Lights Out Library: Sleep Documentaries
Episodes
History of Ancient Crafts: Ceramics, Textile, Gold
10 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This extended documentary-style bedtime story is a compilation of three different stories: History of Gold, History of Ceramics, and History of Textil...
Journey to the Clouds | Documentary for Sleep
03 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken sleepy documentary, we travel across the various layers of the atmosphere, and I tell you about their composition, about various p...
Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Goblins, Trolls... Origins of Fantasy Creatures
26 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We all know of modern fantasy creatures, and also that they owe a lot to J.R.R. Tolkien, other fantasy authors of the last 60 years, Dungeons & Dragon...
Sleep Space Cruise to Mercury and Venus (Revised)
19 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this bedtime story, we visit Mercury and Venus, two planets with formidable environments. I share with you various theories about their formation, ...
History of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire
12 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Eight hundred years ago, the World was shaken when the Mongols suddenly left their corner of Asia to conquer the largest land empire in History. Join ...
History of Wolves and Dogs | Documentary for Sleep
05 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy story, we trace the shared history of wolves and dogs, from their ancient evolutionary origins to the deep bond they formed with humans...
History of Ancient Rome (8th Century BC - 1453 AD)
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This long soft spoken sleep story tells you the history of Ancient Rome from its foundation to the fall of Constantinople. It is in 3 parts. In part...
Sol Invictus, Ishtar, Mithra, Pazuzu: Stories of Forgotten Gods
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For tonight's bedtime story, let's explore the stories of various gods from Antiquity that once were very relevant to the societies that worshipped th...
Nature Sleep Story: Wonder of Trees
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This is a remake of one of our first episodes because the original sound was harsh and uneven when I started the podcast. For tonight's talk, I invit...
The Myth of El Dorado
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In tonight's story, I take you on a historical tour of the myth of El Dorado. I discuss what the early years of the Spanish conquest of America were l...
History of the Forbidden City
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken bedtime story about China, I take you to the discovery of the Forbidden City. We explore this extraordinary complex and follow the...
History of Ceramics
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken sleep documentary, I tell you about ceramics: what pottery, earthenware, stoneware, terracotta, and porcelain are; how they appear...
World Mythology Stories for Sleep: Ring of the Nibelung, Maya and Aztec, Hindu, Japanese, Greek
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For this extra long episode, we put together various of our mythology stories. From Asia to America via Europe, all these stories reflect how humanity...
History of Buddhism
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This is a new version of one of our first episodes, that I remade because the sound was a bit harsh and uneven when I started the podcast. I also adde...
Mysteries of Space: White Dwarf, Neutron Star, Dark Matter, Hypothetical Planets (Sleepy Astronomy)
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this bedtime story, we visit different real or hypothetical space objects and phenomena. I tell you about the life cycle of stars that can leave be...
Japanese Mythology, Legends and Folk Tales
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This bedtime story about Japanese mythology begins with the world creation myth by Amaterasu. Then we will explore Japan’s spiritual tradition: Shin...
History of Gold | Fall Asleep to History
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight's episode is an overview of the history of gold and other precious metals: how much is there on Earth? Where is it? How was gold discovered an...
The Mystery Night: 25 Historical Mystery Stories for Sleep
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For this extra long episode, we put together various of our mystery stories. Secret places, out-of-place artifacts, mysterious events or ghost ships: ...
Petra and Other Underground Cities | History and Sleep Documentary
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Petra, the capital of the Nabataeans (Jordan), Göreme and Derinkuyu in Cappadocia (Turkey), the Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland): in this sleep story, I ...
Grand Solar System Tour From Mercury to Pluto (Space Cruise, Astronomy, and Science for Sleep)
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In tonight's episode, we will travel from Mercury to Pluto and beyond, in our longest space travel to date. We will thoroughly explore each planet, th...
History of Rooms in Homes - Documentary and Sleepy Story
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In tonight's sleep-inducing episode, I invite you to an overview of rooms since humankind started to build homes. For much of our history, most people...
Mysteries of Consciousness: why do we know we exist?
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is this subjective experience, this awareness of existence, that we call consciousness? In tonight's episode, we will examine some of the aspects...
The Twelve Labors of Heracles | Mythology for Sleep
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this relaxing sleep story, I invite you to relive the mythical Twelve Labors of Heracles, one of the most enduring legends of Ancient Greece. From ...
History of Byzantium
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleep documentary, I take you to the mythical city of Constantinople to explore the history of the Byzantine Empire. As the Western Roman Empi...
Journey to the Infinitely Small | Sleepy Science Story
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this science sleep story, we explore the microcosmos and discover what our bodies and the physical world around us are made of. First, I tell you a...
Myths and Legends of Old Europe: Celtic, Germanic and Norse Tales
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For tonight's episode, we invite you to delve into European myths from Antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as the history of the peoples that carr...
History of Monasteries and Monasticism | History for Sleep
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight's episode takes us on a historical tour of monasticism, especially Catholic monasteries. I get that the topic of monasticism may sound at the ...
Faust and History of Pacts with the Devil (Halloween Special)
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The "pact with the devil" is a cultural motif that keeps coming back in stories. The legend of Faust is a good example, but not the oldest: it took in...
History of the Spice Road
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I invite you to travel along the Spice Road and discover how these mysterious spices, which were high-luxury goods for centuries, wer...
Galactic Black Holes, Deep-Sea Gigantism, Venusian Climate: Scientific Mysteries for Sleep
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In tonight's episode, we take a look at three topics that keep sparking debates in their respective scientific communities: • The existence of su...
History of Ancient Rome: The Empire, Part 2 of 2
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a softly spoken story about the History of the Roman Empire. In part one, I told you about the origins of Rome, its slow emergence and wars un...
Mysteries of Ancient Egypt | History Sleep Story
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight's sleepy episode takes us back to Ancient Egypt, with a compilation of stories that shed light on various aspects of this wonderful civilizati...
Hindu Mythology Stories
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy mythology episode, I tell you some myths and legends from the Hindu tradition, including the Ramayana and Mahabharata (two legendary ep...
Spy Stories: Josephine Baker and Sidney Reilly
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy episode about history and espionage, we explore the lives and times of two famous spies: the extraordinary Josephine Baker, entertainer...
History of Ancient Rome, Part 1 of 2 - The Republic
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This sleepy story about the History of Ancient Rome is the first of two parts, because there were too many things to say for one single episode. The n...
How to Send a Generation Ship | Sleepy Space & Science Story
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken bedtime story, I tell you about the concept of "generation ships": large spacecrafts that would transport dozens, hundreds, or eve...
Mysteries of New York City | Historical Mystery Stories
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In these new mystery stories set in New York City, we will travel through time at different periods of the history of the city, from its foundation as...
Ancient World Mysteries: Lost Roman Legion, Oracle of Delphi, Crystal Skulls
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, we revisit three Mystery Stories episode from Lights Out Library: - The Lost Roman Legion - Out of Place Artifacts, including the Crystal Sku...
Spy Stories: Mata Hari and Richard Sorge
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy episode, we explore the lives and times of two famous spies: Mata Hari in the world of show-business and courtesans in Paris during the...
Aztec and Maya Mythology | Sleepy Mythology & History Stories
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For thousands of years, cultures rose and disappeared in Mesoamerica. In tonight's episode, we explore Maya and Aztec mythological tales, and I tell y...
Mission to Pluto | Sleepy Space Journey
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This new space journey will take you to the mysterious and gigantic expanse that exists beyond the planet Neptune. We will discover different bodies f...
Mysteries of the Pacific | Mysteries from History
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This new batch of historical mystery bedtime stories takes us to Easter Island and its enigmatic alignments of statues (the moais). We will also disco...
History of Salt | History Story for Sleep
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight's episode takes us on a historical tour of salt. How much is there on Earth? Why did it start to be an important commodity for humans in the N...
Ancient History: Silk Road, Carthage and the Phoenicians, Viking Age
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, we revisit three "Ancient History" episodes from Lights Out Library, compiled into a single episode to lull you to sleep for longer: History ...
History of Textiles | History Bedtime Sleep Story
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy bedtime story, we explore the history of textiles and fabrics. We will see where fibers come from and how they were adopted by mankind,...
The Ring of the Nibelung | Germanic Mythology Bedtime Story
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft spoken sleepy bedtime story, I invite you around a campfire in the Black Forest and tell you the story of the Ring of the Nibelung. We wi...
Mysterious Historical Artifacts: Carved Stone Balls, Dodecahedrons, Lewis Chessmen
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bedtime story, I tell you about four different sets of objects that come with their own historical mysteries:• The Roman Dodecahedrons, whic...
Journey to the Center of the Universe | Space Sleep Story
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores theories in Physical Cosmology and how Humankind has represented the universe since before the emergence of modern science, as w...
History of Hatshepsut, the Female Pharaoh | History for Sleep
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hatshepsut is one of the most famous pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, and not only because she was a woman. Her reign of more than twenty years was prospero...
Fantastic Creatures: Werewolves and Dragons
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This bedtime story is for lovers of history and gothic atmosphere. In tonight’s talk, we explore the origins and multiple faces of two myths: Werewo...
Ancient Egyptian Mysteries: Tomb of King Tut and Amarna
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are returning to Ancient Egypt tonight, with an episode filled with mysteries. The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, by the archaeologi...
Galactic Space Cruise to Andromeda | Sleepy Space Story
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this new episode, I invite you to a journey from Earth to the Andromeda Galaxy; we will also explore Alpha Centauri, the Milky Way, the Canis Major...
The Age of Ocean Liners | History for Sleep
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The age of Atlantic ocean liners is mostly over, and these giants of the seas have evolved into cruise ships. In this ASMR bedtime story, I invite you...
Celtic Mythology | Documentary Story for Sleep
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our sleepy episode tonight contains stories from Celtic Mythology, taken from the rich body of Irish myths. I tell you about the expansion, decline, a...
Crystal Skulls and Other Out-of-Place Artifacts
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I explore with you the mysteries of various "out-of-place artifacts," which is to say, (allegedly) old objects that would challenge c...
Nuclear Fusion | Science Sleep Story
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight we explore nuclear fusion as a reaction (the fusion of atom nuclei) and as a possible source of power. I tell you about the differences with f...
History of the Great Wall of China | Bedtime History Story
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy bedtime history episode, I tell you about the History of the Great Wall, the "Ten-Thousand Mile Wall" (万里长城). Through it, we wi...
Greek Myths: Orpheus and Eurydice, Jason and the Argonauts
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this new episode for bedtime, I tell you two great myths from Ancient Greece: • The Story of Orpheus, the legendary poet and musician, and how he...
History of Carthage and the Phoenicians | History for Sleep
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I tell you about the history of the Phoenicians and their cities (Byblos, Tyre, Sidon...), including the most famous of all: Carthage...
Mystery of the Lost Legion | Historical Mystery for Sleep
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Ninth Legion (Legio IX Hispana, also sometimes called the "Lost Legion") had a long history. It served under the command of Julius Caesar during t...
Space Cruise to Exoplanets | Sleepy Space Journey
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This soft-spoken bedtime story is a journey to the discovery of exoplanets. We will visit some of them, like Proxima Centauri B, OTS 44 and Kepler 438...
Three Greek Myths: Perseus, Theseus and Prometheus | Mythology for Sleep
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In these bedtime stories, I tell you three different myths from Ancient Greece: The story of Perseus, how he was conceived by Zeus and Danaë, went o...
History of Astrology | Story for Sleep
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken sleepy bedtime story, I tell you about the History of Astrology: how it appeared as a discipline that was not formally separated f...
Journey to Prehistoric Oceans | Sleep Documentary Story
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This bedtime story takes us on a journey through time and space. We explore the appearance and evolution of life in Earth's oceans, from the first mic...
All About Wine | Sleep Documentary
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For tonight's talk, I invite you to explore the history of wine from the very beginning, including the history of famous wine regions like Bordeaux an...
Lost Treasures: Knights Templar, Cathars, Fabergé Eggs
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For tonight, I tell you the stories of different "lost treasures" and other legends attached to: 1- The Knights Templar, a religious military order th...
Native American Mythology (Apache and Navajo) | Sleepy Mythology Story
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, I tell you about several creation myths from the Apache and Navajo traditions, including the Kiowa Apache myth of Kuterastan and the Navajo D...
Space Cruise: Comets, Asteroids and Shooting Stars | Sleepy Science
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this new astronomy episode, I take you on a discovery journey of meteors (shooting stars) and meteorites, asteroids in the Solar System, and comets...
History of Timekeeping | History for Sleep
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy episode, I tell you about the long history of timekeeping devices, from the first sundials and water clocks to mechanical clocks, quart...
The Epic of Gilgamesh | Sleepy Story
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This bedtime story tells you the Epic of Gilgamesh based on the Standard Babylonian Version. I also tell you about Mesopotamian mythology and the emer...
Ghost Ships: Flying Dutchman, Mary Celeste and More | Sleep Documentary
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, I tell you the sleepy stories of four different ghost ships, together with their historical context and what happened to them. Two are fictio...
Journey Under the Sea | Sleepy Documentary Story
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this bedtime story, I take you on an underwater cruise to the various layers of the Earth's oceans. I talk about marine life, its evolution, and th...
One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights) | Sleepy Stories
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This bedtime story is about One Thousand and One Nights (also known as "Arabian Nights"). I tell you several famous stories from this compilation of M...
Mysteries in the American Desert | Mystery Stories for Sleep
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, I tell you three different stories: - Area 51: How did this USAF base gain its reputation for being at the center of numerous conspiracies, i...
Journey to the Center of the Earth | Sleepy Science Story
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is a soft-spoken science bedtime story about Earth: its formation, its structure, and how mankind perceived the World before its exploration and ...
Three Historical Mysteries: Oracle of Delphi, Changelings and Grand Duchess Anastasia
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In these three new historical mysteries, I tell you about the Pythia, the High Priestess of Apollo in Delphi, who for more than a millennium delivered...
History of the Vikings | Documentary Story for Sleep
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken bedtime story, I tell you about the History of the Norsemen in the Middle Ages. At the end of the Eighth Century, they embarked on...
Polynesian Myths and Legends | Mythology Stories for Sleep
18 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In tonight's ASMR story, I tell you myths from Polynesia, especially Hawaii and Aotearoa (New Zealand), and I explain the origins and connections of P...
Historical Mysteries in Paris | History for Sleep
11 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the Olympic Games come to a close and become another page in history, I believe you will enjoy these bedtime stories. Tonight, we go on a trip to t...
The Ice Giants: Uranus and Neptune | Sleepy Space Story
04 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this new science/astronomy bedtime story, we travel to the 7th and 8th planets from the Sun: Uranus and Neptune. I tell you about their characteris...
History of the Silk Road | Sleep History Story
21 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, I take you on a journey along the Silk Road. We explore how and why this route or network from China to the Mediterranean opened at the time ...
King Arthur and Arthurian Legends | Sleepy Mythology Story
14 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This sleep story is about Arthurian Mythology. How much do you know about the story of King Arthur, how it appeared, and what parts of the myth could ...
Sleep Journey to the World of Fungi | Sleepy Science
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this story, I take you on an introduction to fungi: what the definition of their kingdom is about—they are neither plant nor animal—the mind-bl...
Ghost Towns in America | Sleepy Documentary Story
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken sleepy story, I tell you the stories of four ghost towns in America:- North Brother Island, New York, a small uninhabited island t...
Space Cruise to Saturn, its Rings, and its Moons | Sleepy Space Story
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy story, as we continue the journey of our solar system, we will explore several of Saturn's moons, including Titan, Rhea, Iapetus, and E...
Norse Mythology | Documentary for Sleep
16 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy episode, I tell you stories from Norse Mythology and explanations about its context and meaning to the Old Norse.Stories include the di...
History of Ancient Egypt | Sleepy History Documentary
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this sleepy story, I take you through more than 3,000 years of Egyptian History, from the first unification of Egypt to the death of Cleopatra. I t...
The Science of Sleep and Dreams | Documentary Story for Sleep
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I take you on a new exploration journey, to discover what science can tell us about sleep and dreams: What happens when we sleep? Wha...
The World's Most Famous Diamonds | Story for Deep Sleep
26 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, on our way to sleep, we explore stories related to famous diamonds. These include the Hope Diamond and its supposed curse, the story of the e...
Ancient Greek Mythology: Trojan War, Odyssey, Pandora and More Myths | Extended Sleepy Story
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken bedtime story, I tell you about various Greek myths. This is a compilation episode, in which I've combined multiple prior episodes...
American Historical Mysteries: Bigfoot and Bell Witch | Sleep Documentary
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this bedtime story, I tell you about two different mysterious stories and what I make of them. - Bigfoot (or the Sasquatch) is one of the most famo...
Greek Myths: Pandora's Box, Icarus, Sisyphus and Danaïdes | Sleepy Mythology Stories
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this soft-spoken bedtime story, I tell you about four Greek myths: · Pandora and her jar (or box), which according to Hesiod contained...
Space Cruise to the Moons of Jupiter | Story for Sleep
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this new science/astronomy sleep story, I take you to the Jovian system and tell you about Jupiter's Moons and Jupiter itself. We visit Io, Europa,...
A Night on the Orient Express and History of Railroads | Sleepy Train Ride
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This bedtime story is about the mythical Orient Express service and the history of railways. Discover where the Orient Express came from: the story ta...
Journey to the Ice Age | Sleep History
21 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this bedtime science story, I tell you about Earth during the Pleistocene (aka "the Ice Age"). We explore what the planet was like, its geography, ...
Lost Cities of the Maya | Sleep History
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I take you on a tour of lost Maya cities and to the discovery of the main aspects of their civilization: history, culture, architectu...
Mystery of the Great Pyramid of Giza | Sleep History
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest (and only) survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as defined by the Greeks in Antiquity. But when...
History of Piracy | Documentary for Sleep
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tonight, drift on the seven seas with us as we explore the history of pirates: in Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Modern Times; from the Mediterranean ...
History of Colors | Story for Sleep
24 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's story, we explore the significance attached to various colors throughout history, how pigments and dyes were made and with what surpris...
Announcing: Lights Out Library Patreon!
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We launched a Patreon page for people who wish to support this podcast and get more of it. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/lightsoutlibrary621...