[sudeepj]

One thing which has helped me is to listen to a podcast or any audio of your favorite topic while lying down. Initially your mind will try to remain attentive but after 20 min or so it becomes harder. After a while you will feel so sleepy that you would want to stop the audio.

[Cistro]

I use an Android app for this called "Simple sleep timer"; I set it to Fade out and close the youtube app after 30 minutes.

I've listened to the episodes of the same production for almost 3 years now; The Ricky Gervais show / podcast. Hilarious and lighthearted, always takes my mind off of anything else.

[dsego]

I fall asleep with podcasts all the time, makes for some weird dreams related to whatever is discussed. But I find the sleep quality is not the best.

[veidr]

Does your podcast tool have an "auto-sleep" function to turn it off after a while?

[dsego]

Oh, thanks, I might try that. I do remember a period years ago when I had the habit of falling asleep in front of the TV. I would put the TV on a timer and at 2-3am the sudden silence when the TV turned off would wake me up.

[veidr]

Yeah, I also have found the abrupt jolt of silence (from podcast or audiobook) can jolt me awake, and also that all-night droning on also disturbs me and wakes me up.

Apps that can slowly fade out the sound are great. The Audible app fades out very quickly, but even that quick fade is enough not to wake me if I am already asleep.

(If I am awake, though, I find that it disturbs my "almost asleep" vib, so I wish they had an option to fade out over x minutes.)

[foobarian]

My wife puts on some of the investigative TV shows where the anchor has a droning, monotone voice. (Using earbuds)