Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter

Chris Winter, MD
  • 4.7 (78)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 

  1. 2D AGO

    #186 - EMF and Sleep: Rays of Violet and Electric Blue

    Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are everywhere—from our phones to our Wi-Fi to the wiring in our homes. But do they actually disrupt sleep… or is this another modern sleep villain that gets more attention than it deserves? In this episode of Sleep Unplugged, we will: Define what EMF actually is (ELF vs RF, and why “non-ionizing” matters)Learn what research says—and doesn’t say—about EMF and the brain, including why subtle EEG changes don’t always translate into real-world sleep problemsReview what studies show about EMF and sleep, from brain waves and spindles to subjective sleep qualityFocus on Chuck McGill (Better Call Saul) as a case study, and why his story mirrors what we see in insomnia, hyperarousal, and perceived sleep threatsDetermine if EMF-blocking devices actually work and look at physics vs marketing—and why many products overpromiseList some reasonable precautions without fear, and why chasing the “perfect sleep environment” can sometimes make insomnia worseProduced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    35 min

  2. JAN 5

    #185 - Insomnia Resolutions: Seeing My Past to Let It Go

    This week on the Sleep Unplugged podcast, we are looking at sleep resolutions made for the new year and why they often fail. In this episode, we present six insomnia resolutions that don’t ask you to “try harder” — because insomnia isn’t a motivation problem, a discipline problem, or a character flaw. In this episode we will: Reframe why New Year’s sleep resolutions failThink about insomnia as a brain trained to stay alert and how that reshapes our insomnia therapy goalsDiscuss how CBT-I actually retrains the brain (not willpower) and how it fits in with the way we view insomnia therapyLearn why fixing insomnia requires better systems, better language, and better care, and not more effortUnderstand why insomnia can be tough to fix aloneProduced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    30 min

  3. 12/29/2025

    #184 - 2025 Sleep Unplugged Awards: I Will Be King

    Once again we come to the end of another year and our 4th Annual Sleep Unplugged "Sleepy" Awards are upon us again. Join me in honoring the best and brightest in sleep in this podcast episode: The 2025 Sleepy Award winners are: Social Media Warrior                    Dr. Christopher J Allen (@sleepdrchris)       Sleep Outsider Award                  The Nap Ministry/Tricia Hershey (@thenapministry) Sleep Vanguard Organization     Natrol (@natrolofficial) Sleep Sports Organization          Toronoto Blue Jays Sleep Podcast of The Year           Deep Into Sleep/Dr. Yishan Xu (@dr.yishan) Best Insomnia Advice                   Nada El Kouz (@wellpower.me) Book of the Year                            Sleep Groove: Why Your Biological Clock Is So                                                                 Messed Up And What To Do About It                                                          Dr. Olivia Walch (@olivia.walch) Sleep Trend Farewell                   Nighttime baby carrots                    Sleep Crusader Award                Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, MD (@fabsleepdoc) Produced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    28 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    #183 - Top 10 Sleep Threat Power Rankings: You Can't Live Like This

    This week marks the 8th month we have put out the Top 10 Sleep Threats Power Rankings, and this week, we have a special guest assessor, Dr. Roxanne Prichard. In this episode we will: Find out what Roxanne thinks are the top threats to your sleepFocus on wealth inequalityLearn why Dr. Prichard's list does not contradict our previous lists, but may very well explain them.Produced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    42 min

  5. 12/15/2025

    #182 - So You're Having A Sleep Study: Lying In Bed

    Ever wondered what really happens during a sleep study — and why we still rely on them more than 50 years after their invention? Take a behind-the-scenes look at the overnight sleep study, from its surprisingly quirky origins to its modern-day role in diagnosing sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and more. In this episode we will: Learn how the polysomnogram was born — and why it became the gold standard in sleep medicineUnderstand what actually happens during an overnight sleep study (yes, all those wires have a purpose)Cover the rise of home sleep testing — when it works well, and when it can miss important diagnosesReview special considerations for kids, athletes, and patients with complex sleep concernsTake a peek at where sleep testing is headed next, from wearable tech to at-home EEGProduced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    38 min

  6. 12/08/2025

    #181 - Sleep Aids and Dementia: All Manner of Pills

    You probably saw the headlines out of California as they sent a jolt through the sleep world as well as social media: Do common sleep medications increase your risk of dementia? In this episode we will: Review what the UCSF study actually found — and what the headlines got wrongDetermine which medications are most often implicated (benzodiazepines vs Z-drugs vs trazodone)Take a deep dive into the three best studies on sleeping pills and dementia riskFind out why some large studies do show a connection… and others don’tLearn the real risks you should take seriously — even if dementia isn’t one of themThink about how doctors should actually practice prescribing sleep meds in older adultsProduced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    41 min

  7. 12/01/2025

    #180 - Top 10 Sleep Threat Power Rankings: Sleeping Eyes, You’re Missing (Out)

    This week marks the 7th month we have put out the Top 10 Sleep Threats Power Rankings, but it's the first time we have devoted an entire episode to the list. This week, we have a special guest assessor, Dr. Jade Wu. In this episode we will: Find out what Jade thinks are the top threats to your sleepFocus on mental health as a sleep detractorLearn more about the concept of FOMO or "fear of missing out" and how research is indicating it is a real threat to the sleep of manyProduced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    36 min

  8. 11/24/2025

    #179 - The 4th Annual Holiday Sleep Gift Guide Extravaganza: The Perfect Gift

    Fear not, the Sleep Unplugged podcast is once again here to solve your holiday shopping dilemmas with some of my favorite sleep product companies. In this episode, we will explore a host of sleep-themed gift ideas and product recommendations. In this episode, we will feature the following products: SideSleeperZ slip-proof sleep maskAuthenticity50 beddingBee Ulmo honeyBlueAir air purification systems (MiniRestful)Dagsmejan sleepwearHästens mattresses and sleep productsHoneydew Sleep pillowsLoftie alarm clocksMoonbrew drink mixNatrol Sleep & Restore supplementsOzlo sleep earbudsPath waterQuietOn noise cancelling sleep earbudsSleeping Dove comfortersSleep ProteinTruvaga vagal nerve stimulatorWeLove Creations earplugsZdenProduced by: Maeve Winter More Twitter: @drchriswinter IG: @drchriwinter Threads: @drchriswinter Bluesky: @drchriswinter The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child Thanks for listening and sleep well!

    35 min
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4.7
out of 5
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About

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. 

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