Silk | Can't Sleep? Learn About Ancient Fabric and the Silk Road

I Can’t Sleep

Benjamin Boster

Science, Mental Health, Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.5 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Silk changed global trade long before most people had maps that made any sense. This episode covers how silk is made, why it became one of the most valuable materials in history, and how entire empires got weirdly protective about tiny caterpillars with very productive hobbies. Along the way, you’ll hear about the Silk Road, ancient China’s monopoly on silk production, medieval trade networks, and the long process of turning cocoons into fabric people still associate with luxury pajamas and expensive scarves. It turns out humans have spent thousands of years obsessing over shiny fabric, which honestly tracks. It’s steady and consistent, with no whispering and no sudden changes, just enough to give your mind something to follow as you wind down. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Silk, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. — Ad-free episodes: icantsleep.supportingcast.fmHave a topic in mind? Request a topic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Take this Holland and Barrett ad break to listen to your body.
0:03.2	Is your body after some energy support from Solgars magnesium citrate?
0:07.0	Or maybe it's after a kick of applied nutrition critical weight protein for leg day.
0:12.2	Is it looking to iron out tiredness with Vitabiotics Ferroglobin?
0:16.1	Or is your body simply saying,
0:17.7	You've got to show me love.
0:20.2	Find the brands that help you back your body at Holland and Barrett.
0:23.9	Magnesium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
0:26.2	Protein contributes to the growth in maintenance and muscle mass.
0:28.2	Ion contributes to a reduction of tightness and fatigue.
0:32.1	Attention all passengers.
0:34.1	The Uber ride for Jeff's rugby team will depart in five minutes from Platform 15. Your ride
0:40.3	comes with six toilets and a refreshments carriage that you'll empty within five minutes.
0:46.6	Thank you for booking your tickets on Uber. Trains on Uber.
0:53.5	Welcome to the I Can't Sleep podcast, where I help you drift off one fact at a time.
1:01.9	I'm your host, Benjamin Boster, and today's episode is about Silk.
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	...

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