ep 104 - the link between moon phases and sleep: what you need to know
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
Release Date: 10/19/2025
ep 114 - the gut sleep axis: how digestion shapes your nightly rest
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
Episode Summary: In this Somnilopod episode, we explore one of the most surprising and powerful sleep connections in modern wellness science: the gut–sleep axis. You’ll learn how your gut microbiome, digestion, hormones, and the vagus nerve all play a role in how easily you fall asleep, how deeply you stay asleep, and how refreshed you feel the next morning. What We Cover: The “second brain” living in your gut and what it tells your nervous system How gut bacteria influence serotonin, melatonin, and GABA Why late-night eating disrupts deep sleep cycles The stress → gut → sleep...
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ep 113 - embracing the light: how brightness shapes our sleep, mood, and meaning.
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
Light plays a powerful role in both sleep regulation and emotional well-being. In this episode we explore how light affects melatonin production, circadian rhythms, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Blending sleep science with reflective insight, this episode explains why morning light matters, why darkness is essential at night, and how embracing light—literally and symbolically—can improve sleep, mood, and overall balance. Topics Covered: How light regulates circadian rhythms Melatonin production and light exposure The science behind Seasonal Affective Disorder Light therapy and...
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ep 112 - the impact of social isolation on your sleep: why loneliness echoes through the night.
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
In this episode, we explore how social isolation and loneliness shape your sleep patterns. You’ll learn why disconnection triggers the body’s stress response, how loneliness keeps the brain in “on alert” mode at night, and why isolation is one of the most overlooked causes of poor sleep—especially in rural communities. Jay breaks down the science and offers simple, realistic ways to rebuild connection and improve sleep quality. What We Cover: How loneliness affects the nervous system Why isolated individuals experience lighter, more fragile sleep The emotional overload that rises at...
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ep 111 - The Psychology of Restfulness: why your brain needs smoother edges.
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
Ever feel exhausted but not restful? In this week’s Somnilopod episode, we break down the Psychology of Restfulness—why your brain can be tired but still too ‘on’ to sleep, and how to build that internal calm that makes good sleep finally stick. If your mind races at bedtime, this episode is a game-changer. What We Cover: Why rest and sleep are entirely different processes The role of the nervous system in nighttime calm Why the brain refuses to rest when it feels unsafe The connection between emotional overload and insomnia The cognitive “downshifting” that leads to true...
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ep 110 - snoring 101: the surprising biology behind that bed-shaking sound
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
In this episode of Somnilopod, host Jay McGuire breaks down the real science behind snoring in a calm, accessible way that helps listeners understand what’s actually happening inside the airway during sleep. Jay explains why snoring occurs, how airflow becomes restricted, and why factors like aging, anatomy, sleep position, stress, and lifestyle habits can make nighttime breathing noisier than we’d like. He also covers the important connection between snoring, sleep quality, and the nervous system—highlighting how micro-awakenings, stress, and poor sleep hygiene can create a cycle that...
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Ep 109 - when your brain won’t shut up: easing the anxiety that fuels insomnia
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
In this episode of Somnilopod, host and sleep expert Jay McGuire breaks down one of the most common but least discussed causes of insomnia: nighttime anxiety. Jay explains why the mind becomes so loud after lights-out, how the nervous system gets stuck in “protect mode,” and why the anxiety–insomnia loop is so easy to fall into. Listeners will learn the difference between productive worry and “counterfeit worry,” how conditioned wakefulness forms, and what the body is really trying to accomplish when it won’t settle at bedtime. Jay offers practical, compassionate strategies to...
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ep 108 - the hidden sleep crisis in rural communities
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
Open spaces, a sky full of stars, and sleepless nights seem to be ill-fitting partners when it comes to sleep issues in rural areas. On today's episode, we will look at some of the shortcomings associated with sleep care in rural areas as well as some of the unique issues many in those wide open spaces face when it comes to getting a good night's sleep.
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ep 107 - the surprising benefits of waking up early
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
Are you a morning person? Full of energy, bouncing out of bed at 5 am to seize your day? If so, you're one of the 40% or so of the population that jumpstart their day. On today's episode, we’ll look at the benefits of being an early bird and whether you should try to become one if you’re not.
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ep 106 - the surprising truth about nightmares and what causes them
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
Here’s a scenario. I’m standing in a room I don’t quite recognize, feeling a little uneasy. I turn and see a spider the size of a german shepherd on the wall that suddenly jumps at me. I wake up screaming. Sound familiar? Spiders may not be your specific trigger but you get the gist. Nightmares are fascinating. On today’s episode we will look at some of the science behind nightmares and try to get some insight into why they happen.
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ep 105 - creatures of the nights: sleep, suffocation, and the birth of monsters
Somnilopod: Sleep Health Education
There’s an ancient kind of terror that lives between waking and sleep — a liminal panic that predates all our modern science. On this special Halloween episode, we will look at why things that go bump in the night may not be what they appear.
info_outlineHave you ever found yourself tossing and turning under a bright full moon, feeling oddly restless or waking more than usual? You’re not alone. For centuries, people have suspected that the moon has a mysterious pull on our sleep — right up there with werewolves and farmers’ almanacs. On today's episode, we will take a look at the legend and science behind how that big ball of cheese in the night sky affects us.