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Bedtime Scientist is a neurodiversity-affirming, sensory-friendly bedtime podcast that helps curious kids wind down without overwhelm. Never an AI voice...I'm just a dad of a neurodivergent child who relaxes best with one steady voice. Each episode blends real science with cozy imagery to quiet busy minds. The sound is deliberately low-stim.
One calm voice, stable volume, no background music, and no sudden effects. Think of it as your nightly co-regulation tool.
The Why Behind the Bedtime Scientist
I just wanted to share a little about the "why" behind this project. The Bedtime Scientist is a non-fiction podcast that offers gentle, documentary-style audio journeys into scientific wonders.
My biggest inspiration for creating it has always been Mr. Rogers. I grew up with him, and I try to instill the same values of kindness, curiosity, and respect in my own children.
But when we looked for bedtime audio, the modern world felt so jarring. There’s a gentle science to this. A child's nervous system is constantly scanning for cues of safety or danger, a process called neuroception. For my neurodiverse son, that scanner is extra sensitive. The predictability of a calm, human voice signals safety. But the sudden loud ads or unsettling AI voices we kept finding were registered as a threat, jolting his system into high alert. There was no feeling of safety or trust.
So, I decided to do what I think Mr. Rogers would have done. I turned to my son and simply asked him: "What would actually help you feel calm and ready for sleep?"...then I listened...
His answer "your voice" and that's all I needed to hear. It became the blueprint for The Bedtime Scientist: a quiet voice, no surprises, and a dad talking gently about something real and wondrous.
My goal is simple, really. I want to be the Mr. Rogers of bedtime for any family who needs that same quiet, trustworthy corner of the world. And to honor that, every single episode ends the exact same way, with a direct message to the listener:
"I want you to know something about you...your mind is a wonderful thing, so full of curiosity...and I like your mind...just the way...it wonders. I'll be back again soon, to wonder more...with you." - I've bolded these words for emphasis, just like I would say them. I want your children (or you) to feel in their hearts, that I'm speaking to them directly.
Ugh, now I'm tearing up, because the idea that some child I will never meet is hearing those words and falling asleep to my voice... it's a feeling I can hardly describe, its like a jolt of warmth and happiness, that envelops me like a weighted blanket.
I pour my entire heart into each episode and would be honored if you would try it out. If you enjoy it, the greatest gift you could give is to simply tell a friend. Thank you for reading this far. ✨
-Josh Fleishman
Creator and Voice of The Bedtime Scientist