In this episode of I Did My Own Research, Dr. Fran sits down with Dr. Padget Skogman — Iowa-based pediatrician, mom of three, and medical content creator — for a wide-ranging conversation about modern parenthood, the pressure of too much information, and how to raise kids confidently in a screen-saturated world.

They dig into why parents today are more anxious than ever (hint: it's not a lack of information — it's a firehose of it), and why trusting your own instincts within your family's values matters more than following every online trend.

Dr. Skogman breaks down what the research actually says about screen time — including what the ABCD brain study is revealing about how different types of content affect developing minds differently.

They also get into:

• Why picky eating is totally normal and what to actually do about it
• The viral "declining interventions in labor" content trend — and why nuance matters when millions of people are watching
• How social media can be a genuine net positive for parents, patients, and physicians
• Physician burnout, processing hard days, and what The Pitt gets right about medicine

This one is equal parts science, real talk, and solidarity for anyone trying to parent thoughtfully in 2026.

Dr. Skogman's social media: @DrPadgetSkogman

Dr. Fran's social media: @PagingDrFran

Dr. Fran sits down with Melinda French Gates — philanthropist and founder of Pivotal, a group of organizations she founded to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people in the U.S. and around the world.

Following an announcement of new funding commitments that bring her total investment in women's health to over $600 million in the last two years. Melinda shares why she is doubling down on reproductive health while expanding her focus to midlife, menopause, and mental health — areas she believes have been chronically underfunded and overlooked for far too long.

Together, Dr. Fran and Melinda dig into the frustrating gaps in women's healthcare, from the lack of research and dedicated treatments for conditions like PCOS, to the inadequate training physicians receive around menopause. Dr. Fran opens up about her own experiences as both a patient with PCOS and a physician who graduated residency with just one lecture on menopause, highlighting how these systemic failures leave both doctors and patients feeling stuck and without real answers.

The conversation also takes a deep look at the mental health component of women's healthcare — including the sobering reality that suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality — and why Melinda sees mental health not as a side issue, but as a core and fundamental part of women's wellbeing. Both women agree on one powerful truth: when women are well, they can do well. And that starts with giving them the right care at the right time.

Melinda's social media: @MelindaFrenchGates

Dr. Fran's social media: @PagingDrFran

Dr. Fran sits down in person with Dr. Betsy Grunch, board-certified neurosurgeon and creator behind the popular Lady Spine Doc brand, recorded live at the Pinnacle Conference in Austin.

Dr. Grunch shares the deeply personal story that drew her to neurosurgery — her mother's spinal cord injury as a police officer — and walks listeners through her path from the University of Georgia to a six-year residency at Duke. The two doctors unpack one of the most common medical complaints their patients share: back pain, and why nearly 90% of people will experience it at some point in their lives. Dr. Grunch explains why MRIs are frequently overutilized, why pathology on a scan doesn't always mean that scan explains a patient's pain, and why a rushed diagnosis can actually make symptoms worse.

The conversation turns to women's health, exploring how pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period uniquely impact spinal health — and why pelvic floor physical therapy should be a universal part of postpartum care. Dr. Grunch also opens up about her own postpartum back injury, the lifestyle changes it inspired, and her journey with weight loss, strength training, and GLP-1 medications.

Dr. Grunch's social media: @LadySpineDoc

Dr. Fran's social media: @PagingDrFran