All content for Jeffrey van Leeuwen Podcast is the property of Jeffrey P. van Leeuwen and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
#47 - FBI Sleep Expert: How to Get Better Sleep & Beat Insomnia and Sleep Apnea | Dr. Leah Kaylor
Jeffrey van Leeuwen Podcast
1 hour 40 minutes
1 month ago
#47 - FBI Sleep Expert: How to Get Better Sleep & Beat Insomnia and Sleep Apnea | Dr. Leah Kaylor
Drowsy driving is deadlier than drunk driving. In this episode, Dr. Leah Kaylor explains why your sleep is a safety issue, not just a lifestyle choice. She is a licensed clinical and prescribing psychologist, the FBI’s in-house sleep expert with a specialty in sleep and trauma, and a relentless educator on evidence-based fixes.
1. Reset your clock: keep a consistent wake time and get outside within an hour of waking. Morning light signals the suprachiasmatic nucleus, shuts off lingering melatonin, and jump-starts alertness.
2. Master evenings: dim overheads, use lamps or warm smart bulbs, and let your space darken with sunset. Keep bedrooms cool in the low 60s.
3. If you work nights: use a sunrise alarm and timed bright-light therapy to shift rhythm; front-load a healthy meal; sip caffeine little and often with a hard cutoff 6–8 hours before bed; no sunglasses while commuting home if you are driving; sleep in a dark, quiet, truly blackout room.
4. Safety first: learn the “nappuccino” (espresso, then a 20-minute nap). It outperforms either alone when fatigue hits mid-commute. Microsleeps make you stop steering and braking entirely. Pull over.
5. Insomnia or apnea: insomnia shows up as trouble falling, staying asleep, or waking unrefreshed; obstructive sleep apnea often hides behind loud snoring, morning headaches, and crushing daytime fatigue. Get a sleep study.
6. Habits that help: avoid long or late naps; reserve the bed for the three S’s only—sleep, sex, sickness; set boundaries with screens and games; watch caffeine’s 4–6 hour half-life; skip alcohol as a “sleep aid” since it fragments sleep and suppresses REM.
Thank you for listening.
SHOW LINKS:
Support the Show on: Patreon
Listen to the Podcast on: YouTube | Apple | Spotify
Follow us on: X | Reddit | Instagram | LinkedIn
OUTLINE:
00:00 What a Sleep Psychologist Does
01:53 Why the FBI Needs Sleep Science
04:51 Three High-Impact Sleep Habits
10:18 Consistent Schedule, Sunrise Alarms, and Light
15:40 What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
17:18 Shift-Work Survival: Strategies and Support
23:10 Drowsy Driving and the Nappuccino
30:41 Night Shifts and Cancer Risk
39:33 Are You Actually Sleep Deprived
44:32 Wired but Tired; Does Creatine Help
48:35 Screens, Gaming, and Bedtime Procrastination
57:05 Train Your Brain: The Three S’s
1:06:26 Insomnia vs Sleep Apnea
1:21:26 Naps, Sleep Inertia, and Timing
1:28:25 The Effect of Alcohol on Sleep
1:30:26 The Myth of 4-Hour Sleep
1:38:54 Final Thoughts & Outro
LEAH KAYLOR LINKS:
Leah Kaylor's Website & Book
Leah Kaylor on YouTube
Leah Kaylor on Instagram
Leah Kaylor on LinkedIn
CONTACT LINKS:
Click here to come on the podcast, share feedback, ask a question, or reach out for any other reason.