1492 – Keep It Vague | Behind the Scenes of Checking Into Boredom
We’ll have a picnic in the miniature city in my mind while I keep it vague and go through my notes for a story about a bedtime storyteller told by a bedtime storyteller.
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Episode 1492 – Keep It Vague | Behind the Scenes of Checking Into Boredom
SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who’s here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep, to hang out with you, to be your bore-friend. Thanks for coming by. Maybe I could bring you some sleepy joy and delight here in the deep, dark night. If you’re new to the show, welcome. This podcast is a bit different, and alls I could tell you is to give it a few tries and see how it goes. I’m really here to help you out just by being here with you and keeping you company. So, let’s see what happens, okay? Then…sorry, I got…already got mixed up. See how it goes; that’s what most listeners say. But yeah, what’s different about the show? Well, I’ll explain a lot in the intro coming up. But it’s a podcast here to take your mind off of stuff, to keep you company, and to ease you off into dreamland.
So, coming up we got a little support, then a long, meandering intro to help set the mood for bedtime, then later on we’ll have a bedtime story, kind of a recap making-of, a story about a story about a bedtime storyteller told by a bedtime storyteller. It’ll be a look back at our episodically modular series, Checking Into Boredom. So, I mean, doesn't that sound sleepy? So, yeah, by the way, if you're new, once again, welcome. If you're coming back, you're one of the listeners, a “regular listener”, quote, unquote, who listens to the show just when they need it, I’m so glad to be able to help you out when you need the show and to have it here available whenever you do. If you're one of those people that listens, this show is a part of your life regularly, right, you listen every night, you listen to more than one episode a night, you fall asleep fast, you've been here for years, thank you.
Thanks for being here for years. I’m really glad to be a part of this…part of your bedtime. If this show is a part of your bedtime and you want to be a part of this show, kinda pride in boredomship, pride and bore friendship or bore…you wanna be like a bore companion…you say, I love this podcast and I want it to be here for everybody else, too…maybe you already do that; maybe you spread the word about the show, maybe you support the show already. But if not, if you haven't considered it, I know it’ll feel really good and it’ll bring you some peace of mind 'cause it’ll guarantee we’ll be here for you when you need us, and these are a couple ways you could do that. Thanks.
Intro: Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. That could be thoughts, things on your mind, thoughts about the past, the present, the future, feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally, feelings left over from the day, feelings related to those thoughts, physical sensations, thoughts and feelings about physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, maybe you're going through something, maybe you're in the middle of something, maybe you're getting over something, maybe you work a different schedule, maybe you're just having a tough time. Whatever it is, I want to try to help you out.
Now, this show works a little bit different, especially…what's the first…one of the first counterintuitive things about the show…that I even bring up some of the reasons you can't sleep. But the only reason I do that is so you get a sense you're in good company, that I’m not the only one…I'm here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff, but there’s other people out there listening right now, and some of those people, believe it or not, they really know what you're going through. They've been through something incredibly similar. That’s what brought them to the show. That’s what keeps them coming back. Other people…maybe something different brought them here, but they're all rooting for you right now, whether you're a new listener, you're somebody that listens to the show just on…on-call when you need it through those big phases of your life, that I’m able to shepherd you or be with you or walk with you, in a sense, through those times, we do that with other listeners, too.
They're thinking fondly of you. Or if you're a regular listener, maybe you fall asleep fast, maybe you listen all night long, maybe you've listened to the show for five, six, seven years. There’s other people right now and they're sending you kindness. It’s really happening right now in this moment, and you can send it back. Alls you have to do is think, man, there’s other people out there who struggle with sleep like I have or that struggle with sleep in a different way than I have, but some of those base feelings around it are pretty similar. Man, doesn't that feel good to send them some kindness? There’s other way…symbolic ways we do it on the show. In your bed you could kiss your biceps, you could blow kisses, you could just smile gently, you could even put your face in a neutral stance. I don't know if that’s what they call it. Once upon a time, Neneh Cherry sang a song, Buff…I don't know if this has ever come up on the podcast before that I’m aware of after 1,400+ episodes, that Neneh Cherry…I’m think…I think that’s…she sang a song, Buffalo Stance.
I don't know what that has to do with anything, and most people that are listening are not gonna be familiar with that, but I’m sure that song’s scheduled for a comeback. But yeah, you could just smile and think fondly of somebody, to root for somebody else across the world, or to be rooted for or to choose not to participate, to just say, Scoots, I’m just here to listen to you talk very slowly and calmly. I know you're gonna be here with me, and that’s great. All the other listeners or some of the other listeners are exchanging kindnesses, but I’d rather just sit out here. I say, that’s fine, that’s fine, too. So, that’s what I mean when I’m glad you're here, is that if you choose so, in a indirect way, you don't have to be alone tonight. We can get through this together, and that it’s not just me, and that you can participate in this whole thing, too, and that’s pretty nice. It does feel pretty good. I don't know, hold on, I’m gonna try to kiss my…no, I don't…I think I better…I'm gonna gently blow a kiss.
How about this idea? We could also do some gratuitous yawning. When we gratuitously yawn, we could root for other people. Though I just had a self…that was…the second one was a self-perpetuating gratuitous yawn, SPGY. So, if you do…if you want to do that and if you like that, gratuitous yawning, let me know about it. So, I’m glad you're here. I hope I can help you out, because I’ve been there and I know you deserve a good night's sleep, enough rest so your life is more manageable tomorrow, and that you could get the rest you need on a regular basis so your life is better, so that you don't have to dread bedtime. You could look forward to it or at least feel neutral about it, and you have something. You say, well, at least I got that pod guy to listen to, and I know there’s other people out there listening, and I never thought of the idea of a gratuitous yawn that becomes self-perpetuating.
Also, by the way, the reason…the other reason maybe these gratuitous yawns are coming up is I got to spend an extraordinary amount of time in different air…ports of air, and managed to be very patient and calm. But it did mean I got home very early in the morning or very late at night depending on how you define that, but it’s okay. It makes…I mean, it provide…how about that? That day yesterday provided us with some gratuitous yawns, and I’m grateful. Gratuitous yawns of gratitude. So…oh, the show is a bit different and I really hope I can help you out. What's different about the show? Well, first…oh, first off, I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, I go off topic, I get mixed up, I forget what I was talking about, then I repeat myself, then I go back, then I say, what was I saying? That’s all to…that’s all-natural meanders and stuff. My voice is not traditionally soothing.
I don't know if I said that already. Sometimes my…I have gratuitous forgetfulness, too. It’s actually not gratuitous; it’s natural. But yeah, when you first get to the show — I kinda talked about it earlier in the show — it’s very different, and most people don't like the show when they get here. It does not meet their expectations, and that’s okay. This show is very different. It’s not…I'm not here to put you to sleep, and if you found this show 'cause you couldn't sleep…like, I tried to get some sleep in various seats yesterday and I just couldn't get to sleep. Then I just kinda used some…I said, okay, it’s okay if you can't sleep. About 4:00 a.m. we’ll be in our bed. So, it’ll be okay. Like, I had to use the techniques from the show a little bit. But when you first get here, you may be expecting what a sleep podcast would be, somebody recommended the show, you heard about it, or you saw it somewhere, and then you're like, what is this show? Like, what even is this show? I’m not sure about this.
So, that’s a natural way. I mean, there’s people that have very strong opinions, so strong, in fact, that we have a website set up, and…sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. So, if you give…if you already know it’s not for you, I would say give it a few tries. It’s just what people over the history of the show have said; at first I couldn't stand you, then the second try I was like, man, I’m really listening to this again? Then on the second or third try, I just fell asleep at some point. I don't even know when. That’s okay if you never like me or the show. That’s why we have that website set up, and it gives you the freedom to give the show a few tries. I’ll even say, I just made some changes to that page because someone was so…had such strong feelings about the show that then they had strong feelings about the /nothankyou page, too, and then they really let me…informed me about it strongly. I don't know if that was the first time listening or their…it was definitely their last time listening, it sounded like.
But I did say, huh, I guess I could change this…I said, whoa, wow, I had never gotten…no, I have gotten ones about that. They were more about me, why people didn't…dislike me and they were putting it on the /thankyou page. But so, I made it even more efficient for you to get outta here if the show is not a fit for you, 'cause that way you don't have to take any time…'cause it’s okay not…like, what if it’s just okay not to like me if you don't like me or that the show didn't work? Then maybe you find another sleep podcast that helps you out or something else sleepy. Then we all win, and you could just move on from that…well, I don't think I like that sleep podcast or, wow, it’s okay. Yeah, he actually sees me where I am. So…but do…try it a few times if you're open to that, because the thing is, this show is so different that the people it works for, they're like, I had no idea I could use something like this or that something like this even existed. It’s counterintuitive but it also makes perfect sense at the same time.
But I didn't realize ‘til the second or third try. Now, it’s okay if you're a first-time listener and you love the show already. That does happen, but the thing is, if you're not, that’s also okay, too. So, yeah, what else do you need to know? Oh, so, most people don't like the show…sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou…give it a few tries. It is a podcast that you don't really listen to, but you can listen to it. So, it’s almost like background noise, like a out-of-focus picture, like TV…a TV on in the other room, like sand passing through your hands, a show streaming under your pillow. What else? Like a friend that just goes…you call…can you talk to me for a while? I’m gonna call you — or a roommate — and just talk about a story you're making up or something, or something…a walk you went on. I just need someone to be there for me right now. Oh, okay, no problem. I’ll be here for you. Let me tell you about this story I tried to write.
I was thinking about this and then I was like, huh, well, what about that? I just need you to be here with me to take my mind off whatever’s keeping me awake or to know that something’s there that I could engage with but I don't need to. So, again, maybe there’s a show or a audiobook or a program…you've used it, or a friend, like wind in the trees or a professor that goes on and on and on, clouds in the sky, a seminar, a presentation, or nice water passing through your toes. It’s something that’s there…I think you know what I mean, like that summer breeze in the trees or the birds or the crickets, the frogs. You're like, huh, I didn't even notice that I was listening to that. That’s nice, but…oh, then I forgot about it again. So, that does take some adjusting, I guess, since this is a podcast and most people listen to podcasts…or even bedtime…kids like to listen to bedtime stories. They say, and why? And why what? Why do kids like listening…? Well, 'cause I think you like asking questions.
Why do kids like asking questions? Great question, kid. I think 'cause you're…because you're really…I mean, just 'cause kids are more…by the way, this is…I gotta move on. Why? ‘Cause I think this could be one of those things, 'cause I have a lot of kids…kid-like things in my brain, and they could just keep these questions going on and on and on. But believe it or not, adults, you have questions that come up, but they're a little bit looser and you could listen a little bit less, 'cause you've tried out different stuff. Kids never had the opportunity — at some point they do — to repurpose things. They're like, oh yeah, I was listening to that podcast about paint and things interesting to paint-stirrers and…PaintNotes, Paint Stirrer Notes. Yeah, we got the Paint Shaker XZ45. We just got it in in the shop. Technically it shakes the paint; it doesn't stir it, but…anyway. Okay, so, that’s…it’s a podcast you don't really listen to. It’s also a sleep podcast that’s not here to put you to sleep.
There is no pressure to fall asleep with this show. I’m gonna be here over an hour so you don't have to worry about falling asleep. There’s over 600 free episodes of this podcast because of the sponsors and the listeners who support the show that you could listen to at any time or build playlists of how you like to listen. So, see how that…see how it goes, I guess. But this is a pod…oh, I’m not here to put you to sleep. That’s really important for me to point out, that there is no pressure to fall asleep. My job’s not to put you to sleep. It’s here to keep you company, because there’s people listening who can't sleep at all. Maybe you're one of them, or maybe you're like me last night between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. even though there was other times when I left on the trip I didn't really need to fall asleep. I did right away. So, I couldn't sleep at all. But there’s other people listening in bed comfortable that can't sleep at all, and I’m here. Maybe you’re one of them, maybe you're not, but I’m here.
Maybe you're awake during the day. Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night. Maybe you have a job where you need something to listen to or you just needed something, some companion noise or a daytime companion. That’s what I’m here…whether you're awake or asleep, whether you're listening or not, I’m here to the very end of the show, 'cause my job is not to put you to sleep. It’s here to keep you company while you fall asleep, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your neighbore, your borebie, your boreman, your borer, Boris Borelaf, your chairman of the boreds, your Big Borebowski, your Barbra Borestrand, your best bore-friend f’eva, to keep…that’s what a bore-friend does, just hangs out on…for your behalf. I guess if you were hanging out on someone’s behalf, you'd wait in line for them. Now I’m just hanging out on your behalf, waiting here…I guess waiting in line is different than hanging out on someone’s behalf.
But if you're only waiting in line in service of someone, than you probably are just hanging out, 'cause they're actually waiting in line, but you're waiting in line for them. So, the person would be like, what are you doing? Are you waiting in line or hanging out on someone’s behalf? No, I…they're waiting in line, but I am waiting in line for them, and I’m hanging out. But the ‘so, on their behalf’ part is the part that connects those two things. Maybe that’s…I don't know if anybody works for a standardized test, but I don't know if that fits in any logic. Oh, this…I don't know if…Spock, is that illogical? I think Spock would say you can't technically be doing both things at once. I’d say, well, no, because I’m in line…well, could…? Well, okay. Is that what the duality of humanism…human is, Spock? Spock would say, I’m Vulcan. I don't know what you want from me. ‘Cause…okay, I just…I gotta finish up this intro. But I’m just thinking, okay, so, I’m waiting in line for somebody, but I…so, I’m not wait…I'm waiting in line for them, but in order to pass the time waiting in line, I’m hanging out.
Okay, so, I guess it’s like a technical trick, kinda like this podcast, a misdirection. For me, if I’m hanging out on someone’s behalf, it’s…I probably got something to do, maybe something to read, something to play, something to listen to. So, then I’m just hanging out, no expectations. Even though I’m in line, I’m not in line. I’m in line for somebody else. I mean, so, it would be like, well, I’m being of service, but that would still…I’d say, nah, I still need something to distract me. I say, well, I’m not waiting in line at all. I’m just…so, I guess you're right, Spock; it is illogical with a purpose. It’s logically…did you ever have a musical where you sung…sang a song, Logically Illogical? Was that called The Year Spock Fell in Love? Logically illogical, Jim. This feeling I’m feeling…so, anyway, I can't really write…I've never successfully written a musical, but probably not the best time right now. All told, I was just saying I’m here to be your bore-friend and hang out with you.
The last thing I like to run through is something…I want to meet you where you are…really throws new listeners off. Like, I said that person was so thrown out by all of the show 'cause it is so different that they were like…even this /nothankyou page doesn't…so, let me let you know why we structure the show the way we do. The main reason why; it benefits the maximum amount of people who could fall asleep to this podcast or discover it so they could fall asleep to this podcast, or so it can bring them some relief in the deep, dark night, some sleepy joy and delight. So, that’s what this particular version of the podcast you're listening to does and…or how or why? Well, it starts off with a greeting so everybody feels welcome; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Sometimes I say something silly so you get a sense…okay, I think I get the tone of the show. I’ll check it out.
Then there’s support or requests or support so that paying for the show is optional, and it’s only an option for the people that choose it. If you've chosen…if you're not in a place where you could support the show or you just don't want to, don't worry. That stuff is not about changing your mind. It’s just so the podcast can be there for anybody to discover it and anybody to listen to it. So, yeah. Then…kinda like a gift, a gift not from me; I’m only a small part of the show, but from tons of other people. A gift exchange, I guess. So, then after the support…and if you don't like the support…like, most people, they just listen to this version and they fall asleep later on. Just listen to the support 'cause you'll hear options for you. But after the support, totally separate from the support, is a show within a show. That’s what this intro is. It has nothing to do with the support of the show…is where I try to explain what the podcast is but it takes me twenty minutes.
But I explain what the podcast is in a familiar structure but a new way every time. We’ve had multiple things come up tonight that I don't think have ever come up. Neneh Cherry, she was a big part of my life. I love that song. I love saying Neneh Cherry. I don't know if the Buff…I mean, somebody get me on TikTok and see if there’s a actual dance. I mean, that song’s…'cause those songs are all coming back or they're getting remixed. Is anybody, like Sabrina Carpenter maybe…I don't know, Olivia Rodrigo, anyone like that want to do something, maybe they could do it…do some sort of mix like that. Ed Sheeran? I don't know. I’m just throwing names out there. Anyway, so…oh, so, every intro goes off in a new way, but the reason the intro takes twenty minutes…well, the reason every intro is new is because for me, the only things that ever worked for me and what I hear from listeners that this show works for is that it’s familiar but fresh.
I get some reassurance but I get some variety, because whatever keeps me awake, it likes familiarity but it can't be the same. It has to be new and fresh. But some listeners find their favorites and they listen to their favorites. So, it’s kind of like a two-way win with the show. But that’s why every intro is new. Then the reason the intro is so long, though, is so that it eases you into bedtime. Most people do not fall asleep during the intro. If you do fall asleep during the intro, you could check out Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me or support the show, but the intro is meant to ease you into bedtime versus putting you to sleep. It’s a time like a sleepover where we all hang out and people are getting ready for bed, they're in bed getting comfortable, they're in the other room winding down, chilling out, drawing, foam-rolling, looking out the window, petting pets, doodling, knitting, crocheting, playing with toys, whatever it is to set the mood, to get eased into bedtime.
That’s what…the intro is a buffer between being awake and asleep, 'cause it just never worked for me. Going right to sleep just doesn't work for me, but getting eased into bedtime works most of the time. So, that’s what the intro is. Then again there will be some support so that anybody can listen to the show whenever they want it. Then there will be our bedtime story which will be a look back at the making of Checking Into Boredom, and all told we’ll be here a bit over an hour. I’m really glad you're here. Whether this is your first time, your fifth time, your 5,000th time listening, whatever it is, I’m really glad you're here and I’m really happy to help you out. Thank you so much for checking the show out or coming back. I love that you're a part of this thing, whether you're passively a part of this thing, you're already actively a part of this thing, or you're like, hey, I’d love to be surprised by Scoots and spread the word about the show, or I’d love the feeling of bore-partnership just by supporting. Whatever. I’d love it 'cause I love making the show and I love that I can help other people out in the deep, dark night who feel that same non-positive experience that I’ve had. So, thanks so much for coming by, and if you do want to be a part of this thing, here's the ways you could do it. Thanks.
Alright, so, bringing up our notebooks from this season, but I was also just thinking about the structure of creating each episode. But it always starts with a germ of an idea. So, this is a little bit of behind-the-scenes of making the show, is a lot of times — and I talk about this in these recaps but in different ways — I’m using…like, on the first day or two not of writing but kinda brainstorming, I like to get some sort of episodic theme or mystery from somewhere else. So, it would be a self-help book or a business enrichment book, and in the past, a lot of times I talked about…I used the books about the enneagram. I’m trying to find…Checking Into Boredom 5, 4…looking through…3, 2…it started out…I called it Sleepy Spy. So, let’s see, for the first episode we have seventy-eight pages of notes and writing. So, let’s jump all the way back and we’ll get into the beginnings of this thing. Okay, what…first thing was like, kinda some of the basic questions.
At first I thought every episode…and it does have it…would be…there’d be a antagonist, too, and they would be from our world. But then as I started to explore the series after Episode 1 I realized, huh, that’s a little bit too distracting. It’s almost like the wrong kind of creative constraint. So, this one, I was like, okay, who’s the rival? What does Scooter want? — which is gonna be in conflict with what the hotel wants and the client wants — what’s the mission? What's the gadget? Then I started to kinda do a little story circle. Okay, open with action. New problem, mission…Scooter desire, first loss, gadget, second loss. Then I was looking at different ideas. I wrote down, who would you invite to dinner? So, that must have been from whatever I was reading. Also, separately from this notebook I was doing research. So, at some point…yeah, outside of this notebook in a different notebook, and searching…I was like, okay, but I don't know where the idea came from. So, I can't trace it all the way back.
But I was like, okay, whoever the client is, they've gotta have a reason…they're a little bit…they don't…the hotel is inviting them to stay at the hotel for free and use the bedtime storyteller. So, they have to have some sort of renown or something about them, obviously, to make them a character. Then it was like, okay, each episode’s gonna be location-specific. So, they have to be in the location of the hotel. So, those are the two biggest questions for the research, is who is the client, where is the setting, and what's interesting about the setting? Where is the hotel gonna be? ‘Cause I really wanted to make that immersive, too, of like, the hotel is location-specific. It’s either a repurposed building or a very historical building. Just, I don't know, I really…oh, 'cause I forgot; and the first thing, I had read the book The Hotel…A Gentleman in Moscow, I think it’s called. This was a book. Like two or three years ago, everybody was reading it, giving it as gifts. So, of course I put it off.
I did get it as a gift I think twice, but…of people that forget that I have learning, reading differences, so I can't read a paper book. So, what I do is just buy the Kindle or take it out at the library. But I finally read that book and I thought, what a sense of place. That was less about the exterior about the hotel but the interior…kind of the main character in the hotel and the history. But I think something about reading that also made me interested in the hotel. Instead of having a interior sense of space, though we would be in interior spaces, I kinda wanted the hotel…'cause I love lobbies and exteriors as a sense of place for the hotel in the city…the city to be a sense of place, and like I said, a place that isn't as visited as, like I said, the third-largest city in the state or the country or whatever just kind of as a joke, but…or the fourth-largest or whatever. So…okay, so, let’s go to the character research. So, it was like, okay, what is special about this character? Why are they…?
We don't know the location yet, but the…or the character will help us pick the location. A lot of this I discovered through making the first episode. So, in the first episode, at some point I was reading something about alchemy, and I think it was in…wherever I was reading, of like, oh, okay, so…and more and more I’m integrating the writing with reading that…I don't know. So, it might have been reading not even related to the podcast. But I was like, oh, the idea of alchemy and alchemy — I think I was reading about it — as a metaphor, but then I was like, huh, is there any…? I’m not positive about this. This may have been Episode 2. No, 'cause that was mechanical music, which is a little bit easier. But let’s stick with Episode 1 and then jump to Episode 2, maybe. Okay, so, I was like, okay, alchemy is not a real…it’s like, oh, the idea of making lead into gold, it doesn't work, right? But we don't want the person to be faking that. So, it’s like, oh, what’s modern alchemy?
Maybe that was like all of the stories. I don't know if that influenced the whole series, 'cause it was like mechanical music is making alchemy, kind of, and making grits is alchemy. But…in a sense. But so, then I was like, okay, what about foraging? Okay, so, foraging…okay, but then…and I don't know if you've seen the Nicholas Cage movie about foraging, but then I was like, okay, well…or I guess it’s two Nick Cage movies about foraging. Two different things, huh? That’s funny. I haven't watched the first one from Susan Orlean’s novel. But the second one is about mushrooms or truffles. So, I said, okay, but we don't want it to be about truffles 'cause that’s just too on the nose. So, then it’s like, what else can you find…what else do people forage for? That’s where I stumbled upon this agarwood, which is so interesting that it’s like, it’s not actually real wood. It’s something that occurs in the wood, a natural thing that affects the wood in a non-positive way.
But as the wood tries to heal itself, it’s leaking this resin out, and then the resin saturates the wood. So, the forager in this case looks…and it only occurs in a few places in the world naturally. It’s not easy to find. It’s highly sought-after and it’s incredibly rare. Of course people took it too far. Then they're trying to replicate it in certain places in the world by cultivating this, but it takes a very, very long time. So, our main character, she just happened to be the fore…one of the world foremost discoverers of agarwood. Then it was like, okay, well, there’s this place in India, or there…I actually looked up multiple places. It’s like, okay, well, this sounds like it works. Oh yeah, so, it takes place in the Aquilaria tree, and…not easy to find. Different places you could find it. Then I was like, okay, what is the most interesting thing to find? How do you find it? What has more kinda touristy areas? Then I was watching YouTube videos of people vacation…or listing the highlights.
So, I could see the different popular buildings and kinda fictionalize it, 'cause it is fictionalized even though it’s…so, if you went there, you wouldn't find the exact same buildings and stuff. Then it was like, okay, so, this is what she’s good at. In this tale it was a little bit more setting it up. It’s like, okay, so, she’s found a little source of this agarwood, and she’s bringing it back, 'cause there’s all these regulations around it now. But then the hotel’s like…also, this is also from another world. It’s not from our world. It’s from either…we don't know where it’s from other than it’s not from our world. So, that’s what catches the attention of the hotel. They're like, we gotta get to the…we gotta figure out where this is coming from, or is it intentional or unintentional?
Then it was cool kinda picking out…and I kinda went back and forth of like, oh, which building would the hotel be at, and trying to pick locations, and then start to build out how it’s gonna go, which again, that…I guess it became after Episode 1, a choice between the locations and the story of the client versus having a third antagonist that’s rivalling the client or messing with the client, though on the next story, the second story…so, it was like, I already…I was like, okay, so, this is something physical — it has a smell — the wood. So, then I was like, okay, on this next one I want something more…touching different senses, I guess. So, then on that one I was like, oh, what about a sense of sound but also less natural mechanical? I don't know. It’s tough for me to trace it back. But yeah, then we had taste and touch. I guess we did kind of go through a bunch of the different ones and then sight. Huh, so, I didn't even…I don't know if I intentionally did that.
But hopping back to the first episode, let’s run through some more of my notes here as I look at the story part versus the instructions or the facts, whatever, 'cause I want to see where we took it. Okay, so, we had the basic plot. Okay, then…okay, I was looking at the rival, who would you invite to dinner, the hotel, the forager, under the agar tree…I don't know why I put that from something I was reading. Where is this wood coming from? Mission; where is this wood coming from? To stopping the conflict between the forager and their rival. Make them wait; that was another theme. Water Palace, small city, foragers trying to deal with their rival to get what they want. They're trying to stop them or find their source to manipulate it. This must be stopped, the flow of agarwood from the other realm to this…our realm. This is…oh, the other person…if this was done at scale it would be not…it would not go well 'cause the…that’s what this rival was trying to do.
But the hotel detective just needs clues and something to present. At first I was like, oh, I am a S-P-Y. I’ll use that term and spell it. I’ll just get…I'll just apologize to everybody. I’ll bounce back and forth. But I’m gonna use the bedtime story prep to get info about them, 'cause it’s like, in this story Scooter’s crafting a personalized bedtime story for them. That whole thing was a bit of a red herring, I guess in a sense, 'cause the bedtime story was taking place, right? The bedtime story, Scooter, and the sleep of the client were kind of just story mechanisms in this case. I mean, they play into the telling of the story and the narration. Oh, the narration was another thing. I tried to do a little bit different style narration in the show where we had a narrator. I don't know, I always…if I’m thinking of it when I start the series, I’ll be like…or start writing, I’ll be like, oh, let’s try a different style of narration or I’ll forget and just start. Okay, so, if they're getting it…oh, they're…this is still high quality. There’s testing.
Oh, Tripura has this park that’s a small model of the region, kinda like a miniature version. So, I was like, oh, that’s a good setting for part of the story and for some of the discovery of clues. So, then I was looking at, okay, that’s one location, then the big palace. I interrupt dinner between the client and her rival. I introduce myself to get their guard down. But I, of course, am more concentrated of what I want. Me and the other person don't get along. Like, I’m…something magician? Misdirect…for example, this is some level of a business dinner. Maybe that’s just part of…these are just notes, brainstorming notes. Then I become successful, talk about something…'cause I want to be as important as they do. Then I try again, but what is this other person up to? Oh, let’s put ourselves in their shoes. Should I put myself in her shoes or his shoes? Do I need to use fiction or the truth to get to the bottom of this? Why don't I let them go first?
What is the lure that the client is using for their rival? There’s a lot of…impatience is a theme of mine and the rival but not the client. Like, I want to get straight to the end of the story. So, then another story circle…set-up assignment, dinner, info, fake clue, Water Palace, hear about the history and the use of agarwood, something happens, small…then in the miniature city a picnic, maybe? Okay, then I get…then again we're still getting deeper in the research or the story writing. Okay, so, assignment, client…we need to know…or clues; where is the wood from? Indirectly. What are they planning on doing with this rival? What do they really want? So, then we go to who, what, where, when, why, how? Who; there’s a famous forager well-known on social media. What; agarwood. Let them tell you, though. Where; here in Tripura and around town. Okay, then we go into Scooter…and Noir Chardonnay wants to be a top-level spy, and then…or maybe even the hotel detective.
Oh, what would be a code name for the hotel detective in every episode? We didn't figure that out. Oh, then we're like, okay, Sundries Supervisor, 'cause that…okay, and then what about these gadgets? Then I brainstormed a bunch of gadgets. I stumbled on a sewing kit…has some buttons, needle, threads, paper…'cause the Sundries Supervisor is just like, yeah, you're not qualified to have a real gadget. Tripura, Agartula…I was writing out how to say those things. Okay, it’s something about humanizing and the universe making us feel safe and loved, like the wood doing that. How can the wood or sap release and help with stress? These are all things that are buried in the story, though. Is there some sort of fate or battle over this power? Dripping sap has brought us together; that might have been just a quote. But sap is slow. It must drip. Be patient. So, again, the sap versus the theme or one of the themes. Something deeper motivates me; not money or power. Is this true? I put. Is it a lie?
Keep it vague. Imagine hidden depths. She’s trying for something…some sort of control, maybe the means of distribution. This is not a business agreement. It is more than that. But he wants the location of the wood. He cannot even find it out. She won't tell him yet, maybe ever, but he will try and find out for sure. How are they the opposite of Noir? What is the real pitfall? Does she know? Do they know? Or where does she find out? Is she like…does she really believe that this wood…? Oh, 'cause the wood is very renown because it’s so expensive, it’s so dense, and it has a smell, and it’s used in different belief systems, too. Scooter tries to create a bedtime story with it. She reveals she’s not getting the agarwood for anything. Okay, sewing kit; when will you use the sewing kit? Oh, the hotel curtains trick. Use the buttons to close the curtains and make it darker. Wait, then maybe there’s a hole in the curtains.
Okay, then it’s like, change the hotel to the Water Palace instead of the Water Palace being a location. Then it was like, okay, the hole in the curtains…maybe it’s a hole in the train tunnel, because…I got that idea from looking at the videos of the miniature version of the town. So, she could allude to it during their walk or their picnic. Scooter can then make the room dark like a train tunnel. Then you must have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. So, it’s kinda like this is exploring the clues and getting to the bottom of stuff. Has she changed rooms? Why does Scooter need to fix the curtains? Those are questions. Okay, then kinda working on this part of the story…she pauses. Could that be a train tunnel? Could that be in the story? Light at the end of the tunnel…close curtains with gadget…stop rival…caught in sap. Scooter stuck with story…is it too dark like a train tunnel? She fills in the blanks and she goes to sleep. She has no idea she’s traveling to another universe.
She thinks it’s a hidden grove. But where is it on the map? Outside of the tunnel somewhere, a hidden remote valley? No other way to get there? That sounds magically fictional like a fairy tale. It’s the greatest find. You can keep a secret, right? I can tell you that I’m not interested in your supply of agarwood. Long tunnel and there’s light…light is often the places she looks. An open way…right time of day…sunshine, clarity, aperture, open of sky, be outside…her feeling, sense won almost. Okay, then we have…who, what, where…then it’s like another brainstorm of the story points. Who, what, where, when, how? Greatest forager…how; go to dinner. It doesn't work out. Scooter and the rival don't get along. Plant seeds, though. I’m here to help with sleep…custom bedtime story. Walk in the park…talk about wood. Rival makes offer to Scooter. She intervenes. Then we have blanks in the story, then back to foraging, or does the hotel hire her? Do they seal the hole?
Both Scooter and the rival both assume they have what she wants; money, scale, ease, comfort, vision, business power. Who knows? She’s not in it…here for business. Scooter…a bedtime story will help with sleep. Just let me help. A long time ago, one of the greatest foragers in the world came to this part of India, called by the rare, rare type of wood called agarwood. So, this is like working on dialogue, and this kind of explains this part of it. So, sometimes, yeah, as we’ve been writing longer, we start to get into it. Very interested in your unique abilities. Well, and then Scooter was trying to…hey, you want me to do some…? No, no. We don't…alls we need you to do is get some clues by telling a bedtime story and doing the research. I even put notes about George Smiley in here. Scooter’s like…flaws here are that…his ambition or his fictional wishes. I don't think ‘ambition’ is the right way to describe it. Please don't try to be an agent. Please don't. Just be yourself.
Well, try not to be too much of yourself or be performative or pleasing. Just lose yourself in your role, your role as Noir Chardonnay. The context…stay on context. I need a gadget. Oh, of course you do. Here, I have it, right on this…in this desk of…it’s in this envelope, a sewing kit. Be careful, though. So, this is where we're getting more writing. So yeah, then we have about twenty pages of writing, and then we go back again. Okay, what’s the plot? Set-up, mission and gadget, dinner fail. Daytime Heritage Park…that’s the miniature park. Learn about wood. Setback? Deal with rival. Setback; a bedtime story clues. Then we go again. Okay, so what are the setbacks? Being rude, impatient, bad manners, overconfident, overdo it, trying to get caught up with the rival. Oh wait, what about hiding in the rival’s office, getting caught? So, this is just kinda brainstorming again. Okay, what’s missing on these next parts? Okay, real clue is the train tunnel, but Scoots is impatient at first.
So, he sees a false clue there and he wants to break the rules. So, he’s more focused on the rival, and the rival is more focused on the client. He sees a clock. Oh wait, they're gonna…maybe I could go back to his office, hide there, and listen in. Okay, then we go over their locations; hotel, office, heritage park, his office. Tell me about his office. Well, it’s funny, 'cause I have an appointment at his office. So, this is dialogue between Scooter and his client. I’m looking for details. So, this is when Scooter would be at his best in these ones. So, yeah. Oh, the table is armoire. Ten Christmas trees…so, that’s talking about the sap and stuff. Yeah, so, I think that’s a little bit…oh, then let’s do this one. There’s another story circle. Mission, dinner, failure, park…get more…get no info. Office, hides, caught…get in trouble with the hotel management. One last chance for you to put her to sleep. Tale of the railroad tunnel…gets answer.
So, that’s a simplified…just be yourself, do the job; the rest will work out, versus do it my way. I know how to be a spy. So, he starts out being himself for a bit, but his weirdness throws off the rival, who’s dismissive towards him, and that’s what's…distracts him into his own petty and presumptuous needs, assumptive and rude. I’m not sure I served you at all. Next morning, apologize. She didn't sleep well. He has to talk to the hotel to fix this. Just focus on what you're good at. Fantasy of…so then another kind of story; fantasy of being an agent…mission, dinner, apology, park, hiding. So, learning one lesson. How will he fix things? ‘Cause he ends up having…the client doesn't trust…you have to trust somebody, right, for a bedtime story and revealing…but the whole thing Scooter’s getting…missing out on is just be yourself, do the best he can, help himself. He has to be honest. At first he doesn't want to tell the truth. If you can wait before you answer, I will listen.
I brought a bag of the sap with you…so, this is where it gets…it had to be more plotty of the sap stuff, and this is actually why I got rid of the rivals, 'cause I was like, oh wait, I need something for the rival. But yeah, that’s a little bit about how we make stories here at Sleep With Me. I’ll try to do more videos and stuff like that, 'cause I’m working on the next series as we speak. It will be Series 3 of something, but it’s also gonna be in a different direction, too. But I’m glad you're here, and thanks for letting me in to put you to sleep. Goodnight, everybody.
[End of recording]
Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes
-
Serial Modular Series / Checking Into Boredom
Neneh Cherry – “Buffalo Stance”
https://historyofmusic.net/1980s/confidence-rebellion-and-style-neneh-cherrys-buffalo-stance/
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/neneh-cherry-buffalo-stance-story-behind/
https://maxazine.com/2026/07/19/precious-pop-pearls-the-story-behind-neneh-cherry-buffalo-stance/
A Gentleman in Moscow
https://booksofbrilliance.com/2025/11/08/a-gentleman-in-moscow/
Alchemy
https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/stories-by-topic/alchemists-early-scientists/
https://www.sciencehistory.org/visit/exhibitions/age-of-alchemy/
https://www.history.com/articles/philosophers-stone-myth-alchemy
Foraging
https://sustainableamerica.org/blog/foraging-inside-the-modern-resurgence-of-ancient-art/
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Thanks for coming by
Let’s see what happens
A story about a story of a bedtime storyteller told by a bedtime storyteller
Bore Companion
PLUGS
Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline
SPONSORS
Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; AquaTru; AirDoctor Pro; Talkiatry; Quince; Uncommon Goods; Cozy Earth; Stio
INTRO
Thoughts and feelings about physical sensations
Maybe you’re just having a tough time
The first counterintuitive thing about the show
I’m here to be with you
Other listeners are thinking of you right now and sending you kindness
Similar Base Feelings
Symbolic Ways of Sending Kindness
Putting your face in a neutral stance
I’m not sure what Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” has to do with anything, but here we are
Self-perpetuating gratuitous yawn (SPGY)
At least you’ve got that pod guy to listen to
I recently spent an extraordinary amount of time in ports of air
I managed to stay pretty calm
That day yesterday provided me with many gratuitous yawns today
Grateful for gratuitous yawns
My forgetfulness is natural, not gratuitous
Most people don’t like the show when they get here
sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
Strong feelings about the No Thank You page
Whatever helps you, I want that for you
Let me tell you about this story I tried to write…
Kids like to listen to bedtime stories
Why do kids like asking, “Why?” That’s a great question
Paint Stirrer Notes, a podcast for paint shops
Listen how you like and see how it goes
Maybe you can’t sleep at all. That’s okay
I’m here to be your borebae
A borefriend is here to hang out on your behalf
Waiting in line with someone, but for them
Is this what the duality of humanism is, Spock?
“Logically Illogical”, a song from the Spock musical
Now’s probably not the best time to write a Spock musical
The structure of the show
A version of a gift exchange
I can’t believe Neneh Cherry has never come up before
She’s due for a revival
Sabrina, Olivia, will you revive Neneh Cherry?
Familiarity and variety
Bedtime Buffer
Looking back at the making of Checking Into Boredom
Thanks so much for being a part of this thing
STORY
Looking through our notebooks of the season
The germ of an idea
Getting an episodic theme or mystery from somewhere else
It started out as a series called The Sleepy Spy
I thought each episode would have an antagonist, but I abandoned that
What’s the mission? Gadget? Scooter’s desire? Hotel’s desire?
Who would you invite to dinner?
I was also doing research separate from this notebook
Shout out to A Gentleman in Moscow
That book had a great sense of space
I wanted the city to have its own sense of place
Character research
At some point, I was reading something about alchemy
The idea of alchemy
What is modern alchemy?
Foraging
What’s the Nic Cage movie about foraging?
What do people forage for?
That’s how I found agarwood
Finding a source of agarwood
But maybe the agarwood is from another world
Which catches the attention of the Hotel
Touching on different senses in the 2nd episode
I guess we did go through a bunch of the senses, huh?
That was unintentional
Looking through my notes for Episode 1
Under the Agar Tree
The flow between realms must be stopped (or at least not done at scale)
At first I thought I was a S-P-Y
That ended up being a bit of a red herring
Ultimately, these were just mostly story mechanisms
A different style of narration
Some level of a business dinner
Miniature City Picnic
The clues we need to know
Answering the 5 Ws
Scooter’s not qualified to own a real gadget
Dripping sap has brought us together
Sap dictates patience as a theme
Keep It Vague
The opposite of Noir
The Hotel Curtains Trick
An opportunity to use a sewing kit
Scooter stuck with story
She has no idea she’s traveling to another universe
Light is off in the places she looks
Sunshine. Clarity. Aperture.
She’s not in it for money
Working on some dialogue
Scoots finds some false clues
Scoots focuses on the rival. The rival focuses on the client.
Just focus on what you’re good at
I had to get more plotty at the end
So yeah, that’s a little bit about how we make stories at SWM
The next series will be Series 3 of something
Goodnight!
SUMMARY:
Episode: 1492
Title: Keep It Vague | Behind the Scenes of Checking Into Boredom
Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline
Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; AquaTru; AirDoctor Pro; Talkiatry; Quince; Uncommon Goods; Cozy Earth; Stio
Notable Language:
- Self-perpetuating gratuitous yawn (SPGY)
- Hanging out on your behalf
- Under the Agar Tree
- S-P-Y
- Miniature City Picnic
- Keep It Vague
- The opposite of Noir
- The Hotel Curtains Trick
- Sunshine. Clarity. Aperture.
Notable Culture:
-
- Neneh Cherry – “Buffalo Stance”
- sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
- Paint Stirrer Notes, a podcast for paint shops
- Spock / Star Trek
- “Logically Illogical”, a song from the Spock musical
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Ed Sheeran
- Checking Into Boredom
- A Gentleman in Moscow
- Pig
- The Orchid Thief
- Adaptation
- Nicolas Cage
Notable Talking Points:
- Thoughts and feelings about physical sensations
- Maybe you’re just having a tough time
- The first counterintuitive thing about the show
- I’m here to be with you
- Other listeners are thinking of you right now and sending you kindness
- Similar Base Feelings
- Symbolic Ways of Sending Kindness
- Putting your face in a neutral stance
- I’m not sure what Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” has to do with anything, but here we are
- Self-perpetuating gratuitous yawn (SPGY)
- At least you’ve got that pod guy to listen to
- I recently spent an extraordinary amount of time in ports of air
- I managed to stay pretty calm
- That day yesterday provided me with many gratuitous yawns today
- Grateful for gratuitous yawns
- My forgetfulness is natural, not gratuitous
- Most people don’t like the show when they get here
- sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
- Strong feelings about the No Thank You page
- Whatever helps you, I want that for you
- Let me tell you about this story I tried to write…
- Kids like to listen to bedtime stories
- Why do kids like asking, “Why?” That’s a great question
- Paint Stirrer Notes, a podcast for paint shops
- Listen how you like and see how it goes
- Maybe you can’t sleep at all. That’s okay
- I’m here to be your borebae
- A borefriend is here to hang out on your behalf
- Waiting in line with someone, but for them
- Is this what the duality of humanism is, Spock?
- “Logically Illogical”, a song from the Spock musical
- Now’s probably not the best time to write a Spock musical
- The structure of the show
- A version of a gift exchange
- I can’t believe Neneh Cherry has never come up before
- She’s due for a revival
- Sabrina, Olivia, will you revive Neneh Cherry?
- Familiarity and variety
- Bedtime Buffer
- Looking back at the making of Checking Into Boredom
- Thanks so much for being a part of this thing
- Looking through our notebooks of the season
- The germ of an idea
- Getting an episodic theme or mystery from somewhere else
- It started out as a series called The Sleepy Spy
- I thought each episode would have an antagonist, but I abandoned that
- What’s the mission? Gadget? Scooter’s desire? Hotel’s desire?
- Who would you invite to dinner?
- I was also doing research separate from this notebook
- Shout out to A Gentleman in Moscow
- That book had a great sense of space
- I wanted the city to have its own sense of place
- Character research
- At some point, I was reading something about alchemy
- The idea of alchemy
- What is modern alchemy?
- Foraging
- What’s the Nic Cage movie about foraging?
- What do people forage for?
- That’s how I found agarwood
- Finding a source of agarwood
- But maybe the agarwood is from another world
- Which catches the attention of the Hotel
- Touching on different senses in the 2nd episode
- I guess we did go through a bunch of the senses, huh?
- That was unintentional
- Looking through my notes for Episode 1
- Under the Agar Tree
- The flow between realms must be stopped (or at least not done at scale)
- At first I thought I was a S-P-Y
- That ended up being a bit of a red herring
- Ultimately, these were just mostly story mechanisms
- A different style of narration
- Some level of a business dinner
- Miniature City Picnic
- The clues we need to know
- Answering the 5 Ws
- Scooter’s not qualified to own a real gadget
- Dripping sap has brought us together
- Sap dictates patience as a theme
- Keep It Vague
- The opposite of Noir
- The Hotel Curtains Trick
- An opportunity to use a sewing kit
- Scooter stuck with story
- She has no idea she’s traveling to another universe
- Light is off in the places she looks
- Sunshine. Clarity. Aperture.
- She’s not in it for money
- Working on some dialogue
- Scoots finds some false clues
- Scoots focuses on the rival. The rival focuses on the client.
- Just focus on what you’re good at
- I had to get more plotty at the end
- So yeah, that’s a little bit about how we make stories at SWM
- The next series will be Series 3 of something
- Goodnight!
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