Episodes
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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.
In the last episode, Captain Nemo informs the crew that the weather is improving and plans to go ashore for observations. The narrator tries to bring Ned Land, but the Canadian refuses. After breakfast, they head to shore, traveling a league inland to a peak with observation instruments. During the journey, they see various southern whales. Reaching the summit after a difficult climb, Captain Nemo takes barometric readings and declares they are at the South Pole. He raises a black banner with a gold "N," claiming the land in his name.
The next day, preparations to depart are made. The Nautilus encounters an iceberg, and after a terrible collision, it becomes trapped at an angle. The crew works to free the submarine, eventually righting it, but still surrounded by ice. As they navigate through the icy tunnel, they are dazzled by the refracted light. After another collision and the realization that all exits are blocked, Captain Nemo confirms they are trapped by shifting ice.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we invite you to explore “The Heavenly Pits” with us. This story, written by Snoozecast, features a biologist whose solo expedition into a legendary sinkhole transitions from scientific exploration to mystical journey.
If you would like to learn more about what Snoozecast’s premium subscription service offers, please go to snoozecast.com/plus.
“Karst tiankengs” are colossal sinkholes formed in China. Tiankeng is Manderin for “Heavenly Pits”. These geological formations are not just natural wonders; they are also ecological hotspots. They contain ancient forests that seem to be teeming with life, and may conserve long-lost DNA of endangered species for researchers.
— read by 'N' —
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Episodes manquant?
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Tonight, we’ll read the story “The Three Golden Apples” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and found in “A Wonder Book” originally published in 1851. This episode first aired in 2021.
This is Hawthorne's retelling of Hercules’ search for three golden apples. Along the way he meets the Old Man of the Sea, a six-legged man creature and the mighty giant, Atlas.
This story also features the Hesperides. In Greek mythology, they are the nymphs of evening and golden light of sunsets. The Hesperides love to sing, and they spend their time tending to Queen Hera’s apple orchard.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the story “The Clocks of Rondaine” adapted by Snoozecast and originally found in the compilation “Fanciful Tales” compiled by Frank R. Stockton and published in 1894.
A clock or chronometer is a device that measures and displays time. The clock is one of the oldest human inventions, meeting the need to measure intervals of time shorter than the natural units such as the day, the lunar month, and the year. Devices operating on several physical processes have been used over the millennia.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the 17th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “A New Interest in Life”.
Anne invites her best friend, Diana Barry, to tea at Green Gables. Anne is thrilled to host her first tea party and plans everything meticulously, including serving Marilla's prized raspberry cordial. However, Anne unknowingly serves Diana a different drink, currant wine, thinking it is the cordial. As they enjoy their time together, Diana drinks three glasses of the wine and becomes quite drunk, much to Anne's confusion.
Diana's mother accuses Anne of deliberately intoxicating Diana and forbidding her daughter from ever associating with Anne again. Marilla quickly realizes the mix-up and tries to explain, but Mrs. Barry is unforgiving. Anne is devastated at her loss of friendship with Diana.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read an excerpt about bicycle etiquette from “Twentieth Century Culture and Deportment for the Lady and Gentleman at Home and Abroad” by Maud C. Cook published in 1899.This episode originally aired in 2021.
Bicycles and horse buggies were the two mainstays of private transportation just prior to the advent of the automobile. The grading of smooth roads in the late 1800s was stimulated by the widespread advertising, production, and use of bicycles along with horse buggies.
By the turn of the century, when this book was written, cycling clubs flourished on both sides of the Atlantic, and touring and racing became widely popular.
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Tonight, we’ll read excerpts from the first chapter of Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”. This chapter explores around the islands of Cape Verde.
“The Voyage of the Beagle” is the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as Darwin’s “Journal and Remarks”, bringing him considerable fame and respect. This was the third volume of “The Narrative of the Voyages of H.M. Ships Adventure and Beagle”, the other volumes of which were written or edited by the commanders of the ships. “Journal and Remarks” covers Darwin's part in the second survey expedition of the ship HMS Beagle. Due to the popularity of Darwin's account, the publisher reissued it later in 1839 as “Darwin's Journal of Researches”. A republication of the book in 1905 introduced the title “The Voyage of the "Beagle"”, by which it is now best known.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the 7th chapter to “Good Wives” written by Louisa May Alcott. This is also known as the second half of the “Little Women” novel and is considered the 30th chapter as part of that work as a whole.
Our last episode was the chapter titled “Calls” in which Amy March, the youngest of the March sisters, navigates her social life and responsibilities. Amy is given the task of calling on the various high-society women in their town, a duty she undertakes with a mixture of determination and trepidation. As she visits each home, Amy observes and interacts with the women, learning valuable lessons about social etiquette, personal ambition, and the complexities of adult relationships.
During her calls, Amy encounters a range of characters, from the pretentious and insincere Mrs. Chester to the more genuine and kind-hearted Mrs. Moffat. These interactions provide Amy with insights into the social expectations and superficial judgments that often govern society. Despite feeling somewhat out of place and intimidated, Amy maintains her composure and grace.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read a Brazilian fairy tale called “The Seaside Princess from Brazil” or “Why the Sea Moans” from the collection by Elsie Spicer Eells’s “Fairy Tales from Brazil” published in 1917. This story was originally adapted and published by Snoozecast in 2021.The author Spicer Eells was an American researcher of folklore and a writer who traveled in the early years of the twentieth century across the Atlantic basin. Having traveled in the 1920s and ‘30s to various countries as a researcher at The Hispanic Society of America in New York, Eells was the author of numerous collections of short stories and legends based on the oral tradition of various regions she visited, including the Brazilian one we found.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the beginning of “The Rainbow”, a novel by British author D. H. Lawrence. “The Rainbow” tells the story of three generations of the Brangwen family, a dynasty of farmers and craftsmen who live in the east Midlands of England, on the borders of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The book spans a period of roughly 65 years from the 1840s to 1905, and shows how the love relationships of the Brangwens change against the backdrop of the increasing industrialisation of Britain. The first central character, Tom Brangwen, is a farmer whose experience of the world does not stretch beyond these two counties; while the last, Ursula, his granddaughter, studies at university and becomes a teacher in the progressively urbanised, capitalist and industrial world.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, a twenty-seven year old Englishwoman, whose family moves in order to lower their expenses and reduce their debt, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife.
In the last episode, Anne Elliot visits Uppercross and is struck by the stark contrast between the concerns of the Musgroves and those of her family at Kellynch Hall. Despite the short distance between the two places, the conversations and interests at Uppercross revolve around local and everyday matters like hunting, household management, and social gatherings, rather than the weighty and publicized affairs of Kellynch. Anne learns a humbling lesson about her own insignificance outside her familiar circle and resolves to integrate herself into Uppercross life, finding solace in the genuine sympathy of her friend Lady Russell.
Anne's stay at Uppercross proves manageable, as she gets along with her sister Mary, enjoys the company of her nephews, and recognizes Charles Musgrove's amiable nature, despite his lack of intellectual zeal. She often acts as a mediator between her sister and the Musgroves, trying to balance their complaints and grievances. Anne's spirits are lifted by the change of scenery and subjects, and the visit of the Crofts, the new tenants of Kellynch Hall, stirs her emotions as they mention Captain Wentworth, a significant figure from her past.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read from “Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes” by Miss Parloa.
The Maya believed that cacao was discovered by the gods in a mountain along with other delectable foods, for their divine use. According to Maya mythology, the Plumed Serpent gave cacao to the Maya after humans were created by the divine grandmother goddess.
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Tonight, we’ll read a selection from “The Crow’s Nest”, also known as “On the other side of the latch” by Sara Jeanette Duncan, who also published as Mrs. Everard Cotes and Garth Grafton.
Duncan worked as a travel writer for Canadian newspapers and a columnist for the Toronto Globe and eventually the Washington Post. Later she made a journey to India and married an Anglo-Indian civil servant thereafter dividing her time between England and India. She wrote 22 works of fiction, many with international themes and settings.
Unlike her travel writing, The Crow’s Nest is a memoir of description and not action as Duncan spends her time in recovery at a mountain house in Simla, India as she undergoes a rest cure for tuberculosis.
In the passage we’ll read tonight, Duncan pauses contemplating her current situation and turns her attention to the garden at the home where she is exiled.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.
In the last episode, Arronax and the crew of the Nautilus reach the South Pole. They encounter a scattered icebergs and various wildlife. Captain Nemo expresses uncertainty about their exact location and decides to take bearings. We pick up right after Arronax’s and Captain Nemo’s last conversation where they discuss the importance of taking observations the next day, as it marks the equinox and the last opportunity for six months to determine their position at the South Pole before the polar night descends. The captain expresses confidence that if they can see the sun exactly cut by the northern horizon at noon, it will confirm their location. Despite potential mathematical errors due to the equinox not necessarily beginning at noon, the captain is optimistic that their bearings will be accurate enough. They agree to reconvene after breakfast to choose a suitable observation post ashore.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read from “The Buddha’s Path of Virtue: A Translation of the Dhammapada” by F. L. Woodward. This episode first aired in 2021.
The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures.
This particular translation by Woodward was published by The Theosophical Society, which was founded by Madame Helena Blavatsky. You can listen to some of her travel memoir in our episode from January 2020 titled “Madame Blavatsky Visits Bombay | From the Caves and Jungles of Hindustan.”
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read a Snoozecast original titled “Koofy: Diary of a Robot Vacuum Cleaner”. Koofy, a diligent vacuum cleaner from the KFY company performs his daily routines with humility. Initially a source of joy and fascination for the family’s toddler and baby, Koofy’s role takes an unexpected turn as the children’s reactions shift from amusement to cautiosness.
Facing the possibility of retirement, Koofy finds solace and wisdom from some of the other kitchen appliances in their late night conversations.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the 16th chapter of “Anne of Green Gables”, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled “Diana is Invited to Tea with Tragic Results”.
In the last episode, Anne attends school and is oblivious to Gilbert Blythe’s attempts to get her attention, which culminates in him teasingly calling her “Carrots”. Infuriated, Anne reacts impulsively by breaking her slate over Gilbert’s head, an act that causes a significant stir among their classmates.
Anne is publicly shamed by Mr. Phillips, the teacher which deeply humiliates her and solidifies her resolve not to return to school under such disgrace. The incident also cements her animosity towards Gilbert, despite his attempts to apologize. She eventually decides to return to school when she realizes how much she would miss Diana.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, for our monthly Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we’ll read a Snoozecast Original, inspired by the Brothers Grimm tale “Rumpelstiltskin”.
In this reimagined version, a country miller’s daughter is thrust into the realm of kings and gnomes due to her father’s loud boasts. Greta must navigate royal demands and mystical deals to protect what is most precious to her.
The tale of Rumpelstiltskin, with its origins steeped in European folklore, has been captivating audiences for centuries. First formally recorded by the Brothers Grimm in the early 19th century, the narrative explores the motifs of bargaining and naming, language and promises.
— read by 'N' —
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Tonight, we’ll read from “Canoe and Camp Cookery : A Practical Cook Book For Canoeists, Corinthian Sailors and Outers” by H.H. Soulé [Soul-ay] under the pen name Seneca, published in 1893. This episode first aired in 2021.
Canoes were developed by cultures all over the world. Until the mid-1800s the canoe was an important means of transport for exploration and trade, and in some places is still used as such.
A canoe, in American English, is a lightweight narrow vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top.
In British English, the term "canoe" can also refer to a kayak, while canoes are then called Canadian or “open” canoes to distinguish them from kayaks.
— read by 'V' —
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Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Daughter of the Sky: The Story of Amelia Earhart” written by Paul L. Briand and published in 1960. As the New York Times wrote in their review of the book when it was published “While so many were struggling to keep themselves or their business intact, this fine, calm young woman from 1928 to 1937, experienced a whole series of spectacular successes.”
Earhart was an American pioneer of aviation. In 1937 she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. During her life, she embraced celebrity culture and women's rights, and since her disappearance has become a cultural icon. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and she set many other records.
Recently, in 2024, a company that operates unmanned underwater vehicles found via sonar what appears to be the remains of an airplane on the ocean floor near Howland Island. The object, shaped like her particular plane, was located along the path she had been expected to fly in the Pacific Ocean. More exploration, however, is necessary to confirm whether this is indeed Earhart's missing aircraft.
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