Exploration: Dreamland

Interesting stories of science and science fiction read in a calming voice for nighttime, naptime, or drivetime.

We're On Hiatus 11/16/2025

We're On Hiatus We will be taking a (hopefully short) break but you can keep in touch with us on Bluesky, Instagram, or YouTube and stay subscribed to be notified when we return. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/38838680

Halloween 2025 - Part 4 11/09/2025

Halloween 2025 - Part 4 Thank you for joining us for the final part of The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Creep off to dreamland with us during this special Halloween episode. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Also includes the following pieces from Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Elf Meditation Oppressive Gloom Long Note Two Long Note Four Sound effects were downloaded from Pixabay.com /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/38491170

Halloween 2025 - Part 3 11/02/2025

Halloween 2025 - Part 3 Thank you for joining us for the third part of The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Creep off to dreamland with us during this special Halloween episode. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Also includes the following pieces from Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Gagool Morgana Rides Lightless Dawn The House of Leaves Metaphysik Thunder Dreams Giant Wyrm Sound effects were downloaded from Pixabay.com /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/38346240

Halloween 2025 - Part 2 10/26/2025

Halloween 2025 - Part 2 Thank you for joining us for the second part of The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Creep off to dreamland with us during this special Halloween episode. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Also includes the following pieces from Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Awkward Meeting Devastation and Revenge Lightless Dawn Morgana Rides The Chamber Sound effects were downloaded from Pixabay.com /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/38203900

Halloween 2025 - Part 1 10/19/2025

Halloween 2025 - Part 1 Thank you for joining us for the first part of The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Creep off to dreamland with us during this special Halloween episode. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Also includes the following pieces from Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Lightless Dawn Evening of Chaos Echoes of Time Echoes of Time v2 Sound effects were downloaded from Pixabay.com /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/38036015

Copernican Theory - Episode 102 10/12/2025

Copernican Theory - Episode 102 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe by Dorothy Stimson, Ph.D. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 96. This episode covers the final chapter of the book – Part 2, Chapter 5: The Church and the New Astronomy: Conclusion. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37928570

Copernican Theory - Episode 101 10/05/2025

Copernican Theory - Episode 101 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe by Dorothy Stimson, Ph.D. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 96. This episode covers Part 2, Chapter 4: The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican System. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37854425

Copernican Theory - Episode 100 09/28/2025

Copernican Theory - Episode 100 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe by Dorothy Stimson, Ph.D. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 96. This episode covers Part 2, Chapter 3: The Opposition and Their Arguments. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37749840

Copernican Theory - Episode 99 09/21/2025

Copernican Theory - Episode 99 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe by Dorothy Stimson, Ph.D. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 96. This episode covers Part 2, Chapter 2: Bruno and Galileo. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37697320

Copernican Theory - Episode 98 09/14/2025

Copernican Theory - Episode 98 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe by Dorothy Stimson, Ph.D. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 96. This episode covers Part 1, Chapter 3: The Later Development and Scientific Defense of the Copernican System and Part 2, Chapter 1: Opinions and Arguments in the Sixteenth Century. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37581475

Copernican Theory - Episode 97 09/07/2025

Copernican Theory - Episode 97 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe by Dorothy Stimson, Ph.D. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 96. This episode covers Part 1, Chapter 2: Copernicus and His Times. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37419850

Copernican Theory - Episode 96 08/31/2025

Copernican Theory - Episode 96 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe by Dorothy Stimson, Ph.D. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 96. This episode covers the preface and Part 1, Chapter 1: The Development of Astronomical Thought to 1400 A.D. A Preliminary Sketch of Early Theories as a Background. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37325165

The Blazing World - Episode 95 08/17/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 95 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. In our previous episode, the Empress returns to her original world, coming to the aid of her besieged country. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37280285

The Blazing World - Episode 94 08/10/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 94 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. In our previous episode, the Empress and the author visit the author’s world. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/37153995

The Blazing World - Episode 93 08/03/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 93 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. In our previous episode, the Empress meets the soul of the author and together they create worlds. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/36894450

The Blazing World - Episode 92 07/27/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 92 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. In our previous episode, the Empress has a long and lively conversation with the immaterial spirits. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/36802290

The Blazing World - Episode 91 07/20/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 91 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. In our previous episode, the Empress continues to learn about her new world and the state of science, mathematics, logic, and debate that exist there. She also contacts immaterial spirits in hopes of discovering news of the world in which she was born. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/36717020

The Blazing World - Episode 90 07/13/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 90 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. In our previous episode, the Empress speaks with some of her subjects about their observations of the natural world in the sea and within the earth. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/36558830

The Blazing World - Episode 89 07/06/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 89 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. In our previous episode, the newest resident of The Blazing-World becomes Empress and begins to learn the state of science in their world. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/35355915

The Blazing World - Episode 88 06/29/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 88 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License In our previous episode, a kidnapping led to an incredible adventure to an unknown and remarkable world right next to ours. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/35261170

The Blazing World - Episode 87 06/22/2025

The Blazing World - Episode 87 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read “The Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish from 1666, considered to be the first science fiction book written by a woman. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the ideas of science and philosophy at that time. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 5, Episode 87. This episode covers the prologue and beginning of Part One of the book. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/35192580

Second Anniversary Special Episode 05/12/2024

Second Anniversary Special Episode Thank you for joining us for our second anniversary celebration episode and for being an important part of Exploration: Dreamland. We couldn’t do this without you. Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read the short story The Blue Tower by Evelyn E. Smith. Content warning: accidental death of an alien and a brief mention of the murder of a spouse. Includes "Kalimba Relaxation Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30908928

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 86 05/05/2024

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 86 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "Theory of Circulation by Respiration" by Emma Willard. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 83. Content Warning: This episode includes references to the death of a child, animal experimentation,and livestock slaughtering. This episode covers SECTION IV which includes: Proofs from Dr. Cartwright’s Great Experiments on Alligators—Resuscitation of Dr. Ely’s Child—Dr. Bowling, Editor of the Nashville Medical Journal, endorses Dr. Washington, who, in that journal, “crushes out” all Opposition to the Theory—Dr. Draper’s Acknowledgment of it in New York—Homœopathists—Conclusion. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30673398

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 85 04/28/2024

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 85 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "Theory of Circulation by Respiration" by Emma Willard. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 83. This episode covers SECTION III which includes: Uses of the Theory—Proofs.—Publication of a Work, in 1849, entitled “Respiration and its Effects, more, especially in relation to Asiatic Cholera and other Sinking Diseases.”—Examples. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30607203

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 84 04/21/2024

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 84 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "Theory of Circulation by Respiration" by Emma Willard. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 83. This episode covers SECTION II which includes: Publication of the Theory, in 1846, in “A treatise on the Motive Powers which produce the Circulation of the Blood.” Its Reception: Critique in the New York “Journal of Medicine,” September, 1846. My Reply, in the same Journal, March, 1847. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30547823

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 83 04/14/2024

Theory of Circulation by Respiration - Episode 83 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "Theory of Circulation by Respiration" by Emma Willard. The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 83. This episode covers SECTION I which includes: First step in the discovery—Animal Heat the product of Respiration. Second step—Heat evolved in the lungs by Respiration there produces Expansion. Third step—Expansion; implied motion, which from the organism must conduct the blood to the left ventricle of the Heart. Theory imperfect, until the formation of sufficient vapor or steam in the lungs is perceived and acknowledged. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30507783

The Last Man - Episode 82 03/31/2024

The Last Man - Episode 82 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "The Last Man," a dystopian novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (author of "Frankenstein"). The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 54. [Content Warning: this episode contains descriptions of grief and mourning as well as suicidal ideation.] Volume 3, Chapter 10: And then there was one. Lionel learns to make his way in the world as THE LAST MAN. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30430303

The Last Man - Episode 81 03/24/2024

The Last Man - Episode 81 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "The Last Man," a dystopian novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (author of "Frankenstein"). The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 54. [Content Warning: this episode contains descriptions of the death of a child as well as suicidal thoughts.] Volume 3, Chapter 9: And then there were three. They leave Lake Como behind and travel to Venice and beyond. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30263688

The Last Man - Episode 80 03/17/2024

The Last Man - Episode 80 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "The Last Man," a dystopian novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (author of "Frankenstein"). The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 54. [Content Warning: this episode contains descriptions of the death of a child as well as suicidal thoughts.] Volume 3, Chapter 8: The surviving band of humans dwindles down to the final four, who try to find ways to be content in this lonely new world. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30210628

The Last Man - Episode 79 03/10/2024

The Last Man - Episode 79 Drift off to Dreamland with us as we read "The Last Man," a dystopian novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (author of "Frankenstein"). The book will be read in order, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, please start with Season 4, Episode 54. [Content Warning: this episode contains descriptions of plague/pandemic, physical wasting/emaciation, and death of and mourning for a loved one.] Volume 3, Chapter 7: As the death toll mounts, more and more people begin to see supernatural signs and portents. /episode/index/show/c175c175-439f-40e5-b7a7-bb66f17fc308/id/30105068

Exploration: Dreamland

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