Dr. Allison Brager: Improve Sleep Efficiency & Resilience

2025-03-26

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In this episode, my guest is Dr. Allison Brager, Ph.D., an active-duty Army neuroscientist whose research focuses on physiological resilience in extreme stress environments such as Antarctica and outer space. We discuss how sleep is impacted in these harsh conditions and the broader concept of sleep resilience, which is crucial for athletes, military personnel, and anyone with demanding personal or professional situations.We explain the effects of circadian rhythm (chronotype) misalignment on performance and how different...

We explain the effects of circadian rhythm (chronotype) misalignment on performance and how different chronotypes align with certain careers and sports. We also outline the key differences in sleep between men and women, including sleep onset, daytime sleepiness, and duration, along with the biological mechanisms that drive sleepiness. Finally, we discuss practical strategies for recovering from poor sleep and improving sleep through behaviors, light exposure, and nutrition. Regardless of your career or lifestyle, this episode provides valuable insights for optimizing your sleep to enhance performance and overall well-being.

Read the episode show notes at performpodcast.com.

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Allison Brager

00:01:37 East vs West Coast, Sports Teams, Sleep, Injury

00:04:46 Performance & Circadian Clock, Genetics, Chronotypes; Kids & Habits

00:10:50 Sponsors: AG1 & Eight Sleep