Could a pill help treat your sleep apnea? In this important discussion, we explored all medications for sleep apnea, including new prescription medication options being developed, when these might be available, and how different types of medications are used to help you feel informed for your next doctor’s appointment.    About Our Guest: Dr. Klar Yaggi Dr. Klar Yaggi is a professor of medicine and the Vice Chief for Research in the Yale Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. He also serves as the Director of the Yale Centers for Sleep Medicine.  His research employs translational methods applied to sleep science, circadian biology, and respiratory neurobiology to investigate the mechanistic pathways between sleep deficiency (sleep deprivation, noncircadian wakefulness/sleep, and impaired sleep quality/architecture due to insomnia/sleep-disordered breathing) and cardio-metabolic disease, substance use disorders, cognitive impairment, and mental illness.  His research approach integrates physiology, clinical medicine, and novel biostatistical methods in epidemiologic designs, including large, multicenter observational cohort studies of adult populations and mechanistic randomized controlled trials.  His work has 1) informed the prognostic implications of the phenotypic expression of sleep disorders through polysomnographic physiologic traits and biomarkers and 2) examined the impact of interventions targeting sleep deficiency that may help to improve markers of disease and health outcomes.  His lab, the Yale Translational Sleep, Circadian, and Respiratory Neurobiology Research Center on Yale’s West Campus, provides infrastructure for supporting multi-disciplinary translational sleep research.  He is committed to mentoring and training the next generation of scientists, which he considers the most rewarding aspect of his professional work, and he has successfully mentored postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty to independence.    The New Medications For Sleep Apnea Toolkit is coming soon!    Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/     Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Squad series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with Sleep Apnea. https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/  

From being judged as “lazy” to worrying about a partner’s reaction to a CPAP machine, we’re breaking down the shame & stigma of sleep apnea––together.  In this powerful discussion, we address the issues no one is talking about. Young people can feel confused or even embarrassed by this diagnosis, often associating it with older adults.    We dive into the emotional side of living with sleep apnea and how we can help change the narrative.   This conversation is part of Sleep Apnea: Let’s Face It!, a campaign launched by Project Sleep to shatter stereotypes and showcase real faces of people living with sleep apnea.   To learn more and to participate in the campaign, visit https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-lets-face-it/.   About our Guests: Jason Webb Jason Webb lives in North Queensland with his girlfriend and comes from a family of four, including a younger brother. He enjoys gardening, fishing, and traveling. Diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea at 28 after experiencing symptoms for about a year, he faced numerous challenges in understanding and managing his condition. With no specialist in his rural town, he struggled to navigate his diagnosis alone. He has undergone nasal surgery to correct a deviated septum, battled depression, and now happily wears a CPAP every night. Having faced these obstacles firsthand, he is passionate about helping others on their sleep apnea journey, so they don’t have to go through the same struggles alone. Edgar Castro Tello Edgar Castro Tello is Venezuelan born and raised, but now calls Tampa, Florida his more humid, tropical home, where he lives with his partner, Frankie. He’s an environmental scientist with a passion for programs and policy in the field of refuse and waste reduction. His career started in environmental consulting with migratory birds and informal education in zoos, quickly falling in love with public service and policy change. He was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea in 2016 at the age of 25; a diagnosis that was too late in the making. Edgar hopes his story will shed some light on the prevalence of sleeping disorders in the gay bear community and early signs from teenage years.  The Fighting Sleep Apnea Shame & Stigma Toolkit is coming soon!    Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Squad series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with Sleep Apnea. https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

Are you wrestling with CPAP therapy to treat your sleep apnea? Or maybe your CPAP has turned into a dust collector on your nightstand? You’re not alone, and we’re here to help!   About our Guests:   Kath Hope Kath Hope is the Founder & CEO of the Hope2Sleep Charity and a patient with severe OSA and nocturnal ‘non-obesity’ hypoventilation. Kath was diagnosed with severe OSA around 18 years ago and, like many, struggled at the beginning of her CPAP therapy with comfort issues. She went from dreading bedtime to now never considering sleeping without her machine for a full night’s sleep every night! Her passion was to help her fellow patients, which resulted in the formation of a charity that currently supports around 25k patients in the UK and even worldwide.   Dr. Sarah Silverman Dr. Sarah Silverman is a Stanford-trained sleep psychologist and behavioral sleep medicine specialist who’s passionate about helping others improve their sleep through science-backed and non-medication treatment approaches. Dr. Silverman is an expert in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for insomnia (CBTi), the first-line, drug-free treatment approach for adults with chronic insomnia. CBTi is an effective way to improve sleep naturally and overcome chronic insomnia without medication. Dr. Silverman is also an expert in CBT for positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, which is an effective way to help with any difficulty related to using CPAP and provide drug-free assistance with PAP therapy adjustment. Connect with Dr. Sarah @drsarahsleep on Instagram and other socials.   The Making CPAP Comfortable Toolkit is coming soon!    Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Squad series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with Sleep Apnea. https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

In honor of World Sleep Day 2025, Hollywood, Health & Society and Project Sleep hosted an exciting panel discussion at the Writers Guild of America West, “Sleepless in Hollywood? Anxiety, Insomnia & the Truth About Sleep Disorders.” The conversation on March 13th, 2025, included hearing from sleep specialists, people living with sleep disorders, and industry professionals who have thoughtfully featured sleep disorder portrayals on TV including Brent Miller, Executive Producer of Amazon’s hit show Clean Slate (which features sleep apnea) and Al Jean, Executive Producer of The Simpsons (which featured narcolepsy). TV writers and industry professionals were so engaged and fascinated to learn more about sleep and sleep disorders. We look forward to continuing our efforts to educate and inspire Hollywood toward crafting accurate and authentic storylines involving sleep and sleep disorders. Learn more about Project Sleep’s partnership with Hollywood, Health & Society for accurate sleep disorder depictions on TV: https://project-sleep.com/hollywood-sleep-initiative/   Need support? Reach out to Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/

This conversation was recorded in June 2023.What does LGBTQ+ identity have to do with sleep? More than you might think. Experiences shared by many LGBTQ+ people can affect sleep health and sleep disorders in challenging and often invisible ways. Our fantastic panel of community members shares how their identities and sleep are closely intertwined.This discussion is part of Project Sleep’s ongoing commitment to advancing sleep equity through real stories and lived experiences. Learn more about sleep equity and ways to promote healthy sleep for all: https://project-sleep.com/sleep-equity/.If you are an LGBTQ+ adult age 18 or older, we invite you to share your experiences in our LGBTQ+ Sleep Survey. Your insights will directly inform future advocacy and awareness campaigns. Take the survey and share it with your community: https://project-sleep.com/lgbtq-sleep-survey/Need support? Reach out to Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/

During Project Sleep’s Sleep In 2024, narcolepsy community leader, writer, and artist extraordinaire, Tatiana Maria Corbitt, joined us to speak to their narcolepsy journey and artistic endeavors. During this interview, Tatiana also shares one of their favorite poems about their experience with narcolepsy in the outdoors.About Tatiana:Tatiana Maria Corbitt is a writer and multidisciplinary artist living in the Pacific Northwest. They have a M.S. in Applied Biological Sciences from Arizona State University. In addition to being published on narcolepsy.sleep-disorders.net and in “Blood Sweat Tears," which can be ordered at https://www.ruggedoutdoorswoman.com/online-store/?aff=4 (please put “narcolepsy” in the purchase notes so that Tatiana can be partially credited for any sales), Tatiana recently published their first poetry book. “Wild Brujeria" includes many references to living with narcolepsy, and can be purchased at https://www.curiouscorvidpublishing.com/product-page/wild-brujeria?srsltid=AfmBOoqFtlUfh_NvqN22JKLNN5qTBeocnzqDsCwvbh4CyBAHsFXw0ICc.Tatiana is currently writing an autobiographical fictional fantasy novel starring a queer and narcoleptic ex-scientist who hikes into a new world (release date to be determined) and spends their days reading, napping, writing, painting, and hiking with their German shepherd service dog.   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/

On Tuesday, July 16th, 2024, Project Sleep proudly hosted “Awakening America: A Congressional Briefing on Sleep and Public Health” followed by a first-ever Sleep Screening event on Capitol Hill. Over 100 people attended Project Sleep’s events, with great interest from Hill staffers looking to learn more about their sleep and Project Sleep’s activities, including Project Sleep’s free national Sleep Helpline and the new SLEEP Act!   Lindsay Scola moderated the briefing and shared about being a Hill staffer earlier in her career while facing an undiagnosed sleep disorder. Dr. Michael Grandner shared exciting scientific advancements in our understanding of the importance of sleep for our overall health and well-being. Next, Dr. Kali Cyrus shared her personal story of eventually finding a sleep disorders diagnosis after many years of experiencing symptoms while in medical school and beyond. Lastly, Project Sleep’s President & CEO, Julie Flygare, JD, discussed challenges we face to educate the public and medical providers about sleep and sleep disorders. Flygare shared about what Project Sleep is doing to help improve public awareness of sleep and sleep disorders and how policymakers can play a key role as well.   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/ 

This conversation informed and educated media professionals on how to accurately cover sleep health and sleep disorders. In this conversation, people living with different sleep disorders shared insights from their journeys and what they wish they had read. Journalists toolkit and resources: https://project-sleep.com/sleep-media-center/   This broadcast was originally recorded in March 2023, during the annual Sleep In event. Learn more about the Sleep In here: project-sleep.com/sleepin/     Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/

Dr. Robert W. Turner II is a former professional football player and Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science. In this interview, Dr. Turner shared about his journey toward taking on innovative community-focused sleep research, including a new collaboration with Project Sleep & Dr. Michael Grandner to better understand Black Americans’ perspectives on sleep and sleep disorders to improve future awareness efforts.   This broadcast was originally recorded in March 2023, during the annual Sleep In event. Learn more about the Sleep In here: project-sleep.com/sleepin/     Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/

CPAP is a commonly used first-line treatment for sleep apnea, but it’s not the only option! In this Sleep Apnea Squad broadcast, we explored ALL the currently available treatments for sleep apnea and how to access them.   About our Guests: Karen Wolk Karen Wolk was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in late 2015 at the age of 44. Karen first tried using CPAP therapy for two years and had problems adapting to it.  Karen’s doctor suggested that a hypoglossal nerve stimulator could be a good treatment option for her, and she received her Inspire implant in July 2018. Following her successful implant, Karen is back to working full-time and enjoying life to the fullest. Her memory has drastically improved, and she no longer falls asleep unintentionally during the day. Karen is the mother of three adult children and three dogs. She works full-time managing a Petco store and uses her story to help others as a volunteer patient ambassador for Inspire Medical Systems. Karen is also an Advisor at the Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners. Dr. Meredith Broderick, MD Dr. Meredith Broderick is a triple board-certified sleep neurologist based in Seattle, WA.  Her passion is combining holistic, preventative, allopathic, and behavioral sleep medicine to optimize health and wellness.  In her personal life, she is passionate about the performing arts and outdoor adventure, and she has climbed some of the highest mountains on planet Earth.  She sees patients one-on-one from her boutique sleep practice, Sound Sleep Guru, and shares from her life and tips as a sleep medicine physician on Instagram and TikTok @sleepdoctormer. The Sleep Apnea Treatment Options Toolkit is coming soon!    Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Squad series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with Sleep Apnea. https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

What’s a sleep apnea test? The latest Apple Watch alerts users of possible sleep apnea. But what kind of doctor do you see to get tested for sleep apnea and what’s the difference between an at-home test versus an in-lab test? Join us to discuss all the options, insurance v. paying out of pocket, and advocating for yourself and your health. About Our Guests:   Jody Martin Jody Martin is a husband, Marine Corps veteran, and business owner. He lives in Texas with his wife of 30 years, Rachel. In 2019, Jody underwent testing in a sleep clinic and received a diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea. After a difficult start to CPAP therapy, Jody abandoned it. Later, when he tried to get help, he was told he would have to go through the entire process again, starting with his primary care doctor. It was a process he was unwilling to repeat. That was until he discovered Lofta, an online sleep apnea home testing company, and was able to go through testing, diagnosis, and getting set up on CPAP therapy entirely from home and with the support of Lofta staff. Jody is passionate about sharing his journey to encourage other people living with undiagnosed sleep apnea to learn about their testing options and get the testing, diagnosis, and treatment they need. Andrea Ramberg MS, CCSH, RPSGT Andrea Ramberg has spent 16 years in sleep medicine, learning every component of polysomnography, from clinical to administrative. She is double credentialed with her RPSGT and CCSH and holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.  Andrea is EnsoData’s Clinical Director, and she joined the team in 2020 because of her passion for bringing Sleep Medicine into the future. From 2021-2023, Andrea served as President of the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, BRPT, and her goal is to empower sleep technologists in new roles through the CCSH credential as Sleep Coaches, Sleep Educators, and Sleep Navigators.    The Sleep Apnea Testing Toolkit is coming soon!    Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Squad series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with Sleep Apnea. https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/  

Sleep apnea symptoms can fly under the radar, even in the doctor’s office. Are you questioning if you or a loved one has sleep apnea symptoms? If you are living with sleep apnea, did you experience a delay to diagnosis?   About Our Guests:   Sam Kashani, MD Dr. Sam Kashani is a board-certified Sleep Physician who practices at UCLA Health in Los Angeles. His clinical interests include chronic insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, parasomnias, pediatric sleep disorders, and the associations between sleep, mental, and metabolic health. Dr. Kashani completed his residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Southern California, where he worked with the medically underserved population of San Bernardino County with plans of becoming a primary care physician. Upon completing his residency, he chose to pursue his interest in Sleep Medicine and completed a fellowship in Sleep Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.  Dr. Kashani currently serves as President-elect of the California Sleep Society and is an enthusiastic member of Project Sleep’s expert advisory board. Bob File  Bob File is a former major league baseball player living with obstructive sleep apnea. At Jefferson University Bob was a 2004 Hall of Fame inductee and 2018 Retired Jersey Recipient was one of the strongest all-around baseball players in school history. He is only one of four Rams to have their jersey retired by the school. File was drafted in the 1998 MLB Amateur Entry Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19th round (561st overall) and went on to appear in three 1/2 seasons for the Blue Jays with 89 appearances across 111.1 innings. Currently the Sr. Director of Solution Engineering at Ledger Run, Bob provides leadership and oversees Ledger Run’s solution engineering, ensuring successful solution architecture, application delivery, and standing up enterprise tech solutions for life sciences’ business challenges. Bob is a proud husband and father who enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter.   Download the Could I Have Sleep Apnea Toolkit for more resources: https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad-could-i-have-sleep-apnea/   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Squad series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with Sleep Apnea. https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

Feeling like you might be more than “just tired?” Wondering how to talk about sleep issues with your primary care provider? You’re not alone. In Talking to Your Doctor About Sleep Issues, guests shared insights from clinical and patient perspectives on discussing sleep issues and daytime sleepiness with general practitioners, and how to get referred to a sleep specialist.   About our Guests:  Joshua Roland, MD Studied psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he developed an interest in sleep and its role in mental health and well-being. Before attending medical school, he worked in clinical research conducting studies on sleep pharmacotherapies. Dr. Roland completed his residency at Drexel University College of Medicine and then did a sleep medicine fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. He practiced sleep medicine at UCLA, and worked on guidelines for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, as well as serving on the California Sleep Society board of directors. He currently is the medical director of River at Thirty Madison.   Kristen Cascio Kristen Cascio is a clinical social worker and world traveler from Boston. She was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea at age 31. Kristen now hopes to raise awareness while encouraging others to never feel self-conscious about their diagnosis. As a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, she shares her story to increase public knowledge around sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment.   Lauren Oglesby, MPH Lauren Oglesby serves as Programs Manager for Project Sleep, and is a public health educator and advocate focused on healthcare and resource accessibility. Recently diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea at age 44 after experiencing symptoms for years, she shares her story to validate and empower others in self-advocacy and healthcare navigation.   Resources: Talking to Your Doctor About Sleep Issues Toolkit Coming Soon! Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/ Finding Your Sleep Healthcare Team: https://project-sleep.com/finding-your-sleep-healthcare-team/ Sleep Disorders Screener: https://sleephealthscreen.com/ Epworth Sleepiness Scale: https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-90 Hypersomnia Foundation's Directory of Healthcare Professionals who treat hypersomnias: 

In this Narcolepsy Nerd Alert we discuss everything from dating and early stages to long-term partnerships and marriage, with people living with narcolepsy and a supporter.   About our Guests:  Taylor Dillon is a Filipina-American NERD who loves hiking and dancing in Los Angeles. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 18, and now creates educational resources, the Narcolepsy Nerd Alert toolkits with Project Sleep. As a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Taylor shares her story to increase public understanding of narcolepsy and decrease stigma around sleep disorders. Lindsay Scola is an entertainment impact strategist and outdoor enthusiast living in Los Angeles. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at 35 and is now a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program. Lindsay shares her story of experiencing mysterious symptoms and advocating for her diagnosis to help others with sleep related issues get answers and seek the treatment they need. Bob Cloud is a retired lawyer living in Northern Vermont. He grew up in Ohio and married an Indiana girl, Margaret, with whom he has two children. His excessive sleepiness, cataplexy, and related symptoms appeared at age 33, during his first year of night law school. Bob practiced family, criminal, and general law for 30 years, during which time he learned to live with narcolepsy. As a Rising Voices speaker, Bob shares how supportive family, creative doctors and pharmaceutical providers, and understanding friends stood by him as a husband, father, lawyer, patient, and occasional fisherman with narcolepsy. Margaret Cloud has been married to Bob for 52 years. Following a career of 30 years in clinical laboratory leadership for major medical centers and national labs, she moved with Bob to northern Vermont. Margaret’s insights into supporting a spouse with narcolepsy raise issues not often discussed by individuals, families, and professionals. Jeff Discount is a father of three who enjoys a career as a sales engineer and business development consultant, and has a passion for building both his physique and meaningful relationships. He was diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 40, which provided considerable challenges in maintaining high levels of fitness and balancing important facets of his life. Jeff encourages other people with narcolepsy to connect and learn from each other, and is thrilled to share some of the ways he has overcome his own challenges with this neurological condition.   Narcolepsy + Relationships Toolkit Coming Soon!   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

Cataplexy is a unique form of muscle weakness experienced by some people with narcolepsy, but how can you recognize this symptom? What are the emotional triggers? And how do you cope with cataplexy? During Narcolepsy Nerd Alert: Coping With Cataplexy, sleep medicine physician Dr. Katie Sharkey and Rising Voices speaker Katie Mehin shared their insights.   About our Guests:  Dr. Katie Sharkey, MD, PhD is a sleep medicine physician and associate professor of Medicine and of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She earned her MD-PhD and completed a combined internal medicine and psychiatry residency at Rush University in Chicago, IL. Dr. Sharkey is a recognized expert on sleep and circadian rhythms, particularly as they relate to mood regulation and women’s health. She is an Associate Editor of Behavioral Sleep Medicine and Frontiers in Sleep, and serves on the editorial board of Sleep Health.   Katie Mehin is a project analyst for an educational tech company specializing in empowering adult learners to thrive in higher education. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two elementary-age sons. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy as a college sophomore, almost five years after the initial onset of her symptoms. As a trained speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Katie hopes to spread awareness of this neurological sleep disorder to help others in obtaining more timely diagnoses.   Download theCoping With Cataplexy Toolkit for more resources: https://project-sleep.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Coping-with-Cataplexy-Toolkit.pdf Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/ The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

Wondering if you or a loved one could have narcolepsy? Sleep medicine specialist Dr. Lindsay McCullough, MD joined us to discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment and share her own journey to being diagnosed with narcolepsy.   About Our Guest:  Dr. Lindsay McCullough, MD is a sleep medicine specialist, assistant professor of sleep medicine, and associate program director of the sleep medicine fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. After struggling with unexplained daytime sleepiness and misunderstanding from those around her for ten years, she was diagnosed with type 2 narcolepsy without cataplexy as a fourth-year medical student. Dr. McCullough shared her story as a sleep physician living with narcolepsy in the Fall 2022 issue of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s member magazine, Montage. Download the Could I Have NArcolepsy? Toolkit Toolkit for more resources: https://project-sleep.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Could-I-Have-Narcolepsy-Toolkit-Final-2024.pdf   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

What’s your creative outlet? In this Narcolepsy Nerd Alert, an incredible panel of artists from around the world share their work and discuss the relationship between creative expression and living with narcolepsy.   About Our Guests:   Ulrike Nordquist is a mother of two, photographer, painter, and Rising Voices speaker living in Sweden. She developed type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy at the age of 38 after receiving the Pandemrix H1N1 vaccine. During the years coping with her new situation, she made her passion for painting and photography into a business that fit her schedule. Ulrike conceptualizes her way of thinking: “I use self-luminous colors to lighten up dark parts in my paintings!” Silence Hands is a mother of two and a multidisciplinary artist from Tennessee. She was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy at age 35 and wishes to motivate others to listen closely to what their bodies are telling them. As a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Silence shares her experiences with others to improve awareness of narcolepsy and hopes to undo misconceptions of this neurological condition. Shu Horiike is a freelance designer, web engineer, and digital art director living in Japan. His artwork expresses the specific feelings of narcolepsy and hypersomnia, with the fear of memories being sliced out, anxiety of shaking vision, distorted sounds, and feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of others. Shu is a member of  the Japan Narcolepsy Association, and hopes to use his art to raise awareness of narcolepsy in Japan. Jonathan Correa is a photography hobbyist and outdoor enthusiast. He was diagnosed with narcolepsy in 2014, more than 10 years after initial symptoms. Jonathan is a lifelong resident of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Dana Harel lives in Israel with her husband and two children. She is a developmental psychologist and an artist. She was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy at age 34, after living with symptoms since she was 18. Her artwork primarily involves paper craft, scrapbooking and mixed media.  Jayden Rowland is an art major at Oklahoma Community College. They were diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy at age 15 and have been raising awareness ever since. As an artist and speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Jayden conveys the struggles of not being taken seriously, achieving a diagnosis, and their ongoing battle with depression and self-acceptance.   Download the Narcolepsy + Art Toolkit Toolkit for more resources: https://project-sleep.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Narcolepsy-and-Art-Toolkit.pdf   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/<...

Kim Leatherman works with preschoolers with autism and is a health and wellness coach. She was diagnosed with type 2 narcolepsy without cataplexy in her early 40s, but has been experiencing symptoms since her late teens. In sharing her story as a Rising Voices speaker, she hopes to shed light on this invisible sleep disorder and the impacts of living with it.   The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories from people living with sleep disorders around the world. At Project Sleep, we believe in the power of storytelling to raise awareness and break down stigma. This is why we train people with sleep disorders on how to share their stories through the Rising Voices training program. To request a Rising Voices speaker for your conference or apply for an upcoming training program, visit: https://project-sleep.com/rising-voices/   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Please note: this audio was originally recorded in 2020. For up-to-date facts about narcolepsy treatment options: https://project-sleep.com/facts-about-narcolepsy/

Kristyn Beecher is a storyteller and news producer from Houston, Texas. She was diagnosed with type 2 narcolepsy without cataplexy at age 24, but had lived with symptoms for many years before that. As a speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, she tells her own story and hopes to let others living with narcolepsy know they aren’t alone.   The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories from people living with sleep disorders around the world. At Project Sleep, we believe in the power of storytelling to raise awareness and break down stigma. This is why we train people with sleep disorders on how to share their stories through the Rising Voices training program. To request a Rising Voices speaker for your conference or apply for an upcoming training program, visit: https://project-sleep.com/rising-voices/   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Please note: this audio was originally recorded in 2020. For up-to-date facts about narcolepsy treatment options: https://project-sleep.com/facts-about-narcolepsy/

Katie Williamsen is an entrepreneur and web designer. She has lived with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy for over six years and, by sharing her story, aims to raise awareness of this life-changing condition.   The Rising Voices Series features a variety of first-hand stories from people living with sleep disorders around the world. At Project Sleep, we believe in the power of storytelling to raise awareness and break down stigma. This is why we train people with sleep disorders on how to share their stories through the Rising Voices training program. To request a Rising Voices speaker for your conference or apply for an upcoming training program, visit: https://project-sleep.com/rising-voices/   Project Sleep's Sleep Helpline: https://project-sleep.com/helpline/   Please note: this audio was originally recorded in 2020. For up-to-date facts about narcolepsy treatment options: https://project-sleep.com/facts-about-narcolepsy/