Soothing Sleep Podcasts
By Fran DeNunzio
Falling asleep can be a real challenge. Whether it’s the stress of school, a snoring roommate, or restless thoughts that are keeping you awake, we all struggle with the occasional night of insomnia. Counting sheep is not always the most effective way to relax our minds, and if you’re like me, listening to music is more distracting than calming when I am trying to sleep.
If you haven’t yet found a successful remedy to counteract those sleepless nights, I’m here to welcome you to the world of sleep podcasts. Sleep podcasts are a type of podcast created specifically to help people fall asleep. This category ranges from sleep meditation and ASMR podcasts to bedtime stories for adults. While there is a diverse offering on both the iPhone Podcasts app and on Spotify, here are a few that have sent me straight to sleep.
Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai
This podcast truly sticks to its title. It consists of bedtime stories in which nothing much really happens. These stories lack the traditional plots that many bedtime stories have, and instead focus on the details of mundane activities, such as baking, gardening, and even choosing a Christmas tree. The absence of a true plot prevents you from getting distracted with what might happen next in the story, making it easier to rest your mind. Kathryn Nicolai writes and narrates all of the stories in this podcast. Her calming voice is a testament to her experience as a yoga and meditation teacher. She reads her stories in a way that immediately allows you to relax your mind and body, setting you up for a perfect night of sleep.
Sleep Meditation Podcast
If you are someone who would prefer to listen to peaceful sounds rather than people talking, then this podcast is for you. The “Sleep Meditation Podcast” is essentially a white noise machine, but in the form of a podcast. Each episode offers a unique sound experience curated specifically to promote restful sleep. With almost 300 episodes, there is an unending variety of noises and instrumental music that can help put your mind at ease. Two of my personal favorites are “Calm Waterfall Sound” and “Heavy Rainstorm,” but you can also find distinct noises like “Campfire and Outdoor Fireplace with Distant Cricket Sounds.” Regardless of your preference, you are sure to discover a relaxing sound that will slow your breathing, block distracting noises from the hallway, and help you drift off to sleep.
Snoozecast
In this story-based podcast, three anonymous narrators take turns each episode reading stories from classic literature. This podcast is perfect for people who enjoy reading a book before bed, as the narrators read children’s books, chapters from fiction and non-fiction books, folktales, and sometimes even poetry. You can find excerpts from stories including Little Women, Robin Hood, and Jack and the Beanstalk. Because of the wide variety of story genres and the different narrators, listeners are able to discover the style of story-telling they prefer when falling asleep. The soft but expressive tones of the narrators combined with these authentic tales create a soothing bedtime story experience that is ideal for unwinding after a stressful day. This podcast will bring you back to the days when your parents read your favorite bedtime stories to you before bed.
Whether you are a podcast lover, or simply just a person who loves to sleep, I suggest listening to a sleep podcast the next time you are struggling to fall asleep. You might just be surprised when you wake up the next morning and can’t even remember drifting off to sleep.
