginable Loss 4:26 - The Clinical Definition of Shock and Shattered Reality 5:10 - How Motherhood Becomes a Lifeline Through Trauma 6:32 - Writing the Book: The Obligation to Talk About Suicide 10:12 - Mental Health vs. Longevity: We Can’t Separate Mind and Body 11:40 - Social Media and the Real-Time Human Experiment on Mental Health 14:12 - The Anchor: How Fitness and Lifting Saved Dr. Ashton 16:29 - Post-Traumatic Growth: Her Children’s Incredible Wisdom 18:20 - Prioritizing Mental Health: The Checkup From the Neckup 19:18 - Suicide is a Disease: It's Not Something You Can "Think Your Way Out Of" 22:25 - Finding Love Again: The Miracle of Tom Werner 24:39 - Meeting Her Husband: A Harvard Grad and Titan in Sports/TV 28:13 - The Responsibility of a Public Figure to Be Transparent 30:04 - Transition to Correspondent: The Iron Man of Medical Communication 34:04 - Distilling Health Information: Why Credentials Matter 34:41 - The Economist Who Wrote a Pregnancy Book (Stay In Your Lane) 37:25 - The Humility of Science: We Must Be Prepared to Be Wrong 38:04 - The WHI Disaster: Flawed Data and Misrepresenting Menopause 40:08 - The Problem with Extremes: Why Moderation is Missing in Health 41:33 - The Narrative Risk: Why Telling Women They Are "Passive Victims" is Insulting 46:33 - Menopause Done Well: A Holistic Approach with Options 48:07 - Are Hormones Safe? Insights from a Practicing OB/GYN 51:08 - Non-Hormonal Options for Menopause Symptoms 53:27 - Favorite Hormone Delivery Method (Pill vs. Patch) 54:14 - GLP-1 Myths: Risk vs. Benefit and Thinking Like a Doctor 56:16 - Non-Weight Related Benefits of GLP-1s (Cognitive, Cardiac, Renal) 57:38 - Absolute vs. Relative Risk: The Math Behind Rare Side Effects 58:42 - Future of Obesity Management: Low-Dose GLP-1, HRT, and Anabolic Agents 1:00:15 - Maintenance Protocols: Why Physicians are DIYing Long-Term Care 1:00:54 - The Biggest GLP-1 Concern: Losing Too Much Muscle Mass 1:02:16 - The Hypothalamic Set Point: Why 90% of Diets Fail 1:06:39 - Society's Fat Shaming Bias: Obesity is a Chronic Disease 1:08:00 - Nutritional Gynecology: Connecting Food and Reproductive Stages 1:10:07 - Meeting the Four S’s: Safe, Simple, Sustainable, and Low Sugar 1:11:50 - Foundational Principles: Why Protein is Everything 1:14:35 - The Biggest Myth: Women Should Never Do Intermittent Fasting 1:16:26 - Hormesis and Adaptation: Applying Pressure to the System 1:17:33 - Resilience is a Practice: The Mental Framework for Internal Strength 1:20:57 - The Sisterhood of Women: Community is Crucial for Support 1:25:24 - Home Base: Tom Werner's Legacy of Helping Veterans
Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships.
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