Sleep is My Waking Passion
Hosted by Dr. Alison Kole—a triple-boarded pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine physician, reformed chronic insomniac, devoted mom, and unapologetic sleep health creator—this hit podcast takes you on the real, unfiltered journey inside the science and soul of sleep. Each week, with wisdom forged from the trenches of night shifts and the chaos of motherhood, Alison sits down with top-tier experts and ordinary people with extraordinary sleep stories, unraveling how sleep shapes happiness, health, and destiny. If you want the 360° truth—the wins, the setbacks, the breakthroughs—about why every hour of sleep could be the most important hour of your life, this is the show that will change how you see your pillow forever. Sleep isn’t just her passion—it’s the key to waking up to your potential. Hit subscribe and transform your nights, days, and dreams.
Sleep is My Waking Passion
What if your political stress is quietly wrecking your sleep — and your relationships?
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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Beth Ann Malow — neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and 2026 AASM Sleep Health Advocate Award recipient — to discuss her bold new book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt.
We explore how outrage-driven culture, social media algorithms, and the 24-hour news cycle are affecting our mental health, cardiovascular risk, and sleep quality. From "doomscrolling insomnia" to fractured family relationships, we dig into the real consequences of living in constant political tension — and the practical, evidence-informed strategies that help.
You'll learn how to break free from the outrage cycle, protect your sleep from stress and media overload, rebuild relationships even when you strongly disagree, and communicate with empathy without compromising your values.
We also tackle daylight saving time: why the science strongly supports permanent standard time, and why public buy-in is so hard — a masterclass in science communication and listening across differences.
If you've ever lost sleep after watching the news, avoided conversations because of politics, or felt stuck between speaking up and protecting your peace, this episode is for you.
About Dr. Beth Ann Malow: Neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and former director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, Dr. Malow is a national leader in sleep health, autism research, and civil discourse. She co-authored Beyond the Politics of Contempt, a practical guide to bridging divides while standing firm in your beliefs.
Resources:
Book: Beyond the Politics of Contempt (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more)
Website: https://beyondthepoliticsofcontempt.com
Substack: https://togethernow.substack.com
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