Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

Recent headlines and viral clips have reignited conversation about Donald Trump appearing to fall asleep during public events. What’s actually going on? Trump has repeatedly said, in his own words and in interviews, that he doesn’t sleep much and doesn’t believe he needs much sleep. In this podcast we will:Provide a brief tour of presidential and political history that shows short sleep has been common among leaders, from Thomas Jefferson to Bill ClintonTalk about why sleep loss matters via a clear, science-based explanation of how chronic short sleep affects attention, decision-making, emotional regulation, and cognitive performanceDifferentiate between “functioning” and functioning well, and discuss why people often overestimate how well they perform when sleep deprivedPull in the cultural mythology of leaders who “never sleep” and why we tend to confuse exhaustion with strength, productivity, or toughnessTake a look at how sleep has become politicized, including nicknames, optics, and the public’s fixation on who looks tired and who doesn’tProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are everywhere—from our phones to our Wi-Fi to the wiring in our homes. But do they actually disrupt sleep… or is this another modern sleep villain that gets more attention than it deserves? In this episode of Sleep Unplugged, we will:Define what EMF actually is (ELF vs RF, and why “non-ionizing” matters)Learn what research says—and doesn’t say—about EMF and the brain, including why subtle EEG changes don’t always translate into real-world sleep problemsReview what studies show about EMF and sleep, from brain waves and spindles to subjective sleep qualityFocus on Chuck McGill (Better Call Saul) as a case study, and why his story mirrors what we see in insomnia, hyperarousal, and perceived sleep threatsDetermine if EMF-blocking devices actually work and look at physics vs marketing—and why many products overpromiseList some reasonable precautions without fear, and why chasing the “perfect sleep environment” can sometimes make insomnia worseProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Explore why New Year's sleep resolutions often fail, reframing insomnia as a brain wired for vigilance rather than a personal flaw. Discover six actionable resolutions, such as measuring calm instead of sleep and treating bedtime as rest rather than a performance challenge. Learn about the importance of evidence-based care and building supportive daytime routines. The conversation emphasizes that overcoming insomnia often requires structured help and reframing our approach to sleep.

Once again we come to the end of another year and our 4th Annual Sleep Unplugged "Sleepy" Awards are upon us again. Join me in honoring the best and brightest in sleep in this podcast episode:The 2025 Sleepy Award winners are:Social Media Warrior                    Dr. Christopher J Allen (@sleepdrchris)      Sleep Outsider Award                  The Nap Ministry/Tricia Hershey (@thenapministry)Sleep Vanguard Organization     Natrol (@natrolofficial)Sleep Sports Organization          Toronoto Blue JaysSleep Podcast of The Year           Deep Into Sleep/Dr. Yishan Xu (@dr.yishan)Best Insomnia Advice                   Nada El Kouz (@wellpower.me)Book of the Year                            Sleep Groove: Why Your Biological Clock Is So                                                                 Messed Up And What To Do About It                                                         Dr. Olivia Walch (@olivia.walch)Sleep Trend Farewell                   Nighttime baby carrots                  Sleep Crusader Award                Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, MD (@fabsleepdoc)Produced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

This week marks the 8th month we have put out the Top 10 Sleep Threats Power Rankings, and this week, we have a special guest assessor, Dr. Roxanne Prichard. In this episode we will:Find out what Roxanne thinks are the top threats to your sleepFocus on wealth inequalityLearn why Dr. Prichard's list does not contradict our previous lists, but may very well explain them.Produced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Ever wondered what really happens during a sleep study — and why we still rely on them more than 50 years after their invention? Take a behind-the-scenes look at the overnight sleep study, from its surprisingly quirky origins to its modern-day role in diagnosing sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and more. In this episode we will:Learn how the polysomnogram was born — and why it became the gold standard in sleep medicineUnderstand what actually happens during an overnight sleep study (yes, all those wires have a purpose)Cover the rise of home sleep testing — when it works well, and when it can miss important diagnosesReview special considerations for kids, athletes, and patients with complex sleep concernsTake a peek at where sleep testing is headed next, from wearable tech to at-home EEGProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

You probably saw the headlines out of California as they sent a jolt through the sleep world as well as social media: Do common sleep medications increase your risk of dementia? In this episode we will:Review what the UCSF study actually found — and what the headlines got wrongDetermine which medications are most often implicated (benzodiazepines vs Z-drugs vs trazodone)Take a deep dive into the three best studies on sleeping pills and dementia riskFind out why some large studies do show a connection… and others don’tLearn the real risks you should take seriously — even if dementia isn’t one of themThink about how doctors should actually practice prescribing sleep meds in older adultsProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

This week marks the 7th month we have put out the Top 10 Sleep Threats Power Rankings, but it's the first time we have devoted an entire episode to the list. This week, we have a special guest assessor, Dr. Jade Wu. In this episode we will:Find out what Jade thinks are the top threats to your sleepFocus on mental health as a sleep detractorLearn more about the concept of FOMO or "fear of missing out" and how research is indicating it is a real threat to the sleep of manyProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

Fear not, the Sleep Unplugged podcast is once again here to solve your holiday shopping dilemmas with some of my favorite sleep product companies. In this episode, we will explore a host of sleep-themed gift ideas and product recommendations. In this episode, we will feature the following products:SideSleeperZ slip-proof sleep maskAuthenticity50 beddingBee Ulmo honeyBlueAir air purification systems (MiniRestful)Dagsmejan sleepwearHästens mattresses and sleep productsHoneydew Sleep pillowsLoftie alarm clocksMoonbrew drink mixNatrol Sleep & Restore supplementsOzlo sleep earbudsPath waterQuietOn noise cancelling sleep earbudsSleeping Dove comfortersSleep ProteinTruvaga vagal nerve stimulatorWeLove Creations earplugsZdenProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

The orexin receptor agonists are coming. After years of managing narcolepsy with stimulants, sodium oxybate, and wake-promoting agents, we soon will have medications that target the root cause of the disorder: the loss of orexin signaling. These new drugs—developed by Takeda, Alkermes, and Centessa—aren’t just incremental improvements. They represent a genuine shift in how we understand and treat hypersomnolence disorders. In this episode, we will:Define what orexin is and why losing it destabilizes wakefulness, REM boundaries, muscle tone, and cognitionLearn how orexin agonists work—not as stimulants, but as replacement therapy for a missing neurotransmitterFind out why OX2R is the key receptor, and how selective agonists restore stable wakefulness, reduce cataplexy, and normalize attentionReview the available clinical data from the new wave of programs: oveporexton (Takeda), alixorexton (Alkermes), and ORX750 (Centessa)See what makes these drugs different from modafinil, amphetamines, solriamfetol, and oxybate therapiesLearn why Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 trials matter—with quick insights on how these drugs reached such strong resultsConsider safety and side effects, including what Hy’s Law means and why regulators watch liver signals so closelyLook ahead to what these medications may mean for NT1, NT2, IH, and other hypersomnolence disorders in the coming yearsSpeculate why this class represents one of the most exciting moments in modern sleep medicineProduced by: Maeve WinterMore Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!