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In this eye-opening episode, we meet Rebecca from North Carolina, who shares her deeply personal and powerful experience living with narcolepsy type 1, cataplexy, ADHD, and a rare condition called gluten ataxia.

From the moment she describes sleep attacks hitting like an unstoppable sneeze to navigating misunderstood conditions while holding down jobs, attending interviews, and trying to maintain a “normal” social life—Rebecca paints a raw and relatable picture of life with multiple overlapping diagnoses.

She also opens up about:

Why she quit her stressful job to protect her health

The physical and emotional toll of food sensitivities

How her boyfriend and even her dog can spot sleep attacks before she can

The struggle between being social and simply surviving an outing

Using Luvox, an anti-anxiety medication, to manage cataplexy

Why she wouldn’t trade her narcolepsy for her ADHD


From hilarious analogies (sugar cravings as “fake diabetes attacks”) to heartbreaking amnesia moments, this episode is a masterclass in self-awareness, boundaries, and advocacy.

🔗 Plus: learn about her Facebook community for navigating gluten and dairy-free living with autoimmune disorders.

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***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***

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In this heartfelt episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, Kerly sits down with Lisa Isaac, an inspiring woman living with narcolepsy type 1 and cataplexy in New Zealand. From her days as a sporty teenager needing frequent naps, to being misdiagnosed with epilepsy, Lisa shares her winding journey to an accurate diagnosis — and how she finally found community and support.

Lisa opens up about:

• Her move from the UK to New Zealand
• Being dismissed by doctors and labeled "lazy"
• Her struggle with cataplexy triggered by laughter
• The challenges of living in a country with few specialists
• How creativity became her unexpected lifeline

Lisa’s story is a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the power of finding community. Her laughter is infectious, her honesty is refreshing, and her advice for others is invaluable.

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***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***

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In this episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, we meet the radiant and resilient Taya Austin, a federal employee, nonprofit leader, and auntie-turned-parent, living with Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH).

After years of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and told to “just sleep better,” Taya finally received her diagnosis two years ago. From childhood naps and overwhelming exhaustion in college, to hiding her symptoms while earning her master's and serving her community, her story is one of silent suffering turned self-advocacy.

Taya talks candidly about:

• [06:12] How doctors ignored her fatigue for years
• [13:17] The moment she refused to be dismissed again
• [18:03] Learning boundaries and unlearning hustle culture
• [21:02] How IH impacts dating, friendships, and self-worth
• [30:01] Her experience with medication, including Xywav
• [34:19] Why she'd hit the red button to erase IH

💡 Taya’s voice is powerful, full of laughter and light—and rooted in the truth that rest isn’t a luxury, it’s survival.

🎧 Listen now for a deeply relatable episode about learning to slow down, speak up, and take your life back—nap by nap.

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***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***

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In this raw and deeply moving episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, we meet Meg—a 36-year-old adoptee, student, and mental health advocate navigating life with narcolepsy type 1, CBID, Behçet’s syndrome, and bipolar disorder. Meg shares the emotional rollercoaster that led to her diagnosis after a devastating car crash, including the haunting vivid dreams, overwhelming fatigue, and misunderstood cataplexy that shaped her early adulthood.

From managing multiple chronic conditions to challenging cultural expectations as a Korean-American adoptee raised in a "tiger mom" household, Meg reflects on identity, resilience, and finding connection through vulnerability. Her candid reflections on depression, dating with chronic illness, and the harsh realities of invisible disabilities will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like their body betrayed them.

🔹 Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Background
04:00 – The Car Crash That Changed Everything
08:00 – Diagnosis: Relief Meets Devastation
12:00 – Comorbidities: Bipolar, CBID, Behçet’s
21:00 – Sleep Struggles, Advocacy & Academic Life
37:00 – Parenting, Future Plans, and Honest Reflections
53:00 – “Would You Press the Red Button?”

This is a powerful reminder that even when life reroutes us, it doesn’t have to end the journey

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***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***

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🎙️ Ever dropped mid-conversation and had to explain it wasn’t drugs?

In this deeply personal and unexpectedly hilarious episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, we sit down with Cristina, the creator of Gourmet Recovery, to explore how she navigates life with Narcolepsy Type 1, cataplexy, and a solid sense of humor.

Cristina opens up about the frustrating path to diagnosis, being dismissed with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and how her sleep attacks affected school, work, relationships—and even public spaces. From falling asleep in church to hallucinating on public transport, Cristina shares it all: the scary, the silly, and the soul-shifting.

We also talk:

• [05:44] Misdiagnosis and finding the right doctor
• [08:51] The emotional impact of being finally diagnosed
• [11:05] Medication side effects, sleepwalking, and the helmet joke
• [17:44] Her healing journey through intuitive eating & cooking
• [23:00] How humor helps her reclaim control
• [27:44] Why she wears a bracelet in public
• [34:32] The truth about naps and real-life memory struggles
• [45:48] Would she press the button to remove narcolepsy?

Cristina reminds us that there’s no right way to live with narcolepsy—only your way.

📲 Follow her at @GourmetRecovery on IG & FB.

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***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***

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What happens when exhaustion is brushed off as “just stress” or “just pregnancy”?

In this moving episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, Emma Cooksey—host, author, and now Sleep Apnea Program Manager at Project Sleep—shares her long, harrowing journey with undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). After years of misdiagnosis, Emma’s wake-up call came behind the wheel—when she fell asleep while driving pregnant.

Emma dives into her diagnosis story, the daily challenges of adapting to CPAP therapy, and her mission to reshape how sleep apnea is seen and treated—especially for women, younger adults, and people who don’t fit the “classic” profile.

Now leading the Sleep Apnea Squad, Emma is on a mission to raise awareness with Project Sleep’s bold campaign, “Sleep Apnea: Let’s Face It”—a movement designed to highlight real people living with sleep apnea and crush outdated stereotypes.

Highlights:

[08:52] Falling asleep while driving: Emma’s turning point
[16:20] What CPAP therapy doesn’t tell you
[24:50] “Let’s Face It” and sleep apnea stereotypes
[35:47] The deadly risks of going untreated

Bio:

Emma Cooksey is an award-winning patient advocate. She was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea at the age of 30, after more than a decade of unexplained health issues. In 2020, Emma launched a weekly podcast, “Sleep Apnea Stories” to break down stereotypes of sleep apnea while also raising awareness of symptoms and treatment options.

In her current role, as Sleep Apnea Program Manager, Emma runs Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Education and Awareness Program. Through this program, she develops new awareness and educational initiatives, to empower people with sleep apnea to seek diagnosis, support, and care. Emma was born and raised in Scotland, holds a Law degree from Aberdeen University, and now lives in Florida with her husband Jason and their two girls.

Tune in for a conversation that’s educational, emotional—a

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***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***

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In this unmissable Season 3 premiere of Narcolepsy Navigators, we curl up for a heartfelt and hilarious deep dive with comedian and podcaster Sarah Albritton, who opens up about living with narcolepsy type 1 and cataplexy—plus a rare twist: sexsomnia.

From being misdiagnosed as a teenager in Kentucky to becoming an advocate on stage and behind the mic, Sarah’s journey is one of resilience, radical acceptance, and redefining what thriving looks like. She breaks down everything from navigating sleep paralysis and medication barriers to the emotional weight of invisible illnesses—and how comedy helped her heal.

You’ll hear about her solo show Awake: A Narcoleptic, her podcast Sleeping With Sarah, and why she says, “I wouldn’t push a red button to remove narcolepsy. It made me who I am.”

Episode Highlights:

[02:24] Daily life with narcolepsy and cataplexy
[05:36] Living with sexsomnia and the power of communication
[14:19] Sarah’s diagnosis journey and hidden seizures
[33:51] Creating the solo show and raising awareness
[53:04] Cataplexy at Disneyland and emotional triggers
[57:28] How comedy changed her relationship with narcolepsy

Join us for a raw, hilarious, and powerful episode that normalizes sleep disorders and champions authenticity.

Subscribe for more inspiring episodes, share to raise awareness, and join the conversation by sharing your experiences.

Follow and support Sarah:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sarahalbritton?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahalbritton/
Website: https://sarahalbritton.com/

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Website: www.napsforlife.com

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Summary

️ What if it took a decade to get answers?

In this episode of Narcolepsy Navigators, we sit down with Jacquie, a 25-year-old scientist from Texas, to discuss her journey with Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH)—a sleep disorder that took 10 years to diagnose. From struggling through high school exhaustion to navigating university, lab work, and daily life, Jacquie shares how she advocates for herself and others while juggling a demanding scientific career.

Key Takeaways:
✔️ The challenges of getting diagnosed with a rare sleep disorder
✔️ What it’s like managing IH in a high-pressure work environment
✔️ The mental toll of constantly feeling exhausted
✔️ Why raising awareness is crucial for funding future research

For Jacquie, science and advocacy go hand in hand. She refuses to let her condition define her future and is using her voice to create change.

Listen now!

Chapters

(00:00) Navigating Life With Sleep Disorders
(12:58) Navigating Life With Invisible Disabilities
(19:41) Accidental Journey Into Science
(22:43) Navigating Career Aspirations With IH
(26:26) Advocating for Research on Sleep Disorders
(31:41) Navigating and Advocating for Invisible Disabilities
(39:45) Navigating Hope in Advers

Support the show

Subscribe for more inspiring episodes, share to raise awareness, and join the conversation by sharing your experiences.

Follow and support Narcolepsy Navigators:

www.napsforlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/narcolepsynavigatorspodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Narcolepsy-Navigators/61558638497300/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/narcolepsy-navigators-podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@narcolepsynavigators
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NarcolepsyNavigatorsPodcast

***If you find these symptoms relatable, please seek medical advice.***