“When you’re tired you make bad choices. You make bad dietary choices.”
-Joe Rogan on JRE #1369 with Christopher Ryan
Despite Joe Rogan’s hectic schedule he still tries to get as much sleep as he possibly can, aiming for 7-8 hours per night. He’s frequently traveling, from UFC commentating to stand-up comedy, and recording multiple JRE podcasts per week – all while maintaining a family and a workout regimen.
With such a busy schedule, how does Rogan fit sleep into his schedule and how does he optimize his sleep quality?
Is Rogan someone who takes pride in the hustle, by only sleeping 4 or 5 hours a night?
“Not me baby, I like sleep.”
– Joe Rogan sleep quote, on whether he likes to go low on sleep
The Best Joe Rogan Sleep Podcast Episodes: #1109 & #1235
By far, the best Joe Rogan sleep podcast episode is #1109 with Matthew Walker, also nicknamed the “Sleep Diplomat.” A neuroscientist and sleep expert, Walker shares details about how to get better sleep, supplements for better sleep, and the affects of alcohol and marijuana on sleep.
Rogan admitted to Walker that sometimes the constant grind of travel, flights, and hotels leaves him zapped of energy.
Also see: Joe Rogan & Coffee: Everything You Want to Know
That’s where Walker gave some critical sleep advice…
The #1 sleep recommendation he gave was to pursue regularity – go to bed at same time, wake up at the same time, no matter what day or if it’s the weekend.
Another key point was when Rogan told Walker about his Sober October experience, going free from alcohol and drugs for one month, and he noticed that one of the benefits was getting much more vivid dreams, in addition to feeling more energized.
This is how important sleep is, from Dr. Matthew Walker JRE episode 1109. When we lose an hours sleep due to daylight savings time we see a 24% increase in heart attacks. When we gain an hour of sleep we see a 21%… https://t.co/Y6ujMEf04U
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 7, 2019
Walker told Rogan that alcohol and marijuana help people get into sleep, but block Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, providing a negative effect. And he added that alcohol puts you in a sedative state, often misrepresented as sleep, but it’s a totally different thing.
Walker wrote a book, Why We Sleep, that was discussed on the podcast and is highly recommended.
Also see: 15 Awesome Book Recommendations From Joe Rogan
Another good podcast for learning about Joe Rogan sleep, is episode #1235 with Ben Greenfield. They talk about the value of “sleeping on a problem.”
“There has been a lot of work done on actually going to sleep with a problem, this whole idea of sleep(ing) on it, there’s actually something real to that. Going to sleep and using your subconscious,” said Rogan.
Perhaps, “sleeping on it” is very beneficial for Rogan’s creation of stand-up comedy jokes.
Greenfield replied, “you delay a decision or replying to an email or responding to a text message, until you’ve got a full night sleep on it… You wake up with such a better answer.”
Also see: Why Does Jocko Willink Get Up at 4:30am Every Morning?
Does Joe Rogan Have Sleep Apnea? Mouthpiece Solution
On JRE #1369 with Christopher Ryan, they talk about sleep apnea. Rogan disclosed that he uses a mouthpiece, but not a CPAP sleep apnea machine, that made a “world of difference” for Joe Rogan’s sleep and snoring.
@Charliefox1971 It’s a mouthpiece. I got mine from this guy’s office, he invented it: http://t.co/asRPQIkYjR it makes a huge difference
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) April 27, 2013
According to him, the sleep mouthpiece holds his tongue down, preventing it from falling back in his mouth, allowing him to breathe easier while sleeping and therefore preventing snoring. If you are looking for a cheaper solution, this one is highly rated on Amazon:
Anti Snoring Mouth Guard, Anti Snoring Mouthpiece, Anti-Snoring Device (Amazon)
Rogan got his mouthpiece from Dr. Bryan Keropian, based out of Los Angeles, who designed and patented the sleep apnea mouthpiece device that he uses.
Joe Rogan Sleep App and Device – WHOOP
Seasonally, Rogan uses a – The WHOOP App/Device – which became quite popular after his Sober October experiences went viral. He uses the WHOOP wrist device, paired with the mobile app, for exercise and sleep tracking during Sober October.
WHOOP describes on their website that the device gives sleep recommendations and daily tracking. The device is verified by 3rd party studies that it provides “excellent” accuracy of sleep stages, sleep quality, efficiency, and personalized suggestions to keep your sleep on track.
The WHOOP 4.0 is now available on Amazon, which includes a 12-month subscription:
WHOOP 4.0 With 12 Month Subscription (Amazon)
The WHOOP device is how Rogan realized that he wasn’t getting nearly the amount of sleep he thought he was.
Rogan told Stephen Dubner on JRE #1437, that he thought he was around 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but the device is so accurate that it said he was actually only asleep for 4-5 hours, and he realized he needed to concentrate harder on actually sleeping.
Joe Rogan Sleep Supplements
Rogan takes a couple supplements that routinely affect his sleep his beneficial ways.
#1: CBD
Rogan is a big believer in CBD and takes it on a regular basis from a variety of forms. He loves the Kill Cliff CBD drink, which just released a partnership with Rogan, featuring a new drink – Flaming Joe.
Also, CBDMD, a JRE podcast sponsor, is a brand of CBD supplement that Rogan takes and mentions frequently on his podcast. Studies suggest that CBD can help people fall asleep, as well as reduce pain and reduce anxiety.
Also see: Joe Rogan’s Top CBD Picks: Drinks, Gummies, Oils
#2 Onnit’s New MOOD
Another product that Joe Rogan takes is Onnit’s New MOOD. New MOOD contains L-Tryptophan, a compound that your body changes into serotonin, which aids your sleep.
ONNIT New Mood – Occasional Stress Relief, Sleep and Mood Support (Amazon)
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Thanks for reading! Also be sure to check out another article I wrote, Joe Rogan Gifts: A Guide With Suggestions For Fans, which features some awesome Joe Rogan apparel, books, and merch.