The Project Sleep Podcast

Brooke Buckley is a graduate from Duquesne University where she majored in biochemistry. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy about at 22 years old. As a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, she shares her story in hopes of helping others by bringing awareness to this often misunderstood condition. The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories from people living wit...

Katy Roden is a small business owner from New Braunfels, TX who loves sports and outdoor adventures. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy type 1 with cataplexy at the age of 18. As a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Katy shares her story to improve the public’s understanding of this neurological condition. She hopes everyone will come away from her presentation with a better unders...

Leah Boyle works in social media and has worked in a variety of industries from television to health. She lives in London and enjoys travelling and hiking among other activities. She has lived with narcolepsy since she was 7 years old. She was diagnosed at 11 and is now a trained speaker for Project Sleep’s Rising Voices. Neurological conditions are often invisible or misunderstood, so Leah aims t...

Iris Vasconcelos is an avid advocate for invisible illnesses, freelance writer, and blogger from Portugal. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at 28 years old after experiencing symptoms for 13 years. As a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices Program, she is telling her story with the hope of empowering others to do the same. The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories fr...

Connor Baker is a recent nursing graduate from Aurora University in Illinois. He was diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy at 20 years old. Now, as a trained speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, he wants to share his story to help spread awareness and end stigma surrounding narcolepsy. The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories from people living with sleep...

Amanda Myers is a college student who splits her time between studying biology and competing in olympic weightlifting. At the age of 20, she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and now serves as a speaker for the Rising Voices program. In her presentation, she’ll detail the symptoms most people don’t attribute to the condition and offer some perspective on de-stigmatizing invisible illness. The Rising...

Kristen is a marketing professional and pageant titleholder from Florida. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at the age of 35 after 25+ years of misdiagnosis. As a speaker with Rising Voices, Kristen shares her story with others to build awareness and to help others find a quicker path to diagnosis. The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories from people living with sleep diso...

Alexa Cuevas is a pharmacist in Mexico. In this episode, Alexa recounts the hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations she has experienced. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy type 1 in 2019, and graduated from Project Sleep’s Rising Voices Program in 2020. Alexa uses her voice and social media platform to raise awareness of this often misunderstood condition and share empathy with others. The Rising...

Kayla is a Life Coach from Indiana who loves learning. She has lived with narcolepsy her whole life, and now, as a Rising Voices speaker, is sharing her story to raise awareness and understanding of the condition. The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories from people living with sleep disorders around the world. At Project Sleep, we believe in the power of storytelling to r...

Could a pill help treat your sleep apnea? In this important discussion, we explored all medications for sleep apnea, including new prescription medication options being developed, when these might be available, and how different types of medications are used to help you feel informed for your next doctor’s appointment.    About Our Guest: Dr. Klar Yaggi Dr. Klar Yaggi is a professor of medicine an...

From being judged as “lazy” to worrying about a partner’s reaction to a CPAP machine, we’re breaking down the shame & stigma of sleep apnea––together.  In this powerful discussion, we address the issues no one is talking about. Young people can feel confused or even embarrassed by this diagnosis, often associating it with older adults.    We dive into the emotional side of living with sleep ap...

Are you wrestling with CPAP therapy to treat your sleep apnea? Or maybe your CPAP has turned into a dust collector on your nightstand? You’re not alone, and we’re here to help!   About our Guests:   Kath Hope Kath Hope is the Founder & CEO of the Hope2Sleep Charity and a patient with severe OSA and nocturnal ‘non-obesity’ hypoventilation. Kath was diagnosed with severe OSA around 18 years ago...

In honor of World Sleep Day 2025, Hollywood, Health & Society and Project Sleep hosted an exciting panel discussion at the Writers Guild of America West, “Sleepless in Hollywood? Anxiety, Insomnia & the Truth About Sleep Disorders.” The conversation on March 13th, 2025, included hearing from sleep specialists, people living with sleep disorders, and industry professionals who have thoughtf...

This conversation was recorded in June 2023. What does LGBTQ+ identity have to do with sleep? More than you might think. Experiences shared by many LGBTQ+ people can affect sleep health and sleep disorders in challenging and often invisible ways. Our fantastic panel of community members shares how their identities and sleep are closely intertwined. This discussion is part of Project Sleep’s ongoin...

During Project Sleep’s Sleep In 2024, narcolepsy community leader, writer, and artist extraordinaire, Tatiana Maria Corbitt, joined us to speak to their narcolepsy journey and artistic endeavors. During this interview, Tatiana also shares one of their favorite poems about their experience with narcolepsy in the outdoors. About Tatiana: Tatiana Maria Corbitt is a writer and multidisciplinary artist...

On Tuesday, July 16th, 2024, Project Sleep proudly hosted “Awakening America: A Congressional Briefing on Sleep and Public Health” followed by a first-ever Sleep Screening event on Capitol Hill. Over 100 people attended Project Sleep’s events, with great interest from Hill staffers looking to learn more about their sleep and Project Sleep’s activities, including Project Sleep’s free national Sleep...

This conversation informed and educated media professionals on how to accurately cover sleep health and sleep disorders. In this conversation, people living with different sleep disorders shared insights from their journeys and what they wish they had read. Journalists toolkit and resources:  https://project-sleep.com/sleep-media-center/   This broadcast was originally recorded in March 2023, duri...

Dr. Robert W. Turner II is a former professional football player and Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science. In this interview, Dr. Turner shared about his journey toward taking on innovative community-focused sleep research, including a new collaboration with Project Sleep & Dr. Mich...

CPAP is a commonly used first-line treatment for sleep apnea, but it’s not the only option!   In this Sleep Apnea Squad broadcast, we explored ALL the currently available treatments for sleep apnea and how to access them.   About our Guests: Karen Wolk Karen Wolk was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in late 2015 at the age of 44. Karen first tried using CPAP therapy for two years and had pro...

What’s a sleep apnea test? The latest Apple Watch alerts users of possible sleep apnea. But what kind of doctor do you see to get tested for sleep apnea and what’s the difference between an   at-home test versus an in-lab test? Join us to discuss all the options, insurance v. paying out of pocket, and advocating for yourself and your health. About Our Guests:   Jody Martin Jody Martin is a husband...

Sleep apnea symptoms can fly under the radar, even in the doctor’s office. Are you questioning if you or a loved one has sleep apnea symptoms? If you are living with sleep apnea, did you experience a delay to diagnosis?   About Our Guests:   Sam Kashani, MD Dr. Sam Kashani is a board-certified Sleep Physician who practices at UCLA Health in Los Angeles. His clinical interests include chronic insom...

Feeling like you might be more than “just tired?” Wondering how to talk about sleep issues with your primary care provider? You’re not alone. In  Talking to Your Doctor About Sleep Issues , guests shared insights from clinical and patient perspectives on discussing sleep issues and daytime sleepiness with general practitioners, and how to get referred to a sleep specialist.   About our Guests:  Jo...

In this Narcolepsy Nerd Alert we discuss everything from dating and early stages to long-term partnerships and marriage, with people living with narcolepsy and a supporter.   About our Guests:  Taylor Dillon  is a Filipina-American NERD who loves hiking and dancing in Los Angeles. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 18, and now creates educational resources, the Narcolepsy Nerd Alert toolkits...

Cataplexy is a unique form of muscle weakness experienced by some people with narcolepsy, but how can you recognize this symptom? What are the emotional triggers? And how do you cope with cataplexy? During  Narcolepsy Nerd Alert: Coping With Cataplexy , sleep medicine physician  Dr. Katie Sharkey  and Rising Voices speaker  Katie Mehin  shared their insights.   About our Guests:  Dr. Katie Sharkey...

Wondering if you or a loved one could have narcolepsy? Sleep medicine specialist  Dr. Lindsay McCullough, MD  joined us to discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment and share her own journey to being diagnosed with narcolepsy.   About Our Guest:  Dr. Lindsay McCullough, MD  is a sleep medicine specialist, assistant professor of sleep medicine, and associate program director of the sleep medicine...