Circadian Rhythms Explained: Why Timing Matters for Health – EP 28 w/ Dr. Erik Herzog

from REM Reward · host REM Reward

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Dr. Erik Herzog, a leading circadian biologist at Washington University in St. Louis. The conversation explores how the brain keeps time, what circadian rhythms actually are, and why daily timing matters for sleep, learning, and health. Dr. Herzog explains why teenagers naturally want to stay up later, how screens and melatonin affect developing sleep systems, and what research reveals about circadian disruption and diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. They also discuss cutting-edge work on brain tumors and synthetic gene circuits that align with circadian time, offering a glimpse into the future of sleep-aware medicine. This episode is a deep but accessible look at why when things happen in the body can be just as important as what happens.LINKS:https://biology.wustl.edu/people/erik-herzogConnect with REM Reward:► Website: remreward.org► Instagram: @rem_rewardListen to our podcasts on other platforms and make sure to subscribe/follow!• ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠•⁠ Spotify Podcasts⁠• ⁠Google Podcasts⁠•⁠ YouTube⁠For more tips, check our website at remreward.org.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 16, 2026

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Circadian Rhythms Explained: Why Timing Matters for Health – EP 28 w/ Dr. Erik Herzog

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