From Insomnia to Inspiration: Behind the Stories of Sleep With Me - EP 13 w/ Drew Ackerman

Drew Ackerman is the creator and host of Sleep With Me, the one-of-a-kind bedtime story podcast featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Buzzfeed, Mental Floss, and Dr. Oz. Born out of Drew's childhood insomnia, Sleep With Me was inspired by late-night comedy radio, which was the only thing that helped him fall asleep. Created in 2013, Sleep With Me combines the pain of insomnia with the relief of laughing and turns it into a unique storytelling podcast. Drew's stories on the show are inspired by his childhood as the oldest of six children and past jobs as a fuzzy dice and iron-on patch salesperson, fruit fly monitor for the State of California, and librarian for one of the largest jails in the country. Through Sleep With Me, Drew has dedicated himself to help those who feel alone in the deep dark night and just need someone to tell them a bedtime story - Sleep With Me Website

In this episode, host Ryan Shintani sits down with Drew Ackerman, the creator of the popular Sleep With Me podcast, to discuss how his personal struggles with insomnia inspired him to develop unique bedtime stories that help listeners drift off to sleep. They explore Drew's creative process, the role of humor in his storytelling, and how his past quirky jobs—like being a fuzzy dice salesperson and jail librarian—shaped his approach. Tune in to hear how Drew turns everyday events into soothing tales that have captivated insomniacs around the world.