• Narcolepsy Roadmap - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 1
    Jul 16 2022

    Navigating narcolepsy doesn’t come with a roadmap, but it should. What do you wish you’d known at diagnosis? In this episode, we break down the narcolepsy journey into the medical experience, social experience and internal experience.

    Download the Narcolepsy Roadmap Toolkit: https://bit.ly/narcolepsy-roadmap-toolkit

    The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. https://project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/
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    37 mins
  • New + Upcoming Narcolepsy Treatments - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 2
    Jul 25 2022

    It’s no secret that the prospect of novel narcolepsy treatment options gives hope to many people living with narcolepsy. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Anne Marie Morse to discuss current treatment options, what’s on the horizon in drug development, and how people with narcolepsy can get involved by participating in clinical trials.

    About Our Guest:

    Dr. Anne Marie Morse is a board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric neurologist specializing in sleep medicine at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in neurology with special qualification in child neurology.

    Download the New + Upcoming Narcolepsy Treatments Toolkit for more resources: bit.ly/new-upcoming-narcolepsy-treatments

    The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. https://project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

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    50 mins
  • Becoming a Narcolepsy Advocate - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 3
    Aug 1 2022

    So you’d like to advocate for narcolepsy, but aren’t sure where to start? In this episode, we are joined by two incredible narcolepsy advocates, Ana E. Lara and Matthew Horsnell. Together, we talk about the power of YOUR story and break down narcolepsy advocacy into three categories: self-advocacy, raising your voice publicly, and legislative advocacy.



    Ana E. Lara is a poet and stay-at-home mom who is passionate about writing. She is a person with narcolepsy, who advocates for sleep health and serves on the board of directors for Project Sleep.

    Matthew Horsnell is a father of three and science nerd living with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy. He is a Rising Voices of Narcolepsy trained speaker and a facilitator for Wake Up Narcolepsy online small groups.

    Download the Becoming a Narcolepsy Advocate Toolkit for more resources: https://bit.ly/becoming-a-narcolepsy-advocate


    The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. https://project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Narcolepsy & Brain Fog - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 4
    Aug 8 2022

    Is brain fog a symptom of narcolepsy? In this episode, we talk with pediatric sleep neurology expert, Dr. Kiran Maski and Rising Voices trained speaker, Shannon Burkoth about some more invisible and under-recognized aspects of living with narcolepsy, including Brain Fog or Mental Fogginess, Automatic Behavior, Micro-sleeps, and Mood Instability. We also discuss current research and tips for managing and communicating about Brain Fog.



    About Our Guests:

    Shannon Burkoth was diagnosed with Narcolepsy Type 1 in 2010. She has been a trained speaker with the Rising Voices program since 2017, and advocates for both narcolepsy and rare disease.

    Dr. Kiran Maski is a sleep medicine physician at Boston Children's Hospital specializing in narcolepsy and sleep problems of children. She is also a sleep researcher, and her work on improving the diagnosis of narcolepsy has been published in SLEEP, the official journal of the Sleep Research Society.

    Download the Narcolepsy & Brain Fog Toolkit for more resources: bit.ly/brain-fog-toolkit


    The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. https://project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

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    36 mins
  • Friends + Family + Narcolepsy - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 5
    Aug 15 2022

    How can I get my friends and family to understand narcolepsy? It can be hard to know how to explain narcolepsy and ask for help. And even the most thoughtful friends and family members may not be sure how best to support the person with narcolepsy’s experience. We’ve enlisted two amazing narcolepsy advocates and dear friends, Lauren Thomas and Anne Taylor, to discuss this important topic.

    About Our Guests:

    Lauren Thomas is a person living with narcolepsy with cataplexy. She was diagnosed in 2019 after a long journey with misdiagnosed sleepiness.

    Anne Taylor is a nurse and mother of a daughter living with narcolepsy. Anne also serves on the Board of Directors for Project Sleep.

    Download the Friends + Family + Narcolepsy Toolkit for more resources: bit.ly/friends-family-narcolepsy-toolkit

    The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

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    39 mins
  • Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 6
    Aug 22 2022

    In this episode, we take a closer look at Hollywood’s portrayals of narcolepsy to better understand why they matter and how we can play a role in shaping future portrayals of narcolepsy in the entertainment industry. We are joined by Al Jean, the Executive Producer and head writer for The Simpsons, and Anna Marr, a Los Angeles-based actor, writer, and voiceover artist originally from Ohio.

    About our Guests:

    AL Jean has been working on The Simpsons for 32 years and has received nine Emmy awards and two Peabody Awards for his work on the show. He developed Season 27, Episode 1 of The Simpsons, when Homer Simpson is diagnosed with narcolepsy.

    Anna Marr is the co-founder of Bluelaces Theater, a nonprofit organization that creates interactive multi-sensory theater for individuals with developmental disabilities. Anna developed a dark comedy short film called "Walking Through Peanut Butter" based on her experience navigating New York's comedy scene with narcolepsy. She is also a Rising Voices of Narcolepsy advocate who aims to change how the media represents this chronic neurological disorder.

    Download the Narcolepsy Goes to Hollywood Toolkit for more resources: bit.ly/narcolepsy-goes-to-hollywood-toolkit

    The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/

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    49 mins
  • Napping + Narcolepsy - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 7
    Aug 29 2022
    Is napping an unwelcome symptom of narcolepsy or a helpful treatment? In today’s episode, we speak with Dr. Luis Ortiz and Mary Murray about how we make space for naps in our busy daytime lives, especially in a culture where sleeping is laziness or weakness. About our Guests: Luis E. Ortiz, MD is a pediatric sleep specialist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Living with narcolepsy himself, Dr. Ortiz offers invaluable insights from both a medical perspective and first-hand lived experience. Mary Murray is a teacher and mother living with idiopathic hypersomnia in Los Angeles, CA. Mary is also a Rising Voices of Narcolepsy advocate and her powerful essay “Nap Roulette” is published on Project Sleep’s website. Download the Napping + Narcolepsy Toolkit for more resources: bit.ly/napping-narcolepsy-toolkit The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/
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    33 mins
  • Navigating School with Narcolepsy - Narcolepsy Nerd Alert Series Ep. 8
    Sep 5 2022
    Students with sleep disorders have the right to an equitable education, but how do you work with your school and doctor to get accommodations? And what accommodations should you ask for? We're joined by two amazing women and Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarships recipients, Kenya Gradnigo and Danielle Brooks, to discuss navigating school with narcolepsy. About Our Guests: Danielle Brooks was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy during her freshman year of high school. Danielle recently graduated with a Master of Science in communication sciences and disorders, and is now working as a school speech language pathologist. Kenya Gradnigo was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy when she was eight years old. Kenya recently secured her Master of Social Work degree and is now working in the mental health social work space. She’s also a member of Project Sleep’s board of directors. Download the Navigating School with Narcolepsy Toolkit for more resources: bit.ly/navigating-school-toolkit The Narcolepsy Nerd Alert series invites listeners to dive deeper into specific topics relevant to living with narcolepsy. project-sleep.com/narcolepsy-nerd-alert/
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    50 mins