Best Podcasts for Falling Asleep
Now that every person on Earth has a podcast, you can find a podcast on any topic or need – in fact, you can pick your favorite from a whole list. Let’s say you want a podcast that’s fun enough to keep your mind from plunging into night alarm; quiet enough to calm you in bed; and boring enough not to go to bed an extra hour waiting for the end. We’ve looked at some of the most recommended podcasts for falling asleep, picked the best ones, and added a few of our favorites. We, too
Choose your podcast
You will need to find a podcast that suits your taste, but doesn’t suit it so well that you can’t sleep. Browse the lists of MakeUseOf , Ringer , Slate , Mental Floss , Castbox , Stylist, and Refinery29 . Also check out these two threads on Reddit. There are dozens of options, so try only the shows that immediately strike you and the cherry-pick episodes. Don’t worry about learning the story. Here are some of our favorites:
Desert Oracle Radio
Lots of people love to fall asleep on Welcome to Night Vale , a scripted podcast about a desert town where all conspiracy theories are correct. But I also recommend its popular science counterpart, Desert Oracle Radio .
Host Ken Lane speaks like conservationist Art Bell, with a scathing growl and nighttime tone of voice that makes even his most vicious tirades about government cover-ups, the devastating effects of climate change, and predatory big business appropriate for more adventurous sleeplessness. …
Myths
Folklore podcasts are good for the evening. One of my favorites is the Mythos . With Nicole Schmidt, the recovery reactor combines storytelling and history education in every episode, all in quiet sleep of the coming tone. For example, in the premiere episode, Schmidt retells certain legends about faeries stealing babies and wreaking other destruction, explains more general faerie beliefs, and then explores how the legend of the “faerie people” (conquered people hiding in the twilight dimension) could have happened from the true history of the British invasions of the conquering peoples.
More enjoyable (albeit sometimes creepy) fairy tale podcasts include Singing Bones , Oddity, and the famous Lore .
Nowadays
In Our Time, British scholars discuss one historical figure, era or concept in each episode. I personally find this podcast lively and interesting , as does The Ring, but some of the blogs above recommend falling asleep to those charming accents and diving deep into the historical significance of, say, Bruegel the Elder. I must admit that even when I’m particularly interested in this topic, I can see how I can get distracted when guests get bogged down in details.
Other sleepy history podcasts include History of Rome , History of England, and Revolution . And if you get to the end of Nowadays (at least in the last episodes), you’ll hear relaxing final seconds as the producer steps in and asks who wants a cup of tea.
History, not history
“Story, Not Story” describes itself like this: “The couple, Craig and Chyna, tell each other bedtime stories that they come up with on the spot.” It’s pretty damn cute. You can hear them laugh and react to each other’s silly stories. They get a little more lively than some of the other sleepy storytellers, so take your time.
But because of the obvious love between these two presenters, it is very pleasant to listen to them, and it may seem more comfortable than listening to only one presenter. Craig is Craig Gasoline, aka YouTube blogger Wheezy Waiter . He’s been making videos for 11 years, so some of you will find him familiar.
Sleep with me
“Sleep With Me” is the most famous podcast dedicated to sleepy relaxation, and currently has over 700 episodes. Host Drew Ackerman, also known as Scooter, airs two hours a week. Some of them are original stories, some are detailed summaries of TV shows such as Star Trek: TNG and Nice Place . The scooter is often distracted from things like McMansions and aliens, or simply about its current state of mind, which helps ease the tension in the storytelling.
I can’t tell if Ackerman is speaking a stupid voice on purpose, or if it always sounds like that, but in any case, it is pleasant to listen to him, and the frivolous manner in which he speaks helps to stop paying attention and get distracted. …
Your podcasting app will only show you the latest 300 episodes, but you can find older episodes of Sleep With Me here . Or skip the series and long intros and endings, and just listen to the original stories in the Sleep to Strange feed.
Everything is alive
Another great awakening podcast, Everything Is Alive, interviews inanimate subjects. NPR producer Ian Chillag interviews comedians and actors who play as a lamppost, soap, or a grain of sand. The interviews are gentle and thoughtful, and the guests (including Ana Fabrega and Maeve Higgins) seem to be chosen for being friendly and sweet without being silly or conniving. I’m still waiting forJoe Pera to appear in, say, trousers.
Catapult
Fiction podcasts can help you get a good night’s sleep. Frequent references include The Writer’s Voice from New York, in which writers read their own fiction from the magazine, or The Classic Tales podcast , which features readings of classic stories and books such as Peter Pan , The Stolen Letter and Origins. person. “
But personally, I prefer The Catapult , which is hosted by my friend (and sometimes Lifehacker member) Jaime Green. The podcast ended in 2016 after 53 episodes, but you can still hear them all. Each short episode includes readings (fiction and popular science) by two authors and a meditative preamble by Green. Guest contributors include Helen Ellis, Jazmine Hughes, Tony Tulatimutte, Michael Ian Black and Edan Lepuki. The podcast website lists other articles by named authors.
Listen to different
Listening to podcasts before bed is not the same as listening to during the day. You will want to develop a few other habits.
Buy yourself bluetooth headphones. This way, you can place your phone out of your reach, where you won’t be tempted to pick it up and shine a blue light in your face. You will also avoid hitting the floor with your phone while moving in bed.
Pick a cheap pair or a pair that will stand the test. Then, when you fall asleep, you can simply tear them off and throw them somewhere in bed or even on the floor.
Before trying to fall asleep to a podcast, try it during the day, ideally in the evening. You want to test sleepiness with less risk, so if the show ends up being too flashy, too lively, or inundated with loud ads, you won’t actually lose sleep.
If you can estimate how quickly you will fall asleep – which may take some trial and error – then use your podcast app’s sleep timer to automatically shut off. The sleep timer is often found under the button with the clock icon. Here’s how to activate it on Apple Podcasts:
If one episode doesn’t suit you, move on to the next. A good bedtime podcast doesn’t require you to follow an ongoing storyline. It’s forgiving enough that you can get in and out whenever you want. Now sleep tight, and let you dream about Ira Glass.