Counting sheep doesn’t seem to work anymore – sleeping is getting tougher. Sleeping eight hours a night sounds like a dream, and sometimes you need a calming voice to help you slumber. 

Here are 5 podcasts to offer soothing bedtime stories to help you sleep.

SLEEP WITH ME – DREW ACKERMAN

Recorded twice-weekly, Sleep With Me is basically a podcast that does bedtime stories for grownups. San Francisco Bay Area host Drew Ackerman intentionally tries to bore readers and hopes that they don’t hear the ending of a podcast. Ackerman states that “The mission of the podcast is still to take your mind off stuff and help you be distracted.”

Listen to the podcast here.

SLOW RADIO – BBC RADIO 3

Marketed by BBC Radio 3 as “A lo-fi celebration of pure sound”, Slow Radio is aimed at making listeners feel their inner calm. From sounds of the earth to monks chanting, this podcast literally gives you relaxing noises to help you drift asleep. 

Listen to the podcast here.

NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS – KATHRYN NICOLAI

Yoga and meditation teacher, Kathryn Nicolai, reads bedtime stories during the 20 minute podcasts. She used to make up stories to help her sleep as a kid as she does the same for her audiences. Known as bedroom stories for adults, Nicolai tells low-action tales about standing outside as snow falls and other minimalist ones to help you fall asleep. 

Listen to the podcast here.

DEEP ENERGY AND DARK AMBIENT PODCASTS

Soothing voices aren’t for everyone, sometimes you need a musical store. Roughly hour-long, Deep Energy and Dark Ambient Podcasts combines natural sounds with synthesizers to give you a sleeping melody. The music doesn’t have a beginning or an end, and listeners can just fall without regret. 

Listen to the podcast here.

DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST – MARY MECKLEY

Including long, soothing stretches of quiet music between instructions on how to relax. Mary Meckley helps to rest your time and to fully relax before bed (but you can listen to this anytime you need to relax). The effect is instant calm and it can help you sleep but soothe some anxieties too. 

Listen to the podcast here.

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Words by Kat Howard

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