Hey everyone, it's Ksunga here.

This week we have a very special guest and renowned sleep expert Dr. Eric Prather on the show.

He's going to break down the science behind the perfect night's sleep.

This is part of a really comprehensive sleep program in the Headspace app called

Finding Your Best Sleep.

You'll find out what's getting in the way of your sleep.

You'll learn a variety of techniques to help you address those sleep problems.

And you'll be able to create and maintain a sleep plan to help you change your relationship with sleep for the better.

You can get his entire sleep course on the Headspace app right now.

Headspace Studio.

Hey, everyone. It's Dr. Eric Prather here, a psychologist on the front line of the battle against insomnia.

In short, I help people sleep so they can live their best lives.

And on that note, today we're going to talk about sleep aids, those substances, supplements,

and potions, if you will, that many of us need to finally go to sleep.

Or do we? Whether it's melatonin, Valerian, or Ambien, there's a lot out there, and even more opinions regarding the subject.

Today, I'll get into what happens when we take sleep aids, why they may be counterintuitive to better sleep,

and if that star supplement, melatonin, really works.

And of course, you should always consult your doctor

before taking anything to get to sleep.

Now with that said, let's dive in.

People tend to turn to substances

because they may solve the immediate problem in front of them,

...