Sleep Apnea Nearly Killed Me: ‘Out of Breath’ Documentary (with NJ Sleep Doctor Dr. Alison Kole & George Nierenberg)

What if the thing quietly stealing your energy, memory, and even your life was happening while you sleep? In this powerful episode of Sleep Is My Waking Passion, Dr. Alison Kole sits down with legendary documentary filmmaker George T. Nierenberg to explore his deeply personal sleep apnea journey and his new film, Out of Breath—the first feature documentary to put the human cost of sleep apnea front and center.You’ll hear raw, intimate stories from patients and families who filmed their own lives over two years, from falling asleep at the wheel with loved ones in the car to marriages, parenting, careers, and mental health slowly unraveling—then rebuilding—with effective treatment.We dig into why up to 80% of people with sleep apnea remain undiagnosed, the fear and stigma around CPAP, evolving options like oral appliances and airway-focused dentistry, and how reframing sleep as the foundation of health (not just a “pillar”) can literally save lives.🎬 Watch the film: sleepapneafilm.com👩‍⚕️ Learn more about Dr. Kole’s work: AskTheSleepMD.comIf this conversation sounds like you—or someone you love—share this episode, leave a review, and be the nudge that finally gets them diagnosed and treated.Suggested YouTube tags/keywords (optional to add below the fold):sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP, oral appliance therapy, Out of Breath documentary, George Nierenberg, Dr Alison Kole, Sleep Is My Waking Passion, undiagnosed sleep apnea, snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, falling asleep at the wheel, sleep apnea documentary, sleep doctor, sleep medicine, New Jersey sleep specialist, airway dentistry