Podcasts · Health & Fitness

I Can’t Sleep

Benjamin Boster

300 episodes

Trouble sleeping? You could count sheep, or let I Can’t Sleep do the heavy yawning for you. Host Benjamin Boster reads slow-paced, fact-filled content on science, history, and everyday oddities with zero plot twists and even less urgency. It’s calm. It’s consistent. And yes, you might accidentally learn something. So get comfy, press play, and let your brain wander off without you.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Lakes | Can’t Sleep? Dive Beneath the Surface

    · 31 min · S8 E600

    Lakes can form in some surprisingly dramatic ways for bodies of water that mostly just sit there. In this episode, you’ll hear how glaciers, shifting tectonic plates, and volcanic activity create lakes of all shapes…

  2. Alpacas | Can’t Sleep? Discover These Fluffy Andean Animals

    · 29 min · S8 E599

    Alpacas have spent thousands of years turning harsh Andean landscapes into a surprisingly successful place to be fluffy. In this episode, you’ll explore the history and domestication of alpacas, their close…

  3. Castles | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Medieval Fortresses

    · 34 min · S8 E598

    Castles were built to project power, control territory, and make attacking the people inside considerably more inconvenient. This episode explores how castles developed, how their walls, towers, gates, and defenses…

  4. Ancient Greece | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Birthplace of Democracy

    · 31 min · S8 E597

    Ancient Greece shaped much of the modern world despite rarely being united about anything. This episode covers the rise of Greek civilization, the city states of Athens and Sparta, mythology, religion, warfare,…

  5. Egyptian Mythology | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Gods and Pharaohs

    · 38 min · S8 E596

    Egyptian mythology turned the sun, the Nile, death, kingship, and even chaos into a sprawling cast of gods and stories. This episode explores the beliefs and myths of ancient Egypt, including major gods such as Ra,…

  6. Dolly Parton | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Queen of Country

    · 33 min · S8 E595

    Dolly Parton turned a childhood in rural Tennessee into one of the most recognizable careers in entertainment. This episode explores her early life, her beginnings in country music, her years with Porter Wagoner, and…

  7. West Highland White Terrier | Can’t Sleep? Meet Scotland’s Tiny Terrier

    · 32 min · S8 E594

    The West Highland White Terrier was bred to be small, sturdy, and remarkably determined. In this episode, you’ll learn about the Scottish origins of the Westie, how the breed developed from working terriers used to…

  8. Bicycles | Can’t Sleep? Take a Ride Through Cycling History

    · 30 min · S8 E593

    The bicycle went from a strange two wheeled experiment to one of the most popular ways to get around. This episode explores the history of bicycles, from early designs and the arrival of pedals to chains, gears,…

  9. Empire State Building | Can’t Sleep? Discover 1,250 Feet of History

    · 33 min · S8 E592

    The Empire State Building has spent nearly a century towering over Manhattan and becoming one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. This episode explores the building’s history, distinctive Art Deco…

  10. Butterflies | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Metamorphosis

    · 32 min · S8 E591

    Butterflies pull off one of the most remarkable transformations in the animal kingdom. This episode explores their life cycle from egg and caterpillar to chrysalis and adult, including how metamorphosis actually works,…

  11. Magnetism | Can’t Sleep? Discover the Power of Attraction

    · 27 min · S8 E590

    Magnetism is an invisible force that shapes more of our world than we might realize. This episode explores how magnets attract and repel, how magnetic fields work, and the connection between magnetism and electricity.…

  12. Sewing Machine | Can’t Sleep? Unravel the Story

    · 32 min · S8 E589

    The sewing machine transformed the way clothing and textiles were made. This episode explores the early attempts to mechanize sewing, how sewing machines developed during the Industrial Revolution, and the inventors…

  13. Broadway Theater | Can’t Sleep? Let’s Go Behind the Curtain

    · 33 min · S8 E588

    Broadway theater grew from a collection of New York stages into one of the most recognizable forms of commercial theater in the world. This episode explores the history of Broadway, how the Theater District developed,…

  14. Thunderstorms | Can’t Sleep? Learn the Science of Storms

    · 34 min · S8 E587

    Thunderstorms are atmospheric machines powered by warm air, moisture, and some impressively violent physics. This episode explores how thunderstorms form, what creates lightning and thunder, how towering storm clouds…

  15. Maple Syrup | Can’t Sleep? Tap Into Something Sweet

    · 35 min · S8 E586

    Maple syrup begins with something surprisingly simple: sap flowing through a maple tree. This episode explores how maple sap is collected and transformed into syrup, the history of maple syrup production, and the…

  16. Golf | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Birdies, Bogeys, and Bunkers

    · 31 min · S8 E585

    Golf has spent centuries turning the simple act of hitting a ball into a surprisingly complicated sport. This episode explores the history of golf, how the modern game developed, the basics of clubs and scoring, and…

  17. The Nile | Can’t Sleep? Explore the World’s Longest River

    · 33 min · S8 E584

    The Nile has shaped life in northeastern Africa for thousands of years. This episode explores the river’s geography, its major tributaries, the civilizations that grew along its banks, and the important role the Nile…

  18. Jigsaw Puzzles | Can’t Sleep? Piece Together Their History

    · 31 min · S8 E583

    Jigsaw puzzles have been challenging patient minds for centuries. This episode explores how the first puzzles were created, how they developed from educational tools into popular entertainment, and how advances in…

  19. Magic: The Gathering | Can’t Sleep? Explore the Epic Card Game

    · 34 min · S8 E582

    Magic: The Gathering has grown from a tabletop card game into a worldwide phenomenon. This episode explores how the game was created, how it is played, and the cards, colors, and strategies that shape its many…

  20. Martha’s Vineyard | Can’t Sleep? Explore the Famous Island

    · 28 min · S8 E581

    Martha’s Vineyard has been home to communities, visitors, and changing traditions for centuries. This episode explores the island’s geography, history, towns, and the people who have shaped life there over time. Along…

  21. The Silk Road | Can’t Sleep? Follow the World’s Oldest Trade Routes

    · 29 min · S8 E580

    For centuries, the Silk Road connected distant regions across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. This episode explores the network of trade routes that carried goods, ideas, technologies, and cultures across thousands…

  22. Roman Empire | Can’t Sleep? Discover the Ancient World

    · 34 min · S8 E579

    The Roman Empire shaped much of the ancient world and left a legacy that can still be seen today. This episode explores how Rome grew from a powerful republic into a vast empire, how emperors ruled, and what everyday…

  23. Hubble Space Telescope | Can’t Sleep? Explore the Universe

    · 31 min · S8 E578

    The Hubble Space Telescope has been observing the universe from above Earth’s atmosphere for decades. This episode explores how Hubble works, the instruments it uses to study space, and the discoveries that have…

  24. Sahara | Can’t Sleep? Explore an Ocean of Sand

    · 32 min · S8 E577

    The Sahara stretches across much of North Africa and is the largest hot desert in the world. This episode explores the geography of the Sahara, its vast landscapes, the people who have lived and traveled across it, and…

  25. Cotton | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Fabric of Civilization

    · 33 min · S8 E576

    Cotton has been grown, spun, and woven for thousands of years. This episode explores how cotton plants are cultivated, how their fibers are turned into textiles, and the long history of cotton production around the…

  26. Hibernation | Can’t Sleep? Discover Nature’s Longest Nap

    · 34 min · S8 E575

    When winter arrives and food becomes scarce, some animals have a remarkable way of waiting it out. This episode explores how hibernation works, what happens to an animal’s body during long periods of inactivity, and…

  27. Cosmos | Can’t Sleep? Explore the Wonders of the Universe

    · 32 min · S8 E574

    The cosmos contains everything we know, from planets and stars to galaxies stretching across unimaginable distances. This episode explores the structure of the universe, how our understanding of it has changed over…

  28. Doughnut | Can’t Sleep? Discover a Hole Lot of History

    · 33 min · S8 E573

    Doughnuts have taken many forms across cultures and centuries. This episode explores the history of doughnuts, how they’re made, and the many varieties that have developed around the world. Along the way, you’ll hear…

  29. Easter Island | Can’t Sleep? Explore the Mystery of the Moai

    · 34 min · S8 E572

    Easter Island is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world, famous for the enormous stone statues known as moai. This episode explores the island’s Polynesian settlement, the creation and transportation…

  30. Snow Leopard | Can’t Sleep? Meet the Ghost of the Himalayas

    · 29 min · S8 E571

    Snow leopards are elusive cats that live among the rugged mountains of Central and South Asia. This episode explores their physical characteristics, mountainous habitat, behavior, and the remarkable adaptations that…

  31. Samhain | Can’t Sleep? Discover an Ancient Celtic Tradition

    · 29 min · S8 E570

    Samhain is an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. This episode explores the origins of Samhain, how it was traditionally celebrated, and the customs and beliefs…

  32. Alchemy | Can’t Sleep? Search for the Philosopher’s Stone

    · 32 min · S8 E569

    For centuries, alchemists searched for ways to transform ordinary materials into something extraordinary. This episode explores the history of alchemy, its roots in ancient cultures, and the ideas and practices that…

  33. History of Tea | Can’t Sleep? Steep Yourself in History

    · 34 min · S8 E568

    Tea has been part of human culture for thousands of years, growing from ancient traditions into one of the world’s most widely consumed drinks. This episode explores the origins of tea, its spread across Asia and…

  34. Apartments | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Life Under One Roof

    · 34 min · S8 E567

    Apartments have housed people in cities for thousands of years. This episode explores the history of apartment living, how apartment buildings developed, and the different forms they have taken around the world. Along…

  35. Brooks & Dunn | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Country Music’s Hit Duo

    · 31 min · S8 E566

    For more than three decades, Brooks & Dunn helped define the sound of modern country music. This episode explores how Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn came together, the rise of their career, their biggest hits, and the…

  36. Salt | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Mineral That Built Empires

    · 32 min · S8 E565

    Salt has shaped human history for thousands of years, serving as a seasoning, a preservative, and one of the world’s most valuable commodities. This episode explores what salt is, where it comes from, how it has been…

  37. Dolphins | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Flipper

    · 34 min · S8 E564

    Dolphins have fascinated people for thousands of years with their intelligence, social behavior, and remarkable lives beneath the waves. This episode explores what dolphins are, where they live, how they communicate,…

  38. Constellations | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Night Sky

    · 32 min · S8 E563

    For thousands of years, people have looked to the night sky and imagined familiar shapes among the stars. This episode explores the stories connected to constellations, how they help map the heavens, and how they are…

  39. String Instruments | Can’t Sleep? Learn What Makes Them Sing

    · 34 min · S8 E562

    String instruments have been part of human culture for thousands of years, producing music through vibrating strings in countless shapes and sizes. This episode explores how string instruments create sound, the…

  40. Cookies | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Fresh Baked Favorites

    · 33 min · S8 E561

    Cookies have been enjoyed in countless forms for centuries, evolving from small baked treats into one of the world’s most beloved desserts. This episode explores where cookies came from, how they spread across…

  41. Middle-Earth | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Tolkien’s Legendary World

    · 32 min · S8 E560

    Middle-earth is the legendary setting of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most beloved stories, filled with ancient kingdoms, distant lands, and a history spanning thousands of years. This episode explores the geography of…

  42. Philosophy | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Love of Wisdom

    · 36 min · S8 E559

    Philosophy has shaped the way people think about knowledge, reality, ethics, and existence for thousands of years. This episode explores the origins of philosophy, the major branches of philosophical thought, and some…

  43. Labyrinth | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Mythical Maze

    · 28 min · S8 E558

    Labyrinths have fascinated people for thousands of years, appearing in mythology, religion, art, and architecture across many cultures. This episode explores what labyrinths are, how they differ from mazes, their…

  44. French Fries | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Potato Perfection

    · 33 min · S8 E557

    French fries are one of the world’s most recognizable foods, enjoyed everywhere from neighborhood diners to restaurants and street vendors around the globe. This episode explores the debated origins of French fries,…

  45. The International Space Station | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Life in Orbit

    · 33 min · S8 E556

    The International Space Station has been continuously inhabited since the year 2000, serving as a laboratory, home, and engineering marvel orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth. This episode explores the station’s…

  46. King Tut | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Famous Pharaoh

    · 30 min · S8 E555

    Tutankhamun ruled ancient Egypt for only a short time, yet he became one of the most famous pharaohs in history. This episode explores the story of King Tut, from his place in Egypt’s royal dynasty to the remarkable…

  47. Violas | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Orchestra’s Hidden Gem

    · 32 min · S8 E554

    Violas have long occupied the middle voice of the string family, bridging the bright sound of the violin and the rich depth of the cello. This episode explores how violas developed, what gives them their distinctive…

  48. Airliners | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Commercial Aviation

    · 30 min · S8 E553

    Airliners have transformed the way people travel, making it possible to cross continents and oceans in a matter of hours. This episode explores the history of commercial aviation, how airliners evolved, the different…

  49. Otters | Can’t Sleep? Learn About Nature’s Playful Mammals

    · 32 min · S8 E552

    Otters are found in rivers, lakes, coastlines, and oceans across much of the world. This episode explores how otters are adapted for life in the water, where they live, how they move through their environments, and the…

  50. Flags | Can’t Sleep? Learn About the Symbols of Nations

    · 31 min · S8 E551

    Flags have served as symbols of identity, communication, and history for thousands of years. This episode explores how flags developed from military standards into national symbols, why they use particular colors and…

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