Narcolepsy Nerd Alert: Narcolepsy and Driving

Guests: Narcolepsy and Driving

Dr. Liesel Mitchell is a coffee-loving conversationalist, researcher/writer, and sleep coach from Aotearoa New Zealand. She has a professional background in teaching and a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies. Liesel has lived with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy since she was 15. Her expertise in understanding and managing her own sleep has triggered her interest in starting conversations in Aotearoa about this “invisible” neurological condition – and sleep in general. To raise awareness and interest in sleep, Liesel has started The Sleep Lab to provide a space for education, research and coaching support for people struggling with sleep.

Ming Lai is a person with type 2 narcolepsy without cataplexy, active in social justice and disability justice, a Registered Nurse, zinester, permaculturist, and a parent.

Mary Schneider is a patient advocate, artist, and ice cream enthusiast from Philadelphia, PA. She was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy at age 34 after experiencing symptoms since childhood. Mary has shared her story with audiences including The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, CBS News, Harmony Biosciences, the Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine, and the White House.

Cassandra Murphy is a 41-year-old Miami, Florida native and mother of two kids and two wiener dogs. She spent the last 15 years actively litigating cases, primarily focused on family law and criminal defense. She was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy in July 2023, and on Thanksgiving Day of 2024 she was in a severe car accident 1.5 blocks away from her house. At the end of 2025, Cassandra decided to take a break from practicing law to focus solely on a more balanced and successful lifestyle with her condition. She shares her story and participates in clinical trials to advocate and spread awareness and is committed to educating the public about sleep disorders and the importance of treatment and support.

Stephanie Manuli is a patient advocate living with narcolepsy type 2. She holds a Master of Public Health from George Washington University and recently started working as a Clinical Sleep Research Assistant at the EP Bradley Sleep Laboratory. She is on the board of Project Sleep and a graduate of the Rising Voices Program. In November 2025, she was recognized as Project Sleep’s Sleep Advocacy Champion.

Dr. Sam A. Kashani is a UCLA-trained, board-certified Sleep Medicine Physician based in Los Angeles, California. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of the full spectrum of adult and pediatric sleep disorders, with particular interests in the intersection of sleep and mental health, and the impact of sleep on mood, cognition, performance, and overall well-being. As the current President of the California Sleep Society, Dr. Kashani works to advance sleep medicine through physician education, public outreach, and professional collaboration. An internationally invited speaker, he lectures nationally and abroad on a wide range of sleep medicine topics, with a particular focus on improving the recognition and treatment of sleep disorders.

Project Sleep’s live broadcast series Narcolepsy Nerd Alert takes a deeper dive into specific topics related to narcolepsy. Hosted by award-winning geek Julie Flygare, each live event invites fellow #NarcolepsyNerds to explore unique aspects of the narcolepsy experience, contemplate bold questions, and learn from each other.

View all broadcasts and explore upcoming topics on our Narcolepsy Nerd Alert page.

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