Ben's #1 "Sleep Simulation" Tactic: The Art & Technology of Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) Life Network: RAW Podcast #12

Ben Greenfield

Feb 5, 2026

Episode description

Full Show Notes: bengreenfieldlife.com/lnraw12

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on one of the single most powerful tools in my daily performance and recovery toolkit: Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) and its close cousin, Yoga Nidra. If you’ve ever found yourself burning the candle at both ends—waking up at 4:30 AM to fit in work, workouts, and family life—yet still trying to show up at your best, this is for you.

I cover common myths around short sleep, explain why even “powered-through” fatigue adds up, and illustrate why most of us can’t cheat biology by running on six hours forever. You’ll get an honest play-by-play: what actually works for rebooting your system after a short night, the real science behind NSDR (think: brainwave states, nervous system regulation, and hormone balancing), and the exact guided meditations, apps, tech (like Sensate, or BrainTap), and routines to supercharge midday recovery.

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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Download Ali Boothroyd's tracks for relaxing Yoga Nidra

The speaker specifically recommends downloading tracks from Ali Boothroyd's YouTube channel for guided Yoga Nidra, noting her voice is particularly relaxing.

#meditation

Stack audio for deeper rest

For a more immersive experience, play a guided meditation track at a low volume while simultaneously playing white noise from an app like Sleep Stream.

#meditation

#sleep

Silence wandering mind with NSDR sessions

NSDR sessions help to reduce the activity of the brain's Default Mode Network (DMN), which is responsible for mind-wandering, rumination, and anxiety.

#anxiety

#NSDR

Utilize NSDR to mimic restorative sleep brainwaves

NSDR works by shifting your brainwaves from an alert beta state to relaxed alpha and theta states, simulating the restorative aspects of sleep without full unconsciousness.

#NSDR

#sleep

Utilize dissolvable troches for rapid ingredient delivery

A company called Troscriptions makes dissolvable troches that deliver ingredients like Methylene Blue and GABA through the cheek for high bioavailability, bypassing the digestive system.

#bioavailability

#supplement

Utilize vibration for vagus nerve stimulation during NSDR sessions

A device called the Sensate uses vibration on the chest to stimulate the vagus nerve and activate the parasympathetic nervous system during an NSDR session.

#device

#vagus-nerve

Take seven forms of magnesium for optimal hormone balance

To properly support hormone balance, it is best to take a supplement like Bioptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough that contains seven different forms of magnesium, not just one or two.

#magnesium

#supplement

Incorporate daily NSDR sessions to recover from sleep deprivation

You can use a daily 20-60 minute Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) session to reboot and recover from consistently sleeping less than the recommended 7-9 hours.

#NSDR

#sleep

Utilize Roxiva lamp for deep NSDR experience

The most powerful technology for inducing a deep NSDR state is a lamp called the Roxiva, which uses intense, psychedelic-like light and sound patterns.