In this episode, Ryan speaks with James Mollison, whose acclaimed project Where Children Sleep explores childhood through the lens of the bedroom—and what it reveals about culture, inequality and identity. We discuss what inspired him to start this work, how children’s sleep-environments vary dramatically around the world, and what lessons his images hold for understanding the connections between material conditions, sleep and emotional health. Whether you’re interested in children’s mental-health, global cultures or photography as a tool for change, this episode offers a unique vantage on how a simple space—the place a child sleeps—can reflect far more than meets the eye.

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Professor Sarah Blunden, a world-renowned pediatric sleep researcher from CQUniversity Australia and Monash University. Sarah has spent decades studying how children and adolescents sleep, why their rest is so often disrupted, and what parents and communities can do to better support them. We discuss the most common sleep problems in young kids, how early sleep habits shape emotional and cognitive development, and her Gentle Methods of Self-Settling (GeMSS) approach to helping children learn healthy sleep patterns. We also dive into cultural perspectives on co-sleeping, the pressures parents face to “fix” sleep quickly, and why understanding sleep in context is key for supporting both children and families.