Sleep is My Waking Passion

n this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Jasmine Steele, a 43-year-old mother of three, writer, author, U.S. Air Force veteran, and owner of Steele Intentional LLC, a life coaching platform. Jasmine's mission to help others heal and step into their authentic selves began with her own health struggle—a battle with sleep apnea that nearly cost her life. What she thought was a single issue turned out to be a complex puzzle, with overlapping factors leading her to her lowest point.

Through three years of research, Jasmine discovered that sleep apnea was merely a symptom of a much larger issue affecting many others like her. Now, with a newfound understanding and commitment to raising awareness, she has joined forces with Dr. Monica Mallampalli through the Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners (ASAP). Jasmine is a proud member of their Community Leadership Council, where she continues to advocate for education and awareness about sleep apnea, helping others recognize its dangers and take steps to protect their health.

Join us as we dive into Jasmine’s story of survival, discovery, and her mission to create a ripple of change.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steele.intentional

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steele.intentional

LinkedIn: 

https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/steele-intentional 

Welcome to today's episode! Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown returns! She is a triple board-certified pediatric sleep and pulmonary medicine physician known for her expertise in pediatric sleep disorders. As the founder and CEO of RestfulSleepMD and The Restful Sleep Place, Dr. Afolabi-Brown provides holistic and comprehensive sleep care for children and young adults, addressing everything from physical to psychosocial sleep challenges.

She completed her sleep medicine fellowship at UPenn, where she also served as an associate professor of clinical pediatrics. And now, we can proudly add “author” to her list of accomplishments! Her highly anticipated book, Beyond Tired: A Sleep Physician’s Guide to Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems for Good, launched on October 8. This is more than just another parenting book—it's a family-centered blueprint for improving sleep from birth through adulthood, packed with evidence-based advice and a practical guide to tackling sleep disorders.

Links: 

Website : restfulsleepmd.com
LinkedIn: @drfunkebrown

To purchase Dr. Funke's Beyond Tired book: https://beyondtiredbook.com/

Dr. Caissa Troutman, MD is the Physician Founder of WEIGHT reMDy, a Direct Care Wellness practice in central Pennsylvania, focusing on Weight Wellness and Midlife Empowerment. As a quadruple board-certified physician (Obesity, Family Medicine, Culinary Medicine, Menopause), she offers a holistic, individualized approach to sustainable weight loss using the 4M Pillar Foundation Plan, integrating nutrition, physical activity, mindset, and FDA approved medications for weight. 

Dr. Troutman also specializes in guiding women through perimenopause and menopause, providing science-backed, FDA-approved Hormone Therapy for symptom relief. Her approach is rooted in empathy and personal experience, ensuring that every woman feels heard and understood. With her brain-based method, patients learn to manage hunger and cravings, leading to lasting results and a better quality of life. Her practice is a safe, judgment-free space where women can reclaim their health and embrace midlife with resilience and vitality.

Website - https://www.weightremdy.net/

Linked in -http://www.linkedin.com/in/caissa-troutman-md-dabom-ccms-a44225202

FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092176687469

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@WEIGHTreMDyinPA

Bio: Ellen Joseph, PhD (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Health Psychologist working at GI Psychology in Virginia. She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver and has trained at numerous academic health centers across the country, including Cooper University Health Care, the University of Texas Health Science Center, and Denver Health.

Dr. Joseph has a wealth of experience working in integrated medical settings and has a passion for treating patients of all ages with chronic and acute medical conditions. She particularly enjoys treating patients with gastrointestinal disorders given the associated stigma and significant impact on valued areas of their lives. Dr. Joseph's passion is helping patients reclaim control over their lives and enhance overall satisfaction and meaning.

Instagram: @gipsychusa

Linked In: GI Psychology

Website: www.gipsychology.com

    Dr. Sofia is a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist. She trained at the prestigious Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and served as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, she practices at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, where she leads the Pediatric Sleep Service and the Aerodigestive Program. A core faculty member of the ACGME-accredited pediatric residency program and the World Sleep Academy, Dr. Sofia is dedicated to global clinical research, health advocacy, and medical education.

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Emma Cooksey is a writer, speaker, and patient advocate. She was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea at the age of 30, after more than a decade of unexplained health issues. In 2020, Emma launched a weekly podcast, “Sleep Apnea Stories”  to break down stereotypes of sleep apnea while also raising awareness of symptoms and treatment options.  In 2023, Emma released "The 6-Week CPAP Solutions Workbook" to help new and struggling CPAP users find solutions to their problems using CPAP.

In 2021, Emma became the first person with sleep apnea to complete Project Sleep’s Rising Voices speaker training. For the past several years, Emma has shared her story and given a much-needed patient perspective at conferences including SLEEP 2024, the Philadelphia Sleep Conference, and the North American Dental Sleep Medicine Symposium.

In her current role as Sleep Apnea Program Manager, Emma will run Project Sleep’s brand new Sleep Apnea Education and Awareness Program. She will develop and implement new awareness and educational initiatives, events, and activities, to empower people with sleep apnea to seek diagnosis, support, and care.

Social media accounts for shownotes etc:

https://www.instagram.com/sleepapneastories

"The 6-Week CPAP Solutions Workbook" available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/03HOMtLR

https://www.instagram.com/project_sleep

https://project-sleep.com/helpline/

Season 5 of Sleep Is My Waking Passion is launching on September 11th! Join me as I chat with experts in sleep, physical therapy, and much more! This will be a women's health-focused season, packed with essential topics like sleep in perimenopause, hormonal changes, pelvic floor health, travel tips, and tips for optimizing sleep with new additions like kids or pets in the home. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the show, there's something for everyone. Don't forget to tune in, like, rate, and share!  

Dr. Sarah Silverman is a Stanford-trained holistic sleep specialist, insomnia expert, and wellness consultant who's passionate about sleep health and wellness. Dr. Sarah uses a personalized, mindfulness-based approach to help improve sleep problems. Notably, she is an expert in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for insomnia (CBTi), the first-line, drug-free approach for adults with chronic insomnia. CBTi is an effective way to improve sleep naturally and overcome chronic insomnia without medication. Dr. Sarah is the founder and CEO of Sleep & Shine, a boutique sleep telehealth practice offering personalized and holistic sleep services. She is also the founder and CEO of ZzzHaus (“Sleep House”), an online health consulting agency, which provides concierge holistic wellness coaching and consulting services. As a company focused on women’s sleep and circadian health optimization, ZzzHaus uses cutting-edge epigenetics testing, circadian science, and evidence-based protocols to maximize performance. Connect with Dr. Sarah @drsarahsleep on socials.

 I am thrilled to have Dr. Mary E. Burns share her perspective on sleep changes in women, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Burns is a highly accomplished, board-certified orthodontist with over 40 years of experience in the dental field. She has spent 26 years in private practice, specializing in adult orthodontics, interdisciplinary care, and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

In this episode, we highlight the increased risk of sleep apnea in women and the importance of addressing sleep quality. Dr. Burns explains various orthodontic approaches to airway expansion and emphasizes the need to consider sleep disorders beyond apnea events. They also discuss the underreporting of sleep symptoms in women and the need for a paradigm shift in sleep medicine. 

Join me for an insightful and candid conversation with Dr. Ahmad Mahmoud, MD, who is both a friend and colleague. He is an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist who trained at University of Pennsylvania and is affiliated with Hackensack Meridian Health and the founder of the INSPIRE program at a multispecialty practice in northern New Jersey. In this episode, Dr. Mahmoud candidly discusses Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation as a promising alternative to CPAP treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about innovative solutions for managing sleep apnea from an expert in the field!