Your Sleep Isn’t Broken — The System Is / AI Series Ep 5 / The Functional Code Podcast

Sleep isn’t something you “try harder” at — it’s something you fix at the system level.In this episode of The Functional Code, Dr. Addy and Dr. Jace break down how AI, wearables, and modern physiology are reshaping how we understand sleep, recovery, pain, and long-term health.This isn’t another episode about sleep hacks, supplements, or forcing yourself to bed earlier.Instead, we explore:-Why sleep is the output of multiple biological control systems-How AI wearables like WHOOP are changing awareness, not behavior-The real reason people feel exhausted even after “8 hours in bed”-How stress, pain, nervous system state, and circadian timing interactW-hen AI helps… and when trusting your body matters more than dataDr. Addy explains why sleep is like charging your phone — you don’t push harder, you fix the charger, cable, outlet, temperature, and background processes.Dr. Jace shares real-world experience using AI wearables to identify:-Temperature sensitivity-Late meals and caffeine timing-Seasonal sleep changes-Stress patterns-Recovery trends over years, not daysYou’ll also learn:-How sleep deprivation increases pain sensitivity-Why insomnia, chronic pain, and nervous system dysregulation overlap-What recent AI sleep research is revealing about future disease risk-How to run a 7-day sleep experiment using AI without overwhelm-This episode is for anyone who:-Feels tired despite “doing everything right”-Uses (or wants to use) sleep trackers without anxiety-Wants better recovery, performance, and longevity-Suspects stress or pain is driving poor sleep-Wants clarity, not more sleep rulesEpisode: 107AI Series: Ep 5Dr. Jace Nybo D.C. Dr. Addy Knutson D.C.⏱Guide: Jump to the section you need most 👇00:00 – Sleep explained as a system (not effort)01:00 – Why this AI sleep episode is different02:00 – Using wearables to detect real sleep patterns04:00 – Time in bed vs actual sleep quality06:00 – Eye-tracking and nervous system downshifting08:00 – Why sleep “hacks” fail most people10:00 – Journaling, caffeine, stress & AI pattern recognition14:00 – Homeostatic sleep drive (the pressure tank analogy)17:00 – Circadian rhythm, light, food, and consistency20:00 – Using AI to stabilize your sleep-wake cycle23:00 – Temperature, breathing, pain, and autonomic balance25:00 – Fight, flight, freeze & chronic exhaustion26:00 – Sleep deprivation, pain sensitivity, and perception30:00 – AI sleep research & disease prediction (Stanford / Nature)33:00 – Building your personal sleep dashboard36:00 – The 7-day AI-guided sleep experiment40:00 – AI coach vs human coach (what AI misses)44:00 – Final reflections + how to start tonight🎧 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3aY5zkhwg5Rzk2q33cbIlf🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-functional-code-podcast/id1754585557📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ik_6wOJin5IxtZXvHdurw💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATIONWhat has actually improved your sleep — not in theory, but in real life?Wearables? Breathwork? Temperature? Timing? Pain management?Drop a comment below 👇If this episode helped you, share it with someone who’s exhausted and doesn’t know why.⚠️ DISCLAIMERThe content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical concerns.