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In our latest episode of Narcolepsy Navigators’ Medical Series, we sit down with Dr. Chris Allen, board-certified pediatric neurologist and sleep medicine specialist, founder of Quality Sleep and Neurology PC in Michigan.

Dr. Allen brings both medical expertise and lived experience to the conversation, sharing his own 21-year journey living with obstructive sleep apnea while breaking down why sleep disorders are among the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed medical conditions today.

We cover everything from narcolepsy misdiagnosis and pediatric sleep disorders to the dangerous myth that snoring is “normal,” the real connection between sleep and heart health, and why CPAP is not the only treatment option for sleep apnea.

This episode is a must-listen for patients, parents, clinicians, and anyone who has ever been told, “You’re just tired.”

Topics Covered

• Why sleep medicine is still under-taught in medical schools
• Dr. Allen’s personal experience with sleep apnea
• Why snoring is a medical red flag, not a joke
• Narcolepsy vs depression vs hypersomnia
• Pediatric sleep disorders and missed diagnoses
• ADHD-like symptoms caused by poor sleep in children
• Restless legs, ferritin levels, and iron deficiency
• The link between sleep, heart disease, and blood pressure
• CPAP alternatives and emerging treatments
• Hustle culture and why sleep deprivation hurts productivity
• Representation and trust in healthcare

Why This Episode Matters

Sleep disorders don’t just affect energy — they affect memory, mood, heart health, development, and lifespan. Dr. Allen explains why untreated sleep conditions quietly damage the body over time and why awareness can literally save lives.

About the Guest

Dr. Christopher J. Allen, MD is a board-certified pediatric neurologist and sleep medicine specialist, founder of Quality Sleep and Neurology PC. Known online as Sleep Dr. Chris, he is a leading voice in accessible sleep education and a strong advocate for patient-centered care. Above all, Dr. Allen is a devoted family man, proud husband, and father of two—bringing the same passion he holds for his patients to his home and loved ones.

Every child deserves a good night's sleep... Purchase Your Copy of Sweet Dreams Today: https://www.sleepdrchris.com/

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Narcolepsy is often misunderstood, dismissed, and dangerously underdiagnosed — especially in women. In this powerful Advocacy Series episode, we sit down with Dr. Anne-Marie Morse, a neurologist with specialized training in child neurology and sleep medicine, to talk about what real advocacy looks like, why diagnosis delays can stretch nearly two decades, and how patients can reclaim power in the healthcare system.

Dr. Morse breaks down one of the most important truths in sleep medicine: language matters. Words like tired, fatigue, and sleepiness are not interchangeable — and using the wrong one can lead to missed diagnosis and years of suffering.

We also discuss the emotional reality of narcolepsy: grief, identity, guilt, family dynamics, and why peer support and global community are essential. From workplace wellness myths to school system failures, this conversation is both validating and activating.

If you’ve ever felt unheard, minimized, or reduced to a score on a scale — this episode is for you.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why narcolepsy impacts an entire ecosystem (family, friends, school, work)

• The average delay to diagnosis — and why women face longer delays

• The difference between sleepiness vs tiredness vs fatigue

• Why you are NOT your Epworth Sleepiness Scale score

• The best question a doctor can ask: “What can’t you do?”

• The grief that comes with diagnosis — for patients AND families

• Why mental health support should be standard in chronic illness care

• How peer support can prevent isolation and long-term disability

• Why sleep should be treated like water — essential, non-negotiable

• How advocacy needs to become global to create real change

Key Takeaway

“We need to create treatment regimens that fit people’s lives — not lives that fit treatment regimens.”

Dr Ann Marie Morse

Resources Mentioned

Project Sleep

Hypersomnia Foundation

Wake Up Narcolepsy

Faces of Narcolepsy

Julie Flygare’s book: Wide Awake and Dreaming

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In this episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, hosts Kerly and Sakhara, both living with narcolepsy type one, are joined by Dr. Jill McGarry, a clinical psychologist with 28 years of NHS experience. They delve into the importance of holistic health and mental health for managing narcolepsy. Dr. McGarry discusses strategies like energy level management, routines anchored by consistent wake times, and mindfulness. The conversation highlights the profound effects of psychological support, the importance of timing and sleep hygiene, and the benefits of a balanced diet. The episode underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach in supporting individuals with narcolepsy and the potential benefits of community support.

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In this episode of the Narcolepsy Navigators Podcast, hosts Kerly and Iris introduce their new Advocacy Series aimed at spotlighting changemakers, advocates, and everyday heroes in the field of narcolepsy. They welcome Matt Hornsnell, a sleep advocate diagnosed with narcolepsy type one and obstructive sleep apnea, who shares his extensive experiences in advocacy, public speaking, and research. Matt discusses the importance of community support, the challenges of male representation in advocacy, and the delicate balance between personal life and advocacy work. The conversation delves into topics like the impact of narcolepsy on relationships and mental health, and the necessity of setting boundaries. This episode is an inspiring exploration of how personal stories and lived experiences can drive awareness and change.

Bio:

Matt Horsnell is a husband, father of three, and sleep advocate living with NT1 (narcolepsy with cataplexy) and obstructive sleep apnea. As an author-advocate, he has published research on lived experience with sleep disorders. Matt also works as a consultant for the pharmaceutical industry and on behavioral sleep projects.

Matt has presented in national conferences at SLEEP and the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (SBSM). Additionally, Matt is the Co-Host of Hypersomnia Foundation’s UNIGHT.

Matt was recognized as Project Sleep’s Inaugural Sleep Advocacy Champion in 2023. In 2025, he was recognized with Hypersomnia Foundation’s Patient Advocate Award. Matt presented on Sleep Health Equity to The White House (2023) and was featured in a CNN article about life with narcolepsy (2024).

Highlights:

[03:09] The Importance of Social Support

[07:13] Challenges and Rewards of Advocacy

[14:03] Male Representation in Narcolepsy Advocacy

[22:02] Parenthood and Advocacy Balance

[23:02] Setting Boundaries in Advocacy

OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.napsforlife.com

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In this powerful international episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, we sit down with Jayson, a PE teacher, endurance runner, and advocate living with Narcolepsy Type 1 with cataplexy in Taiwan.

Diagnosed as a teenager after repeatedly falling asleep in class, Jayson grew up navigating stigma, academic pressure, and deep misunderstandings — especially within a culture where performance and discipline are highly valued. Despite this, he has built a life centered around movement, self-awareness, and intentional boundaries, even running half marathons while managing narcolepsy.

Jayson shares how suppressing emotions to avoid cataplexy affected his identity, why journaling and therapy changed his life, and how he re-designed his career to protect his health. He also gives rare insight into Taiwan’s healthcare system, cultural nap norms, military service exemptions, and what true balance looks like when energy is limited.

This episode is honest, reflective, and deeply human — especially for anyone who has ever been told they “don’t look sick.”

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What it’s like being diagnosed with narcolepsy as a teen in Taiwan
• How teachers misread symptoms as laziness or lack of motivation
• The emotional cost of suppressing joy to avoid cataplexy
• Why Jayson chose flexible work over traditional career paths
• How exercise dramatically improves his sleep quality
• The role of journaling and therapy in emotional survival
• Cultural differences around naps and productivity
• How plant-based eating helps him manage daytime sleepiness
• Why narcolepsy is still not classified as a disability in Taiwan
• His honest answer to the “red button” question

Why This Episode Matters

Narcolepsy doesn’t look the same in every country — and Jayson’s story highlights how culture, healthcare systems, and expectations shape the lived experience of sleep disorders. This conversation challenges stereotypes and proves that strength doesn’t always look like pushing harder — sometimes it looks like resting smarter.

New Episode Out Now: https://www.napsforlife.com/podcast/episode/7f587a5c/s4e5-running-half-marathons-with-narcolepsy-jaysons-story-from-taiwan

About the Guest

Jayson is a PE teacher, endurance runner, and advocate from Taipei, Taiwan, living with Narcolepsy Type 1 with cataplexy. He uses movement, structure, and self-reflection to manage his condition and raise awareness across cultures.

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In this powerful episode of the Narcolepsy Navigators Podcast, hosts Kerly and Liz kick off a new advocacy-focused series spotlighting changemakers in the sleep disorder community.

They’re joined by Claire Wylds Wright, a UK-based advocate whose journey into advocacy began when her daughter was diagnosed with narcolepsy at a young age. What started as a search for answers quickly evolved into a mission to create change—leading Claire to become an author, mentor, and co-founder of the Sleep Consortium.

Claire shares what it really takes to advocate within healthcare systems, why listening is one of the most powerful tools in medicine, and how collaboration is shaping the future of sleep disorder research and treatment. The conversation also tackles misconceptions, healthcare disparities, and what upcoming treatments could mean for families worldwide.

This episode is a must-listen for advocates, caregivers, clinicians, and anyone passionate about better sleep health outcomes.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How advocacy often begins at the diagnosis stage
• Why patient voices matter in healthcare decision-making
• The mission behind the Sleep Consortium
• Differences between UK and US healthcare systems
• Racial disparities in sleep disorder diagnosis and care
• The future of narcolepsy and hypersomnia treatments
• Advice for new advocates entering the space

🎧 Listen now and join the movement shaping the future of sleep health.

Bio:

Claire is an award-winning author and patient advocate for people living with sleep disorders. After her daughter Mathilda developed Type1 Narcolepsy in 2010, her family moved from England to California to secure treatment and expert care for Mathilda under Professor Emmanuel Mignot at Stanford. Her book Waking Mathilda—A Memoir of Childhood Narcolepsy was published in 2017 and tells the story of parenting a young child with Narcolepsy and the impact of Mathilda’s diagnosis on her life and her family. She lives in Los Angeles with her son, daughter, and cat Mochi.

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In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, 18-year-old Wendy shares what life is really like growing up with narcolepsy type 1 with cataplexy. Diagnosed at just 13 years old, Wendy opens up about sleep attacks in class, cataplexy triggered by laughter, hallucinations vivid enough to call the police, and the emotional toll of being a teenager who never gets to “just be a teenager.”

Through humor, honesty, and incredible resilience, Wendy talks about friendships, family, school accommodations, dating with narcolepsy, and what it means to walk into adulthood with a chronic sleep disorder — completely unmedicated.

Her story will break your heart, make you laugh, and leave you inspired.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Early symptoms and Wendy’s shockingly fast drop into REM (1.5 minutes!)
• Managing 10+ cataplexy episodes a day
• Being a teen with a hidden disability that classmates don’t understand
• The fear and reality of hallucinations
• Microsleeps, automatic behavior & writing dreams in school notes
• Why Wendy chose to stay unmedicated
• Accommodations in school and the struggle to be believed
• Navigating friendship, dating & self-worth
• Her dream of creating films that portray chronic illness accurately
• Advice for teens with narcolepsy who feel alone

New Episode Out Now

Link: https://www.napsforlife.com/podcast/episode/7e049ba0/s4e4-microsleeps-hallucinations-and-homework-wendys-daily-fight

Wendy is a passionate teen advocate and the creator of the narcolepsy awareness page @undyingnoir, where she designs educational infographics and shares her journey. She is beginning her college path in Film Production and hopes to create media that reflects real, misunderstood conditions like narcolepsy.

Follow Wendy:

Instagram: @undyingnoir

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Visit: napsforlife.com

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Trigger Content Notice:

This episode discusses psychedelics, substance use, religious/spiritual themes, and past trauma. Listener discretion advised.

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In this powerful and vulnerable episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, we sit down with Alexander, a 28-year-old from Pennsylvania who shares one of the most unique and spiritually profound narcolepsy journeys we’ve heard yet. Diagnosed at 17, his story moves through misdiagnosis, heavy stimulants, sleep paralysis, terrifying hallucinations, dopamine-seeking behaviors, pre-workout amphetamines, and how he rebuilt his life by shifting his mindset — spiritually, psychologically, and physically.

TOPICS COVERED:

• Narcolepsy diagnosis experience
• Sleep paralysis + hallucinations
• Dopamine regulation & reward cycles
• Pre-workout supplements & hidden stimulants
• Trauma + head injuries
• Spiritual awakenings
• Mushrooms as spiritual tools
• Self-healing mindset
• Cataplexy experiences
• Redefining narcolepsy as “adaptation” instead of “disease.

CONNECT WITH ALEXANDER
IG: @sleepy.b.woke

New Episode Out Now: https://www.napsforlife.com/podcast/episode/7efd5676/s4-e3-beyond-narcolepsy-a-journey-of-consciousness-and-healing

Support the Podcast

Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, Discord access, and exclusive merch.
Visit: napsforlife.com

Support the show

Subscribe for more inspiring episodes, share to raise awareness, and join the conversation by sharing your experiences.

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***If you find

Support the show

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