The State of Dream Studies with Nicoline Douwes Isema S1:1

Ryan D. Hurd — Fri, 08 May 2026 12:03:14 -0400

In the inaugural episode of the Dream Studies Podcast, host Ryan D. Hurd sits down with dream research expert Nicoline Douwes Isema for a wide-ranging conversation about where the field of dream studies stands today.. and where it's headed.

Topics covered:

The "democratization of dreaming" — why your dreams belong to you, not an authority figure
How 100+ years of psychiatry and psychology inadvertently took dream ownership away from everyday people
The role of AI in dream interpretation: pattern recognition vs. meaning-making, and how to use it wisely
Wearables, sleep trackers, and cognitive freedom — empowering people through data about their own sleep
How dream sharing strengthens emotional connection (and yes, sexual intimacy) in relationships
Team dreaming and collective dream work — dreaming together as a creative problem-solving tool
Synchronicities: why keeping a dream journal puts rare experiences in perspective
A "tiny revolution" in how we talk about and relate to our dreams

Guest: Nicoline Isema | thinkinginyoursleep.com | Instagram | LinkedIn

Resources mentioned:

International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD)
Gail Delaney's dream interview method
The Dream Portal membership community

About the host: Ryan D. Hurd is a dream researcher, author, and holistic educator. The Dream Studies Podcast explores dreams, consciousness, and the imagination, bridging 21st century science with intuitive ways of knowing.

Subscribe to get notified when the next episode drops. This a slow publishing project by design, with new episodes every two weeks or so.