In this new selection we learn of many of the people I’m sure we’ll get to know in Anne of Green Gables. It’s a strange story, apparently people just used to bring orphans home to bring up and put to work? But it doesn’t seem sinister, just odd, so it won’t stress you out and prevent you from falling asleep as we meet the varied cast of characters. Story (03:35)  SleepPhones, our exciting partnership In our experience the best way to experience the bedtime stories of Sleepy Time Tales...

Retelling History for Bedtime - The Dark Ages, 476-918 by Charles Oman While the history of the Western Roman Empire after the fall may be fascinating to many, to most it’s probably so boring that tales of Theodoric, possibly the greatest Germanic king of Italy will be guaranteed to help you get a good night’s sleep. Settle down, relax and drift away as tales of Franks, Visigoths and Ostrogoths wash over you in waves of soporific voice over. Story (03:09)  SleepPhones, our perfect...

 A bit of a dark story from famed fantasist and progenitor of modern fantasy Lord Dunsany. Dunsany’s speciality was writing stories that felt like ‘real’ myths from a forgotten time in our world and this is no exception. The story of a great city, whose greatness and the warriors that led to it was in the past. And the challenges that arise from that. This one does get a bit exciting, but the cadence is mysterious so I’m sure you will fall asleep before the exciting bit arrive. And those...

 Be warned that traditional Halloween traditions may be a bit disturbing, but I left out the nasty stuff. This spooky episode shouldn’t leave you sleepless. We continue the exploration of how pagan traditions were subsumed into Christianity, and how even some Christian traditions began to be viewed negatively after this association was created. We also finish off with a few fun traditions of regions like Brittany as we say goodbye to this particular book. I’ll need to find other...

The Book of Hallowe'en by Ruth Edna Kelley Be warned that traditional Halloween traditions may be a bit disturbing, but I left out the nasty stuff. This spooky episode shouldn’t leave you sleepless. Learn some of the traditions and tales of continental Europe, including the surprising revelation that Britain was considered to be the ‘Land of the Dead’ by communities on the Channel coast of France. As the mysterious land they could see on clear days was otherwise unknown to them. Learn...

Rides on Railways by Samuel Sidney Join our narrator as the journey picks up from Camden Station. Prepare for detailed description of the types of rolling stock in different train stations as well as a detailed journey through the local countryside. If you’re really into trains and the early days of rail this may be fascinating, but if you’re not this is sure to help you get a good night’s sleep. Story (03:09)  Need help with a Podcast? Do you want to start a podcast and you’d like some...

The Last Man – By Mary Shelley It’s been a while since we had this classic by Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. In this episode of this mysterious vision of a future we pick up with the story of England having elected a new king. Our protagonist is jealous as the new King is engaged wto the woman the protagonist loves, but is himself in love with someone else. A weird mysterious story that goes places, but never gets too exciting so this will help you get a good night’s sleep Story...

We pick up on this book that was dropped a long time ago, and it’s a great one to help you sleep. Just a little interesting, but the history of mosaics and glass-painting is probably not going to be such a thrill a minute that it keeps you awake. So lie back, learn the history of these classic artforms and drift off to sleep. Story (03:31)  Need help with a Podcast? Do you want to start a podcast and you’d like some help with the fiddly tasks and processes? And would you like some help...

Hey friends, so sadly I’ve been fairly ill the last week or so. I’ve been completely unable to record as my voice is wrecked. But I don’t want to leave you hanging so I’ve gone back to the archives and pulled this popular boring episode out of May 2021. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to reset how I do the podcast, so for the rest of September I will be digging in the archives as I start to do some pre-emptive recording so that I don’t get caught unawares and unprepared in the...

REMIX Household Science in Rural Schools. Hey friends, so sadly I’ve been fairly ill the last week or so. I’ve been completely unable to record as my voice is wrecked. But I don’t want to leave you hanging so I’ve gone back to the archives and pulled this popular boring episode out of May 2021. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to reset how I do the podcast, so for the rest of September I will be digging in the archives as I start to do some pre-emptive recording so that I don’t...

Hey friends, so sadly I’ve been fairly ill the last week or so. I’ve been completely unable to record as my voice is wrecked. But I don’t want to leave you hanging so I’ve gone back to the archives and pulled this popular boring episode out of August 2021. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to reset how I do the podcast, so for the rest of September I will be digging in the archives as I start to do some pre-emptive recording so that I don’t get caught unawares and unprepared in the...

A Detailed Guide to Tea Cup Reading may be a Guide to Sleep - REMIX Hey friends, so sadly I’ve been fairly ill the last week or so. I’ve been completely unable to record as my voice is wrecked. But I don’t want to leave you hanging so I’ve gone back to the archives and pulled this popular boring episode out of August 2021. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to reset how I do the podcast, so for the rest of September I will be digging in the archives as I start to do some pre-emptive...

REMIX Learning about mail administration in Canada and Britain is likely to help you sleep. Hey friends, so sadly I’ve been fairly ill the last week or so. I’ve been completely unable to record as my voice is wrecked. But I don’t want to leave you hanging so I’ve gone back to the archives and pulled this popular boring episode out of November 2021. Learn about the processes and administration of mail in 19th Century Canada and proposals to improve the services in Great Britain with...

Birds and their Nests by Mary Howitt In this enchanting episode of "Sleepy Time Tales," we invite you to drift into the realm of dreams as we delve into the soothing world of avian wonders. Nestled in the pages of "Birds and their Nests" by Mary Howitt, this episode is a lullaby for the soul, crafted to guide you into a restful slumber. As the moonlight dances through the trees, join us on a tranquil journey through the graceful lives of Goldfinches, the melodic songs of thrushes, and the...

A Dreamy Soiree in West Egg The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Escape into the captivating world of F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary masterpiece, 'The Great Gatsby,' in this soothing episode of Sleepy Time Tales. As the moon casts its gentle glow over the opulent mansions of West Egg, join us on a tranquil journey through the pages of this timeless tale. In this episode, we delve into the vibrant and enchanting party at Daisy and Tom Buchanan's mansion, where the champagne flows...

Slumbering Saga Through Sparta and Athens The book of the ancient Greeks by Dorothy Mills Welcome to "Sleepy Time Tales," the podcast that gently guides you into restful slumber with tranquil stories. In this episode, we draw you into the mesmerizing world of ancient Sparta and Athens, inspired by Dorothy Mills' "The Book of the Ancient Greeks." Through hushed narration, we transport you to the heart of history, where the rivalry between Sparta and Athens unfolds. Immerse yourself in...

Soothing Serenity: A Dreamy Journey through Virginia Woolf's Classic Novel Night and Day by Virginia Woolf Welcome to Sleepy Time Tales, the podcast that helps you drift off to dreamland. In this episode, we continue our journey through the world of Virginia Woolf's classic novel. Ralph Denham finds himself feeling uneasy after a party at the Hilbery house and embarks on a contemplative walk. As the night unfolds, we delve into Ralph's thoughts as he rationalizes the events of the...

Fall Asleep Learning about the Glass of Bristol and Nailsea Old Glass and How to Collect it by J. Sydney Lewis We return to the history and pitfalls of collecting antique English glass. You may find the fine nuances of the work of the factories of Bristol and Nailsea fascinating. Or more likely this will bore you to sleep.   So, get comfortable, close your eyes, and allow yourself to drift away with this boring history. Story (03:36)  Need help with a Podcast? As you know I left my...

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne Tonight, we embark on a captivating journey with Jules Verne's timeless masterpiece, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."   As we delve into this classic, we join our courageous protagonist, on the brink of a perilous adventure. Mysterious sightings and unexplained attacks by an enormous sea creature have set the stage for a gripping hunt.   However, fear not, dear listeners, for I assure you, this tale will not keep you awake in...

Sleep will be easy as you learn about historical scams Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions — Volume 1 by Charles Mackay People fall for scams and misinformation on social media all the time. But even without the internet people used to get scammed and follow unfortunate trends to personal and social ruin. We pick up this week on the French speculation on the output of colonial territories in the reginal era. While it is quite fascinating, it’s also very dry so the way I tell...

Sleepy Stories as we return to The Secret Garden The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett Mary’s friendship with the mysterious and sickly Colin grows as the weather keeps them housebound for a week. Colin learning more about nature, India and Mary’s friend Dickon. But the weather turns and Mary returns to the Garden as she begins to think that maybe they could share Colin’s Mother’s Garden with him. But it is a bedtime story so you’ll find sleep knocking before the weather turns. ...

Sleep is Guaranteed as you lean about rivers and their effects on landscape The Elements of Geology by William Harmon Norton Today I’ll teach you about the effect of rivers on the formation of valleys. Does this sound interesting? I assure you it is not. Fall asleep as we discuss the age of the Grand Canyon and the mechanisms by which rivers create and fill up lakes as they make their way to the sea. Story (03:15)  Need help with a Podcast? As you know I left my job at the end of...

Deep discussions of Science and Philosophy are the recipe for sleep The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-World by Duchess Margaret Cavendish You’ll fall asleep in record time as you listen to the discussions between the Empress and her various schools of scientists and philosophers. Some surprisingly modern conceptions of the microscopic world and disease emerge, but many of those dismissed. But it’s not nearly as interesting as it sounds the way I tell it. 😊 Story...

Fall asleep to a mysterious murder and family drama Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens Find sleep taking over as we pick up with our protagonists investigating the mysterious body pulled out of the Thames, but not all may be as it seems. We also spend some time with loving sibling commiserating over their struggles with their father who is blunting their potential. Sad times full of difficulties. But you will fall asleep soon enough. Story (03:24) Need help with a Podcast? As you know...

 On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin We pick up this weeks sleepy non-fiction with the struggles for species to survive in the seminal ‘On the Origin of Species’ I boringly tell you about the challenges various species face to their survival, and the features they develop in order to ensure their success compared to other species. But as much as it may seem like this is exciting, believe me it is not. You will definitely find yourself counting zzzz’s...