Annabel Abbs (English novelist; author of Sleepless) was crippled with insomnia. Rather than fight it she looked for its productive plus side and discovered that many incredible creatives have needed to stay awake to access their best selves – their Night Selves. Particularly women, as it turns out. Annabel chats to me about how famous writers, painters and Hollywood stars have used their sleeplessness to create their best work, and the science that explains why this happens - the role hormones play, how the nocturnal quietening of the prefrontal cortex affects women’s ability to access their creative courage and how we can access our body’s hallucinogens! We also cover why it’s good to stay awake in a full moon, why women need to invest in blackout curtains (to cut their cancer risk!) and the role of feminist rage in all this!
SHOW NOTES
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AMA: Why does hiking “work”?
MAGGIE DENT: What to do about boys (‘cos you asked)
AMA: Why are girls flocking Left and boys are flopping Right?
CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN: Exposing the Ultra-Processed Food Trap
AMA: Do you regret not having kids?
ALAIN DE BOTTON: A philosophical fix for anxiety
BEST OF: BEAU MILES: How to be a backyard adventurer
BEST OF: TIM BROWN: Sarah’s interview with her meditation teacher
BEST OF: JULIA CAMERON: How to live the artist's way
BEST OF: AZIZ ABU SARAH: A radical Palestinian peace broker on how to solve wicked conflicts
BEST OF: BAYO AKOMOLAFE: The times are urgent, let’s slow down and become a fugitive
BEST OF: DAN BUETTNER: Sarah chats with her friend about all things Blue Zones
DAVID BROOKS: How to be humanist in cruel times
BONUS EPISODE: A Life More Wild
HANNAH BARNES: We need to think through the transgender kids debate
AMA: How should I (ethically) do a massive clean-out (to "Kondo" or to "Wilson”)?
CONNOR BEATON: The confronting reason why men watch porn
AMA: My climate activist son needs your help!
PAUL HAWKEN: We’re ending the climate crisis in one generation
BONUS EP: Sarah + Oliver Burkeman chatting on Intelligence Squared
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