Miya Pearson
The Sleep With Me podcast, hosted by Drew Ackerman, is a popular podcast that helps people with insomnia fall asleep. Ackerman, who has struggled with insomnia himself, attributes the podcast's success to his ability to tell a good boring story that distracts listeners without keeping them awake. The podcast has received positive reviews from fans who appreciate the soothing tone of Ackerman's voice and the show's ability to create a safe and calming space for sleep. While some doctors warn that the podcast may not be a cure-all for insomnia, it has helped many people fall and stay asleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Host | Drew Ackerman, a.k.a. Scooter or Dearest Scooter |
| Target Audience | People who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep |
| Format | Bedtime stories, ramblings, or conversations that are boring and meandering without being stimulating |
| Tone | Soothing, calm, and steady |
| Episode Frequency | Three episodes air weekly |
| Episode Duration | Average of one hour, with Sunday episodes being slightly longer |
| Episode Content | Made-up stories, readings of written stories, television recaps, trips to Trader Joe's, episodes of Star Trek, and other curious scenarios |
| Production | Requires a lot of effort and time, with Ackerman spending 15 hours on average for every hour of the podcast |
| Listener Feedback | Positive, with listeners falling asleep during the introduction and finding the podcast soothing, calming, and effective |
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What You'll Learn
Drew Ackerman's insomnia and how it led to the creation of the podcast
Drew Ackerman, also known as Scooter or Scoots to his fans and listeners, is the creator and host of the popular podcast "Sleep with Me". Ackerman has struggled with insomnia since childhood, and he remembers that the only thing that helped him fall asleep as a kid was turning on the radio and listening to comedy. He recalls the loneliness and the escape that the radio brought him, especially when someone was being funny.
Ackerman, who works for the library system in California's Bay Area, started the podcast in 2013 to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a writer. He also wanted to create something goofy and relaxing, as he felt that most sleep solutions were too righteous and serious. Ackerman's podcast takes the form of meandering, masterfully maladroit storytelling, with a steady drone of a voice that is surprisingly calming and provides a buffer for ambient noises. He spends a lot of time editing out aberrations in pacing or tone and studiously avoids any content that might elicit strong emotions in listeners.
In each episode's intro, Ackerman pledges to "create a safe place where you can set aside whatever's been running through your brain". He acknowledges that the podcast may not work for everyone, and that it is not a substitute for good sleep hygiene, but many listeners have found it helpful for easing their anxiety and drifting off to sleep. Ackerman's active imagination and expansive vocabulary allow him to hit the "sweet spot" of being entertaining enough to distract listeners without keeping them awake.
The podcast has become increasingly popular, regularly getting more than three million downloads. Ackerman's insomnia and difficulty falling asleep as a child inspired him to create a show that would help others in the same situation, and his own struggles with sleep continue to inform his unique and effective approach to storytelling.
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The podcast's unique method and effectiveness
The Sleep With Me podcast, hosted by Drew Ackerman, is unique in its method and has proven effective in helping people with insomnia fall asleep. Ackerman, a lifelong insomnia sufferer himself, aims to create a safe space for his listeners, providing a buffer for ambient noises that may disturb their sleep.
Ackerman's storytelling is intentionally "boring", meandering, and mildly amusing, striking a balance between being uninteresting and somewhat engaging. This style of storytelling distracts listeners from their anxious thoughts without stimulating them too much, allowing them to drift off to sleep. He avoids any content that might elicit strong emotions, such as fear or excitement, and spends a significant amount of time editing to ensure a consistent tone and pacing.
The podcast's effectiveness is also attributed to Ackerman's soothing, gravelly voice and the steady drone it maintains. Many listeners find comfort in the familiarity of Ackerman's consistent storytelling style and appreciate the non-prescriptive nature of the podcast, which sets it apart from traditional sleep advice or medical recommendations.
The Sleep With Me podcast has gained a dedicated following, with over 2.3 million monthly downloads, and has been praised for its ability to help people fall asleep and improve their sleep quality. Ackerman's dedication to his craft, including the significant time investment and attention to detail, has resulted in a unique and effective sleep aid for insomniacs worldwide.
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The ideal bedtime story, according to Nitun Verma
According to Dr. Nitun Verma, a sleep physician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the ideal bedtime story is one that "doesn't build upon itself," like a movie "with a lot of parallel stories that don't connect at the end." This type of storytelling is known as "masterfully maladroit," a challenging feat that requires a significant amount of effort and editing to achieve the right balance.
Verma emphasizes that the key to a good night's sleep is not boredom but mild amusement, something distracting without being stimulating. This concept is supported by Drew Ackerman, the creator and host of the popular podcast "Sleep with Me," which features long-winded and meandering stories intended to help insomniacs fall asleep. Ackerman's storytelling style is described as "masterfully boring," and he spends a considerable amount of time editing his content to ensure it doesn't elicit strong emotions in listeners.
While the podcast has received praise from many insomniacs who have found it effective in helping them fall asleep, some medical professionals offer words of caution. Milena Pavlova, a neurologist in the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, warns that the podcast could potentially harm one's rest if it prolongs the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Rafael Pelayo, a clinical professor at the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, concurs, stating that it is merely a "Band-Aid" solution.
Despite these concerns, Ackerman believes that his podcast works because it isn't prescriptive like a doctor's orders, which can present insomniacs with yet another opportunity for failure. He emphasizes that there is no right or wrong way to use the show, and it simply provides a safe and comforting space for those struggling with sleep.
In addition to the podcast's unique approach, Verma offers additional advice for optimizing sleep quality. He stresses the importance of maintaining a regular sleep schedule, recommending 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily at consistent times. He also suggests keeping the bedroom dark and quiet to support melatonin production and promoting sleep hygiene practices such as limiting caffeine, alcohol, and screen time.
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The podcast's format and schedule
The Sleep With Me podcast is hosted by Drew Ackerman, who is known as Scooter or Dearest Scooter to his listeners. The podcast has been airing since 2013, with three new episodes released every week. Ackerman himself is a lifelong insomniac and started the podcast to fulfil a lifelong dream of becoming a writer.
Each episode of the Sleep With Me podcast follows a similar format. The first five to six minutes are dedicated to the show credits and commercials. This is followed by a 12- to 14-minute introduction, in which Ackerman explains that he wants to create a safe space for listeners to set aside whatever is keeping them awake. The introduction is often the same, with Ackerman pledging to "create a safe place where you can set aside whatever's been running through your brain". Ackerman also releases a version of the podcast called "Sleep to Strange", which goes straight into the stories without an introduction.
The main content of the podcast consists of Ackerman's meandering, "boring" stories, which are designed to distract listeners without keeping them too engaged. Ackerman guides listeners through random scenarios, such as trips to Trader Joe's and episodes of Star Trek. The stories are not too strange or compelling, providing just enough to keep listeners distracted from their aim of falling asleep. Ackerman considers it a failure if listeners are still awake by the end of the episode.
The podcast has been praised for its unique format and effectiveness in helping listeners fall asleep. Many listeners report falling asleep during the introduction or within the first 10 minutes of the episode. The steady drone of Ackerman's voice, combined with his sly humour, creates a soothing and calming atmosphere. The podcast has also been credited for its supportive online community and the active imagination and expansive vocabulary of its host.
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The podcast's success and popularity
Ackerman, who has struggled with insomnia himself, has a unique intuition for the narrative balancing act that makes his podcast so effective. His stories are intentionally "boring" and meandering, providing just enough distraction without being too stimulating, which is key to helping insomniacs fall asleep. Ackerman's stories are also non-prescriptive, which he believes is part of the podcast's appeal, as it doesn't feel like a doctor's orders.
The show's structure also plays a crucial role in its success. Each episode begins with an extended introduction, where Ackerman sets the tone and creates a safe space for listeners to relax and set aside their worries. This is followed by the main content, which can include made-up stories, readings, or television recaps. Ackerman's active imagination and expansive vocabulary allow him to hit the "sweet spot" of being entertaining enough to engage listeners without keeping them too awake.
The podcast's popularity is evident in the numbers, with around 70,000 listeners per show and 2.3 million monthly downloads. It has also received numerous positive reviews from listeners, who praise its ability to help them fall asleep and ease their anxiety. Many listeners report falling asleep during the introduction or within the first 10 minutes of an episode, a testament to the show's effectiveness.
The show's success has also led to a supportive and engaged community, with listeners connecting through a Facebook group and other online platforms. Ackerman's dedication to his craft, including the significant time investment he makes in perfecting each episode, has clearly paid off, making "Sleep With Me" a go-to solution for insomniacs worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleep With Me is a podcast by Drew Ackerman, a.k.a. Scooter, that works for insomniacs. His storytelling helps listeners fall asleep.
Drew Ackerman's soothing voice, combined with the meandering nature of each episode, helps listeners fall asleep. The podcast is intentionally boring, providing just enough to keep listeners distracted from their aim of falling asleep without keeping them animated.
The Sleep With Me podcast has been effective for many listeners, with some claiming that it is the best cure for insomnia. The podcast has also received positive reviews, with listeners falling asleep within the first few minutes of an episode. However, Milena Pavlova, a neurologist, warns that the podcast may not be a substitute for better sleep hygiene.
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