Keynote speakER

Lindsay is a speaker, writer, producer, and strategist who leads at the nexus of entertainment and political change. With over 20 years working on core teams of high-powered influential leaders across media, entertainment, politics, and government (President Obama, Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Ambassador Susan Rice, John Legend, Neal Katyal, The Television Academy), she is passionate about expanding patient advocacy and normalizing conversations about sleep disorders.

Hire Lindsay to Speak

Why we Need to talk about Sleep

With more than 80 classified sleep disorders, one in five people have a sleep disorder. The challenge: most people remain undiagnosed while trying to function in a world with less energy.

Because It's either been "I'll sleep when I'm dead" or "It's your fault you're tired."

We're trained to believe that sleep doesn't matter and simultaneously conditioned to feel like we are failing at it. Did you sleep in a perfectly dark room? Were you exposed to blue light before bed? Did you get exactly eight hours?

But guess what - sleep does matter because it has severe health and economic implications, And no, it's not your fault you're not getting enough rest.

Undiagnosed sleep disorders can lead to coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes and have an economic burden of $149.6B from undiagnosed sleep apnea alone, including $86.9B in lost work productivity. And even without a chronic disorder, lack of sleep lowers your immune system, weakens your memory, and wreaks havoc on your mood.

The 2023 Sleep Awareness Week flooded our social feeds with endless conversations about mattresses, PJs, and night creams. Americans spend $65B annually on sleep - on melatonin, ergonomic pillows, and sleep apps - there are a lot of sleepy people out there. But if you have an undiagnosed sleep disorder, it doesn't matter how good your mattress is; it will not cure your sleepiness.

Our healthcare system fails at diagnosing sleep disorders. Because of low awareness (even among physicians) and misperceptions, for a disorder like narcolepsy, there is an average of 8 to 15 years between symptom onset and diagnosis. We are gaslit by our doctors, our peers, and ourselves. People need to be empowered to investigate and push back. Getting a diagnosis for ANY medical issue shouldn't take this long.

It's possible to take control of your life by digging deeper into the quality of your life when you're not awake. This isn't about patient advocacy; it's about patient activation.

Signature Talks

Is My Tired Different?

(or how to know when everyone else around you is tired)

The first time Lindsay’s doctor told her, “You are busy; busy people are tired,” she was 16. She would go on feeling excessively sleepy for nearly twenty years before finally getting diagnosed with narcolepsy, a neurological disorder of the sleep-wake cycle. Doctors dismissed her bouts of nighttime insomnia, intense night terrors, and sleep attacks, leading to naps in the office bathroom. She was misdiagnosed with depression and felt there was little she could do to improve her situation.

With wit and expert storytelling, Lindsay shares her decades of symptoms while working for President Obama and the Former First Lady Michelle Obama. She describes being gaslit by doctors and friends, keeping her second-guessing herself and barring her from a diagnosis. Finally, Lindsay details what she wishes she had known about sleep and sleep disorders so that others can investigate their own health.

While narcolepsy affects one in 2,000, one in five people have a sleep disorder, and most remain undiagnosed and untreated. Lindsay activates audience members who may be questioning their own fatigue to seek answers and get help.

There is no out-of-the-box, turnkey approach to getting restful sleep. Sleep is a bell curve; some people need four hours while others need 12 - the recommended eight hours of sleep is simply the average. We also have different sleep chronotypes - some of us are designed to go to sleep early, while others do better going to sleep late.

The first time we think about our sleep routines is when we’re not getting enough, but that can also signal something worth a deeper investigation. Lindsay couples humor and hard data while weaving her personal story of narcolepsy to encourage participants to think about their own sleep.

This isn’t a medical conversation, and it’s not designed to diagnose you with a sleep disorder. Lindsay’s goal is for her listeners to build a better relationship with their bodies, figuring out what works best for their sleep. And if this doesn’t work, she’ll share evidence-based guidance about what to do next. Lindsay activates her audience to be their own sleep champions.

Sleeping For You

Audiences

Lindsay’s talks are perfect for anyone who sleeps - professional organizations, wellness conversations, and businesses of all sizes looking for a healthier workforce. In short, everyone is impacted.