Stefan Underwood on The Value Proposition of Sleep Part 1: Women’s Health, Perimenopause and Menopause Journey

Tired of being told sleep is good for you? Yeah, us too. We already know. The real question is: why aren't we protecting it?In this episode, we sit down with Stefan Underwood, Senior Vice President of Methodology at Exos, a human performance company that has worked with elite athletes, Special Operations Forces, and Fortune 500 leaders. Today Stefan is going to completely reframe the way you think about sleep. Not with guilt. Not with generic advice. But with a compelling, personal reason to finally fight for it.Because sleep isn't just rest. It impacts every single cell and system in your body. And in perimenopause, when your hormones are already working against you, what's happening (or not happening) while you sleep matters more than ever.In this episode:How to find your personal "value proposition" for sleepWhat REM sleep does for your emotional regulation Why the woman who's showing up to the gym three days a week and not seeing results may be missing this one critical pieceWhy perimenopause is the exact wrong time to sacrifice sleep and what's really at stake when you doThe "mom tax" and why the invisible mental load women carry makes sleep deprivation even more costlyThis is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Stefan. Consider this your wake-up call.This is part of our Endy Reclaim Your Rest Sleep Series - helping you wake up rested, focused, and ready to take on whatever the day brings. Endy is Canada’s leading online mattress brand, trusted by over 1 million sleepers. Endy’s mattresses are designed to keep you cool and supported all night long, so you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on your day. With three comfort options—plush, medium-firm, and firm—you can find the perfect fit for your body and sleep style. And the best part? Endy delivers straight to your door, so upgrading your sleep is simpler than ever.Use Code THISISPERIMENOPAUSE100 at endy.com for $100 off your new mattress.Connect with Mikelle & Michelle at This is PerimenopauseSubscribe to our SubstackBecome a TIP InsiderEmail us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.Follow This Is Perimenopause on InstagramFollow This Is Perimenopause on FacebookStefan Underwood BioOver the past two decades, Stefan has supported the performance goals of pro athletes, elite military operators, and leaders within many Fortune 100 organizations. His passion lies in unlocking potential within individuals, teams, and organizations to help them not only perform at their best but to do so sustainably.Stefan is currently the Senior Vice President of methodology at Exos, an evidence-based coaching company that supports the pursuit of peak performance in the moments that matter most in sport, work, and life. He leads a diverse transdisciplinary team of subject matter experts spanning the fields of neuroscience, psychology, sports science, nutrition, coaching, and data analytics. Together, they seek to develop whole-human solutions for the puzzles found within human performance.Building on his roots in exercise science, Stefan has also completed a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Links for this episodeExos on Instagramteamexos.comBreath: The New Science of a Lost ArtBabelio White Noise Sound MachineBlackout Sleep Mask