The Evolution of WAIQ UHP ENTMT
From personal storytelling to cultural storytelling to systemic change — reframing how society sees sleep, disability, and neurodivergence through creative media and education.
Phase One: Foundations
2021–2022In 2021, the seeds of WAIQ UHP ENTMT were planted under the name hefallsasleep — first expressed through the SLEPPY clothing brand, a creative lifestyle line built around the experience of living with narcolepsy.
2021: The Beginning
- Founded SLEPPY clothing brand under hefallsasleep
- Registered as sole proprietorship
- Introduced visual language for sleep, neurodivergence, and self-acceptance
2022: Going Public
- Launched TikTok and Instagram channels for education and community building
- Applied to Project Sleep's Rising Voices of Narcolepsy program
- Hired by Narcolepsy Health Union for paid writing and moderation work
- Featured on BBC Radio's "Room 5" with Helena Merriman
These experiences solidified your position as both a creative and an advocate, revealing the potential of media-based storytelling to teach empathy and awareness.
Phase Two: Expansion & Experimentation
2023–2024These two years became a turning point — when your advocacy, art, and business instincts began to merge.
Collaboration & Professional Growth
- Tatiana (author and narcolepsy advocate)
- Julie Flygare (Project Sleep)
- Monica Gow (Wake Up Narcolepsy)
- Angel & Ayla (Our Future Iowa)
- Dr. Ann Marie Morris (SBDC)
- Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Creative Projects & Campaigns
- SLEPPY showcase through 237 Collective fashion events
- Led "Most of My Close Friends Have Autism" grassroots inclusion campaign
- Piloted first podcast (two episodes)
- Began concept work for Wake Up Club afterschool SEL program
- Started performing as Hefallsasleep (music, philosophy, advocacy)
- Secured storytelling contracts with Sharecare, WebMD, and Snow Companies
- Appeared on Narcolepsy Navigators and Project Sleep podcasts
🌟 Major Milestone
Wake Up Narcolepsy 2024 panel in Washington, Seattle — representing both professional acknowledgment and personal validation. By this point, nearly all advocacy and creative opportunities were paid, affirming your voice as a trusted educator in the neurodivergent community.
Phase Three: Integration & Structure
2024–2025Your projects matured into a cohesive ecosystem. The goal shifted from "telling my story" to "building systems that tell stories."
🎯 The Our Future Fellowship (2025)
Served as the inflection point. Exposure to peers, mentors, and structured nonprofit thinking clarified your long-term model. You began recognizing that your vision wasn't just creative — it was institutional.
Defining Two Entities
- WAIQ UHP ENTMT — The business and production studio that creates media, art, and educational content
- Nonprofit Arm (developing) — Focus on trauma-informed care, public education, and community wellness using that same media
🎬 Major Conceptual Shift
"Waiq Uhp Club" evolved from an afterschool program into a scripted media series. This reframing positioned you as a producer of scalable educational content rather than a facilitator of small-group sessions. It turned local programming into intellectual property — a shift from service to storytelling.
Personal Brand Evolution
- hefallsasleep continued developing through music
- SLEPPY face, sticker-sheet visuals, surreal edutainment motifs
- Merged art, advocacy, and community psychology into one creative practice