August 11th, 2020
Zoé Brown is the guest artist on this bonus episode, reading a touching French story about a miller and the secret he keeps locked away in his windmill.
I'm so excited to share this story with you, because I love Zoé's storytelling. Be sure to check out her podcast called The Airing Cupboard where she tells the “extraordinary stories of ordinary people.” You can find it at https://www.theairingcupboard.org or by searching for it in your favorite podcast app. I can't recommend it enough.
If you’d like to read this story, you can find it for free online at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30442.
August 8th, 2020
More trouble with Loki and the Dwarves in this Viking tale from the book In The Days of Giants by Abbie Farwell Brown.
Can you help me live my dream of being a storyteller for a living? By supporting the podcast for just $1 a month helps get me toward that goal, and you'll get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. Join the patreon at https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
Here's a link to the entire book on Project Gutenberg, where you can download it for free. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44622
August 1st, 2020
This week's story choice was inspired by my ongoing struggles with the gophers and rabbits in my veggie garden. It's a Japanese fairy tale by Yei Theodora Osaki.
If you're enjoying the podcast and it's helping you get to sleep, please consider becoming a patron for $1 a month at https://patreon.com/listentosleep. Thanks so much for your support! Sleep well. 😴
Download this week's story for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4018.
July 25th, 2020
More elfin mischief this week with another Scottish fairy tale.
If you like the podcast, I'd love your support! By becoming a supporter for just $1 a month at https://patreon.com/listentosleep, you'll get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. You'll also get over 10 hours of nature sounds I've recorded at my cabin in Northern California to help you relax and fall asleep, along with my heartfelt gratitude.
If you'd like to read this story, you can download it for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37532.
July 18th, 2020
A sleepy 13th century Icelandic tale about a man, a bear, and two kings.
While you drift off to dream, you can help me live my dreams (see what I did there?) by going to http://patreon.com/listentosleep and becoming a patron for as little as $1 a month. You'll get the podcast a day early, without any ads or introductions too!
If you'd like to download and read this story, it's online for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5603
July 11th, 2020
A little creepy. A little sleepy. A classic Danish tale from last October. The Amputated Arms (parts 1 & 2 strung together into a story almost an hour long, by request) by Jorgen Wilhelm Bergsoe.
Can you help me live my dream of being a storyteller for my retirement? For just $1 a month, you can do that, and you'll get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. Join the patreon at https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
You can download the book for free online at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1552
I'm trying to help new listeners find the podcast, so if you have time this week, it would be super helpful if you could leave a review on iTunes or Google Podcasts. Thanks so much! :)
July 4th, 2020
Skadi, a giantess, hopes to marry the Norse god Balder The Beautiful in this Viking tale from the book In The Days of Giants by Abbie Farwell Brown.
Can you help me live my dream of being a storyteller for a living? For just $1 a month, you can do that, and you'll get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. Join the patreon at https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
Here's a link to the entire book on Project Gutenberg, where you can download it for free. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44622
June 27th, 2020
In celebration of 100,000 downloads of Listen To Sleep, we're going back to the book that started it all. It's a viking myth with some relaxing music in the background. Part two of The Magic Apples by Abbie Farwell Brown.
Can you help me live my dream of being a storyteller for a living? For just $1 a month, you can do that, and you'll get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. Join the patreon at https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
Here's a link to the entire book on Project Gutenberg, where you can download it for free. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44622
June 24th, 2020
Anna Kohlweis is the guest artist on this bonus episode. She gives a beautiful reading of Hans Christian Andersen's The Story Of The Year. Anna makes music as Squalloscope. She has been a favorite of mine since I first heard her in 2017, and she let me include her new single for you after the introduction and before the story. This episode is a little different and a real treat. I hope you love it as much as I do. Let me know!
You can find Anna's beautiful art and music at http://squalloscope.com.
If you'd like to read the story, you can find it online for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27000.
June 20th, 2020
In celebration of 100,000 downloads of Listen To Sleep, we're going back to the book that started it all. It's a viking myth with some relaxing music in the background. Part one of The Magic Apples by Abbie Farwell Brown. Part two will be next week.
Can you help me live my dream of being a storyteller for a living? For just $1 a month, you can do that, and you'll get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. Join the patreon at https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
Here's a link to the entire book on Project Gutenberg, where you can download it for free. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44622
June 18th, 2020
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.
Not sure why, but this episode didn't get published on time. My apologies, but it's here now. :)
If you'd like to get the podcast a day early without any ads or introduction, join the patreon for $1 a month at https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
If you'd like to read the rest of this great novel, you can download it for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12352.
June 6th, 2020
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.
All of the proceeds from the patreon this month have been donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund at https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate. They offer bail assistance and other services to protesters in MN.
If you’d like support the podcast and get it a day early, without any introduction or ads, go to https://patreon.com/listentosleep. It’s just $1 a month and includes over 10 hours of nature sounds I’ve recorded at my cabin to help you fall asleep.
If you would like to read My Escape From Slavery, you can download it online for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/99.
May 30th, 2020
A Scottish tale about the consequences of not respecting a fairy's home.
Can you help me realize my dream of being a storyteller for a living? By becoming a supporter for just $1 a month at https://patreon.com/listentosleep, you'll get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. You'll also get over 10 hours of nature sounds I've recorded at my cabin in Northern California to help you relax and fall asleep, along with my heartfelt gratitude.
If you'd like to read this story, you can download it for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37532.
May 26th, 2020
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 of quarantine here in California, he put together a haunting and beautiful album of covers as a tribute to the music of some of his good friends. It's called Even When The Cat Comes and it's available for free at http://andythedoorbum.com. I love it, and I hope you do too.
Andy reads Prometheus and Pandora. It's a classic tale with some very dark and real moments. Like some of the other stories I read here, it may not be suitable for small children, but if you like a bit of darkness as you nod off, you're going to love this. Andy also composed and played the music in this episode.
If you’d like to read it yourself, you can download the story for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22693.
May 23rd, 2020
A sweet slice-of-life story by Willa Cather about a family in the American West at the turn of the 19th century.
For just $1 a month, you can get the podcast a day early, without any introduction or ads. Just go to https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
If you'd like to read the story, you can download it for free online at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25586.
May 16th, 2020
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.
For just $1 a month, you can get the podcast a day early, without any introduction or ads. Just go to https://patreon.com/listentosleep.
This extended episode includes the sound of crickets I recorded one evening this past summer up at my cabin. If you'd like to read it, you can download it for free online at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5336. Sleep well. 😴
May 9th, 2020
A sleepy story about a magical doll who wants to be a boy, good for adults and kids.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please leave a review where you listen or become a patron for $1 a month and get some fun, sleepy rewards at https://patreon.com/listentosleep. Thanks so much for your support! Sleep well. 😴
If you'd like to read this week's story, you can download it for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43558.
May 2nd, 2020
A sleepy classic about the importance of wonder.
Can you help me help more people get better sleep? Become a supporter for $1 a month at https://patreon.com/listentosleep and get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads. You'll also get over 10 hours of nature sounds I've recorded at my cabin in Northern California to help you relax and fall asleep.
If you'd like to read this story, you can download it for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19993.
April 25th, 2020
A French fairy tale by the Comtesse D'Aulnoy. It's the story of a cat who has a secret.
To get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads, become a supporter for $1 a month at https://patreon.com/listentosleep. You'll also get over 10 hours of nature sounds I've recorded at my cabin in Northern California to help you relax and fall asleep.
If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and review it where you listen. It really helps.
Thanks! Sleep well.😴
If you'd like to read this story, you can download it for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19993.
April 18th, 2020
A tale about a brave Norwegian prince.
To get the podcast a day early without any introduction or ads, become a supporter for $1 a month at https://patreon.com/listentosleep. You'll also get over 10 hours of nature sounds I've recorded at my cabin in Northern California to help you relax and fall asleep.
To read Viking Tales by Jennie Hall, you can download it online for free at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24811.
