REM Reward

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Tania Palacios, an Integrative Mental Health Counselor, Yoga Therapist, Life MAP Coach, Army Veteran, and founder of TLP Wellness. Tania specializes in helping individuals improve their mental, emotional, and physical well-being through a holistic approach that combines mindfulness, movement, breathwork, and lifestyle practices. The conversation explores the conne...

Today on REM Reward, Ryan is joined by Dr. Sudha Wadhwani, a student wellness and mental health advocate who has helped bring creative approaches to rest and mindfulness onto college campuses. Through initiatives like Sereni-tea events and the introduction of nap pods in university libraries, Dr. Wadhwani has worked to create spaces where students can slow down, recharge, and prioritize their well...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Dr. Christina Calamaro, a leading researcher in adolescent sleep and health at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University. Dr. Calamaro’s work focuses on how behaviors like caffeine consumption and technology use impact sleep patterns, learning, and overall well-being in teenagers. The conversation explores why so many teens are not getting enough sleep...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Angela Goldman, a board-certified health and wellness coach and founder of NRG Health and Wellness. Angela specializes in helping people improve their energy, sleep, and overall well-being through sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes. The conversation explores how sleep interacts with nutrition, stress, and daily habits, and why sleep is often the...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Dr. Helen Burgess, a leading circadian rhythm scientist at the University of Michigan and co-director of the Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory. Dr. Burgess studies how the body’s internal clock responds to light, behavior, and daily routines, and how disruptions to these rhythms affect sleep and mental health. The conversation explores why morning sunlight i...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Dr. Erik Herzog, a leading circadian biologist at Washington University in St. Louis. The conversation explores how the brain keeps time, what circadian rhythms actually are, and why daily timing matters for sleep, learning, and health. Dr. Herzog explains why teenagers naturally want to stay up later, how screens and melatonin affect developing sleep systems, and...

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Dr. Wanda Willard, Professor of Psychology at Monroe Community College, to explore the science and mystery of sleep and dreaming. Drawing from her years of teaching and research experience, Dr. Willard explains what happens during the stages of sleep, how sleep deprivation affects our emotions and cognition, and how life experiences can shape our dreams. The co...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with James Mollison, whose acclaimed project Where Children Sleep explores childhood through the lens of the bedroom, and what it reveals about culture, inequality and identity. We discuss what inspired him to start this work, how children’s sleep-environments vary dramatically around the world, and what lessons his images hold for understanding the connections between...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Professor Sarah Blunden, a world-renowned pediatric sleep researcher from CQUniversity Australia and Monash University. Sarah has spent decades studying how children and adolescents sleep, why their rest is so often disrupted, and what parents and communities can do to better support them. We discuss the most common sleep problems in young kids, how early sleep ha...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Benjamin Y. Cheung, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. While Benjamin’s research spans cultural psychology, identity, and how social environments shape human behavior, today’s conversation focuses on his study comparing sleep patterns and beliefs across Japanese, European Canadian, and Asian Canadian university studen...

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Jeanine Klotzkin, LPC, LCAT, a therapist and sleep coach who has helped countless clients break free from years of emotional and sleep struggles. Together, they discuss why sleep is one of the most overlooked keys to emotional resilience, how anxiety, depression, and trauma can profoundly disrupt sleep, and why the reverse is also true. They also explore the diffe...

In this episode of REM Reward , Ryan dives into the mysteries of slumber with Wendy Bjazevich. They explore what sparked her passion for explaining sleep to kids, how she artfully balanced real science with fun storytelling, and the four stages of sleep broken down in terms that kids – and parents – will easily understand. Wendy shares why sleep is especially vital for children’s mood, learning, g...

In this episode of the REM Reward Podcast, Ryan sits down with Sarah Elizabeth: a high-end interior design firm located in Montclair NJ, creating effortless elegance one home at a time with 16 years in the industry. They explore how intentional bedroom design can dramatically improve sleep quality, discuss science-backed strategies for creating a restful sanctuary, from optimal furniture layouts a...

In this special episode, Ryan talks with Ashley Ring, Youth Consultant at the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP) and Prevent Suicide New Jersey. As a psychology student and mental health advocate, Ashley brings expertise in youth suicide prevention and neurodivergent sleep challenges. Together, they examine the critical connection between sleep deprivation and mental...

In this episode, Ryan talks with Dr. Meeta Singh, a renowned sleep psychiatrist and performance specialist. With dual expertise in medicine and psychiatry, Dr. Singh has worked with elite athletes from the NFL, NBA, and Olympic teams, as well as top business executives, to optimize their sleep for peak performance. Ryan and Dr. Singh explore critical topics including sleep's impact on mental a...

In this episode, host Ryan Shintani sits down with Dr. Craig Harris Richard, a University Professor specializing in physiology with a research focus on ASMR. They talk about Dr. Richard’s journey in creating the Sleep Whispers podcast, which aims to help listeners relax and fall asleep with soothing whispers and gentle sounds. Dr. Richard discusses the creative process behind his episodes, includi...

In Episode 17, Ryan is joined by Dr. Anita Shelgikar and Melissa Clark to explore the history, research, and advocacy efforts of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and how the organization continues to shape the field of sleep medicine today. Dr. Shelgikar, Immediate Past President of the AASM Foundation, breaks down the latest sleep research, how the AASM funds groundbreaking studies,...

In Episode 16, Ryan is joined by Dr. Erica Jansen from the University of Michigan, an expert in nutritional epidemiology and sleep science. Together, they delve into the fascinating connections between sleep, diet, and health. Dr. Jansen shares her groundbreaking research on how sleep patterns influence health outcomes like weight and metabolism, and how what we eat can, in turn, affect our sleep...

In this episode, Ryan Shintani is joined by Dr. Jennifer L. Martin to explore the powerful role sleep plays in public health and individual well-being. They discuss the impact of sleep on chronic diseases, the effectiveness of CBT-I, and the public policy issues shaping sleep health, such as school start times and daylight savings time. Dr. Martin shares actionable insights from her work with vete...

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Lauren Ziegler, a certified sleep coach and yoga therapist with over 12 years of experience in the field. Lauren shares her personal journey from facing sleep challenges to becoming a guiding light for those struggling with insomnia. We delve into common misconceptions about sleep, the intricate relationship between sleep and mental health, and practical strate...

In this episode, host Ryan Shintani sits down with Drew Ackerman, the creator of the popular Sleep With M e podcast, to discuss how his personal struggles with insomnia inspired him to develop unique bedtime stories that help listeners drift off to sleep. They explore Drew's creative process, the role of humor in his storytelling, and how his past quirky jobs—like being a fuzzy dice salesperson an...

In this episode of the REM Reward Podcast, Ryan Shintani sits down with Lisa L. Lewis, a renowned journalist and author of The Sleep-Deprived Teen. They dive into the science behind adolescent sleep, exploring why teens need more sleep and how sleep deprivation impacts their health, academic performance, and mental well-being. Lisa shares her insights on the importance of later school start times...

In this episode of the REM Reward Podcast, Ryan Shintani talks with Dominic de Almeida, a graduate student and soccer player at California Baptist University. They dive into the challenges of balancing academics, athletics, and sleep, exploring how proper rest is essential for peak performance on and off the field. Dominic shares his experiences as a student-athlete and offers valuable insights in...

In this episode of the REM Reward Podcast, Ryan Shintani talks with Stacey Antine, a renowned nutritionist and the founder of HealthBarn USA. They discuss the crucial connection between nutrition and sleep, exploring how diet impacts sleep quality and overall health. Stacey shares practical tips for encouraging healthier eating habits and improving sleep hygiene, providing valuable insights for fa...

In this episode of the REM Reward Podcast, Ryan Shintani sits down with Phyllis from Start School Later (SSL) to discuss the Let's Sleep! initiative and the movement to push for later school start times. They explore SSL's origins, current collaborations with school districts, and the nationwide goal of adjusting school schedules to better align with adolescents' natural sleep rhythms....