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

    #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

  2. DEC 15

    #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

  3. DEC 8

    #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

  4. DEC 1

    #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

  5. NOV 24

    #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

  6. NOV 17

    #178 - Orexin Agonists Are Here: This Is The New Stuff

    The orexin receptor agonists are coming. After years of managing narcolepsy with stimulants, sodium oxybate, and wake-promoting agents, we soon will have medications that target the root cause of the disorder: the loss of orexin signaling. These new drugs—developed by Takeda, Alkermes, and Centessa—aren’t just incremental improvements. They represent a genuine shift in how we understand and treat hypersomnolence disorders. In this episode, we will: Define what orexin is and why losing it destabilizes wakefulness, REM boundaries, muscle tone, and cognitionLearn how orexin agonists work—not as stimulants, but as replacement therapy for a missing neurotransmitterFind out why OX2R is the key receptor, and how selective agonists restore stable wakefulness, reduce cataplexy, and normalize attentionReview the available clinical data from the new wave of programs: oveporexton (Takeda), alixorexton (Alkermes), and ORX750 (Centessa)See what makes these drugs different from modafinil, amphetamines, solriamfetol, and oxybate therapiesLearn why Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 trials matter—with quick insights on how these drugs reached such strong resultsConsider safety and side effects, including what Hy’s Law means and why regulators watch liver signals so closelyLook ahead to what these medications may mean for NT1, NT2, IH, and other hypersomnolence disorders in the coming yearsSpeculate why this class represents one of the most exciting moments in modern sleep medicineProduced 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!

    39 min

  7. NOV 10

    #177 - Sleep Fragmentation - Picking Up the Pieces

    At the root of many sleep disorders of sleep fragmentation. It's a big part of sleep medicine that many people don't know much about. In this episode we will: Define sleep fragmentationContrast the differences between arousals from sleep and awakenings from sleepUnderstand why sleep fragmentation goes unnoticed by providers and patients alikeList some common causes of sleep fragmentationReview how sleep fragmentation appears in sleep dataTouch upon research about sleep fragmentation specifically and performanceProvide strategies for reducing sleep fragmentationProduced 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

  8. NOV 3

    #176 - Media and Insomnia: It’s So Hard To Tell From Just A Magazine

    The media can be a fantastic source of information about insomnia, or it can be a lens that distorts and confuses the issue. In this episode we will: Contrast to contemporary insomnia articles from popular mediaUnderstand the difference between causation and relationshipsLearn how the use to percentages can distort the scale of an effectRead how media frequently confuses "sleep deprivation" and "insomnia"Evaluate an example of how media can positively educate and help readers understand insomnia betterProduced 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!

    37 min
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4.7
out of 5
78 Ratings

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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