The French Whisperer

Sleep and ASMR Storyteller

This bedtime/ASMR story is about medicine and healing since the Neolithic. I tell you about Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the figure of Imhotep, India, and the principles of Ayurveda, or Chinese Medicine. We also take a look at medicine in Ancient Greece, and how this legacy passed on and was further developed in the Islamic World, Byzantium, and Medieval Europe. Also included, are the Renaissance and the steps that would lead to a scientific approach to medicine and the many discoveries of the 19th and 20th centuries that came with important social change and professionalization.

A bedtime/ASMR story about the history of medicine and healing, spanning from the Neolithic era to the modern day, including Ancient Greece, Islamic World, and the Renaissance.

History of Healing and Medicine

In this bedtime/ASMR story, I tell you about Buddhism: what society and beliefs were like in Ancient India, the life of Siddartha Gautama, how Buddhism spread in Asia, and the differences between various traditions (what are Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Zen, Tibetan or Tantric Buddhism...), and a lot of terms are explained as simply as possible, like Vedas, Karma, Middle Way, Samsara, Tantra, Mantra....

This bedtime/ASMR story provides an overview of Buddhism, including its origins in Ancient India, the life of Siddartha Gautama, and its various traditions.

History of Buddhism

This bedtime/ASMR story contains two historical mysteries: the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza (commissioned by Pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops, from the 4th Dynasty), and the story of the Mary Celeste, one of the most famous ghost ships of the 19th Century.

Bedtime/ASMR story explores historical mysteries of Great Pyramid of Giza construction and the Mary Celeste ghost ship.

Great Pyramid and Mary Celeste Mysteries

In this bedtime/ASMR story, we explore nuclear fusion as a reaction (the fusion of atom nuclei) and as a possible source of power. I tell you about the differences with fission, the fundamental forces that hold atoms together, why fusion of light nuclei liberates energy, what plasma is, how man-made fusion devices like tokamaks work, and many other things.

A bedtime story explaining nuclear fusion, including differences with fission, fundamental forces of atom, plasma, and man-made fusion devices.

Bedtime Science Story: Nuclear Fusion

This soft-spoken ASMR bedtime story tells you the Epic of Gilgamesh based on the Standard Babylonian Version. I also tell you about Mesopotamian mythology and the emergence of civilization in the region, from Sumer and Akkad to Assyria and Babylonia.

ASMR bedtime story telling the Epic of Gilgamesh and discussing Mesopotamian mythology and civilization emergence.

Epic of Gilgamesh and Sumerian Myths

In this science/astronomy ASMR sleep story, I take you to the Jovian system and tell you about Jupiter's Moons and Jupiter itself. We visit Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Amalthea, and Metis, we explore the inside of Jupiter and its formation history, and I tell you about various concepts such as tidal heating, orbital resonance, and planetary differentiation.

A science ASMR sleep story exploring Jupiter's moons and planet formation.

Space Cruise To The Moons of Jupiter

In this soft-spoken ASMR sleep story about Mythology, I tell you the story of the Odyssey and discuss a few historical and literary aspects. If you want to know about the lotus-eaters, the cyclopes, the sirens, Aeolus, Circe, Scylla and Charybdis, Calypso, and many more things, relax and enjoy the long journey Odysseus will have to endure to be reunited with his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus.

ASMR sleep story about the Odyssey and Greek mythology, covering its many fantastical creatures and Odysseus' journey home.

The Odyssey

This soft-spoken ASMR story is an introduction to Japanese Mythology, from the Creation Myth, some of the gods (Azanagi and Azanami, Amaterasu, Susanoo...), the first emperor (Jimmu), to the concept of Kami and the influence of Shinto. I also tell you about folks and legendary tales, like Momotaro, Shita-Kiri Suzume, and the incident of Forty-Seven Ronins.

A soft-spoken ASMR story that introduces Japanese Mythology, covering creation myth, gods, the first emperor, Kami, and legendary tales.

Japanese Myths And Legends

In this soft-spoken ASMR talk, I tell you stories from Norse Mythology and explanations about its context and meaning to the Old Norse. Stories include the discovery of the runes and the loss of an eye by Odin, the war between the Aesir and the Vanir, the construction of the wall of Asgard, the creation of the World, and Ragnarok, the end of times.

A soft-spoken ASMR talk sharing Norse Mythology tales including Odin's loss of an eye, Aesir vs Vanir war, Asgard's wall construction, and more.

Norse Mythology

In this ASMR/bedtime science story, I take you on a discovery journey of meteors (shooting stars) and meteorites, asteroids in the Solar System, and comets. I tell you about 'Oumuamua, Halley's Comet, Hale-Bopp, and several phenomena like ram pressure and highly eccentric orbits.

Discover meteors, comets, and asteroids in this ASMR bedtime story with 'Oumuamua, Halley's Comet, and Hale-Bopp.

Space Cruise: Shooting Stars And Comets

In this ASMR bedtime story, I tell you legends from the Hindu tradition, including the Ramayana and Mahabharata (two legendary epics), and other stories about the creation of the world, Ganesha or goddess Durga. I also tell you about Hinduism and its various denominations, and some of the most well-known gods and heroes, like Rama, Krishna, Hanuman, Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, and Shakti.

ASMR bedtime story about the legends and stories from Hindu tradition, including Hinduism, its denominations, gods, and heroes.

Hindu Epics And Legends

This soft-spoken ASMR story explores theories in Physical Cosmology and how mankind represented the universe since before the emergence of modern science, as well as alternative theories that were later abandoned: - The Ancient Greek and Medieval Theory of Spheres - Heliocentric models of the 16th and 17th Centuries, such as the one proposed by Copernicus - The steady-state Universe of the 19th and 20th Centuries. - The Big Bang Theory, is the standard theory describing the history and expansion of the universe. - Alternative hypotheses that were later abandoned, and why, like Tired Light or Plasma Cosmology.

ASMR story explores the history and theories of Physical Cosmology, including ancient and modern models of the universe, and alternative hypotheses.

Journey to the Center of the Universe

In this ASMR/bedtime science story, I tell you about Earth during the Pleistocene (aka "the Ice Age"). We explore what the planet was like its geography, its climate, its fauna (especially the megafauna of mammals like mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, or mastodons), and the rise of the genus Homo, from the first Hominidae to Australopithecus species and various species of archaic humans (Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo Heidelbergensis, Homo Neanderthalis and finally Homo Sapiens).

ASMR science bedtime story explores Earth during the Ice Age, including geography, climate, megafauna, and evolution of Homo species.

Journey to the Ice Age

In this ASMR/bedtime story, I tell you three different stories: - Area 51: how did this USAF base get its reputation for being at the center of numerous conspiracies, including the dissimulation and reverse-engineering of alien technology? - Chaco Canyon is a large archaeological site in New Mexico, built more than a thousand years ago and over several generations by the Ancestral Puebloans. What is the meaning and the function of these alignments based on astronomical observation, or this enigmatic web of roads that radiate from the canyon? - The Toba Catastrophe Theory is the hypothesis that a supervolcano that erupted around 70,000 years ago in Indonesia would have dramatically affected the course of life on Earth.

ASMR bedtime story covers Area 51 conspiracies, Chaco Canyon's alignments and roads, and Toba supervolcano hypothesis.

Mysteries: Area 51 & Chaco Canyon (ASMR)

In this ASMR/bedtime story, I tell you about the origins and evolution of cosmetics and perfume, from prehistory to our time. We explore how ancient cultures developed cosmetics and how important they were in reflecting social order and beauty standards. I also tell you about the history of perfume, from the first known scent extraction equipment and the first perfume maker (Tapputi in Mesopotamia) to the diversification of ingredients and techniques that led to the modern perfume industry.

ASMR/bedtime story about the evolution of cosmetics and perfume from prehistory to modern times, exploring ancient cultures and the modern perfume industry.

History of Cosmetics and Perfume

In this ASMR/bedtime story, we visit different real or hypothetical space objects and phenomena. I tell you about the life cycle of stars, that can leave behind a white dwarf, a neutron star (that can take the form of a pulsar and/or a magnetar), or a stellar black hole. We also explore the concept of dark matter and various kinds of hypothetical or less familiar planets, including coreless planets, iron planets, carbon planets, "blankets" (planets orbiting a black hole), chthonian planets, or helium planets.

Explore space objects and phenomena such as stars, neutron stars, black holes, and different types of planets in this ASMR/bedtime story.

Space Oddities Sleep Cruise

For this ASMR/bedtime story, I take you on a nightly audio tour of the National Natural History Museum of Chile. We take a look at a lot of different items that I comment on for you (sei whale skeleton, bison, Kodiak bear, fossils of marine reptiles and dinosaurs, moai from Easter Island, the Inca "Plomo Boy" mummy...).

An ASMR/bedtime story takes listeners on a tour of the National Natural History Museum of Chile, highlighting various exhibits.

A Night At The Museum

In tonight's ASMR story, I tell you myths from Polynesia, especially Hawaii and Aotearoa (New Zealand), and I explain the origins and connections of Polynesian people. We will discover the story of Maui, his fight with goddess Hine, the origins of the gods starting with Rangi and Papa from the Maori tradition, more divinities (Tane of the forest and the birds, Tangaroa of the sea, Tawhirimatea of storms and winds...) and the creation of men and women.

ASMR story explores Polynesian myths, including Maui's fight with Hine and the origins of gods such as Rangi and Papa, Tane, Tangaroa, and Tawhirimatea.

Polynesian Mythology Stories

In this ASMR/relaxing story, I tell you about the history of the Phoenicians and their cities (Byblos, Tyre, Sidon...), including the most famous of all: Carthage. I discuss various topics, like the Late Bronze Age Collapse, Phoenician culture, religion, and society, what Canaan and the Levant are, how ancient maritime trade worked, the rise of Carthage, and how the confrontation with Rome in the Punic Wars turned out.

A relaxed ASMR story delving into the history of the Phoenician cities, culture, religion, society, maritime trade, and the rise and fall of Carthage.

History Of Carthage And The Phoenicians

In this ASMR story that can help you unplug or fall asleep, I tell you about New Orleans, Voodoo, and the famous "Voodoo Queen" Marie Laveau, who dominated Louisiana Voodoo in the 19th Century. It is less spooky than it sounds: I talk about how different syncretic religions formed in South and North America, combining African religions like Vodun or Yoruba with Roman Catholicism and indigenous beliefs, or the particular blend that happened in Louisiana with the influence of Haitian Voodoo. We also explore the history of New Orleans since its foundation and what its unique culture brought to the world, including Jazz music.

ASMR story of New Orleans, Voodoo, and Marie Laveau; explores the syncretic religions formed in South and North America and the unique culture of Jazz music.

Marie Laveau, Voodoo And New Orleans

In this ASMR bedtime story, I tell you about several creation myths from the Apache and Navajo traditions, including the Kiowa Apache myth of Kuterastan and the Navajo Diné Bahaneʼ ("Story of the People"). I also discuss the historical roots of these peoples in the American Southwest and the north of Mexico, how they used to live, their linguistic connections across North America, and the figure of Geronimo.

ASMR bedtime story exploring creation myths of Apache and Navajo tribes, discussing their history, culture, and linguistic connections across North America.

Navajo And Apache Myths And Legends

In this ASMR bedtime story, I tell you three different myths from Ancient Greece: - The story of Perseus, how he was conceived by Zeus and Danae, went on an adventure to cut the head of Medusa the Gorgon, and rescued Andromeda. - The myth of the Labyrinth, built in Crete by Daedalus for king Minos, to contain the Minotaur, and how Theseus slayed it with the help of Ariadne. - The myth of Prometheus, who stole the secret of fire to give it to mankind and was punished for it.

ASMR bedtime story featuring three Ancient Greek myths: Perseus and Medusa, the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, and Prometheus and the gift of fire.

Greek Myths: Perseus And Theseus

In this Soft Spoken Sleep Story, I take you on a journey through time and space, to explore the appearance and evolution of life in Earth's Oceans. We discover surprising life forms and how life recovered repeatedly with new species after each setback, from the explosion of marine life forms in the Cambrian to our time.

Soft Spoken Sleep Story explores the evolution of life in Earth's oceans, from Cambrian to present, and the recovery of new marine species after setbacks.

Journey To Prehistoric Oceans

In this ASMR bedtime story, I tell you two great myths from Ancient Greece: - The story of Orpheus, the legendary poet, and musician, and how he tried to rescue his wife Eurydice from the realm of Hades and Persephone; - The story of Jason and the Argonauts, who embarked on the Argo on an epic quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece.

ASMR bedtime story narrates two Ancient Greek myths - Orpheus' attempt to save Eurydice and Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece.

Greek Myths: Orpheus And Jason

The age of ocean liners is mostly over and these giants of the seas have evolved into cruise ships. In this ASMR story, I invite you to relive the epic of transatlantic passenger lines in the 19th and 20th centuries. I tell you the stories of famous liners: the RMS Titanic and her sister ships Olympic and Britannic, the RMS Lusitania and Mauretania, the SS Savannah, the SS Great Eastern, the SS Wilhelm der Grosse and Imperator, the SS Ile-de-France and SS Normandie, the SS Bremen, the SS Rex, the RMS Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, the SS United States, the SS France, the RMS Queen Mary 2.

Ocean liners have evolved into cruise ships, but relive the epic of transatlantic passenger lines in the 19th and 20th centuries with stories of famous liners.

Dream Ocean Liners

Tonight with part 2, we cover the years 1099-1189, including the Second Crusade, the development of military orders like the Knights Templar, the rise of Saladin, and the preparation for a Third Crusade.

Part 2 of the series covers 1099-1189, highlighting the Second Crusade, Knights Templar, Saladin's rise, and preparation for a Third Crusade.

History Of The Crusades, Part Two

In part 3, we cover the years 1089-1302 and I tell you about the third to seventh crusades, new figures like Frederick II or Louis IX (Saint Louis), and events such as the sack of Constantinople. We also take a look at the legacy of the crusades, from art or architecture to trade, science, or national mythologies in the Christian and Muslim worlds.

Part 3 covers 1089-1302, including the third to seventh crusades, new figures, events like the sack of Constantinople, and the legacy of the crusades.

History Of The Crusades, Part Three

In this bedtime story made to help you relax or fall asleep, I tell you the story of the crusades. Tonight with part 1, we take a look at the background, the reasons that triggered a first crusade, and how this first crusade turned out.

A relaxing bedtime story about the Crusades, covering the background and reasons for the first crusade in part 1.

History Of The Crusades, Part One

In this bedtime ASMR story made to help you relax or fall asleep, I tell you the stories of different "lost treasures" and other legends attached to 1/ the Knights Templar, a religious military order that emerged during the crusades but became so wealthy and influential that it made powerful enemies; 2/ the Cathars, a Christian sect from the 12th to 14th Centuries in Southern France and Northern Italy, that was persecuted until it disappeared; 3/ the Fabergé Eggs, exquisite pieces of jewelry that were made for the Romanovs in Saint Petersburg in the decades before the Russian Revolution. Out of more than fifty, six eggs are now missing, but as the story of the "Third Imperial" egg indicates, they could maybe reappear one day.

ASMR bedtime story featuring tales of lost treasures and legends connected to the Knights Templar, the Cathars, and the missing Fabergé Eggs.

Lost Treasures

In this story, I take you on an exploration of fungi, from their evolution (that started hundreds of millions of years ago), to their amazing variety of shapes, sizes and behaviours. I tell you in a way that is easy to understand and follow the differences between plants, animals and fungi, how yeast works and its use since ancient times, what mold, spores and mushrooms are, and many more things.

Explore the world of fungi, from their evolution to their unique shapes and uses, including yeast and mushrooms, in an easy-to-understand format.

Journey To The World Of Fungi

This is a soft-spoken story about One Thousand and One Nights, in which I tell you several famous tales from this compilation of Middle Eastern and North African folk tales and legends. Including the framing story with Scheherazade and Sharyar, "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves", "The Merchant and the Genie", "Sinbad the Sailor" and his seven voyages, and "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp". I also tell you a little bit about where this compilation of stories comes from.

A collection of Middle Eastern and North African folk tales and legends, including "One Thousand and One Nights" and famous stories like "Aladdin."

One Thousand And One Nights

In this soft-spoken story, I take you on a historical tour of the myth of El Dorado. I discuss what the early years of the Spanish conquest of America were like, how the encounter between older European legends and the reality of Pre-columbian America created new myths about fabulous places, and some of the expeditions that went on a search for El Dorado or the Cities of Gold, to the Andes Mountains, the Amazonian forest or New Mexico.

A historical tour of the myth of El Dorado, discussing early Spanish conquests of America, the creation of new myths, and expeditions in search of gold.

El Dorado And The Seven Cities Of Gold

In this soft-spoken talk, I tell you stories from a body of myths and legends shared by different Australian Aboriginal People: the Dreaming, or Dreamtime. Australian Aboriginals are thought to have some of the oldest continuous cultures in the world since they remained undisturbed in Australia for tens of thousands of years. Their cultures radiated and diverged across the island, with different language groups and mythologies. We explore myths that are widespread among them, like the Rainbow Serpent and others that are local, tied to local geography or a particular people.

Australian Aboriginal myths and legends from the Dreaming, the oldest continuous culture in the world, explored in this talk, including the Rainbow Serpent.

Dreamtime: Australian Aboriginal Myths

In tonight's story, I tell you about how the dream of traveling underwater became a reality, from the time of Ancient Greece to the most modern nuclear submarines.

From Ancient Greece to modern nuclear submarines, explore how the dream of traveling underwater became a reality.

History Of Submarines

In this soft-spoken bedtime story, I take you on a journey along the Silk Road. What was it? Why was it created and how did it work? From the time of the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty in China to the Mongol invasion and the travels of Marco Polo, we will relive more than 1500 years of history.

A soft-spoken bedtime story takes you on a journey along the Silk Road, reliving more than 1500 years of history from Roman Empire to Marco Polo.

History Of The Silk Road

In this soft-spoken talk, I tell you about several true stories of feral children, such as Marcos Rodriguez, Marie-Angélique le Blanc, and Victor de l'Aveyron, who survived alone for years in the wilderness. Some of them befriended wild animals, others resisted them. Their returns to society were always complicated and had different outcomes. Even though each of these destinies is unique and there are not enough occurrences to draw general conclusions, they raise many questions about cognitive development, interspecies communication, or what is innate and what is acquired in humans.

Feral children survived alone in the wild, some befriended wild animals, others resisted them, and their returns to society were complicated.

Wild Children

Tonight, I take you on a journey to explore the long road to space exploration, from the creation of the first rockets almost 1,000 years ago to the Twentieth Century space race. We will go through the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, the flight of Yuri Gagarin, the Gemini Program and its records, Project Apollo and the first Moon landing, the space stations and shuttle programs, all the way to the present. I will also tell you a little about some of the fathers of spaceflight like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Robert Goddard, and Wernher von Braun.

Explore the history of space exploration from the first rockets to present day, including key moments such as the Moon landing and the shuttle program.

History Of Rockets And Spaceflight

Legio IX Hispana, also sometimes called the "Lost Legion" had a long history. It served under the command of Julius Caesar during the First Century BC, on the side of Octavian in the civil war against Mark Antony and Cleopatra, and was sent to Spain, Germany, Pannonia, and Britain. In Roman Britain, it fought rebellions, including the rebellion of Queen Boudica in which it narrowly avoided destruction. But its trace gets lost in Northern England in the early Second Century AD. Was it destroyed in Britain by Celtic tribes, sent to the Netherlands, or did it disappear in a later conflict, in Judea or Cappadocia? In this story, we explore what Roman legions were, the conquest of Roman Britain, and other aspects of Roman history.

Legio IX Hispana, also known as the "Lost Legion," had a rich history serving under Julius Caesar and Octavian, but its fate remains a mystery.

The Lost Legion - Legio IX Hispana

In this soft-spoken bedtime story, I tell you about four different mythological stories: Pandora's Box, the Danaïdes, Sisyphus, and Icarus. We will also explore the origins and interpretations of these myths.

A soft-spoken bedtime story revealing the origins and interpretations of Pandora's Box, the Danaïdes, Sisyphus, and Icarus.

Pandora's Box And Other Greek Myths

In this story, I tell you about the History of Astrology: how it appeared as a discipline that was not formally separated from Astronomy across different cultures (Babylon, China, India, Egypt, Greece, the Islamic World, the Maya...), and how it evolved. Western Astrology with its zodiac signs, birth charts, horoscopes, and individualized predictions is a tradition that began to form more than 2,000 years ago in the Eastern Mediterranean. Even though critiques of the practice are probably as ancient as Astrology itself (some Roman authors, Muslim scholars, and various religious traditions were vocal about their rejection of it), Astrology survived its separation from Astronomy and even thrived in the West since the 20th Century.

The history, evolution, and survival of astrology across cultures and its separation from astronomy, thriving in the West since the 20th Century.

History Of Astrology

At the end of the Eighth Century, the Norsemen embarked on raids, explorations, and conquests farther and farther from their homelands in Scandinavia. This took them as far east as the Volga River in Russia and Byzantium, and as far west as America, even though they did not stay there for long. They founded colonies such as Iceland or Vineland in Newfoundland, Canada, created new states such as the Kievan Rus', and settled in regions like Yorkshire or Normandy. In this story, we explore the reasons why they suddenly became outward-looking, what their societies were like, and how things unfolded until Christianisation and the formation of larger kingdoms in Scandinavia (in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark), that put an end to the Viking Age.

The Norsemen expanded their influence through raids and exploration, founding colonies and creating new states until the Viking Age ended with Christianisation and the formation of larger kingdoms.

History Of The Viking Age

In bedtime story, I explore with you the mysteries of various "out-of-place artifacts", that is to say (allegedly) old objects that would challenge conventional chronology and/or the mainstream view of the technical advancement of ancient cultures. Forgeries, hoaxes, and pranks abound. I tell you about some of them, like the Michigan Relics or the Crystal Skulls; they were fake but still are good stories. A small number of objects really keep a part of the mystery or invite us to rethink our views of ancient societies, like the Antikythera Mechanism. Or we still don't exactly know how they were made, like the Shroud of Turin.

Exploring mysterious "out-of-place artifacts" challenges conventional views of ancient cultures, including forgeries, hoaxes, and genuine objects that invite us to rethink history.

Mysterious Out-of-Place Artifacts

Foundation by Isaac Asimov is a monument of science fiction. In this retelling, we will discover why the Galactic Empire, which has ruled the galaxy for 12,000 years from its capital Trantor, is predicted to fall in just 300 years by Hari Seldon, the inventor of Psychohistory. Exiled from Trantor for believing in this theory and sent to Terminus, a group of pioneers will lay the basis of the Foundation. But will it survive the threat of its bigger neighbors? What is its true purpose? In a constantly evolving world dominated by politics, technology, religion, or trade, will the Foundation find its way and become what it is destined to be?

Foundation by Isaac Asimov: Retelling of how Hari Seldon predicts the fall of the Galactic Empire and pioneers lay the basis of the Foundation to survive and fulfill its true purpose.

Foundation, By Isaac Asimov

In this episode, I tell you about the long history of timekeeping devices, from the first sundials and water clocks to mechanical clocks, quartz timers, and atomic clocks. Beyond technique, we also explore how the perception and management of time are cultural phenomena.

This text explores the history of timekeeping devices, from sundials to atomic clocks, while highlighting the cultural aspect of time perception.

History Of Timekeeping

"Deals with the Devil" is a cultural motif that is best exemplified by the story of Faust, a fictional character based on a real person who lived in Germany in the early Sixteenth Century. In tonight's story, I tell you about several of these legends, and the real people who inspired them: Johann Faust, Theophilus, Pope Sylvester II, Icelandic hero Saemundr Sigfusson... As well as examples of witchcraft trials in which people were accused of such dealings with "dark forces", such as the Loundun Possessions of 1634 in France.

This text explores the cultural motif of "Deals with the Devil" through the stories of Faust, Theophilus, Pope Sylvester II, Saemundr Sigfusson, and witchcraft trials.

Legend Of Faust And Deals With The Devil

Tonight I tell you about the concept of "generation ships": large spacecrafts that would transport dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people to faraway destinations in the galaxy, over several generations. Even though we are nowhere near seeing one, the technical, biological, and social aspects of such a project are fascinating. So I review them to explain the main challenges and what possible solutions could be found.

Exploring generation ships: The challenges and potential solutions for creating large spacecrafts to transport generations to distant galaxies.

Generation Ships

In this science talk for bedtime, I review the following chemical elements methodically: hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, sodium, and magnesium. I also explain in simple terms plenty of phenomena and concepts about chemistry and physics (for example the structure of atoms, valence, reactivity, isotopes, allotropes, ionic compounds, and the definitions of metals).

A concise summary of the text: "Review of chemical elements and concepts in chemistry and physics, including atomic structure, reactivity, and definitions of metals."

Periodic Table: Hydrogen To Magnesium

This bedtime story is about structures built during the Cold War: cities, bases, silos, bunkers... From America to the Soviet Union, the UK, and China, we will explore some of them to discover what motivated their construction and experience their now eerie atmosphere.

Explore the eerie structures built during the Cold War across America, the Soviet Union, the UK, and China, and uncover their motivations.

Secret Bases Of The Cold War

In tonight's story, I take you on lost trails of the Andes mountains, to relive the development of civilization in South America and the rise of the Inca Empire, until its collapse in the Sixteenth Century.

Explore the lost trails of the Andes and the rise and fall of the Inca Empire in South America.

History Of The Incas

Tonight, I retell you the story of Beowulf, the famous Anglo-Saxon epic poem put in writing in Old English at the turn of the second millennium. Beyond the story itself, what does Beowulf tell us of its time, the population of England, the emergence of the English language, or the society that produced it? And what was its influence on modern Fantasy, starting with the work of JRR Tolkien?

Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic poem, offers insight into English society and language evolution, influencing modern Fantasy works like Tolkien's.

The Legend Of Beowulf

Hatchepsut is one of the most famous pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, and not only because she was a woman. Her reign of more than twenty years was prosperous and saw an intense building activity that can still be admired, especially in Thebes (present-day Luxor). In tonight's story, I tell you about the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt and the Eighteenth Dynasty. We will see how a princess and regent like Hatchepsut could occupy a throne that should have gone to her nephew Thutmose III, and what she achieved during her reign. I will also tell you of a few other queens of Egypt that preceded her and did occupy the throne of the pharaohs, like Sobekneferu, or could have reigned in uncertain circumstances, like Setibohr or Merit-Neith.

Hatchepsut, a famous female pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, ruled prosperously for over twenty years with notable building projects in Thebes.

Hatchepsut, The Female Pharaoh

In this relaxing talk, we explore the stories of ghost ships. Some are fictional, like the Flying Dutchman, said to be an old "East Indiaman" (a vessel trading between Europe and the Far East), from the time when the Dutch controlled the spice trade. Or the Chilean Caleuche, that would haunt the waters around the island of Chiloe. Others are real and did wander on the seas for years or even decades, like the SS Baychimo in the icy waters north of Alaska and Canada.

Exploring ghost ships, from the legendary Flying Dutchman to the real-life SS Baychimo in icy Alaskan waters, with tales of haunting maritime lore.

Extraordinary Ghost Ships

In this story, I take you to space on a relaxing and slow journey to Saturn. We will explore some of its numerous moons (Titan, Rhea, Iapetus, Enceladus...), its rings, and the planet itself, to unveil their history and what centuries of observation and study can teach us about them.

Slow journey to Saturn explores moons, rings, and planet to unveil history and lessons from centuries of observation and study.

Space Cruise to Saturn

For tonight's bedtime story, let's explore the stories of various gods from Antiquity that once were very relevant to the societies that worshipped them, before mostly disappearing from memories: - Sol Invictus, the sun god of the Romans that was propelled from obscure cult to imperial religion in the Third Century AD; - Mithra, an Iranian deity borrowed from Zoroastrianism by the Romans, who reinvented this cult into a mystery religion; - Inanna/Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love, procreation, political power, and war; - Pazuzu, the demon god of southwestern winds of the Babylonians, and a popular domestic spirit; - Aten, the sun disk, that pharaoh Ahmenotep IV/Akhenaten tried to impose as the new supreme god of Egypt.

Explore the forgotten gods of Antiquity through bedtime stories tonight, including Sol Invictus, Mithra, Inanna/Ishtar, Pazuzu, and Aten.

Forgotten Gods of the Ancient World

Our story tonight is an exploration of these popular little insects. Bees are not all social and out of more than 20,000 species, a majority of them are solitary. I tell you about various species that live alone or in communal nests, like carpenter bees, mason bees leafcutter bees, or the sneaky cuckoo bumblebee. And then we explore a honey bees' hive, to discover how work is organized, food is stored, new bees are taken care of, honeycombs are built, and how the colony ensures its survival and the survival of the species by swarming and changing queen.

Bees are fascinating creatures with over 20,000 species, including solitary and social types, each playing a unique role in hive organization and survival.

The World of Bees

This ASMR story is an exploration of the history of mining, from prehistory to our times. I tell you about the first extraction sites for stones or pigments in the Paleolithic, how mining developed during the Bronze and Iron Ages, through medieval times, and finally how it entered modernity. Mining continues to be vital to modern economies, and also transformed industrialized societies since the Industrial Revolution, as miners developed a new identity and fought for more rights in social conflicts that often spilled over to the rest of society.

ASMR story exploring history of mining from prehistory to modern times, highlighting its impact on economies and social conflicts.

History Of Mining

In this bedtime story, I tell you about four different sets of objects that come with their historical mysteries: - The Roman Dodecahedrons, which are bronze objects from the late Roman Empire that do not seem to have any identifiable use; - The Neolithic and Bronze Age Carved Stone Balls from Scotland; - The Stone Spheres of Costa Rica; - The Lewis Chessmen, a set of chess pieces found on the Isle of Lewis.

A bedtime story exploring historical mysteries of Roman Dodecahedrons, Carved Stone Balls, Stone Spheres of Costa Rica, and Lewis Chessmen.

Ancient Mysterious Artifacts

This story takes us to the late Prehistoric times, as we explore the reasons, modalities, and consequences of humans replacing a nomadic existence of hunters and gatherers with a sedentary lifestyle based on agriculture. How did this impact their health, their societies, or the way they saw themselves?

Transition from nomadic hunting-gathering to sedentary agriculture in late Prehistoric times and its effects on health, society, and identity.

The Neolithic Revolution

By the end of the Fourth Century AD, the Huns appeared in Europe and shook the already struggling Roman Empire, especially its western half. In this episode, I tell you about the direct and indirect effects of the Huns' invasions (indirect effects include the migrations of other peoples, such as the Visigoths or the Alans). We will also explore the Hunnic society, the mysterious origins of this people, and the life of Attila, their most famous ruler.

Huns invaded Europe in 4th century, impacting Roman Empire and leading to migrations of other peoples like Visigoths and Alans, led by Attila.

History of Attila and the Huns

In this bedtime story, I tell you about cats: their evolutionary history from the first Felidae to domestic cats, their species, their characteristics, the way they live... We will review extinct genesis and species like proailurus or the well-known saber-toothed cats from the Pleistocene, and many extant species: tigers, lions (and their hybrids, ligers, and tigon), jaguars, leopards, cougars, cheetahs, lynxes, and the various representants of the genus Felis, including the domestic cat.

Explore the fascinating world of cats from their ancient ancestors to modern day species in this informative bedtime story.

Cats

The Lighthouse, or Pharos, of Alexandria, was built by the first Ptolemaic kings of Egypt in the Third Century BC, for several reasons: a large lighthouse was needed in their capital, Alexandria, the port was a major source of income and influence for the dynasty, and it was also a prestige work that would reinforce the legitimacy of these Greek sovereigns in a foreign country. In this episode, I tell you about the lighthouse itself, its historical context, and what happened to it, because it remained in operation for more than a millennium.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in the Third Century BC by the Ptolemaic kings for prestige and to strengthen their influence in Egypt.

Lighthouse Of Alexandria

The Colossus of Rhodes was the tallest statue in Antiquity and a triumph of ancient engineering and ingenuity. In tonight's story, I will tell you about the historical context that decided the Rhodians to erect such a large statue in honor of their patron god, Helios. I also discuss how it was achieved and what happened to it.

Ancient engineering marvel, the Colossus of Rhodes, honored Helios but met a tragic fate, tallest statue in Antiquity.

Colossus of Rhodes

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was an outstanding monument, built to house the remains of Mausolus and his sister/wife Artemisia. It was a celebration of Classical Greek sculpture and cultural references, but it was built outside Greece, and Mausolus was a satrap, a viceroy of the Persian empire. Its fame was such that the word "mausoleum" became a generic term for above-ground tombs. Join me and we will explore the history of this wonder of the ancient world, from the historical context to the monument itself.

Explore the history of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, a stunning monument celebrating Classical Greek sculpture and culture, giving rise to the term "mausoleum."

Mausoleum At Halicarnassus

The Statue of Zeus was a huge "chryselephantine" sculpture, that is to say, a statue fully covered in gold and ivory, with details made of other precious materials (ebony, gems, glass paste...). Its fame passed the frontiers of Greece, and it became the most remarkable monument at Olympia, the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were celebrated every four years. In this story, we explore why and how this work was created, and what happened, and I tell you about different aspects of Ancient Greek culture.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a magnificent chryselephantine sculpture, adorned with gold, ivory, and precious materials, symbolizing Ancient Greek culture and history.

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Thousands of years ago, the cult of a goddess appeared in Anatolia, in the region where Ephesus would later be built by Greek colonists. When Greek influence spread to this area, the cult of this Lady of Ephesus was associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, and several temples were built in honor of this deity. The latest of these temples, which stood for 600 years, was particularly large and opulent. In tonight's story, I take you on a journey through time to explore the history of Ephesus, what this temple and its mysterious goddess were like, and more aspects of Greek history and culture.

Ancient cult of Lady of Ephesus merged with Greek goddess Artemis, leading to opulent temples in Ephesus over 600 years.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The city of Babylon emerged in the third millennium BC in Mesopotamia and became the capital of two empires, one thousand years apart: the Old and Neo Babylonian Empires. During the latter, in the 7th and 6th centuries BC, Babylon became probably the largest city in the world. It was during this period that spectacular hanging gardens would have been built in Babylon, possibly by King Nebuchadnezzar II. But the appearance, location, and even the existence of these gardens, are uncertain. In tonight's story, we explore this historical mystery.

Babylon, capital of ancient empires, may have housed the mysterious hanging gardens of Nebuchadnezzar II in 7th/6th century BC.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

These historical mystery stories take us to Easter Island and its enigmatic alignments of statues (the moai). We will also discover how the legend of a lost continent called Mu appeared in the 19th Century, explore the Yonaguni Monument, and I will tell you the story of a ghost ship, the MV Joyita.

Historical mysteries from Easter Island, Mu legend, Yonaguni Monument, and MV Joyita ghost ship explored in captivating stories.

Tracks by The French Whisperer