In this episode, Drew Ackerman, also known as Scooter from the Sleep With Me Podcast, shares his struggles with insomnia and how he tried a science-backed practice to help ease his stress and get to sleep. As a child, he always found it difficult to fall asleep due to his anxious thoughts keeping his mind active at night. He experimented with listening to recordings of birdsong, which reminded him of peaceful summer afternoons and helped transport him to a calmer state of mind. Research shows that different sounds can have varying effects on our stress levels, with birdsong often triggering relaxation responses in the body.
Drew Ackerman is not only an experienced podcaster but also has his own history of sleep troubles. Despite this, he has a talent for lulling others to sleep through his soothing voice and storytelling. Joining Drew on this topic are experts in the field including Emil Stobbe, a post-doctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany; Jesper Alvarsson, a professor of Psychology at Södertörn University in Sweden; and Eleanor Ratcliffe, a professor of Environmental Psychology at the University of Surrey in the UK. They share their insights on how sounds can impact human behavior and well-being.
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic or similar episodes, check out “The Science of a Good Night’s Sleep” or “Why You Should Snap Pictures of Nature.” Additionally, there are related Happiness Breaks such as “Restore Through Silence” or “Feeling the Awe of Nature from Anywhere,” which incorporate moments of relaxation and appreciation into your daily routine.
We would love to hear from you! Share your favorite sounds that relax you or record your own recordings to share with us! You can email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod to connect with our community. Don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share the show with someone who might benefit from its content! Thank you for tuning into The Science of Happiness!