What if your political stress is quietly wrecking your sleep — and your relationships? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 22, 2026 · 40 MIN

What if your political stress is quietly wrecking your sleep — and your relationships?

from Sleep is My Waking Passion · host Alison Kole

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Beth Ann Malow — neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and 2026 AASM Sleep Health Advocate Award recipient — to discuss her bold new book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt.We explore how outrage-driven culture, social media algorithms, and the 24-hour news cycle are affecting our mental health, cardiovascular risk, and sleep quality. From "doomscrolling insomnia" to fractured family relationships, we dig into the real consequences of living in constant political tension — and the practical, evidence-informed strategies that help.You'll learn how to break free from the outrage cycle, protect your sleep from stress and media overload, rebuild relationships even when you strongly disagree, and communicate with empathy without compromising your values.We also tackle daylight saving time: why the science strongly supports permanent standard time, and why public buy-in is so hard — a masterclass in science communication and listening across differences.If you've ever lost sleep after watching the news, avoided conversations because of politics, or felt stuck between speaking up and protecting your peace, this episode is for you.About Dr. Beth Ann Malow: Neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and former director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, Dr. Malow is a national leader in sleep health, autism research, and civil discourse. She co-authored Beyond the Politics of Contempt, a practical guide to bridging divides while standing firm in your beliefs.Resources:Book: Beyond the Politics of Contempt (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more)Website: https://beyondthepoliticsofcontempt.comSubstack: https://togethernow.substack.comIf this episode resonates, share it with someone you care about — even someone you disagree with. And subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of sleep, health, and real life.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 22, 2026

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Beth Ann Malow — neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and 2026 AASM Sleep Health Advocate Award recipient — to discuss her bold new book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt. We explore how outrage-driven culture, social media algorithms, and the 24-hour news cycle are affecting our mental health, cardiovascular risk, and sleep quality. From "doomscrolling insomnia" to fractured family relationships, we dig into the real consequences of living in constant ...

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What if your political stress is quietly wrecking your sleep — and your relationships?

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