Episode 38: How to Tend to Your Winter Rest

This episode of All Things Vegas features Dagny Deutschman and Dr. Michael Smith from Natura Health and Wellness in Missoula. They explore a holistic approach to sleep for helping professionals. They define sleep as a "slow to form vital sign" that requires curiosity and compassion rather than judgment, noting that patterns emerge over weeks rather than single nights. The discussion highlights how seasonal light changes—particularly at the 45th parallel—impact hormonal balances. A key focus is the "chronotype," or the biological preference for morning or night activity, Finally, they address Seasonal Affective Disorder by reframing winter as a "hermit time" for introspection, art, and even exploring dream content. Dagny Deutchman is the owner and founder of The Art of Rest. They are a nervous system professional who works from a top down, and bottom up approach to the nervous system specializing in not only in stabilizing a nervous system through sleep, rest, and habit formation, but also how to access nervous system health through connection, creativity, wonder, and awe. Dr. Smith received his medical training from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Before that, he completed a master’s degree in New York City where his research focused on epigenetics and neuroscience. Dr. Smith has previously filled roles in the biotechnology and medical devices sector and various community organizations. For more information about Dr. Smith, visit his personal page at www.drmichaelsmithnd.com. For more information about Doctors White and Smith, and their practice at Natura Health and Wellness, visit www.natura.health Special Guests: Dagney Deutchman and Michael Smith.