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PODCAST

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries

Lights Out Library helps you fall asleep with soothing stories across a diverse range of topics: science, history, mythology, astronomy, mystery, art and so much more. We make it possible to both calm and enrich your mind while you drift into dreamland. Please follow to support our work. Listen ad free and get access to bonus content on our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/LightsOutLibrary621⁠⁠⁠

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

70:30

Sol Invictus, Ishtar, Mithra, Pazuzu: Stories of...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/03/22

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

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70:27

Nature Sleep Story: Wonder of Trees

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/03/15

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

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62:46

The Myth of El Dorado

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/03/08

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

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67:52

History of the Forbidden City

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/03/01

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

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66:01

History of Ceramics

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/02/22

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

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318:13

World Mythology Stories for Sleep: Ring of the...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/02/15

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

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77:07

History of Buddhism

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/02/08

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 lot

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69:45

Mysteries of Space: White Dwarf, Neutron Star, Dark...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/02/01

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

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67:11

Japanese Mythology, Legends and Folk Tales

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/01/25

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

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73:38

History of Gold | Fall Asleep to History

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/01/18

Tonight's episode is an overview of the history of gold and other precious metals: how much is there on Earth? Where is it? How was gold discovered and how did it acquire its powerful status as a symbol of wealth and power, that makes it a store of value? From the tombs of ancient pharaohs to the reserves of central banks, let's delve into this history, as we settle in for a good night's sleep. #sleep #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory #history #gold Welcome to Lights Out Library Join me for a

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382:04

The Mystery Night: 25 Historical Mystery Stories for...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/01/11

For this extra long episode, we put together various of our mystery stories. Secret places, out-of-place artifacts, mysterious events or ghost ships: here are 25 stories that will take you back in time and around the World. The stories are:00:00:00 Easter Island and Mu 00:41:40 Yonaguni Monument 00:53:01 MV Joyita 01:11:20 Roman Dodecahedrons 01:28:50 Carved Stone Balls 01:39:11 Stone Spheres of Costa Rica 01:48:27 Lewis Chessmen 01:59:22 Captain Kidd's Treasure 02:16:17 HMS Hussar

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66:34

Petra and Other Underground Cities | History and...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2026/01/04

Petra, the capital of the Nabataeans (Jordan), Göreme and Derinkuyu in Cappadocia (Turkey), the Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland): in this sleep story, I take you to extraordinary troglodyte or subterranean structures, where men projected their ambitions, creativity, dreams, and talent for centuries. As usual, I explain the historical context in a soft spoken voice for your relaxation.#sleep #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory #history #petra Welcome to Lights Out Library Join me for a sleepy

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354:38

Grand Solar System Tour From Mercury to Pluto (Space...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/12/21

In tonight's episode, we will travel from Mercury to Pluto and beyond, in our longest space travel to date. We will thoroughly explore each planet, their main satellites, and discover plenty of scientific laws, theories, or chemical phenomena. I will even tell you about more speculative topics, such as the possibility of life in the Solar System or the possibility of terraforming Mars one day.#sleep #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory #space #astronomy #science Welcome to Lights Out

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74:22

History of Rooms in Homes - Documentary and Sleepy Story

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/12/14

In tonight's sleep-inducing episode, I invite you to an overview of rooms since humankind started to build homes. For much of our history, most people lived in single-room dwellings and multiple-room homes were a privilege for the happy few. This started to change after the 16th Century, and rooms multiplied for almost everyone, often influenced by aristocratic and bourgeois homes. From medieval long houses and manors to aristocratic apartments, parlors or drawing rooms to living rooms and modern

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68:59

Mysteries of Consciousness: why do we know we exist?

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/12/07

What is this subjective experience, this awareness of existence, that we call consciousness? In tonight's episode, we will examine some of the aspects of this philosophical, scientific, and spiritual question. Is consciousness a binary thing, or is it a kind of continuum with different "levels"? Do animals experience a degree of consciousness and how can it be inferred or measured? Is it reducible to biology, is it the product of the treatment of information, is it something immaterial and detached

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72:32

The Twelve Labors of Heracles | Mythology for Sleep

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/11/30

In this relaxing sleep story, I invite you to relive the mythical Twelve Labors of Heracles, one of the most enduring legends of Ancient Greece. From Heracles’ birth under the curse of the goddess Hera to his path toward redemption, we embark on a colorful journey across Greece and the Mediterranean Sea, meeting countless characters along the way. Gods like Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, Artemis, and Hades; monsters such as the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, and the Cretan Bull; and other figures including

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79:14

History of Byzantium

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/11/23

In this sleep documentary, I take you to the mythical city of Constantinople to explore the history of the Byzantine Empire. As the Western Roman Empire collapsed under invasions, its Eastern counterpart lived on and perpetuated the dream of recreating the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages. I discuss the waves of invaders that Byzantine had to face, from the Huns and the Arabs to the Turks, its culture, politics and society, how it drifted away from the west religiously, leading to the East-West

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71:27

Journey to the Infinitely Small | Sleepy Science Story

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/11/16

In this science sleep story, we explore the microcosmos and discover what our bodies and the physical world around us are made of. First, I tell you about tissues and living cells, DNA, molecules, and cellular biochemistry. Then we go smaller and talk about atoms and how they bond into molecules or other forms of grouping such as metallic bonding, and how electrons and electromagnetism are at play in these mechanisms. Finally, we descend inside atoms with their main particles and what they are made

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187:44

Myths and Legends of Old Europe: Celtic, Germanic and...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/11/09

For tonight's episode, we invite you to delve into European myths from Antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as the history of the peoples that carried them. We will begin with Celtic stories, taken in particular from Irish mythology. We will then relive the story of the Ring of the Nibelung, as told in the Germanic myths that inspired Wagner to create his famous operas from the Ring cycle. Finally, we will finish this overview with Norse stories.#sleep #bedtimestory #asmr #sleepstory #history

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72:17

History of Monasteries and Monasticism | History for...

Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries ·

2025/11/02

Tonight's episode takes us on a historical tour of monasticism, especially Catholic monasteries. I get that the topic of monasticism may sound at the same time random and particularly arid. But bear with me: I promise that if you are not familiar with it, you will discover a world of ideas, social experiments, spirituality, or controversies, that you did not realize you needed to know about. Give it a shot!You will learn what anchorites and cenobites are, how Christian monasticism appeared in the

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115 results

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