Sleep is My Waking Passion

🚨 WARNING: Your Oura Ring Might Be RUINING Your Sleep! 🚨 Get ready for a mind-bending conversation with Dr. Ashtaad Dalal, the sleep doc who's about to drop some SERIOUS truth bombs about the sleep industry's biggest lies! This Georgetown University sleep medicine expert and president of the DC Sleep Society is here to expose what's really going on behind those viral TikTok sleep...

Is chronic sleep loss just part of “the grind”—or is it a crisis hiding in plain sight? Join Dr. Alison Kole as she sits down with neuroscientist and wellness expert Dr. Rebecca Acabchuk, plus veteran firefighter Alan  Pinsonneault   of the Holyoke Fire Department, for an eye-opening, actionable episode of “Sleep Is My Waking Passion” . Discover: What sleep deprivation really looks like for frontl...

Ever wondered why some people can’t sleep—even after treating their sleep apnea? Or why “just getting more sleep” doesn’t always work? This week, Dr. Alison Kole welcomes Australian clinical psychologist and sleep researcher, Dr. Chelsea Reynolds of Wink Sleep and Bedtime Window, for a deep dive into the world of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the little-known but scientifically expl...

What if everything you think you know about narcolepsy is wrong—and what if the doctor teaching you about it is living through it right now? World Narcolepsy Day (Sept 22) sets the stage for this raw, unmissable episode featuring Dr. Lindsay McCullough: Assistant Professor, Associate Program Director at Rush University Medical Center, Project Sleep Ambassador, and a leader shaping tomorrow’s sleep...

Guest Spotlight: Kayla Ireland Meet Kayla Ireland—author, disability advocate, and host of Kindly Neurodivergent with Kay. Kayla’s lived experience with cerebral palsy and epilepsy is not just a story of overcoming challenges; it’s a blueprint for thriving in a world that too often overlooks disability, sleep struggles, and neurodivergence. Why This Conversation Will Change Everything Sleep isn’t...

Host Dr. Alison Kole sits down with powerhouse neurologist Dr. Joyce Lee-Iannotti for an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation that will make you rethink everything you know about sleep, stroke, and longevity. Guest Spotlight: Dr. Joyce Lee-Iannotti. She’s not just the interim Director of the Petznick Stroke Center and Sleep Division at Barrow Neurological Institute—she’s redefining stroke reco...

What if the thing holding you back isn’t ambition, or effort, or even luck... but sleep? Today, you're going to hear a story that breaks every rule in the sleep medicine playbook. Kristen Cascio spent 15 years searching for answers—dismissed as “just tired,” overlooked by experts, and forced to live in a fog. Diagnosed with sleep apnea at 31 (and with none of the “classic” risk factors), she...

Welcome to "Sleep Is My Waking Passion" with Dr. Alison Kole! In today’s episode, we’re joined by the legendary Dr. Julie Foucher—a true powerhouse at the intersection of medicine and athletics. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Biomedical Engineering and completed her medical school and residency training at the Cleveland Clinic. Julie also holds a...

Sleep Is My Waking Passion Podcast: Special Feature Where Medicine and Dentistry Collaborate for Your Healthiest Sleep Discover a dynamic conversation between Dr. Alison Kole, host of the Sleep Is My Waking Passion podcast, and renowned dental sleep expert Dr. Maria Sokolina, DDS. With over 15 years' experience, Dr. Sokolina is dedicated to bridging the gap between dental and medical sleep ca...

Welcome to the Sleep Is My Waking Passion podcast with Dr. Alison Kole! This episode features guest expert , Dr. Jill McGarry, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with nearly 30 years of experience in the UK's National Health Service (NHS)—the main provider of healthcare in England. Dr. McGarry began her NHS career in Brain Injury services, but for the past two decades, her main focus has been...

In this episode of Sleep is My Waking Passion, I sit down with Vincent Arthur—mechanical engineering student, NASCAR race engineer, and fierce advocate for narcolepsy awareness. Vincent shares his journey from years of misdiagnosed symptoms to finding his place on the track and in the sleep community. What you’ll learn: The winding road to a narcolepsy diagnosis, and why it’s so important to trust...

Board-certified OBGYN Dr. Meryl Kahan joins Dr. Kole for a candid, empowering conversation about the realities of women’s health, menopause, and why the traditional medical model often leaves women behind. Together, they break down the myths, the science, and the practical solutions for sleep and wellness at every stage of life. Key Takeaways from the Episode: The Problem with the Traditional Mode...

In this powerful episode of Sleep Is My Waking Passion™, Dr. Alison Kole sits down with Kayla Ireland—host of @KindlyNeurodivergentwithKay, advocate, and educator living with cerebral palsy and epilepsy—to explore the intersection of sleep and neurodivergence. From autism and ADHD to sensory sensitivities, delayed circadian rhythms, and sleep apnea in CP, this episode is packed with research-backe...

Welcome to Sleep Is My Waking Passion , the podcast where sleep medicine gets personal, practical, and empowering. Hosted by Dr. Alison Kole, a board-certified sleep specialist, each season explores the science, challenges, and breakthroughs in sleep health—one honest conversation at a time. This season, Dr. Kole is joined by Dr. Christopher Allen, renowned pediatric neurologist, sleep specialist,...

Please welcome returning guest, Dr. Ruchir Patel, a board-certified sleep medicine physician, entrepreneur, and consultant with over 15 years of experience in sleep medicine and neuromodulation. Dr. Patel is recognized for his deep expertise in both medical devices and advanced therapies for sleep disorders. He’s the founder of a multi-location sleep medicine practice, has worked extensively with...

Mollie Eastman is the creator of Sleep Is A Skill and host of the #2-ranked Sleep Is A Skill Podcast. After overcoming her own insomnia while traveling the world, Mollie combined her background in behavioral change with a passion for chronobiology to help others optimize their sleep. Through her company, she offers a technology-forward approach blending accountability, science, and practical tools...

Welcome to Season 6 of Sleep Is My Waking Passion ! In this episode, I sit down with Chris Thomas, pharmacist by day and ultra-marathon paddler by passion. Chris shares his incredible experiences tackling extreme endurance paddle races like the Yukon 1000 and Alabama 650, where sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, and mental resilience are all part of the challenge. Together, we explore: Part 1...

Welcome to Season 6 of Sleep Is My Waking Passion ! In this episode, I sit down with Chris Thomas, pharmacist by day and ultra-marathon paddler by passion. Chris shares his incredible experiences tackling extreme endurance paddle races like the Yukon 1000 and Alabama 650, where sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, and mental resilience are all part of the challenge. Together, we explore: Part 1...

In this episode of the Sleep Is My Waking Passion podcast, host Dr. Alison Kole sits down with Anthony Russomano, founder of Mano Wellness, coach, and endurance athlete. Anthony shares his journey from playing rugby to becoming an ultra-runner and triathlete, discussing the mental and physical challenges of endurance sports. Key topics include: The importance of mindset in endurance athletics and...

Dr. Ruchir Patel is a trailblazing sleep medicine expert, entrepreneur, and industry consultant with over 15 years of experience in the field. As the founder of multiple innovative healthcare ventures, including Knightly, Attara Labs, and the Insomnia and Sleep Institute of Arizona, Dr. Patel is redefining how sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated. With expertise spanning neuromodulation, tran...

Dr. Monica Mallampalli is a transformative figure in women's health, renowned for her work as a biomedical scientist, science policy expert, and advocate. With a background that spans bench research to policy and advocacy, she has dedicated her career to bridging knowledge gaps in women's health. Currently, she serves as the CEO of the Alliance for Sleep Apnea Partners, where she focuses...

Katie Huddleston is a Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor ( NPCP-PMA) with over 10+ years of teaching experience. Led to Pilates through an expansive dance career, she completed her comprehensive Pilates training through Core Pilates NYC in 2014 before starting a family.  Now based in NJ, and three children later, she teaches at Pure Pilates, located in Summit, NJ where she teaches an array of...

Dr. Atul Malhotra is a leading expert in sleep medicine, pulmonary care, and critical care medicine. He serves as a Professor of Medicine and Director of Sleep Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Malhotra's groundbreaking research focuses on the pathophysiology and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep-related breathing disorders. With over 300...

BEFORE YOU SCROLL PAST – this isn’t another generic "get more sleep" lecture. Haley Wall, a 25-year-old occupational therapist and viral patient advocate, spent years being dismissed as the "tired friend" before uncovering the shocking truth: she has idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), a rare neurological disorder that traps sufferers in a cycle of relentless exhaustion even after 10+...

Join me for a sit-down with Robert Miller, VP of Sleep Business for Apria Healthcare, a nationally recognized CPAP supply company in the United States.  He is a seasoned sleep technologist with 30+ years of experience in sleep medicine and durable medical equipment (DME). In this candid conversation, Robert sheds light on: The evolution of sleep studies : From paper-based diagnostics to modern dig...