Reason #11: Bedtime Podcasts - 11/12/25
Whoops! It finally happened. I missed 2 days in a row. Sorry gang, it's been a little tough. It's still tough right now. All things considered, I should've had a pretty nice day. And I did! I had a great time at my new job orientation. But I feel sad for one reason or another. Just kind of sad and lonely. Sometimes when I feel that way, the best thing for me is to listen to a podcast! Especially on nights where I can't sleep.
For your listening pleasure: some bedtime podcasts that I like!
- My Dad Wrote a Porno - A dirty, hilarious book reading. The host reads his own dad's self-published erotica series to his friends. No longer updating, but has 6 delightful seasons, over 100 episodes, and is a frequent re-listen for me!
- Hey Riddle Riddle - My absolute favorite podcast and funniest piece of media alive. 3 Chicago-based improvisers attempt to answer simple children's riddles and often fail. I've been listening since the beginning and still love it every bit as much.
- Dungeons and Daddies - One of the big Actual Play podcasts! The first season is a hilarious and emotionally moving story of 4 dads transported to a fantasy world in search of their lost kids. Not a BDSM podcast.
- Gumshoes and Dragons - A meeting of worlds!! Anthony Burch, DM of Dungeons and Daddies, creates a world of fantasy and mystery for the cast of Hey Riddle Riddle! 3 reformed criminals are tasked with solving magical murders committed by a weekly special guest before time runs out. 50% comedy, 50% how-done-it, 100% a podcast made for me. Also brand new, less than 10 episodes at the time of writing!
- Hello from the Magic Tavern - An improvisational comedy about a human man podcasting his new life in the fantasy world of Foon. Eagle eyed readers may realize that Adal Rifai of Hey Riddle Riddle is also a prominent member of this podcast, making it the 2nd HRR-related podcast on this list. To which I say: c'mon, what do you want from me :c
- Escape this Podcast - A collection of audio escape rooms played in a tabletop format, just without dice rolls! Half of the time, episodes are single contained stories. The other half are multi-episode arcs! Also check out its sister podcast, Solve this Murder!
- Lateral - Tom Scott of Youtube fame challenges a guest panel to solve some Lateral thinking questions!
- Meddling Adults - 2 comedians go head to head attempting to solve children's mysteries a la Encyclopedia Brown, raising money for various charities!
- Double Love - An exhaustive deep dive into the Sweet Valley High books, an incredibly long running American YA series from the 1980s. The hosts summarize the plot of each book and riff on the plot, characters, and 80s-ness of it all.
- The Infinite Bad - A horror/comedy actual play podcast wherein 4 strangers investigate mysterious happenings all across the world in the aftermath of World War II. I don't usually listen to horror media for bed time, but I've listened to The Infinite Bad so many times that it makes me comfortable enough to sleep!
- The Empty Bowl - A cereal news podcast helmed by Justin McElroy and Dan Goubert of the 'Cerealously' news site. A very chill, genuinely relaxing meditation on cereal.
- Everything is Alive - Interviews with objects that tell their life stories. Deeply poignant and calming. Especially episode 7, a grain of sand protrayed by Chioke l'Anson!
- Spout Lore - A narrative focused actual play podcast that has won me over heart and soul with it's comedic atmosphere and genuinely engaging world building. Gentle, amusing, and full of heart.