Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

What if “menopause sleep” is actually missed sleep apnea?

In our newest episode of Sleep Is My Waking Passion™, Dr. Alison Kole sits down with Dr. Nancy Collop to talk about why sleep apnea is so often underdiagnosed in women.

Fatigue, insomnia, frequent awakenings, night sweats, morning headaches, and “crappy sleep” are often blamed on aging, hormones, stress, or menopause.

But sometimes, there is more going on.

This conversation breaks down how sleep apnea can look different in women, why “mild” results may not tell the full story, and when poor sleep should prompt a closer look.

Watch the full episode now and let us know: have you ever had sleep issues dismissed as “normal”: https://youtu.be/WUHuN1idrB8

2 days ago | [YT] | 0

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

What if your exhaustion, brain fog, and low energy are not just stress, but signs of something happening while you sleep?



In this new episode, I’m joined by award-winning filmmaker George T. Nierenberg for powerful conversation about sleep apnea, the isolation many people feel before diagnosis, and the impact untreated sleep issues can have on daily life.



We talk about the film, the patients who documented their own sleep apnea journeys over two years, and why treatment is not about shame or judgment. It is about improving sleep quality, restoring energy, and finding a solution that works for your life.



Because sleep should not just be something you get through.



It should help you feel better in the morning.



New episode out now. listen to the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HpSZ...

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

Is snoring in children always harmless… or is it something we’re missing?



In this latest episode, I’m sitting down with my dear friend @sleepdrchris to talk about what we’re both seeing more and more:



snoring at night
bedtime meltdowns
trouble focusing during the day



Sometimes it gets written off as normal. Sometimes it’s not.



We get into the red flags of pediatric sleep apnea, why it’s often missed, and what actually matters when it comes to sleep and breathing.



If you’ve ever questioned it, this conversation is worth your time. New episode out now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7QAE...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

Last week on the podcast, Xavier shared the full story of the night his life nearly ended.

This image is a single moment from the video his father sent me that night. What began as what looked like loud snoring quickly turned into choking, gasping, and long pauses between breaths that any sleep specialist would recognize as a medical emergency.

Xavier was 26. Newly married. He had fallen asleep on his dad’s couch after alcohol, marijuana, and a gas-station kratom pill.

A short time later, his heart stopped.

His father noticed something was wrong, started CPR, and called 911. That moment — and the video you’ll see in the article — likely saved his life.

In honor of Xavier’s courage in sharing this story, 50% of any subscription proceeds from this week’s Substack will be donated to the Herren Project, which supports individuals and families navigating substance use and recovery: bit.ly/4sG2sfG

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 18

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

This World Sleep Day, I’m celebrating someone who has supported me since day one of my own sleep medicine journey — my dear friend and our very first podcast guest, Dr. Val Cacho. (@sleephoria and @drvalsleepgal)

Val and I met back in 2012 during sleep fellowship, and over the years our friendship has only deepened. She’s been a constant source of encouragement — reminding me to think outside the box long before it was cool — and she continues to inspire me with her boldness and vision.
Watching her build a thriving, seven-figure sleep wellness business from the ground up has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. I may be technically a bit taller, but I absolutely look up to her in every way that matters.

To my day-one sleep sister, entrepreneur, and expand-what’s-possible friend, Dr. Val Cacho: thank you for over a decade of support, courage, and inspiration. Couldn’t dream up a better first guest. 🌙✨

PS: I would love to also highlight the nearly 80,000 subscribers on the Sleep Is My Waking Passion YouTube channel! I am grateful for everyone who has joined me on advocating for better sleep 💤

2 months ago | [YT] | 3

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

This was one of the most difficult interviews I’ve recorded — but also one I’m very proud of.

Cataplexy is incredibly difficult to put into words. It’s a neurological event where strong emotions — sometimes even laughter — can suddenly cause someone to lose muscle control while remaining fully conscious.

Solomon Briggs lives with Narcolepsy Type 1 with cataplexy, and trying to describe that experience isn’t easy. It’s complex, personal, and often misunderstood.

In this episode, we go deeper into what cataplexy actually feels like and why hearing directly from patients matters so much in sleep medicine.


You can watch the conversation here:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7VHs...

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

I have lost count to how many times I have heard patients say, “I am tired all day but wide awake at night”.


Chronic insomnia is not something you fix with lavender spray or blue light glasses. It is a learned pattern of wakefulness in bed and it needs to be rewired.


In this episode of Sleep Is My Waking Passion™, I sit down with behavioral sleep expert Dr. Jason Ong to talk about why cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is now the gold standard treatment and how digital CBTI is expanding access to care.


Listen here

🔗 https://youtu.be/Lj1K9KoJxjc

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

100 episodes of Sleep Is My Waking Passion™ and 50,000 subscribers on YouTube.

What started as a place to ask better questions about sleep has grown into a community of patients, clinicians, and curious minds who care about what happens when we truly rest and what happens when we don’t.

This milestone isn’t about numbers alone. It reflects hundreds of conversations about insomnia, sleep apnea, nervous system health, cardiovascular risk, pregnancy, mental health, and the many ways sleep shows up in everyday life.

I’m deeply grateful to every listener, viewer, guest, and collaborator who has helped shape this space and keep these conversations thoughtful, evidence based, and human.

If you’re new here, there’s no better place to start than the newest episode, where we continue exploring how small, intentional changes can meaningfully improve sleep and overall health.


📺 Watch the latest episode here: https://youtu.be/T0EdUI32tTY?si=RtC-A...

Thank you for being part of this journey.

2 months ago | [YT] | 18

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

🎧 7,725 Downloads in 2025



I launched Sleep Is My Waking Passion™ in 2023 with zero audience and a mission to make the science of sleep accessible.



In 2025, we passed 13,600 lifetime downloads, with 7,725 just this year.


That means more people listened, more patients felt seen, and more conversations sparked around sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, rare disease, and more.


To every single listener: thank you.



To every guest who gave their time, story, and expertise: thank you.



To the advocates, clinicians, and patients who’ve shared this show, your voice is building a movement.



New Season launches next week!

4 months ago | [YT] | 9

Sleep is My Waking Passion™ ft. Dr. Alison Kole

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a well rested holiday 🎄

4 months ago | [YT] | 25