Hello, friends. Have you checked out our new channel on Apple Podcasts? Over the past few years,

Clark and I have worked hard to bring you stories and science content that entertains and

educates while helping your little ones relax and drift off to sleep.

On our new channel, you'll find ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and for the first time,

classic tales, presented just as they were meant to be heard, one chapter at a time.

It's a wonderful way to experience these timeless stories together, helping to make bedtime

a cozy, shared adventure. Look for Sleeptight Media on Apple Podcasts, and let's make bedtime the best part of the day.

Hi, and welcome to Sleep Tight Relax.

Relax. tight, relax. Hi there, and welcome to this episode of Sleep, Tight Relax, Sounds, Music, and stories for calming busy minds.

Let's begin to relax.

It's a beautiful fall day here with clear blue skies, clean crisp air, and all the colors of the season.

I'm preparing this on a Sunday afternoon, and as per tradition, every Sunday morning is spent outside running through the trails of the beautiful place we call home.

I do this alone, unabashedly, as a means of challenging myself physically, but more importantly,

I do this for my mind.

I spend this time running, thinking through problems, alone inside my head, or lately as the

runs get longer, I might listen to a podcast or two.

Listening to the sounds of the birds, the rhythm of my foot falls,

and the gentle wind is meditative,

relaxing and helps me get calm.

While I am a big believer in exercise, getting outdoors, away from screens, as a means of reducing stress and improving mental well-being,

I realize this formula is not for everyone. My daughter, who is 17, retreats to her comfortable spot and escapes into a book,

emerging hours later smiling and excited about sharing what she learned.

...