Episode
Deeper Dive: A Brief History of Sleep
- Published
- Jul 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 982
- Processing state
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Summary
Sleep is a biological necessity, but our practices around sleep are cultural. Before the industrial revolution, sleep was generally biphasic, meaning that it happened in two intervals. Virginia Tech Professor Roger Ekirch is credited with founding the discipline of sleep history, and in this conversation with host Lilit Sadoyan he explains how people in the 18th century approached sleep, what kept them awake at night, and what we today might learn from the sleep habits of the past. If you missed this week’s yoga nidra meditation inspired by an 18th-century French bed, look for it on your podcast player or find it on our website . You can watch this episode on YouTube here: https://gty.art/4wZysOS Find images, a transcript, and more resources on our website: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/deeper-dive-brief-history-of-sleep/ Subscribe to OMMM be the first to hear new episodes. Production team: Host: Lilit Sadoyan Producers: Zoe Goldman and Gideon Brower Video Editor: Jeremy Rhodes Mixer and Sound Designer: Jaime Roque Executive Producer: Christopher Sprinkle For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/ If Objects Could Talk is a family-friendly show where Getty museum objects, like a Greek vase or porcelain clock, come alive to share their story: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/ ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/ Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.gett…