Podcasts about Bedtime

Get Myo Relax and Calm by Myoscience (20% off, code auto applied): https://bit.ly/4oWU62X  Pre-order Keto Flex Revised and get free bonuses at: https://bit.ly/4wKG1sM    You can fast, do keto, count calories, and hit the gym, and still wake up stuck with the same belly fat. The reason is almost never your daytime effort. It is what happens after your head hits the pillow. Every night your body asks one question: is it safe to burn fat? About 70 percent of your fat burning growth hormone is released while you sleep, but only if insulin is low and your deep sleep is protected. In this lesson, Ben Azadi walks through the three bedtime habits, in the exact order your body wants them, to make the next 30 nights work for your fat loss instead of against it. Key takeaways: Insulin can stay elevated three to five hours after eating, blocking your overnight growth hormone pulse In a crossover trial, a 10 p.m. dinner reduced overnight fat burning and raised cortisol versus the identical 6 p.m. meal A Mayo Clinic trial showed four hours of sleep for two weeks added 11% more visceral fat, while the scale barely moved A cold (65 to 68°F), pitch dark room and a consistent sleep and wake schedule protect deep sleep Relaxation is chemistry: myo-inositol, magnesium glycinate, potassium glycinate, glycine, taurine, GABA, and L-theanine support it The three night challenge: no late snacks, a dark cool room, and track sleep, cravings, waist, and morning energy Find All The Ben Azadi Show Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Calm Down Tree is a gentle, guided meditation designed to help you calm your nervous system, release worry, and drift into deep, restful sleep. Through three soothing visualizations—a quiet beach at sunset, a peaceful forest path, and a joyful dragon adventure—you'll explore feelings of relaxation, calm, and joy, and remember your inner power to create safety and comfort within. This practice is ideal for: Bedtime and deep sleep Anxiety relief and emotional overwhelm Nervous system regulation after a stressful day Gentle self-soothing for sensitive hearts and busy minds

The Calm Down Tree is a gentle, guided meditation designed to help you calm your nervous system, release worry, and drift into deep, restful sleep. Through three soothing visualizations—a quiet beach at sunset, a peaceful forest path, and a joyful dragon adventure—you'll explore feelings of relaxation, calm, and joy, and remember your inner power to create safety and comfort within. This practice is ideal for: Bedtime and deep sleep Anxiety relief and emotional overwhelm Nervous system regulation after a stressful day Gentle self-soothing for sensitive hearts and busy minds

Are you struggling to quiet your mind tonight? If insomnia, racing thoughts, or late-night anxiety are keeping you awake, welcome to Books at Bedtime. In this episode, we dive into Chapter 10 of H.G. Wells' science fiction classic, The Time Machine, titled "When Night Came". As twilight deepens and the Time Traveller seeks a safe refuge from the mysterious Morlocks, let the steady, low, and soothing cadence of this classic bedtime story guide you into a state of deep relaxation. Designed specifically as an audiobook for sleep, this episode provides a calm, safe space for your thoughts to rest, making it the perfect alternative to traditional sleep meditation or white noise. Let go of your day, focus on the gentle rhythm of the narration, and drift off into a peaceful night's rest.

The Time Machine for Sleep | Chapter 9: The Morlocks (Relaxing Audio Book)Fall asleep fast with smooth, calming classic audiobooks designed for deep sleep, insomnia relief, and relaxation. In this episode of Books at Bedtime, we dive into Chapter 9 of H.G. Wells' sci-fi classic, The Time Machine. Experience the journey of the Time Traveller as he descends into the mysterious deep wells of the underworld. Narrated in a low, soothing, hypnotic cadence, this classic story is crafted specifically to quiet an overactive mind, relieve anxiety, and help you drift into a peaceful night's rest. Whether you struggle with insomnia, need a relaxing bedtime routine, or simply love sleeping to the sound of classic literature, let this gentle narration guide you into deep sleep.

Wednesday, June 24. The seven stories you need to know today.Read today's briefing.

Welcome back to Books at Bedtime. Tonight, let your mind drift away from the stresses of the day as we journey back into the shifting landscapes of H.G. Wells' classic science fiction masterpiece. If you are searching for an effective bedtime story for grown-ups to quiet a racing mind, this chapter offers the perfect escape. In Chapter 8, our Time Traveler begins to look beneath the beautiful, serene surface of the year 802,701. As he discovers a strange network of deep ventilation shafts and catches his first terrifying glimpse of the nocturnal, subterranean Morlocks, a darker truth about the future of humanity begins to take shape Wrapped in rich, descriptive prose, tonight's reading provides an immersive journey that serves as an excellent guided meditation for deep sleep. Turn down the lights, get comfortable, and let this classic tale ease you into a night of profound rest.Key Timestamps & Journey Points00:00 – Introduction & Breathing Space: Settling down with Calming Anxiety for tonight's classic audio reading. 02:15 – The Whispering Wells: The Time Traveler investigates the mysterious, rhythmic thudding beneath the earth.07:22 – An Unexpected Friendship: The rescue of Weena and the blooming of a gentle bond in a distant age.13:00 – The Creatures of the Half-Light: Ghostly white figures appearing in the chilly, uncertain dawn.17:40 – Eyes in the Darkness: A startling encounter inside the ancient, sun-blocked ruins.24:30 – The Two Branches of Humanity: Unraveling the economic and evolutionary mystery of the Eloi and the Morlocks.Seeded Long-Tail Keywords Used for SEO OptimizationTo help those seeking relief find this episode, we have structurally targeted the following search terms:Deep sleep reading for insomnia – For listeners who need a calming narrative voice to quiet night-time anxiety and block out racing thoughts.Relaxing bedtime stories for adults – Perfect for creating a comforting, predictable evening routine that signals to your brain it is time to rest.Mindful meditation story for sleep anxiety – Helping you gently transition from the analytical focus of the daytime to a soft, imaginative headspace.Calming audio for overactive minds – Designed with a slow, deliberate cadence to help lower your heart rate and ease physical tension before sleep.Natural insomnia relief through storytelling – Utilizing the classic, familiar rhythm of literature to encourage a natural drift into REM sleep.Connect with the ShowIf tonight's reading helped you find a sense of peace, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone currently struggling to find rest.Be Kind.

Your child does not need sports drinks, protein powders or pre-workout anything. They need real food, good timing and a mom who knows the difference. Registered dietitian Angie Asche breaks it all down simply and practically. In this episode, Steph and sports dietitian Angie Asche, cover youth athlete nutrition from the ground up. You will learn what recreational and competitive kids actually need to perform and recover, how to time meals around practices and tournament days, what to do when your child is hungry 20 minutes before bed after a late game and why most popular sports products marketed to kids are not what they are cracked up to be. Whether your child plays one sport or five, this conversation will change how you think about feeding them. Topics Covered In This Episode: Does sports nutrition matter for recreational young athletes? Whole food habits to build from an early age How to fuel kids when practice falls at dinner time Pre-tournament meal timing and what to eat between games Post-game snacks: what actually supports recovery vs. what does not Bedtime hunger after late practices: what to do Sports nutrition myths parents believe (Prime, protein powders, weight gainers) Electrolytes: when kids actually need them and how to make your own Supplements for teen athletes: what is worth it and what is not Body image, under-fueling in girl athletes, and how to talk to your kids about food Show Notes: Learn more about Eleat Nutrition Follow @eleatnutrition on Instagram Purchase Fuel Your Body: How to Cook and Eat for Peak Performance  Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate! Click here to explore Steph Greunke, RD's Mindset and Metabolism Substack, nuanced discussions on fat loss and behavior change for women. Watch this episode on our Youtube channel @medschoolformoms Listen to today's episode on our website I realized early on that my dream career was to become a sports dietitian. Growing up a competitive dancer and swimmer, I was always intrigued by the impact eating certain foods before a competition or meet had on my performance. I had a love for science and how nutrition could have either the most beneficial or detrimental impact on both athletic performance and overall health. My professional experience began after receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in both Dietetics and Exercise Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I went on to complete my dietetic internship at Saint Louis University to earn my title as a Registered Dietitian and a Master of Science Degree in Nutrition & Physical Performance. Since founding Eleat Sports Nutrition® in June 2014, I have worked with hundreds of high school, college, and professional athletes nationwide in MLB, NFL, and NHL. I published Fuel Your Body: How to Cook and Eat for Peak Performance in 2021, and work as a media spokesperson for several brands across the health and wellness industry. Whether assisting an adult with weight management or educating an athlete on what to eat to improve their performance, I have a passion for helping others achieve their goals and teaching them how to make healthy eating a part of their daily lifestyle. This Episode's Sponsors  Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by 15,000+ women's health practitioners, including Dr. Elana and Steph. Needed supports optimal health and nourishment throughout the Motherspan--from preconception through perimenopause. Enjoy their range of practitioner-formulated, third-party tested supplements and get 20% off with code DOCTORMOM. Visit thisisneeded.com Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean.  Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you.  Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $50 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order. INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can't wait to meet you! @stephgreunke @drelanaroumell Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only.  All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.

Hello, Beautiful...I'm so grateful you're here with me. This soothing sleep meditation carries children across calm ocean waves under a warm golden glow of peaceful light. Through relaxing breathing, mindfulness, and gentle ocean imagery, kids can release stress and settle into deep restful sleep. Perfect for bedtime relaxation, emotional comfort, calming anxiety, and peaceful sleep for children. Love,

Parents! Download Mr Jim's app Riffio to create your own stories and songs inside your favorite shows! iOS Download | Android Listen to this podcast, audiobooks and more on Storybutton, without your kids needing to use a screened device or your phone. Listen with no fees or subscriptions.—> Order Storybutton Today

Welcome to tonight's episode of Books at Bedtime, brought to you by the Anchored app. If you are currently struggling to fall asleep, tossing and turning with nighttime anxiety, or searching for effective natural insomnia relief, let this soothing literary audio journey guide you into a state of deep, restorative rest.In tonight's chapter of H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi novel, The Time Machine, the Time Traveller experiences a sudden shock as he discovers his machine has vanished under the pale light of the full moon. While the story turns toward mystery, the deliberate, rhythmic cadence of this reading is designed to act as a powerful sleep aid.Listening to calm bedtime stories for adults is a proven method to quiet an overactive mind, ease racing thoughts before bed, and help you transition from daytime stress to peaceful slumber. If you suffer from chronic insomnia, sleep deprivation, or simply need a relaxing bedtime routine to trigger your body's natural relaxation response, settle in under the covers. Let the gentle, comforting narration soothe your nervous system, slow your breathing, and help you drift off into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.⏱️ Bedtime Chapters & Sleep Milestones00:00 – Gentle Introduction to Tonight's Bedtime Story00:10 – The Time Machine Chapter 7: Moonlight over the Lawn01:32 – Calming Narration for Sleep: The Vanishing Machine04:10 – Soft Audio Tones to Relieve Mindless Tossing and Turning06:50 – Drifting Deeper: The Traveller Seeks Shelter09:12 – Rhythmic Storytelling for Transitioning to Deep Sleep11:36 – Peaceful Literary Escape to Quiet the Subconscious Mind14:40 – The Dawn of a New Day: Soft Whispers for Sleep Hypnosis16:00 – Drifting Away: Fading Out into Restorative Slumber

Access over 130+ Ad-Free episodes of Calm History by becoming a Silk+ Member (FREE for a limited time!). Nordlayer Browser: https://nordlayer.com/browser/ ********************** Become a Silk+ Member (FREE for a limited time!) and enjoy over 600 total episodes from these relaxing podcasts: Calm History (130+ episodes) History Showcase (25+ episodes) Sleep Whispers (430+ episodes) ASMR Sleep Station (50+ episodes) 1 … Continue reading Charlie Chaplin, Adolph Hitler’s Mustache, & Stealing Money from Children | Bedtime Sleep Stories about History (not A.I.)

Welcome to tonight's episode of Books at Bedtime, brought to you by the Anchored app. Tonight, we continue our gentle journey through H.G. Wells' science fiction masterpiece, The Time Machine, with Chapter 6: "The Sunset of Mankind". As the evening settles and the day's tension fades away, join us in the year 802,701 AD. In this chapter, our Time Traveller climbs to a lonely, moss-draped crest overlooking a silent, transformed Thames Valley. Underneath the warm, golden glow of a fading sunset, he contemplates a world completely free from toil, disease, and social struggle—a beautiful, ruinous paradise where humanity has conquered nature, but lost its restless edge. Let the rhythmic cadence of tonight's reading quiet your mind, slow your breathing, and guide you into a restful, restorative sleep.Cold Intro"A queer thing I soon discovered about my little hosts, and that was their lack of interest. They would come to me with eager cries of astonishment like children, but like children they would very soon stop examining me, and wander away after some other toy. It was odd, too, how speedily I came to disregard these little people ... I emerged from the great hall, and the scene was lit by a warm glow of the setting sun." Deep Sleep Time Chapters00:00 – "The Sunset of Mankind" Intro & Soothing Ambience 00:59 – Emerging into a Changed World: The Shifted Thames 02:14 – Exploring the Ruinous Splendor and Ancient Granite Labyrinths 03:21 – Speculations on Communism and the Vanishing of the English Cottage 04:48 – A World Free of Hardship: The Physical Resemblance of the Sexes 06:19 – The Mysterious Well under the Cupola 06:50 – Solitude on the Crest: Sinking into the Yellow Metal Seat 07:26 – A Wide Horizon View: The Golden, Purple, and Crimson Sunset 08:26 – The Earth as a Total Garden: Free from Weeds, Disease, and Toil 09:06 – Soft Musings: How Absolute Security Breeds Physical Feebleness 11:06 – The Ultimate Subjugation and Balance of Nature 12:47 – A Social Paradise: The Disappearance of Commerce and Traffic 14:16 – The Grindstone of Pain is Broken: Slipping into Contented Inactivity 16:56 – Gathering Dark: Closing Speculations and Sleep Transitions Relaxing Affirmations for SleepBefore the reading begins, take a slow, deep breath. Let these gentle insights anchor your mind into a state of total security:I step out of the rush of the world and into the calm of the evening. The struggle of the day is completely gone; I am safe, secure, and at peace. Like a quiet garden after the storm, my mind is still and settled. I release the need to strive, allowing myself to sink into contented rest. I am protected by a quiet landscape of peace as the darkness gently gathers. 3 Bedtime Insights for a Restful MindReflecting on the Traveller's peaceful twilight observations, carry these comforting thoughts into your dreams:After the Battle Comes Quiet: The Traveller notes that humanity's historical struggles ultimately paved the way for absolute stillness. Let go of today's efforts; your battles for the day are done, and it is time for your quiet reaction of rest. The Grindstone is Broken: We often keep our minds sharp and anxious on the "grindstone of necessity". In sleep, that grindstone is broken. You have no social or economic struggles to solve tonight. Surrender to the Sunset: Watch the flaming gold and horizontal bars of purple fade away in your mind's eye. Just as the old world effortlessly accepted the sunset, give yourself full permission to gracefully surrender to the gathering dark. Anchor Your EveningIf tonight's classic story helped quiet your thoughts and brought comfort to your evening, please take a brief moment to share this episode on your social media channels so others can find their evening sanctuary. For an uninterrupted, ad-free library of calming sleep stories, soothing visualizations, and hypnotherapy sessions whenever you need them, The Anchored App is free to download. Smile often, my friend, and to your soul be kind.

A family take a trip to Eygpt, only to lose their dog in the city of Cairo. Written especially for this podcast by Alice.  If you enjoyed this story, please do leave us a review.  And, if you'd like to suggest an animal for a future Animal Tales story, you can do so by emailing podcast@animaltales.uk. We would love to hear from you.  Animal Tales Books!Collections of Animal Tales children's stories are available to buy exclusively at Amazon. Simply search for Animal Tales Short Stories or follow this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLJQZ9C9?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi Become a PREMIUM SubscriberYou can now enjoy Animal Tales by becoming a Premium Subscriber. This gets you:All episodes in our catalogue advert freeBonus Premium-only episodes (one per week) which will never be used on the main podcastWe guarantee to use one of your animal suggestions in a storyYou can sign up through Apple Podcasts or through Supercast and there are both monthly and yearly plans available.   Discover a brand new story every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – just for you!  You can find more Animal Tales at www.animaltales.ukA Note About The AdvertsIn order to allow us to make these stories we offer a premium subscription and run adverts. The adverts are not chosen by us, but played automatically depending on the platform you listen through (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) and the country you live in. The adverts may even be different if you listen to the story twice.We have had a handful of instances where an advert has played that is not suitable for a family audience, despite the podcast clearly being labelled for children. If you're concerned about an advert you hear, please contact the platform you are listening to directly. Spotify, in particular, has proven problematic in the past, for both inappropriate adverts and the volume at which the adverts play. If you find this happening, please let Spotify know via their Facebook customer care page. As creators, we want your child's experience to be a pleasurable one. Running adverts is necessary to allow us to operate, but please do consider the premium subscription service as an alternative – it's advert free.

We embark on a quest to create the perfect summer day, exploring all its possibilities—from pollination adventures and lazy fishing on the Honey River to a serene porch reading session. Each experience offers a unique joy, but the true magic is found in spending time together, whether chasing butterflies or casting fishing lines. In the end, we discover that the most perfect summer day isn't about the activity, but about who you share it with

Welcome to Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety. Tonight, leave the stress of modern life behind and step into the distant future as we continue our journey through H.G. Wells' classic science fiction masterpiece, The Time Machine.In Chapter 5, "In the Golden Age," our weary Time Traveler finds himself face to face with the exquisite, fragile inhabitants of the year 802,000—the Eloi. Garlanded with magnificent, ancient flowers and led into a colossal, dilapidated hall of fretted stone, he experiences the gentle, childlike, and indolent world of humanity's remote posterity. But beneath the surface of this lush, fruit-filled paradise, a profound sense of mystery and suspended judgment lingers. This soft, slow-paced literary reading is designed to act as a natural sleep aid. Let the descriptive, elegant prose of a timeless story gently lower your cognitive load, quiet your racing mind, and anchor your nervous system into deep, restorative sleep. Love falling asleep to classic stories? Pull the blankets up, get fully comfortable, and hit Follow so tomorrow night's bedtime story finds you automatically. If our nightly readings help you drift off, please consider sharing this episode with a friend or on your social media channels to help others find their nighttime calm. ⏱️ Time Chapters00:00 – Introduction & Welcome to Books at Bedtime Settle in, adjust your volume, and take a deep, slow breath as we introduce tonight's classic sleep story. 00:10 – The Time Machine, Chapter 5: In the Golden Age The Time Traveler meets the delicate future inhabitants of Earth and takes precautions to secure his machine. 03:04 – Communicating with the Eloi An unexpected, childlike question about thunderstorms leaves the traveler contemplating the intellectual level of humanity's future. 05:12 – The Great Dilapidated Hall Walking through a weedless, beautiful wilderness into a colossal, ancient stone structure worn down by generations. 08:13 – A Banquet of Strange Fruits Seated among hundreds of gentle, vegetarian future beings, the traveler tastes their delightful staple fruits. 11:15 – Learning a Forgotten Language A slow, patient attempt to decipher the exquisite nouns and pronouns of an easily fatigued people. 12:30 – Gentle Fade-Out & Sleep Automation The story softly recedes, leaving you in total peace to drift off completely.

We embark on a quest to create the perfect summer day, exploring all its possibilities—from pollination adventures and lazy fishing on the Honey River to a serene porch reading session. Each experience offers a unique joy, but the true magic is found in spending time together, whether chasing butterflies or casting fishing lines. In the end, we discover that the most perfect summer day isn't about the activity, but about who you share it with

The full version of this episode (50 minutes & Ad-free) is available for Silk+ Members (FREE for a limited time!) and includes access to over 600 more episodes from these podcasts: Calm History (130+ episodes) History Showcase (25+ episodes) Sleep Whispers (430+ episodes) ASMR Sleep Station (50+ episodes) 1 & 8-Hour Nature Sounds (50+ episodes) 1 & 8-Hour Background Sounds (30 episodes) … Continue reading *Sample* | Sea Monster History: The Kraken & The Giant Squid | Bedtime Sleep Stories about History (Bonus Episode #96)

We embark on a quest to create the perfect summer day, exploring all its possibilities—from pollination adventures and lazy fishing on the Honey River to a serene porch reading session. Each experience offers a unique joy, but the true magic is found in spending time together, whether chasing butterflies or casting fishing lines. In the end, we discover that the most perfect summer day isn't about the activity, but about who you share it with

We embark on a quest to create the perfect summer day, exploring all its possibilities—from pollination adventures and lazy fishing on the Honey River to a serene porch reading session. Each experience offers a unique joy, but the true magic is found in spending time together, whether chasing butterflies or casting fishing lines. In the end, we discover that the most perfect summer day isn't about the activity, but about who you share it with

If you are tossing and turning tonight, unable to quiet a racing mind, step away from the frustrations of insomnia and drift off into a classic world of wonder. Tonight, Books at Bedtime brings you Chapter 4 of H.G. Wells' timeless sci-fi masterpiece, The Time Machine. In this episode, your host Martin Hewlett utilizes his signature soothing, hypnotic cadence to help you cross the bridge into a deep, restful sleep. Follow the enigmatic Time Traveller as he finally finishes his machine, climbs into the saddle, and pulls the lever to launch himself headlong into the distant future. As night and day begin to blur like the flapping of a black wing and the sun streaks across a twilight sky, let the rhythmic rise and fall of the narrative lull your nervous system into complete relaxation. Designed specifically for those struggling with restless sleep, night anxiety, or sleep onset issues, this literary sanctuary invites you to put down the weight of today, stop counting the hours, and ease effortlessly into a calm, restorative slumber. Time Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Books at Bedtime: Chapter 4 00:23 – Completing the Time Machine in the Workshop 00:53 – The First Voyage: Pulling the Starting Lever 02:04 – When Night and Day Blur: The Physical Sensations of Travel 04:31 – A Changing Earth: Watching Buildings Rise and Seasons Pass 06:40 – The Looming Risk of Stopping in the Unknown 09:21 – A Sudden Halt: Hurled into the World of the Future 10:46 – The Crouching White Sphinx in the Hailstorm 13:32 – Overcoming Bedtime Panic and Gathering Courage 15:06 – Meeting the Frail and Beautiful Inhabitants of the Future Episode AffirmationsBefore we begin reading, let these gentle thoughts anchor your body and quiet your restless mind:"I am ready to release the thoughts of today and let my mind drift.""Just like seasons passing in a flash, the worries of today are transient.""I am safe in my bed, completely supported, with nothing left to solve tonight.""I choose to step out of the rush of time and rest in this quiet space.""My body knows how to sleep, and I give it permission to relax fully now."3 Daily Caring TipsThe Bedtime Pivot: If your mind is replaying the day's events over and over, gently pivot your attention away from your own life. Immersing your imagination in an old audiobook or story gives your brain a fictional space to wander, stopping the anxious loop.Break the Clock Habit: Looking at the clock when you can't sleep only feeds insomnia anxiety. If you find yourself wakeful, turn your phone or clock away. Accept that resting your body in stillness is highly valuable, even before sleep takes over.Somatic Unwinding: Just as the Time Traveller felt the heavy, jarring sensations of his journey fade into a calm landscape, you can release physical tension. Take a slow, deep breath, drop your shoulders away from your ears, and let the bed completely carry your weight. Social Media Outro & ShareIf a restless mind or sleep issues have been keeping you awake lately, please know you are far from alone in the quiet hours of the night. If this chapter of The Time Machine helped soothe your bedtime anxiety and brought a little tranquility to your evening, please consider sharing this episode with someone else who might be staring at the ceiling tonight. You could be the reason they finally find their escape and drift off into a deep, peaceful sleep.Thank you so much for putting your faith and trust in Calming Anxiety and Books at Bedtime. Sleep deeply, rest well, and remember—be kind.

Notes from the Field | Transmission #12Hero! Today I learned that laughter might just be the best superpower. In the middle of a rescue mission, I walked straight into a glass door—yep, while helping someone who'd also tripped himself up! I laughed until I couldn't breathe, and realized that humor doesn't just lighten stress—it transforms it into joy.https://EJmissions.com_________________Join Captain EJ on his biggest mission yet...Captain EJ battles The Knucklers, whose reign of terror has just begun

Notes from the Field | Transmission #12Hero! Today I learned that laughter might just be the best superpower. In the middle of a rescue mission, I walked straight into a glass door—yep, while helping someone who'd also tripped himself up! I laughed until I couldn't breathe, and realized that humor doesn't just lighten stress—it transforms it into joy.https://EJmissions.com_________________Join Captain EJ on his biggest mission yet...Captain EJ battles The Knucklers, whose reign of terror has just begun

Notes from the Field | Transmission #12Hero! Today I learned that laughter might just be the best superpower. In the middle of a rescue mission, I walked straight into a glass door—yep, while helping someone who'd also tripped himself up! I laughed until I couldn't breathe, and realized that humor doesn't just lighten stress—it transforms it into joy.https://EJmissions.com_________________Join Captain EJ on his biggest mission yet...Captain EJ battles The Knucklers, whose reign of terror has just begun

Welcome to Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety. If your mind is racing, your thoughts are looping, and you are desperately seeking how to fall asleep fast when stressed, let yourself unwind with Chapter 3 of H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi masterpiece, The Time Machine. In this episode, titled "The Time Traveler Returns," we find our mysterious protagonist stumbling back into his Richmond drawing room after a mind-bending journey through time. Haggard, weary, and completely worn out from his travels, the Time Traveler has returned with an extraordinary tale to tell—but first, he needs to rest. This slow-paced, soothing literary reading is designed specifically as a bedtime story for grown-ups to beat insomnia. Whether you suffer from chronic sleep issues, late-night anxiety, or just need a comforting voice to block out the noise of the day, let this classic tale gently guide your brain into a deep, restorative slumber.Turn down the lights, get comfortable beneath the covers, and let the rhythmic cadence of tonight's reading quiet your mind.What You'll Discover in This Episode (And How It Helps You Sleep)Deep Relaxation Through Storytelling: Discover how listening to a structured, rhythmic classic narrative functions as a natural anxiety relief bedtime audio to distract a racing mind.The Time Traveler's Weariness: Lean into the comforting atmospheric setting of a quiet, dimly lit 19th-century smoking room—the perfect auditory backdrop for falling asleep fast.Soothing Voice Tracking for Insomnia: Specifically paced and modulated to act as a gentle sleep aid for chronic insomnia sufferers who struggle with silent rooms.Targeted Long-Tail Keywords & Phrases Used for SEO DominanceTo help you track and optimize, this episode's metadata and description heavily target the following high-value search terms:Best podcasts to help you fall asleepBedtime stories for adults with insomniaAudio sleep aids for racing thoughtsDeep sleep storytelling for stress reliefCalming audio books for sleepingHow to cure insomnia naturally with audioMindfulness sleep stories for anxiety reliefListen & Subscribe for Better SleepIf you found comfort in tonight's chapter, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps other sleep-deprived minds find our cozy corner of the internet.Sweet dreams, and remember to be kind to yourself.

BEDTIME X SUGA X TIMBOTim "Red Hawk" Welch is joined by Suga & Bedtime MMA to recap UFC Freedom 250, Sug's big win, Topuria's SHOCKING loss to Gaethje, & more!⚡️Check out PrizePicks! Sign up with code "TIMBO" to play $5 and WIN $50 INSTANTLY Click https://link.prizepicks.com/LME0/TIMBO

Episode 808 - Dani Vee, Ingrid Laguna and Dan Thomas - Children's books, writing, feedback and the challenges of being in a creative relationship Dear lovely listeners, In episode 808 I chat to (newlyweds) Ingrid Laguna and Dan Thomas about their new releases My Brother Otto published by Text Publishing and Bedtime, No More Buts published by Scholastic. We chat about: ⭐️ the light and dark and why it's important for kids to experience both. ⭐️ how to write about real life experiences ⭐️ feedback and rejection We take a deep dive into what it's like being in a relationship with another creative and discuss:

Here's a taster of our new Premium-only story.  To hear it in full, please join our Premium Subscription service. Become a PREMIUM SubscriberYou can now enjoy Animal Tales by becoming a Premium Subscriber. This gets you:All episodes in our catalogue advert freeBonus Premium-only episodes (every Friday) which will never be used on the main podcastWe guarantee to use one of your animal suggestions in a storyYou can sign up through Apple Podcasts or through Supercast and there are both monthly and yearly plans available. You can find more Animal Tales at www.animaltales.ukA Note About The AdvertsIn order to allow us to make these stories we offer a premium subscription and run adverts. The adverts are not chosen by us, but played automatically depending on the platform you listen through (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) and the country you live in. The adverts may even be different if you listen to the story twice.We have had a handful of instances where an advert has played that is not suitable for a family audience, despite the podcast clearly being labelled for children. If you're concerned about an advert you hear, please contact the platform you are listening to directly. Spotify, in particular, has proven problematic in the past, for both inappropriate adverts and the volume at which the adverts play. If you find this happening, please let Spotify know via their Facebook customer care page. As creators, we want your child's experience to be a pleasurable one. Running adverts is necessary to allow us to operate, but please do consider the premium subscription service as an alternative – it's advert free.

Tonight, Andrew will talk on the topic of Sleep until you fall asleep.  Start your 7-day free trial of Send Me to Sleep Premium today, and enjoy our two upcoming exclusive episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sendmetosleep.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Welcome to Send Me To Sleep, the place to find a good night's rest. My name is Andrew, and I help you fall asleep by reading relaxing books and stories. If you find this podcast effective, please consider following, so you can stay up-to-date with new weekly episodes and fall asleep consistently, each night. Enjoying the show? Leave us a rating and review: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.slumberstudios.com Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sendmetosleepco/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do not listen to this sleep story whilst driving or operating machinery. Please only listen to the Send Me To Sleep podcast in a safe place where you can relax and fall asleep. Our AppsRedeem exclusive, unlimited access to premium content for 1 month FREE in our mobile apps built by the Slumber Studios team:Deep Sleep Sounds App: deepsleepsounds.com/sendmetosleepSlumber App: slumber.fm/sendmetosleep Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode, Bedtime Stories narrator Richard While sits down with T.G. Campbell of The Bow Street Society for an in-depth conversation covering a wide range of topics related to the paranormal, unexplained phenomena, and the creation of the channel itself. During the interview, Rich discusses several of his own personal experiences, the cases that have fascinated him most over the years, and the mysteries that continue to defy explanation. The conversation also explores the origins of Bedtime Stories, the research and production process behind the episodes, the challenges involved in bringing each story to life, and how the channel has evolved since its creation. Along the way, Rich shares his thoughts on some of the most compelling paranormal cases ever reported, the nature of unexplained phenomena, and why such stories continue to capture the imagination of people around the world. Whether you're a long-time listener or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, this candid and wide-ranging discussion offers a rare glimpse into the person behind the voice. Interview conducted by T.G. Campbell of The Bow Street Society. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/bedtime Go to https://brooklynbedding.com and use my promo code BEDTIME at checkout to get 30% off sitewide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety. Tonight, get comfortable, unwind, and let your mind drift away as clinical hypnotherapist Martin Hewlett narrates Chapter 2 of H.G. Wells' timeless classic, The Time Machine. In this captivating second installment, the initial skepticism of the dinner guests is shattered when the Time Traveller stumbles into the dining room a week later—haggard, blood-stained, and completely exhausted. As his guests look on in absolute disbelief, he demands food before launching into his extraordinary, terrifying narrative: his first terrifying plunge through space-time into a distant future paradise, and the dark, hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface. Perfect for soothing an overactive mind, relieving late-night stress, and overcoming insomnia. Let the smooth, rhythmic cadence of this classic sci-fi narration ground you in the present moment, guiding your nervous system into a deep, peaceful state of relaxation.⏱️ Episode Chapters00:00 – Welcome to Books at Bedtime: Chapter 2 Intro 00:13 – The Skepticism of the Dinner Guests 01:52 – A Second Thursday Gathering 02:26 – The Unexplained Absence of the Host 04:01 – The Time Traveller Returns: Changed & Disheveled 05:11 – "I've Been to the Future" 06:26 – A Ravenous Hunger: The Host Demands Food 08:07 – The Narrative Begins: Completing the Machine 09:09 – The First Plunge Through Time 10:42 – Arriving in a Strange New Future World 11:58 – The Morlocks and the Underworld Perils 12:19 – The Evidence of Truth & Outro

Are bedtime battles leaving you exhausted? Do you feel like your entire evening hinges on whether your child stays in bed, comes out of their room, or asks for “just one more thing”?In this episode, I share a powerful mindset shift that has helped many families transform bedtime from a nightly power struggle into a simple, predictable routine. I'll walk you through why so many of us accidentally measure the wrong thing at bedtime—and how focusing on our child's cooperation can leave us feeling defeated.Instead, I introduce a decision-tree approach that can help you stay calm, consistent, and confident no matter what your child chooses. I'll show you how to stop negotiating, reduce bedtime stress, and help your child build responsibility and independent sleep skills over time.By the time you're done listening, you'll know:The bedtime mindset shift that changes everything.Why your child's behavior isn't the best measure of success.How to respond calmly when kids get out of bed.The difference between controlling bedtime and leading bedtime. Why fewer words often create better results.  How to parent with kindness and firmness at the same timeIf you're tired of bedtime taking over your evenings, I hope this episode gives you a practical framework you can start using tonight.Get the FREE Bedtime Decision Flowchart: https://sustainable-parenting.myflodesk.com/wcwu5o8wo3✨Want more?  ✨JOIN me in the SUMMER of support:  

Hello from the Classic Children's Story podcast. We bring you narrations of classic children's stories of all kinds to keep your young ones entertained, read by a professional voice actress. The themes range from animal stories to stories that teach, to classic favourites like Tom Thumb, Red Riding Hood and more. Today is "Lucky Dip" story day where I pick a story at random to read. This is a story about the joy of giving with the Playtime Angel, kid friends & cookies. Have a listen and see what happens. So, cuddle up to your little ones, settle in, and enjoy. Visit us on Instagram at “sleepstories_fairytales_4kids ”. Visit us on BlueSky at - @sleepstories4kids.bsky.social If you'd like to see more entertainment and inspiration for kids, please pop over to our kofi page where you'll find a lot of cute things, videos and artwork Visit us at, ko-fi.com/sleepstoriesandfairytales4kids Want to hear more stories? Our Subscribers Club offers a selection of special stories recorded only for the members. You can tell which those are because you'll see a nice orange label with a crown next to those episode titles. Our Supporters Club via Spreaker: spreaker.com/podcast/classic-children-s-story-podcast--4219679/support AND … If you'd like to watch some stories read by us on video, why not visit our new YouTube Channel – “Sleep Stories and Classic Fairy Tales For Kids” - dedicated to making videos that entertain & empower kids with stories, affirmations, tapping (EFT) etc. And, you'll also find stories, riddle quizzes, elearning videos, songs and more. They're all lovingly and enthusiastically read on-camera for kids – https://www.youtube.com/@SleepStoriesandFairyTales4U We also have a website of stories, riddles, positive affirmations for kids and more. It's here - https://www.sleepstoriesandfai... Be sure to pop by and read the new original stories! ☕️https://buymeacoffee.com/stefa...

Britain inches closer to legislating a national bedtime for rowdy teens and there's another ministerial resignation over an inability to make it 1942 again by science or magic. In the second half, Daniel Trilling joins us to discuss his new book If We Tolerate This, an exploration of how the British far right and the recent riots thereof was enabled by the respectable centre. Get Daniel's book here! Get more TF episodes each week by subscribing to our Patreon here! RILEY ALERT Check out No Gods, No Mayors here! HUSSEIN ALERT Check out 10k Posts here! MILO ALERT Check out Milo's tour dates here: https://www.miloedwards.co.uk/liveshows NATE ALERT Nate's band Second Homes has just released their debut album, which includes the song used in this episode's outro, and you can stream it for free here! Trashfuture are: Riley (@raaleh), Milo (@Milo_Edwards), Hussein (@HKesvani), Nate (@inthesedeserts), and November (@postoctobrist)

Your child does not need sports drinks, protein powders or pre-workout anything. They need real food, good timing and a mom who knows the difference. Registered dietitian Angie Asche breaks it all down simply and practically. In this episode, Steph and sports dietitian Angie Asche, cover youth athlete nutrition from the ground up. You will learn what recreational and competitive kids actually need to perform and recover, how to time meals around practices and tournament days, what to do when your child is hungry 20 minutes before bed after a late game and why most popular sports products marketed to kids are not what they are cracked up to be. Whether your child plays one sport or five, this conversation will change how you think about feeding them. Topics Covered In This Episode: Does sports nutrition matter for recreational young athletes? Whole food habits to build from an early age How to fuel kids when practice falls at dinner time Pre-tournament meal timing and what to eat between games Post-game snacks: what actually supports recovery vs. what does not Bedtime hunger after late practices: what to do Sports nutrition myths parents believe (Prime, protein powders, weight gainers) Body image, under-fueling in girl athletes, and how to talk to your kids about food Show Notes: Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate! Click here to explore Steph Greunke, RD's Mindset and Metabolism Substack, nuanced discussions on fat loss and behavior change for women. Watch this episode on our Youtube channel @medschoolformoms Listen to today's episode on our website This Episode's Sponsors  Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by 15,000+ women's health practitioners, including Dr. Elana and Steph. Needed supports optimal health and nourishment throughout the Motherspan--from preconception through perimenopause. Enjoy their range of practitioner-formulated, third-party tested supplements and get 20% off with code DOCTORMOM. Visit thisisneeded.com Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean.  Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you.  Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $50 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order. INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can't wait to meet you! @stephgreunke @drelanaroumell Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only.  All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.

Your child does not need sports drinks, protein powders or pre-workout anything. They need real food, good timing and a mom who knows the difference. Registered dietitian Angie Asche breaks it all down simply and practically. In this episode, Steph and sports dietitian Angie Asche, cover youth athlete nutrition from the ground up. You will learn what recreational and competitive kids actually need to perform and recover, how to time meals around practices and tournament days, what to do when your child is hungry 20 minutes before bed after a late game and why most popular sports products marketed to kids are not what they are cracked up to be. Whether your child plays one sport or five, this conversation will change how you think about feeding them. Topics Covered In This Episode: Does sports nutrition matter for recreational young athletes? Whole food habits to build from an early age How to fuel kids when practice falls at dinner time Pre-tournament meal timing and what to eat between games Post-game snacks: what actually supports recovery vs. what does not Bedtime hunger after late practices: what to do Sports nutrition myths parents believe (Prime, protein powders, weight gainers) Body image, under-fueling in girl athletes, and how to talk to your kids about food Show Notes: Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate! Click here to explore Steph Greunke, RD's Mindset and Metabolism Substack, nuanced discussions on fat loss and behavior change for women. Watch this episode on our Youtube channel @medschoolformoms Listen to today's episode on our website This Episode's Sponsors  Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by 15,000+ women's health practitioners, including Dr. Elana and Steph. Needed supports optimal health and nourishment throughout the Motherspan--from preconception through perimenopause. Enjoy their range of practitioner-formulated, third-party tested supplements and get 20% off with code DOCTORMOM. Visit thisisneeded.com Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean.  Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you.  Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $50 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order. INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can't wait to meet you! @stephgreunke @drelanaroumell Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only.  All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.

Welcome to Books at Bedtime, brought to you by Calming Anxiety. If your mind is racing with the demands of the day, or if you are struggling to transition into a peaceful night's rest, let the soothing, steady rhythm of classic science fiction guide you into a deep sleep. Tonight, we begin our third literary journey with Chapter 1 of H.G. Wells's masterpiece, The Time Machine.Step into a cozy, dimly lit Victorian dining room where a group of friends gathers after dinner. Listen as the enigmatic Time Traveler expounds on the comforting paradox of the fourth dimension, explaining how time is simply a pathway through space that our consciousness moves along. As the fire burns brightly and the room fills with the soft, hypnotic hum of philosophical debate, you will witness the demonstration of a delicate model mechanism made of ivory, brass, and translucent crystal. Read with a slow, calming cadence designed to lower your heart rate and soothe an overactive nervous system, this bedtime story podcast episode acts as a gentle anchor for your evening routine. Dim your screen, settle deep into your pillows, and allow the fading echoes of shuffling slippers and crackling fires to lull you into an uninterrupted night's sleep.Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Settling In for Books at Bedtime00:45 – An After-Dinner Atmosphere: The Fire and the Glowing Hearth01:41 – The Geometry of School: Questioning the Paradox02:45 – Length, Breadth, Thickness, and Duration: Defining the Fourth Dimension04:24 – The Mind's Drift: Recalling Memories Vividly06:13 – A Vision of a Machine: Debating Travel Through Time08:05 – Slippers Shuffling: A Visit to the Cold Laboratory Corridor08:44 – The Glittering Framework: Examining the Delicate Model11:17 – Setting the Table: Candles, Lamps, and Brass Sconces12:46 – Pressing the Lever: The First Model Voyage13:13 – A Breath of Wind: The Swirl of Paint and Disappearance15:33 – Invisible Flights: The Analytical Analogy of the Spinning Wheel17:01 – A Glimpse of the Full-Size Prototype & Sleepy OutroStorybook Highlights for SleepAllow your focus to soften as your imagination drifts through these tranquil, atmospheric settings:The Crackling Hearth: The warm, flickering light of a roaring fire catching the tiny, passing bubbles dancing in the dinner glasses.The Gentle Demonstration: The soft, comforting click of a small white lever being pressed down on an octagonal table illuminated by a single shaded lamp.The Fading Corridor: The rhythmic, comforting sound of the host's slippers softly shuffling down a long, quiet hallway toward his peaceful workshop.If this evening's journey through time helped quiet your thoughts and ease you into a state of rest, please subscribe to the show and share this premiere episode with someone who needs a gentle voice to help them sleep tonight. Sharing our episodes is how our little community of stillness reaches the beautiful souls who need it the most.For target-focused support with daytime panic, chronic worry, or nervous system regulation, remember to explore our Anxiety Breaker course at calminganxiety.fm.Let your breathing become slow and easy, release the day entirely, and be kind to your beautiful soul. Sleep well, my friend.

Hello, Beautiful...I'm so grateful you're here with me. This calming bedtime meditation helps children slow down busy thoughts and relax their whole body before sleep. Through gentle breathing, mindfulness, and peaceful relaxation, kids can release stress, anxiety, and restlessness while feeling safe and comforted. Perfect for bedtime routines, emotional calm, relaxation, and deep restful sleep. Love,

An aye-aye goes in search of a place where, he hopes, he will finally be able to fit in.Written especially for this podcast by Simon.  If you enjoyed this story, please do leave us a review.  And, if you'd like to suggest an animal for a future Animal Tales story, you can do so by emailing podcast@animaltales.uk. We would love to hear from you.  Animal Tales Books!Collections of Animal Tales children's stories are available to buy exclusively at Amazon. Simply search for Animal Tales Short Stories or follow this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLJQZ9C9?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi Become a PREMIUM SubscriberYou can now enjoy Animal Tales by becoming a Premium Subscriber. This gets you:All episodes in our catalogue advert freeBonus Premium-only episodes (one per week) which will never be used on the main podcastWe guarantee to use one of your animal suggestions in a storyYou can sign up through Apple Podcasts or through Supercast and there are both monthly and yearly plans available.   Discover a brand new story every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – just for you!  You can find more Animal Tales at https://www.spreaker.com/show/animal-tales-the-kids-story-podcastA Note About The AdvertsIn order to allow us to make these stories we offer a premium subscription and run adverts. The adverts are not chosen by us, but played automatically depending on the platform you listen through (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) and the country you live in. The adverts may even be different if you listen to the story twice.We have had a handful of instances where an advert has played that is not suitable for a family audience, despite the podcast clearly being labelled for children. If you're concerned about an advert you hear, please contact the platform you are listening to directly. Spotify, in particular, has proven problematic in the past, for both inappropriate adverts and the volume at which the adverts play. If you find this happening, please let Spotify know via their Facebook customer care page. As creators, we want your child's experience to be a pleasurable one. Running adverts is necessary to allow us to operate, but please do consider the premium subscription service as an alternative – it's advert free.

Access over 130+ Ad-Free episodes of Calm History by becoming a Silk+ Member (FREE for a limited time!). Birch Mattress: https://birchliving.com/calmhistory Get 20% off Sitewide, 25% off Luxe Mattresses, & 30% off Elite Mattresses. ********************** Become a Silk+ Member (FREE for a limited time!) and enjoy over 600 total episodes from these relaxing podcasts: Calm History (130+ … Continue reading Balloon Boy Hoax: The Bizarre Story of a Floaty UFO, Black Hawk Helicopters, & Vomit | Bedtime Sleep Stories about History (Not AI)

AWS Morning Brief for the week of June 15th, with Corey Quinn. Links:AWS announces AWS Workload Credentials ProviderAnnouncing the public preview of AWS FinOps AgentIntroducing AI-Powered Cost Investigations For Cost AnomaliesAmazon CloudWatch Logs Insights adds 23 new query commands and functionsIntroducing Target Coverage in Savings Plans Purchase AnalyzerIntroducing the AWS Credits Detail PageAnthropic Claude Fable 5 on AWS: Mythos-class capabilities with built-in safeguards now availableNow available: Amazon EC2 M9g and M9gd instances powered by new AWS Graviton5 processorsTry the new console experience in Amazon Bedrock, optimized for Anthropic- and OpenAI-compatible APIsAWS Nitro Isolation Engine: Formally verifying the hypervisor in the AWS Nitro SystemIt's safe to close your laptop now: Hosting coding agents on Amazon Bedrock AgentCore27 AWS Security Bulletins: A Patch Tuesday That Lasted a Year

In this episode, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Melissa Schultz, we confront the heavy reality of how raising strong-willed or neurodivergent children can impact a marriage. With research showing higher divorce rates for parents navigating behavioral diagnoses, Melissa explains why getting on the same parenting page is one of the most effective ways to reduce marital tension and support your child through challenging seasons.We also dive into the daily trenches of parenting: managing those notoriously difficult transition times like mornings and bedtimes. Melissa shares her top strategies for removing the power struggle from routines that kids typically try to avoid.Key takeaways from this episode include:Stop the bedtime debate: How to transition away from nagging your kids to brush their teeth and instead use natural motivators—like a promised game of UNO or a favorite book—to keep them on track.The "Sky is Green" rule: Why you should only give your child the correct information once during an argument and learn to let the rest go.Creating "Magical Time": Melissa's top tip for cultivating positive behavior through 5 to 10 minutes of daily, uninterrupted, one-on-one time where you simply enter your child's world without teaching, lecturing, or correcting.Whether you are navigating the early years or raising teenagers, this episode is packed with practical wisdom to help you build connection, reduce household stress, and foster a more peaceful marriage.Work with Melissa SchultzMelissa Schultz is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, entrepreneur, and mother of three who specializes in supporting parents of strong-willed, highly sensitive, and neurodiverse children. Through her customized GUIDE framework, she helps parents move past daily overwhelm and implement practical, tailored strategies for their unique family dynamics.Melissa offers personalized 1-on-1 coaching (typically spanning 6 to 12 months for maximum benefit) as well as a 3-month group coaching program that connects moms who are experiencing similar struggles so they no longer feel alone in their parenting journey.Free Guide:https://www.melissaschulz.com/free-guide Socials:https://www.facebook.com/confidentlymomminhttps://www.instagram.com/confidentlymommin/Website:www.melissaschulz.com Work with Kameran AlareqiAs a certified relationship and marriage coach, I provide practical, evidence-based tools and direct communication to help you navigate partnership and individual growth. My coaching practice focuses on actionable relationship education and personal development (please note: services are coaching-based, not traditional therapy, and do not accept insurance).Here are a few ways we can work together to build stronger foundations in your home and relationships:Connected to Me: The Blueprint: A comprehensive self-reflection workbook featuring over 250 prompts designed for intentional personal growth.Join the Skool Community for free workshops, resources and ways to better your marriage immediately IG"Verafy" your relationship. It's the best way to "cheat proof" your relationship!Support the show

Feeling stressed? Relax with tonight's bedtime story, the Greek myth The Gorgon's Head. Support the podcast and enjoy ad-free and bonus episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts. For other podcast platforms go to https://justsleeppodcast.com/supportOr, you can support with a one time donation at buymeacoffee.com/justsleeppodOrder your copy of the Just Sleep book! https://www.justsleeppodcast.com/book/If you like this episode, please remember to follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. Also, share with any family or friends that might have trouble drifting off.Goodnight! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's cozy story, Ahmed's parents invite his friends over for a summer pool party.Narrated By: Vanessa LabrieWritten By: Christa AdamsWelcome to Snuggle! The best kid's story-telling podcast. Enter a cozy world of imagination perfect for bedtime, quiet time, or any time you want to embark on an enchanting adventure. Our cozy stories present a wide selection of calming tales for not just kids and toddlers, but for the whole family too! Enjoy some relaxing family time every day, when the children can parents can snuggle up together and venture into imaginative worlds, fairy tales, and other heartwarming stories. Develop deeper connections when you make Snuggle stories a routine at bedtime or anytime!Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠slumberstudios.com/snuggle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To enjoy ad-free listening and exclusive bonus episodes, start your 7-day free trial of Snuggle Premium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://snuggle.supercast.com/⁠

Welcome to the final chapter of our Alice in Wonderland journey on Books at Bedtime, brought to you by Calming Anxiety. If an overactive mind or a long, stressful day is keeping you awake tonight, let the soothing cadence of classic storytelling act as a gentle distraction, easing you into a deep, uninterrupted sleep. Tonight, we conclude Lewis Carroll's classic tale with Chapter 12: Alice's Evidence.We return to the chaotic courtroom of Wonderland, where Alice is called to give her testimony. Having suddenly grown to her full size, Alice inadvertently topples the jury box, scattering the animal jurors like goldfish from a bowl. Listen as the King desperately attempts to enforce Rule 42, the White Rabbit reads a final, nonsensical piece of poetic evidence, and the furious Queen demands a sentence before a verdict can even be reached. As the illusion shatters and Alice stands up to the flying pack of cards, she awakens to a gentle breeze, realizing it was all a wonderful, curious dream. Read with a slow, calming voice to encourage deep relaxation, this final chapter is the perfect bedtime routine to slow your breathing and soothe your nervous system before rest. Turn down the lights, get comfortable under the covers, and let go of the day.Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Settling Down for the Final Chapter00:15 – Tipping the Jury Box: Alice's Sudden Growth01:16 – Upsetting the Goldfish & Righting Bill the Lizard02:07 – Important or Unimportant? The King's Deliberation03:10 – Rule 42: All Persons More Than a Mile High Must Leave04:02 – The White Rabbit's Final Scroll: Nonsense Verses Revealed07:06 – Finding Meaning in the Cardboard Knave's Poetic Defense08:44 – Sentence First, Verdict Afterwards! The Queen's Fury09:42 – Nothing But a Pack of Cards: Shattering the Wonderland Dream10:20 – Awakening on the Bank & A Sister's Gentle Kiss11:00 – Running to Tea: Closing Thoughts & Sleep OutroStorybook Highlights for SleepSoften your focus and let your imagination drift away with these comforting final images:The Scrambled Jurors: Alice meticulously picks up the tiny birds and animals, frantically worried that if they aren't put back in their box immediately, they might die like fish out of water.The King's Pun: A moment of dead silence falls over the court as the King tries to make a joke about his words not "fitting" the jury, demanding that everyone laugh.Waking to the Leaves: The flying pack of cards softly morphs back into harmless dead leaves drifting down from the trees as Alice opens her eyes in her sister's lap.If this bedtime story series has helped you quiet your thoughts, manage evening anxiety, and find a deeper path to sleep, please subscribe to the show and share this finale with someone who needs a comforting, calming voice tonight. Your shares help our community of health and stillness reach those who need it most.For structured, day-to-day help with chronic stress, panic, or mindset regulation, try the Anxiety Breaker course at calminganxiety.fm, featuring five comprehensive, guided hypnotherapy sessions.Let your eyelids grow heavy, feel the support of your bed, release the world entirely, and be kind to your beautiful soul. Sleep well, my friend.

The full version of this episode (43 minutes & Ad-free) is available for Silk+ Members (FREE for a limited time!) and includes access to over 600 more episodes from these podcasts: Calm History (130+ episodes) History Showcase (25+ episodes) Sleep Whispers (430+ episodes) ASMR Sleep Station (50+ episodes) 1 & 8-Hour Nature Sounds (50+ episodes) 1 & 8-Hour Background Sounds (30 episodes) … Continue reading *Sample* | Story of Marie Curie: Radium, Radioactivity, & Romance | Bedtime Sleep Stories about History (Bonus Episode #93)

Welcome to Books at Bedtime from Calming Anxiety. If a restless mind or end-of-day stress is keeping you awake tonight, let the soothing, hypnotic cadence of classic literature help you drift into a deep, peaceful sleep. Tonight, we settle down for a gentle reading of Chapter 11 of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland: Who Stole the Tarts?We step quietly into the grand courtroom of Wonderland, where the King and Queen of Hearts are presiding over a most unusual trial. Listen as Alice observes the busy, scratching pencils of the twelve animal jurors, witness the nervous testimony of the Mad Hatter with his teacup in hand, and discover exactly what happens when a guinea pig is "suppressed" by the court. Read with a slow, calming voice to act as a comforting distraction for an overactive mind, this bedtime story podcast episode creates a safe, tranquil space for your evening routine. Dim the lights, take a long, slow breath, and let the whimsical confusion of the trial lull you into an uninterrupted night's rest.Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Preparing Your Mind for Rest00:15 – Entering the Courtroom: The King, Queen, and the Tarts01:16 – The Curious Habits of the Twelve Jurors02:57 – Bill the Lizard and the Squeaking Pencil03:33 – Reading the Accusation: The White Rabbit's Trumpet04:16 – The First Witness: The Mad Hatter's Nervous Testimony06:08 – A Curious Sensation: Alice Begins to Grow Again07:25 – Twinkling Tea and the Confusion of the March Hare08:55 – Suppressing the Court: The Tale of the Guinea Pigs10:15 – The Duchess's Cook and the Secret Ingredient11:45 – A Shrill Call: Alice is Summoned to the Stand & OutroStorybook Highlights for SleepAllow your thoughts to soften as you listen to these gentle, whimsical moments:The Jurors' Slates: The twelve little birds and animals write down their own names on their slates, fiercely anxious that they might forget them before the trial ends.The Hatter's Confusion: Shifting nervously from foot to foot, the Hatter accidentally bites a large piece out of his ceramic teacup instead of his bread and butter.A Sudden Summons: Just as the courtroom settles down after the cook's pepper-induced exit, the White Rabbit unrolls his parchment and unexpectedly calls Alice to the stand.If these cozy bedtime readings help you quiet your overthinking and find a path to deep sleep, please subscribe to the show and share this episode with anyone who needs a calming voice to help them rest tonight. Your support helps our community of calm reach beautiful souls everywhere.For structured, clinical guidance with daytime panic or chronic stress, explore the Anxiety Breaker course at calminganxiety.fm, featuring five premium hypnotherapy sessions designed by me.Close your eyes, let your jaw soften, release

In Episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb open with a rich discussion on the theology of congregational singing — including the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, the Getty's Sing!, and why psalm-singing belongs at the heart of Christian worship. The main event, however, is the first installment of their study of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). Tony and Jesse argue that this parable is widely misread as a lesson in personal productivity or spiritual gift deployment, when in fact its center of gravity is entirely eschatological and theological: the wicked servant's failure is not financial incompetence — it is a catastrophic misunderstanding of who the master is, and therefore, who he himself is as a servant of that master. Key Takeaways The parable is eschatological, not motivational. Situated in Matthew 25 as the second of three eschatological parables in the Olivet Discourse, the Parable of the Talents answers the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's coming — not a general lesson about using your abilities for God. "Talents" refers to an enormous monetary sum, not personal giftedness. A single talent represented roughly 20 years of a laborer's wages. Even the least-endowed servant received an immense, unearned gift — which makes the wicked servant's inaction all the more indefensible. The wicked servant's problem is theological, not financial. He doesn't bury the talent out of ignorance or fear alone — he actively mischaracterizes the master as exploitative and unjust. His failure is a failure of theology: he does not know who his master is. The commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant" is the basic reward of every believer, not a tiered prize for the most productive. The five-talent and two-talent servants receive identical commendations, suggesting the measure is proportional faithfulness, not absolute output. Faithful stewardship is active, not passive. Both faithful servants are marked by immediacy and energetic engagement. The parable does not explain how they doubled their talents because the mechanics are not the point — their disposition of active, risk-taking faithfulness is. The parable resists works-righteousness readings. Whether one is Augustine or an anonymous deathbed convert, every justified believer enters into the same joy of the master. The parable is not a theology of graduated heavenly rewards but a distinction between those who understand their master and those who do not. The talents represent the stewardship of the Gospel and the Kingdom itself. The master entrusting his servants with his property is a picture of Christ entrusting the church with the message of salvation — ownership remains with the master, the servants are stewards, not proprietors. Key Concepts The Wicked Servant's Problem Is Who He Thinks the Master Is The most common misreading of this parable locates the wicked servant's failure in laziness or timidity — he was simply too afraid to act. But Tony Arsenal argues compellingly that the servant's own words expose something far more serious. He says, "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow." This is not a confession of fear; it is an accusation. The servant has constructed a theology of his master as an exploitative, unjust overseer who doesn't deserve a return. What he catastrophically misses is that the very possession of 20 years' worth of wages — an unearned, unimaginable gift — is the master sowing into him. His refusal to act is, at its root, a refusal to acknowledge the master's generosity and authority. This is the parable's most penetrating theological edge. "Well Done" Is for Every Believer, Not Just the Most Productive One of the episode's most pastorally significant observations is Tony's argument that the commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant — enter into the joy of your master" is not reserved for spiritual high-achievers. Because the five-talent and two-talent servants receive word-for-word identical commendations despite wildly different absolute returns, the logical entailment is that the one-talent servant, had he been faithful, would have received the same words. This means the commendation is not calibrated to productivity — it is the basic inheritance of every believer who enters glory. The soul-winner and the deathbed convert, Augustine and the unknown faithful, all hear the same welcome. The parable is therefore not teaching a graduated hierarchy of heavenly reward, but a binary distinction: those who know their master and act accordingly, and those who do not. The Parable Cannot Be Detached from Its Eschatological Context Jesse Schwamb is careful to anchor the parable in its literary and theological context: this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25, all part of the Olivet Discourse, all delivered in direct response to the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's return and the end of the age. Detaching the Parable of the Talents from that frame — and reading it instead as a general productivity principle or a theology of spiritual gifts — drains it of what Jesse calls its "gravity." The master going away and returning after a long time is a direct image of the ascended Christ and his parousia. The servants' task during the interval is not self-improvement or career stewardship — it is watchful, active discipleship in the time between the first and second comings. Everything in the parable, including the staggering sums of money, is calibrated to that eschatological frame. Memorable Quotes The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was — and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable. — Tony Arsenal Well done, good and faithful servant — that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get. That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world... you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, 'I trust Jesus.' — Tony Arsenal God's measure of faithfulness is proportional, not absolute. The two-talent servant is not judged by the five-talent standard. He is judged by what he received. — Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript [00:00:08] Tony Arsenal: that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get, right? That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world, whether you are the most, you know, the most sanctified Christian who's ever lived, whether you are, the most amazing person and millions of people have come to faith because of your ministry, you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, I trust Jesus." Right. And they've produced no converts, no ministry, and maybe no one even knows that they were justified, because in their final moments before the lights went out, they trusted in Jesus, right? They hear the same well done, good and faithful servant when they enter into glory. Welcome to episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse.  And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother.  [00:01:19] Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother.  [00:01:21] Parable Teaser [00:01:21] Jesse Schwamb: You know, the parables just keep coming for us, like we've said. And on this episode, to, just to tee it up, to whet everybody's appetites, we've got three servants, one absent master, an uncomfortable amount of money. What could go wrong? Yeah. As it turns out, quite a bit, especially if you're the kind of person who responds to divine generosity by finding the nearest shovel. So we're gonna get to all of that in this, what I call, this now sandwich of eschatological parables or teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25. So hopefully you're curious, hopefully you're stoked. But you can go put your thumb right in the scriptures there, because you're gonna meet us there very, very, very, very shortly. But first we got business. It's always the business we must do, the part of the podcast where we affirm with something or deny against something. And as always, I'm really curious what you have, and now I understand you have a list, or you're keeping a list. So- I do ... never again will there be something like that falls to the cutting room floor, brothers and sisters. Tony is always gonna have for us whatever was- ... what came to his brilliant mind as an affirmation or denial at any point, day or night.  [00:02:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. Do you, Jesse, do you ever have... I know the answer to this question is going to be yes- Yeah. That's good ... but I'm gonna ask it- All right ... mostly for rhetorical effect here. This is good podcasting.  [00:02:38] Psalm 67B Praise [00:02:38] Tony Arsenal: Do you have, do you have those situations where, like, the, the so- a song hits you, and it's just, like, the right combination of words, but also the right combination of, like, musicality?  [00:02:49] Jesse Schwamb: For sure.  [00:02:50] Tony Arsenal: Where it just, like, it just, it just feels- For sure like, right and good in every part of your being. So- All the time, yep ... I, I'm affirming, um, th- this is like the most Presbyterian thing ever. I'm affirming the, the arrangement in the Trinity, uh, psalter hymnal for Psalm 67B. Now, I'm not gonna try to sing it for you, but I wanna read the words, because obviously it's, it's a paraphrase of a psalm. So, like, that's the first thing. Like, people, like, calm down. Like, it's okay to sing paraphrases. It's okay to sing. No one is actually singing the Hebrew psalms. Right. Amen. So, like, just calm down a little bit. Amen. Uh, there is a place for us to dedicate specific focus to psalms and songs that are from the psalms, but that can be something like Better Is One Day. Like, that's a song from a psalm. Anyway, that's a whole different, that's a whole different thing. Yes, I'm affirming psalm singing. Uh, yes, I'm denying overly rigid understandings of what that is. But here's the words for Psalm 67, Setting B. That's important It's, "O God, show mercy to us and bless us with your grace and cause to shine upon us the brightness of your face, so that the whole world over may truly know your way and so that your salvation all nations see displayed. O God, let peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. Let nations come rejoicing and songs of gladness rise, raise." Then, um, stanza two, "For you will judge the peoples with perfect equity. To nations of the whole Earth a governor you'll be. O God, let the peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. The Earth has brought its bounty throughout its harvest days.  [00:04:24] Why Sing Psalms [00:04:24] Tony Arsenal: Since God our God will bless us, yes, God will blessing send, that all the Earth may fear Him to its remotest end." Now, there are lots of really great, uh, theologically sound, edifying hymns and worship choruses, but there's just something about the Psalms, right? It's inspired- Um- ... it's perfect. Again, like I said, nobody is singing the actual Hebrew Psalms, or even, I shouldn't say nobody, most people are not singing, like, the Psalms from the ESV, right? These are almost all paraphrases. They're, they're translations. But there's just something about the Psalms that I have grown so much to appreciate since joining a Presbyterian church. That's not to say other traditions don't sing Psalms in their own right, and again, like, we would sing Better Is One Day and other songs that were based on Psalms. Um, even, like, real direct translations or real direct versions of Psalms, like Better Is One Day or Create In Me A Clean Heart, there's all sorts of them. But there's just something about singing the Psalms, and this particular musical setting, it's triumphant, but not in the, like, fanfare kind of triumphant. Do you know what I mean, Jesse? Like- Mm-hmm ... it's, it's a triumphant melody, and it has, like, really interesting rises and falls and... So I, I'm gonna probably try to put this at the end of the episode. So listen. Hopefully I'll get the whole thing. Let me just, let me just do this. Hold on a second. It's just gorgeous. It's just beautiful. So I, I, I don't know what it was this morning. Uh, it's, I wasn't, like, promo- particularly emotional. It didn't, like, make me cry. Yeah. But all of that's fine. Like, I've been brought to tears in worship before, and that's, that's all good and well. There was just something about it that resonated, and I was like, "This is just good." Like, this is just good music. It's good singing. Something about hearing, uh, the whole congregation singing together. Like, it was just beautiful. It was just a beautiful moment. So if you are not in a psalm-singing church, first of all, why aren't you in a psalm-singing church? Uh, no worship leader on Earth, no, no person who is worth... Uh, when I say worship leader, I mean the person who's responsible for leading musical worship. No one who's leading worshipful music, worshipful? Worship music, if you approach them and say, "I would like to sing more songs that are based on the Psalms," if they say, "We don't wanna sing Psalms here," then you just go somewhere else. Like, someone who tells you, like, "We don't wanna s- we don't wanna sing God's Word," that doesn't make any sense to me.  [00:06:56] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:06:56] Tony Arsenal: Um, now again, like, there's a way to do it. Sometimes musically they're challenging, especially if you're singing out of something like the hymnal. But again, there are plenty of really good modern style songs and hymn style songs that are either based on the Psalms or are paraphrases, very similar to what you get in the, in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. Or most, most people who are leading in musical worship are competent enough to just sort of take the sheet music and figure out how to do it on guitar or figure out how to play it on piano. Um, they're not that difficult. So you will be edified if you do this. Your church will be edified. There's probably a lot of people out there responsible for musical worship that actually would really like to do this, and they're kind of probably, like, just waiting for that nudge, so you may even be benefiting them. But yeah, this, this psalm is beautiful. It's just a gorgeous arrangement, and it's, it's perfect, inspired words. Really was a, just a, a balm to my soul this morning.  [00:07:51] Jesse Schwamb: I love it. And o- of course, a lot of that is still happening, which is such a glorious gift to the church. The couple of times that I've had the privilege of writing music for my own church has been right from the scriptures, and for me recently that was, like, Ephesians 1 and Psalm 16. And that's mainly because, like, as a lyricist, I'm not that creative, and I'd rather go direct to the source. And all those end up being a paraphrase, like you said, anyway. Es- especially if you wanna get turn of phrase or if you wanna have a little bit of rhyming, which is always a beautiful thing. I love the Psalter, and my, my hot take on that is I sometimes find that I like, I don't wanna call them, like, the alternate, but, like, the other secondary arrangements-  Yeah and  lyrics better. I don't know why. I don't think that's purposeful, of course. It's probably just my taste. But I always find them to be, like, super fire. I, I don't know why. The, the B and C versions always kinda grab me, especially if... And here's another thing that I appreciate about the Psalter, as you know, is sometimes those B or C versions will be written in an alternate key or a minor key. Yeah. And that's even more awesome, because there's not a lot of, let's say, like, cla- I don't wanna say classic. Classic slash contemporary, uh, Christian music or wors- quote-unquote worship music that's written in minor keys. But it's good to lament, as we've talked about before. So- Yeah ... you're gonna get that full breath and scope in the Psalter there. [00:09:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:09:07] Beyond Music Styles [00:09:07] Tony Arsenal: A- and, you know, maybe let me put in one more little plug here. Um- I am not one of those people that is gonna say that there's like a particular style of music that's more godly than another. I've heard people try to make arguments that there's like certain kinds of rhythms or certain kinds of like beats that are- Right either, either more godly or somehow demonic or less godly. Um, I think there might be an argument to be made that some styles of worship are not suited well for congregational singing, so they may not be appropriate for like a, a congregational worship service. Like, you're probably not gonna go in and do a lot of hip hop and have the congregation be able to like stick with you. Right. That doesn't mean that you can't worship God through that or that it somehow is less like intrinsically beautiful. But, um, there are a lot of Let me just put it this way. In modern contemporary Western Christianity, uh, there's a lot of songs that are basically just the same thing musically. You know, you'll find, um, if you go to, like, YouTube, and, and maybe, like, be careful, 'cause sometimes some of these are, they're funny but they're a little bit crass. But if you look up, like, a video about how, like, every song is Pachel Bell's Canon. Right. Right? Every song follows the same basic arrangement of chords, and this gets even more pronounced when you're talking about modern worship music or contemporary mu- worship music, because it's designed to be able to be very simple and very easily played. Um, a lot of times worship directors are not super classically trained. Um, you think of, like, the youth pastor with the guitar around the campfire. Like, those kinds of songs have to be easy, 'cause they're not, like, classically trained guitar players. They probably picked up a chord book and figured out how to play a couple easy songs like Jesus, Lover of My Soul and things like that. That's how I learned how to play guitar. That's the extent of my skills, so I'm not, I'm not banging on that person. Um, but there are a lot, there's a lot more to music. Um, there's a lot more to singing, and there's a lot more to choral music than, you know, GCDC kind of like worship courses. Uh, and singing something like the Psalter, or even just singing out of a good hymnal- Right will actually expand your musical horizons. And there's something to be said about the creativity of our God being reflected in the creativity of His people that I do think we miss out on when we are locked into really simplistic worship styles. Um, again, like, I interpret Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to mean, like, sing in the vernacular of the people. Um, and I, you know, that's a different episode. We can talk about that sometime. But th- that, that requires the songs to be singable, and I think sometimes, uh, sometimes some of the song- some of the Psalters, some of the songs in the Psalter hymnals, and sometimes hymnals in general, are very difficult to sing. And so I think a congregation, the people leading in music need to be thoughtful of that. But I think you would do well to, like, open your horizons a little bit to something a little bit more challenging and a little bit off the beaten path. Like, this melody, I don't know the chords behind it. It may not be anything crazy, but that, like, musicality and that, that sort of, like, melody is not a typical... And this might be why it resonated with me. It's not a typical kind of melody you're gonna find in contemporary music. Um, it's, it's very different. It's older. It's more classically styled. The, it's, it's meant to sort of bring you up to these crescendos in ways that modern music is not necessarily. So enough about that. I don't know a lot about music theory, so I might be totally wrong and, and- ... people might be rolling their eyes. But I, I do think that there's something to it. Like, a lot of the older hymns- utilize chord progressions and melodies and harmonies and things like that that we're just not used to. You're not gonna get that listening to, you know, even something like, like the more musical kind, uh, more technically proficient music like something like Bethel or Hillsong, which is at times musically very good. Uh, I don't know that I would recommend listening to it, but the music is actually, like, technically very good in some instances. Uh, even there you're not gonna find a lot of this stuff. So instead of going there for, like, really nice sounding musical worship, just go to something like the Trinity Psalter app. You know, for $10 on a- on your iPhone you can sing with it. Um, yeah, enough about that. I, I, I could talk about how great the Psalms are and how great psalm singing is for an entire episode. We should do that episode- We should ... when we're done with the parables, 'cause I know we've done a lot of episodes on, like, uh, on, on, like, the regulative principle and- Right I, I think we're still both in the same spot that, like- Right ... exclusive psalmody is probably not where we would land. Right. But I think I'm coming to the conviction that the psalms should have a much greater portion of our worship diet, uh- Hmm ... than they do in most churches. Um, and I really only came to that conviction when I was in a church where psalm singing was the norm. Uh, I know that we try to have at least one s- one canonical psalm for every single worship service. Usually there's multiple, but, um, even in a, a, a setting where we normally wouldn't be so focused on that, we still try to have at least one, and it's been a, a really huge edifying thing to my soul.  [00:14:06] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I absolutely love that. You'll find no complaint from me on that. I think that that's a good reminder for all of us.  [00:14:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:14:14] Book Sing Recommendation [00:14:14] Tony Arsenal: Jesse, what do you have?  [00:14:15] Jesse Schwamb: Well, it's, we're not gonna stop this conversation, just so you know. Because we don't sync up on these things ever, but it just so happens that I'm affirming with a book that it's a really simple primer on congregational singing-  There you go that has  long been on my list and overdue to read, and I am coming in hot with a recommendation for this, and that is the book entitled Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church by Keith and Kristyn Getty. And really, it covers so many of the things that you already talked about. I, I think at the foremost, it's a reminder that God cares whether in what we sing, but he does not mind how well we sing. Yes. But it is, like, the, this... What's true is that our voices might not be of a professional standard, but they are of a confessional standard. Yeah. And so it is incumbent upon every Christian to sing. And if you need just, like, a little bit of inspiration, so to speak, or a reminder of why that's important, I highly commend this book to you. In fact, in the back they have what's called, like, these bonus tracks. It's like four or five separate chapters that they've written just to particular people in the church, pastors, laypeople, musicians, even the people that help produce the sound. I found that bit to be so lovely and pastoral. It, it's gentle, the tone is encouraging, but it is also strong, and I appreciate that. So a lot of it is some of the themes that we've just talked about, but my conviction grows all the time of just how important congregational singing is, and how everything you just said, the music, the liturgy that we bring forward- has to be of a deliberate kind to strengthen that exercise, to make it easy, so to speak. And that does come into practical things like if you look at the psalter, and I, I don't... I have it on my phone, but I don't know where my phone is, so I was gonna look at the one you were referencing. My guess is it's, it's in probably a key with a couple of sharps in it, because those are the ones that are easiest to sing. So even little things like that matter. What you hear on the radio often is, or radio? People still listen to the radio? What you hear, like, in, like, contemporary music, like, often is not necessarily for congregational singing just in its key, and, and that's okay. And so even in my own church, we transpose things to make it reasonable and approachable. But what I think was, like, the critical question put forward in this book that I absolutely loved as a great reminder was: how did the congregation sing? It's very interesting that they kind of bring forward this thesis that that's how you should be judging your music. How did the congregation sing? And I think if we started asking that, it might slightly tweak or maybe change altogether, to your point, the methods and the practices that we use when we undergo worship by way or through music. So this is really great. It's easily readable, and it's for everybody, and it, there's a chapter on family worship as well, how to bring singing into your home and music into your home all the time as an act of worship so that when you get to the Lord's Day, your kids are like, "Yeah, this is our jam." Uh, especially maybe even recognizing some of the pieces of music and be excited about that. So there was a lot that made me think about here. It's fantastic. And to your point, Tony, I would say the Gettys, especially in, like, "Christ Alone," some of the other things, this is probably the closest to what you're talking about, where they've taken and imported kind of the classical hymn structures-  [00:17:26] Tony Arsenal: Yeah [00:17:27] Jesse Schwamb: but modernized a little bit just the language while without sacrificing any of the theological richness or the musicality that draws your ear to those beautiful rising and falling melodies, the swelling of the vocal there, without, like, distracting from anything that's going on there. It's not emotionalism- Yeah but it certainly is filled with the emotion of what it means to be a Christian and to sing in response as an act of praise to God.  [00:17:50] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:17:52] Family Worship Singing [00:17:52] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I can't underscore enough the importance of congregational singing. We, we've, we've actually talked about, about it in context of, like, how important it is for the men of the congregation to sing, which is something I, I really appreciate about my congregation, is, is the m- the men just go all out. Like, people are, like- Love it ... nobody is, nobody is ashamed of the fact that they squawk on a note that they're not used to or anything like that. And where this really pays out, um, at least in our congregation, but I'd, I'd be willing to bet if you go to any congregation where the, where the men particularly are passionate and active in musical worship, right? Um, I think where this plays out is you see the children very quickly picking up those songs and learning them and singing them. And the, the favorite part of my day, this is gon- any parent of toddlers is gonna be like, "What are you talking about?" Bedtime is one of my favorite times of day, not just because it means that, like, in a little while I'm gonna get a little peace and quiet. Like, that's part of it, too, but there are two songs that we sing almost every single night, and Augie leads them, which is really great. He always wants to start, and he always wants to sing, and it's the Doxology and the Gloria Patri. And these are songs that he has just picked up from being in the congregation, and, you know, I, I don't remember consciously teaching him any of these songs. And now, now Adeline, who is, uh, my two-year-old daughter, almost two, she's starting to pick those songs up, and she's starting to sing them, and she recognizes them, and she responds very differently to those songs than she does to other songs. Um, it's funny because I don't, I don't know where she got this. Neither my wife nor I are particularly, uh, charismatic, emotive people. Like, we don't raise our hands when we're singing, but she, she does. She, she, when we start singing- My girl ... the Gloria Patri or the Doxology, her hand is in the air, and she's looking at the sky, and she's waving her hands around. Yeah. And, um, she recognizes that those songs have a different place than a Miss Rachel song. She doesn't put her hands in the air and wave and look up at the ceiling when Miss Rachel comes on or when Baby Shark comes on. She knows those songs. She can sing those songs. Um, but she doesn't- Respond to those in the same way. And that is a direct result of the fact that congregational singing is an important thing in the life of our church and in the life of our family. And I think a book like Sing, I haven't read it, but I've heard very good things about it, and the, the Gettys are rock solid, like- Right ... theologically. Yes. Musically. They're, they're well within our Reformed tradition, at least broadly speaking. Um, and, and they have a, they have one of the strongest sort of theologies of praise music that you're gonna find. Mm-hmm. It's not quite like a liturgiology or something like that, but it's, it's, it's a theology of praise worship, praise and worship music. Right. Um, and that's not something that's super common, right? There's a lot of theology of liturgy. There's a lot of practical theology on liturgy. Um, the Gettys have developed a really unique kind of place in things in that they've really developed this idea that congregational singing has a specific theological import, and they've developed it in a way that's approachable. So yeah, I haven't read it and I sh- I probably should, but it, it sounds like a really great book. And, um, I c- just can't underscore it enough. And- Maybe this is my little plug. Like, uh, family worship is really tough, and it's not something I've mastered. Like, we don't, we, we don't have a regular rhythm. But what we do have is we have a consistent, uh, we consistently pray at night before bed, and we consistently sing one or both of those songs. And that by itself, like, the kids are learning and they are, they're absorbing that by osmosis. Um, they're picking up the phrasing, right? Augie can tell you who the three persons of the Trinity are, and that's partially 'cause we do catechism questions, but it's also partially, and I would actually argue probably more, because of the Trinitarian structure of those two songs. Right. He's picked up the language of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son from the Gloria Patri and from the doxology in ways that probably I wouldn't have been able to teach him otherwise. So yeah. Anyway, I, I just co-opted your affirmation. But, um, but yeah. I'm here for it. Congregational worship, family worship, singing, uh, to our Lord is commanded, and it's commanded for our good- Right and for his, his benefit and his blessing. Um, and so any book that is, is solid and will help you do that, I, I'm wholeheartedly behind.  [00:22:17] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. This is... All that is fire. This is fire.  [00:22:19] Reclaim Congregational Song [00:22:19] Jesse Schwamb: God designed our psyche for singing, and we're probably, uh, I would say contractually obligated since Reformed is in the name of the title of the podcast- to remind ourselves and everybody else that one of the things the Reformation did was reclaim the singing of God's word by his own people. Yes. Taking it out of that performatory space back into literally the voice boxes of the people who are sitting in worship together. So sometimes we might have to do that again. You know, there is a little bit, I think, of... There, there is in some places, not everywhere, this kind of tilting of that time of worship through music to be vouchsafed or relegated to those who are, uh, let's say, like, the most, like, talented in doing that, and somehow we participate merely by observing or by- Yeah just, uh, you know, being an audience spectator of that, and that's totally backwards. So I get it. The thing is- We're all singers. We may not all be very good singers, but we're all created to be singers nonetheless. This is what the Bible tells us. So we need to lean into that. We need to invest in that. Yeah. And so I, I like, of course, what you're doing with, uh, your kids because you're not only teaching them to sing, and this makes me so happy, but you're teaching them to love singing to the Lord. Yeah. And so that is, I think, what a lot of our congregations miss, is sometimes we do it, and I'm among them often, but grudgingly. And so to get to a place where we come excited that our reasonable response, our reasonable preparation on the Lord's day is to sing together, to hear that gospel message in melody in the ear of our... You know, the voice of our neighbor in our own ear is a wild thing. It's just, like, un- unheard of. And it's like, uh, we gotta stop, right? It's one of those things also that, like- ... we've, we've talked about how it's just kind of otherworldly. Not, not only in the sense that it gives us this really kind of foundational sense of God's, you know, kind of transcendence, of what it means to participate in the worship of someone who is transcendent because it is all these voices together, but also this is something that rarely happens in any other way, especially in the Western culture anymore. This coming together to express and to participate in something where we're all reading literally from the same sheet music is just an entirely different experience, increasingly relegated to this kind of experience. So we, we must protect it, not only because God says that we ought to, but also because, again, it is, it is our reasonable response. Yeah. And it is something, like you've just said, that brings Him glory and is certainly for our good. So, uh, this is the Singcast, so everybody- ... everybody get to it. You can make your own music. God has commanded us to sing. So the sooner we just understand, like, hey, it's, it's... You know. Uh, but... And the last thing I'll say is this is one of those things that's, like, practice too. A- and I get it. Like, you may say, like, "Listen, I can only hit two notes, and that's all I'm gonna hit no matter what the music is." Well, then belt the two notes, and also know that, like, the more you practice that kind of thing, honestly, the better that you'll get and the more comfortable that you'll become. The voice is an instrument like any other instrument that takes, like, a little bit of practice and a little bit of work. But even that can cause, I think, great benefits and build a little bit of confidence. But just the example of singing and doing it from a heart that is keen to worship God and that is filled with passion to respond to Him with gratitude and, you know, adoration is really the key thing. And so I, I'd rather have a entire group full of worshipers that are singing off-key but, like, with just resounding passion than to have this performance of just a handful of voices because they feel like they're the most capable to do it. Yeah. I think we'd, we'd rather have everybody else, and to hear the congregation mixed as one of those instruments. So sing. Yeah.  [00:26:05] Everyone Can Sing [00:26:05] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and y- you and I have made the point in the past, too, like- I, I don't think, uh, maybe I'm wrong. Uh, we are a top 50 healthcare podcast, so maybe some doctor- I'm sure you're correct ... is gonna... Right. Like, I don't think being tone deaf is actually a physical condition. Like- Mm. I, I mean, I, I mean, obviously, like, some people have hearing problems, and that means they have trouble singing. I hear what you're saying. But, like, the people who are like, "Well, I j- I just can't sing. I'm just not capable of that," uh, like, I think the, the physical conditions that would make you incapable of singing are not usually what people are talking about. Like- Right. Yeah ... you know, some people have, like, vocal fold disorders or they have hearing problems, and I guess maybe, like, if perfect pitch is a thing, which it, it is. Like, perfect pitch is a... I don't know what causes it, but some people are born with perfect pitch. I suppose in theory that means some people must be born with, like, the opposite of perfect pitch. But I think most people who say, like, "Well, I just, I'm just tone deaf. I can't carry a tone," that, that's probably not true. Like, it just means you need practice. Um, and some people's voices, like physically, their bodies are more, more designed by God to produce a pleasant sound than other people. But I, I think actually just about anybody with a little bit of practice, and mostly I think this is probably just the confidence to actually sing and a little bit of practice to learn how your body works, like how your voice works, um, could probably get to a point where singing is not only very relatively comfortable and easy, but it's something that is pleasant and is not overly challenging. This is actually something that I think we've lost in the church. We should... This, I mean, this is about to come the episode, but, um- ... something we've lost in the church when we have sort of changed from a true genuine congregational singing model, which was the norm- And I've heard people make arguments about the importance of hymnals, and I, I agree with those arguments, although I know some people have moved them into almost like a realm of, like, divine mandate- Right that you have to use hymnals because it trains people to teach. But we have lost something with both the sort of commercialization of worship music and the pro- like making it a professional thing, and we've lost congregational singing. The, the people in the church throughout history have learned to sing. Many of them have learned to read, learned the scriptures, learned theology, not in the seminary and not in the monastery, but in the pew as they sing God's word and as they sing- Right ... the great theological hymns of, of the church. There's so much you can learn through that process that I just think we've lost. And I think going back to something like a hymnal or the Trinity Psalter Hymnal or whatever, whatever standard music your church is gonna use, and I mean standard music. Like, whether this is a collection of worship choruses that has been curated for the church or it's a published hymnal or something like that, going back to something like that teaches the church how to sing. And I don't remember who wrote it, but the trellis and the vine, like the worship that we sing, I know Mike Horton makes this point. The worship that we sing is the tre- is the trellis that the vine of our wor- of our- Yes ... faith grows on, right? That's true. Like, what the, what the church lex credendi, lex orandi. Like, the church, what the church prays, the church believes. What the church sings, the church believes. So all of that to say, like, the, the importance of congregational singing can't be under-emphasized, and it's... I, I mean, I don't know that I would I don't know that most theologists say technically s- like, congregational singing is an element of worship, but praising the Lord through song certainly is. Yes. It's, it's evidence. Um, and, and so I think that's definitely something that the church has lost in general. Um, and I know there are churches... I- it's funny, when Ashley and I were between churches, uh, very briefly after, um, our previous church closed down, um, we went to a local sort of, like, high, high, uh, production, seeker-sensitive church, very Steven Furtick-esque, and we only lasted, like, 10 minutes in this, in this service. We went in and the production value was great, and the music sounded great, but we couldn't hear ourselves, we couldn't sing- Right ... and it was very performative, and we just left. We were only there for a few minutes, and we left. And I think that's something we've lost as we've sort of migrated worship to almost, like, a professional class. So yeah, bring it back to the pews. Bring it back to your- Bring it back ... bring it back to your house, bring it back to your kid's bedroom when you're tucking them in. Everywhere. Bring it back to the car on the way to work, in the bus. Right. Like, just let's everywhere we go, let's sing and worship the Lord. [00:30:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's right.  [00:30:31] Train Your Voice [00:30:31] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, so as a final thing, let me compound your hot take and say that I agree with you, that I... And I think professionals would as well, and I'm gonna stand on a resource that I'm gonna recommend to everybody here in a second, that in fact the Getty say, "If you can speak, you can sing." And there are a f- a few conditions that would prevent you from doing that, of course. And even there, they wanna explore opportunities for you, for instance, signing, for instance, to ensure that you can participate in worship. Uh, the hot take is I do think that because the instrument that God has given us in the vocal cords is exactly that, that it can be trained, and that actually most people can sing. And if you're serious about that, if you think, "You know what? I'd like to be able to do that. How can I explore that?" Here's a book for you. It's called Set Your Voice Free by Roger Love. The full title is How to Get the Singing or Speaking Voice You Want. Roger Love is, like, this amazing behind-the-scenes vocal coach. He has coached, like, a ton of really talented recording artists, and this is his very contention in the book, is that everybody can sing. It's really about how much or little work you wanna put into it. And in fact, this book comes with, like, these exercises that you can listen to and then record yourself. And then he, from a distance basically, can give you some pointers based on allowing you to kinda evaluate what you hear in your own recording back. So if you really are the kind of person that's like, "Listen, I, I dare you. I cannot sing," I would challenge you, I would double dog dare you to get this book, Set Your Voice Free, and if you're really serious about wanting to try and see if it can make a difference, I, I think it can. And I've, I myself have enjoyed this book, gone back to it many times, use it in my own work and practice because I found it to be helpful. So there you go. Sing, sing, and sing again.  [00:32:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:32:07] Singing Apps and Practice [00:32:07] Tony Arsenal: And if you're not a reader, first of all, why are you listening to the podcast? But second of all, if for some reason you're not a reader I'm, I'm joking. I'm sure there are people that are listening to the podcast who are not readers. That was, like, a super smug thing to say. How dare you. I'm sorry about that. How dare you. Um, if for some reason you don't wanna read that book or you're not a reader, um, y- you can do something as simple as looking up Yousician on your Yousician, Y-O-U- Yeah ... S-I, like the word musician, but U instead of, like, Y-O-U instead of, uh, musician. Um, there are plenty of apps out there. I just, I mention Yousician just because I've used that on, like, a free trial basis with some guitar teaching, and it's a reputable source. They also have a vocal module. So, like, if you wanna learn to sing, there are plenty of resources out there who can help you train your voice. A- and it- Again, I'm not a doctor, I'm not a vocal coach, I'm not a professional singer. I'm not even that great of a singer, and I, I probably could be a better singer if I wanted to devote the time to it. Um, it doesn't take much to, to be able- Right ... to become a competent singer. Um, I think most of us, you pick up one s- just like I learned guitar, you pick one or two songs that you really like and you wanna learn, and you learn to sing those songs, and then those skills will develop over time. So enough about that, Jesse. We've got, speaking of talents- ... we've got some talents to talk about. There it is. Boom, bazinga. Baza-bazom. I'm  [00:33:27] Jesse Schwamb: back. There it is. Yeah, so- I was excited  [00:33:31] Tony Arsenal: about that one ...  [00:33:32] Jesse Schwamb: that, that was really good. And, and we should just h- honor everyone. That's it.  [00:33:37] Tony Arsenal: That's it. Tip your waiters and waitresses, folks. It  [00:33:39] Jesse Schwamb: was so good. We're here all week.  [00:33:41] Parable Context Setup [00:33:41] Jesse Schwamb: So we're in Matthew 25, uh, verses 14 through 28, and this is at least gonna be a two-parter for us. This goes by the name you might be familiar of, which is The Parable of the Talents. But before we get to it, just a quick reminder that we've been speaking about this parable, not like in a special way, but hopefully in the more contextual sense. So this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. So the first was The 10 Virgins, which we went through. We're in The Talents, and then we're coming up to everybody's favorite, The Sheep and the Goats. All three are part of this Olivet Discourse, which is, of course, Jesus' final teaching block before his Passion. And I think it h- behooves us so that we do not get distracted from, like, the center of gravity of this thing, that this is delivered in response to the disciples' question about the sign of his coming and the age to come. Because I've heard so many, like, little talks, maybe homilies is more the right word, on this particular parable that lack gravity. So little gravity that basically NASA could train their astronauts in it. So we wanna stay away from that and I think get into, like, the, the proper context. So Tony, do you have it in front of you by any chance? And would  [00:34:50] Tony Arsenal: you- I do. I do, yeah. Yeah. Read it for us? I'll read it here.  [00:34:52] Reading the Parable [00:34:52] Tony Arsenal: So this is, uh, starting in, uh, Matthew 25 verse 14, and I'm gonna read down through, uh, the end of verse 30 here. So it, it reads here, "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them, entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents. Here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, "Master, you delivered to me two talents. Here I have made two talents more." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." He also who had received one talent came forward, saying, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours." But his master answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him who gave it, who give it to him who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. For, uh, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness in that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  [00:36:56] Watchfulness and Stewardship [00:36:56] Jesse Schwamb: So it starts with that amazing connective, which we really spoke about in the last episode, in verse four- 14, starting with four. So it's tying, like we said, this parable directly to verse 13, which we know is in the, the parable of the ten virgins. But it's this idea of watchfulness. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." So th- I think this is the point we really drove last time, that we really felt highly convicted about, that this parable is not like a detached economic lesson, but it's really like an expedition, exposition, not expedition- ... of what watchful discipleship actually looks like during the interval of the master's absence. Like, that's the whole setup here. So it's starting with this idea of like the master goes away, but here we have these slaves or these servants who are entrusted. And to me, again, that's like such a linchpin in this whole thing, 'cause it's, it's carrying the sense that of course, like, he's handing over stewardship. It's a deposit held on another's behal- I love this parable because it has some banking language in it. It's, it's a deposit held on another's behalf, and that's like the key covenant concept of the entire thing. Ownership remains with the master. The servants are stewards. They're not proprietors. And that language, I think, really anticipates, like, the entire New Testament theology of stewardship, which is developed by Paul. So like when Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." So like all of that, that's like just one verse for me. Like, that's an incredible setup.  [00:38:27] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:38:28] Common Misreadings [00:38:28] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and you know, I think it bears saying, too, um, I wanna be careful how I say this because I don't wanna impugn, uh, poor motives or anything like that on, on the, the people that I'm about to speak to. And I say this a little bit tongue in cheek, but also I say this as someone who used to be deeply involved in youth ministry. There's kind of like a, a youth ministry, um- international version of the Bible, I guess, if you wanna put it that way, where, like, there are certain, certain passages and parables that s- for some reason seem really prone to misapplication- Sure in, in some context. And I would say, like, youth ministry is the one I have in mind. Like, um, one of them is, like, in Matthew 18 where it's like, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Like, that's a, that's a statement about God's, God's presence in the judgment of the church and excommunicating an un- like, a, an unrepentant, uh, person who identifies with Christ. And, and ironically here, maybe not ironically, but, like, casting them into the outer darkness of excommunication, which is representative of casting them out into the actual inner darkness of damnation. Right. Like, th- there's a, there's a misapplication of that, that like, well, you know, like, if only a couple people came to youth group tonight, like, it's still worth meeting because where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them. Um, this, this parable has a very similar kind of misapplication that is maybe a, a little bit less of a misapplication. Like, I think there is something to say in this parable about the fact that God entrusts us with abilities, talents, treasure, t- our time. Like, He's entrusted us with resources, and He does expect us to use those resources, uh, in a way that is honoring to Him and beneficial for the, for the gospel and for the kingdom. Um, that's true in a broad sense, but I don't think actually that this is what that... But, like, that's not what this passage- Mm ... is teaching. Right. I think I, I kinda joked last time, but, like, I've heard more than one sermon that draws the parallel between the word talent here and our talents in terms of, like, our spiritual gifts or our ability to play guitar or, like, to bounce a basketball and, like, thr- like, throw a free throw. Like, that's not the kinda talent we're talking about here. So I wanna, I wanna sorta, like, point that out just to sort of exclude that from the conversation. Yes, God gifts His people, and He expects His people to use those gifts for His glory and for their own benefit. Um, but that's not what this parable is talking about. This is a parable about the fact that God has entrusted the kingdom of heaven on Earth to His people.  [00:41:08] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:41:08] Tony Arsenal: And He expects His people to make use of that in a way that expands the kingdom and also in a way that does not... And this is, this is, I actually think, the main point of the parable. In a way that properly understands the nature of the king. The, the punchline or the main point of the parable here, it, just to sort of, like, I don't know, give away the ending or, like, unbury the lead, I don't know, whatever that is. The point of this parable- It's not that, like, it's a really good thing to double what God has resourced you with. The point of the parable, the reason that, just like the, um, just like it wasn't the virgins falling asleep in the last parable that was the problem because everybody fell asleep, in this instance, uh, the amount of money or the amount of return on investment that the servants produce is not the point of the parable. That's not the real difference between them. The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the, the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was- Right ... and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable, and I think, this is the last thing I'll say before I, I, I take a breath here. There's a lot of people that would look at this parable and might read some sort of works righteousness or, um, and this is more understandable and I think has a place within the Reformed tradition, although I don't necessarily hold this view. But would look at this as sort of like a theology which would, would argue that we receive some sort of enhanced rewards in heaven based on our faithfulness. There's plenty of good, faithful Reformed Bible teachers that would hold that position. I actually think whether or not that's true, this is still also not what this passage is getting at. [00:43:00] Jesse Schwamb: I, I totally agree with you there.  [00:43:02] Talents as Huge Wealth [00:43:02] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think one of the reasons that we know that is because we can look at some of these details and let the details speak to us about the magnitude in their representation, why they're given. So of course, whenever the scripture gives us detail, especially in a context like a parable, it can be helpful of cour- of course not to overanalyze them, but to respect their place in the context of the story, and that's why verse 15 I think is so important. So to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability, then he went away. Now, this, this varies slightly, but there's a lot of, I think, very common historicity here that points us to understanding, like, the talents as a unit of monetary weight, and there is some discrepancy about its exact weight. But what we can say for sure is this: that we're talking about, as I teased at the beginning, a huge sum of money. So in other words, like, this is a gift from God himself. It's a divine gift. Yeah. It's something that's not earned. It's something that's given and something that's entrusted. So in the first-century Roman world, a talent was roughly equivalent to, like, 6,000 denarii, depending on who you talk to, which would mean that a single talent represented approximately, like, 20 years on average of a laborer's wages. So the sums then here we're talking about are staggering even at the lowest one. So the five-talent servant is receiving essentially approximately equivalent of a century's wages, and the one-talent servant is receiving 20 years' worth. There's no such thing as a small gift in Christ's economy, I think is the point here, and even the least endowment is immense beyond our reckoning. Yeah. So the distribution also is deliberately unequal. It's five, one, two, and the text doesn't offer any apology for this inequality. The master distributes to each according to his ability, which as I say that, I realize that could probably be its own episode, that we could talk about what that even means. Yeah. But he is matching and entrusting to capacity, and that's not arbitrary. Of course, that's wise and personal, and even the Greek here for this idea of capacity or power suggests the master knows his servants intimately and calibrates the stewardship accordingly. But nonetheless, it proves the point you're making here, which is not just about, like, well, do you have some kind of innate ability that's above average that God has endowed you with here? That's not even what we're talking about. Again, the whole point of this is to answer the question eschatologically about what the end means and when the time is coming and what good discipleship looks like. And so in that way, we understand then these talents to be these divinely appointed and massively generous gifts of God, essentially, like you said, the stewarding of the gospel in the story of salvation itself unto his people, and then to make something of that, so to speak, by the power of the Holy Spirit that earns a return for the kingdom, that is all empowered by God, that is under the volition of the person, uh, the Christian who says, "As a disciple, it is my responsibility to steward these gifts." That is really what we're after. So we do kind of get in this place where when you take this and say, "Well, what are you doing with," let's say- your home, if you have a nice home, are you being hospitable enough? If you have, let's say, a good singing voice by talent, are you using that to make sure that you're on the, quote-unquote, "praise and worship team," is not, like, entirely wrong, but it's not right either- Yeah to use this passage- Yeah ... for that purpose. There's a bigger theme here. There is, there's a much stronger and widescale framework that God is drawing us to and examine, and it's about the stewardship of the church itself.  [00:46:30] Tony Arsenal: Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.  [00:46:31] The Foolish Servant Exposed [00:46:31] Tony Arsenal: That's really key, and this is what struck me as, as you were speaking about that, is like we see in so many of the kinda like, uh, like the chump in the parable. Like, there's- Yeah ... a lot of these parables have like a chump- Right ... where like you're looking at and you're like, nothing about what you've decided to do makes any sense. We're talking about people who've been given, in the first case, 100 years worth of, worth of wages. Right. Right? Any one of these people, and again, we're talking about a timeframe where, like, you could just take that money and run and, like, nobody's gonna find you. There's no digital trail on any of this, right? If I stole, if I stole 100 years worth of labor from my manager or from my, my employer, they would find me, right? That's not the situation we're talking about. So even the chump who decided, "I'm not gonna do anything with this," he could've just take- taken off with the money and had 20 years worth of labor. Right. Just 20 years worth of wages. Right. This is a, this is a sum of money that makes all f- all three of these servants unimaginably wealthy instantly, right? The point of this is, in part, that the final servant has no idea the amazing blessing and responsibility that he's been given. And again, I come back to this. It's not because he is dumb or because he is, um, somehow less competent in a strict sense, right? It, it's so funny to me, like, we also gloss over the fact that, like, the guy who has five talents, he's got 100 years worth of money, 100 years worth of wages. Right. And he just goes and gets 100 more. Like- Right he just goes and trades and- Right ... comes up with 100 years worth of wages that he brings back. Like, that's, in itself is, like, phenomenally, amazingly outrageous. We ran into this too with the, um, the parable of the unmerciful servant, right? We've, we've got one guy who's got this unimaginable debt, like, like, thousands of years worth of, uh, worth of wages that he could never make up, and he thinks he's gonna somehow come up with it if you just give him enough time. It's kind of like the opposite here. This guy's got this unimaginable amount of instant wealth, and he just buries it in the ground. First of all, how much... We're also talking about an era where money was a physical, entirely physical.  [00:48:53] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:48:53] Tony Arsenal: There were no, there were no digital banks. Like- No zeros and ones most of our money exists as ones and zeros in a computer program right now. Right. Like, in reality, like- Right ... my money doesn't exist. We don't have, like, a physical gold standard anymore in America. Jesse could probably s- I'm probably making dumb things up right now. No, that's that's- Like, it used- Right on to be that, like, every dollar that the United States government printed had, like, a piece of gold sitting at Fort Knox- Yes ... uh, like backing it up, but we just don't have that anymore. Most of the money that exists in our system is entirely imaginary. It's an entirely, like, made-up digital currency way before, like, Bitcoin was a thing. That's not the case in this timeframe. This dude who buried 20 years worth of money in the ground, that's a significant amount of labor in and of itself- Right ... to even be able to do that. So we're not talking about, like... And I think this is the thing we miss when we, when we read the word talents, and one, when we obscure it and we, like, we misappropriate the word talent to mean, like, abilities, 'cause it, that's a convenient, like, illustration tool. We're talking about a huge sum of probably gold or silver that this dude just buries in the ground, and then, like, digs it up when the master comes back.  [00:50:01] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:50:01] Tony Arsenal: And I think, like- When we don't realize how much money this is, we miss the force of the master's like, "You stupid, dumb, wicked, slothful servant." Like, if you had even taken this money to the bank and done the least imaginable- Yes ... effort. Exactly. Like, if you had done anything at all, like how mu- how difficult, granted more difficult back in this age than it is now, but like if you had even done something as simple requiring as little labor as possible and just brought this to the bank and let them collect interest on it, we'd still be talking about a huge return. [00:50:35] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:50:36] Tony Arsenal: And he doesn't even do that, and that's, that's the point. There's the people who do, and they gloss over this. The parable totally glosses over the amazing effort and work that it must have taken to take 100 years worth of la- of wages and turn it into 200 years worth of wages. Right. Or to take 40 years worth of wages and turn it into 80 years worth of wages. That's an amazing, probably almost miraculous return on, on investment. Whatever they did is amazing, and the parable's like, "Yeah, they did that." They just took it to the traders and they brought back five more talents. Like, it's nothing. And then this idiot, and I say idiot in like the most like, like exegetically sound, idios, like, like foolish idiot person. [00:51:20] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:51:20] Tony Arsenal: This idiot just buries it in the ground and doesn't even bother to bring it to the bank where he's gonna get some return on it. This is the picture of the fool who does not make use of the means of salvation. This is the picture of the fool who refuses to receive Christ as savior, who refuses to make use of the benefit and blessing of salvation that is available to all who will trust in Christ and turn to him. This is the same picture as the idiot virgins who didn't buy enough oil and just fell asleep when they knew that the bridegroom was coming, right? Right. It's not that they fell asleep, it's that they didn't do the most obvious, simple,

Here are the search-optimized Apple Podcast show notes for your "Books at Bedtime" series, specifically crafted with long-tail keywords to help listeners searching for sleep aids, bedtime stories, and relaxation find your reading of Alice in Wonderland.Episode DescriptionWelcome to Books at Bedtime from Calming Anxiety. If your mind is racing or you are struggling to drift off to sleep, let the soothing, familiar rhythm of classic literature guide you into a deep, peaceful rest. Tonight, we settle down with Chapter 10 of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland: The Lobster Quadrille. In this chapter, we join Alice, the Griffin, and the melancholy Mock Turtle on the seashore. Listen as they describe the whimsical, slow-paced steps of the underwater dance, share the curious habits of the Whiting, and softly sing the soothing verses of "Beautiful Soup". Written with wonderful nonsense and read with a calm, comforting cadence, this bedtime story podcast episode acts as a gentle distraction for an overactive mind. Turn down the lights, let your breathing slow, and allow this classic audio experience to ease your transition into an uninterrupted night's sleep. Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Settling In for Books at Bedtime00:15 – Meeting the Mock Turtle & The Mystery of the Sea01:12 – The Rules of the Lobster Quadrille02:58 – A Solemn Dance on the Shore03:26 – The Song of the Whiting & The Snail04:55 – Explaining the Secrets of the Deep Sea06:15 – Puzzles of Underwater Boots & Shoes07:27 – Traveling with a Purpose08:06 – A Lullaby of Beautiful Soup09:21 – A Distant Cry: The Trial Begins & Gentle OutroStorybook Highlights for SleepRelax your shoulders and let your imagination drift through these whimsical moments:The Underwater Rhythm: The Mock Turtle and the Griffin map out a dance of seals, turtles, and salmon clearing jellyfish from the seafloor.The Whiting's Tale: Alice learns why the whitings always swim with their tails held securely in their mouths.A Melancholy Lullaby: The soft, fading echoes of the song "Soup of the evening, beautiful, beautiful soup" drifting away on a gentle breeze.If these bedtime stories help you quiet your thoughts and find deep rest, please subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with a friend, colleague, or family member who needs a little help falling asleep tonight. Word of mouth is how our community of calm continues to grow.For more targeted structural help with daily stress, don't forget to check out the Anxiety Breaker course available at calminganxiety.fm.Close your eyes gently, let go of the day, and be kind to your beautiful soul. Sleep well, my friend.

Are you lying awake with an overactive mind, feeling completely untethered by the stress and demands of your week? Tonight, our developmental arc is Ground. In this session, we break down the clinical neurobiology of somatic grounding—exploring how high-velocity lifestyles trap our breathing patterns in the upper chest, sending a continuous loop of false danger signals directly to the brain stem. Tonight, we deploy a highly effective, immediate physical intervention: the 4-6 Grounding Breath for 10 continuous rounds. By precisely extending your exhalations, you actively engage the vagal brake to slow your pulse, clear adrenaline, and anchor your awareness deep into the physical mattress beneath you. Turn down the volume of the world, settle into your body, and drop effortlessly into deep, unshakeable sleep. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The Upper-Chest Danger Loop: How shallow, rapid breathing keeps your body stuck in a sympathetic adrenaline loop even when you are physically exhausted. The Mechanics of the Vagal Brake: The exact science of how a 4-second inhale paired with a 6-second exhale floods your system with calming neurotransmitters. The 10-Round Somatic Anchor: A guided bedtime breathwork progression to lower your internal center of gravity, dissolve muscle bracing, and stop nighttime overthinking. A Message for Your Heart "The noise and acceleration of a busy week can pull you out of your own center. When you are steering a major vision and managing endless logistics, it can feel like your mind is spinning a thousand miles an hour even when the lights go out. Tonight, I want to remind you that you are the deep-rooted tree, not the leaves swirling in the wind. You do not have to carry today's burdens into tomorrow's dreams. By dedicating these ten rounds of breath to your own grounding, you are claiming your sovereignty over the night. You are telling the world: 'I am here, I am safe, and I am choosing to rest.' Let the heavy weight of your own body remind you of your absolute resilience tonight. You are doing an extraordinary job." This is day 3 of a 7-day meditation series, "Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking," episodes 3521-3527.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.