8 Podcasts To Fall Asleep To

Key Takeaways:

• Podcasts can help soothe your mind and make it easier to wind down. 
• “Nothing Much Happens” and “The Daily Meditation Podcast” are two great options. 
• From white noise to true crime, there’s something for anyone. 

After a long and demanding day, your mind and body are probably eager for sleep. What happens if you can't get there as soon as you'd like to?

Podcasts are one of the most effective sleep aids for thousands of people. They offer a calm, screen-free way to wind down. Whether you prefer whispered bedtime stories, ambient soundscapes, or slow conversations that meander like a dream, there’s a podcast designed to lull your senses.

1. Sleepy

Host: Otis Gray

Vibe: Cozy, nostalgic, and gently soporific

“Sleepy” does exactly what it promises: it helps you fall asleep by reading you old books in a warm, soothing voice. Otis Gray reads public domain classics that you've probably already read, which means they're less likely to stimulate you. His voice is comforting and unhurried, like a friend reading you a story on a rainy night.

If you find peace in familiar words and classic literature, this one will wrap you up like a blanket.

2. Nothing Much Happens

Host: Kathryn Nicolai

Vibe: Gentle, grounding, like a meditation in disguise

Each episode of Nothing Much Happens is a quiet, cozy story where (as you can expect) not much happens. That’s the whole point. These tiny tales are full of sensory detail about mundane events, like making tea, tidying up, and watching the rain. They’re told twice: once normally, and then again, even slower.

Kathryn’s calming voice and the rhythmic repetition have a hypnotic effect. It encourages you to stop striving and simply be, which is often exactly what the body needs to drift off. You can actually listen to the story the first time and drift away with each refrain. 

3. Get Sleepy

Host: Various narrators

Vibe: Calming bedtime storytelling and soft meditation

Get Sleepy blends guided relaxation with fictional bedtime stories set in peaceful, dreamlike environments. There’s usually a short meditation at the beginning, followed by a slow, soothing narrative to ease you into rest.

The production is top-notch, the voices are soft and nurturing, and the episodes are long enough (about 30-45 minutes) to carry you fully into dreamland. Since the podcast is driven by creative writers and voiceover artists, you can expect both consistent quality and satisfying variety. 

4. Sleep With Me

Host: Scooter (real name Drew Ackerman) 

Vibe: Rambling, surreal, and surprisingly effective

Scooter has one job: to bore you to sleep. He’s really good at it.

In Sleep With Me, the host rambles through meandering stories that never really go anywhere, but in the best way. His sleepy, offbeat tone and gently nonsensical narratives are designed to distract your busy brain just enough to help it let go.

Drew had insomnia as a child and used to fall asleep half-listening to late night comedy radio shows. This podcast is his way of duplicating the secret sauce that eased him to sleep his whole life. 

It might sound odd at first, but this podcast has a cult following for a reason. If traditional bedtime stories aren’t quite doing it for you, this unique, humorous approach might be the sleepy solution you didn’t know you needed.

5. Drift Off

Host: Joanne D’Amico

Vibe: Classic bedtime stories told by a soft, nurturing voice

Drift Off brings back the tradition of being read to before bed, and it does so with a motherly warmth that feels incredibly comforting. Joanne reads classic and lesser known stories at a slow, peaceful pace. Her tone is loving and gentle, which is ideal for people who struggle with nighttime anxiety or restlessness.

Joanne is uniquely qualified for her role as a sleepy podcaster. She's a nurse, a massage therapist, and a certified hypnotist. Hypnosis, in particular, is a valuable skill touted for its ability to promote feelings of relaxation. It's the perfect trifecta of skills to help people feel at ease. 

6. The Daily Meditation Podcast

Host: Mary Meckley

Vibe: Short, empowering meditations with a soft, centering tone

If your restlessness stems more from racing thoughts than an overactive body, The Daily Meditation Podcast might be just the thing. Each episode is under 15 minutes and offers guided meditations on themes like letting go, managing stress, or setting intentions.

If you don't want to fall asleep in the middle of a podcast, this one is perfect. It's just long enough to be part of your bedtime routine if you'd like to incorporate a podcast into your nightly wind-down. 

The best part? It’s a two-for-one, because you’re also getting the benefits of daily meditation in addition to a little help dozing off. 

7. Slow Radio (BBC Sounds)

Host: Various artists and audio documentarians

Vibe: Immersive soundscapes and natural audio

Slow Radio isn't your run-of-the-mill podcast. There's no host. There's no story to be told. 

If you already use white noise to help you sleep, you’ll find that Slow Radio is even better. It's the equivalent of a white noise machine, but it offers a wider variety than half a dozen pre-programmed repetitive tracks. It's new and different every time without sacrificing passive comfort. 

Each episode features immersive, real-world sound recordings from around the globe, sometimes interspersed with light narration or poetic reflections. It’s like taking a sonic vacation for your nervous system. Perfect for nights when words feel too heavy, and all you want is to be carried away on sound alone.

8. On a Dark, Cold Night

Host: Kristen Zaza

Vibe: Hauntingly beautiful bedtime tales with a touch of gothic warmth

A lot of people listen to true crime documentaries or TV shows to fall asleep (think Law and Order reruns). This podcast has a similar vibe, but it's far less realistic. 

If your idea of comfort includes a little touch of the eerie, On a Dark, Cold Night is a gem. Kristen Zaza tells original ghost stories. They're not necessarily scary stories, but poetic, introspective narratives that carry a sense of melancholic peace.

Her voice is slow and smooth, like warm candlelight in audio form. The episodes often explore themes of loneliness, connection, and mystery in ways that feel both haunting and healing.

Final Thoughts on Bedtime Podcasts 

Falling asleep doesn't have to be a nightly battle. With the right tools, like a soothing podcast and a calming wellness ritual, you can transform your bedtime into something you actually look forward to.

Let the voices lull you and the stories carry you. At Sunmed, our CBD, like our CBD for sleep, can help to ease you into a relaxed space. Let us help you unwind while your favorite podcaster tells you a bedtime story. 

FAQs

Why do podcasts help with sleep?

Podcasts can serve as a great distraction from anything that is keeping your mind busy at bedtime, especially if you choose content that isn’t too stimulating. 

What kind of podcasts are best for sleep?

Calming, relaxing, slow-paced podcasts are generally best for sleep, but anything that helps you transition into sleep mode is a fair choice. 

Sources:

Public Domain Day 2025 in Literature | Standard Ebooks

How Does Hypnosis Work? | Cleveland Clinic

Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress | Mayo Clinic

Systematic review: auditory stimulation and sleep | Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine