In their latest Ask Me Anything episode, Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon delve into the complex relationship between common substances and sleep. They first tackle cannabis, explaining that while THC may initially help with sleep onset, its chronic use is detrimental, leading to tolerance, withdrawal insomnia, and a powerful suppression of restorative REM sleep. The discussion then moves to two other major sleep disruptors: caffeine and alcohol. You'll learn how caffeine's long half-life can reduce deep sleep by up to 40% even when consumed in the afternoon, and how alcohol, despite its sedative properties, severely fragments sleep and decimates the quantity and quality of your nightly dream sleep.
The conversation then explores more novel compounds and strategies, starting with a practical bio-hack, the "nappuccino," a precisely timed combination of coffee and a short nap to maximize alertness. From there, the hosts dive into the fascinating world of psychedelics, revealing how drugs like LSD and psilocybin act as potent wake-promoting agents that disrupt sleep before causing a significant "REM sleep rebound" on subsequent nights. They contrast this with ketamine, a dissociative that uniquely increases deep slow-wave sleep, potentially explaining its antidepressant effects. The episode concludes by looking at the intricate and largely unexplored role sleep plays in the therapeutic journey of these powerful psychoactive compounds.
Please note that Matt is not a medical doctor, and none of the content in this podcast should be considered medical advice in any way, shape, or form, nor prescriptive in any way.
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As always, if you have thoughts or feedback you’d like to share, please reach out to Matt or Eti:
Matt: Instagram @drmattwalker, X @sleepdiplomat,
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@sleepdiplomatmattwalker9299
Eti: X @etoosh, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eti_bensimon/, or email at etoosh@gmail.com
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.