Soothing Soundscape or Dreamy Narrator, it’s All About Better Sleep

According to a study conducted by the University of Houston, people around the world are experiencing a “sleep awakening,” recognizing how lack of sleep can affect decision-making, emotional intelligence, cognitive function, physical health and more. Recommendations for how to promote better rest are widespread – like creating a wind-down ritual, keeping a consistent bedtime or eliminating screen time before bed – but shifting habits to craft new routines can be challenging at first. That’s where Anya Hoffman, Audible’s well-being programming lead, comes in.

As the person who leads the strategy for our Sleep Collection, Hoffman is looking to invest in content that helps customers disconnect and unwind and that seamlessly fits in with the listening habits they’ve already formed. The goal is to make it easier for listeners to prioritize sleep and relaxation, providing them with a suite of 140+ Originals to choose from, including bedtime stories, meditations and ASMR.

In fact, this is the one time we’re happy to hear that a title put a listener to sleep. The bedtime stories are purposely crafted for the collection with this in mind, with no beginning, middle or end, allowing listeners space to drop off and pick back up at any point. This content is rounded out with titles that help promote healthier habits during the day too, like breathing exercises that can provide calming breaks. “Whether the goal is to get sleepy before bed or put on soundscapes during the day to help increase focus while working, there's just so much content to choose from and so many ways to use them,” says Hoffman.

Hoffman joined Audible in 2019 and in addition to her work on our well-being offerings, she recently began overseeing our kids and family programming strategy. She enjoys combining her journalism background with her expertise in digital media strategy to create collections that provide real release and grounding for listeners, as well as, now, bringing together titles to help educate and entertain families.

We asked Hoffman to share her tips for finding the title that will most suit a listener’s needs – whether that’s better sleep or better focus, or a different way to wake up each morning.

Get lost in a soundscape.

“We had a naturalist go into the Hoh Rainforest, the Cape Cod National Seashore, Yellowstone National Park in winter, among many more locations, to get the most unique and immersive sounds,” Hoffman says of our soundscape titles, which are some of the most popular Originals in the collection, immersing listeners in nature.

That’s clear from customer comments, like this one on the Amazonian Rainforest episode on Sleep Sound with Jamie Dornan. “[This title] has been the one thing that can bring me into the moment immediately, with calm, and amidst the rainforest. The words envelop me like a blanket.”

A new series, Sound Therapy, offers immersive soundscapes with music pitched to a particular frequency designed to help with motivation, pain relief, a creative boost and more. “The one for mental focus is one of my favorites, and it's also one of our top well-being Originals for the year so far,” Hoffman says.

Listen to a bedtime story.

It’s not just children who like to get read to before bed, Hoffman shares. Adults also like getting lost in a soothing voice, and even better if it’s the voice of a notable celebrity. Hoffman credits the popularity of our Sleep titles to the diverse set of voices available in the collection. Whether it's Dream House with Eva Longoria, Feline Follies with John Stamos, or The Ojibwe Dreamcatcher with Keke Palmer, Hoffman adds, “There's really something for everybody – everyone needs to sleep and find a calming outlet.”

Hoffman says the team was intentional with clever narrator and content pairings for many of the bedtime stories; for example, Scottish actor Brian Cox narrates the fairytale Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and Tony Shalhoub narrates A Short Account of the History of Mathematics, a nod to his role as a math professor in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

There are also localized collections featuring particular countries’ celebrities, like the Sleep Sounds offerings created by singer Natalie Imbruglia, actor Pallavi Sharda, and champion swimmer/singer Cody Simpson that are tailored for an Australian audience.

Hoffman’s favorite bedtime story is The Tea Shoppe, written by Audible employee Josie Adams and narrated by Nicola Barber. “It’s such a cozy, soothing story,” she says.

Make time to reflect.

For those looking for meditations and reflections to help de-stress, Hoffman favors Loving Kindness for regaining a sense of hope and centeredness, and You Are Here by spiritual guide Gabby Bernstein.

The reflections have prompts to help people journey inward anytime, anywhere with profound guided contemplations. A listener who uses Crystal Bowl Breathing by The Big Quiet for breaks in their day writes, “This is a nice, short, guided meditation perfect for those 15 minute breaks [when I] work from home. Perfect for a quick self-care practice that is easy to follow.” Adds Hoffman, “These titles really give the brain something else to focus on and it's so soothing.”

Start the day off right.

Hoffman also suggests waking up with an energizing listen to set the tone for the day. Our Mornings Collection helps awaken the senses with short meditations and music, and our Sound Therapy series also features titles focused on motivation to help promote mental focus and productivity.

“Soundscapes can aid in energizing your body and help get your mind in a productive space,” Hoffman says. “These titles have been so popular with listeners, we’ve commissioned a second season that will be coming out in January 2025.”