Stay ConnectedSnoozecast is the podcast designed to help you fall asleep.
Episodes air every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Learn about our premium listening options at snoozecast.com/plus, which unlocks ad-free listening to our expanded catalog, including bonus original stories.
Copyright: © ℗ & © 2020 Snoozecast: Stories for Sleep
Tonight, we’ll read about the etiquette of throwing balls from Manners and Rules of Good Society by “A Member of the Aristocracy,” published in London in 1916. Snoozecast first read from this book back in 2021.
A ball is a formal dance party characterized by a banquet followed by social dance that includes ballroom dancing. More than just an evening of entertainment, a well-orchestrated ball was a display of refinement, social standing, and adherence to an intricate web of unspoken rules. Success at such an event was not measured solely by the elegance of a waltz or quadrille but by the host’s ability to maintain harmony
among guests, observe propriety, and adhere to the rigid expectations of high society.
The author of Manners and Rules of Good Society, while anonymous, was likely someone well-acquainted with the customs of the British upper class. The book served as a guide to navigating the complex social structures of the time, providing insight into not only how to host a ball but how to conduct oneself in all matters of decorum. As the Edwardian era gave way to the upheaval of the First World War, such traditions were becoming increasingly symbolic of a fading world—one where rigid social distinctions were being challenged by the changing times.
Balls themselves had evolved over centuries, originating in the royal courts of Europe before spreading into the aristocracy and, later, to the upper-middle class. By the time this book was published, grand balls were still held in the great houses of Britain, but their role was shifting. What had once been a cornerstone of courtship and political alliances was becoming more of a nostalgic tradition. Yet, even as the social landscape changed, books like Manners and Rules of Good Society sought to preserve the elegance and ritual of a bygone era, offering a glimpse into the customs that once dictated the highest levels of society.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read from “The New Air World: The Science of Meteorology Simplified" by Willis L. Moore, originally published in 1922.
This work aimed to make the complex field of meteorology understandable to the layperson, particularly for those seeking to become more “weatherwise”.
Beyond being an author, Willis Luther Moore was an American meteorologist and educator. He also served as chief of the U.S. Weather Bureau, and president of the National Geographic Society.
When Moore began his career for the Weather Bureau, long range weather forecasting was considered little more than quackery both by Moore himself and the scientific community. However, a little more than a decade later, in 1906, Moore announced that the Weather Bureau was about to begin forecasting the weather a month in advance using new scientific methods. The Bureau made weekly forecasts a standard release in 1910. However, despite some successes, these would remain as inaccurate as the older methods. It wasn’t untilthe 1970s that forecasts for multiple days became consistently reliable, thanks to more sophisticated computer models, satellite data, and improved observational networks.
— read by 'V' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read the 26th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “The Story Club is Formed”
In the previous chapter, Matthew realizes that Anne is dressed more plainly than her peers and secretly sets out to buy her a beautiful new dress for Christmas. After an awkward attempt at shopping, he enlists Mrs. Lynde’s help to pick out a fashionable dress with the puffed sleeves Anne has long admired. On Christmas morning, Anne is overwhelmed with joy at the gift, and later, she dazzles at the school concert, where she delivers a moving recitation. That night, as Matthew and Marilla reflect on Anne’s success, they begin to consider her future beyond Avonlea.
— read by 'N' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ Deluxe to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read the fantasy story “Celephaïs” written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1920. In it, Kuranes, the child of landed English gentry, travels to the magical city of his childhood dreams after finding himself dispossessed in the contemporary city of London.
The story contrasts the bleakness of earthly reality with the splendor of a vividly imagined world, emphasizing themes of escapism and nostalgia. Part of Lovecraft’s Dream Cycle, it offers a poetic and haunting exploration of the power of dreams.
— read by 'V' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original, “Spandex Jackets (One for Everyone).” Listeners who are fans of Steely Dan may be aware that the title is a reference to Donald Fagen’s 1982 track “I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)”. The story itself draws inspiration from the song which paints a retro-futuristic dream of undersea rails, solar-powered cities and the promise of a gloriously bright tomorrow.
The acronym in the song title I.G.Y. references the “International Geophysical Year” a real life global scientific project that ran from July 1, 1957 to December 31st 1958. It brought together scientists from 67 nations to collaborate on studying Earth’s geophysical properties, including its atmosphere, oceans, and polar regions. IGY marked significant advancements in space research, such as the launch of the first artificial satellites (Sputnik by the Soviet Union and Explorer by the United States). Its spirit of international cooperation laid the groundwork for many subsequent collaborative scientific endeavors.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read the next chapter of “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott titled “Lazy Laurence”. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 39th chapter as part of that work as a whole.
In the last episode, we followed Meg’s life as a new mom of twins, and her struggles to balance her roles of mother with wife. The motherly side had taken completely over for months and her relationship with John was more distant than either of them liked. Luckily, Meg sought the good advice from her mother, and found creative ways to find time for not just her husband, but her self, along with her babies.
Tonight’s chapter shifts the focus back to Laurie, who, after his time in Europe, has settled into a state of idleness and self-indulgence. Still nursing the wounds of Jo’s rejection, he lounges about, feeling purposeless despite his wealth and charm. He has fallen into the role of a "lazy" young man, avoiding serious work or ambition, much to the disapproval of Amy.
— read by 'V' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read St. Valentine's Day; or, The Fair Maid of Perth by Sir Walter Scott, as part of the Waverly novels.
St. Valentine's Day was one of Scott’s later works, published in 1828, and it draws on real Scottish history—including the infamous Battle of the North Inch.
The heroine, Catharine Glover, is based on a real legend about a glovemaker’s daughter in Perth. Medieval glove-making was a surprisingly respectable trade—and could be likened to haute couture of the 14th century.
— read by 'V' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we’ll read “The Palace Under the Waves” found in the book “Swiss
Tales” published in 1920. We will also read a story called “The Fairy in the Cuckoo Clock.”
The first story features undines, a category of elemental beings associated with water, stemming from the alchemical writings of Paracelsus. Later writers developed the undine into a water nymph in its own right, and it continues to live in modern literature and art through such adaptations as Danish Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid".
Paracelsus believed that each of the four classical elements – earth, water, air and fire – is inhabited by different categories of elemental spirits, liminal creatures that share our world: gnomes, undines, sylphs and salamanders respectively. He describes these elementals as the "invisible, spiritual counterparts of visible Nature ... many resembling human beings in shape, and inhabiting worlds of their own, unknown to man because his undeveloped senses were incapable of functioning beyond the limitations of the grosser elements."
— read by 'N' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.
We will pick up at the tail end of chapter 14, where we ended last, and where Anne and Lady Russell visit the Musgroves for Christmas. The two have very different opinions on the gathering. Anne finds the chaotic but cozy antics of many young children pleasant and soothing. Lady Russell, on the other hand, finds it overly loud and agitating. Here, we are watching Anne’s inner growth, her evolving relationships, and her growing clarity about her feelings and the people around her.
— read by 'V' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Settlement Cook Book, first published in 1901 by Lizzie Black Kander, is a classic American cookbook aimed at teaching immigrants practical cooking skills and assimilation into American culture. Known for its comprehensive recipes and household tips, it became a bestseller and a cornerstone of immigrant cuisine. Over the years, it underwent numerous editions, adapting to changing tastes and needs while maintaining its cultural and historical significance.
— read by 'N' —
Sign up for Snoozecast+ to get expanded, ad-free access by going to snoozecast.com/plus!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
