Zack Polanski: What thought won't let you sleep? — FLAPSS

The question

What thought won't let you sleep?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A long-running fixed question in The Guardian's weekly Q&A questionnaire.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

ZP

Zack Polanski

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I would say something earnest like stopping the far right, but the truth is nothing keeps me awake at night.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 196 →

Daryl McCormack Irish actor

Weirdly, sometimes exhaustion keeps me awake. If I am really tired, I won’t sleep well.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 February 2023 source ↗

Infinity. I can’t get my head round it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 February 2026 source ↗

Sandi Toksvig Danish and British broadcaster, comedian and writer

Bloody radiator keeps banging. I think it needs air releasing but I don’t have a bleeding key.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 March 2018 source ↗

Melanie Chisholm British pop singer

My little girl. I often get visits just for a cuddle.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 October 2016 source ↗

More from Zack Polanski

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Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

A Reform government.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

Proportional representation.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

Chlöe Swarbrick who is co-leader of the New Zealand Greens. She’s demonstrating the bold leadership that I look to do every single day.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Question What trait do you most dislike in other people? Values & belief

Those who create the doom.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Question What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? Failure & regret

I get trolled on a daily basis so it probably involved my teeth, but that was until I learned to love my teeth.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

A dog bounding through the grass on a summer’s day chasing a squirrel.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 December 2025 source ↗

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