On Health-ed Class
with Dr. Jolene Brighten author of ‘Is This Normal?: Judgment-Free Straight Talk about Your Body!’
#NuevasPaginas is a space that aims to amplify and spotlight Hispanic/Latine/x authors with newly published books. The goal is to connect readers to their next favorite Hispanic/Latine/x authored book through a mini casual get-to-know-the-book-and-author interview. So please spread the news so we can reach more readers and continue the love/support of Latine literature!
How does it work?!
Here’s the deal, I came up with a set of casual/random/fun questions to ask each Hispanic/Latinx/e author, I interview. If you are new here don’t forget to check out all the other amazing interviews! We also have a great line-up of guest authors coming up so make sure you don’t miss an issue by subscribing now!
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Hey Book Franz!
Another week, another author interview! This week I’ll be sliding into your inbox with two new Latine author interviews, so prepare yourself and your TBRs accordingly.
Also, coming up, that podcast discussion episode with my wife and me discussing the journey that was reading Angie Cruz’s books, is on its way! Not this week, but it’ll drop next week. As a reminder, the podcast episodes are a special thank you/gift to those that financially support the newsletter by being paid subscribers. I don’t say that to entice you to become one but I do want to make that clear so you know ahead of time.
That said, I know there are tons of folks out there that would be paid subscribers if they could be, but for whatever reason, aren’t able. If that is you, please feel free to send me an email (lupita dot reads at gmail dot com) and I’ll provide you with a complimentary subscription (you don’t need to give me any reason why you aren’t able to be a paid subscriber either).
What is Lupita reading this week?
📕 Physical book - I am currently reading Whipsmart by Melissa Febos and it’s been such a joy to read it slowly. I love Melissa Febos’ writing so very much and though this memoir came out in 2010, I thought about picking it up because I was in the mood to read about desire/intimacy and well, it is not at all disappointing!!!
🎧 On audio - I am finishing up Samantha Irby’s newest Quietly Hostile and I can’t stop laughing. It’s so funny and fresh and just real AF. I don’t want it to end. Literally, I was in tears this morning from laughing so much.
For #LupitasBookClub Besties:
It has been such a busy last few weeks that I haven’t gotten around to posting discussion questions let alone starting our book club pick 😰. This could mean I am the worst book club leader ever OR it could just be an opportunity for anyone that wanted to join but wasn’t able to before, to join us! So go get a copy of THE CONSEQUENCES by Manuel Muñoz and let’s make it happen together - signed your terrible book club leader lololol
Without further ado, our special guest author for today’s Nuevas Pagina issue is……Dr. Jolene Brighten author of ‘Is This Normal?: Judgment-Free Straight Talk about Your Body!’
Could you tell me a bit about where this photo was taken? Is it special to your book in some way?
Here's what no one other than my photographer and family knew about this photo--I had been told the day before that my pregnancy wasn't viable. And then I was on a plane to NYC to meet with publishers and was already scheduled for this photo session. I feel like this encompasses so much about what it is like to be a woman, from pregnancy loss to period pain to experiencing symptoms that aren't our normal, we still show up. We show up in life in spite of whatever may be happening in our body. It's my aim with Is This Normal to make it so we don't just show up, we get the full experience of this life and all the joy we deserve.
Tell me about your book without telling me about your book - share any literary inspirations behind your book! If there are none, the gap you wanted to fill in the literary canon with your book
Tell me what your health ed class shared, or rather, didn't share. Because if it is anything like most classes in this country, it is filled with myths, disinformation, and shame. But what would life be like if we knew the medical facts about our body, how to care for our hormones, and how to advocate for ourselves when we don't feel "our normal?" We have an opportunity to make that change for ourselves and our future generations and I want this book to be a catalyst in helping women create that change.
What are two central themes in your book that you connect with the most and why?
You live in your body, which means you know what's your normal and your doctor should respect that. I believe that honoring the patient experience is fundamental to delivering the best care. Secondly, your hormones are made to give you superpowers and anyone telling you they serve the purpose of making your life hell really doesn't understand how your body works. There's a way to make those hormones work for you and I'm really excited to hear from readers how this information transformed their life because of it.
If a book was home, where would your home be?
It's a vacation. It is warm, inviting, fun, and most of all, it will set your mind at ease.
If your book was a famous musician who would it be?
I'm feeling very Rage Against the Machine with this one. It's intelligent, direct, and challenging the system that has suppressed women's health and knowledge about their body. Giving some serious Zack de la Rocha vibes.
What comfort food could a reader pair with your book?
Dark chocolate. It's rich in magnesium, which eases menstrual cramps and supports a healthy mood. And it gives you that "feel good" feeling we all need from time to time.
In what ways has access (or little to no access) to Hispanic/Latinx/e literature defined you as a writer?
When I look around in the health space it is primarily white physicians. Latinx authors are woefully underrepresented in publishing and in the health space, it's much worse. Representation has been part of the reason I have written books, taken to international stages with my unapologetic curly hair, and done things that absolutely terrify me because as a little girl, I wish I had been able to see the reality of what is possible in this life.
Where can readers keep up with your work?
drbrighten.com is my main hub. You can also find me on Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube.
Thank you to Dr. Jolene Brighten for taking the time to chat with me about her book! Please please make sure you purchase a copy (or request your local library carry a copy) #SupportLatinxLit!
Dr. Jolene Brighten is a pioneer in women's medicine and an award-winning board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and certified sex counselor. She is the author of Beyond the Pill and Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth. A fierce patient advocate and completely dedicated to uncovering the root cause of hormonal imbalances, Dr. Brighten empowers women worldwide to take control of their health and their hormones. Her website, DrBrighten.com, and large social media platform, allow Dr. Brighten to teach women from across the globe how to heal their hormones and have a better conversation with their doctor. She is an international speaker, clinical educator, medical advisor in the FemTech industry, and is considered a leading authority on women's health. Dr. Brighten is also a faculty member for the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and part of the MindBodyGreen Collective. Her work has been featured in the New York Post, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, HuffPost, Bustle, The Guardian, and ABC News.
Synopsis for ‘Is This Normal?: Judgment-Free Straight Talk about Your Body’ from the Bookshop website:
A comprehensive and candid guide to women's health from naturopathic physician, bestselling author, and leader in women's health, Dr. Jolene Brighten.
When discussing period pain or mood swings, hormonal imbalance or fertility issues, and all the "down there" concerns, vagina owners everywhere consistently ask their doctors one thing: Is this normal?
Whether it was from her patients or her hundreds of thousands of social media followers, Dr. Jolene Brighten has heard this simple question more times than she can count. With only eighteen states (yes, really) requiring medically accurate sexual education, it's no wonder that so many have serious questions that need answers.
In Is This Normal?, Dr. Brighten candidly shares what your sex-ed teacher should have said but didn't. TMI isn't a term in her world. She answers all those "lady parts" questions you've always wondered but might not have felt comfortable asking, including topics as wide-ranging as the menstrual cycle, postpartum health, libido, acne, the orgasm gap, and vaginal discharges. No topic is too gross, gooey, or OMG to be off-limits.
Featuring a twenty-eight-day plan to take back your cycle and dozens of charts, checklists, and diagrams that help keep it real while keeping you educated, Is This Normal? is the Our Bodies, Ourselves for the social media generation and women everywhere will benefit from this honest, easy-to-understand guide to their bodies.