Best Sleepaid Podcasts (2025)

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The 1942 Sears Roebuck and Co. Christmas Book, Part 2 1:00:26

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3d ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Let's shop for sleep with more selections from this Christmas gift catalog from the years of World War II. This time, pretty yet practical cards, tree decorations and miraculous electric lights that stay lit, luggage, toys, ties, and the gift of every girl's dreams . . . a robe! May this help you have the happiest of holidays, dear listeners. Help …

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REPOST - Little Women – Amy’s Adventures with Aunt March 41:30

3d ago41:30

41:30

Hi friends. A nasty bug has been doing the rounds in my family and hit me just as it was leaving, so I don’t have the voice to be doing any recording. I’m taking this as a sign from the universe and taking a short break, so I will drop some fun readings from this year to enjoy over the holidays. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, see you i…

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Wintering in the Riviera, by William J. Miller, Part 1 56:59

11d ago56:59

56:59

Let's set sail for warm winter nights with a new (well, "new") travel book. In this first reading, thoughts on speaking the language, the best travel guides, the importance of strong luggage and a corkscrew, and how overpacking and Italian water are best avoided. Bon voyage! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! All December supporters …

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The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish - Part 07 - REPOST 37:53

11d ago37:53

37:53

Hi Friends. Apologies, I've been so busy with work the last few weeks I've been struggling to keep up with recording. Last week was a struggle and this week was just nothappening, but I don't want to leave you sleepless. Here's something from earlier this year. In this strange story we pick up with the Duchess and the Empress building worlds with t…

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

17d 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…

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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Part 09 40:08

18d ago40:08

40:08

For this week’s bedtime story we return once again to the adventures of Lizzie Bennet as she visits her friend Charlotte as the new bride of Mr Collins. She gets to know Lady Catherine a bit better and Mr Darcy comes to visit, but things are getting strange. Does he have feelings for her? Find Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen https://www.gutenber…

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

25d 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…

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Woman's Work in Music by Arthur Elson – Part 07 37:55

25d ago37:55

37:55

I don’t know why I dropped this book over a year ago, maybe it was all the French names? So apologies in advance about the pronunciations as you get ready for sleep and we pick up learning about significant French women who were composers in the 19th century. We then move on to the USA and learn of the many notable female composers there. Find Woma…

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

1M 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…

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Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by David P. Todd – Part 09 39:04

1M ago39:04

39:04

This week as you prepare to sleep, I will tell you all about the moon. Learn about how eclipses work and what it was believed the surface of our celestial neighbour was like in the 1920s. Find Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by David P. Todd https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39142 Supporting Sleepy Time Tales If you would like to suppo…

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

1M 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…

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Bellarion the Fortunate by Rafael Sabatini – Part 05 38:30

1M ago38:30

38:30

For this week’s sleepy story we pick up with Bellarion well into the mysterious plot. He finds out what the plot is about, and learns something shocking. Find Bellarion the Fortunate by Rafael Sabatini https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68411 Supporting Sleepy Time Tales If you would like to support my work and help keep the podcast available and for…

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

2M 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…

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Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson 46:39

2M ago46:39

46:39

In this week’s sleepy story we finish off Ralph Waldo Emerson’s musings on nature and humanity’s place in the world. It’s a relaxing meditation that I’m sure will lead to restful dreams. Find Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29433 Supporting Sleepy Time Tales If you would like to support my work and help keep the podca…

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

2M 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…

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Anne of Green Gables – 05 43:26

2M ago43:26

43:26

Tonight’s story to help you sleep is our return to Anne of Green Gables. In this Anne is facing the fallout of her temper tantrum from previously. After she apologises she’s off to church for the first time where her impulsive nature seems kept in check, until Marilla hear some news. Find Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery https://www.gutenbe…

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

2M 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…

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Fall Asleep to the Fall of an Empire: Justinian & Belisarius 43:06

2M ago43:06

43:06

Bed time non-fiction this week sees us return to the Dark Ages and the reign of Justinian. Follow the African and Italian campaigns of the General Belisarius and find yourself falling asleep as Justinian’s reign ends and we learn of the bankruptcy of the remains of the Empire. Find The Dark Ages, 476-918 by Charles Oman https://www.gutenberg.org/eb…

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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…

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The Last Man by Mary Shelley, Part 08 40:58

2M ago40:58

40:58

This week’s sleepy story is from a lesser known Mary Shelly classic. Sleep will come as you learn about the history of Raymond’s friend Evadne. Unfortunately he is keeping secrets from his wife, so things start to go wrong. But I’m confident you won’t be awake when the story goes bad Find The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley https://www.gute…

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Frankenstein Unbound (1990) 5:17:17

2M ago5:17:17

5:17:17

It's October again, and you know what that means: spooky movies! Or at least, movies we think are going to be spooky until we actually watch them. This month, we checked out Roger Corman's "Frankenstein Unbound" from 1990, starring friends of the show William Hurt and Raul Julia. A bizarre mashup of Frankenstein, Back to the Future, Knight Rider, a…

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

3M 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…

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Rides on Railways by Samuel Sidney, Part 06 37:57

3M ago37:57

37:57

Starting for some reason with learning about the educational system in the town of Rugby this week’s sleepy story continues the railway journey around Britain. We then take the train from Coventry to Birmingham and learn about that city’s industrial history, but sleep will come to you very soon. Find Rides on Railways by Samuel Sidney https://www.g…

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

3M 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: …

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Birds and their Nests by Mary Howitt 37:51

3M ago37:51

37:51

For this week’s sleepy story we return to learning about the nesting habits of various birds, starting with the common and charming wood pigeon. There is some cruelty of nature here, but the charm of the actions of our feathered friends will help you settle down to sleep. Find Birds and their Nests by Mary Howitt https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68…

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

3M 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
The Great Gatsby – Gatsby and Daisy 40:55

3M ago40:55

40:55

Settle down to sleep as we continue our bedtime reading of The Great Gatsby. Gatsby’s plan is coming to fruition, he’s back in contact with Daisy, but things aren’t going the way he dreamed. As you drift off we will also learn a bit more about the mysterious Jay Gatsby and where he came from. Find The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald https://www…

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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% …

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The Book of the Ancient Greeks by Dorothy Mills 40:42

3M ago40:42

40:42

Drift off to the gentle rhythm of oars on the Aegean Sea. This quiet reading details the rise of Athens and its powerful navy, slowly recounting the historic defeat of Xerxes not as a clash of battle, but as a distant, soothing story. Let the measured history of ancient triremes and strategic triumphs lull you into a deep and peaceful sleep. Find T…

1
A Knight's Tale (2001) 5:00:01

3M ago5:00:01

5:00:01

Sorry we're late, half of us had covid! He's actually fine, he just had no voice for a while. And his personality is odd, but that's normal. This month we revisited the 2001 cult classic A Knight's Tale! Written and directed by Brian Helgeland and starring the late great Heath Ledger, A Knight's Tale is a mostly light anachronistic romantic comedy …

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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
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea 39:33

3M ago39:33

39:33

Find your most comfortable position, and let the world above the waves gently fade away. Tonight, we are granted a rare and quiet invitation to step aboard the most marvelous vessel ever to sail the deep. We descend into the pages of Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," where Captain Nemo himself is our soft-spoken guide. He will …

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

4M 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…