222 Roxanne Prichard: Sleep Is a Feminist Issue

<p></p><p>🌿 THE HOTFLASH INC SUMMIT IS COMING BACK IN SEPTEMBER! Get on the newsletter to be the first to hear, so you can sign up the moment doors open. You do not want to miss this year.<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="hotflashinc.com" target="_blank"> </a><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hotflashinc.com" target="_blank">Get on the newsletter → here.</a></p><p></p><p>This was one of my favourite talks from last year's inaugural Hotflash Inc Summit, recorded back in mid-2025. My guest is Dr. Roxanne Prichard, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of St. Thomas, where she's built a career studying the science of sleep and mental health. She's designed popular courses on sleep and dreaming, led workshops for college professionals on sleep, and served on the NCAA Taskforce for Sleep and Well-being. Her TEDx talk, <i>Addressing Our Children's Sleep Debt</i>, was featured in the lecture series Transforming Education, and her research has been covered by the <i>New York Times</i>, the <i>Wall Street Journal</i>, <i>Teen Vogue</i>, and <i>USA Today</i>, among others. What makes this conversation so special is that Roxanne is a true scholar of sleep.</p><p></p><p>Highlights</p><p>02:57 – Why women sacrifice sleep more than men</p><p>04:44 – The biopsychosocial model behind perimenopause sleep loss 05:52 – The three most common sleep changes in menopause</p><p>08:18 – Sleep apnea isn't just a "men's disease" — and it's underdiagnosed in women</p><p>09:02 – How to test for sleep apnea from home</p><p>11:13 – What parasomnias are and why they happen</p><p>12:30 – The dementia risk of untreated sleep apnea</p><p>13:25 – The history (and risk) of sleep medications, from barbiturates to benzos</p><p>16:14 – The melatonin problem</p><p>19:04 – The science of morning light and your circadian rhythm</p><p>20:36 – How your circadian rhythm controls half your genes</p><p>20:54 – Roxanne's number one sleep tip for perimenopause</p><p>21:58 – The truth about sleep trackers, wearables, and "orthosomnia" 25:21 – What the research says about hormone therapy and sleep</p><p>30:27 – Reframing sleep as resistance</p><p>32:15 – Roxanne's parting wish for every woman listening</p><p></p><p>For more from Dr. Roxanne Prichard:</p><p>TEDx Talk, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztGkmruGPqM" target="_blank">Addressing Our Children's Sleep Debt</a></p><p>Ms. Magazine, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://msmagazine.com/2025/08/01/women-lack-sleep-menopause-research-mental-health-care-mother/" target="_blank">Sleep Is a Feminist Issue: Why Women's Rest Is Political </a>LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-roxanne-prichard-3570004/" target="_blank">Roxanne Prichard</a></p><p></p><p>Connect with Hotflash inc TikTok: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://hotflashinc.menopause/" target="_blank">@hotflashinc.menopause</a></p><p>Instagram: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/hotflashinc/" target="_blank">@hotflashinc</a></p><p>X: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/hotflashinc" target="_blank">@hotflashinc</a></p><p>YOUTUBE <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@hotflashinc" target="_blank">@hotflashinc</a></p><p>Facebook: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/hotflashinc" target="_blank">@hotflashinc</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-marie-mcqueen-0619346/" target="_blank">Ann Marie McQueen</a></p><p></p><p>Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your treatment, supplements, or lifestyle.</p>