🎙️ Sleep isn’t just about getting enough hours—it’s about completing the brain’s natural cycles. In this episode, we break down how sleep stages work, why REM sleep is essential for emotional and cognitive health, and how key brain areas like the hippocampus, pons, and pineal gland coordinate restorative sleep. We also explore the hidden connection between insomnia and sleep apnea, why many sleep aids sedate without healing, and what happens when breathing, timing, or the nervous system disrupts the sleep cycle. This is a science-grounded conversation on why so many people feel exhausted despite sleeping—and what truly supports restorative rest.