The Matt Walker Podcast
Dr. Matt Walker
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About This Podcast
The Matt Walker Podcast is all about sleep, the brain, and the body. Matt is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of the book, Why We Sleep and has given a few TED talks. Matt is an awkward British nerd who adores science and the communication of science to the public.
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Recent Episodes
#139 - Waking Up
Matt explains sleep inertia - the groggy transition to wakefulness - noting that waking is a process, not a switch, and that brain regions activate at different speeds. While the core wakes fast, the…
#138 - The Sleepy Girl Mocktail
Deconstructing the "Sleepy Girl Mocktail", Matt separates digital hype from rigorous sleep science. He delineates that tart cherry juice works not through trace melatonin, but as an anti-inflammatory…
#137 - Bedtime Procrastination
Matt examines "revenge bedtime procrastination," where individuals voluntarily delay sleep to reclaim autonomy. Distinguishing this "unlocked door" from the "locked door" of insomnia, he uses global…
#136 - Sleep & Sound
Matt returns today to explain why humans didn't evolve for silent sleep. Citing the Hadza and the brain's "open microphone," he explains how we process sound for safety even while resting. He details…
#135 - Two Windows: How Light Shapes your Sleep
Matt delves into how daily light exposure dictates our sleep quality and how improper lighting can derail perfect sleep hygiene. He explains that our brain's internal clock naturally drifts backward…
#134 - Seeing Inside the Brain with Prenuvo
Dr. Daniel Durand, Chief Medical Officer and President at Prenuvo Medical Group, joins Matt to discuss a proactive shift from reactive medicine to whole-body MRI screening. This radiation-free…
#133 - Sleep & Doomscrolling
Matt introduces "doomscrolling," linking compulsive online consumption to worsened sleep and mental health. He tracks social media's rise (1997-2016), noting increased addiction. By 2016, 82% of 12th…
#132 - Sleep and Binaural Beats
Exploring the science of binaural beats, Matt evaluates their potential to improve sleep. Tracing their discovery back to 1838, Matt explains that a binaural beat isn't a physical sound, but a "ghost…
#131 - Sleeping with Pets
Matt examines the ancient practice of sleeping with pets, a bond dating back 12,000 years. Once a practical norm for warmth and companionship, co-sleeping became controversial due to modern ideas of…
#130 - Shift Work and Solutions
The severe biological and psychological impacts of shift work on essential overnight workers come under Matt’s scrutiny today. He explains how modern schedules clash with our hardwired circadian…
The London Apothecary - A Sleep Story Read by Matt Walker
Join Matt on a gentle journey designed to help you drift into a peaceful and restful sleep. After settling into bed and releasing the day's tension with a few deep breaths, you will find yourself…
#129 - Natural Short Sleepers
Matt delves into the fascinating science of "natural short sleepers," the rare 1-3% of the population genetically wired to thrive on just four to six hours of sleep. He unpacks the research that…
#128 - Sleep Position
Matt reviews Danish neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard's 2013 discovery: during sleep, glial cells shrink, allowing cerebrospinal fluid to flush brain toxins like beta-amyloid and tau protein. This…
#127 - Non-Restorative Sleep
Matt explores the frustrating reality of non-restorative sleep, explaining why up to a third of adults get a full night's rest but wake up exhausted. Using a relatable example, Matt shows how this…
#126 - The Coffee Paradox
Matt Walker investigates the "coffee paradox," revealing how your morning ritual acts as both a health ally and a silent sleep disruptor. While coffee provides life-extending antioxidants linked to…
#125 - Melatonin Explained
Matt redefines melatonin as the brain’s "clock whisperer" rather than a sedative, and explains that the hormone signals biological night rather than forcing sleep. Drawing on a meta-analysis, Matt…
#124 - Acting Out Dreams
Matt delves into the world of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), a condition at the frontiers of sleep science. Normally, the brain dreams while atonia paralyzes the body in a neural magic act that…
Ask Me Anything Part 25: Sleep Talking, Long Covid, CBD/CBN, and Bedroom Environment
Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon begin their latest AMA by exploring somniloquy as fragmented noise within Stage 2 NREM sleep. They distinguish these vocalizations from REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, where…
#123 - Sleep & the Microbiome
Matt explores a revolutionary shift in sleep science, identifying the gut microbiome as a secondary control center for rest. He elucidates the bidirectional gut-brain axis, where the Vagus nerve…
#122 - Exercise vs. Insomnia
Examining the $107B burden of insomnia and its link to a 45% increase in cardiovascular risk, Matt dissects a landmark study of 1,348 participants proving that movement is a potent clinical tool. He…
Frequently Asked Questions
The Matt Walker Podcast has published 175 episodes since July 2021, covering topics in Health & Fitness, Medicine.
The Matt Walker Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 32m.
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