86: Sleep Science Today with Andrew Colsky - Episode 86

86: Sleep Science Today with Andrew Colsky - Episode 86

What drives someone to seek a life with decent sleep instead of endless exhaustion? This chat between host Andrew Kolsky and BetterSleep general manager Natalie Walton pulls back the curtain on how everyday people, especially parents and busy professionals, can finally get some rest without relying on heavy pills or pricey gimmicks. Natalie shares how years of crippling fatigue after having her son, along with his undiagnosed sleep apnoea, pushed her into a five‑year quest to understand sleep.

She talks openly about being told she was "supposed to feel exhausted" during the pandemic, only to later learn she was severely anaemic and needed iron infusions. Her son’s sleep apnoea and CPAP treatment add another layer, showing how complex sleep issues can be even in children. From there, the conversation turns to the BetterSleep app.

You’ll hear how people use hundreds of sounds, meditations, hypnosis and even CBT‑I content as both a "painkiller" for those wide‑awake nights and a "vitamin" to build healthier patterns over time. One of the most-loved features is the custom sound mixer – think crickets plus washing machine plus white noise if that’s your thing. Crucially for anyone in recovery or working on their health, the focus stays on evidence-based tools rather than quick fixes.

Natalie explains "consumer‑grade rigour" as building accessible products that still sit on solid science, backed by sleep researchers and doctors. The pair also tackle melatonin misuse, unhelpful “sleep hacks”, and why daytime habits, caffeine, alcohol and screen use matter far more than most people realise. As Natalie puts it, "If you're looking to improve your sleep, I say better sleep starts during the day.

It starts with intentionality." If your nights feel broken and your days foggy, this conversation might nudge you to ask: what small, intentional changes could you start making today?