Listen To Sleep - Quiet Bedtime Stories & Meditations

Chapter 1 of Iola Leroy, a novel by Frances Watkins Harper. She was an abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, public speaker, and writer, one of the first African American women to be published in the United States.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review...

In solidarity with #blacklivesmatter and to honor the life of George Floyd, this week’s story is Frederick Douglass’s classic essay, My Escape From Slavery.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/l...

A Scottish tale about the consequences of not respecting a fairy's home.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics) for...

Over the past few months, I reached out to some artists whose work I love and respect to ask them if they would be interested in reading to you. This bonus episode is read by Andy Fenstermaker, who makes music and poetry as Andy The Doorbum. He is full of heart and not afraid to dive into the darkness to shine a light or simply sit and wait for the sun to return.  During the past few months o...

A sweet slice-of-life story by Willa Cather about a family in the American West at the turn of the 19th century.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this...

Written in the style of Finnish Realism, this 19th century tale of a household transformed by modern technology is a sweet tale of simpler times.  This extended episode includes the sound of crickets I recorded one evening this past summer up at my cabin.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to...

A sleepy story about a magical doll who wants to be a boy, good for adults and kids.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain cl...

A sleepy classic about the importance of wonder.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics) for free at https://www.gute...

A French fairy tale by the Comtesse D'Aulnoy. It's the story of a cat who has a secret.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain...

A tale about a brave Norwegian prince.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics) for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/...

Sand Flat Shadows is a beautiful, sleepy story about the creation of man and animals as told by a goat to a goose while laying under the stars on a sand flat.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com...

This is the first in a new series for Listen To Sleep patrons called Sleepy Shorts. They are short, sleepy stories for kids and adults -- perfect for nap time or break time.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at http...

This bonus episode has no story, only binaural nature sounds I recorded here at my cabin mixed with relaxing music. You can find this, as well as lots of other audio to help you sleep, on my patreon at http://patreon.com/listentosleep . You can join for as little as $1 a month. I know times are hard, and if you can't afford it, just email me at erik@listentosleep.com and I'll send you a link to ge...

A Scandinavian tale about loss and redemption.  For more relaxing Sleepy Shorts, shorter stories for kids (and adults - perfect for a nap or a break), as well as nature sounds I record myself and relaxing nature & music tracks for yoga or meditation, check out the Listen To Sleep patron program at https://patreon.com/listentosleep . Great sleepy rewards can be had starting at just $1 a mo...

For kids and adults alike, this week's story is about why opossums are white.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics)...

A Japanese fairy tale by Yei Theodora Osaki.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics) for free at https://www.gutenber...

Here's the prologue to this classic novel about the origins of the story. It's a little weird, and a lot sleepy.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story...

Here is part two of this great Irish fairy tale.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics) for free at https://www.gute...

An Irish fairy tale this week. It's a long one so I've split it up. Part one is this week and part two next week.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this stor...

Another Polish folk tale for a listener in Poland this week.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics) for free at http...

A request for a Polish folk tale from a listener in Poland this week. I hope she likes it. It's weird and a little sweet.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read t...

Another request for a story from the Brothers Grimm this week. The Golden Goose is another weird one with a moral about being kind to strangers.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep...

A request for a story from the Brothers Grimm this week. King Grisly-Beard is about a princess who learns an important life lesson.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You...

In celebration of six months of Listen To Sleep and 30,000 downloads, here's an extended edition of the first episode. It's a viking myth with the sound of crickets I recorded at my cabin last summer, The Beginning of Things by Abbie Farwell Brown.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the...

A Japanese fairy tale about the deceit and redemption by Yei Theodora Osaki.  For a searchable, tagged index of all the episodes or to make a request, go to https://www.listentosleep.com .  If you'd like to support the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron at https://patreon.com/listentosleep .  You can read this story (and other public domain classics)...