Inside Episode 6 - Insomnia, Mouthguards & Darth Vader (CPAPs): Dan's Sleep Saga Begins (Sleep Series Part 1)

You know that foggy, half-alive feeling after three bad nights of sleep? Yep, that’s the energy behind this episode.

In Sleep Series Part 1, Dan kicks off his very real (and honestly very funny) sleep saga: the insomnia that seemingly appeared out of nowhere, the “sleep monastery” era of CBT, the doctor-shopping scavenger hunt, the jaw-advancing mouthguard that basically tries to relocate your face, and the moment he officially entered Darth Vader territory with a ResMed machine.

If you’ve ever:

• stared at the ceiling at 3 a.m. doing mental math on how many hours you’ll get if you fall asleep right now

• felt anxiety building about bedtime (because your brain starts pre-panicking about not sleeping)

• wondered if you should see a professional… and then immediately got overwhelmed by the idea of which one…this episode is for you.

Because the point isn’t perfection. It’s learning how sleep works for you, and becoming your own advocate in the process.

What we cover in this episode

Dan’s insomnia origin story (aka: “How did this happen?”)

Dan takes us back to around 2017, when sleep stopped being a normal “close your eyes → reboot happens” situation… and turned into hours of staring at the dark, watching the clock jump from 10:30 to midnight to 2 a.m. to “welp, guess I live here now.”

He describes the weirdest part of insomnia: how most people don’t even notice the moment they fall asleep… but when you can’t fall asleep, you become painfully aware of every minute you’re not doing it.

CBT for insomnia: helpful… and also kind of brutal

Dan shares his experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), including:

• sleep restriction and “bed = sleep only” rules

• dark room, cool temps, no screens

• mindfulness + acceptance (aka: stop fighting your thoughts)

• the mind-bending concept of paradoxical intention (trying not to try to sleep)

And then the part many people relate to the most: when your bedroom starts to feel like the enemy and you begin fearing your own bed. That spiral is real.

The “every doctor with a diploma” phase

Dan breaks down the surprisingly broad world of sleep-related specialists:

• Pulmonologists (airway + breathing mechanics, obstructive sleep apnea)

• Sleep neurologists (brain-driven sleep disorders, circadian rhythm issues, RLS, narcolepsy, etc.)

• Psychiatrists / psychologists (CBT-I and the mental side of sleep)

• Dentists trained in sleep medicine (mandibular advancement devices, aka fancy mouthguards)

If you’ve ever felt like “I don’t even know who I’m supposed to see,” this section will make you feel extremely seen.

The mouthguard era: expensive, aggressive, and… gum for breakfast?

Dan tries a mandibular advancement device (custom mouthguard) designed to pull the jaw forward to open the airway and reduce apnea events.

Highlights include:

• the gooey mold process (drooling, panic breathing, pure chaos)

• a beautiful “high-security package” delivery moment

• the fitting… which quickly becomes “vice grip on the jaw”

• the instruction to chew gum every morning to click your jaw back into place

Sandi,who casually drops that her dad is a dentist and she used to assist chairside as a teenager (!!!) adds some hilarious commentary and validates that the mold experience is, in fact, terrible.

The big reveal: obstructive sleep apnea (and why it’s not just for “one type” of person)

Dan shares that he was diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and emphasizes something important:

Sleep apnea isn’t only about weight or age. Sometimes it’s anatomical. In Dan’s case, his neck and structure played a major role.

He explains the difference between:

• At-home sleep tests (useful indicators, less precise)

• the overnight sleep study (full “Taj Mahal” level monitoring: breathing, brainwaves, oxygen, heart rhythm, leg movement, sleep stages)

Also: the sleep study environment sounds like a torture audition for The Matrix, and we agree it’s weird that anyone can sleep in there at all.

AHI: the number that made the Darth Vader machine inevitable

Dan talks about AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index), basically how many breathing interruptions happen per hour.

His numbers:

• without treatment: 15 AHI/hour

• with mouthguard: 13 AHI/hour

• with APAP machine: less than 1 AHI/hour 🎉

That’s the moment he realizes: the mouthguard isn’t enough… and it’s time for the machine.

ResMed, CPAP vs APAP, and the “airport club”

Dan introduces his ResMed 11 (his new bedtime accessory) and explains:

• CPAP = steady pressure all night

• APAP = adjusts pressure automatically as your breathing changes throughout sleep

Then we get one of the funniest parts of the episode: the realization that once you have a machine, you suddenly see them everywhere, especially in airports, like you’ve joined a secret adult club you didn’t apply for.

(Welcome to the ResMed Airport Support Group. Membership is apparently automatic.)

But wait… the plot thickens: middle-of-the-night wakeups

Even with the apnea managed, Dan shares he’s now battling middle insomnia, waking around 3 a.m. for 45–60 minutes.

He floats a few theories:

• cortisol spikes

• apnea “blips”

• behavioral stuff creeping back in

• hydration / that one middle-of-the-night bathroom trip

• general “brain has opinions” energy

Sandi relates hard, sharing her own middle-of-the-night wakeups (bathroom breaks, stress spirals, joint discomfort, and yes… dogs).

The big takeaway

This episode isn’t just “Dan vs Sleep.” It’s a reminder that:

Sleep is not passive. It’s a biological priority that impacts mood, recovery, metabolism, hormones, focus, and long-term health.

And if you’re still trying to crack your own sleep code? So are we.

Listener question for you

What’s your:

• biggest sleep struggle or

• weirdest bedtime ritual or

• most random thing that actually helped?

Email us at info@thehealthhunt.com and you might get featured in a future episode.

Mentioned in this episode

• CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia)

• Sleep specialists: pulmonology, neurology, psychology/psychiatry, sleep dentistry

• Mandibular advancement device (custom mouthguard)

• At-home sleep tests vs overnight sleep study

• AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index)

• CPAP vs APAP

• ResMed 11

Keep hunting with us

If this episode made you feel less alone, share it with a friend who’s also tired (emotionally, physically, spiritually… choose your flavor).

Follow us on Instagram: @thehealthhunt_podcastAnd if you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, rate, and review it’s what helps other sleep-deprived humans find us.

Until next time: sleep well, stay curious, and we’ll see you in Sleep Series Part 2 Sandi’s bedtime stories.