Sleep. We all need it. Most of us aren’t getting enough of it. And somehow we still treat it like an optional side quest instead of basic human maintenance.

In this episode of This Way In, Amy and Brittney tumble headfirst into the strange, fascinating world of sleep. From circadian rhythms and sleep hygiene to stress dreams, lucid dreaming, REM cycles, and the very real effects poor sleep can have on your brain and body, this conversation wanders through both the science and the deeply human side of what happens when we close our eyes.

Amy's Note: At the time we were recording we were having some technicians here installing our furnace. So I had to stop a few times to talk to them, and also the little dog barked incessantly. I tried to cut her out, but it was only possible when I was not talking

They talk about:

· Why sleep affects far more than just energy levels

· The connection between sleep and long-term brain health

· Sleep routines that actually work in real life

· Why some people are night owls and others aren’t

· Dream symbolism, lucid dreaming, and those “wait… was that real?” dreams

· Emotional dreams that stick with you all day

· Why alarms are basically tiny panic attacks

· The myth of “catching up” on sleep

· Dogs who believe breakfast should happen at 5:42 AM sharp

There’s science. There’s woo. There’s laughter. There’s existential dread about dementia. Basically: classic This Way In.

And yes... there is also a very vocal tiny dog making her opinions known throughout portions of the recording. At the time, Amy was also dealing with furnace technicians in the house, so despite editing efforts, some background chaos survived the final cut. Honestly? It feels on-brand for a conversation about disrupted sleep.

So fluff your pillow, silence your notifications (or don’t, we discuss that too), and join us as we wander This Way In… to your sleep.

This episode was recorded on February 23, 2026 and released on June 24, 2026.

If you prefer to consume your podcasts visually, we also offer video versions on YouTube @thiswayinpodcast or at our website at https://www.thiswayinpodcast.com

Chapter Markers

00:00:20 Intro

00:01:19 How Important is Sleep

00:12:16 Chronic Lack of Sleep

00:14:18 Sleep Hygiene & Circadian Rhythms

00:19:23 Why Teenagers Need More Sleep

00:21:52 Sleep Cycles, Alarms & Waking Up Groggy

00:29:03 Dreams, Lucid Dreaming & Emotional Processing

00:43:57 Sleep & Brain Health

00:53:01 Getting Your Circadian Rhythm Back on Track

00:56:02 Tools for Falling Asleep

01:04:31 Sleep Paralysis

01:08:49 Dreams vs. Visitations

01:13:33 Wrapping Up

Disclaimer

This Way In is a conversation about mental health and wellbeing, not a replacement for therapy. Listening does not create a therapist–client relationship. Please never delay, disregard, or change professional recommendations because of something you hear here.

Credits:

Co-Produced and Hosted by: Brittney Baxter Dameron and Amy Lotsberg

Production, Artwork, and Editing: Amy Lotsberg at Collected Sounds Media, LLC.

Theme song. “The Journey” by Melissa West and Mixed/Mastered by Pink Flamingo Home Studio

Thank you for listening, take care of yourselves. We’ll see you next time!