Sleep
Summary
Host Dessa explores the science and history of insomnia, featuring sleep expert Russell Foster on circadian rhythms and anthropologist Gandhi Yatish on hunter-gatherer sleep patterns. Historian Moody Arashid shares personal struggles with anxiety while examining ancient Mesopotamian texts that link sleeplessness to emotional distress. The episode critiques modern society’s devaluation of rest, arguing that our fight against biological needs leads to chronic fatigue and health risks.
Topics discussed
Intro: Dessa's insomnia and the modern sleep crisis
The science of circadian rhythms and body clocks
Historical perspectives on sleep and Shakespeare
Ancient Mesopotamian views on insomnia and anxiety
Ad break: State Farm mood check
Health risks: Cancer, cognitive impairment, and accidents
Why society devalues sleep: Puritanism and hustle culture
Anthropology: Sleep habits of hunter-gatherer tribes
Modern sleep advice: Apps, pills, and biological limits
Conclusion: Accepting sleep's unpredictability and credits
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