The Brain Health Kitchen Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

The Brain Health Kitchen Podcast

Dr. Annie Fenn

Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/9d. Total Eps: 24

The Brain Health Kitchen Podcast brings together science, storytelling, and practical wisdom on how to protect and nourish your brain at any age. Hosted by physician and author Annie Fenn, MD, each episode dives into the habits that support lifelong cognition—food, movement, sleep, mindfulness, social connection, and more. Through conversations with researchers, clinicians, neuroscientists, and thought leaders, you’ll learn what the latest evidence actually means for your daily life. Whether you’re looking to lower your dementia risk, stay sharp as you age, or simply understand your brain better, this podcast offers the tools and inspiration to build a truly brain-healthy life.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - medicine
21/08/2026
#91
🇨🇦 Canada - medicine
14/08/2026
#74
🇨🇦 Canada - medicine
13/08/2026
#48
🇨🇦 Canada - medicine
12/08/2026
#44
🇨🇦 Canada - medicine
09/08/2026
#100
🇬🇧 Great Britain - medicine
04/08/2026
#71
🇬🇧 Great Britain - medicine
01/08/2026
#90
🇺🇸 USA - medicine
20/07/2026
#79
🇺🇸 USA - medicine
19/07/2026
#70
🇺🇸 USA - medicine
18/07/2026
#76

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com
19 shares
https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com/
16 shares
https://neuroreserve.com
16 shares

https://www.instagram.com/brainhealthkitchen
3 shares
https://www.instagram.com/drjuliefratantoni
3 shares
https://www.instagram.com/drstreich
2 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

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RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 62%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

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Episode 1: 10 Foods that Protect the Brain

Season 1 · Episode 1

Friday, March 13, 2026 • Duration 59:11

Top 10 Neuroprotective Foods for Brain Health

Discover the science-backed top foods that can support and protect your brain over decades. Join Dr. Annie Fenn and producer Jenny Shilling as they explore dietary strategies to enhance cognitive longevity and prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

In this episode:

What does "neuroprotective" really mean?
Berries support cognitive function through anthocyanins
The role of inflammation
The significance of leafy greens
Diversity of vegetables and plant foods for microbiome health
How fish and seafood provide crucial omega-3 fatty acids
The benefits of healthy fats, particularly extra virgin olive oil
Beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds
Impact of coffee, tea
Practical tips to start or improve your brain-healthy eating habits

Resources & Links:

Connect with Dr. Annie Fenn:

Sponsors

Neuroreserve https://neuroreserve.com/

Connect with Dr. Ray DorseyConnect with Dr. Annie Fenn

The Second Brain: What Your Gut Is Trying to Tell You with Dr. Trisha Pasricha

Season 1 · Episode 5

Friday, April 10, 2026 • Duration 01:16:57

What does your gut have to do with mood, anxiety, and long-term brain health? In this episode, Dr. Annie Fenn talks with Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a neurogastroenterologist and gut-brain researcher, about what the gut-brain connection really is, what science supports, and what your symptoms may be trying to tell you.

They cover why stress can trigger gut symptoms so quickly, how the gut’s own nervous system affects the brain, why travel constipation is so common, how the microbiome influences inflammation, and what emerging research suggests about Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and colorectal cancer risk.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the gut-brain connection
02:07 Trisha’s background in neurogastroenterology
05:34 What counts as “normal” bowel habits
08:56 Periods, hormones, and gut symptoms
13:44 Travel constipation and gut circadian rhythm
20:01 How stress affects the gut
26:09 The gut as a second brain
37:00 Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and the gut
44:20 The microbiome, fermented foods, and inflammation
55:57 Colorectal cancer risk in younger adults

Links
Host: Brain Health Kitchen / Annie Fenn
https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com/

Guest: Dr. Trisha Pasricha
https://research.bidmc.org/gut-brain/people/team-member-1

BIDMC Institute of Gut-Brain Research
https://research.bidmc.org/gut-brain/

Book: You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776380/youve-been-pooping-all-wrong-by-trisha-pasricha-md-mph/ (PenguinRandomhouse.com)

The Caregiver Crisis: Why Taking Care of Yourself Matters with Emma Heming Willis

Season 1 · Episode 7

Friday, April 24, 2026 • Duration 01:09:13

In this special episode, Dr. Annie Fenn sits down with Emma Heming Willis to talk about the reality of caregiving—what it demands, what it takes out of you, and why no one should have to do it alone.

Emma shares her experience navigating her husband’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the lack of support she encountered early on, and why she wrote her book, The Unexpected Journey. Together, they explore how caregiving impacts brain health, why caregivers are at higher risk for illness, and what it actually looks like to care for yourself while caring for someone else.

This conversation is for anyone caring for a loved one—and for anyone who wants to better support the caregivers in their life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Emma Heming Willis
03:13 The shock of diagnosis and lack of caregiver support
05:28 What frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is
10:04 Early signs and why FTD is often misdiagnosed
13:23 The hidden health risks of caregiving
16:29 Finding resources and building a support system
19:21 Caring for yourself as a caregiver
25:32 How to ask for help—and accept it
29:43 Setting boundaries and handling unsolicited advice
33:48 Reframing grief and finding moments of hope

Links Mentioned

Emma Heming Willis
https://www.emmahemingwillis.com/

The Unexpected Journey
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743409/the-unexpected-journey-by-emma-heming-willis/

Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)
https://www.theaftd.org/

Teepa Snow (caregiving expert)
https://teepasnow.com/

Menopause and the Brain: What the Research Really Says with Dr. Lauren Streicher

Season 1 · Episode 6

Friday, April 17, 2026 • Duration 01:09:53

In this episode of the Brain Health Kitchen podcast, Dr. Annie Fenn is joined by Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a leading expert in menopause medicine. Together, they explore what happens to the brain during perimenopause and menopause, including brain fog, hot flashes, sleep disruption, and the role of hormone therapy.

They discuss why brain fog during perimenopause is usually not a sign of dementia, what the research does and does not show about estrogen and Alzheimer’s prevention, why hot flashes deserve real medical attention, and how to think about testosterone with more caution and less hype.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Lauren Streicher
07:21 Menopause and the brain
12:22 Brain fog, sleep, and hot flashes
19:45 Hormone therapy and timing
25:55 Starting hormone therapy after 60
34:45 Testosterone, libido, and side effects
45:03 Can hormone therapy prevent Alzheimer’s?

Links Mentioned

Brain Health Kitchen on Substack
https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com

Dr. Lauren Streicher’s Substack, Menopause Insider
https://drstreicher.substack.com

Dr. Lauren Streicher’s website
https://drstreicher.com

Come Again: Sexuality and Orgasm
https://drstreicher.com/comeagain

The Menopause Society
https://menopause.org

6 Foods that Accelerate Brain Aging

Season 1 · Episode 8

Friday, May 1, 2026 • Duration 47:54

In this episode, Dr. Annie Fenn and Jenny Shilling shift the focus from what to add to a brain-healthy diet to what to limit. While most guidance emphasizes abundance—vegetables, beans, whole grains—this conversation tackles the question Annie hears most often: what should we actually be eating less of?

Drawing on research from the Rush University MIND diet and newer data, Annie walks through the major food patterns associated with increased dementia risk and poor brain aging over time. She explains how modern food environments—especially ultra-processed foods and so-called “health halo” products—can make it difficult to recognize what’s truly supportive for brain health.

They also discuss how everyday habits influence metabolic health, blood sugar, and long-term cognitive function. Throughout the episode, Annie offers practical ways to begin shifting patterns—without aiming for perfection or overhauling everything at once.

This episode provides a clear, realistic framework for understanding how what we limit can meaningfully shape brain health over time.

Chapters

00:00 Why “what to avoid” matters for brain health
02:00 Recap of brain-healthy eating patterns
05:00 What the MIND diet tells us about risk
07:00 The “health halo” problem
09:00 Alcohol and brain health
10:30 Everyday eating habits that add up
14:00 Blood sugar, spikes, and the brain
20:00 Where the science is evolving
31:00 Metabolic health and cognitive decline
36:00 The biggest drivers of poor brain aging

Links & Resources

MIND Diet Study (Rush University):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4581900/

Brain Health Kitchen Substack:
https://brainhealthkitchen.substack.com

Better Brain:
https://betterbrain.com/annie

The 4 Nutrition Workhorses For Gut Health with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz Part 2

Season 1 · Episode 10

Friday, May 15, 2026 • Duration 01:07:09

The Gut-Brain Connection, Part 2: What to Eat for a Healthier Gut and Brain with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, we move from understanding the gut microbiome to learning what we can do to support it. Dr. B walks us through the four nutrition “workhorses” he highlights in Plant Powered Plus: fiber, polyphenols, healthy fats, and fermented foods.

We talk about why polyphenols and fiber work better together, how omega-3s support both the gut and brain, and why fermented foods may help build a more resilient microbiome. We also go beyond food to explore how morning sunlight, meal timing, and consistent daily routines help regulate the gut microbiome and support brain health.

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, known as Dr. B, is a triple board-certified gastroenterologist, lifestyle medicine physician, founder of the Gut and Microbiome Center for Excellence, co-founder and co-CEO of 38TERA, and author of Plant Powered Plus, Fiber Fueled, and The Fiber Fueled Cookbook.

Chapters

00:00 — The missing nutrients that could change your gut health
03:32 — Dr. B’s four nutrition workhorses
04:42 — Why your microbiome wants you to eat the rainbow
08:28 — The surprising teamwork between fiber and polyphenols
10:14 — The secret to choosing the right fats
14:44 — Are you getting the omega-3s your brain actually needs?
20:18 — What “leaky gut” can teach us about brain fog
28:10 — The fermented food habit your microbiome may be missing
33:46 — The hidden problem with some plant-based milks
40:26 — Why morning light is more powerful than you think
47:29 — How meal timing can improve your gut health
50:59 — Dr. B’s favorite gut-friendly recipes
54:06 — How to feed your gut after antibiotics
1:01:21 — Annie and Jenny’s Review & Do

Links

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz / The Gut Health MD

The Brain Health Kitchen Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

The Brain Health Kitchen Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other87

Instagram7

Apple Podcast5

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other87

Instagram7

Apple Podcast5