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Every episode
Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries
30 episodes
History of Lost Cities: Machu Picchu, Meroë, Mohenjo-Daro (Sleep Story)
Ep 134 · Aug 16, 2026 · 60 min
In this bedtime story, I tell you about three “lost cities” and the civilizations that built them: • Machu Picchu, built as a retreat for Inca emperors 50 miles from their capital, Cusco, and largely forgotten by the outside world for more than 300 years. • Meroë, the capital of the Kingdom of Kush, along with a brief history of Nubia and its relations with Egypt in antiquity. Before Meroë became the capital, Nubian kings from Kush founded Egypt’s Twenty-Fifth Dynasty, and during the first mille…
Review of the Periodic Table of Elements (30 to 118), Bedtime Sleepy Science
Ep 133 · Aug 9, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
In this science talk for bedtime, I review the periodic table of the elements methodically and explain in simple terms plenty of phenomena and concepts about chemistry and physics (for example in this episode: metalloids, alpha and beta decay, Xenon poisoning of nuclear reactors...) as well as the industrial and economic relevance of some of these elements. For tonight, we continue with elements 30 to 118, including zinc, arsenic, rhodium, silver, tungsten, platinum, gold, mercury, lead, uranium…
The Bestiary: Dragon, Unicorn, Elf, Mermaid, Phoenix, Werewolf | Sleepy Mythology & History
Ep 132 · Aug 2, 2026 · 3 hr 18 min
As long compilations of episodes that can accompany you for several hours were requested, we put this new one together. Bestiaries were medieval compendiums that contained information and illustrations of real and legendary animals. Following this ancient tradition, we have put together talks about the origins of different legendary and fantasy creatures. Make yourself comfortable, this will be a long historical, anthropological and mythological journey around the world. This podcast is entirely…
Greek Mythology: The Odyssey (Soft-Spoken Sleep Story, Improved Version)
Ep 131 · Jul 26, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
In this episode, I tell you the story of the Odyssey, and as in previous mythology videos I discuss a few historical and literary aspects. If you want to know about the lotus-eaters, the cyclopes, the sirens, Aeolus, Circe, Scylla and Charybdis, Calypso, and many more things, relax and enjoy the long journey Odysseus will have to endure to be reunited with his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad b…
Neolithic Revolution: How Agriculture Was Invented
Ep 130 · Jul 19, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
In this episode, I tell you about the transition from the nomadic lifestyle of hunters and gatherers to the sedentary life of the first agricultural communities. We will examine the theories that explain this change, how it took place, and its consequences. Some of these consequences were counterintuitive. For example, the Agricultural Revolution initially led to a deterioration in health and life expectancy. However, it was also a crucial step that accelerated technical progress and dramaticall…
Review of the Periodic Table of Elements (13 to 29), Bedtime Sleepy Science
Ep 129 · Jul 12, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
In this science talk for bedtime, I review the periodic table of the elements methodically and explain in simple terms plenty of phenomena and concepts about chemistry and physics (for example in this episode: the timeline of the discovery of elements, why there is quite a lot of iron in the universe, endothermic and exothermic fusions...) as well as the industrial and economic relevance of some of these elements. For tonight, we continue with elements 13 to 29: aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, su…
Yellow, White, Black: History of Colors
Ep 128 · Jul 5, 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
In this new sleepy documentary-style story, we will explore the cultural history of three colors: yellow, black, and white. How were pigments for art and crafts or dyes obtained? What were the meanings, symbolisms, and status of these colors across various ancient cultures and to our days? Let's find out. This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interruption. #sleep #documentary #bedtimes…
Review of the Periodic Table (Elements 1 to 12) Sleepy Bedtime Science
Ep 127 · Jun 28, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
In this science talk for bedtime, I review the periodic table of the elements methodically and explain in simple terms plenty of phenomena and concepts about chemistry and physics (for example in this episode: the structure of atoms, valence and reactivity, isotopes, allotropes, ionic compounds, the definitions of metals...) as well as the industrial and economic relevance of some of these elements. For tonight, we begin with the first twelve elements: hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron…
Myths and Mysteries of Pre-Columbian America (Aztec, Maya, Apache, Navajo, Inca) Sleepy History
Ep 126 · Jun 21, 2026 · 3 hr 2 min
As long compilations of episodes that can accompany you for several hours were requested, we put this new one together. This is a compilation of three different stories: Maya and Aztec Mythology, Native American Myths (Navajo and Apache), and History of the Incas. This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interruption. #sleep #documentary #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory #history #mythology…
Mysteries of the Celts: Druids, Hillforts, Hill of Tara, Gundestrup Cauldron (No AI)
Ep 125 · Jun 14, 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
This sleepy documentary is a time travel to the Celtic era to examine historical mysteries and discover more about Celtic culture. I will tell you about the druids: what we know of their emergence, their functions, their cultural importance, and the many aspects of druidism that remain mysterious. We will also travel to the Hill of Tara in Ireland, examine the mystery of the vitrification of hillforts, and take a look at the enigmatic Gundestrup Cauldron. This podcast is entirely scripted and re…
History of Dinosaurs (Paleontology Documentary for Sleep, No AI)
Ep 124 · Jun 7, 2026 · 58 min
This documentary sleep story is about the history of dinosaurs: What were they? When did they appear? How did they rule the Earth's continents for 150 million years? What happened to them? In this story I tell you about dinosaurs in general, various famous groups such as Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, and more! I also tell you about paleontology, the study of fossils, cladistics, and various periods: Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Holocene. This podcast i…
Phoenix, Unicorn, Mermaid: Origins of Legendary Creatures
Ep 123 · May 31, 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
What are the origins of well-known legendary figures, such as the phoenix, the unicorn and the mermaid? From ancient symbols and myths to medieval bestiaries, we are going to explore their appearance and evolution and try to dig a bit deeper. Why do certain motifs such as the phoenix appear across various cultures? What are the Physiologus and the illustrated bestiaries from the Middle Ages? What is the psychological and cultural appeal of part-human, part-animal hybrids such as the mermaid? Let…
History of Cats: Evolution, Species, and Why Are They Like That?
Ep 122 · May 24, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
In this soft-spoken bedtime story, I tell you about cats: their evolutionary history from the first Felidae to domestic cats, their species, their characteristics, and how they live. We will review extinct genera and species, such as Proailurus or the well-known saber-toothed cats from the Pleistocene, and many extant species: tigers, lions (and their hybrids: ligers and tigons), jaguars, leopards, cougars, cheetahs, lynxes, and the various representatives of the genus Felis, including the domes…
History of the Incas | Documentary for Sleep
Ep 121 · May 17, 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
This documentary-style bedtime story takes us along lost trails of the Andes Mountains, to the discovery of several millennia of civilization in this region (Caral-Supe, the Valdivia culture, Chimu, Wari, Tiwanaku...), until the rise of the Inca Empire. I tell you about the history and culture of the Incas, as well as the development of their empire, from the small Kingdom of Cusco to one of the largest states in the world at the time of its splendor. We will also take a look at how the Spanish…
History of Ancient Crafts: Ceramics, Textile, Gold
Ep 120 · May 10, 2026 · 3 hr 11 min
This extended documentary-style bedtime story is a compilation of three different stories: History of Gold, History of Ceramics, and History of Textile. For each of them, I tell you about their evolution since Prehistory and the various types of objects, styles and techniques that were developed. This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interruption. #sleep #documentary #bedtimestory #asm…
Journey to the Clouds | Documentary for Sleep
Ep 119 · May 3, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
In this soft-spoken sleepy documentary, we travel across the various layers of the atmosphere, and I tell you about their composition, about various phenomena (how clouds form, why wind blows, why the sky looks blue, how the ozone layer works, what aurora borealis are...). We also take a look at the formation history of this atmosphere and how it regulates temperature and pressure on Earth. This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks a…
Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Goblins, Trolls... Origins of Fantasy Creatures
Ep 118 · Apr 26, 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
We all know of modern fantasy creatures, and also that they owe a lot to J.R.R. Tolkien, other fantasy authors of the last 60 years, Dungeons & Dragons, or different franchises like Warhammer or Warcraft. But how did these different figures actually form? What are the mythologies, the folklore, and the more recent elements that gave birth to them? This is what we are going to examine in this episode, an exploration journey that will take us from ancient Germanic, Norse and Celt myths to medieval…
Sleep Space Cruise to Mercury and Venus (Revised)
Ep 118 · Apr 19, 2026 · 46 min
In this bedtime story, we visit Mercury and Venus, two planets with formidable environments. I share with you various theories about their formation, of what they are composed, what to expect at their surfaces, and other interesting facts like how orbits form and are maintained, and what a supercritical fluid is. I hope you enjoy this relaxing way to learn more about space while quieting your mind. Note: This is a remake of one of our first episodes because the original sound was harsh and uneve…
History of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire
Ep 117 · Apr 12, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Eight hundred years ago, the World was shaken when the Mongols suddenly left their corner of Asia to conquer the largest land empire in History. Join me as we explore who they were, how they lived, what they believed in and why they could take two continents by storm and build an empire in a few years. I tell you about Genghis Khan and his successors like Ogedei Khan and Kublai Khan, Chinese dynasties, Central Asia, nomadic life, the Silk Road, the Golden Horde, and many more things. This podcas…
History of Wolves and Dogs | Documentary for Sleep
Ep 116 · Apr 5, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
In this sleepy story, we trace the shared history of wolves and dogs, from their ancient evolutionary origins to the deep bond they formed with humans through domestication. We explore how wolves live, communicate, and organize their social world, and how, over thousands of years, some of them evolved into the many dog breeds we know today. Along the way, we see how dogs developed their unique emotional connection to us—a bond that has made them one of our closest and most devoted companions. Th…
History of Ancient Rome (8th Century BC - 1453 AD)
Ep 115 · Mar 29, 2026 · 3 hr 43 min
This long soft spoken sleep story tells you the history of Ancient Rome from its foundation to the fall of Constantinople. It is in 3 parts. In part 1, I tell you about the origins of Rome, its slow emergence and wars until the 1st Century BC - including the founding of the Republic and the rivalry between the Senate and the plebs, the conquest of Italy, the wars against Carthage, the overseas expansion, figures like Scipio, Marius, Sulla, Pompey and Caesar, and also life, religion, society, urb…
Sol Invictus, Ishtar, Mithra, Pazuzu: Stories of Forgotten Gods
Ep 114 · Mar 22, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
For tonight's bedtime story, let's explore the stories of various gods from Antiquity that once were very relevant to the societies that worshipped them, before mostly disappearing from memories: • Sol Invictus, the sun god of the Romans that was propelled from obscure cult to imperial religion in the Third Century AD, and whose festival on December 25th became Christmas. • Mithra, an Iranian deity borrowed from Zoroastrianism by several foreign peoples, especially the Romans, who reinvented thi…
Nature Sleep Story: Wonder of Trees
Ep 113 · Mar 15, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
This is a remake of one of our first episodes because the original sound was harsh and uneven when I started the podcast. For tonight's talk, I invite you to a long moment in the woods. We explore the origins of plants and how they evolved from microscopic algae to mosses, ferns, seed plants with or without flowers. I also discuss the life cycle of trees, their composition, and many often unnoticed aspects, such as their ability to exchange signals, connect by their roots, develop mutualistic re…
The Myth of El Dorado
Ep 112 · Mar 8, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
In tonight's story, I take you on a historical tour of the myth of El Dorado. I discuss what the early years of the Spanish conquest of America were like, how the encounter between older European legends and the reality of pre-Columbian America created new myths about fabulous places, and some of the expeditions that went on a search for El Dorado or the Cities of Gold, to the Andes Mountains, the Amazonian forest or New Mexico. This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it i…
History of the Forbidden City
Ep 111 · Mar 1, 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
In this soft-spoken bedtime story about China, I take you to the discovery of the Forbidden City. We explore this extraordinary complex and follow the history of Imperial China from the rise of the Ming Dynasty and the construction of the Forbidden City in the 15th Century, to the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, until the fall of the Empire in 1911.This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interrup…
History of Ceramics
Ep 110 · Feb 22, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
In this soft-spoken sleep documentary, I tell you about ceramics: what pottery, earthenware, stoneware, terracotta, and porcelain are; how they appeared; and how significant they have been since prehistory around the world—in Ancient Egypt, Greece, the Americas, the Islamic world, Europe, and of course, China.This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interruption. #sleep #bedtimestory #asm…
World Mythology Stories for Sleep: Ring of the Nibelung, Maya and Aztec, Hindu, Japanese, Greek
Ep 109 · Feb 15, 2026 · 5 hr 18 min
For this extra long episode, we put together various of our mythology stories. From Asia to America via Europe, all these stories reflect how humanity makes sense of the world around us, transmits wisdom and cautionary tales, and infuses storytelling with meaning and faith.This podcast is entirely scripted and recorded by real people, it includes no AI, and mid-roll ad breaks are turned off so that you can relax without interruption. 0:00 Ring of the Nibelung (Germanic Mythology) 1:04:18 Aztec a…
History of Buddhism
Ep 108 · Feb 8, 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
This is a new version of one of our first episodes, that I remade because the sound was a bit harsh and uneven when I started the podcast. I also added a few elements to the script. In this bedtime story, I tell you all about Buddhism: the beliefs and culture of Ancient India; the life of Siddartha Gautama, the historical Buddha; how Buddhism spread in Asia; the differences between various Buddhist traditions (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Zen, Tibetan or Tantric Buddhism...); and I explain a…
Mysteries of Space: White Dwarf, Neutron Star, Dark Matter, Hypothetical Planets (Sleepy Astronomy)
Ep 107 · Feb 1, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
In this bedtime story, we visit different real or hypothetical space objects and phenomena. I tell you about the life cycle of stars that can leave behind a white dwarf, a neutron star (that can take the form of pulsar and/or magnetar), or a stellar black hole. We also explore the concept of dark matter and various kinds of hypothetical or less familiar planets, including coreless planets, iron planets, carbon planets, "blanets" (planets orbiting a black hole), chthonian planets or helium planet…
Japanese Mythology, Legends and Folk Tales
Ep 106 · Jan 25, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
This bedtime story about Japanese mythology begins with the world creation myth by Amaterasu. Then we will explore Japan’s spiritual tradition: Shinto, and its countless Kami. We will also follow the path of Emperor Jimmu’s legendary journey, and discover beloved folktales like Momotaro and The Sparrow with the Slit Tongue, before closing with the powerful story of the 47 Ronin. #sleep #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory #mythology #japan Welcome to Lights Out Library Join me for a sleepy adventure…
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