Running on Fumes: Stories of Sleep Deprivation, Resilience, and the Human Spirit

Episode 1 – Meet the Sleep Genius: The Mission Behind the Mic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71JKTp_TLRM

Sleep is often the first thing sacrificed in pursuit of greatness. From military missions to entrepreneurial ventures, from the frontlines to the boardroom, pushing through exhaustion has become a badge of honor. But what happens when the body and mind are truly running on fumes?

That is the heart of the new Running on Fumes Podcast.

Hosted by Robert Sweetman, former Navy SEAL, MBA, and sleep scientist, Running on Fumes is where raw storytelling meets science. Each episode brings together military and paramilitary veterans, first responders, and high performers who know firsthand what it means to operate in extreme conditions without sleep.

The Stories

Expect to hear:

• Tales from the battlefield where seconds of lost focus could mean life or death.

• Training evolutions so brutal that sleep became the rarest luxury.

• Stories of resilience, where the body kept moving even after the mind begged to stop.

And through it all, listeners will laugh, nod, and sometimes shake their heads at the sheer absurdity of what humans will put themselves through.

The Science

Each episode closes with a short sleep science insight from Robert. This bridges the gap between lived experience and research. It is part story, part lesson, and part mission to show the world that while running on fumes might make for good stories, recovery and rest are what keep us truly operational.

Why It Matters

We live in a culture that often rewards exhaustion. The Running on Fumes Podcast shines a light on the costs of that mindset while celebrating the resilience of those who have lived it. For veterans, first responders, and anyone who has ever sacrificed sleep for duty or ambition, these conversations feel like home.

Join Us

The first episode introduces Robert’s personal journey, from SEAL Team deployments to sleep science advocacy, and sets the stage for what is ahead. Upcoming episodes feature a lineup of extraordinary guests, each with a unique perspective on the edge where exhaustion meets excellence.

You can listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full face-to-face conversations on YouTube.

Sometimes the best stories come when you are running on fumes.

Do you want me to make this version more conversational for a blog audience, or keep it professional and structured like above?