Get Sleepy: Cosy Halloween Stories Collection (Bonus)

Host: Thomas (Slumber Studios)
Release Date: October 18, 2025

Overview

This special bonus episode of Get Sleepy is a soothing, atmospheric compilation of Halloween-themed bedtime stories designed to foster relaxation and sleep. Narrated by Thomas, the collection weaves gentle tales full of subtle magic, autumnal imagery, and tranquil mysteries—all set against a backdrop of stormy weather. Each story draws inspiration from folklore, fairytales, travel, or the cozy feeling of autumn nights. The aim is not to scare, but to comfort and lull listeners into restful slumber.

Stories Breakdown

1. The Witch’s Crow: An Enchanted Woodland Tale

[Begins ~10:00]

Key Points & Summary

• Theme: Misunderstood witches, familiars, inheritance of wisdom, and nature’s quiet magic.
• Plot:
  • Hester, a curious village girl, yearns for more than her provincial life. She’s especially drawn to nature and animals.
  • After meeting a wise herbalist woman in the market, Hester impulsively follows her into the forest and finds herself beginning a new life as an apprentice.
  • Under the older woman's guidance, Hester learns the arts of healing, herbalism, and subtle magic—a benevolent “witch” in the local lore.
  • A black crow, the old woman's familiar, becomes Hester’s companion. Upon her mentor’s departure, the crow returns to its flock, but soon one of its children becomes Hester’s new familiar.
  • The story details the annual ritual of the crows gathering on All Hallows’ Eve and the symbiotic relationship between the wise woman and her avian friend.
• Notable Details:
  • Nature and the forest are strong, comforting presences; crows are respected for their intelligence and family ties.
  • The story offers scientific and folkloric tidbits about crows’ social lives and language.

Memorable Quotes

• “To utter the words once upon a time is to foreshadow a story of magic.” — Thomas, [10:44]
• “Crows live in dedicated family groups, staying together for generations... a language of love.” — Thomas, [32:10]
• “The true current of magic doesn’t end with a palace wedding or a broken spell. It is a river that never runs dry. And that tale will go on forever.” — Thomas, [38:15]

2. Hans and the Haunted Castle: A Gentle Ghostly Quest

[Begins ~39:00]

Key Points & Summary

• Theme: Bravery, the folly and charm of fearlessness, and discovering true courage is about the heart.
• Plot:
  • Hans is a charming, fearless young man whose lack of fear both worries and amuses his village.
  • After a traveling scribe shares a tale of a haunted castle with a test for brave suitors to win the hand of Princess Maya, Hans embarks on the quest, encountering a swinging bridge, a mysterious tunnel, and a loyal dog companion, Fritzi.
  • At the castle, Hans must endure three nights of supposed hauntings—noises, slamming doors, and strange lights—which he faces with good humor rather than bravery.
  • The hauntings turn out to be a ruse arranged by the king and his servant Peter to dissuade unsuitable suitors from courting Maya.
  • Hans’s only real “fear” arises from his feelings for the princess, realizing that love and vulnerability are different from bravado.
  • In time, he wins Maya’s affection and the two marry, with the castle doors forever open and no more handbells.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “What are you afraid of?” The king asks. — [1:38:18]
• “As it turns out, I’m terribly afraid that your daughter will send me away now.” — Hans, [2:06:12]
• “...Beside, I like your dog.” — Princess Maya, [2:07:00]

3. Sleepy Hill Manor: Arriving at a Haunted Victorian House

[Begins ~2:11:00]

Key Points & Summary

• Theme: Exploring unknown places, gentle suspense, the coziness of solitude.
• Plot:
  • The listener is transported as the protagonist, invited to stay at the inherited Sleepy Hill Manor.
  • An older caretaker gives a cryptic warning about stormy nights making for strange sounds.
  • The house is described in rich detail: Victorian architecture, secret passages, a bar in the central hall, a library full of ghost stories, and “living” portraits.
  • Gentle ghostly phenomena (music from an empty room, shifting portraits, self-moving bags) are depicted as mysteries, not threats.
  • The story ends with the protagonist in a cozy bedroom, the rain tapping against the window, drifting to sleep to the sound of distant piano notes.

Notable Quotes

• “Storm’s coming,” he says, looking up to the sky and then toward the manor. “And blustery nights make for strange sounds. In an old house like that.” — Caretaker, [2:14:22]
• “Here at Sleepy Hill Manor on this dark and stormy night…” — Thomas, [2:41:55]

4. Dr. Adelstein’s Castle: A Stormy Night’s Visit in the Alps

[Begins ~2:44:00]

Key Points & Summary

• Theme: Gothic hospitality, curiosity, old-world science, and the comfort of shadowy mysteries.
• Plot:
  • The listener is invited to a Swiss mountain castle owned by Dr. Adelstein, a reclusive scientist.
  • Journey description highlights the beautiful, stormy Alps; arrival is marked by lightning and cryptic observations about the doctor’s experiments.
  • The castle is opulent but slightly neglected; the overtones are more of intrigue than threat.
  • The host is engaged in mysterious experiments dealing with electricity, life, and death, echoing classic gothic tales.
  • You explore secret laboratories and libraries, and observe inexplicable phenomena—strange sounds, mysterious shapes, and peculiar servants.

Notable Quotes

• “As he disappears, you catch a few words mumbled under his breath. ‘But if I succeed... it will change. Change everything.’” — Dr. Adelstein, [2:53:41]
• “...thunder BOOMS outside, rattling the glass and metal in the room.” — Thomas, [2:58:22]

5. Noche de Muertos: A Journey Through Day of the Dead in Michoacán

[Begins ~3:08:00]

Key Points & Summary

• Theme: Remembrance, the beauty of family, the blending of cultures and traditions, and the connection between past and present.
• Plot:
  • The listener is taken on a sensory tour of Day of the Dead festivities: the Faria Artesana Della Catrina, the artisan markets of Capula, the flower market of Pátzcuaro, and a candlelit boat journey to the island of Janitzio.
  • Descriptions emphasize the vibrant marigolds, decorated altars (ofrendas), and gentle communal spirit of the holiday.
  • The night on the island’s cemetery is described as peaceful and beautiful, filled with glowing candles, families telling stories, and the scent of bread and flowers.
  • The story closes with the idea that “the souls return with the wind” and life and death are joined in celebration.

Memorable Quote

• “Looking back at Janitzio, bathed in candlelight, you can feel the beauty of this time and place. It’s for all those who have passed on and also for the living….” — Thomas, [3:34:55]

6. Lunar Lodge: A Bed and Breakfast in the Woods

[Begins ~3:36:00]

Key Points & Summary

• Theme: Solitude, botanical folklore, safety and transformation under a full moon.
• Plot:
  • The protagonist arrives at the secluded Lunar Lodge B&B, finding the key and a note urging them to keep to their room that night.
  • The space is decorated with mysterious purple flowers (wolfsbane), silver keys, and mistletoe—symbols hinting at transformation and protection.
  • The guest explores the cozy, pine-scented rooms, notes curious plants and tufts of fur, and consults a local flora guide; the host’s note feels protective.
  • Stepping into the garden under the full moon, the protagonist hears an uncanny howl and understands the note’s advice, returning to the safety of their room to dream peacefully.

Memorable Moments

• “...you see the clouds have parted, revealing an enormous full moon hanging low and heavy in the sky. As the final wisp of cloud drifts away from its edge, a long, echoing call sounds through the woods. It’s a howl unlike any you’ve heard before.” — Thomas, [3:49:42]

7. The Night Carnival: A Surreal Autumn Fair

[Begins ~3:57:30]

Key Points & Summary

• Theme: Autumn mysteries, ephemeral magic, dreamlike adventure, comfort in the unknown.
• Plot:
  • The protagonist is lured by the scent of caramel popcorn and the sound of calliope music through autumn woods to a seemingly deserted nighttime carnival.
  • After receiving a ticket with their name, the fairground materializes—ferris wheel, carousel, fun house, and a big top tent filled with jack o’lanterns and laughter.
  • Each area offers gentle, surreal fun and mystery: magical mirrors, enchanted rides, and shifting jack o’lanterns.
  • The evening is solitary yet enchanted, with repeating motifs of gentle laughter and the encouragement to embrace a little mystery.
  • The story ends as the fair disappears into the night, the ticket in the listener’s pocket promising a return, “One night only. All attractions gone by morning. We’ll see you again next year. Will you see us?”

Notable Quotes

• “A little mystery really does keep life interesting, you whisper into the night before making your way back home.” — Thomas, [4:27:30]

Additional Notable Moments

• The recurring motifs of autumn, transformation, comfort, and gentle supernatural happenings.
• Each story ends with the protagonist or listener feeling peaceful, safe, and ready for sleep, regardless of the setting’s gentle eeriness.
• Rich, multi-sensory descriptions (smells of bread and marigold, sounds of rain or wind, textures of wood and flowers) help ground the stories in restful imagery.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Witch’s Crow: [10:00]–[38:45]
• Hans and the Haunted Castle: [39:00]–[2:11:00]
• Sleepy Hill Manor: [2:11:00]–[2:44:00]
• Dr. Adelstein’s Castle: [2:44:00]–[3:08:00]
• Noche de Muertos: [3:08:00]–[3:36:00]
• Lunar Lodge: [3:36:00]–[3:57:30]
• The Night Carnival: [3:57:30]–[End (~4:27:40)]

Tone & Atmosphere

The narration throughout is gentle, reassuring, and laced with comfort. Even as night, storms, and the supernatural appear, they are never truly frightening. Each story blends wonder, curiosity, and restfulness—wonderfully appropriate for drifting into sleep.

Final Thoughts

This collection offers a varied yet unified journey through comforting autumnal stories: magical woods, kind witches, gentle hauntings, festive remembrances, enchanted lodges, and carnivals that vanish with the dawn. All are crafted with the signature Get Sleepy touch—designed to relax the listener, spark the imagination, and anchor the mind in coziness and calm.

Notable closing line:

• “A little mystery really does keep life interesting...” — [4:27:30]