The Matt Walker Podcast

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The Matt Walker Podcast

The Matt Walker Podcast is all about sleep, the brain, and the body. Matt is 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.

07/21/2025

We explore the critical role of sleep in brain health, specifically focusing on Alzheimer's disease. Discover how sleep acts as a nightly cleanse, removing harmful metabolic waste like beta amyloid and tau protein, vital for brain function.

07/19/2025

We debunk the 8-hour sleep myth! We explore individual sleep needs, from 7 to 9 hours, and explain how to find your optimal sleep duration through vacation experiments. Discover how to personalize your sleep for better cognitive function and well-being.

07/15/2025

Our environment significantly affects sleep quality. Light and temperature play roles, but noise pollution is the most disruptive. We explore how noise, even subtle sounds, fragment sleep, reducing its restorative benefits, leading to fatigue. Discover how individual sensitivities and sleep spindles impact sound's effects.

03/20/2025

Thanks so much again for hosting me on your show, ! And for turning a spotlight on sleep, and for being so vulnerable about your own. So great to celebrate with you at the LA show launch!

12/19/2023

Based on your wonderful feedback (💫thank you!), there is now going to be a standing, once-a-month AMA on the podcast ☺️. Hungry for your sleep questions. Post them here, splendid people!

11/05/2023

Sleep *irregularity* and mortality: Study 60,977 participants. Those in the highest (regular) vs. lowest (worse) 20th% of sleep regularity, night to night = -49%⬇️⬇️ risk of all-cause mortality, -39%⬇️⬇️ risk of cancer mortality, -57%⬇️⬇️ risk of cardiometabolic mortality. Take-home: *Irregular sleep* and sleep duration are both predictors, former more so. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37738616/

08/28/2023

Dive deep into the world of insomnia with guest Dr. Michael Grandner in the latest podcast episode. He and Matt break down the definition, causes, and implications of insomnia, making a crucial distinction between short-term and chronic cases. Discover the staggering impact insomnia has on mental and physical health, even tripling the risk of su***de.

But it's not all grim; they also discuss remedies and ways to enhance sleep quality. If you're ready to improve your sleep, this episode is a must-listen! 💤🌙😴

07/24/2023

Question: Would people want me to do an AMA (ask me anything) series on the podcast? We'd collate all of your submitted questions, then gather common themes, wants, and explanatory desires. 😊

02/27/2023

Now that we know what kinds of exercise are beneficial for our sleep, WHEN should we be exercising? 🧗 And if you want to optimize a certain kind of sleep (REM vs non-REM), what time of day is best?😴 All this and more in Pt. 4 of the Sleep and Exercise series on the Matt Walker Podcast. Check out the link in our bio for more!

12/06/2022

How *not* to forget. Pt.2 in this series on learning, memory, and creativity, examines sleep’s causal role in cementing new memories, fixating them like a precious fossil in trapped amber. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1821163/11813127

11/07/2022

Sleep & S*x—Part 2: “Sleep is the new s*x”, as my friend elegantly states. This episode explains how and why s*x (even the “solo” version) can improve your sleep, and vice versa. Most playful bedfellows! https://themattwalkerpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1821163/11643681-34-sleep-and-s*x-part-2

10/24/2022

Sleep & S*x – Part 1: Should you have a “sleep divorce” to prevent a real one? This question, and many others, are explored in the first of a two-part series all about Sleep→S*x, and S*x→Sleep. https://themattwalkerpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1821163/11551427

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Dafter, MI

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+16138161788

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https://themattwalkerpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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