187 The Science of Sleep High Performers Swear By, From Special Forces To CEOs | Dr Jemma King

The best performers in the world have found a competitive edge that's completely free. You can use it too, and it starts tonight.When Dr Jemma King put wearables on Australia's Special Forces in 2017, the culture was "sleep when I'm dead". Within months, those same soldiers were showing off their recovery scores and competing over who slept the most. Not because they went soft. Because the data showed sleep was making them faster, sharper and safer, and elite performers chase anything that does that.Jemma has spent a decade measuring what great sleep unlocks in people whose decisions matter: Special Operations Command, Olympic swimmers, CEOs. Her conclusion is genuinely exciting. Sharp is recoverable at any age, and it doesn't take supplements or gadgets. It takes a handful of deliberate habits the world's best are already using.Jemma introduces you to the midnight librarian who explains your 3am wake-ups (and how to give her the night off), the express bus that takes you straight to deep sleep, and how to build your own Sleep First formula around your biology and your life.Your upgrade is waiting. 00:00 It's 3am. You're awake again.02:05 Two experts, one room at last04:20 Meet your midnight librarian: why you wake at 3am07:55 The other 3am suspects: temperature, gut bugs, sugar and alcohol12:22 The welcome practice: making peace with 3am15:04 "Mother nature is like the mafia"16:36 Why the pub sometimes beats the pillow19:01 Wearables: who should buy one, who should bin one20:57 The traders who made more money reading their own heartbeat22:39 The five metrics worth tracking25:17 Catch the express bus: the case for sleep consistency29:26 The DEC2 gene and the ruthlessly selfish habits of the world's best32:19 How Special Forces went from "sleep when I'm dead" to sleep competitions36:35 The pattern that made a stress scientist write a sleep book38:14 Your Sleep First formula40:20 Burnout, insecurity and the six whys44:27 Kids, dogs and the family bed50:53 The spoon test: are you sleep deprived?52:24 Bed temperature, Eight Sleep and why the news wrecks your night55:37 Why tired brains see threats everywhere57:23 Testosterone, saunas and protecting the crown jewels1:02:14 Sleep First and where to find Dr Jemma KingLearn more about Dr Jemma: https://jemmakingbio-pa.com.au/ Buy a copy of Dr Jemma's new book: https://shorturl.at/v3Mt7Listen to the previous episode with Dr Jemma: https://performanceintelligence.transistor.fm/episodes/44-dr-jemma-king-getting-kidnapped-in-russia-working-as-a-stunt-double-and-performing-under-pressure Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at [email protected] today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcastIf you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.