Empowered Sleep Apnea: THE PODCAST
A meta-language that unites PATIENTS and PROVIDERS in a common adventure to get to PLEASANT DREAMS BEACH!
Season 1: THE ISLE
If you’re new here, welcome. The ISLE welcomes all…its Island Magic is there to guide everyone.
Season ONE of Empowered Sleep Apnea: THE PODCAST chronicles the adventures of Robert, who, on his 50th birthday, embarks upon an accidental adventure into the wild territory that is the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea. Follow Robert as he explores life beyond the Rabbit Hole, on the ISLE of SLEEP APNEA (get it? It’s a Dad Joke! I. LOVE. SLEEP APNEA….tee hee!), and engage with your sleep in a whole new way, taking it apart to see how it all works, with the mind of an engineer.
Along the way, you will accidentally learn two important collaborative COMPLEXITY DECONSTRUCTION tools to help you navigate, tools that your provider can help you explore: The Five Reasons to Treat and The Five Finger Approach.
In order to understand The Five Reasons to Treat, we will have to dig down into the jargon of Sleep Apnea and explore the Many Moving Parts. Only then can we explore the many options for treating it, because only then can you start thinking about it with your Engineer’s mind!
The Five Finger Approach is a published professional clinical orienteering tool that you can use to help unpack the complexity of your own sleep-wake complaints! When you unpack the complexity, YOU become the lead agent in determining the best solution! Here’s the fun part: unpacking this complexity requires a cool journey into the mechanics of how sleep “works,” including a deep dive into how your circadian rhythm functions…and dys-functions! Along the way, we’ll teach you how to use our nifty Gizmo, The Circadian Rhythmo-Wheel, a cool decoder-ring gadget that will help you decode your own circadian rhythm. How RAD is that?
Be not afraid…be curious! You’re about to deconstruct one of the most complex and misunderstood diagnoses on the planet, and it’s going to be a wild ride!
Due to its narrative arc, we enthusiastically recommend that the five episodes of Season ONE be consumed start-to-finish, starting with the beginning :) :) :)
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Empowered Sleep Apnea: THE PODCAST
Season 1: THE ISLE
Welcome to the Island.
Prepare to question everything.
(Scroll to the bottom to engage with all episodes and specials, in order of their appearance)
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Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD
In Season 1, you had your adventure on the ISLE. You’ve learned the language of EMPOWERMENT. Now, it’s time to take it to the next level! In Season 2, we will ride in our Beautiful Blue Balloon, to take our adventure afloat and afar, to hear stories of triumph and discovery, from all over the globe. Who knew Sleep Apnea was so complex? Who could guess that learning about it would be such a blast?!
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Empowered Sleep Apnea: THE PODCAST
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Episode 1: PROLOGUE
Episode 2: TORONTO
Episode 3: ADELAIDE
Episode 5: THE ONE ABOUT CROWS
Episode 6 (Special POP SONG Edition): WoodMender
Episode 8: THE TALE OF THREE FACES
Episode 9: (Special POP SONG Edition): CROWS TEACHING CROWS
Episode 11: “PRESSURE TOXICITY”—Three Tales of TERROR!! (Halloween SUPER-SPECIAL!)
Episode 12: …AND YOU KNOW… (Special POP SONG Edition)
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…scroll to the bottom to access all episodes and specials in order of their appearance…
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Praise for Empowered Sleep Apnea: THE PODCAST
“Well it’s about time!
(5 out of 5 STARS)
Let’s face it, sleep medicine podcasts are typically just what the doctor ordered, that is if you need to listen to something that will put you to sleep.
But this—Empowered Sleep Apnea—is a different podcast animal altogether! As a veteran in the field of Sleep Medicine, I am always striving for new ways to enlighten my patients as they navigate their way through the journey of getting diagnosed and treated for their apnea. It can be a pretty frustrating and daunting experience for a lot of folks, but it doesn’t have to be. Hosts Dave and Ellen take us on a wonderful, wacky and educational trip as they regale the audience with one patient’s true tale through this experience.
No doubt that both patients and providers will benefit while being entertained by this new show.
Check it out and get empowered!”
—Wolf Creek Racing
“Fantastic material for anyone facing sleep issues
(5 out of 5 STARS)
I almost think that putting “apnea” in the title doesn’t do it justice. This is a holistic approach to everything sleep oriented that is presented in a fun, engaging way. This will help you take control of your health. Highly recommended!”
—mhedgpeth
“Fan-TAS-tic-al Adventure in the form of a funny and informative Sleep Medicine Podcast
(5 out of 5 STARS)
Wow! Empowered Sleep Apnea is a fantastical adventure. Drs. McCarty and Stothard take you on a funny, and quirky journey to help anyone who wants to know more about sleep apnea. If you are a patient with sleep apnea, a family member, or a healthcare provider, this is the place to learn and be entertained.
Using an imaginative combination of story, humor, and fact, Empowered Sleep Apnea is super easy to listen to, with loads of useful information. Best part is that it’s all packaged up in fun!
Following Dr. McCarty’s Dad-Joke lead…”What did the momma cow say to the baby cow?” …drum roll…it’s pasture bedtime!”
—BillandFamily
“Entertaining and Informative
(5 out of 5 STARS)
A refreshing and accessible approach to understanding complexities of sleep apnea! Whether you are a medical provider, patient, or just want to know more about sleep, you should listen to this podcast. It is entertaining yet informative, even has online cartoons for each episode! Grab your mug and join Dr. Dave and Dr. Ellen in the coffee hut, you will want to stay awhile.”
—LoLo M
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD, Episode 12: …AND YOU KNOW… (special POP SONG edition)
Right…everyone sings! Join Dave and special guest Airway Health Solutions’ Lauren Gueits for a playful musical romp into POP MUSIC to explore that wonderful moment in one’s intellectual journey when the silo crumbles…
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 11: PRESSURE TOXICITY—Three Tales of TERROR!
What's CPAP “Pressure Toxicity”? It’s any CPAP setting that’s TOO HIGH FOR YOU? What does that look like? Well, listen to our three stories...SCARY STORIES for HALLOWEEN…and find out for yourself! Don’t worry, Life Fans! We wouldn’t leave you IN THE DARK! All three of our TALES OF TERROR happily resolve into joyful EMPOWERMENT!
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 10: LEXINGTON
“Miracles can sometimes be the result of the smallest decisions…”
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 9: CROWS TEACHING CROWS (special POP SONG edition)
…and just like crows teaching crows…we’ll get to know each other better…
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 8: THE TALE OF THREE FACES
An Eagle Scout walks into a scenario that requires SITUATIONAL AWARENESS and an ENGINEERING MINDSET…
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 7: BOSTON
That was enough to send the students into a jeering frenzy: “Humbug! Humbug!”, an event which would eventually drive Dr. Wells to an insane and colorful doom involving acid, prostitutes, and a shaving kit.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 6: WOODMENDER (Special Pop Song Edition)
The musical journey of the PULMONAUTS was glorious, transformative, beautiful…but not without its friction! …We had to find a way to blend 10 voices, in a coordinated show, with only two practices and a dress rehearsal!
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 5: THE ONE ABOUT CROWS
Real Collaboration means that something must change in ourselves, as well. Real Collaboration means that we are willing to receive, as well as broadcast. Real Collaboration means taking the humble step of removing our armor and admitting that we don’t have the whole story.
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 4: SHREVEPORT
And when I walked into the room, I had to look again at the chart in the door. I thought I’d made a mistake.
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 3: ADELAIDE
These are “AHA!” moments, snapshots in our greater quest for wisdom that mark the threshold between BEFORE and AFTER.
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 2: TORONTO
A Sleep Doc and a Researcher walk into a Story of Transformation…
Season 2: STORIES FROM THE FIELD; Episode 1: PROLOGUE
“I wanted to make a magic key. I wanted to create something that felt safe, for everyone.”
Season 1: THE ISLE; Episode 5: THE MOUNTAIN
A lone crow…a hidden key…another traveler…a place full of Mountain Magic…and a fully neato biologic decoder-ring GIZMO!…this is not your usual medical educational Season Finale!
Season 1: THE ISLE; Episode 4: CROSSING THE RIVER
…the plates sit in satisfied disarray…a phone booth beckons…a deep and turbulent river awaits…
Season 1: THE ISLE; SPECIAL EPISODE…and you can’t swim home (Special Pop Song Edition)
It ain’t pretty when you’re left behind
You waste all of your Money, Love, and Time…
but soon you will be smilin’, cuz now you’re on THE ISLAND
And here is where you’ll POWER UP YOUR MIND…
Season 1: THE ISLE; Episode 2: …MANY MOVING PARTS…
In this entertaining SECOND episode of Empowered Sleep Apnea: THE PODCAST, Dave and Ellen tackle the MANY MOVING PARTS of Sleep Apnea. Who knew? There are two different flavors!
Season 1, Episode 2 Teaser
Episode 2: …MANY MOVING PARTS…coming 9/20/22…You’ve waited patiently. You’ve experienced the DRAMA of Robert…on his journey towards EMPOWERMENT. Get ready to take it to the next level.
Season 1: THE ISLE; Episode 1: NARRATIVE
Robert has just turned 50, and he’s not sure he signed up for this! Join Dave and Ellen as they discuss Robert’s …um…introduction to the Isle, and they find that within a hostile patient lies a person hungry for knowledge!