Podcast
The Sleep Detective podcast: why you can't sleep and how to fix it
Hosted by Martha Lewis · EN
Can't fall asleep?
Or stay asleep?
Tried everything?
In this podcast, sleep expert and functional health coach Martha Lewis gets into the science of why you can't sleep in both your body and your mind. She tells you how to find the root cause of your sleep issues so you can sleep well naturally. She talks about what to do when you can't fall asleep, natural remedies for insomnia, why you have trouble sleeping, and what causes chronic trouble sleeping.
If you've tried everything and you still can't sleep, this podcast is for you. You are meant to sleep well! and you can cure your insomnia!
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
265: Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, or Both? Here's How to Know
3d ago00:09:59Tap to summarizeSign up for the Complete Sleep Solution Program here (https://l.bttr.to/9LmUt) or talk to me first by scheduling a consultation (https://p.bttr.to/3VJwvDs).In this episode, I break down sleep apnea and insomnia and explains little-known health issues that could be causing both.You'll learn:How to tell whether you have sleep apnea, insomnia, or bothWhy a CPAP can work perfectly and still leave you waking up through the nightWhat sleep apnea and insomnia have in common beneath the surfaceWhy a sleep study won't catch what's really driving your sleep problemsWhat I found in one client's labs that his apnea diagnosis had never explainedHow my client went from constantly waking and struggling to fall back asleep to sleeping through the night and feeling rested during the day00:00 Apnea or Insomnia00:58 Adam’s CPAP Mystery01:53 Apnea Warning Signs03:11 What Counts as Insomnia04:08 Can You Have Both04:29 Inflammation Root Causes05:08 Gut Bugs and Toxins06:20 Hormones and Next Steps07:33 Sleep Studies Limits08:33 Adam’s Real Fix09:13 You’re Meant to Sleep
Transcribe →264: Why Your Doctor Can't Find What's Causing Your Insomnia
1w ago00:10:28Tap to summarizeGet the What’s Causing Your Sleep Issues Checklist at www.thesleepdetective.com/checklistSign up for the Complete Sleep Solution program here https://l.bttr.to/9LmUt or schedule a consultation if you want to talk to Martha first https://p.bttr.to/3VJwvDsIf you've been to your doctor, run the tests, and been told everything is normal — but you still can't sleep — this episode will explain why.Insomnia isn't a disease. It's a sign that something in your body is out of balance. And because doctors are trained to diagnose and treat disease, the real causes of chronic insomnia consistently get missed. In this episode, Martha walks through exactly why conventional medicine falls short when it comes to sleep — and what to do instead.You'll hear from Martha's client Andrea, who spent two years going to doctors, keeping files on her symptoms, and being told everything was normal — while waking at 1, 2, 3am every night and dealing with anxiety, fatigue, and joint pain. What functional testing eventually revealed changed everything.In this episode:Why insomnia is a health problem, not a medical problem — and why that distinction mattersWhat doctors typically recommend for insomnia and why it doesn't get to the root causeWhy standard blood tests aren't built to find what's causing your sleep problemWhat functional testing looks at insteadWhat Martha found in Andrea's results after two years of normal bloodwork00:00 Normal Tests No Sleep00:38 Andrea’s Insomnia Story01:32 Why Doctors Miss It02:31 Why Common Fixes Fail04:50 Why Labs Look Normal06:09 Functional Testing Deep Dive08:19 Test Don’t Guess09:13 Andrea’s Real Root Causes10:03 Results and Next Steps
Transcribe →263: Case Study: How Carol Went From Melatonin and Nyquil to Sleeping Through the Night
2w ago00:19:08Tap to summarizeSign up for the Complete Sleep Solution program here https://l.bttr.to/9LmUt or schedule a consultation if you want to talk to Martha first https://p.bttr.to/3VJwvDsCarol tried melatonin, valerian root, Tylenol PM, chamomile, and Nyquil — all at once — and still couldn't sleep. In this episode Martha walks through Carol's full case: what her functional testing revealed, the exact supplements and habit changes she recommended, and how Carol went from barely sleeping to seven solid hours a night.In this episode:The jumpstart supplements Martha recommended before test results even came back — and why Carol started sleeping better almost immediatelyWhat Carol's hormone testing revealed about her nighttime cortisol pattern and estrogen imbalancesHow mold toxicity showed up across her toxin panel and why Martha suspected it before testing beganWhat her gut zoomer showed about inflammation, immune response, and compromised digestionThe full supplement protocol Martha built after testing — cortisol support, neurotransmitter support, gut restoration, and mold and pathogen treatmentHow Carol's sleep progressed month by month over six months in the program00:00 Insomnia Breakthrough Story00:31 Carol Hits Rock Bottom01:38 Early Clues Mold Detox03:17 Sleep Hygiene Jumpstart05:06 Waiting On Lab Results05:57 Cortisol Pattern Explained07:42 Hormones And Methylation08:32 Gut Inflammation Findings10:24 Neurotransmitters And Stress12:00 Toxin Test Mold Confirmed13:42 Personalized Supplement Plan15:06 Gut Repair And Antifungals16:45 Month By Month Progress18:34 Final Results And Next Steps
Transcribe →262: How to Sleep Well Even When Work Is Stressful
3w ago00:17:29Tap to summarizeDownload the How to Sleep Well Even When Work Is Stressful Guide: thesleepdetective.com/workstressIf work follows you to bed at night, this one's for you.Most people assume the fix is a better bedtime routine. But if you're lying awake with your brain still running through everything that happened today and everything waiting for you tomorrow, the problem started long before you turned out the lights.In this week's episode I walk you through exactly what I do, and what I tell my clients, to stop work stress from sabotaging sleep.Here's some of what we cover:The mindset shift that stops the after-hours rumination loop (this one changed things for me personally)Why telling yourself you're overwhelmed is making your sleep worse and what to say insteadSimple workday habits that lower your cortisol before you even get to bedtimeWhat to do on the nights you worked late and you're wired when you get homeThese are real, specific changes, not generic wind-down advice you've already heard.00:00 Work Stress Insomnia01:05 Mind Body Approach01:56 Set Mental Boundaries04:16 Stop Rumination Loop05:23 Calming Self Talk06:50 Workday Focus Hacks09:19 Deep Work Scheduling11:07 Busy Season Wind Down12:02 Calendar Time Blocking14:20 Evening Cutoffs No Screens16:07 Free Guide Next Steps
Transcribe →261: The Five Phases of Overcoming Insomnia
Jun 1700:12:44Tap to summarize📅 Book a free consultation to get started with the Complete Sleep Solution program: https://p.bttr.to/3VJwvDs🌐 thesleepdetective.comIf you've tried everything and you still can't sleep, this episode is going to reframe everything.After working with hundreds of clients, I've mapped out the five phases everyone goes through on the way to sleeping well again. And I want to share them with you, because most people quit right before things turn around.In this episode you'll learn:Why you're stuck and what finally breaks the cycleWhat the process of actually getting better looks like, including the part nobody warns you aboutWhy a bad night doesn't mean you're back to square oneThe story of a 70-year-old client who went from hospitalized the night before his first call with me to sleeping solidly through the night and running for mayor00:00 Insomnia Breaking Point00:52 Phase One Feeling Stuck02:29 Bill’s Story and Hope04:54 Phase Two Find the Cause07:02 Phase Three The Rollercoaster09:10 Phase Four Big Improvements10:34 Phase Five Sleep Freedom11:43 Next Steps Work With Me
Transcribe →260: Could Heavy Metals Be Ruining Your Sleep?
Jun 1000:08:32Tap to summarizeGet the Sleep Mineral Analysis: https://thesleepdetective.com/sleep-mineral-analysisIf you've tried everything for your sleep and still can't get answers, heavy metal toxicity could be what nobody has looked for yet. In this episode Martha walks through what heavy metals do to your sleep, where they're coming from in everyday life, and how she approaches it with her clients, including a client story that shows exactly why this test matters.What you'll learn:What heavy metals actually do to your body and your sleepWhich metals Martha sees most often in clients — and exactly where they come fromWhy mineral deficiencies make heavy metal toxicity worseWhy you can't clear gut infections like H. pylori if heavy metals aren't addressed firstHow Martha tests for heavy metals and what the results tell herThe protocol she uses, and why she never starts with aggressive detox00:00 Why You Still Can’t Sleep00:55 Laurie’s 20-Year Insomnia02:19 How Metals Wreck Sleep03:24 Hidden Exposure Sources04:48 Minerals Before Detox05:42 The Test Most Miss06:16 Sleep Analysis Offer07:25 Laurie’s Recovery Plan08:08 Results and Next Steps
Transcribe →259: How Hidden Mineral Imbalances Steal Your Sleep
Jun 800:10:57Tap to summarizeGet the Sleep Mineral Analysis: https://thesleepdetective.com/sleep-mineral-analysisIf you've been wondering why magnesium isn't helping your sleep, why you wake up exhausted no matter what you try, or whether something deeper is going on in your body, this episode is going to answer that.Most people who can't sleep have never had a proper mineral test done. Standard bloodwork doesn't show it. Your doctor isn't looking for it. But when I run a hair tissue mineral analysis on my clients, mineral imbalances show up almost every single time, even in people who eat well and take care of themselves.In this episode you'll learn:Why magnesium alone almost never fixes sleep problems, and what has to be in place for it to workThe slow oxidation pattern that causes exhaustion, weight gain, and insomnia all at onceHow chronic stress leaves a measurable mark on your mineral levels and what that looks like on a testWhat a calcium shell is and why it's more common than you'd thinkWhy copper toxicity is one of the most overlooked causes of a racing mind at nightHow one client finally got answers after years of failed treatments — by looking at minerals and heavy metalsIf you've tried everything and you're still not sleeping, you need to hear this.00:00 Why Magnesium Alone Fails00:08 Introduction and Background00:46 Jamie's Story01:46 The Magnesium Myth02:21 Slow Oxidation Pattern03:17 Calcium Shell Pattern03:59 Fast Oxidation Pattern04:50 Four Lows Pattern05:38 Copper Toxicity Pattern06:47 Testing vs Guessing08:13 Hair Testing Benefits09:15 Sleep Mineral Analysis10:11 Jamie's Success Story10:41 Next Steps
Transcribe →258: Introducing the Sleep Mineral Analysis
Jun 500:07:25Tap to summarizeGet started with the Sleep Mineral Analysis: https://thesleepdetective.com/sleep-mineral-analysisIf you've tried magnesium, sleep hygiene, maybe even the doctor who told you your bloodwork looks fine, and you're still waking up at 3am, this week's episode is worth your time.I just put together something new, the Sleep Mineral Analysis, and this episode walks you through exactly what it is and what's in it. It's built around a test called the HTMA, and it reads something standard bloodwork never looks at: three months of mineral activity in your tissue. What's depleted, what's out of balance and whether heavy metals are sitting in your body interfering with your sleep.Mineral imbalances and heavy metals were a big part of the reason why I didn’t sleep well for 2 years.Here's what the episode covers:The test that reads three months of data your doctor never looks atWhy your bloodwork can look completely normal while your minerals are depletedHow mineral imbalances and heavy metals drive 3am wake-upsWhy magnesium doesn't work for everyone and what to check insteadEverything included in the Sleep Mineral Analysis and how to get startedIf you've already tried the standard answers and they haven't worked, the right test may just not have been run yet.
Transcribe →257: From 3 Hours of Broken Sleep to 8 Hours a Night — What His Doctor Never Tested
Jun 300:10:10Tap to summarize📅 Book a free consultation to get started with the Complete Sleep Solution program: https://p.bttr.to/3VJwvDs🌐 thesleepdetective.comIf you’ve tried everything (the sleep programs, the routines, the mindset work) and you’re still lying there awake, this week’s episode is going to hit close to home.I sat down with a client (Dennis) who dealt with this for years—sleeping just 3–4 hours a night, waking constantly, doing everything he was “supposed” to do……and nothing worked.Until we looked somewhere no one else had.Here’s what we get into in this episode:Why sleep programs that focus on the mind often aren’t enoughThe hidden imbalances that can keep your body from sleeping (even when you’re exhausted)What actually changed when we addressed the real drivers of his insomniaWithin about a month, things started shifting.Now he’s sleeping 7–8 hours a night AND getting his energy back because we finally addressed what was underneath it.If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right and still not sleeping, this will connect some dots.00:00 Why Sleep Hygiene Fails00:54 Meet Dennis Case Study01:31 Life With Chronic Insomnia02:27 What He Tried Before03:09 Lab Results Reveal Imbalances04:22 Fixing Gut Hormones Cortisol05:37 Biggest Breakthrough Explained07:05 Timeline To Better Sleep07:57 Beyond Sleep More Energy08:16 Medical System Misses Root Causes09:27 Wrap Up And Next Steps
Transcribe →256: 5 Unconventional Sleep Fixes Nobody Tells You About (Without Medication)
May 2700:17:06Tap to summarize🔗 Free guide — 5 Unconventional Sleep Fixes Nobody Tells You About📅 Book a free consultation to get started with the Complete Sleep Solution program: https://p.bttr.to/3VJwvDs🌐 thesleepdetective.comMost people who can't sleep have already tried the obvious things — the bedtime routine, the screen cutoff, the magnesium gummies. This episode is about what comes next.Peter is a 78-year-old scientist who spent a decade on Ambien, saw multiple sleep specialists, and was on a CPAP for years. None of it solved his sleep. When we ran functional lab tests, we found two things no doctor had ever looked for, and addressing them changed everything.In this episode I walk through five unconventional things that actually move the needle on sleep: the underlying body systems most people have never been told to look at.If you've tried everything and you're still not sleeping, this is where I'd have you start.00:00 Why You Still Can’t Sleep00:52 Peter’s Insomnia Story02:08 Fix 1 Balance Blood Sugar04:41 CGM and Hidden Resistance06:22 Fix 2 Anti Inflammatory Eating08:02 Fix 3 Support Adrenals10:29 Fix 4 Liver Detox Support13:28 Fix 5 Calm Nervous System15:01 Free Guide and Resources15:23 Peter’s Results and Wrap Up
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