The Matt Walker Podcast

In this latest AMA episode, Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon explore the complex web connecting sleep to our health and daily lives. They investigate the gut-brain axis, discussing how sleep deprivation alters the microbiome and whether probiotics can restore balance. The conversation ...  عرض المزيد

Matt confronts the systemic failure of sleep deprivation, examining its impact on our biological machinery. When sleep is short, the body's "fuel gauge" dips, impairing mitochondrial function and glucose tolerance. However, he highlights compelling research on two interventions - ...  عرض المزيد

Matt ventures into the realm of 40 Hz "gamma" rhythms - the conductor of the biological orchestra during high-order cognition - to explore how non-invasive light and sound stimulation can entrain brain activity, nudging neurons into synchrony. Crucially, Matt exam ...

The counterintuitive use of sleep deprivation as a rapid treatment for major depression finds itself squarely in Matt’s spotlight today. He begins by discussing its origins in the 1970s, where one night of wakefulness induced temporary remission in 40-60% of patients, and g ...

Matt delves into Heart Rate Variability (HRV), the subtle variation in timing between each heartbeat. He explains that a healthy heart is like a "jazz drummer," not a rigid metronome, and a higher HRV reflects a resilient body that can adeptly balance its stress a ...