The Matt Walker Podcast is all about sleep, the brain, and the body. Matt is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of the book, Why We Sleep and has given a few TED talks. Matt is an awkward British nerd who adores science and the communication of science to the public.

Latest episodes

#154 - Sleep and Cortisol

October 5, 2026 · 27 min

Delving into the science of cortisol, Matt debunks its social media reputation as a toxic villain. He explains how this essential hormone actually regulates metabolism, immunity, and survival. He also unpacks the healthy "Cortisol…
#153- Sleeping in an MRI Machine

September 28, 2026 · 25 min

Today’s episode explores how scientists study the sleeping brain inside a roaring, 111-decibel MRI scanner. Despite the extreme noise and discomfort, researchers use sleep deprivation, earplugs, and clever audio-filtering tricks to capture…
#152 - The Brain on Music

September 21, 2026 · 28 min

Exploring the profound link between the brain and music, Matt begins by tracing musical expression back 40,000 years to a vulture bone flute, arguing that music evolved as a "social glue" to foster group bonding. He explains the…
#151 - The Geography of Sleep

September 14, 2026 · 24 min

Matt breaks down the conflict between wall clocks and our biological rhythms, explaining how latitude and longitude dictate our rest. Latitude alters seasonal daylight and melatonin - though artificial light mutes this natural cycle - and…
#150 - The Neuroscience of Déjà Vu

September 7, 2026 · 32 min

Matt digs into the neuroscience of déjà vu, reframing it as a sign of a healthy brain performing real-time error correction. Using a "doorman" (familiarity) vs. "concierge" (recollection) analogy, Matt explains how memory systems misfire…
The Night Ferryman: A Sleep Story Read by Matt Walker

August 31, 2026 · 35 min

Join Matt for a serene excursion across a valley lake under the cover of night. After finding a comfortable position and centering your breath, you will step onto the deck of a weathered ferry. Marcus, the pilot, unties the lines, steering…
#149 - The 11 largest Sleep Myths

August 24, 2026 · 27 min

Debunking 11 sleep myths, Matt begins by explaining that the brain remains active, not "off," during rest. He goes on to argue that 7-9 hours of sleep is vital and warns that "adapting" to less is a delusion that masks performance deficits…
#148 - Psychedelics for Mental Health

August 17, 2026 · 32 min

Matt delves into how psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD quiet the "Default Mode Network" to boost neuroplasticity. He describes these molecules as a "crowbar" that allows therapy to break deep-seated patterns of depression and reorganize…