The Sleep Coach School Podcast

This special series features some of the most impactful conversations from The Sleep Coach School archives—carefully selected by our community for the wisdom, hope, and life-changing insights they continue to offer. This episode was recommended by Donka, who felt Zach's story deserved to be revisited.

For years, Zach believed he had tried everything. Sleeping pills. Breathing techniques. CBD. Therapy. Sleep hygiene. Countless books. Nothing seemed to work.

Then came the pivotal moment—the insight that completely transformed his relationship with insomnia. In this conversation with Daniel Erichsen, Zach shares how he went from years of fear, exhaustion, and chasing sleep to discovering genuine acceptance, letting go of control, and ultimately finding freedom from insomnia.

If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now. —

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs! Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

Why does one bad night of sleep leave you feeling like everything is falling apart the next day? In this Summer Series episode, Daniel revisits one of the most important concepts in insomnia recovery: it's not just the lack of sleep that makes the next day so difficult—it's the meaning we attach to it. Through a simple but powerful thought experiment, he explores why the fear of tomorrow often becomes the real engine that keeps insomnia alive. If you've ever thought, "I'm not afraid of being awake at night—

I'm afraid of how I'll feel tomorrow," this episode is for you.

Daniel explains why sleepless nights naturally make us tired, but why the emotional suffering, anxiety, and dread that often follow are driven by the story we tell ourselves about what a bad night means.

Understanding this distinction can be a turning point in breaking free from the cycle of insomnia. If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options.

Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu. The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well. BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now. 

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs! Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ 

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

When Jen's insomnia began, it quickly spiraled into fear, panic attacks, and the feeling that something was deeply wrong. Like so many people, she became trapped in the cycle of trying harder to sleep—only to find herself sleeping less. In this heartfelt conversation with Daniel, Jen shares how discovering The Sleep Coach School changed everything.

While her sleep gradually improved, the biggest transformation wasn't just better nights—it was learning to respond differently to fear, anxiety, and the thoughts that once controlled her life.

Together, they discuss why recovery isn't about achieving "perfect sleep," how occasional sleep setbacks are a normal part of the journey, and why acceptance, mindfulness, and self-compassion can lead to lasting resilience. Whether you're in the middle of insomnia or supporting someone who is, Jen's story offers hope that recovery is possible—and that the lessons learned along the way can transform far more than sleep.

If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket. The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now. —

Do you like learning by reading?

If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs! \Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

Sometimes, a single idea can completely change the way you experience insomnia. In this second episode of our Summer Series, Daniel revisits one of the community's most impactful conversations with Tess, whose journey has encouraged countless people struggling with sleeplessness.

Inspired by a heartfelt recommendation from Carolyn in Germany, Daniel explores the powerful insight that became the turning point in Tess's recovery:

"Your brain is not your business."

Rather than trying to control every thought, sensation, or sleepless night, Tess discovered the freedom that comes from letting the brain do what it naturally knows how to do. If you've hit a speed bump in your own sleep journey, this episode serves as a reminder that healing isn't about perfect nights.

It's about trusting the process, continuing to live your life, and allowing your brain to take care of what it was designed to do.

If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now. 

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs! Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ 

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

Have you ever felt confident after a good night of sleep, only to feel discouraged after a restless one? In this Summer Series encore episode, Coach Daniel revisits a community favorite recommended by Angela, who shared how this episode continues to bring her comfort and reassurance during recovery. Coach Daniel explores the common "confidence and doubt roller coaster" of insomnia recovery and explains why setbacks, speed bumps, and difficult nights don't mean you've lost progress.

Most importantly, he shares how changing the meaning we assign to sleep can help us move from fear and frustration to smoother sailing and lasting peace of mind.

In This Episode • Why insomnia recovery often feels like a roller coaster • The connection between sleep, confidence, and self-doubt

• Why speed bumps are a normal part of recovery

• How to approach difficult nights with less fear and panic

• The key to a smoother recovery journey If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well. BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!

Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

In this episode of Talking Insomnia, Daniel opens up about his insomnia journey that began in the summer of 2022. What started as one bad night before a long-awaited night out with friends quickly spiraled into months of anxiety, sleep windows, and a desperate search for answers.

Daniel walks us through the highs and lows — initial relief through CBT-I, a brutal relapse with hypnic jerks in early 2024, and the moment a single paragraph in a book changed everything.

Nine months later, he's sleeping well and has a message for anyone still in the thick of it: "You've got to go there to come back."

If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now. 

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!

Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

Many people assume that sleeping better is the clearest sign of recovery. But what if the most important sign has nothing to do with how many hours you slept last night? In this Insomnia Insight episode, Coach Daniel reveals the #1 sign that you're leaving the insomnia struggle behind and explains why it may be far more meaningful than getting a full night of sleep.

You'll learn why a neutral response to a difficult night can be one of the strongest indicators of progress, how sleep anxiety keeps the cycle of insomnia alive, and why understanding the true nature of insomnia can help you move toward lasting recovery.

Coach Daniel also explores the difference between physical tiredness and the emotional suffering often created by the stories we tell ourselves about sleep.

Through practical examples and thought-provoking insights, he shows how reducing fear around sleep naturally helps the struggle lose its grip. If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!

Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

How do you convince your brain that it's safe to be awake at night? In this episode of Mining in the Comments, Daniel explores a thoughtful question from the community:

"How do we convince ourselves to feel safe with the outcome if we genuinely do not feel safe with the outcome?"

Many people with insomnia understand logically that being awake at night isn't dangerous, yet still feel trapped in a cycle of fear, pressure, and sleeplessness.

So how do we help the brain see what the logical mind already knows?

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why trying to force yourself to feel safe often backfires

• The surprising similarities between changing your own mind and changing someone else's • How insomnia is fueled by resistance and fear rather than wakefulness itself

• The difference between what feels true and what is actually true • Why feelings of exhaustion and depletion don't necessarily mean something is wrong

• How recovery can happen even when doubt is still present This conversation offers a gentler perspective on insomnia recovery—one rooted in understanding, patience, and allowing your mind the space to discover safety on its own.

💬 Have a question you'd like featured in a future Mining in the Comments episode? Leave it in the comments below. If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well. BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!

Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

In this episode of Aly’s Take, Aly is joined by insomnia and chronic fatigue recovery coach Daniel Shai for a deep conversation about the biggest spiritual and emotional lessons they’ve learned through the insomnia recovery journey.

Daniel shares his powerful 30-year journey through insomnia, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and dependence on sleep aids — and how recovery transformed not only his sleep, but his entire relationship with life, fear, control, and self-acceptance.

Together, Aly and Daniel explore how insomnia recovery becomes far more than “getting sleep back.” It becomes a path of nervous system healing, emotional growth, spiritual embodiment, and learning how to stop fighting ourselves.

Connect with Daniel Shai: 🌐 Website: restedandfree.com 📺 YouTube: @restedandfree Connect with Aly: 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsleepcoach

This episode is featured on The Sleep Coach School channel. If this conversation resonated with you, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing with someone navigating insomnia recovery, anxiety, or chronic fatigue.

If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu. The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!

Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ 

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

In this episode, Coach Daniel welcomes his namesake, Daniel who shares a powerful story of transformation. For over thirty years, Daniel struggled with a combination of chronic fatigue and severe insomnia that completely reshaped his life. Everything changed when he learned what truly had been happening as that he was NOT alone.

If you’d like to learn more with Coach Daniel Shai (highly recommend!),

here are his links: YouTube:  @restedandfree  Website: https://www.restedandfree.com/ — If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options.

Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now. 

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!

Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊.

And here’s the link to do just that: https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool