10 Relaxation and Sleep Podcasts So Effective, I Nearly Fell Asleep Writing this List

Last updated on January 26th, 2021

Folks, if you ask anyone who speaks to me regularly, the number one way I answer the question “how are you?” is “tired”. It’s certainly an existential state of being, but also, I just have trouble falling asleep. I have spent literal hours staring at a ceiling unable to do so, and I know this is not a lonely boat I’m in. Getting into podcasts means I also discovered podcasts specifically designed to help people sleep, relax, or take a moment to themselves. I mean, we all have that podcast that helps us sleep that was not made at all with that in mind, but let’s keep those to ourselves; I don’t think anyone wants to hear that their podcast is snooze-worthy. Your mileage may vary, but here are some sleep and relaxation focused podcasts in no particular order that have successfully helped me drift off into dreamland in less than an hour.

(Also, I genuinely did drop my head onto my desk while doing some re-listening for this list and took a nap, so thanks for bringing some shuteye into my workday, podcasts.)

Sleepy

In the tradition of our childhoods, Otis Gray reads classic stories in the public domain to help listeners go to sleep. Gray’s presence in this podcast is warm, calm, and inviting, and best for those who like deeper voices; he doesn’t rush through anything nor does he linger dramatically to encourage tension. I highly suggest starting with stories that you already know and love, so that you can achieve the maximum effect of having a beloved story read to you at bedtime again.

Nothing Much Happens: Bedtime Stories for Grown-ups

This scripted podcast doesn’t really have a plot, and that’s the point. Cleverly using second person, Kathryn guides the you in this story through a lovingly detailed and descriptive experience of a calming or happy event, like baking bread or enjoying an unexpected nap. The narrator’s voice is soothing, great for those who prefer higher and breathier voices, and best of all, each episode tells the story twice. The second time, she slows down her speech and lengthens her pauses, which makes this a great podcast for regulating and timing breathing for me.

Sleep with Me

I would be remiss to not include Sleep with Me on this list. Creator Drew Ackerman, or Scooter, blends the need to giggle and to find relief from insomnia to create bedtime stories for adults who, in particular, might be lonely in their insomnia. Ackerman’s voice is kindness personified, best for people who prefer creaky and higher-toned voices, and good at rambling, tumbling words one over the other. If you’re looking for another story where you don’t have to worry about anything happening, Sleep with Me will help.

On a Dark, Cold Night

In a neat twist to the format, this is a horror anthology podcast designed to also be soothing, and I swear by this podcast. Kristen Zaza’s vocal quality is raspy, deep, and slow, a perfect combination to unwind with. Her writing, however, cannot be missed; if you decide to just listen to this for the storytelling while awake, you won’t be disappointed. This is such a difficult concept to execute well–to use a genre that normally is associated with tension and no sleep to help put people to sleep–and Zaza nails it by sticking firmly in the realm of eerie, strange, and sometimes sad.

Slow Radio

The BBC’s Slow Radio is all about slowing down in an active world, and viscerally experiencing sound. This is a headphones-on, eyes closed podcast, so that the sounds of whatever they’ve recorded can take on full color in your brain. I’ve replayed the forgotten, vintage technology sounds episode a million times, because in between clicks and clacks, there’s the silence where every sounds hangs in the air. If you want the sounds of walking through nature or standing in the lives of monks in their monastery, Slow Radio has your back and will help you slow down for a little while.

One Third of Life

One Third of Life’s Zane C. Weber reads Wikipedia articles on religion and mythology for an hour, backed by looped piano and violin classical music. Occasionally, the music becomes blended with electronic beeps and tones, which feels natural somehow against Weber’s whispery, yet resonant voice. Against the music, his voice is just low enough to become a hum when you’re slipping into REM.

Stories from the Borders of Sleep

The backlog of this podcast is one of my fondest loves. Creator Seymour Jacklin writes cute, fantasy stories, often fabulist or dreamy, as they draw inspiration from his dreams. This is perfect for children as well, and fun to escape with even if all you need is a few minutes of being somewhere else. This is a perfect bedtime story podcast, and I have been known to just set up a huge stream of stories in my queue and transform my ceiling into another, safer world.

Bedtime Stories for Nobody

Kai Stewart’s weird little podcast combines poetic language with odd stories, narrated by Stewart’s own rich alto. The stories and poems vary widely in length, and occasionally in style, but even spending a couple of minutes listening to these strange worlds can help me remember how to breathe deeply and unclench my jaw. If you prefer your sleep-friendly podcast to be a brief companion, a small part of a nightly routine to help your brain learn that it’s time to go to sleep, Bedtime Stories for Nobody will fill in that space neatly and with quiet confidence.

Sleep Whispers

While only the latest 6 or so episodes are available for free on the feed, Sleep Whispers is the podcast to go to if you like very soft whispers that are close miced, so you can hear the click of every t and d and the sibilant hiss of every s. This podcast triggers my ASMR so that every part of the back of my neck tingles, so if these kinds of sounds are for you, you may want to listen to host Harris read something just a little bit interesting, but not so much that the squirrels in our brains are fully engaged.

Sleep Meditation Podcast

Another one for the ASMR crowd, the Sleep Meditation Podcast is for those of us who would prefer no one speak at all. With over 200 episodes available, you can indulge in lengthy rainstorms, soft ocean waves, and gently pulsing, rhythmic music. I’ve used this to help guide me through yoga and meditation, as well as the style of white noise I need to fall asleep.