18 Podcasts To Fall Asleep To: Your New Nighttime Ritual

When it comes to nighttime and getting ready for bed, we all have our go-to routines. Some journal, some binge their fave shows about rich people, and others pull out their stack of spicy books. But there’s also those of us who turn on calming, doze-you-off podcasts that put us right to sleep.

Here at Dear Media, we’re huge fans of a good podcast—there’s something for every listener, occasion and goal. We’re talking podcasts to help you de-stress, podcasts about business, and even podcasts for breakups. But, did you know that there are also shows designed to give you a better, softer, more restful sleep? But if you’re new to this whole “podcasts for bedtime” idea, you might not even know where to begin.

That’s why today, we’re giving you a roundup of our favorite podcasts to fall asleep to. These shows will actually help you wind down—not make you feel like you’re stuck listening to a cliche meditation commercial. It’s time to turn these podcasts on, and your brain off. Let’s get into it!

18 Podcasts To Fall Asleep To: Your New Nighttime Ritual

If we’ve learned anything from this episode of The Bossticks, it’s that good, restful sleep is crucial. And we’re not just talking about getting a full 8 hours a night—it goes way beyond that. Good sleep is about falling asleep quickly and waking up feeling totally refreshed and rejuvenated.

Luckily for you, this is where sleep podcasts come in! Maybe you wanna close your eyes and listen to relaxing nature sounds. Or maybe your vibe is more like, “Tell me soothing stories, and I’ll be out in seconds.” No matter what you wanna fall asleep to, there’s a podcast somewhere on this list that everyone can enjoy.

But before we jump in, let’s first answer the burning question… Is it even good to fall asleep to podcasts? Or are they just disruptive and distracting?

Is It Good To Fall Asleep To Podcasts?

It’s not just good to fall asleep to podcasts; it’s honestly ideal. But what truly matters is what kind of podcast you try to fall asleep to, right?  You don’t want to turn on your favorite episode of Ex-Virgin and try to drift off to sleep—it won’t work! (Let’s be real, Carter’s just too entertaining.)

Don’t worry, we’ve got tons of options. But before we get into that, let’s talk about why falling asleep to podcasts can actually transform the way you sleep—for the better.

• Calms a busy mind. For a lot of us, our brains begin to put it in overdrive as soon as our heads hit the pillow. We’re thinking about responsibilities, work, that embarrassing moment from 5 years ago—you get the vibe. A calming podcast can redirect your focus and quiet that inner monologue.
• Creates a consistent routine. A solid routine may just be the one thing you’re missing. Listening to a familiar voice or ongoing series can tell your brain, “Hey, it’s wind-down time.” 
• Reduces screen time. Anyone else mindlessly doom-scroll for hours before bed? Don’t worry; we did the same (before listening to these podcasts). Give your eyes a break from the blue light and let yourself actually get some sleep. 
• Helps with sleep anxiety. We’ve all had those nights where we’ve pleaded with the sleep gods. The tossing and turning and waking up every 10 minutes? The WORST. But these podcasts calm your mind, relax your body, and relieve the pressure to fall (or stay) asleep. For more, check out this episode of Him & Her Show.

We weren’t kidding when we said there truly are benefits to falling asleep to podcasts. Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the recs!

What Are The Best Podcasts To Listen To To Fall Asleep?

Sleep with Me

Drew Ackerman has boring storytime down to a science, and we mean that in the best way. Host of Sleep with Me, Drew creates weekly, what he calls, “bedtime stories for adults.” And honestly, it’s just a whole lot of rambling. But that’s why we love it so much!

The stories really have no purpose. They’re hard to follow and even harder to understand, but that’s the point of each episode. Drew is here to gently guide you to a deep, relaxing sleep, keeping your mind engaged but not overstimulated. Basically, if you love a soothing voice and stories without a plot, listen to this, and you’ll be asleep in no time.

Deep Energy Podcast

If getting told a confusing, hard-to-follow bedtime story isn’t really your vibe, there’s no shame in that. Instead, turn on the Deep Energy Podcast and let all your worries float away with the music. 

It’s not technically just a sleep podcast—you can use it for meditating, yoga, background music, or just relaxing—but that just makes it even better! The more you listen, the more you can train your brain to associate these sounds with rest and relaxation. Take it from us, though; you will definitely doze off listening to it no matter what you’re doing. 

Goodnight, World!

Calling all parents (or huge fans of nostalgia), this one’s for you. Goodnight, World! is a soothing podcast made by Headspace Studios in collab with Sesame Street. And, as you probably guessed, the characters of Sesame Street are the ones putting you to sleep. Through imaginary stories and soothing techniques to calm your mind, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you fall asleep.

Look, we get it—probably not everyone’s cup of tea. But there’s just something about turning on Sesame Street that makes us reminiscent and sleepy AF. Don’t believe us? Try it out yourself and let us know how it goes.

Send Me To Sleep

If meditation is already part of your routine, then Send Me To Sleep will be right up your alley. Host Andrew Bond uses an even blend of classic literature, sleep music, wind-down routines, and… sleep hypnosis? Yeah, we’re immediately interested. 

Whether you’re tossing or turning or you just can’t shut your mind off, turn on this podcast for instant relief. The combo of sleepy music with narration of old books? It’s honestly like being back in high school history class—where, let’s be honest, we all got the best sleep of our lives.

Sleep Whispers

There’s something about a good ASMR sesh that will put us to sleep every. single. time. But, for all you ASMR fans out there, you know it has to match a certain vibe to truly work. Too loud? Nope. Too quiet? Also no. And if there are too many loud, crunchy, disruptive sounds? Absolutely not; that’s game over. Take it from us—you’re allowed to be unapologetically picky about what sounds you fall asleep to.

And we get that, which is why we say that Sleep Whispers never fails to scratch that ASMR itch. Think: meditations, bedtime stories, poems, trivia—allll whispered to put you right to sleep. We can’t believe we were ever even able to fall asleep without this podcast, honestly.

Slow Radio

Fair warning, this isn’t your average bedtime podcast. Let’s just say… this immersive show puts a unique spin on traditional calming sounds. Think: trips to Jupiter and sounds of volcanos. Yeah, it’s definitely unique. 

We will say this—the podcast features super diverse episodes. Some feature tranquil sounds and soothing harmonies, and others are a liiiitle bit creepy. By this, we mean certain episodes feature more intense music and some random whispering. But hey, maybe you’re into that! We don’t judge. It’s definitely a better alternative than falling asleep to podcasts like Serial, which will have you wide-eyed and on the edge of your seat all night. 

Nothing Much Happens

Yoga and meditation teacher Kathryn Nicolai has graced the world with her magical ability to instantly put everyone to sleep. She’s big about turning off the phone, stepping away from the blue light, and tuning in when it’s time to relax and fall asleep.

Kathryn’s goal? To guide each listener to a calm, quiet, and comfortable place. The first half of each episode features a relaxing story, while the second half repeats the story—told more slowly and intentionally. You’ll probably already be asleep before she gets to the second retelling, but that’s honestly the goal!

Boring Books for Bedtime

Another book podcast to help you drift off to a quiet, restful sleep—Boring Books for Bedtime never disappoints. But we don’t even love it for how quickly it helps us fall asleep! The creators struggle with falling asleep themselves, so they really know what it takes to help others. And, take it from us—when creators of a podcast can actually relate to the content, it makes it 100x better.

It’s kind of like how you’d listen to We Met At Acme for relationship advice or The Art of Being Well if you want to dive deep into your health journey. You want to hear from the professionals who know and love their craft, so to speak. That said, this podcast makes it sooo easy to fall and stay asleep. 

Wanna bore your way to sleep? “1896 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalog – Sewing Machines” will do just the trick.

Drifting Off with Joe Perra

Joe Perra, the man that you are. He’s really mastered how to blend comedy, sleep, and immersive sounds into one podcast—and we can’t get enough of it. 

We won’t lie; a lot of his episodes, though they’re designed to be kinda mundane and boring, hook us more times than not. Like… what do you mean you’re gonna dive into the history of clock chimes??? Does it put us to sleep? Yes. But does it also interest us and make us hit replay the next day? Also yes. Listen in for yourself!

Get Sleepy

Get Sleepy is honestly kind of all the recs we’ve mentioned blended into one high-quality podcast. There are stories, calming music, conversations that don’t make sense—it does it all. This is exactly why we would recommend this to anyone looking for a sleep podcast. If you don’t like a certain episode, just skip to one that fits your vibe! 

It won’t be too hard to do since each episode is entirely different from the one before. In some episodes, you’re suddenly in the middle of Maiko. In others, you’re just kicking back with a little relaxing music and letting it sweep you off to sleep. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Podcasts to Help You Sleep

Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Phoebe Judge, host of the podcasts Criminal and This Is Love, decided to put her soothing voice to a new test: putting people to sleep. But with 30 seasons, what began during the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a nighttime ritual for many. Phoebe Reads a Mystery features Phoebe as she reads one chapter of a classic mystery novel each episode.

Think: novels from Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins, and more. Aside from her cool, calm, and collected voice, the books Phoebe’s reading are equally relaxing. Because most people are know the general plot of each novel, they can silently drift off to sleep. It’s low-stakes, high-reward.

Start with her very first episode of Season 30, “Pride and Prejudice- Vol 1, Chapters 1-5.“

Tales by the Fireside

Picture yourself lying in a cozy sleeping bag by a blazing fire with nothing but the crackling of logs and humming of crickets. (Sleepy yet?) Tales by the Fireside, hosted by Joe Fireside, channels that energy perfectly. This podcast features readings of old favorites, odd stories, and work by independent authors, all designed to reduce anxiety.

Oh, and of course, each episode is completed with ASMR-like fire crackling sounds. A slow story and some good ole’ nature sounds? That’ll put even the toughest insomniacs to sleep. Not to mention, Joe has a surprisingly soothing voice! Don’t believe us, try it out and let us know how you feel in the morning.

Start with “Tales for Adults – Beware of the Dog!”

Slumber Stories

Slumber Stories, hosted by Andy Williams, is a bedtime-friendly podcast that helps ease the away the day’s stress. Each episode starts with a slow, intentional breathing exercise, followed by a short tale designed to lull you off to sleep. Think of it as white noise for a baby—you relax and then you’re out.

Andy has a talent for turning bedtime routines into relaxing nighttime rituals. The combination of light breathing with dreamy short stories? Chef’s kiss. Start your journey into restful sleep with “Sleep Story: Paris–Venice Starlit Express.” Doesn’t it just sound relaxing?

Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio

One of the most unique podcasts to fall asleep to, Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio, hosted by Mr. King, is a fabricated baseball game designed for sleeping and relaxing. There aren’t loud commercials, random yelling, or crazy loud fans cheering on their home team.

Instead, think more along the lines of a slow, calm, small-town baseball game you’d tune into on an old radio. It’s nostalgic, it’s cozy, and it’s perfect for those who need something entertaining yet relaxing.

What’re you waiting for? There’s a faux baseball game waiting for you! Tune into “South Haven Ravens vs. Manistee Eagles – Buddy the Basset Hound.”

Relaxation Podcasts for Sleep

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove

This highly popular podcast, hosted by Christopher Fitton, features relaxing audio, guided sleep meditations, hypnotherapy, and bedtime stories. The goal? To help adults overcome insomnia, clear their mind, and finally drift off to sleep. And when we say “sleep hypnosis,” don’t worry, it’s nothing crazy! Christopher uses simple, classic techniques like counting backwards. It’s calming, soothing, and perfectly slow for bedtime.

Tracks to Relax Sleep Meditations

Ready to drift off into rejuvenating rest? Turn on Tracks to Relax and you’ll fall asleep in no time. Alan Crossley, host of this highly-rated podcast, is a certified Master Hypnotist and NLP Practitioner. In other words, you know these episodes are good. Alan walks listeners through guided visualizations, bedtime stories, hypnosis sessions, and muscle relaxation techniques, giving you multiple ways to fall asleep soundly.

The Empty Bowl

Hosted by writer Justin McElroy and cereal enthusiast Dan Goubert, The Empty Bowl is a meditative podcast about cereal. Yes, you read that right. The show discusses news about upcoming cereal releases, reviews of breakfast items, and, well, all things sweet and sugary. However, they record episodes in calm, soothing voices alongside ambient sounds—like crashing waves! Trust us, it’s much more relaxing than you’re probably assuming.

Radio Lento Podcast

Ever wish you could just transport yourself somewhere with your idea of soothing sounds and relaxing ambiance? Radio Lento podcast does it for you. Hosted by Hugh Huddy, the podcast offers immersive “sound postcards,” featuring unedited recordings of natural environments. Think: thunderstorms, birds singing, waves crashing, crickets chirping—literally anything you want. It’s soothing, relaxing, and perfect for mentally visiting your ideal sleepy place.

Still awake? Turn on one of these podcasts and you won’t be for long!

Honestly, we were dozing off just writing this post—that’s how good these podcasts are. From relaxing rain sounds to extremely boring (but well-narrated) books, there’s something in here for every listener to enjoy. Now, grab your PJs, curl up into bed, and turn on one of these podcasts. It’s time for you to actually get quality sleep—you deserve it. 

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