5 podcasts to fall asleep to

Having trouble sleeping? Or do you just want something nice to listen to while doing so? Sleep podcasts are a great way to relax and unwind before bed. With hundreds of options to choose from—from adult bedtime stories to long-winded narratives that bore you into slumber—some stress is bound to occur.

In this article, to save you nighttime stress, we have rounded up five of the best podcasts to fall asleep to that will help you catch some much-needed Zs!

Sleepy

The title says it all. Sleepy is a podcast that features classic literature read by host Otis Gray in a soothing and calming voice. Gray's narration of classic literature such as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens and bedtime stories like Peter Pan and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is like a lullaby, making it the perfect podcast to listen to before bed. He also offers interesting insights into the books he reads, providing context and commentary that adds depth and meaning to each episode. Whether you're a literature buff or simply looking for a relaxing way to wind down at night, Sleepy is an excellent podcast to explore!

Sleep with Me

Host Drew Ackerman created "Sleep with Me" all the way back in 2013, and it has been running biweekly since. Having struggled with insomnia since childhood, and finding most “sleep solutions” disheartening, he decided to use his skill for boring people to help them nod off. Ackerman leads the audience through dull, dense, confusing and often downright boring stories in 60-minute episodes, all while maintaining a flat monotone—a recipe for inducing sleep if there ever was one! The stories can be about anything, from the greatest cereal ever to the rundown of a supermarket's inventory—he tells a circular and meandering story you will never hear the end of, making the stories as incomprehensible as possible!

Slow Radio

One person’s idea of a bedtime story might interfere with another’s, so if you think following a story is going to excite your mind too much, Slow Radio by BBC is the sleep podcast for you! Slow Radio is a podcast that takes its time. It is essentially a lengthy series that mixes calming music with field recordings. The 30-minute episodes feature a range of sounds from around the world, from the sound of birds chirping in the forest to the hum of a bustling city. For example, one episode might take listeners on a journey through a Japanese forest, while another might explore the sounds of a bustling market in India. Whether you're looking to relax, learn about different cultures, or simply appreciate the art of storytelling, Slow Radio is well worth a listen! 

Headspace Sleepcasts

Sleep podcasts have a range of outcomes, one of them being that they help build a bedtime routine. Headspace Sleepcasts are a popular feature of the Headspace meditation app designed to help users fall asleep faster and achieve a more restful night's sleep. Sleepcasts vary in length, from 45 to 55 minutes. Each episode begins with a “wind down,” which could be a meditation exercise, or even a simple breathing technique, followed by a narrated audio tour of a sleepy landscape or an imaginary dreamscape. These night-time journeys are remixed each night, meaning that experience is slightly different each time you listen. Headspace Sleepcasts also incorporate ambient sounds such as rain, waves, and white noise, which can help to drown out any distracting background noise and create a peaceful atmosphere. 

Game of Drones

Presented by Drew Ackerman, the host of sister podcast ‘Sleep with Me’, this podcast is essentially a series of extremely long-winded (usually at least 90 minutes) recaps of each episode of ‘Game of Thrones’. While no new episodes are being made, there are plenty of pre-recorded episodes to keep you droning away all night! Host Drew Ackerman is so good at what he does, he can turn even an exciting episode recap of Game of Thrones into a snooze fest! Covering the series' events and adding in extensive (sometimes wonderfully unrelated) excerpts unearthed from the books, it is the optimal sleepy-time listen for fantasy aficionados—even if you hated the final season!