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 the opening to “Roughing It”, by Mark Twain, published in 1872. It is a semi-autobiographical travel memoir following a young Twain through the Wild West during the 1860s. The book offers a vivid glimpse into a bygone era, filled with stagecoaches, mining camps, and encounters with colorful characters.
Twain's signature wit and humor permeate the narrative, as he recounts his experiences as a novice miner, a stagecoach driver, and a journalist. He paints a vivid picture of the rugged landscapes, the bustling towns, and the diverse people he encountered along the way. From the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains to the vast deserts of Nevada, Twain's descriptions transport the reader to a time when the West was still a land of opportunity and adventure.
US Astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell read “Roughing It” aloud to pass the time aboard a two week long mission orbiting the earth in 1965. This highlights the book's enduring appeal and its ability to transport readers to another time and place, even in the most extraordinary of circumstances.
— 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 from the sixth chapter of British naturalist Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”. This chapter explores more of Darwin’s journey from Bahia Blanca to Buenos Aries. He reflects on the landscape, vegetation, and wildlife of the region, which is marked by vast, desolate plains and dry shrubland. Darwin notes the scarcity of water, the presence of thorny bushes, and the occasional sighting of wildlife like armadillos. He also encounters the indigenous people of the area and reflects on their customs and ways of life, contrasting them with those of European settlers. This chapter captures his growing curiosity and sense of discovery, as he observes and analyzes the natural history of South America with scientific enthusiasm.
“The Voyage of the Beagle” is the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as Darwin’s “Journal and Remarks”, bringing him considerable fame and respect. If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first of this series aired on June 10th, 2024, and the most recent episode prior to this one, in August of 2024.
— 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.
In the last episode, the off-season tourists to the beach town of Lyme are surprised to learn that the mysterious gentleman they passed by was not only a cousin to Anne and Mary Elliot, but was the heir to their family fortune. Later, a tragic accident occurs suddenly after Louisa playfully falls from a ledge, expecting to be caught by Captain Wentworth. The situation is sudden and terrible, and each individual in the group shows their ability (or inability) to handle the emergency with grace. Anne’s steadiness and calm particularly shines. Louisa is alive but unresponsive, and it is decided that she will stay at the Harville’s, in their care, while she recovers.
— 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 chapter “On Soup” from The Feasts of Autolycus by Elizabeth Robins Pennell, in which Pennell draws from her experiences as a food critic and essayist to explore the role of soup in culinary culture. Snoozecast first read this back in 2020. An American writer who lived much of her life in Europe, Pennell was known for her travel writing and gastronomic studies, often blending personal observations with cultural critique. Her perspective reflects a deep familiarity with both English and French cuisines, informed by her broader interest in art and domestic life.
— 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 second half to “The Adventure of the Six Napoleans” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The first half aired last week.
In the previous episode, Sherlock Holmes is approached by Lestrade about a peculiar case involving a series of smashed plaster busts of Napoleon. While initially seeming trivial, the case escalates when a murder is discovered at the scene of one of the break-ins. Holmes begins piecing together clues, tracing the busts' origins and uncovering connections to an enigmatic Italian craftsman, hinting at a deeper motive behind the crimes.
— 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’ll begin the 1928 children's book by A. A. Milne “The house at Pooh Corner”. This book is the second novel, and final one by Milne, to feature Winnie-the-Pooh and his world. The book is also notable for introducing the character Tigger.
— 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’ll read the opening to “Lorna Doone, a Romance of Exmoor”, a novel published in 1869 and written by English author Richard Doodridge Blackmore. Snoozecast first read this one back in 2020.
This book is based on a group of historical characters set in the late 17th century. John Ridd is the son of a farmer who is murdered by a member of the Doone clan. The Doone’s were once noble but now outlaws. John falls in love with a girl named Lorna who turns out to be from this very clan he loathes.
The backdrop of "Lorna Doone" is the rugged and isolated region of Exmoor in England. This setting plays a crucial role in the novel, influencing the characters' lives and shaping the plot's dramatic events. Blackmore's vivid descriptions of the landscape transport readers to a world of windswept moors, treacherous bogs, and hidden valleys, adding a layer of atmosphere and suspense to the narrative.
Lorna Doone is also a brand of rectangular shortbread cookies you may find in the grocery store today. Introduced in 1912, it was possibly named after the main character in tonight’s episode, but no record exists as to the exact motivation behind the name. The association with the romantic and adventurous heroine of the classic novel likely added a touch of allure and nostalgia to the cookie brand, which originated from an Irish-American bakery in Chicago, Illinois.
read by -V-
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 first half to “The Adventure of the Six Napoleans” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as part of 1903’s “The Return of Sherlock Holmes”. The second half will air next week.
Tonight’s story revolves around a series of seemingly bizarre and senseless crimes involving the destruction of plaster busts of Napoleon Bonaparte. As Sherlock Holmes investigates, he uncovers a complex plot involving a stolen pearl, a vengeful Italian criminal, and a clever hiding place.
Busts, especially those of famous historical figures like Napolean in this story, were common decorative items in English Victorian and Edwardian homes. They served as a symbol of cultural awareness and intellectual interest. Even though our story is set more than a century after Napoleon died, he was still a major figure who had dominated the political landscape for a significant period of European history.
— 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’ll read the 23rd chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Anne Comes to Grief in an Affair of Honor”
In the previous chapter, Anne was thrilled to receive her first formal invitation to tea, which she considered a grand and sophisticated event. Despite her excitement, the outing didn’t go entirely as planned—she wore a dress she later realized was less than ideal, and a misunderstanding over the tea set left her mortified. However, Anne’s charm and quick wit helped her recover, and she left the gathering with a renewed sense of belonging in Avonlea. Now, in this chapter, we’ll see Anne’s unyielding sense of pride and imagination lead her into yet another scrape, one that tests her resolve and teaches her an unexpected lesson about honor.
— 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’ll read “Snow White”, a 19th-century German fairy tale which is today known widely across the Western world. Snoozecast first aired this story back in 2020. In 1812 the Brothers Grimm published it along with many other folktales they collected. It wasn’t until exactly one century later, in 1912, that the seven dwarfs were given individual names in the Broadway play “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Walt Disney's 1937 film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” chose different names for the dwarves, still. This particular Grimm story, which is commonly referred to as "Snow White", should not be confused with the story of "Snow-White and Rose-Red", another fairy tale, similarly named, also collected by the Brothers Grimm.
— 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.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
