Alchemy & the Philosopher’s Stone — Part I

Welcome to Sleepytime History — true stories from the pages of history for a full night's rest.Tonight we drift into a tranquil history journey through the origins of early alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone, told like an audiobook made for history for sleep. As we unwind with history, we’ll follow the old human hope for longevity and immortality, the risky search for an elixir of life through ancient elixirs, and the dream of transmutation into gold that shaped centuries of mystery and wonder. Along the way we meet key figures like Ge Hong and Zosimos, and step into the medieval Islamic science tradition linked to Jabir ibn Hayyan, where careful tools, coded writings, and alchemy secrets and symbols kept the work hidden in plain sight. This is history to soothe the mind and get sleepy with gentle stories of curiosity, craft, and belief—one of those history legends that feels soothing precisely because it’s human. Settle in for audiobooks comfort and audio books calm, and let the greatest minds in history remind you that transformation is possible, slowly and quietly, in the warm glow of history for serenity and harmony, history for serenity, and history to soothe the mind.Let this quiet story of endurance and devotion guide you into a restful night’s sleep.If you're new here, share where you're tuning in from or request a story for a future bedtime episode. And if you enjoy these peaceful history stories, please like and subscribe — it helps us continue sharing calm, true tales from the past.Chapters:00:00:00 - Part One: Origins of Alchemy & The Philosopher’s Stone00:55:50 - Sir Hubert Wilkins’ Doomed Expedition Beneath The Arctic01:45:49 - Mark Twain: American Patriot and Its Fiercest Critic02:42:07 - Joan of Arc: Child, Military Commander, “Heretic”?03:31:14 - Pompeii: Buried, Lost, and Nearly Forgotten04:10:33 - Mutiny on the Bounty & Captain Bligh’s Impossible Story of Survival04:51:03 - The Lost 300-Foot Underground City of Derinkuyu05:39:13 - The Druids: Ancient Sorcerers or Masters of Natural Science?06:22:46 - True Story Behind "The Revenant" & Hugh Glass' Unbelievable Survival (Holiday Re-Release)07:05:25 - Alexander Selkirk: The Real Robinson Crusoe (Holiday Re-Release)07:52:54 - Nellie Bly: Around the World in 80 DaysWatch on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0KP99A1YtXj7wsHgAd7ukm⁠For early access to new episodes and ad-free listening, join us on Patreon — https://www.patreon.com/SleepytimeHistoryOr Buy Us a Coffee – https://buymeacoffee.com/sleepytimehistory