The Sleep Coach School Podcast

In this episode of "Talking Insomnia," Daniel is joined by Ashlee, a former participant in the Insomnia Immunity Program, who shares her powerful journey from chronic sleep anxiety to natural recovery. Ashlee recounts how a combination of life events—including a miscarriage, hormonal changes, and a family cruise—triggered a cycle of insomnia that left her feeling physically and mentally depleted....

Has your sleep improved but still isn’t quite there? If you’re stuck at a 7/10—sleeping better, yet waking early or having occasional choppy nights—this episode is for you. Sleep physician turned sleep coach Daniel explains the final obstacle in insomnia recovery: self-criticism and the need for perfect sleep. You’ll learn why grading your nights keeps insomnia alive, why your sleep was never trul...

Have you ever wondered if 100% insomnia recovery is truly possible—or if you have to learn to live with it? In this episode of Mining in the Comments, we feature By Insomnia, a community member who went from doubt and relapses to complete recovery. Learn how understanding the root cause of insomnia, letting go of sleep anxiety, and following a proven process can lead not only to better sleep but a...

Have you ever thought, “I can only sleep if…” It’s quiet. I’m alone. My partner is next to me. I’m in my own bed. In this episode of Insomnia Insight, we explore why these beliefs feel so real — and why none of them are actually required for sleep. For every condition you think you need, someone else sleeps best with the opposite. So what’s the one true condition for peaceful sleep? 👉 Nothing in...

In this episode of Mining the Comments, Coach Daniel (sleep physician turned sleep coach and founder of the Sleep Coach School) responds to a powerful community question: “I have a terrible migraine, rendering me unable to sleep at all. Could you do an episode about how to sleep with pain?” In this video, we explore the deep connection between pain, fear, and sleep, and why trying to force sleep o...

What does it really mean to leave the sleep struggle for good? In Mining the Comments, Daniel breaks down a powerful insight shared by Linnea, a member of our community. Her comment captures a major breakthrough in understanding what “leaving the struggle” truly means when it comes to insomnia, anxiety, and difficult nights. Rather than perfect sleep or never feeling anxious, leaving the struggle...

Why do sleep supplements, routines, trackers, and techniques so often fail to fix insomnia? In this episode, sleep physician-turned-sleep coach Daniel explains a powerful truth most people never hear. Sleep is a passive process. Insomnia is an active process. If you are trying to force sleep through products, habits, breathing, exercise, tracking, or mental control, you may be unintentionally keep...

In this moving episode of Talking Insomnia, we meet Zach, who shares a powerful transformation from a state of "enormous struggle" to a life where insomnia is simply no longer on his mind. Zach’s journey is a profound example of what happens when we move beyond traditional "sleep hygiene" and standard CBT-I—which Zach found actually made his situation worse—and instead move toward true Insomnia Im...

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How long does insomnia last?” this video is for you. In this episode of our Frequently Asked Sleep Questions series, Coach Daniel explains why insomnia is not a problem measured by time—and why that realization can actually be incredibly hopeful. You’ll learn: Why timelines for insomnia can make sleep anxiety worse Why labels like “chronic insomnia” are misleading H...

In this episode of Talking Insomnia, Noam shares his powerful story of overcoming years of sleep struggles. What began as a mysterious "noise" in a 12th-grade boarding school turned into a long-term battle with sleep anxiety and complex rituals. Noam discusses how he eventually moved past the fear and "mystery" of insomnia by embracing self-love and kindness If you’re new here and curious to learn...

Have you ever wondered where you are on your journey out of insomnia? What if some of the things you find discouraging are actually signs that you’re about to leave the struggle? In this Insomnia Insight episode, sleep physician turned sleep coach Daniel Erichsen shares three often-overlooked signs of insomnia recovery—signals that many people misunderstand or try to “fix,” even though they actual...

In this episode of Talking Insomnia, we sit down with Ief, a recent graduate of our Sleep Certification program. Ief shares a powerful personal story of navigating the ups and downs of sleep struggles and eventually finding a path to freedom that led to a complete career change. Connect with Ief: To learn more about Ief’s coaching practice and their approach combining tapping with sleep education,...

In this episode of Mining the Comments, Coach Daniel responds to a question from community member JennyLynn-h5o, who struggles with insomnia caused by external noise and has moved multiple times in search of quiet. We explore why noise itself isn’t what causes insomnia—and how it’s often the fear of being woken up or fear of insomnia returning that keeps us awake. You’ll learn how insomnia really...

Struggling with sleep or insomnia? In this Insomnia Insight episode, we break sleep down to its core using the Gas & Brake Model — a simple, powerful way to understand why sleep happens (or doesn’t). If you’re new here and curious to learn more, our FREE video course, The Festival of Understanding, is the perfect place to start. Head over to https://www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click the li...

Welcome to the 2025 State of the NATO Nation Address. In this video, Coach Daniel looks back at what 2025 was really like—the wins, the challenges, and how the understanding of insomnia and the inner struggle has grown. He also shares thoughts and early ideas for 2026. Most of all, this is about celebrating everyone who left the struggle this year. Thanks for being part of the journey. If you're r...

In today’s Mining the Comments episode, Coach Daniel explores a common and often frustrating part of insomnia recovery: the doubt versus confidence rollercoaster. Inspired by a thoughtful comment from community member ckarty we look at why someone can experience a “miracle” recovery, sleep well for weeks, yet still feel waves of panic after a choppy night… followed by confidence after a peaceful o...

If you keep waking up at night — sometimes for long stretches — even though nothing seems “wrong,” you’re not alone. In this episode of our Frequently Asked Sleep Questions series, sleep physician–turned–sleep coach Coach Daniel explains why this happens and how you can reset your sleep experience to return to peaceful, uninterrupted nights. 🌙 What you’ll learn in this video: ✔️ Why waking up bri...

Erica, a nurse supervisor, went from crippling sleep panic to freedom. The shock of acute insomnia made her terrified of her bedroom. Traditional sleep rules and a CBTI app made her panic "ten times worse". She tried Trazodone and QUVIVIQ, but found true relief by completely stopping the time-checking and realizing she could have a "really good vacation" even with no sleep. If you’re new here and...

Struggling with insomnia and wondering why progress feels inconsistent? In this episode, Daniel breaks down the 3 most common insomnia recovery pitfalls—closing the hood, the truce, and token transfer—and shows how understanding them can bring you closer to effortless, peaceful sleep. If your sleep improves and then dips again, this will help you understand why. If you’re new here and curious to l...

In this episode of Mining the Comments, Daniel responds to viewer StreetHD and explores what may be the most underrated insomnia remedy: self-love. He explains how self-criticism fuels the struggle, why kindness creates the safety needed for sleep, and how letting go of inner pressure can transform both rest and daily life. A simple, compassionate, and powerful lesson drawn directly from the comme...

In this episode of Frequently Asked Sleep Questions, Daniel uses Michael Jackson’s well-known sleep struggles to explain how ordinary insomnia can spiral when fear, pressure, and the urge to “force” sleep take over. We look at why Michael developed insomnia, how Propofol became involved, and most importantly, what his story teaches us about real rest: If you’re new here and curious to learn more,...

Brittany, a type-A nurse, found herself in a year-and-a-half-long battle with severe insomnia that left her in a state of crisis, anxiety, and panic. After hitting rock bottom—including a terrifying 7-day period with no sleep, desperate trips to the ER, and the use of multiple heavy medications—she was certain her life was over. In this powerful Talking Insomnia episode, Brittany shares her harrow...

In this episode of Insomnia Insight, Coach Daniel explores one of the most powerful tools for ending the insomnia–anxiety loop: the pause button. If you’ve found yourself stuck in a cycle of poor sleep, stress, and constant worry about both, this episode will bring clarity. Coach Daniel explains how insomnia and anxiety aren’t cycles by themselves—they become cycles when we respond to normal exper...

In this Mining the Comments episode, Daniel responds to a heartfelt series of questions from community member happycharhar5750 about OCD, insomnia, and why these struggles often feel so similar. Daniel breaks down how both OCD and insomnia begin with the same mechanism—stress, a “threatened state” of mind, and a moment of mislabeling something normal (like wakefulness or a worried thought) as dang...

A quick message of gratitude to everyone in our community—our Reddit supporters, online helpers, coaches, team members, students, and all of you tuning in. Your support truly changes lives. WAGMI: We Are Going to Make It. Happy Thanksgiving! 🙏✨ If you’re new here and curious to learn more, our FREE video course, The Festival of Understanding, is the perfect place to start. Head over to https://w...