When we say that Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett from The US Virgin Islands has a surprising sleep routine, we don't mean that she does anything strange or unusual. It's simply that like so many of us, sleep is something that shows up for Rep. Plaskett when she's run out of things to do. And like our friend Chilina Kennedy from a couple of episodes ago, she's stumbled upon a sleep solution that, according to Dr. Michael Grandner from the University of Arizona, has at least a loose basis in science.

Of course, if the name doesn't immediately register, quickly Googling Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett should immediately reveal why we were excited to get her on the show: She had a colossally big day. One that made history. And though it would be easy to dismiss as a "third rail" subject that we shouldn't address on a sleep podcast, she's exactly the kind of person we should be talking to, because the question arises, "How did you possibly manage to fall asleep the night before?"

We talk not only about the Congresswoman's ongoing sleep issues, but also things like the study from Dr. Dayna Johnson at Emory University, linking race with sleep in a way that is stark and disturbing. We also get into school start times in The US Virgin Islands, and how our Congressional Representatives go about affecting change when the science is undeniable.

However, the Congresswoman has a "mic drop" moment at the end of her interview with Neil, where she makes a veiled reference to sex being good for sleep. We pursue that as a subject of conversation, almost to the point of being uncomfortable, with Dr. Grandner. And you'll be surprised what that conversation reveals about the data concerning sex and sleep.

Linkapalooza

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett and her official Congressional web page.