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This was one of my favourite talks from last year's inaugural Hotflash Inc Summit, recorded back in mid-2025. My guest is Dr. Roxanne Prichard, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of St. Thomas, where she's built a career studying the science of sleep and mental health. She's designed popular courses on sleep and dreaming, led workshops for college professionals on sleep, and served on the NCAA Taskforce for Sleep and Well-being. Her TEDx talk, Addressing Our Children's Sleep Debt, was featured in the lecture series Transforming Education, and her research has been covered by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, and USA Today, among others. What makes this conversation so special is that Roxanne is a true scholar of sleep.
Highlights
02:57 – Why women sacrifice sleep more than men
04:44 – The biopsychosocial model behind perimenopause sleep loss 05:52 – The three most common sleep changes in menopause
08:18 – Sleep apnea isn't just a "men's disease" — and it's underdiagnosed in women
09:02 – How to test for sleep apnea from home
11:13 – What parasomnias are and why they happen
12:30 – The dementia risk of untreated sleep apnea
13:25 – The history (and risk) of sleep medications, from barbiturates to benzos
16:14 – The melatonin problem
19:04 – The science of morning light and your circadian rhythm
20:36 – How your circadian rhythm controls half your genes
20:54 – Roxanne's number one sleep tip for perimenopause
21:58 – The truth about sleep trackers, wearables, and "orthosomnia" 25:21 – What the research says about hormone therapy and sleep
30:27 – Reframing sleep as resistance
32:15 – Roxanne's parting wish for every woman listening
For more from Dr. Roxanne Prichard:
TEDx Talk, Addressing Our Children's Sleep Debt
Ms. Magazine, Sleep Is a Feminist Issue: Why Women's Rest Is Political LinkedIn: Roxanne Prichard
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Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your treatment, supplements, or lifestyle.
