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221: Dr. Mauro Zappaterra, MD, Phd, Director of Multidisciplinary Care at Synovation Medical Group: Why your Sleep Struggles aren’t About Willpower…it’s your Nervous System
About this Episode
Mauro Zappaterra obtained his MD and PhD from Harvard Medical School. He is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation with a focus on optimizing human performance, increasing awareness and decreasing suffering. He has been practicing mindfulness since 1998, and teaching mindfulness to patients with chronic pain since 2018, and he is the Director of Multidisciplinary Care at Synovation Medical Group. He has led the Awakening Awareness Program and Inward Inquiry for the Emerging Sciences Foundation which can be found on YouTube. He has published numerous scientific papers and medical book chapters on the cerebrospinal fluid, disability, and pain management.
He has also published "I Am", "All One", and "All Love" which are three books exploring topics of awareness, primarily for kids, but really for people of all ages. He has also published "Close Your Eyes, What Do You See?" with his son, which is a story about imagination and intention. And he also published "A is for Awarness: A Consciousness Expanding Alphabet", a new alphabet book. These can all be found on Amazon. He continues to create programs to help patients with chronic pain and investigate the cerebrospinal fluid and integrate new research to evolve the hypothesis of The Cerebrospinal Fluid and I Am.
SHOWNOTES:
😴 What is cerebrospinal fluid and how does it play a secret role in your sleep?
😴 Could your brain’s detox system only activate while you’re sleeping?
😴 Discover how the glymphatic system “cleans house” during deep rest
😴 Learn how breath becomes a powerful lever for regulating your nervous system
😴 One simple breathwork tweak to shift you into parasympathetic, rest-and-digest mode
😴 What happens when you inhale through your nose—and how it impacts your brain
😴 How your breath “pumps” cerebrospinal fluid and clears toxins from the brain
😴 What’s the “internal river” of your brain and why flow matters for mental clarity
😴 Why nervous system regulation might be more effective than melatonin for better sleep
😴 How to “nudge” your sleep schedule gradually—without shocking your system
😴 Could a silly word like “toes” help your child (or you) fall asleep instantly?
😴 Why sleep is a skill—and how mindfulness, mantra, and micro-practices retrain your system
😴 Why you should think in months (not days) when resetting your nervous system
😴 How an elephant encounter in Africa transformed Dr. Zappaterra’s sleep forever
😴 Breathing tips that go beyond calm—learn to activate your “internal cleanse”
😴 And so much more!
SPONSORS:
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GUEST LINKS:
Instagram: @drzappaterra
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauro-zappaterra-md-phd-594b75a5/
Dr. Mauro’s books:
- I AM (Awareness) - Awareness and self‑observation
- ALL ONE (Awareness) – Exploring the interconnectedness of awareness described
- ALL LOVE (Awareness) – A creative alphabet book designed to cultivate curiosity and deeper awareness in children (and adults)
- Close Your Eyes, What Do You See? – a gentle story co‑written with his son Micah, inviting imagination, inner visual exploration, and the power of intention
DISCLAIMER:
The information contained in this podcast, our website, newsletter, and the resources available for download are not intended to be medical or health advice and shall not be understood or construed as such. The information contained on these platforms is not a substitute for medical or health advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.
Next Steps To Upleveling Your Sleep -
Website: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/
‘Sleep Obsessions’ Monday Newsletter: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/newsletter
8-Week Wearable Group “Optimize Your Sleep” Program: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/optimize
Sleep Is A Skill Podcast: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/podcasts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-eastman-sleep-is-a-skill-82531825/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollie.eastman
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepisaskill
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepisaskill/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SleepIsASkill
YouTube:
Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
