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The dream academy

Does the world have a sleep problem? We Explore how different cultures sleep.

Does the world have a sleep problem? We explore how different cultures sleep, and the research being done to improve how we rest. Insomniac Sean Allsop goes on a mission to find out how the world sleeps and asks - are we in a global sleep crisis?

A third of the world鈥檚 population reportedly struggles with sleep. Sean goes into a sleep science lab in the Netherlands, spends time on call at a sleep helpline and explore the evolution of sleep to understand why.

(Photo: A woman lies in bed on her front with her head on a white pillow, looking to the side and up at an alarm clock on a side table. Credit: Alamy/PA)

Producer/presenter: Sean Allsop
Ailsa Rochester: Editor
An Audio Always production for 91福利社 World Service

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Oct 2026 22:32GMT
91福利社 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

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Broadcasts

  • Thu 15 Oct 2026 01:32GMT
    91福利社 World Service
  • Thu 15 Oct 2026 08:32GMT
    91福利社 World Service
  • Thu 15 Oct 2026 19:06GMT
    91福利社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Sat 17 Oct 2026 23:32GMT
    91福利社 World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia, East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Sun 18 Oct 2026 13:06GMT
    91福利社 World Service News Internet
  • Sun 18 Oct 2026 22:32GMT
    91福利社 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only