Best Sharon Stephenson Podcasts (2025)

1
An Account of Egypt, by Herodotus, Part 3 50:42

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1h ago50:42

50:42

Let's return to the sands of sleep with this absolutely, totally true, not at all exaggerated account of Egypt. This time, a ramble connecting Greek gods to Egypt, a fabled labyrinth and lake all lost to time, and the tale of twelve kings accidentally undone by a hat. How could you doubt it? Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! All Dec…

1
Our Cats and All About Them, by Harrison Weir, Part 4 53:33

4d ago53:33

53:33

Let's fall asleep to more about the masters of relaxation, cats. This time, the unfairly maligned black, the beautiful blue, black-and-white versus white-and-black, the treasured Siamese, and the mystery of tailless cats. Also, an admonition to read cat show rules and a rumination on surrounding yourself with beauty. Good advice! Help us stay ad-fr…

1
Life on a Medieval Barony, by William Stearns Davis, Part 1 44:41

11d ago44:41

44:41

Let's sink into slumber with this dreamy description of life in medieval France circa 1220. This time, the background of the barony in question and the somewhat circuitous route of acquisition by its ruling family. Spoiler alert, not wandering off for years on a crusade seems to help with the whole "keeping your property" thing. Help us stay ad-fre…

1
Farm Engines and How To Run Them, by James H. Stephenson, Part 7 48:05

19d ago48:05

48:05

Let's relax to yet more information about steam engines, their types, and how their valves work, followed immediately by a glowing description of the newfangled gasoline engine that makes all the previous hours of steam engine learning a bit . . . pointless? Well, it helped us sleep, I guess. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreo…

1
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes, by Robert Louis Stevenson, Part 4 58:31

29d ago58:31

58:31

Let's return to the mountains of France with this wonderful author and his rather opinionated companion. This time, we ponder the phenomenon of waking in the deep dark of night, the pleasure of sleeping outdoors, the prettiness of a barmaid who doesn't give our author the time of day, and the perils of religious fervor. Variety indeed! Help us stay…

1
The Compleat Angler, by Isaak Walton, Part 1 57:12

1M ago57:12

57:12

Let's cast our lines into the river of relaxation with this classic about the art of fishing. This time, we begin with a conversation between a hunter, a falconer, and an angler about the relative superiority of their professions. But first, an overwrought patron dedication and lengthy, self-deprecating epistle to the reader, in perfect 17th centur…

1
1921 Sears Roebuck and Co. Modern Homes Catalog (Part 2) 57:42

1M ago57:42

57:42

Let's celebrate our seventh anniversary with more from this catalog of lovely, affordable homes, a dream indeed, and all certified by a team of women as perfect in every detail. But first, some very thorough assurances that these plans are entirely satisfactory or your money back. Guaranteed! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreo…

1
Etiquette, by Emily Post, Part 8 - Servants 55:30

2M ago55:30

55:30

Let's relax with more from this classic of classy behavior, and learn about the roles of servants in a good household. What they do, what they wear, and how to pronounce val-et, which your reader corrects upon reading this. Whoops! Also, once again, we learn that treating workers with respect is the highest mark of class. Facts. Help us stay ad-fre…

1
Where the Forest Murmurs, by Fiona Macleod, Part 2 44:38

2M ago44:38

44:38

Let's return to relaxation with two more essays about nature from this lovely work. This time, the magical peace of still waters framed by the changing leaves of autumn, and the almost universal reverence for the Pleiades, quiet heralds of November. Enjoy! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbook…

1
The Evolution of Modern Orchestration, by Louis A. Coerne, Part 1 53:39

2M ago53:39

53:39

Let's sleep to sonorous notes about the history of the modern orchestra. This time, we work our way forward from antiquity, ponder the parallel musical tracks of church and village, and name a lot of instruments that most today have never heard of, like the crwth. Yes, that's a real thing. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: …

1
The Problems of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell, Part 4 51:06

2M ago51:06

51:06

Let's relax with a listener request for more from the marvelous mind of Bertrand Russell. This time, thoughts about the nature of thought, induction versus deduction, and whether we can know anything. Spoiler alert, yes. But also, no. That's philosophy for you. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/borin…

1
Over Fen and Wold, by John James Hissey, Part 1 53:21

3M ago53:21

53:21

Let's relax with a lovely listener recommendation that takes us, and our authors, on a tour of little-regarded Lincolnshire. This time, the lure of new places, the charm of old maps, the evolution of place names, and confirmation that wishing to escape urban "uglification" to calm, green country is nothing new at all. Help us stay ad-free and 100% …

1
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, by Mary Somerville, Part 3 50:31

3M ago50:31

50:31

Let's sleep scientifically this week, with more from a woman of such deep and broad accomplishment that the word "scientist" had to be coined to describe her. This time, colors, molecular heat conduction, what constitutes smells, and why gold is really blue. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbo…

1
The Book of the Ocean, by Ernest Ingersoll, Part 5 54:30

3M ago54:30

54:30

Let's sail the seas of sleep with more from this volume about the history of our oceans. This time, the Age of Exploration south and north, the mythical Isles of the Blessed, Magellan's remarkable voyage, and how America really got its name. Hint, it was easy to pronounce. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patre…

1
The Ethics of Aristotle, Part 3 51:04

3M ago51:04

51:04

Let's philosophize our way to sleep with more from this 2,300-year-old work on the art of being. This time, what is happiness? How is it related to good character and, more importantly, acting in a good way? Can a person who does bad be happy, even beyond the grave? You know, simple stuff like that. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported!…

1
The History of Bread, by John Ashton, Part 6 - Conclusion 1:14:01

3M ago1:14:01

1:14:01

Let relaxation rise with this conclusion to one of our most (understandably) popular books. This time in we learn of gingerbread, penny loaf scrambles, riots, and bread-related superstitions like sin-eating and . . . floating corpse compasses? Oh, delicious bread, is there anything you can't do? Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! All…

1
Old Country Inns of England, by Maskell and Gregory, Part 2 52:14

4M ago52:14

52:14

Let's relax with more about the evolution of that useful place to sleep, the inn. This time, we travel from pilgrimage hostels to lodging for wool guilds and secret meeting places for the first trade unions. Also, some history behind many common inn names. Inn-teresting indeed! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All paid supporters i…

1
The Book of the Hamburgs, by L. Frank Baum, Part 1 48:37

4M ago48:37

48:37

Let's roost into relaxation with this rather charming guide to the Hamburg chicken from an author better known for wizards and wicked witches. This time, speculations on the origins of the Hamburg breed and characteristics of the beautiful Black Hamburg. So fancy! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All paid supporters in the month of…

1
The Story of a Boulder, by Archibald Geikie, Part 1 52:37

4M ago52:37

52:37

Let's chip away at sleeplessness with some 19th century naturalist writing, more specifically the "gleanings from the notebook of a field geologist." This time, we spot an odd boulder in a Scottish ravine, trace its origins back to the Ice Age, and ponder the monumental workings of glaciers. Perfection. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener suppor…

1
The North Pole - Its Discovery in 1909, by Robert Peary (Part 3) 57:12

4M ago57:12

57:12

Let's conclude our month of relaxing travels to sleep with a journey to the farthest reaches of the Arctic and the search for the North Pole. This time, we meet the region's people, learn about various home constructions, and appreciate the grandeur of a land of seasonal extremes. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://w…

1
Pictures from Italy, by Charles Dickens, Part 3 51:38

5M ago51:38

51:38

Let's continue our month of relaxing travels to sleep as we return to 19th century Italy with Charles Dickens and wind through the maze-like, mysterious, miasmatic, marvelous streets of Genoa. You can practically smell the place, which…was probably better avoided. Yikes. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon…

1
Faery Lands of the South Seas, by James Hall and Charles Nordhoff, Part 4 55:51

5M ago55:51

55:51

Let's continue our month of relaxing travels to sleep with further tales of adventure from the South Seas. This time, we head to the atoll of Ahu Ahu, learn about gossiping ghosts, and drink rather a lot of rum punch. As one occasionally does. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a…

1
The Railway Traveller's Handy Book, Part 3 48:27

5M ago48:27

48:27

Let's kick off a month of relaxing travels to sleep with more from this handy guide to riding a train. This time, how to purchase your ticket, class differences, the best place to sit, and why rudely stolen seats are never worth the embarrassment of a kerfuffle. Facts! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.c…

1
Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making, Part 3 51:18

5M ago51:18

51:18

Let's launch ourselves to sleep with more from this rather detailed look at fireworks. This time, we complete our historical retrospective of firework displays in Europe through the early 1900s, marvel at the fiery spectacles held at the Crystal Palace, and pity a guy that gets stuck on a wire. Whoops! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener support…

1
Astronomy for Young Folks, by Isabel Martin Lewis, Part 10 (Conclusion) 1:03:47

6M ago1:03:47

1:03:47

Let's journey through the stars to sleep with our final reading from this marvelous book. This time, binary star systems, how to measure the vastness of our universe, and a quick summary of key astronomical facts, including the reminder that the parsec is a distance, not a unit of time. Take note, fans of a certain film. Help us stay ad-free and 10…

Sharon Stephenson Podcasts

1
This Beautiful Ugly - Still here. Now what?

Shar Stephenson and Dr. Deb Harrell

1
generation veX

generation veX

1
Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep

Sharon Handy

1
An Account of Egypt, by Herodotus, Part 3 50:42

1
Our Cats and All About Them, by Harrison Weir, Part 4 53:33

1
Life on a Medieval Barony, by William Stearns Davis, Part 1 44:41

1
Farm Engines and How To Run Them, by James H. Stephenson, Part 7 48:05

1
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes, by Robert Louis Stevenson, Part 4 58:31

1
The Compleat Angler, by Isaak Walton, Part 1 57:12

1
1921 Sears Roebuck and Co. Modern Homes Catalog (Part 2) 57:42

1
Etiquette, by Emily Post, Part 8 - Servants 55:30

1
Where the Forest Murmurs, by Fiona Macleod, Part 2 44:38

1
The Evolution of Modern Orchestration, by Louis A. Coerne, Part 1 53:39

1
The Problems of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell, Part 4 51:06

1
Over Fen and Wold, by John James Hissey, Part 1 53:21

1
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, by Mary Somerville, Part 3 50:31

1
The Book of the Ocean, by Ernest Ingersoll, Part 5 54:30

1
The Ethics of Aristotle, Part 3 51:04

1
The History of Bread, by John Ashton, Part 6 - Conclusion 1:14:01

1
Old Country Inns of England, by Maskell and Gregory, Part 2 52:14

1
The Book of the Hamburgs, by L. Frank Baum, Part 1 48:37

1
The Story of a Boulder, by Archibald Geikie, Part 1 52:37

1
The North Pole - Its Discovery in 1909, by Robert Peary (Part 3) 57:12

1
Pictures from Italy, by Charles Dickens, Part 3 51:38

1
Faery Lands of the South Seas, by James Hall and Charles Nordhoff, Part 4 55:51

1
The Railway Traveller's Handy Book, Part 3 48:27

1
Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making, Part 3 51:18

1
Astronomy for Young Folks, by Isabel Martin Lewis, Part 10 (Conclusion) 1:03:47