Sleep Podcast: To-Do Lists, Ironed Shirts & the Great Lakes | The Insomnia Project
Insomnia Project | Calm Conversations to Help You SleepShow Notes
Episode: To-Do Lists, Ironed Shirts & the Great Lakes If you've ever drifted off to sleep mid-thought while running through a mental checklist, this episode of The Insomnia Project was made for you. Amanda and Marco explore the quiet, surprisingly satisfying world of list-making — the kind of slow, meandering conversation that's perfect for winding down, easing insomnia, and letting your mind finally relax into sleep. How the conversation meanders It starts with something wonderfully small: a to-do list borrowed from Marco's nephew's day. From there, the conversation drifts into the gentle pleasure of crossing things off — and the even greater pleasure of writing the list in the first place. Marco, freshly proud of his perfectly ironed and starched shirt, shares a surprisingly useful washing machine tip that leads the whole show sideways into a love of domestic rituals. That nostalgia for simple satisfactions carries the hosts toward geography: Marco's deep affection for Chicago, Amanda's pull toward Lake Erie, and before long the two are drifting slowly through all five Great Lakes, finding what makes each one worthy of the word "great." Perfect for list-lovers, Midwest daydreamers, and anyone who just needs something calm to fall asleep to. What we talk about A to-do list from Marco's nephew — and the simple delight of watching someone else's day on paper The ritual and satisfaction of crossing things off a list, and why making the list might be the best part Marco's freshly ironed, starched shirt — and a tip for getting better results from your washing machine Marco's love for Chicago and what the city means to him Amanda's affection for Lake Erie and what draws her to it A relaxed tour through all five Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — and what makes each one quietly remarkable The way ordinary things become fascinating when you slow down enough to actually look at them This episode is perfect for Anyone struggling with insomnia who needs something gentle and unhurried to fall asleep to List-makers and planners who find comfort in the ritual of organizing a day Fans of the Great Lakes region, or anyone who grew up near the water People who love Chicago or the wider Midwest and want something that feels like home Listeners who enjoy a sleep podcast that wanders pleasantly and never goes anywhere too fast The Insomnia Project is a podcast about nothing in particular — and everything that makes ordinary life worth noticing. New episodes every week, running just long enough to help you relax, unwind, and finally fall asleep. If Amanda and Marco's gentle conversations have helped you drift off, we'd love a rating wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps more restless minds find their way here.
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More from Insomnia Project | Calm Conversations to Help You Sleep
Welcome to The Insomnia Project, the sleep podcast where nothing happens… so you can listen and sleep. Join hosts Marco Timpano and Amanda Barker for a calm, meandering conversation about demitasse cups, Bond villains, and the surprisingly villainous task of buying wedding china. Settle in, relax, and let the conversation wander wherever it happens to go. This episode starts with two unlikely companions: tiny coffee cups and villains. Amanda reveals her ambition to be a Bond villain, while Marco sets the record straight on what exactly a demitasse is. From there, the conversation drifts into the world of wedding china, and why picking out plates and saucers might be the most villainous chore of all. “I know why you have a saucer under your demitasse.”
Rivers, Blue Herons & Lou Diamond Phillips | Sleep Podcast In this sleep podcast episode of The Insomnia Project, Amanda and Marco settle into a slow, meandering conversation designed to help you relax and fall asleep. If your thoughts tend to wander like a slow river at bedtime, you're in good company. In this episode: To kick off Season 12, Amanda and Marco talk about rivers around the world: the Saint John, the Thames, the Seine, the Po, the St. Lawrence and the mighty Murray. They also cover blue herons, the Merlin bird ID app, the Canada goose, the beaver as a symbol of Canada, and why Lou Diamond Phillips is such a great actor. It's a gentle, meandering conversation for anyone looking to relax, unwind, and fall asleep. How the conversation meanders Season 12 begins the way the best Insomnia Project episodes do: slowly, and slightly off course. After a long break, Amanda and Marco welcome you to… Season 13. (It's Season 12. The break may have been a little too long.) From there, the conversation follows the water. They wander from the Saint John River to the Thames, the Seine and the Po, then back to the St. Lawrence before heading all the way to the mighty Murray. From the water's edge it's a short hop to birds. Amanda shares the story of a blue heron she spotted and how she uses the Merlin app, and Marco turns to two Canadian icons, the Canada goose and the beaver, a symbol of the nation. And then, somehow, Lou Diamond Phillips. Amanda tells a story about him, and the two of them happily gush about what a great actor he is. Nothing urgent, nothing to keep track of. What we talk about A slow wander along famous rivers, from the Thames and the Seine to the Po Canada's Saint John and St. Lawrence rivers The mighty Murray Amanda's blue heron sighting Identifying birds with the Merlin app The Canada goose, and the beaver as a symbol of Canada Amanda's Lou Diamond Phillips story Why Lou Diamond Phillips is such a great actor Mentioned in this episode Saint John River River Thames Seine Po River St. Lawrence River Murray River Blue heron Merlin Bird ID app Canada goose Beaver Lou Diamond Phillips Keep wandering Rainy Days, Lazy Rivers & Bird Talk [link] Sleep Podcast: Birdsong, Bird Photography & Buying a Tilley Hat with Nima Kharrazi [link] Drama School Confessions: Bunnies, Shepherds & Bad Memorization Habits Listen / Subscribe Enjoying The Insomnia Project? Follow or subscribe wherever you listen, and if we've helped you fall asleep, a rating or review helps other restless minds find their way here. About The Insomnia Project The Insomnia Project is a sleep podcast where nothing happens… so you can listen and sleep. Hosted by Amanda Barker and Marco Timpano, each weekly episode is a slow, meandering conversation about the ordinary things that make life interesting—from nostalgia, everyday rituals and forgotten memories to places, people, pop culture and the little curiosities we usually overlook. There's no plot to follow, no need to concentrate, and nothing you need to remember. Just a cozy conversation designed to help you relax, unwind, and drift off to sleep. theinsomniaproject.com · A Half the Sea Podcasts production. 📸 Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/theinsomniaproject 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@theinsomniaprojectpodcast ☕ Support the show and get bonus chats on Patreon: www.patreon.com/theinsomniaproject 😴 Enjoy ad-free episodes and extras on Supercast: www.theinsomniaproject.supercast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
🌧️ Rainy Days, Lazy Rivers & Bird Talk | The Insomnia Project (Season 5 Repeat) The Insomnia Project is a relaxing sleep podcast made for anyone who needs help drifting off — whether you're battling insomnia, winding down after a long day, or just looking for a calm, low-stakes conversation to relax to. This episode is a Season 5 repeat, pulled from the archive while we're on a short hiatus, and it feels like the perfect one to bring back: it's raining outside as we post this, and this episode was born from exactly that kind of gentle, pitter-patter afternoon. Marco and Amanda let the rain set the pace, easing into a meandering chat that starts with a lazy river trip — all slow floats and peaceful, unhurried water — before drifting somewhere neither of them expected: a friendly debate about birds. Blue herons, flamingos, and kingfishers all get their moment as Marco and Amanda swap opinions and observations, wandering further and further from where the conversation started, the way it always does on this show. Perfect for anyone who wants a soothing, mundane conversation podcast to fall asleep to, work quietly alongside, or just decompress with. What we talk about:
Looking for a relaxing sleep podcast with calm conversation to help you unwind or drift toward sleep? We're currently on hiatus, but with the recent passing of the legendary Dolly Parton, we wanted to re-air this gentle, appreciative conversation about her life and legacy — not with sadness, but with gratitude for everything she gave us. In this episode of The Insomnia Project, Marco welcomes special guest Shannon McDonough, a devoted Dolly fan, for a warm look back at a true icon. Dolly once said, "Find out who you are and do it on purpose," and that spirit runs through this whole conversation. Marco and Shannon share stories, reflections, and favourite moments connected to Dolly's remarkable career, exploring what made her such a beloved figure in music and popular culture. Along the way, they also discover a few things they have in common — from their shared enjoyment of medical dramas to Christmas plays — the discussion meanders through the kinds of small, curious topics that listeners of The Insomnia Project have come to love. As Dolly herself put it, "Leave something good in every day," and this episode was full of that kind of good. Even with such a bright star as the topic, the conversation remains calm, cozy, and pleasantly low-stakes — perfect for listeners looking for a sleep podcast, relaxing background conversation, or a gentle way to remember someone whose kindness reached everyone. What we talk about:
The Insomnia Project is the sleep podcast made for the moments between wide awake and drifting off. If you're here to relax, unwind, and finally fall asleep, you've found your people. This episode closes out season 11 with a conversation that's easy, warm, and just a little indulgent, perfect for a slow wind down before bed. Marco and Amanda start with cappuccinos and somehow end up in Disney territory, tracing the strange and cozy overlap between the two. The chat wanders the way it always does, from foam and espresso to theme parks and childhood favourites, landing on Amanda's soft spot for Epcot and everything it holds for her. It's the kind of meandering, low stakes talk that's easy to fall asleep to, whether or not you're following every turn. Perfect for anyone who wants a familiar voice in the background, whether you're settling in for sleep or just moving through your day. What we talk about: