Our first post features an artform that may be new to many readers: sleep stories. What are sleep stories? Sleep stories are forms of auditory experiences that help listeners relax, wind down from a busy day, or even fall asleep. They’ve become more popular in recent times with the increasing access of free podcast platforms and video streaming services. Today, we learn about Beatrix Potter fan and creator and soothing British voice behind Rest, Jessika Gössl.
Rest is a sleep stories platform that features peaceful sleep tales both focused on real historical figures or works of liteature, like Beatrix Potter or Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, or even fantasy tales created for the purpose of Rest. Jessika’s voice has been featured on popular platforms such as Calm, Breethe, Get Sleepy, and Sleepiest. It is her hope that her gentle, calming tones guide the listener into deep relaxation.
Jessika has created a sleep story featuring Beatrix Potter, where the listener journies to Hill Top house with Beatrix. We asked Jessika to tell us more about her inspiration for creating a sleep story focused on Beatrix Potter, and she shared with us her thoughts.
Beatrix Potter has fascinated me ever since I was a child, when I was gifted a thick hardback collection of her Peter Rabbit tales. She was remarkable; not just as an author and illustrator, or even as a farmer, but as a woman who defied expectations and left behind a legacy so enduring that nearly 100 years after her passing, she is still widely celebrated. (That is truly a remarkable accomplishment!)
If I could sit down for tea and conversation with anyone from history, Beatrix would be high on my list. Since time won’t allow that, I thought, why not create an opportunity for all of us to meet the woman we admire so dearly?
I wanted to craft something that blends history with relaxation, allowing listeners to step into her world in a soothing and immersive way.
While many of us grew up reading her stories at bedtime, there isn’t much out there that lets us drift off to the story of her life; her history, her legacy, and the incredible impact she left behind.
By weaving real historical details and Beatrix’s own words into this sleep story, I hoped to bring her presence to life in a way that feels both personal and timeless, all while honoring the incredible woman she was.
You can listen to A Sleep Interview with Beatrix Potter in various podcast hosting platforms. Here is a direct link: https://www.restpodcast.com/episodes/episode/78feae2b/a-sleepy-interview-with-beatrix-potter-or-sleep-to-history-for-grownups
Visit the Rest website here for more sleep stoires: https://www.restpodcast.com/
