Sleep First: The Powerful Link Between Sleep, Stress and Resilience | Dr Jemma King
What if better sleep could change the way you think, feel and respond to stress? In this episode of Unstress Health, Dr Ron Ehrlich sits down with Dr Jemma King, a human behaviour researcher and expert in stress, sleep and performance, to explore why sleep deserves a central place in our approach to health. Drawing on her research with high-performance populations, including military personnel and Olympic athletes, Dr King discusses the relationship between sleep and emotional wellbeing, why sleep consistency matters, and how modern technology can interfere with rest and recovery. The conversation also explores the science behind the Wim Hof Method, including breathing techniques and cold exposure, and the potential role of controlled challenges in developing stress resilience. Dr King shares her perspective on emotional intelligence, human connection and the risks of relying too heavily on agreeable AI systems. Whether you are balancing work, family or demanding responsibilities, this episode offers practical ideas for rethinking sleep and building healthier daily habits. ๐ง Listen now and discover why putting sleep first may be one of the most valuable changes you can make. ๐ Featured book: Sleep First: Sleep Smarter, Think Sharper, Feel Better by Dr Jemma King. ๐ Guest website: https://www.jemmakingbio-pa.com.au/ โ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ: Dr Jemma King is an Australian researcher, speaker and human behaviour expert whose work explores stress, sleep, emotional intelligence and human performance. Her work spans high-pressure environments, including defence, elite sport and organisational leadership. In this episode, she shares insights from her research into stress regulation, the Wim Hof Method and the role of sleep in everyday wellbeing. Official links and resources: Website: Dr Jemma King's official website LinkedIn: Dr Jemma King on LinkedIn Instagram: @dr.jemma.king Featured book: Sleep First: Sleep Smarter, Think Sharper, Feel Better Research and publications: Dr Jemma King's research library Speaking and workshops: Official speaking page Research discussed: Published research on breathwork and cold immersion โ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ โ Sleep science and sleep consistency โ Sleep, mental wellbeing and cognitive performance โ Circadian rhythms, melatonin and deep sleep โ Cortisol, adrenaline and physiological stress โ Emotional intelligence and stress regulation โ Cyberostracism and online social stress โ Wim Hof Method, breathwork and cold exposure โ Ice baths versus cold showers โ Hormesis and controlled stress challenges โ Nature exposure and human wellbeing โ Psychological safety and workplace performance โ Artificial intelligence, critical thinking and human connection โ Practical sleep habits for everyday life โ๏ธ ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ & ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ Explore