Sleep is My Waking Passion

Hosted by Dr. Alison Kole—a triple-boarded pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine physician, reformed chronic insomniac, devoted mom, and unapologetic sleep health creator—this hit podcast takes you on the real, unfiltered journey inside the science and soul of sleep. Each week, with wisdom forged from the trenches of night shifts and the chaos of motherhood, Alison sits down with top-tier experts and ordinary people with extraordinary sleep stories, unraveling how sleep shapes happiness, health, and destiny. If you want the 360° truth—the wins, the setbacks, the breakthroughs—about why every hour of sleep could be the most important hour of your life, this is the show that will change how you see your pillow forever. Sleep isn’t just her passion—it’s the key to waking up to your potential. Hit subscribe and transform your nights, days, and dreams.

Sleep is My Waking Passion is a health podcast hosted by Alison Kole, with 119 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Alison Kole hosts Sleep is My Waking Passion, a health show with 119 episodes published.

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  Episode #119

  Sleep Like a Pro: Stealing the Elite Athlete Playbook with Dr. Abhinav Singh, "The Sleep Vigilante"

  Jul 29, 202632 min

  What if waking up refreshed wasn't luck — but strategy? Elite athletes don't leave sleep to chance. They treat it like training, nutrition, and recovery — because at the pro level, the margins are a game of inches. This week, Dr. Alison Kole is joined by Dr. Abhinav Singh — better known as "The Sleep Vigilante" — sleep physician for the Indiana Pacers and WNBA Indiana Fever, Medical Director of the Franciscan Sleep Disorders Program, Associate Clinical Professor at Marian University, and author of Sleep to Heal . Together they translate elite-level sleep strategy into something you can use in real, everyday life — whether you're a road-warrior executive, a weekend athlete, or just tired of being tired. In this episode: The "Athlete Sleep Paradox": why the people who need the most sleep get the least Why a bad night isn't "just tired" — it's under-recovery, with real consequences for injury, repair, and performance "Tomorrow starts tonight": protecting your sleep window like a standing appointment with your future self The PACE method: Predictable timing, Air, Calm, Environment Sleep banking, jet lag strategy, and why melatonin is "the dinner bell, not the dinner" Travel non-negotiables: sun before screen, a digital last call, and a portable sleep kit (mask, earplugs, a familiar scent) What actually happens during deep sleep and REM — muscle repair, growth hormone, memory filing, and mood regulation Why consistently sleeping 5-6 hours is chronic under-recovery — "cooking your body on a slow crock pot burner" Napping done right: the 20-30 minute midday recharge (a healthy snack, not a meal) Process over perfection: why chasing a perfect sleep score will drive you crazy — and what to do instead Dr. Singh's bottom line: treat sleep like a standard, not a suggestion. Don't go chasing sleep — set the stage, and let it come to you. ⚠️ And remember: if you're doing everything right and still waking unrefreshed, don't sleep on your sleep disorders. Talk to a professional sooner rather than later. Dr. Singh's book: Sleep to Heal Alison's jet lag tool mentioned in the episode: Timeshifter app If this episode changed the way you think about sleep — even a little — share it with someone who needs to hear it. Like, follow, subscribe, and help spread the message!

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  Episode #118

  What if your political stress is quietly wrecking your sleep — and your relationships?

  Jul 22, 202640 min

  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Beth Ann Malow — neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and 2026 AASM Sleep Health Advocate Award recipient — to discuss her bold new book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt. We explore how outrage-driven culture, social media algorithms, and the 24-hour news cycle are affecting our mental health, cardiovascular risk, and sleep quality. From "doomscrolling insomnia" to fractured family relationships, we dig into the real consequences of living in constant political tension — and the practical, evidence-informed strategies that help. You'll learn how to break free from the outrage cycle, protect your sleep from stress and media overload, rebuild relationships even when you strongly disagree, and communicate with empathy without compromising your values. We also tackle daylight saving time: why the science strongly supports permanent standard time, and why public buy-in is so hard — a masterclass in science communication and listening across differences. If you've ever lost sleep after watching the news, avoided conversations because of politics, or felt stuck between speaking up and protecting your peace, this episode is for you. About Dr. Beth Ann Malow: Neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and former director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, Dr. Malow is a national leader in sleep health, autism research, and civil discourse. She co-authored Beyond the Politics of Contempt, a practical guide to bridging divides while standing firm in your beliefs. Resources: Book: Beyond the Politics of Contempt (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more) Website: https://beyondthepoliticsofcontempt.com Substack: https://togethernow.substack.com If this episode resonates, share it with someone you care about — even someone you disagree with. And subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of sleep, health, and real life.

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  Sleep is My Waking Passion

  How Your Gut Controls Your Sleep featuring Marissa Sharkey

  Jul 8, 202638 min

  Registered dietitian Marissa Sharkey — aka the Gutsy Dietitian — returns to unpack the gut-sleep connection and why so many busy adults feel exhausted, bloated, and stuck. From simple meal-prep swaps to the daily habits quietly sabotaging your rest, this is a practical playbook for feeling better from the inside out. In this episode, you'll learn: How gut health and sleep quality feed each other — and where most people go wrong Realistic meal-prep strategies for busy schedules (no all-day Sunday cooking required) The everyday nutrition habits worth changing first if you want more energy and better rest CTA: Loved this one? Follow Sleep Is My Waking Passion so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who's tired of being tired. You can find Marissa on Instagram @thegutsy_dietitian , grab her free meal-prep guide via her bio link, or reach her at marissa-sharkeynutrition.com .

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  Episode #116

  PTSD Is Treatable — Even 65 Years Later

  Jul 1, 202644 min

  Most people think trauma is something you just have to live with. It isn't. In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Courtney Worley — board-certified clinical psychologist and diplomate in behavioral sleep medicine — we break down the evidence-based therapies that actually treat PTSD and the sleep it steals. If you or someone you love struggles with nightmares, insomnia, or trauma, this one's for you. What you will learn: It's never too early — and never too late. PTSD is a problem in recovery, not a life sentence. Dr. Worley has treated trauma 65 years after the event. Older vets in their 80s and 90s get better. That capacity to heal never closes. 2. Five sessions can change everything. Written Exposure Therapy treats trauma in as few as five sessions, with no between-session homework. Alongside Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure, 60–80% of people see real symptom reduction. Three paths, same mountain. 3. Don't wake someone from a nightmare. Sleeping through a disturbing dream helps the brain process and store the trauma. Waking them interrupts the healing. And nightmares themselves? Treatable — most people just never knew to ask. Sleep isn't a luxury. It's part of healing. 💙

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  Episode #115

  Nightmares in Narcolepsy Are Way Worse Than You Think (And We Can Rewrite Them)

  Jun 24, 202630 min

  Narcolepsy isn’t just about “falling asleep at the wrong time.” For many patients, the scariest part is what happens inside their sleep—long, vivid, emotionally intense nightmares that can blur into sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and even waking life. In this episode of Sleep Is My Waking Passion, Dr. Alison Kole sits down with clinical psychologist and sleep researcher Dr. Jennifer Mundt (University of Utah) to unpack a symptom almost no one is talking about: nightmares in narcolepsy—and how cognitive behavioral therapy for nightmares (CBT-N) and imagery rehearsal techniques may help rewrite them. You’ll learn: How narcolepsy nightmares differ from typical “bad dreams” Why dream-reality confusion and lucid dreaming can make these episodes feel dangerously real What current research suggests about nightmare burden in narcolepsy, type 1 and type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia How CBT-N and imagery rehearsal therapy work, step by step, and how they can be adapted for excessively sleepy patients How to learn more about Dr. Mundt’s DAWN Study and remote participation options This episode is essential viewing for: Clinicians treating narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, or trauma-related sleep disorders Researchers interested in REM dysregulation, dream phenomenology, and behavioral sleep medicine Patients and families living with narcolepsy, sleep paralysis, and disturbing dreams If you’re ready to look beyond medications and explore how behavioral treatment might change the dream landscape in narcolepsy, start here. 👉 If this topic fascinates you, hit Subscribe, so you don’t miss upcoming episodes!

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