Chasing Sleep

Hosts Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro explore the fundamental relationship between our sleep and nature in the finale of Season 2 of “Chasing Sleep.” Discover how losing our bond to nature has impaired our ability to get quality restorative sleep. Episode guests Richard Louv, author of the influential book “Last Child in the Woods” and Sleep psychologist Dr Jade Wu discuss how to prevent “Nature Deficit Disorder”, ways to improve sleep by harnessing the power of nature and the potential impacts of climate change and urbanization on sleep patterns. Could “green exercise,” forest bathing, or sunrise alarm clocks offer the key to better rest? “Chasing Sleep” is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year, Americans spend an estimated $64 billion on sleep supplements. In this episode, Katie and Adam ask Danielle LaFata, Director of Performance Nutrition for the NBA's Phoenix Suns and renowned sleep specialist Dr. W. Chris Winter to unravel the science behind popular sleep aids like melatonin, magnesium, and CBD. How do they work? Do they safely improve sleep or is it merely a placebo effect? How can sleep supplements contribute to the four major pillars of health (nutrition, fitness, mindfulness and sleep)? Learn how sleep aids could affect your waking life, physical and mental performance, and when to take them if needed.  “Chasing Sleep” is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does your work quality improve when you get better sleep? Hosts Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro speak with Ben & Jerry’s executive Sean Greenwood and renowned neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Chris Winter to find out. Chris explains why the CEOs and pro sports teams he consults with invest in sleep for performance, problem-solving abilities, competitiveness, and professional relationships. Sean shares the ice cream giant's unique approach to promoting employee wellness, including the implementation of an on-site Nap Room at their home offices in Vermont. This episode may change your opinion about whether it’s ok to "sleep on the job." “Chasing Sleep” is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Chasing Sleep”, hosts Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro dive into the connection between sleep and creativity, exploring the value of quality sleep to the creative process. Dr. Sara C. Mednick, author of "The Power of the Downstate" and "Take a Nap! Change Your Life," explains how specific sleep phases like REM sleep influence physiological processes and brain waves to enhance creativity. We're also joined by musical composer Andrew "Drew" Edwards, renowned for his work in film and TV scoring. Drew shares his personal story of how getting on a sleep schedule that aligned with his sleep cycles allows for maximum creativity.  “Chasing Sleep” is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all heard of “early bird specials,” but does that mean we’re all destined for dinner at 4pm and bedtime at 8pm? Do we need more sleep as we age and what role does sleep play in the way we maintain health as we age? In this episode, Katie and Adam talk with UCLA behavioral sleep medicine specialist Dr. Jennifer L. Martin and geriatric care expert Sarah Brown and learn how quality sleep can enhance quality of life by supporting immune system health, memory consolidation, mental alertness, and even a healthy sex life. Plus, find out how sleep impacts our body’s aging process. “Chasing Sleep” is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting quality sleep as a parent may be one of the tougher parts of being, well a parent. Join hosts Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro as they learn about achieving good, quality sleep for both children and parents. Dr. Jade Wu, a behavioral sleep medicine specialist at Duke University, shares tips on how parents can make sure they get good sleep themselves despite changing sleep patterns as children age. Pediatric sleep consultant Meg from Infinite Connection explains how babies and toddlers sleep better when feeling safe alone in their own beds.  “Chasing Sleep” is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of “Chasing Sleep,” Co-hosts Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro delve into the fascinating world of dreams to uncover what we know – and don't know – about what happens to our brains when we sleep. Katie and Adam reveal some of their own dreams to guest Justina Lasley, author of “Wake Up to Your Dreams,” and are amazed to discover how their dreams’ meaning may be connected to events, emotions, and concerns in their conscious lives. Plus, preeminent dream researcher Robert Stickgold explains why we dream and how important it is to our memory consolidation and learning. “Chasing Sleep” is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first episode of “Chasing Sleep” Season 2, new hosts Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro talk with expert guest Dr. Wendy Troxel about how quality sleep can improve your relationship by boosting your mood, empathy, and even sex drive. They also dish about the challenges many couples encounter in the bedroom, from snoring to temperature differences, to going to bed at different times – all of which can negatively affect not only sleep quality, but also your relationship chemistry. In pursuit of solutions, they learn more about “sleep divorce” and chat with Ky and Val, a young couple from Brooklyn who find sleeping in separate bedrooms boosts their intimacy and enables them to sleep better together — and separately. “Chasing Sleep” is an iHeart Radio production in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Chasing Sleep” returns for Season 2 to examine our relationship to sleep and how it impacts all facets of our lives.  Join our new hosts Katie Lowes (“Scandal” and “Inventing Anna”) and Adam Shapiro (“Never Have I Ever” and “She Said”) as they talk to everyday people and sleep researchers about the connections between sleep and parenting, intimacy, nature, work, and so much more.  Plus, they’ll explore the mysteries of our dreams, and how sleep may impact our creativity.  With about one in three Americans not getting enough sleep, Katie and Adam find out how better sleep can improve our physical and mental performance, and what we all can do to get that better sleep. Season 2 of “Chasing Sleep,” begins Tuesday, May 23rd.  This podcast is an iHeart Radio production in partnership with Mattress Firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may not think of gaming and eSports as physical events, but professional gamers like Will Wiggins, who goes by Black Oni on Twitch, condition themselves and their sleep as if they’re professional athletes to enhance performance and extend the longevity of their careers. Neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Chris Winter, who works with professional sports teams, explains the science of sleep for performance, and how games may be tricking our brains to stay awake, with tips on how to avoid blue light. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emergencies can happen anytime, and ER doctors need to be ready and rested to treat everything from cardiac events to gunshot wounds or broken bones. Their work could mean life or death for the patients in their care. NYC ER doctor George Russo shares how he finds time to rest despite long days and constantly changing shifts in order to put patients first, while pulmonologist and sleep advocate Dr. Seema Khosla weighs in on the benefits of regular sleep for the wellbeing of both doctors and their patients.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s more to sleep than being a good sleeper. So many factors—from overall health to our environments—impact our experience of sleep and how our brains and bodies behave while sleeping. From restless leg syndrome to sleepwalking to narcolepsy, researching and diagnosing sleep uncovers myriad solutions for getting the quality sleep that helps us live our best lives. In this episode, Anahad speaks with doctors whose passion and calling is sleep in all forms. Dr. Logan Schneider, a clinical assistant sleep professor of Sleep Medicine at the Stanford Sleep Center, the important role sleep analysis plays in managing our health. Sleep neurologist Dr. Chris Winter returns to the show to share his insights on the importance of evaluating our sleep and the future of sleep wellness and health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us take sunset as the cue to start winding down our day, but what if the sun never sets? The remote city of Inuvik, Canada is so deep in the Northern Hemisphere that it experiences months of non-stop sunlight in the summer, followed by months of fulltime darkness in the winter. Host Anahad O’Connor sits down with Inuvik resident Adi Scott who details what it’s like to keep a sleep schedule when you can no longer rely on the regular day-night cycle of the sun. Joined by neuroscientist and sleep expert Dr Steven Lockley, explore the powerful impact of light and dark on the brain, and how that triggers the complex internal mechanisms that influence our sleep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astronauts undergo rigorous training to prepare their bodies and minds for space, but once they arrive, the experience of being weightless thousands of miles above Earth is like nothing they’ve ever felt before. Join host Anahad O’Connor as he learns from former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander Leroy Chiao about what it’s like to work and sleep in space, including the dramatic changes the body endures over the course of a mission. Sleep science researcher Dr. Mathias Basner joins to share how zero gravity and noise can impact everyday activities like resting in space. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re a wildlife documentarian, you camp in the most remote parts of the world, ready at a moment’s notice to record elusive subjects. You also have to sleep when you can, where you can, often in extreme, uncomfortable, sometimes sub-zero conditions. Chris Morgan is a renowned filmmaker, ecologist and conservationist who’s journeyed the world, including deep into the Siberian tundra, tracking endangered species. With insights from sleep psychologist and researcher Dr. Jade Wu, discover how Chris uses sleep strategies borrowed from the military to stay alert and how time in nature can actually help improve sleep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s said that “The news never sleeps,” but the reporters who are breaking news in this nonstop 24-hour cycle have to get shut-eye sometime. ABC News anchor Diane Macedo has worked all hours day and night in news, and while her passion for reporting has never diminished, the adrenaline and anxiety that come with the job makes getting quality sleep a challenge. Discover what sleep professionals say about that sensation of being “tired but wired,” and learn about Diane’s journey to restful sleep even on busy news days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most, it’s hard to fathom a 50-mile trek on foot across any terrain. But for YiOu Wang, a professional ultra-marathon runner, that kind of distance is all in a day’s work. It takes strategic training and relearning what it means to sleep and rest to prepare the body and mind for such exertion. Join host Anahad O’Connor to learn about the important role sleep plays in athletic training and competition. Plus, hear from neurophysiologist and brain coach to elite athletes, Louisa Nicola, as she explains how bodies in training at any level require more attention to sleep to maintain strong muscles and high performance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder how an astronaut conducts experiments in space at zero gravity? Or how an ultra-marathon runner completes a 100-mile race, running non-stop for almost 24 hours? The answer is good sleep. Welcome to “Chasing Sleep,” a brand new podcast from iHeart Radio in partnership with Mattress Firm. Join host Anahad O’Connor (The Washington Post) as he discovers how fascinating people from around the world prioritize sleep to perform and live at their best. Explore how newscasters, ER doctors, late-night gamers and others live, sleep and thrive. In the process, we’ll uncover new ways to get healthy sleep that fits your life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.