Podcasts about Bedtime

You Don't Need Everything Fixed — Just Calm — Guided Meditation for Effort Fatigue & Anxiety | Coherent Breathing You're not asking for much, and you don't need every problem solved or your whole life fixed — you just want to feel calm again, even for a moment. If trying to relax has started to feel like just another task on your list, this guided meditation is for you.We'll use coherent breathing to steady the body, then a simple visualisation for the exhausting habit of trying too hard to feel okay. When this feeling shows up again, Anchored is there: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, today's session uses coherent breathing — in for a count of four, out for a count of six — before reframing calm through the image of easing off an accelerator: not slamming to a stop, just lifting the foot, and noticing that the car slows on its own the moment you stop pushing. Perhaps calm isn't something to chase, but something you can simply stop getting in the way of. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome: you just want to feel calm again* 00:47 – Breathing: coherent breathing, round one* 01:40 – Breathing, round two* 02:41 – The accelerator: easing off instead of pushing harder* 04:09 – Breathing, round three* 05:15 – Today's Gentle Affirmations* 07:56 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 08:54 – Coming back, stretch and open your eyes* 09:33 – Outro & be kind 

The Sphinx Without a Secret by Oscar Wilde — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime A soothing bedtime story to help you drift off tonight: Oscar Wilde's quietly haunting tale The Sphinx Without a Secret, read slowly and gently for sleep, insomnia relief, and unhurried listening. This continues the Books at Bedtime strand — also known as Coffee Break for the Soul — from the Calming Anxiety podcast, a series of classic story readings designed as a calming audiobook for restless or anxious nights. For the full library, plus ambient night-light features for the small hours, download Anchored on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 Narrated softly by Martin Hewlett, clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic, this reading follows Lord Murchison, who confides in an old Oxford friend over dinner in Paris about a mysterious widow he has fallen for in London, a woman wrapped in secrecy who insists her letters go to a lending library rather than her own home. A slow, unhurried mystery rather than anything unsettling — ideal as a sleep story or relaxation audiobook for falling asleep, insomnia, and quieting an anxious mind before bed. First published under the title "Lady Alroy" in 1887, and later renamed The Sphinx Without a Secret by Wilde himself when it was collected in Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories in 1891, this Oscar Wilde tale is in the public domain worldwide (Wilde died in 1900); this reading is Calming Anxiety's own narration of the classic public-domain text. This episode continues the Books at Bedtime strand, alongside The Selfish Giant and The Happy Prince (also by Oscar Wilde) and classic short fiction from Katherine Mansfield, Kate Chopin, and Arthur Conan Doyle — currently working through The Hound of the Baskervilles — with new instalments added regularly to the main Calming Anxiety feed.  

Bedtime routines usually fall apart for one of two reasons: There's no real structure, or there is a routine but it collapses the moment your kid pushes back.Commands and threats might get short-term compliance, but they don't actually teach anything. The fix is the Limit Setting Formula: tell your kid what they can have or do, and under what condition. Then hold it (even through the meltdown that follows).And when bedtime runs long because of a meltdown or stalling, follow up the next day with restitution or a natural consequence for the time and energy it cost you.If your family is struggling with bedtime, it doesn't mean that anything is wrong with you or your kid. It means that you're missing a parenting skill or need some more information. Some of parenting is intuitive, but there are also a lot of skills that you have to build along the way.You'll Learn:The 2 totally solvable problems that are making bedtime chaoticWhy commands and threats backfire at bedtime (and what to do instead)How to use the Limit Setting Formula to set a bedtime limitWhat to do (and not do) right after you state the limitHow to follow up the next day with consequences and restitutionIn this episode, I'll show you how to build a bedtime routine that actually feels doable and how to use clear limits and consequences when bedtime goes sideways. Over time, your child will internalize this new routine, so you can stop repeating, reminding, and yelling every night.Read the full show notes here.-----------------------------------------Related Episodes:Episode 65: Sleep Struggles: Helping Kids Master Self-Soothing SkillsEpisode 5: Rethinking ConsequencesEpisode 4: Setting Limits That WorkFree Resources:Get your copy of the Stop Yelling Toolkit!In this free guide you'll discover:✨ A simple tool to stop yelling once you've started (This one thing will get you calm.)✨ 40 things to do instead of yelling. (You only need to pick one!)✨ Exactly why you yell. (And how to stop yourself from starting.)✨A script to say to your kids when you yell. (So they don't follow you around!)Download the Stop Yelling Toolkit hereConnect With Darlynn:Book a complimentary session with DarlynnLearn about the different parenting programs at www.calmmamacoaching.comFollow me on Instagram @darlynnchildress for daily tipsRate and review the podcast on Itunes

Carrying Everyone Else's Feelings? — Guided Meditation for the Quietly Exhausted | Physiological Sigh Breathing If you're always the one who copes — the reliable one, the one who checks on everyone else and never gets asked back — this guided meditation is for you. For the next ten minutes you don't have to hold anything together. We'll use the physiological sigh, a simple two-inhale, one-long-exhale breathing pattern, to ease the body down a gear, then a gentle visualisation for setting down the things you've been carrying that were never really yours.When it all gets too much before or after this session, Anchored's Instant Calm is free, offline, and always there: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, today's episode leans on a boxes-in-your-arms metaphor — the to-do list, the thing someone said, tomorrow's problems, someone else's feelings you've quietly taken on as your own — and invites you to set just one box down at a time. You are allowed to rest before everything is finished. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome: when you're always the one who copes* 00:52 – Anchored's Instant Calm* 01:19 – Breathing: the physiological sigh* 02:37 – Visualisation: the boxes you're carrying* 04:16 – A different sentence: "I can put some of this down"* 04:49 – Today's Gentle Affirmations* 07:46 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 08:32 – Coming back, stretch and open your eyes* 09:10 – A personal reflection: speaking to yourself with kindness* 10:16 – Outro & be kind 

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde (Part 1) — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime A soothing bedtime story to help you drift off tonight: Oscar Wilde's beloved fairy tale The Happy Prince, read slowly and gently for sleep, insomnia relief, and quiet, unhurried listening. This is Part 1 of a two-part reading in the Books at Bedtime strand — also known as Coffee Break for the Soul — from the Calming Anxiety podcast, a series of classic story readings designed as a calming audiobook for anxious or restless nights.For the full library, plus ambient night-light features for the small hours, download Anchored on iOS:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 Narrated softly by Martin Hewlett, clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic, this reading follows a gilded statue high above a city, and the little swallow who stops to shelter at his feet — and stays to hear what the statue has seen from up there. Part 2 continues and completes the story, out soon on the main feed. No jump scares, no urgency, nothing to keep your mind alert — just a slow, unhurried voice and a classic tale, ideal as a sleep story or relaxation audiobook for falling asleep, insomnia, and quieting an anxious mind before bed. First published in 1888 in the collection The Happy Prince and Other Tales, Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince is in the public domain worldwide (Wilde died in 1900); this reading is Calming Anxiety's own narration of the classic public-domain text. This episode continues the Books at Bedtime strand, alongside The Selfish Giant (also by Oscar Wilde) and classic short fiction from Katherine Mansfield, Kate Chopin, and Arthur Conan Doyle — currently working through The Hound of the Baskervilles — with new instalments added regularly to the main Calming Anxiety feed.  

Hard lakes make interesting fish and unboxing a board game about bedtime storytellers makes for a sleepy wish that will take you off to a dreamland kind of like Prague from 20 years ago.This is an unboxing of a Crab Fragment Labs game. You can learn more here.The show really needs your help right now. Keep Sleep With Me going and get hours of bonus content by joining Sleep With Me Plus! sleepwithmepodcast.com/plusGet your Sleep With Me SleepPhones. Use "sleepwithme" for $5 off!!Are you looking for Story Only versions or two more nights of Sleep With Me a week? Then check out Bedtime Stories from Sleep With MeThis episode is produced by Rusty Biscuit aka Russell Sperberg.Show Artwork by Emily TatGoing through a hard time? You can find support at the Crisis Textline and see more global helplines here.HELIX SLEEP - Take the 2-minute sleep quiz and they'll match you to a customized mattress that'll give you the best sleep of your life. Visit helixsleep.com/sleep and get a special deal exclusive for SWM listeners!ZOCDOC - With Zocdoc, you can search for local doctors who take your insurance, read verified patient reviews and book an appointment, in-person or video chat. Download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE at zocdoc.com/sleepAQUATRU - AquaTru is a countertop water purifier tested & certified to remove 84 contaminants, including chlorine, lead, forever chemicals, and microplastics! Get 20% off your water purifier by going to AquaTru.com and using promo code SLEEPPROGRESSIVE - With the Name Your Price tool, you tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance, and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote today at progressive.comTALKIATRY - Talkiatry gives you access to real psychiatric care with licensed clinicians who can diagnose and prescribe medication if it's right for you. It's a simple way to get effective treatment right from home. Head to Talkiatry.com/SLEEP to complete the short assessment and get matched with an in‑network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.QUINCE - Quince Superfood Greens cuts through all the nutrition noise with one simple, daily scoop that helps fill in your nutrient gaps and support your overall health. Head to quince.com/sleepwithme for free shipping and 365-day returns.DRIPDROP - DripDrop is doctor-developed, proven fast hydration that helps your body and mind work better. To get 20% off your first order, go to dripdrop.com and use promo code "sleep".COZY EARTH - Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets are guaranteed to give you a good night's sleep. The wick away heat and moisture to keep you cool in the summer nights. Head to cozyearth.com and use code SLEEP for 20% off! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime A soothing bedtime story to help you drift off tonight: Oscar Wilde's beloved fairy tale The Selfish Giant, read slowly and gently for sleep, insomnia relief, and quiet, unhurried listening. This is the first instalment of Books at Bedtime — also known as Coffee Break for the Soul — from the Calming Anxiety podcast, a strand of classic story readings designed as a calming audiobook for anxious or restless nights. If you'd like the whole library, plus ambient night-light features for the small hours, download Anchored on iOS:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 Narrated softly by Martin Hewlett, clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic, this reading follows a selfish giant who banishes children from his beautiful garden — only for it to fall into an endless winter until he learns, slowly and gently, what it means to let love back in. No jump scares, no urgency, nothing to keep your mind alert — just a slow, unhurried voice and a classic tale, ideal as a sleep story or relaxation audiobook for falling asleep, insomnia, and quieting an anxious mind before bed. First published in 1888 in the collection The Happy Prince and Other Tales, Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant is in the public domain worldwide (Wilde died in 1900); this reading is Calming Anxiety's own narration of the classic public-domain text. This episode is part of the ongoing Books at Bedtime strand, alongside classic short fiction from Katherine Mansfield, Kate Chopin, and Arthur Conan Doyle — currently working through The Hound of the Baskervilles — with new instalments added regularly to the main Calming Anxiety feed.  

Mind Won't Switch Off? — Racing Thoughts Meditation for Anxious Nights | 4-7-8 Breathing If your mind won't switch off — even though your body has clearly clocked out — this guided meditation is for you. Whether it's 2am or the middle of an ordinary afternoon, racing thoughts don't wait for a convenient time, and this episode meets you exactly where you are with 4-7-8 breathing, a calming cognitive visualisation, and three daily caring tips you can use anytime the loop starts again. For the nights it gets harder than ten minutes can fix, download Anchored on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 — it's the same voice, free, and there whenever your mind decides it needs help. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, today's session uses 4-7-8 breathing — in for 4, hold for 7, out for 8 — a technique drawn from years on the road as a paramedic, where changing what the body is doing is often the fastest way to change what the mind is doing. From there, a gentle visualisation reframes anxious thoughts as letters arriving through a letterbox: you don't have to open every one, read it end to end, or write back. You are the house, not the letter. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome: when your mind won't switch off* 01:28 – Introducing 4-7-8 Breathing (from years as a paramedic)* 02:17 – Breathing practice, round one* 04:10 – Breathing practice, round two* 04:29 – The letterbox: thoughts aren't instructions* 05:31 – Today's Gentle Affirmations* 08:17 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 09:28 – Coming back, stretch and release* 09:47 – Outro & be kind 

Does your child insist that only Mom can do bedtime? And they refuse to let Dad put them to bed? Parent preference at bedtime is incredibly common, especially during the toddler and preschool years. But while it's normal, that doesn't mean you have to accept a situation where only one parent can handle bedtime every night. In this episode, Allison explains why children develop a strong preference for one parent at bedtime and, more importantly, exactly how to help your child become comfortable with both parents doing bedtime. Allison shares a simple approach that she has seen work repeatedly with families, and says that many children begin to adjust within about a week when parents consistently follow the plan. In this episode, you'll learn: Why a child may strongly prefer one parent at bedtime Why parent preference does not mean your child loves the other parent less Why solving this issue can benefit the entire family How to establish a simple alternating bedtime schedule Why the parent whose turn it is should handle the entire bedtime routine from start to finish Why having both parents participate in bedtime can sometimes make the struggle worse What to say when your child protests or has a meltdown Why the preferred parent should not rescue the other parent during a difficult bedtime How to respond calmly while allowing your child to have big feelings Why the first few bedtimes may be rough, and why consistency matters How keeping the bedtime routine consistent between parents can help What to do if the bedtime struggle seems to involve more than just parent preference Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Allison's Maine & Acadia trip update 02:36 – When your child only wants one parent at bedtime 03:20 – Why parent preference at bedtime is completely normal 04:45 – Why it's worth helping your child accept both parents 06:05 – The key strategy: Take turns doing bedtime 07:25 – Why one parent should do the entire bedtime routine 08:35 – How to introduce the new bedtime plan 09:30 – What to say when your child protests 10:25 – Let the big feelings happen and keep moving 11:05 – Why the other parent shouldn't "rescue" bedtime 12:30 – How to handle a major bedtime meltdown 14:00 – Expect a few bumpy nights 15:15 – How quickly children usually adjust 16:10 – Keep the bedtime routine consistent between parents 17:00 – The one-week plan for ending parent preference 18:05 – When to seek additional help with bedtime struggles 18:40 – Final thoughts on parent preference at bedtime If you're in the middle of the "ONLY MOM!" or "ONLY DAD!" bedtime trenches, this episode will give you a practical plan for getting out of them. And if you want a sleep coach to guide you as you make the change, schedule a free 15 minute Get Acquainted call with our team Click here to listen to the episode on YouTube   Wondering if your child is getting enough sleep? Allison's free guides take the guesswork out of bedtime. Learn the optimal sleep ranges for every age so your little one can feel their best—day after day. Get your free copy now: 0-2 Years Old or 3 to 10 years old From baby sleep to toddler sleep, daycare naps to sleep training—How Long 'Til Bedtime? is the podcast for parents who want practical, guilt-free sleep tips they can actually use. Hosted by pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, each episode delivers real solutions for every stage—from navigating newborn sleep struggles and weaning night feedings to helping your 3-year-old fall asleep independently (and stay asleep!). Whether you're trying to make sense of daycare sleep patterns, craving your evenings back, or simply need a working mom podcast to keep you grounded, you're in the right place. Want more from Allison? Sign up here to get her weekly email with podcast updates and other helpful parenting topics. Enjoying How Long 'Til Bedtime? Your rating and review help Allison reach and support more parents. On Apple Podcasts: Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the show, and tap "Write a Review." On Spotify: Click here to leave a rating or review. Don't miss an episode—subscribe so you're always up to date! Connect with Allison: Instagram | Facebook | Website | YouTube  

"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." - James Clear Summary Is your family running on good routines—or on lost shoes, late-night permission slips, and someone yelling, "Where is your backpack?" If summer loosened every habit in your house, this episode is your invitation to hit the family reset button. We're talking honestly about the routines that shape family culture, whether we choose them or simply fall into them. Bedtimes, chores, prayer, screens, school mornings, and family meals don't just organize the day; over time, they help determine who we become. We'll show you how to assess three essential areas of family life: the spiritual life of your home, your marriage, and the formation of your children. Then we'll get practical about turning vague hopes like "we should pray more" or "the kids need to help" into habits your real family can actually follow. Using four principles from *Atomic Habits*, we'll explore how to make good routines obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. Expect chore charts, backpack stations, bedtime prayer, brownies after the Rosary, and our hard-earned rule for getting a large family out the door without losing everyone's sanctification. This isn't about creating an Instagram-perfect household. It's about reducing chaos, restoring connection, and building a home where everyone knows they belong. Key Takeaways A fall family reset has four parts: Assess: Honestly examine your family culture. Focus: Choose the pain point that needs the most attention. Create a habit: Build a practical system around the change. Find accountability: Invite your spouse to support you. You do not need to overhaul your entire family this fall. Choose one meaningful change that will help you move from reacting moment by moment to living on purpose.   Couple Discussion Questions What are our biggest pain points right now that we need to change?  What is our best habit that we can build on?  Resources Speaking Request page Events page www.catholiccouplesgetaway.com

A Man and His Dog by Katherine Mansfield — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime If sleep feels far away tonight, let Katherine Mansfield's A Man and His Dog carry you gently there. Tonight's Books at Bedtime sleep story follows Mr. Potts, a small, unassuming man weighed down by a difficult night at home, and Lino, the loyal dog waiting for him at the gate, in a quiet, wistful sketch read slowly to ease you toward sleep. This is a Calming Anxiety production, read by host Martin Hewlett as part of our nightly Books at Bedtime and Coffee Break for the Soul series of classic short story readings for insomnia relief and relaxation.For more calming bedtime stories and relaxing audio whenever you need it, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving September 2026.

Monday Morning Anxiety — Calm the Dread of the Week Ahead | Vagus Nerve Breathing Meditation  Monday morning anxiety has a weight all of its own — that heavy, anticipatory dread that arrives before your feet have even touched the floor. In this 10-minute guided meditation, Calming Anxiety host Martin helps you put the whole week down and meet Monday with a nervous system that is working with you, not against you. Today's practice uses vagus nerve breathing — a slow nasal inhale, a gentle hold, and a long, soft exhale — to press the brake pedal on your stress response. Three guided rounds, followed by a warm golden-light body scan and a set of gentle affirmations for anxiety relief, work anxiety and the Sunday scaries that spill into Monday. It closes with three practical daily caring tips you can carry into the day. Whether you're listening in bed, on the train, in the car park, or in the ten quiet minutes before you walk in through those doors — this is deep relaxation and breathwork you can use anywhere. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett.  ⏱️ Time Chapters * 00:00 – Cold open: the weight of a Monday morning* 01:06 – Welcome to Calming Anxiety with Martin* 01:23 – Anchored: over 3,000 searchable sessions* 02:00 – Finding your quiet place and settling* 02:47 – Vagus nerve breathing: three guided rounds* 05:01 – Warm golden light body scan* 06:10 – Today's gentle affirmations* 08:30 – Your three daily caring tips* 09:17 – Coming gently back into the room* 09:38 – Closing thoughts and sign-off  

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Welcome to this week's episode of the PEBCAK Podcast!  We've got four amazing stories this week so sit back, relax, and keep being awesome!  Be sure to stick around for our Dad Joke of the Week. (DJOW) Follow us on Instagram @pebcakpodcast   Please share this podcast with someone you know!  It helps us grow the podcast and we really appreciate it!   Simple 6 signup link https://simple6.co/r/CFUR98   Meta buys its way out of the teen engagement lawsuit and writes the curfew into the settlement. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/meta-agrees-to-18-billion-settlement-over-teen-social-media-harms/ Meta settled with 52 attorneys general for ~$18B over claims Facebook and Instagram were built to drive compulsive teen use, resolving a 2023 suit led by California AG Rob Bonta that also alleged illegal under-13 data collection under COPPA. The product terms are the real story: a default two-hour daily cap for under-18s that only a parent can lift, a midnight–6am blackout, notifications muted 10pm–7am and during school hours, hidden like counts, no cosmetic surgery filters, and expanded age verification to find under-18s and purge under-13s — locked in for ten years under an independent auditor. Only $12.7B goes to states now. The other $5.3B is held back until YouTube and TikTok adopt matching one-hour limits, nighttime restrictions and age assurance, and each makes a matching payment — at which point Meta's own cap drops to one hour. Meta openly framed this as driving industry-wide adoption. Read that again: Meta just put a $5.3B bounty on its competitors adopting mandatory age verification, and everyone's calling it a punishment. Meta books ~$10B in Q3 legal expenses; California takes $1.5–2.1B.   A watermark-removal industry sprang up overnight for a watermark nobody can detect. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ai-watermark-removers-flood-the-web-almost-none-can-prove-they-work/ Days after Anthropic switched on invisible watermarking in everything Claude writes, a removal market appeared: a 4,500-star GitHub project, freshly registered domains like claudewatermark[.]rip and gptcleanup.com, and existing Turnitin-bypass shops (StealthGPT, Human Writes) bolting Claude onto their pitch. None of it is verifiable; Anthropic hasn't published the scheme or shipped a detector. The technical punchline: stripping zero-width characters and C2PA/EXIF metadata works, but it's trivial, since file metadata dies on a re-save or a screenshot. The real mark lives in which words the model picked, so the only known removal is a heavy rewrite through a second model. Guillaume Meyer, who wrote the biggest tool, says so himself, metadata only, for now. Tester Pasquale Pillitteri read the code instead of the READMEs and found one popular cleaner passed a hidden payload through intact. Driver is EU AI Act Article 50, enforceable since Aug 2, penalties to €15M or 3% of global turnover. And a detected mark only proves Claude touched the text, not that it wrote it. Defender angle: these ship as agent skills people wire into pipelines and feed documents through. That's a supply chain surface.   Chrome finally kills the infostealer's favorite trick: the stolen cookie that walks past your MFA. https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/08/chrome-adopts-what-may-be-the-best-protection-yet-against-account-takeovers/ Chrome shipped device-bound session credentials, storing a key in the device's security chip: TPM on Windows, Secure Enclave on macOS and iOS and cryptographically binding session cookies to that hardware. A stolen cookie can't be replayed on the attacker's box to walk past MFA, because the private key never leaves the chip. This is the fix for the failure mode we keep covering: as users adopted 2FA and passkeys, infostealers stopped fighting the login and started lifting the post-auth session instead. Announced in 2024, beta in April, GA for Workspace on Chrome for Windows from May 25, on by default with no admin config, and binding events are visible in Admin console audit logs. Honest caveat: it kills one very popular path, not every takeover, and only where the server side implements it.   Dad Joke of the Week (DJOW)   Find the hosts on LinkedIn: Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlouie/ Glenn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennmedina/ Victor - https://www.linkedin.com/in/victordeluca/

Why do kids seem to save their biggest, strangest, and sometimes most difficult questions for bedtime? In this episode, Amy and Chris Pappalardo talk about the familiar phenomenon of the “one more question” after the lights are out—from questions about death and God to the completely unexpected question about where chicken comes from. Together, they explore why bedtime can become a uniquely safe and relational space for kids to open up.Amy and Chris consider several reasons kids may ask these questions at the end of the day: they may be stalling, feeling safe enough to let their guard down, finally free from the distractions of the day, or simply taking advantage of one of the few moments when they have a parent's undivided attention. They also talk about what parents can do when the questions are serious, difficult, or simply coming at the worst possible time.Rather than dismissing bedtime questions as a nuisance, this conversation invites parents to see them as an opportunity to listen, affirm their children's curiosity, and create space for deeper conversations—even when the timing isn't exactly ideal.TakeawaysBedtime can become a uniquely safe space where kids feel comfortable asking questions they have been carrying throughout the day.Kids may ask bedtime questions because they're stalling, but not every question is a stalling tactic.When distractions disappear, thoughts and questions that have been sitting in the background can finally come to the surface.Bedtime often provides some of the most focused, one-on-one attention parents give their kids all day.Tiredness can lower a child's inhibitions and allow unexpected or unusual thoughts to come out.A child's difficult or unexpected question can be an opportunity to recognize that they trust you enough to bring it to you.When a question is sincere, it's worth respecting the curiosity behind it—even if the timing isn't ideal.Parents don't have to answer every question immediately; sometimes it's better to table the conversation and intentionally return to it later.You don't have to have all the answers to be a safe and trustworthy person for your child to ask.Chapters00:18 – Meet your "backup" hosts: Amy and Chris01:05 – Why kids don't want to go to bed05:14 – The bizarre questions kids save for bedtime07:19 – Why bedtime questions happen in every kind of family09:04 – Are kids just stalling?10:10 – Bedtime as a safe space11:03 – When the distractions of the day finally disappear15:19 – The uncomfortable truth about undivided attention17:04 – Why kids also open up during baths, walks, and other one-on-one moments18:10 – What tiredness does to a child's inhibitions19:17 – Amy's childhood chicken question23:24 – So what should parents actually do?24:07 – How to tell if they're stalling or genuinely curious24:34 – Why we should take our kids' questions seriously25:36 – When it's okay to table the conversation for tomorrow27:07 – Turn the question back around: “What do you think?”28:13 – You don't have to have all the answers

Bedtime stories aren't just for kids—we need them too, especially when our minds won't stop racing at night. This episode from the Sleep Stories podcast is a gentle, meandering tale, written by AI, designed to help you unwind, quiet your thoughts, and drift into deep sleep. If you enjoy it, be sure to follow. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleep-stories-for-women/id1695951747 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waking Up at 3am — Anxiety Relief to Get You Back to Sleep | Extended Exhale Breathing Waking up at 3am with anxiety is one of the loneliest experiences there is — your eyes open on their own, your heart is faster than it should be for someone lying perfectly still, and your mind has already found the one unfinished thought it saved up especially for now. This 10-minute guided meditation is built for exactly that hour. Martin explains why it happens: there is a small, ordinary rise in cortisol in the early hours meant to get your body ready for morning, and when you're anxious that rise arrives a little louder and wakes you. It isn't a warning. It isn't a sign. It's chemistry arriving early. From there the session uses extended exhale breathing — a gentle breath in, a brief pause, and an out-breath always longer than the in — because breathing out directly, mechanically slows your heart rate. It's the simplest somatic tool there is, and the one that works best lying down in the dark, when you don't want to count hard or hold anything. A warm light at the centre of the chest, gentle affirmations for sleep anxiety and insomnia relief, and three practical caring tips follow. If you drift off partway through, that's the point — let the voice fade. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett.  ⏱️ Time Chapters * 00:00 – Cold open: awake at three in the morning* 00:39 – Why you wake: the early-hours cortisol rise* 01:23 – Welcome to Calming Anxiety with Martin* 01:39 – Anchored: the nightlight and offline sleep sessions* 02:24 – Settling: letting the pillow take the weight* 03:36 – Extended exhale breathing: the science* 04:17 – Guided rounds: longer out than in* 05:37 – A warm light at the centre of your chest* 06:08 – Tonight's gentle affirmations* 08:19 – Drifting off, or coming gently back* 09:01 – Your three daily caring tips* 09:43 – Closing thoughts and sign-off  

The Canary by Katherine Mansfield — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime If sleep feels far away tonight, let Katherine Mansfield's The Canary carry you gently there. Tonight's Books at Bedtime sleep story is a quiet, tender monologue: a lonely woman remembers the pet canary who once filled her home with song, and the small, aching space he left behind, read slowly to ease you toward sleep. This is a Calming Anxiety production, read by host Martin Hewlett as part of our nightly Books at Bedtime and Coffee Break for the Soul series of classic short story readings for insomnia relief and relaxation. For more calming bedtime stories and relaxing audio whenever you need it, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving September 2026.

Relax with four hours of continuous relaxing stories for sleep in this Places of Wonder sleep story collection for grown-ups. Enjoy a captivating selection of calm bedtime stories for grown-ups, narrated by a soothing female voice, with each story transporting you to an extraordinary destination, from majestic fjords and serene lakeside retreats to grand museums, regal castles, an ice castle, and a beautiful lakeside villa in Italy. Created for bedtime relaxation and sleep, these soothing stories offer a peaceful mental escape while you drift toward sleep. Listen without interruption and use the chapters to customize your experience. It's time to dream away.Original Script, Narration, Calm Music, Video, Production, and Sound Design by Michelle Hotaling, Dreamaway Visions LLC 2026 All Rights Reserved✨YOUTUBE:

The full version of this episode (1 Hour & 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* | 1-Hour about Marie Curie & the History of Radioactivity | Bedtime Sleep Stories about History (Bonus Episode #106)

In the land of Laudore, a young dwarf enjoys a special birthday, and sets off on a magical adventure.Narrated By: TK KellmanWritten By: Chase DoanWelcome 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/⁠

Bedtime stories aren't just for kids—we need them too, especially when our minds won't stop racing at night. This episode from the Sleep Stories podcast is a gentle, meandering tale, written by AI, designed to help you unwind, quiet your thoughts, and drift into deep sleep. If you enjoy it, be sure to follow. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleep-stories-for-women/id1695951747 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Singing Lesson by Katherine Mansfield — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime If sleep feels far away tonight, let Katherine Mansfield's The Singing Lesson carry you gently there. Tonight's Books at Bedtime sleep story follows Miss Meadows, a music teacher whose heartbreak colours an entire school day, from a mournful morning lesson to an unexpected telegram that changes everything, read slowly to ease you toward sleep. This is a Calming Anxiety production, read by host Martin Hewlett as part of our nightly Books at Bedtime and Coffee Break for the Soul series of classic short story readings for insomnia relief and relaxation. For more calming bedtime stories and relaxing audio whenever you need it, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving September 2026.

Why Do I Say Sorry for Everything? — People-Pleasing Anxiety Relief | Guided Meditation with 4-2-6 Breathing If you've ever wondered "why do I say sorry for everything?", from bumping into someone to simply having a feeling, today's guided meditation is for you. Calming Anxiety sits with the quiet, exhausting reflex of chronic apologizing, the fear that if you're agreeable enough, easy enough, small enough, nobody will ever be angry with you. We slow the body first with 4-2-6 breathing, in for four, hold for two, out for six, creating the same small pause Martin often had to teach frightened patients as a paramedic: the space between the trigger and the reaction.For daily support beyond this episode, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving in a couple of weeks.

In this episode of We Could Be Wrong, Christopher, Shaun, Mike, and the crew move from entertainment reviews into a thoughtful—and occasionally tense—conversation about parenting, discipline, politics, and legacy.Christopher gives his honest reaction to the Japanese anime 100 Meters, explaining why its impressive animation did not connect with him emotionally and why he may need to watch it again. The group also prepares for a future review of A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, while Shaun recommends the suspenseful Apple TV series Cape Fear.The conversation becomes more personal when Christopher explains his children's bedtime routine and the different approaches he uses based on each child's age and personality. The group debates consistency, boundaries, privacy, traditional discipline, and whether older parenting methods still work for children growing up in the age of technology and social media.Later, the crew responds to reports that the Navy may reconsider the name of the future USS Doris Miller, currently honoring the Black World War II hero. They discuss military naming traditions, political division, and what it means to properly honor someone's legacy.The episode also remembers Dolly Parton and celebrates her extraordinary generosity, particularly the Imagination Library and its mission to provide free books to young children. Shaun closes the show with another edition of “Today in History,” covering notable events, cultural moments, and famous birthdays.Are traditional parenting methods still effective—or do today's children require an entirely different approach?This week, we discuss bedtime battles, discipline, the anime 100 Meters, Apple TV's Cape Fear, the controversy surrounding the future USS Doris Miller, and the remarkable legacy of Dolly Parton.We may disagree, but remember: we could be wrong.#WeCouldBeWrong #ParentingDebate #MovieReviews #DollyParton #100Meters #CapeFear #PodcastDiscussionThe documentary's official title is A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, not “The Gorilla Story.” It premiered on Netflix in April 2026. Cape Fear is an Apple TV series starring Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson. Reports describe the USS Doris Miller renaming as something being considered, rather than a completed or officially confirmed change. Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, and her Imagination Library has now distributed more than 300 million books.

https://youtu.be/qju0d0udheU https://www.uncommen.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/8.28.26.mp3 How to Build Godly Habits: The Brutal Truth About Willpower There is a silent but devastating epidemic quietly wrecking the spiritual lives of Christian men every single year, and it has nothing to do with a moral failure, a scandal, or a dramatic fall from faith. The crisis is happening inside something as ordinary as a summer vacation. Dad spends two or three weeks on the beach, the alarm clock gets thrown in a drawer, and the daily Bible reading, the family prayer, and the Sunday routine all quietly slide off the calendar. Nobody notices until the first school bus rolls by in August and dad realizes he cannot remember the last time he opened his Bible without being reminded. The modern definition of discipline has tricked men into believing spiritual consistency is simply a matter of trying harder. We have been sold a massive lie that knowing how to build godly habits is about gritting your teeth and forcing yourself back into a routine the moment the season changes. It is not. Learning how to build godly habits has almost nothing to do with willpower and everything to do with who you actually believe you are when nobody is checking. This article reveals the brutal, uncomfortable truth about why your habits collapsed the moment your schedule did, and exactly how to build godly habits strong enough to survive the next season change, and the one after that. The Vacation Trap: Why Your Godly Habits Disappeared So Fast Ask any man who tracks his Bible reading streak what happens the moment he boards a plane for vacation. Two hundred and fifty consecutive days of reading Scripture, then one week at the beach, and suddenly he is three weeks behind before he even unpacks his suitcase. This is the vacation trap, and it catches nearly every man who has never actually learned how to build godly habits that do not depend on a fixed environment. The trap is not laziness. It is architecture. Most men build their spiritual routine entirely around external structure — the same chair, the same alarm, the same fifteen minutes before the house wakes up. Remove the structure and the habit disappears with it, because it was never anchored to anything deeper than convenience. Summer gives an entire family permission to loosen every rule at once: later nights, looser schedules, more grace all around. That grace is not the enemy. The enemy is mistaking the absence of structure for an excuse to abandon God altogether. Real men understand that how to build godly habits is a question of foundation, not location. God does not live in your morning routine. He is not confined to your quiet-time chair or your church pew. He is, quite simply, travel-size — fully present on the beach, in the hotel room, and at your kitchen table on a Tuesday morning in October. That is where how to build godly habits actually begins — not with more effort, but with a stronger foundation. Willpower Versus Identity: The Real Reason Habits Break Willpower versus identity decides whether your habits survive contact with a busy season. Willpower says, "I will read my Bible every day because I am disciplined enough to force it." Identity says, "I read my Bible every day because that is who I am, and skipping it feels like showing up to work without pants." The first version collapses the moment life gets hard. The second bends but does not break. Researchers who study identity-based habit formation have found the same pattern outside the church walls — behavior tied to identity outlasts behavior tied to sheer effort, every single time. This is where most conversations about spiritual discipline for men go completely sideways. Men are taught to treat their walk with God like a New Year's resolution — an act of raw effort they can white-knuckle through January before it quietly dies by February. But spiritual discipline for men was never designed to run on willpower alone, and willpower is a finite resource. It gets spent on traffic, deadlines, and difficult conversations with your teenager, and by the time you get home there is none left over for prayer. This pattern is not just anecdotal, either. Barna Group's ongoing research on the state of discipleship has repeatedly found that consistency, not exposure, is the single biggest predictor of whether a man's faith actually shapes his daily life — and consistency is exactly what a disrupted season threatens first. Understanding how to build godly habits means building identity first and letting behavior follow, instead of forcing the behavior and hoping an identity eventually shows up. A man who identifies as someone who walks with God does not need twelve weeks of vacation to derail him, because his habits are tied to conviction, not the calendar. That distinction is the entire difference between a man who white-knuckles his way back into a routine every September and a man who never really left one in the first place. How to Build Godly Habits in the Boardroom: Bringing Faith Back to the Grind The transition from the beach to the boardroom is not just about kids trading flip-flops for backpacks. Dad is making the exact same trade. The alarm resets to six in the morning, the calendar fills back up with meetings, and the whole household has to relearn how to build godly habits inside a completely different set of pressures than the ones summer allowed. Here is the uncomfortable question worth asking in the first week of September: is your calendar dictating your relationship with God, or are you dictating your calendar? Too many men let the busy season answer that question by default. The first meeting gets earlier, the commute gets longer, and prayer quietly becomes the line item that gets cut first because it is the only appointment nobody else is tracking. Knowing how to build godly habits that hold up in the boardroom requires deciding, in advance, exactly what does not move no matter how full the calendar gets. This is not a call to abandon ambition. It is a call to stop letting your job promote itself to the highest priority in your life by default. A man who has never mapped out how to build godly habits around his actual work schedule will always find himself surprised, every September, that the busy season swallowed his quiet time whole. Surprise is optional. Planning is not. That single decision is how to build godly habits actually gets made — one protected calendar block at a time. The Hypocrisy Trap: Leading by Example When You Reset Your kids are watching every time you reset your routine, and they draw conclusions whether you intend them to or not. If dad drags into September dreading the alarm clock and openly grieving the loss of his vacation freedom, his children absorb a specific lesson: normal life is a punishment, and faithfulness is only for the easy season. That lesson sticks far longer than any sermon you will ever preach at the dinner table. This is the hypocrisy trap, and it has nothing to do with intentionally lying to your family — it is far more subtle than that. Consistency in faith cannot be something you perform only when conditions are convenient, because your children possess an incredibly well-tuned radar for the difference between a man who is truly consistent and a man who is simply compliant when nothing costs him anything. If your quiet time only survives when your schedule is light, your kids will notice your faith is conditional too. Learning how to build godly habits in front of your family is not optional homework — it is the primary curriculum your children are actually studying. Consistency in faith, modeled openly and without complaint, teaches a child more about who God is than any conversation ever could. The goal is not perfection; grace exists precisely because you will miss days. The goal is refusing to let missed days become the new identity. How to Build Godly Habits Before the Bell Rings: Protecting What Matters There is enormous power available to the man who decides what he will protect before the season changes instead of after it. Summer vacation never actually surprises anyone — families count down to it for months. The same should be true of the return to school and work. You already know it is coming, which means you have every opportunity to decide in advance exactly how to build godly habits that will not get sacrificed the moment the calendar fills back up. Pick three things and protect them like your family's spiritual life depends on it, because it genuinely does. The dinner table, uninterrupted by phones and practice schedules. Bedtime prayer, even on the exhausting nights. The Sunday routine, treated as non-negotiable rather than optional depending on how the week went. These anchors are not complicated, and that is the point. Spiritual discipline for men does not require a complex system. It requires a short list of non-negotiables and the resolve to defend them against a calendar that will happily consume every one if you let it. This is where how to build godly habits stops being theory and becomes a decision with a date attached. Decide this week, before the first bell rings, not in October when you are already three weeks behind and telling yourself you will catch up eventually. The families who thrive through the fall transition are not the families with the least chaos. They are the families with a father who decided, ahead of time, exactly what chaos would not be allowed to touch. Seasons Change, But God Doesn't: Anchoring to Ecclesiastes 3:1 Defining how to build godly habits that actually last requires looking directly at Ecclesiastes 3:1, which states: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Notice what the verse does not say. It does not say seasons are optional, and it does not say you get to skip the hard ones. It says seasons are guaranteed,...

Regret by Kate Chopin — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime If sleep feels far away tonight, let Kate Chopin's Regret carry you there. Tonight's Books at Bedtime story follows Mamzelle Aurélie, a solitary farm woman who never married, as she's unexpectedly left to care for four small children, and slowly discovers what she's missed, read gently to ease you toward sleep. This is a Calming Anxiety production, read by host Martin Hewlett as part of our nightly Books at Bedtime and Coffee Break for the Soul series of classic story readings for insomnia and relaxation.For more sleep stories and calming audio whenever you need it, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving September 2026.

Where Has All My Energy Gone? — High-Functioning Anxiety & Exhaustion Relief | Guided Meditation If you've ever collapsed onto the edge of the bed at the end of a perfectly "fine" day and thought, "where has all my energy gone? I didn't even do anything today," this episode is for you. Calming Anxiety sits with the exhaustion of high-functioning anxiety, the quiet cost of holding everything together while everyone else sees someone coping just fine. We slow the body first with the extended exhale, four counts in and eight counts out, gently unwinding the shallow, high-chest breathing that builds up during a long day of performing calm, the same kind of over-breathing Martin worked with often on ambulance call-outs as a paramedic.For daily support beyond this episode, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving in a couple of weeks.

Cracks in MAGA, Mamdani's Social Pricing & Losing Bedtime by The Shmuel Tennenhaus Podcast

Jed realized that he isn't getting as much sleep as he use to... what time are you getting to bed? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime If sleep feels just out of reach tonight, let Katherine Mansfield's Miss Brill carry you gently there. Tonight's Books at Bedtime story follows a quiet, lonely woman through one ordinary Sunday afternoon in the park, her small joys and quiet ache unfolding slowly, read to ease you toward sleep. This is a Calming Anxiety production, read by host Martin Hewlett as part of our nightly Books at Bedtime and Coffee Break for the Soul series of classic story readings for insomnia and relaxation. For more sleep stories and calming audio whenever you need it, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving September 2026.

Why Do I Feel Dizzy? — Anxiety-Induced Lightheadedness Relief | Guided Meditation with 4-4-8 Breathing If the floor has ever seemed to tilt beneath you, or the room's gone soft and swimming for no reason at all, today's guided meditation is for you. Calming Anxiety sits with anxiety-induced dizziness, the frightening, light-headed feeling that convinces you something is medically wrong, when the real cause may simply be anxious breathing. We slow the body first with 4-4-8 breathing (in for four, hold for four, and a long, slow exhale for eight), a technique Martin has used often as a paramedic kneeling beside people who were certain they were about to collapse. For daily support beyond this episode, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving next month.

"Send Ben a text"If everything feels like a fight with your teen, it can be hard to know where to start.Phones. Video games. Chores. Grades. Bedtime. Disrespect. Responsibility.It can feel like every problem needs a different solution.But what if they don't?In this episode, I'll show you why boundaries are one of the best places to start when things feel off with your teen.You'll learn why trying to control your teen can turn boundaries into power struggles, and how to focus more on what you can actually control.We'll talk about:Why boundaries are not about forcing your teen to obeyHow to stay calm and firm when your teen pushes backHow to give your teen a voice without putting him in chargeWhy too much control can make it harder for your teen to take responsibilityHow to stop carrying responsibility that belongs to your teenHow to create more peace without waiting for your teen to change firstThe goal is not to control your teen.The goal is to lead well, hold clear boundaries, and help your teen take more responsibility for his own choices.I also share details about my new small group program, Boundaries with Buy-In, for moms of teenage boys.If you want help creating boundaries you can actually hold while building more responsibility, trust, and connection with your teen, join the priority list at:benpughcoaching.com/boundarieswithbuy-inAre You Caught in the Parent Trap?Discover the hidden patterns that are keeping you stuck—and how to break free.Take this quick (and eye-opening) quiz to uncover which common parenting trap you're falling into with your teen. Get a personalized roadmap to help you parent with more clarity, confidence, and connection—starting today.https://benpughcoaching.com/parent-trap-quiz

What if attracting a luckier, happier, wealthier life starts with what you do before falling asleep? This simple Lucky Habit™ uses expectation, emotion, and the Lucky Loop™ to help you notice more good, create better days, and start expecting life to work in your favor. Try it tonight—and see what you begin noticing tomorrow.For more insight and info visit: GetLuckyLife.com

The New Dress by Virginia Woolf — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime If sleep feels far away tonight, let Virginia Woolf's The New Dress carry you there. Tonight's Books at Bedtime story follows Mabel Waring through a single anxious evening at a party, her insecurities rising and falling like a slow tide, read gently to ease you toward sleep. This is a Calming Anxiety production, read by host Martin Hewlett as part of our nightly Books at Bedtime and Coffee Break for the Soul series of classic story readings for insomnia and relaxation. For more sleep stories and calming audio whenever you need them, download Anchored on iOS, with Android arriving September 2026. 

Anxiety Relief for Irritability & Overwhelm — I Just Need to Feel Calm Again | Alternate Nostril Breathing Guided Meditation Anxiety relief for those days when everything is getting under your skin. This ten minute guided meditation is for the moment you catch yourself thinking "I just need to feel calm again" — when the noise, the questions, the one more thing have worn your patience thin, your shoulders are tight, your jaw is clenched, and your voice is sharper than you meant it to be. Underneath irritation there is almost always something quieter. You're tired. You're overloaded. You've been holding too much together. Today we use alternate nostril breathing — nadi shodhana, the balancing breath — breathing in for four and out for six, giving your mind one gentle thing to do at a time while your nervous system finds its way back down. Slow, rhythmic breathwork for stress relief, overwhelm and an overstimulated nervous system. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, Calming Anxiety is a daily ten minute guided meditation for anxiety relief, panic attacks, stress and sleep. You don't have to become a different person today. You don't have to be endlessly patient. You simply need a little more space. ⏱️ Time Chapters * 00:00 – I just need to feel calm again * 00:20 – When the smallest things get under your skin * 00:47 – What's underneath the irritation * 01:13 – Welcome — this is your moment * 01:31 – Finding your quiet place * 01:42 – Alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana) explained * 02:23 – Guided breathing — in for four, out for six * 04:24 – Softening the shoulders, forehead and hands * 04:56 – Visualisation — laying the weight down * 05:44 – Today's gentle affirmations * 08:04 – You don't have to become a different person * 08:21 – Three daily caring tips * 09:14 – Returning to the room * 10:05 – Anchored, sharing and closing thoughts 

Episode 188: Modi and Leo record an inaugural episode from the Center for Jewish History's new podcast studio to discuss everything from a recent performance in East Hampton, what catches Leo's eye when he's in the Rabbi's study, and what prayers Modi says before bed. Modi's special "Know Your Audience" is available on YouTube now!For all upcoming shows visit www.modilive.com.Follow Modi on Instagram at @modi_live.Follow the AHM podcast on Instagram at @AHM_Podcast.Leave us a voicemail!Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Comparison Anxiety — A Guided Meditation for When You Feel Behind in Life | Box Breathing Comparison anxiety can creep in on the most ordinary days — that quiet sense that everyone else has the job, the relationship, the plan, and you're still standing at the same crossroads. This guided meditation is for anyone who feels like the only one who hasn't got it together, using box breathing (4-4-4-4) to calm the nervous system before a set of gentle affirmations that put the measuring stick down for good. Download the free Anchored app — the one app with no feed, no likes, nothing to compare yourself against — at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this episode gently separates life-stage comparison anxiety from doomscrolling — it's not about the scroll itself, but about what we do to ourselves when we hold our own life up against someone else's highlight reel. You'll be guided through steady box breathing, then a golden-light visualisation and a set of affirmations to help you feel calm, grounded, and enough exactly as you are. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Cold Open: The Only One Who Hasn't Got It Together* 01:00 – Box Breathing (4-4-4-4)* 05:00 – Golden Light Affirmations* 09:00 – 3 Daily Caring Tips* 10:00 – Outro & Anchored 

The String Quartet by Virginia Woolf — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off tonight to a dreamlike bedtime story for sleep and insomnia, read slowly and gently to help you fall asleep naturally. Tonight on Books at Bedtime, Martin reads Virginia Woolf's "The String Quartet" — a short, hypnotic piece from her 1921 collection Monday or Tuesday. It begins in a crowded London drawing room, full of overheard fragments — the weather, the traffic, a rent too high, a glove left on the train. The small anxious chatter of a mind that cannot settle. Then four musicians take their seats, the first violin counts one, two, three, and everything changes. The music carries the listener somewhere else entirely. A pear tree on a mountain. Fountains and falling drops. The waters of the Rhône running swift and deep over silver fish and yellow pebbles. Lovers on the grass, silver horns at dawn, a rose leaf falling from an enormous height like a little parachute. It is one of the loveliest things Woolf ever wrote about how it feels when sound takes over from thought — when the fretting mind finally lets go and simply floats. Which makes it, we think, close to perfect for the last thing you hear tonight. There is no need to follow the story. There is no plot to lose. Let the words move over you like the music moves over the people in that room, and let yourself drift. Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) remains one of the most quietly beautiful voices in English literature, and this piece is in the public domain. Read by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, host of Calming Anxiety and Coffee Break for the Soul. Sleep well, my friend.  Buy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety Newsletter: Subscribe on Substack at https://calminganxietypodcast.substack.com/?r=6zm0sc&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.

If bedtime in your house feels like a nightly negotiation, or you're the one lying in the dark at 2 a.m. wondering why nothing seems to work, this conversation is for you. Pediatric sleep consultant Allison Ezell spent years stuck between a sleep doctor telling her to sleep train and a TBRI therapist affirming the trauma-informed parenting she knew her son needed, unable to find anyone who could bridge the two. She eventually became the person she needed, and she's bringing that hard-won wisdom to us today. What We Cover in This Episode The two building blocks of sleep science, sleep associations and sleep pressure, and why understanding sleep associations alone resolves most of the sleep struggles Allison sees. The difference between "putting a child to sleep" and "putting a child to bed," and why that distinction matters most for kids who wake in the middle of the night. A practical bedtime routine built around what a body actually needs to fall asleep: sensory input earlier in the evening, a warm bath or shower, real connection, and a small snack. How to build felt safety around bedtime fears through repeated, low-pressure exposure, and a gradual pullback method for weaning off sleep associations without a jarring overnight switch. A consistent, scripted response for middle-of-the-night wake-ups, plus the red flags (frequent waking, restless legs, long sleep onset, excessive daytime sleepiness) that mean it's time to talk to a doctor. Resources Mentioned Dwell Pediatric Sleep Allison Ezell on Instagram (@dwellpediatricsleep) Timestamps 00:00:37 — Allison's story: years of sleeplessness with her son, and how she became a pediatric sleep consultant 00:05:03 — The two big buckets: trouble falling asleep vs. trouble staying asleep 00:08:01 — Sleep science 101: sleep associations, explained through "the pillow" 00:11:09 — "For a lot of parents, they are the pillow": why parents become the sleep association 00:13:36 — Building a child's confidence and tolerance for separation 00:20:35 — Why temperament and history change how a child responds to sleep 00:22:45 — Sleep pressure, naps, and finding the right wake windows 00:30:36 — What has to happen in the body to fall asleep: heart rate and body temperature 00:33:07 — Building a bedtime routine: sensory input, bath or shower, connection, snack 00:41:37 — Creating felt safety around bedtime fears through repeated exposure 00:47:52 — The gradual pullback: weaning off unsustainable sleep associations 00:53:07 — The scripted response for middle-of-the-night wake-ups 00:55:16 — Red flags that mean it's time to talk to a doctor 00:59:47 — Allison's closing message: it's not selfish to want to fix your family's sleep Connect Line Have a question or topic you'd like us to cover? Send it to podcast@empoweredtoconnect.org Chapters (00:00:00) - Empowered to Connect: Everything Sleep(00:00:45) - What a Sleep Consultant Can Help You(00:05:00) - How to Get Your Child to Fall asleep(00:08:05) - Sleep Science for Adopted Kids(00:09:19) - Sleep Associations and Sleep Pressure(00:14:50) - How to Sleep Well With Your Child(00:22:49) - How to Raise a Sleepy Child(00:27:04) - How to Establish a Sleep Schedule for Foster Kids(00:30:40) - The Science of Falling asleep(00:31:18) - Sleep Aid for Kids(00:35:56) - How to Have a Good Bedtime(00:41:50) - How to Put Your Child to Sleep(00:47:11) - Waking Up in the Night(00:51:42) - How to Talk Your Child Out of Night Fever(00:54:52) - Signs of Insomnia in Parents(00:59:28) - How to Sleep Your Child

Ricki and Tim want to know the important stuff: how do you actually sleep? They discover some people sleep in PJs, some sleep completely nude, and one woman shares her bed with four sausage dogs, creating what sounds like the world's warmest slumber party. The callers then have to sing their answer to the tune of Sam Smith's How Do You Sleep?, leading to some very committed performances. Meanwhile, Tim reveals he sleeps in boxers with pockets, because apparently even bedtime needs storage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's continue our relaxing travels in The Wayback Machine and head back to the 1200s with more from Marco Polo and his epic journey through Asia to the court of the khans. This time, poisonous winds, treacherous plateau deserts, a false paradise, and the floating column of Samarkand. All totally true!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read "The Travels of Marco Polo" by Rustichello da Pisa at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10636   Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com   If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, https://www.boringbookspod.com.

Title NSDR / Non-Sleep Deep Rest — Reach Deep Rest Without Forcing It | 10-Minute Physiological Sigh Meditation If you feel tired in a way that sleep never seems to touch — wired, switched-on, unable to power down even when you're exhausted — this 10-minute NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Rest) session is for you. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this guided meditation helps you reach deep rest without forcing it, resetting an overstimulated nervous system while you're still awake to feel it happen. Today's practice is built around the physiological sigh — a double breath in through the nose followed by one long, slow breath out. Research from Stanford found it's one of the fastest ways to bring the body down out of high alert, flipping the biological off switch and engaging the vagus nerve. From there we let the breath go completely free and sink into non-sleep deep rest: nothing to solve, nothing to reach, entirely off duty. Whether you're looking for anxiety relief in the middle of a racing day, a way to quiet a "tired but wired" mind, or a daily NSDR habit to protect your calm, give yourself permission to lie down, soften, and let the whole system settle. ⏱️ Time Chapters00:00 – "The Tiredness Sleep Doesn't Touch" (Why You Need Deep Rest, Not More Sleep)00:36 – Today's Focus: I Can Reach Deep Rest Without Forcing It00:41 – Introduction from Martin & Anchored App Overview01:16 – Resetting the Nervous System Before We Rest01:38 – The Physiological Sigh & the Stanford Research Behind It01:56 – Settling In: Lying Down, Letting the Body Fall Heavy02:15 – Guided Physiological Sighs (Three Rounds Together)03:15 – Letting the Breath Go Free: Effortless Rise & Fall04:31 – Planting Today's Truth: The Warm Amber Light04:52 – NSDR Affirmations for Nervous-System Reset (First Pass)06:32 – Staying Off Duty: Nothing to Solve, Nothing to Reach06:41 – Affirmations for Deep Subconscious Integration (Second Pass)08:00 – Reuniting Mind, Body & Soul: You Are Worthy08:27 – 3 Daily Caring Tips for Building an NSDR Habit09:12 – Gently Awakening & Returning to the Room09:47 – Closing Reflection & Notice How You Feel Now09:55 – Outro, Community Support, & Sign-off

The Searchlight by Virginia Woolf — Full Short Story Read Aloud | Sleep Story for Insomnia, Anxiety & Deep Sleep | Books at Bedtime A calming bedtime story to help you fall asleep — the complete, unabridged short story The Searchlight by Virginia Woolf, narrated slowly and softly for anyone who can't sleep, lying awake with insomnia, anxiety or a racing mind at three in the morning. A warm, moonless summer night in London. An eighteenth-century mansion is a club now, and after dinner a small party drifts out onto the balcony above the park to drink coffee in the dark. Rods of light wheel across the sky — the Air Force practising, searching for enemy aircraft — sweeping over a stone front, over a chestnut tree in full blossom, and then, for a second, straight across the balcony itself. And Mrs Ivimey says: you'll never guess what that made me see. You can listen offline, any time you wake in the night, in the Anchored app — 

Access over 130+ Ad-Free episodes of Calm History by becoming a Silk+ Member (FREE for a limited time!). Birch Mattress: get 27% off sitewide at: https://birchliving.com/calmhistory ********************** 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) … Continue reading Famous Sea Monsters: History, Hopes, or Hoaxes? | Bedtime Sleep Stories about History (not A.I.)

Kaya has been raging about the number of female TikTokers who are team Lindsay Clancy, a woman who murdered her three children. What causes these people to side with a horrific monster? Could it be the over-saturation of true crime podcasts? We do the research. Kaya and I check out the true crime podcasts that women fall asleep listening to including True Crime Sleep Stories and Dead Sleep - True Crime for Bedtime. Watch the episode here: https://youtube.com/live/gdHdurStx28 Get more Kaya: https://kaya.fm/ WATP candy available now: https://www.leiselandfriendsgourmet.com/ Support us, get bonus episodes, and watch live every Saturday and Wednesday: ⁠⁠http://bit.ly/watp-patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://watp.supercast.tech/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calming Anxiety: Finding Light When You Feel LowWhen you wake up to a low, grey weight rather than a racing mind or sharp panic, simply getting through the day can feel like too much to ask. In this episode of Calming Anxiety, Martin Hewlett—clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic—guides you through a gentle, 10-minute session designed to help you set that heavy weight down without forcing a mood change or trying to fix how you feel.Through a grounding breathwork practice focused on lengthening the exhale and filling the space behind the heart, we signal to your nervous system that it is safe to soften. Accompanied by soothing hypnotherapy-inspired affirmations, this session offers a compassionate space to meet yourself with tenderness rather than blame on the days when you feel low.This session and over 3,000 others are available on Anchored, our companion app. Featuring a vast library of soothing meditations, Books at Bedtime, and a soft nightlight feature, Anchored is ready for you whenever you need it, day or night.Time Chapters00:00 – Intro & Welcome: Meeting the Low, Grey Days00:51 – Introducing Anchored: Your Companion App for Sleep & Mindfulness01:20 – Grounding Breathwork: Lengthening the Exhale to Release Tension03:04 – The Lifting Breath: Making Room Behind the Heart04:32 – Affirmations for Low Mood & Self-Tenderness08:15 – 3 Daily Caring Tips for a Happier, Gentler Life09:33 – Awakening, Outro & Be KindAffirmations for Healing & Self-TendernessRepeat these gently to yourself or simply let them settle as you listen:"This heaviness is not the whole of me.""I am allowed to feel low, and I am allowed to feel better.""I am worthy of care, even on the days I cannot feel it.""When I feel low, I meet myself with tenderness, never with blame.""The light returns in its own time, and I allow it.""I am allowed to rest without first having to earn it.""I am still here, and today, that is enough."3 Daily Caring TipsMove the Body Just a Little: You don't need a walk that fixes everything. Simply stand up, reach both arms toward the ceiling, and let them fall. Motion lifts the mood in ways thinking rarely can.Lower the Bar for Today: On a low day, a good day isn't a productive one—it's simply one you move through with kindness toward yourself. Let enough be enough.Reach Toward One Connection: Send a message or make a quick call to one person. Leave the door open just a crack, and remember you were never meant to carry this heavy weight alone.Outro & Call to ActionIf these ten minutes lifted even the smallest corner of your day, please consider sharing Calming Anxiety with someone who might be quietly struggling. Leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts also helps other souls find their way to our community.Don't forget to download Anchored, the companion app! Get all of our daily episodes, sleep stories, and calming audio tools packed into one simple place in your pocket whenever you need them.Until tomorrow, my friend... in everything, be kind.

In previous episodes, we have explored a number of alleged encounters involving animals of extraordinary and seemingly impossible proportions. These have included cases in which witnesses claim to have been attacked by enormous wolves, oversized sharks, and spiders considerably larger than any recognised species. This week, we will be adding another creature to this disturbing collection of oversized predators. One whose enormous wingspan and aggressive behaviour have terrified those unfortunate enough to cross its path. A mysterious creature that has become known over time by one particularly ominous name; The Flying Terror.   Upgrade your everyday with Quince. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://Quince.com/BEDTIME. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.   Join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's #1 Choice for Banking. Head to https://chime.com/bedtime   MUSIC Tracks used by kind permission of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0   Tracks used by kind permission of CO.AG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tired But Wired — Why You Can't Switch Off After a Day on Edge | Physiological Sigh Meditation That feeling where the body has been braced since the moment you woke up. Shoulders up around your ears, jaw tight, exhausted and somehow still wired. Wired but tired — running on a battery that is flat and jangling at the same time. If today has felt like being on edge from the first alarm right through to now, then these ten minutes are for you, because there is a single breath, just one, that can start to switch that off. If today catches you somewhere you can't press play for a full ten minutes, the Anchored app has the Instant Calm session ready any time — no signing in, no subscription, works offline. And tonight, when you're ready to properly wind down, Anchored's ambient night light sits alongside your sleep sounds: a soft glow to fall asleep to.

The Man Who Loved His Kind by Virginia Woolf — Full Short Story Read Aloud | Sleep Story for Insomnia, Anxiety & Deep Sleep | Books at Bedtime A calming bedtime story to help you fall asleep — the complete, unabridged short story The Man Who Loved His Kind by Virginia Woolf, narrated slowly and softly for anyone lying awake with insomnia, anxiety or a racing mind in the small hours. Trotting through Deans Yard one afternoon, Prickett Ellis runs straight into Richard Dalloway. They were at school together and haven't met in twenty years. There's an invitation to a party that evening, accepted before either man quite means it — and Prickett Ellis, a plain, hard-working barrister who has never cared for society, spends the whole night standing against a wall in a borrowed dress suit, watching people he has decided to despise. You can listen offline, any time you wake in the night, in the Anchored app —