Are you having a hard time falling asleep?
Do insomnia, stress, and anxiety attack you every night?
You probably already know that proper sleep is just as vital to your health as eating the right kind and amount of food. But oftentimes, we neglect it anyway because there are tons of things to do, and 24 hours just isn’t enough time.
We develop this habit over a long period of time, and in return, our minds and bodies become accustomed to sleeplessness. We start to forget how to sleep soundly.
Fortunately, there is a solution: sleep podcasts. In this article, we will share with you the 17 best sleep podcasts that might just help you get that sleep you need and deserve.
Let’s get started!
Best Sleep Podcasts for 2024
1. Sleep With Me
Created and hosted by Drew Ackerman, Sleep With Me features bedtime stories that help you fall into a deep sleep. It has been featured on a lot of platform magazines, including The New York Times and Mental Floss. It started in 2013, and continues to be a benefit to those who suffer troubled minds at night.
Ackerman struggles with insomnia, too. When he was a kid, he used to tell bedtime stories to his brothers so they could all fall asleep. This is the main reason why he started the podcast—to help others fall asleep with his storytelling.
He claims that he is not an expert in psychology or sleep science, but he believes that his podcast can help others achieve a healthy lifestyle through sleep and rest.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
2. In Our Time
In Our Time is an educational podcast that tackles a wide variety of topics, including science, law, and religion. There are actually six different In Our Time podcasts. This one is the general podcast, while the other five focus on culture, history, religion, philosophy, and science.
This podcast was not designed to be a sleep podcast, but if you can remember how you fell asleep during class because of your professor’s long lectures, then listening to it might seem familiar. Essentially, you get two things if you listen to this podcast: You learn new things and are able to fall asleep.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
3. Nothing Much Happens
Kathryn Nicolai is a yoga teacher and meditation master. Since childhood, she has told herself bedtime stories to help herself doze off. Now that she’s an adult, she wants to do the same for other people—and does so by hosting this podcast.
Nothing Much Happens serves as a place where Nicolai can shares stories she makes up in her head. She has “a library in my head of simple tales to drop off to.” Her goal is to help people relax with her bedtime stories and soothing voice. Today, the podcast has over a million subscribers worldwide.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
4. Sleep Whispers
Sleep Whispers is hosted by Whispering Harris. If you want to get to know the host better, check out episode #132, titled “Who is Harris?” What you will discover is that he created this podcast to help people like him deal with their troubled minds during the deep, dark night.
This podcast is full of “whispered readings and ramblings” that can help you relax and sleep. It provides sleep meditations, stories, poems, and other educational materials that soothe the ear and calm the heart.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
5. Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Great Detectives of Old Time Radio focuses on stories about detectives and their adventures. It is hosted by Adam Graham, the editor and primary author of Laser and Sword Magazine. He also writes about political issues, which are published in Pajamas Media and Idaho Press-Tribune.
Great Detectives aims to recreate the experience of “the golden age of radio drama.” It will keep you wondering about the mysteries and twists of the stories it present, which is a nice alternative to sitting up at night wondering about the purpose of your life.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
6. Stories from the Borders of Sleep
Seymour Jacklin is the voice and author behind this sleep podcast. He was a mental health nurse before he started a range of projects that help people live a healthy and happy lifestyle. Stories from the Borders of Sleep is one of these truly remarkable projects.
Stories from the Borders of Sleep is a collection of Jacklin’s personal stories and made-up fables. He takes you on a whimsical and imaginative 8- to 18-minute journey that lies between sleep and reality—hence the title “Borders of Sleep.”
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
7. Game of Drones
Game of Drones is another brainchild of Drew Ackerman, creator and host of Sleep With Me. Ackerman uses the same storytelling method as in his other podcast, but in this case provides recaps and commentaries on the recent Game of Thrones episodes.
What is rather unique about this podcast is that it can turn this action-packed series into a relatively boring yet equally soothing narrative. There is no doubt that this podcast will put you to sleep.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
8. Tracks to Relax
Tracks to Relax is a compilation of sleep meditation guidelines that help people sleep faster, better, and longer. It claims to turn “bedtime” into “me time,” which is something that everyone can appreciate.
The moderators offer over 130 premium sleep meditations that you can access once you become a subscriber.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
9. Slow Radio
Slow Radio’s tagline is “Step back, let go, immerse yourself: it’s time to go slow.” Indeed, this is what everyone needs in this fast-paced world full of advanced technology—to rest for a while, take a deep breath, and just take things slow.
Slow Radio is a product of BBC Radio 3 that helps you celebrate life in the most serene and tranquil way. It lets you experience the sounds of nature while you fall into a deep sleep. If you want to stop and rest for a while, no matter what time of day it is, this podcast is for you.
10. The Daily Meditation
The Daily Meditation is another compilation of guided meditations that help you relax and calm down. It was not primarily designed to be a sleep podcast, but it does help if the causes of your sleeplessness are anxiety and stress.
Mary Meckley hosts this wonderful podcast. Her goal is to make people realize that meditation is not just a way to relieve stress, but also a new approach that they can use to face life and all its challenges.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
11. Miette’s Bedtime Story Podcast
Even though millions of people have subscribed to her podcast, Miette remains anonymous. But that shouldn’t matter much, because her podcast does the job it promises to do—to help you fall asleep with stories from your all-time favorite authors.
Miette’s Bedtime Story Podcast is the one to check out if you want to doze off with the world’s greatest short stories and prose.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
12. The New Yorker: Fiction
Tired of reading the magazine version? You can listen to the The New Yorker: Fiction instead! Hosted by The New Yorker’s fiction editor Deborah Treisman, this podcast delivers excerpts from fictional books written by esteemed authors.
It is not strictly a sleep podcast, but with Treisman’s relaxing voice, you’ll be slumbering in no time.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
13. On a Dark, Cold Night
If you are an insomniac and love horror stories, this podcast is the perfect fit for you. Kristen Zaza is like your best friend telling you bedtime ghost stories on a cold night in the wild forest during a camping trip.
On a Dark, Cold Night started in January 2018, and currently has 92 episodes. It has mostly 5-star ratings on various review platforms, and people report that, whether or not it helps you sleep, it is definitely exciting to listen to. You can download a transcript of each episode on Zaza’s website.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
14. Boring Books for Bedtime
According to its website, Boring Books for Bedtime is for the “sleepless, stressed, anxious, and insomniacs.” If you are struggling with the voice in your head that keeps you awake at night, this podcast has got your back.
In each episode, the host reads an old piece of literature from authors like Emerson, Galileo, or Aristotle. Even catalogs and instruction manuals are included in the menu. This podcast takes advantage of an old-fashioned prescription to help you doze off: It bores you to sleep.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
15. Bedtime Stories for Nobody
Bedtime Stories for Nobody is composed of odd stories narrated in a deep, soothing voice by Kai Stewart. It has a very simple tagline: “Hush.” This podcast aims to help you slow down and rest after a long day.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
16. Get Sleepy
Get Sleepy is a relatively new sleep podcast that includes professional writers, talented voice-over artists, and hardworking sound engineers. It calls itself the “ultimate bedtime story podcast,” and provides peaceful music and musings.
The show also offers mindfulness techniques and autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) triggers that can help you feel relaxed and calm.
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
17. Story Not Story
We recommend Story Not Story to couples who are having trouble sleeping at night, or those who simply want to listen to something together while they fall asleep in each other’s arms.
Just imagine you and your partner enjoying pillow talk about literally anything under the sun—that’s exactly what married couple Craig and Chyna do in this podcast!
Apple Podcast | Google Podcast
Final Thoughts on Best Sleep Podcasts
Life is short, and the clock is ticking. Do you want to spend the rest of your days groggy and irritable? Sleeplessness is a serious issue, so you need to find ways to get rid of it.
Of course, factors such as healthy food and reduced stress are part of the equation when you are trying to get enough sleep. But the podcasts we have shared above can also be helpful. We hope that you were able to find one that works for you.
If you want to know more about sleeplessness and how to get better sleep, we recommend checking out other articles we’ve published on this site:
Sleep better to live better. Listen to one or two of the podcasts we’ve shared above and see for yourself how they can make your nights restful and calm.
