The Matt Walker Podcast
1) #132 - Sleep and Binaural Beats
Exploring the science of binaural beats, Matt evaluates their potential to improve sleep. Tracing their discovery back to 1838, Matt explains that a binaural beat isn't a physical sound, but a "ghost ...Show More
2) #131 - Sleeping with Pets
Matt examines the ancient practice of sleeping with pets, a bond dating back 12,000 years. Once a practical norm for warmth and companionship, co-sleeping became controversial due to modern ideas of h...Show More
3) #130 - Shift Work and Solutions
The severe biological and psychological impacts of shift work on essential overnight workers come under Matt’s scrutiny today. He explains how modern schedules clash with our hardwired circadian rhyth...Show More
4) The London Apothecary - A Sleep Story Read by Matt Walker
Join Matt on a gentle journey designed to help you drift into a peaceful and restful sleep. After settling into bed and releasing the day's tension with a few deep breaths, you will find yourself walk...Show More
5) #129 - Natural Short Sleepers
Matt delves into the fascinating science of "natural short sleepers," the rare 1-3% of the population genetically wired to thrive on just four to six hours of sleep. He unpacks the research that moved...Show More
6) #128 - Sleep Position
Matt reviews Danish neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard's 2013 discovery: during sleep, glial cells shrink, allowing cerebrospinal fluid to flush brain toxins like beta-amyloid and tau protein. This "pri...Show More
7) #127 - Non-Restorative Sleep
Matt explores the frustrating reality of non-restorative sleep, explaining why up to a third of adults get a full night's rest but wake up exhausted. Using a relatable example, Matt shows how this hid...Show More
8) #126 - The Coffee Paradox
Matt Walker investigates the "coffee paradox," revealing how your morning ritual acts as both a health ally and a silent sleep disruptor. While coffee provides life-extending antioxidants linked to lo...Show More
9) #125 - Melatonin Explained
Matt redefines melatonin as the brain’s "clock whisperer" rather than a sedative, and explains that the hormone signals biological night rather than forcing sleep. Drawing on a meta-analysis, Matt rev...Show More
10) #124 - Acting Out Dreams
Matt delves into the world of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), a condition at the frontiers of sleep science. Normally, the brain dreams while atonia paralyzes the body in a neural magic act that is...Show More