Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter
Episodes
#198: The Loneliness Epidemic and Insomnia: Out by Myself
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Insomnia is often framed as a nighttime disorder—but what if, for many patients, it’s also a daytime problem of disconnection? As loneliness emerg...
#197 - Top 10 Sleep Threat Power Rankings: The Challenges We're Facing
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks the 10th month we have put out the Top 10 Sleep Threats Power Rankings, and this week, we have a special guest assessor, Vanderbilt Pr...
#196 - Red Light Therapy: All I See Is Red
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Red light therapy has moved well beyond the world of skincare and into something far more biologically intriguing. From mitochondrial function to reti...
#195 - Pillow Fight 2026: Lay It On The Line
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's NCAA Selection Sunday, and that means the Pillow Fight is back. This year we've assembled 16 new pillows, each full of hope that they w...
#194 - Nocturnal Headaches and Sleep: No More Pain While You Sleep
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Waking up with a headache can feel ominous. Is it stress? Sinus pressure? Something neurological? In this episode of Sleep Unplugged, we break down no...
#193 - Insomnia and Success: Gonna Hit The Big Time
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Success looks good in the daylight, but at night, it often looks very different. In this episode we explore why insomnia is so common in driven, high-...
#192 - Top 10 Sleep Threat Power Rankings: Can I Go To Bed & Sleep Tonight?
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks the 10th month we have put out the Top 10 Sleep Threats Power Rankings, and this week, we have a special guest assessor, Dr. Margaret ...
#191 - Creatine and Sleep: When You Sleep, Your Muscles Would Bulge
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Creatine has been a staple in the gym bag for decades. But is it just for bodybuilders chasing one more rep, or does it have something to say about sl...
#190 - Restless Legs Syndrome Shake-Up: Every Time a Problem Ends, Another One Begins
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Restless legs syndrome used to feel simple. If the legs were jumping, we reached for a dopamine agonist, the safer alternative to older meds. Over tim...
#189 - Insomnia Electronics: Electricity So Fine
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s insomnia episode explores a provocative idea: can certain electronics actually help insomnia rather than harm it? While screens and dev...
#188 - Top 10 Sleep Threat Power Rankings: I’m Tired but I’m Working
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks the 9th month we have put out the Top 10 Sleep Threats Power Rankings, and this week, we have a special guest assessor, Dr. Seem Khosl...
#187 - Why is Donald Trump So Sleepy? My Mind Is Fading
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Recent headlines and viral clips have reignited conversation about Donald Trump appearing to fall asleep during public events. What’s actually going...
#186 - EMF and Sleep: Rays of Violet and Electric Blue
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 thi...
#185 - Insomnia Resolutions: Seeing My Past to Let It Go
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the Sleep Unplugged podcast, we are looking at sleep resolutions made for the new year and why they often fail. In this episode, we prese...
#184 - 2025 Sleep Unplugged Awards: I Wil Be King
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
#180 - Top 10 Sleep Threat Power Rankings: You Can't Live Like This
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Pr...
#182 - So You're Having A Sleep Study: Lying In Bed
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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-s...
#181 - Sleep Aids and Dementia: All Manner of Pills
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 incr...
#180 - Top 10 Sleep Threat Power Rankings: Sleeping Eyes, You’re Missing (Out)
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
#179 - The 4th Annual Holiday Sleep Gift Guide Extravaganza: The Perfect Gift
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
#178 - Orexin Agonists Are Here: This Is The New Stuff
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The orexin receptor agonists are coming. After years of managing narcolepsy with stimulants, sodium oxybate, and wake-promoting agents, we soon will h...
#177 - Sleep Fragmentation - Picking Up the Pieces
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At the root of many sleep disorders of sleep fragmentation. It's a big part of sleep medicine that many people don't know much about. In thi...
#176 - Media and Insomnia: It’s So Hard To Tell From Just A Magazine
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The media can be a fantastic source of information about insomnia, or it can be a lens that distorts and confuses the issue. In this episode we will:C...
#175 - World Series, Performance, and Sleep: Out of the Blue
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time in my career, two team for who I work will meet for the championship, this time it's the Los Angeles Dodgers (my 10th year wit...
#174 - Hydration and Sleep: It's In The Water
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We talk endlessly about caffeine, alcohol, and sleep—but what about plain old water? In this episode, we will:Dive deep into the fascinating relatio...
#173 - Sleep and Altitude: Only Look Up
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re skiing in Aspen, hiking Kilimanjaro, or just wondering why sleep feels so strange in the mountains, altitude messes with your rest in...
#172 - Sleep Hygiene is Not Insomnia Therapy: Save Me Tonight
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all heard the sleep hygiene advice: turn off your screens, keep your room cool, avoid caffeine after lunch. While we can agree that these prac...
#171 - Getting Your Kid To Sleep Through The Night: Crying In My Sleep
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Few parenting debates stir more passion than how to help a baby sleep. In this episode, we will:Explore the science and controversy behind “cry it o...
#170 - Sleep Earbuds and Earplugs: Of Course I’ve Had It In The Ear Before
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to sleep, sometimes silence is golden—and sometimes it needs a little help. In this episode, we’ll explore the world of earplugs and...
#169 - Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Out At Night Moving
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all seen it—or maybe we’ve been told we do it: twitching, jerking, or kicking in the night. But when does this common sleep quirk cross th...
#168 - #MASA (Make America Sleep Again): Wake Me Up When September Ends
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know…Only 57% of Americans now say science has a mostly positive effect on society—down 16 points since before COVID?And yet, 83% of peopl...
#167 - Frequent Nighttime Urination: All Through The Night
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to insomnia, many people begin their journey staring at the clock after yet another middle-of-the-night bathroom trip and wondering: is ...
#166 - 10 Ways to Sleep Better in a Hotel: Take Me to The Hotel
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all been there—different bed, strange noises, mystery thermostat settings—and suddenly your “dream” vacation or business trip comes wi...
#165 - Headache and Sleep: Gotta Painful Swelling Brain
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Headaches don’t punch the clock at bedtime — in fact, for many, night is when they strike hardest. In this episode, we’ll:Explore how disrupted ...
#164 - Temperature vs. Tired: Which Sign is Vital?
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At every medical appointment, certain rituals unfold: height, weight, blood pressure, and—almost reflexively—temperature. But in asymptomatic pati...
#163 - Insomnia and Public Health: You're Looking Tired And More Than A Little Human
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all think we know what insomnia is: trouble sleeping, tossing and turning, maybe staring at the ceiling until sunrise. But does the public really h...
#162 -Sleep in the Gilded Age: If You Know Your History
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our modern world of blue light and burnout, it’s easy to forget that sleep has always been shaped by the forces of its time. In this episode, we ...
#161 - Sleep on Television: The Dream’s Dream on the Small Screen
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve talked extensively about sleep and its science, but what happens when sleep becomes the story itself—on screen? Television has portrayed sle...
#160 - Still Sleepy After CPAP: I'm Not Dead, I'm Not Myself
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve explored sleep apnea in depth on the podcast—its causes, its severity, and the many ways it’s treated. But what happens when the sleepines...
#159 - Extreme Insomnia: You're Killing Yourself If You Don't Believe It
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Atlantic recently published a feature article entitled "Why Americans Can't Sleep." The article was written by Jennifer Senior, and...
#158 - Bruxism: Put You Through the Grind
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bruxism or teeth grinding is a remarkably common occurrence and often happens during our nightly sleep period, disrupting sleep quality and continuity...
#157 - Weight Loss Drugs and Sleep Apnea: One Pill Makes You Small
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Weight loss drugs are everywhere and recently Zepbound (tirzepitide) made big news when it became the first FDA-approved sleep apnea therapy for mild ...
#156 - Research from the 2025 SLEEP Scientific Conference: Make Me a Poster
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You are looking live at the Seattle Conference Center where sleep researchers from around the world are converging to carry around tote bags and share...
#155 - Oral Appliance and Sleep Apnea: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So far on the podcast we had talked about sleep apnea as well as the treatments CPAP and surgery. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss another p...
#154 - Sleep and the Threat of Danger: I Won’t Do You No Harm
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest obstacles in insomnia treatment is the perceived threat of physical harm related to the sleep difficulty. It's a major cog in ...
#153 - The Ten Worst Things For Sleep: Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we did the snooze button episode of the podcast, it all started with a declaration that the snooze button was the worst thing for sleep. While it...
#152 - Sleep and Temperature Regulation: Gonna Make You Sweat
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sweating at night is a common complaint in the sleep clinic. While night sweats are often thought of as being the exclusive domain of post-menopausal ...
#151 - Sleep and Back, Neck, and Shoulder Pain: Sorry For The Hurt
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to symptoms that cause us to seek medical help, there are few that top pain. Pain occupies a unique space within the world of sleep, in ...
#150 - Bedtime Stories: Without You, I Just Can’t Go To Sleep
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last several years, adult 'bedtime stories' have become a ubiquitous internet method used by many to help themselves fall asleep at...
#149 - Creating a Bedroom Sanctuary: Here May Ye Rest A While
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is nothing more pleasing to the soul than wandering into a space that makes you feel protected, present, and at peace. Many elements involved in...
#148 - The Truth About Medical Practices: It’s an Illusion
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the owner of a private medical practice, I know how difficult it is for the solo provider/small group to keep the doors open and deliver quality ca...
#147 - Idiopathic Hypersomnia: All I Wanna Do Is Wake Up In The Morning
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We have talked extensively about Type 1 and Type 2 narcolepsy on the podcast, but what about its mysterious cousin idiopathic hypersomnia (IH)? What i...
#146 - Cognitive Shuffling: Ain’t Nothin’ To It
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent New York Times article entitled "A Simple Technique to Help You Fall Asleep" by Christina Caron details a technique dubbed cognitiv...
#145 - Hypnic Myoclonus: Jerk Your Body
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We have all experienced it...you're sitting in bed, nodding off, and suddenly you awaken with a start feeling like you are about to fall down sta...
#144 - Missing Sleep Apnea: I Thought Someone Would Notice
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
26 million adult Americans have sleep apnea and 80-90% represent undiagnosed cases. Why have these numbers remained so high when there are easier diag...
#143 - Pillow Fight 2025: Simply The Best
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone loves the NCAA basketball tournament...teams colliding in a winner-take-all tournament for basketball supremacy. Haven't you ever dreame...
#142 - Death to Daylight Saving Time: For Clock Back Move And Make It For A While
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we recover from yet another "spring forward" into Daylight Saving Time again, it seems a good time to revisit the topic we initially cove...
#141 - Light Therapy Revisited: Put on the Red Light
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It has been a while since we have focused our attention on light therapy and sleep. For this Insomnia Monday, I thought a revisiting of light therapy ...
#140 - Fear of The Snooze Button: Shut Me Down with a Push of Your Button
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2024, the Independent published an article entitled, "Experts Issue Warning About Using the Snooze Button." Previously, a sleep specialis...
#139 - Heart Rate Variability and Sleep: Like a Moving Heartbeat
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Heart rate variability (HRV) is everywhere, and in no space has it made a bigger splash than in sleep medicine. Not only is HRV influenced significant...
#138 - The Subtle Art of Hurkle-Durkling: Swim in a Deep Sea of Blankets
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you pay any attention to sleep hygiene advice, you have probably heard many times that you should get up at the same time every day for optimal sle...
#137 - Insomnia and Vagal Nerve Stimulators: Are You Getting the Vibe?
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulators are often advertised as insomnia therapies, "helping you fall asleep faster" or "helping you sle...
#136 - Cancer and Sleep: Gotta Be Strong to Fight Them
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about the deleterious effects of poor sleep, cardiovascular and cognitive/psychological consequences typically come first to mind. One o...
#135 - Blood Glucose and Sleep: Sweet As Sugar
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The relationship between sleep and blood glucose is a powerful one and it impacts our weight, the way we eat, and countless other health metrics. In t...
#134 - Sleep in Times of Catastrophe: Burn Out The Night
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires continue to burn in California, firefighters and other first responders work tirelessly around the clock. ...
#133 - Insomnia and Exercise: You Better Run
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to insomnia treatments, there probably is no better intervention than exercise. If you are not already convinced, in this episode we wil...
#132 - 2024 Sleep Unplugged Awards: The Best of What's Around
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Believe it or not, but the 3rd Annual Sleep Unplugged "Sleepy" Awards are upon us again. What better way to close out the year of sleep than...
#131 - Sleep Apnea Surgeries: Some Greater Awakening
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For many people who have sleep apnea, they look to surgery as a means to a "greater awakening" which can at times, lead to disappointing out...
#130 - Sleep Unplugged Book Club #2-The Sleep Apnea Hypothesis: If Everything Goes Wrong
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sleep apnea is the bread and butter of the sleep clinic and the most common cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. But do you really know the extent t...
#129 - How to Take The Perfect Nap: Lay Your Weary Head to Rest
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We started a dialogue about napping way back in episode 17. The napping discussion continues. In this episode, we will:Discuss reasons for nappingRevi...
#128 - How To Stop Taking Sleeping Pills: I Can Never Stop, I Can Never Quit
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Insomnia treatment often involves pills and when those pills fail to solve the problem (or even if them seem to help) the desire to discontinue the pi...
#127 - The 3rd Annual Holiday Sleep Gift Guide Extravaganza: You Just Won't Be Able To Do Without It
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Sleep Unplugged podcast is back to solve your holiday shopping dilemmas with some of my favorite sleep product companies. In this episode, we wi...
#126 - Sleep and Air Travel: Go For a Ride In The Sky
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the holidays fast approaching, many will take to the skies bound for destinations all over the world. Sleeping on a plane can be the difference b...
#125 - Weight Loss and Sleep: Nice Skinny, Roller Skate Skinny
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is a complicated relationship between sleep and weight, and it's worth unpacking this to some degree. In this episode we will:Look at the d...
#124 - Grief and Sleep: Won't You Stop and Remember Me?
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grief is a both a common cause of acute insomnia and a massive perpetuating factor of chronic insomnia. The relationship between grief and insomnia/sl...
#123 - Fear of the Dark: There's No Need To Be Afraid
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fear of the dark is a common phobia seen in children that can greatly affect their sleep. In this episode we will:define fear of the darkdifferentiate...
#122 - Bedwetting/Enuresis: Golden Slumbers
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have touched upon bedwetting in several episodes, but we have never dedicated an entire episode to the topic. In this episode, we will:define enure...
#121 - Hurricanes, Climate, and Sleep: It Is Time For Stormy Weather
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is not only a growing threat to our planetary survival, but it is also a major player in the health and safety of people everywhere. Ou...
#120 - Sleepmaxxing: Broke The Limit
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Up until recently, getting more sleep was not exactly cool and absolutely not something to brag about. Gen Z may be changing that perception on social...
#119 - Media and Sleep Product Ratings: You Look Like You’re The Best
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past few years, the topic of sleep has permeated the media landscape like few other topics in science and medicine. This has led to not only ...
#118 - Apple Watches and Sleep Apnea: Watch It Now, Here It Comes
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On September 16th, 2024, Apple announced their new sleep apnea detection feature for their Apple Watch device had received FDA approval for the detect...
#117 - Seasons of Sleep: As The Old Sun Dies
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As summer comes to an end, it's a good time to examine how seasonal change tends to affect our sleep. In this episode we will:Refresh our memorie...
#116 - Sleep Unplugged Book Club #1-Navigating Life With Restless Legs Syndrome: Bouncing 'Round the Room
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the first installment of the Sleep Unplugged Book Club, we will examine Andrew Spector's new book Navigating Life with Restless Legs Syndrome...
#115 - Insomnia and Sleep Debt: Pay It Back
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There is no topic in sleep more likely to incite a riot between sleep experts than the concept of a sleep debt. Does it really exist? Can a sleep debt...
#114 - Inflammation and Sleep: I’m On Fire
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have touched on inflammation as a central pathway connecting sleep disorders and dementia (episode 99), injury (episode 70), pain (episode 48), and...
#113 - Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome: In The Dark, I Feel Your Resistance
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Somewhere between normal nocturnal breathing and sleep apnea exists a strange entity. This condition, often debated in terms of its mere existence is ...
#112 - Sleep Walking: To Get Up and Go, Memory's Remote, Now I’m Standing Up The Morning After
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sleep walking is probably the most recognized and discussed parasomnia, but it can also create significant confusion and danger for those affected. In...
#111 - Sleep Schedules and Insomnia: Wasting the Dawn
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We often talk about the amount of sleep individuals need creates confusion for insomnia patients. In this episode we dive deeper into this concept wit...
#110 - The Sleep Apnea Pill: Wired On The Pills You Took
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sleep apnea is a very common medical problem that affects a large portion of the population. The treatment options leave much to be desired including ...
#109 - Sleep in the Elderly: What A Drag It Is Getting Old
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Aging is a certainty of life, and with it comes changes in sleep. Understanding these changes is central to life-long pursuit of healthy sleep. In thi...
#108 - The Menstrual Cycle and Sleep: God's Little Gift Is On The Rag
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The menstrual cycle has long been associated with sleep. Emerging research is uncovering more of a bidirectional relationship with sleep. In this epis...
#107 - Avoiding a Sleep Divorce: Let's Stay Together
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Like it or not, the concept of a sleep divorce seems like it is here to stay. Sleeping in separate beds or bedrooms is a popular option for solving sl...
# 106 - Hypnosis and Sleep: Hypnotized, Mesmerized By What My Eyes Have Found
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"You are getting sleepy" is what I think about when I think of hypnosis, and given that it has been looked at as a treatment for insomnia, i...
#105 - Sleep and Air Quality: The Air Is Finally Safe To Breathe Again
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lately, much seems to be made about the relationship between air quality and sleep. Air purification systems have jumped on the sleep bandwagon as hav...
#104 - Sleep Deprivation: Get Up, Get Up! Wake Up, Wake Up!
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While we have touched on sleep deprivation in other episodes, particularly as it relates to confusion with the concept of insomnia, in this episode, w...
#103 - Research from the 2024 SLEEP Scientific Conference: Pleasant Dreams at the Sleep Brain Drain
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The 2024 SLEEP meeting just concluded in Houston where the greatest sleep minds come together and share the amazing academic and scientific projects a...
#102 - New Insomnia Solutions: Wrap it Up and Let Me Sleep
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Insomnia requires a multidisciplinary approach to solve and what's right for one individual may not be for another. In this episode, I introduce ...
#101 - Sleep and the Armed Forces: Join the Military Service
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The United States Military has a fascinating relationship with sleep. What organization needs it more, but often finds themselves neglecting it. In th...
#100 - 100 Surprising Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Secrets for Amazing Sleep: Here's a List
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate the 100th episode of the Sleep Unplugged podcast, here is a all-encompassing list of 100 habits and good practices healthy sleepers emplo...
#99 - Dementia and Sleep: Because I Don’t Remember
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 62, we began to look at the role sleep plays in memory. In episode 65, we looked at the condition REM behavior disorder and how this neurod...