Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter
No holds barred, unscripted discussion on a wide range of sleep topics - from sleep disorders to current research and controversies in the field. No topic is off limits! Dr. Chris Winter is a clinician, a board certified neurologist and double boarded sleep specialist with 30 years of clinical experience. He is the author of The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child, and is a popular consultant and speaker, working for many professional sports teams. He is well known for his unique perspective and ability to demystify sleep, all of which he brings to Sleep Unplugged.
Episodes
163 episodes
#162 -Sleep in the Gilded Age: If You Know Your History
In our modern world of blue light and burnout, it’s easy to forget that sleep has always been shaped by the forces of its time. In this episode, we travel back to the Gilded Age—a period of dazzling progress, deep inequality, and curious belief...
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29:46
#161 - Sleep on Television: The Dream’s Dream on the Small Screen
We’ve talked extensively about sleep and its science, but what happens when sleep becomes the story itself—on screen? Television has portrayed sleep, sleeplessness, and dreaming across decades of iconic storytelling. In this episode we will:
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26:39
#160 - Still Sleepy After CPAP: I'm Not Dead, I'm Not Myself
We’ve explored sleep apnea in depth on the podcast—its causes, its severity, and the many ways it’s treated. But what happens when the sleepiness lingers, even after treatment? In this episode, we will:Define sleep apnea, what it is...
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29:02
#159 - Extreme Insomnia: You're Killing Yourself If You Don't Believe It
The Atlantic recently published a feature article entitled "Why Americans Can't Sleep." The article was written by Jennifer Senior, and fantastically accomplished writer (2022 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing, the 2022 National Magazine Award...
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34:30
#158 - Bruxism: Put You Through the Grind
Bruxism or teeth grinding is a remarkably common occurrence and often happens during our nightly sleep period, disrupting sleep quality and continuity. In this episode we will:Define bruxismExplore the epidemiology of the c...
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28:52
#157 - Weight Loss Drugs and Sleep Apnea: One Pill Makes You Small
Weight loss drugs are everywhere and recently Zepbound (tirzepitide) made big news when it became the first FDA-approved sleep apnea therapy for mild to moderate sleep apnea. In this episode, we will:Introduce and explain weight los...
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38:58
#156 - Research from the 2025 SLEEP Scientific Conference: Make Me a Poster
You are looking live at the Seattle Conference Center where sleep researchers from around the world are converging to carry around tote bags and share the latest and greatest sleep research. I was there and saw it all. In this episode we will:<...
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40:29
#155 - Oral Appliance and Sleep Apnea: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
So far on the podcast we had talked about sleep apnea as well as the treatments CPAP and surgery. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss another popular treatment option: oral appliances. In this episode we will:Review the patho...
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24:01
#154 - Sleep and the Threat of Danger: I Won’t Do You No Harm
One of the biggest obstacles in insomnia treatment is the perceived threat of physical harm related to the sleep difficulty. It's a major cog in the insomnia-fear-arousal cycle. In this episode we will:Utilize two case studies to il...
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39:26
#153 - The Ten Worst Things For Sleep: Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing
When we did the snooze button episode of the podcast, it all started with a declaration that the snooze button was the worst thing for sleep. While it's fairly clear the snooze button is not, what is? In this episode, we list the top 10 worst t...
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27:15
#152 - Sleep and Temperature Regulation: Gonna Make You Sweat
Sweating at night is a common complaint in the sleep clinic. While night sweats are often thought of as being the exclusive domain of post-menopausal women, their causes can be surprisingly varied. In this episode we will:Review the...
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29:59
#151 - Sleep and Back, Neck, and Shoulder Pain: Sorry For The Hurt
When it comes to symptoms that cause us to seek medical help, there are few that top pain. Pain occupies a unique space within the world of sleep, in particular back, neck, and shoulder pain. In this episode we will:Provide an overv...
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31:30
#150 - Bedtime Stories: Without You, I Just Can’t Go To Sleep
Over the last several years, adult 'bedtime stories' have become a ubiquitous internet method used by many to help themselves fall asleep at night. In this episode we will:Define bedtime storiesExplore what makes them usefu...
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38:06
#149 - Creating a Bedroom Sanctuary: Here May Ye Rest A While
There is nothing more pleasing to the soul than wandering into a space that makes you feel protected, present, and at peace. Many elements involved in the creation of a comfortable bedroom sanctuary have been covered on the podcast. Now, we wor...
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34:42
#148 - The Truth About Medical Practices: It’s an Illusion
As the owner of a private medical practice, I know how difficult it is for the solo provider/small group to keep the doors open and deliver quality care, especially if the providers participate with insurance carriers. This fact not only affect...
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34:54
#147 - Idiopathic Hypersomnia: All I Wanna Do Is Wake Up In The Morning
We have talked extensively about Type 1 and Type 2 narcolepsy on the podcast, but what about its mysterious cousin idiopathic hypersomnia (IH)? What is IH and why is it so hard to diagnose? What is its relationship with narcolepsy, and how do w...
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39:10
#146 - Cognitive Shuffling: Ain’t Nothin’ To It
A recent New York Times article entitled "A Simple Technique to Help You Fall Asleep" by Christina Caron details a technique dubbed cognitive shuffling that took the internet by storm as a treatment for a racing mind at night. In this episode w...
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31:01
#145 - Hypnic Myoclonus: Jerk Your Body
We have all experienced it...you're sitting in bed, nodding off, and suddenly you awaken with a start feeling like you are about to fall down stairs. Hypnic myoclonus is estimated to affect as many as 60-70% of individuals, but what is it? In t...
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26:55
#144 - Missing Sleep Apnea: I Thought Someone Would Notice
26 million adult Americans have sleep apnea and 80-90% represent undiagnosed cases. Why have these numbers remained so high when there are easier diagnostic and treatment options than ever? In this episode we will:Discuss obstacles ...
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42:18
#143 - Pillow Fight 2025: Simply The Best
Everyone loves the NCAA basketball tournament...teams colliding in a winner-take-all tournament for basketball supremacy. Haven't you ever dreamed about a similar competition between different pillows? Well dream no longer because that bedding ...
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39:57
#142 - Death to Daylight Saving Time: For Clock Back Move And Make It For A While
As we recover from yet another "spring forward" into Daylight Saving Time again, it seems a good time to revisit the topic we initially covered in episode 18. While that episode sought more to explain the origins of the practice and how to best...
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30:43
#141 - Light Therapy Revisited: Put on the Red Light
It has been a while since we have focused our attention on light therapy and sleep. For this Insomnia Monday, I thought a revisiting of light therapy might be in order. In this episode we will:Touch on new research that serves to mi...
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33:25
#140 - Fear of The Snooze Button: Shut Me Down with a Push of Your Button
In 2024, the Independent published an article entitled, "Experts Issue Warning About Using the Snooze Button." Previously, a sleep specialist said the snooze button was "one of the worst things you can do." Is any of this true? Could there pote...
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30:40
#139 - Heart Rate Variability and Sleep: Like a Moving Heartbeat
Heart rate variability (HRV) is everywhere, and in no space has it made a bigger splash than in sleep medicine. Not only is HRV influenced significantly by sleep, but it is also at the core of wearable sleep technology. In this episode we will:...
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28:10
#138 - The Subtle Art of Hurkle-Durkling: Swim in a Deep Sea of Blankets
If you pay any attention to sleep hygiene advice, you have probably heard many times that you should get up at the same time every day for optimal sleep. But does that mean you can never lounge around in bed a little in the morning? According t...
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28:13