Stories as Shelter: Cozy Fiction & Sensory Joy

Welcome back to Steeped in Storytelling, where each episode we reflect on the beauty of interweaving story, science, and sound. I’m your host, voiceover artist Sarah DeLong. I come to the mic with experience as an integrative somatic facilitator (a mindfulness guide with training in anatomy, neuroscience, and cultural somatics), a public librarian (no, I didn’t get time to read at work—unless you count storytime), and, for a brief time, a chef.  This episode we’re letting ourselves get cozy. We’re tucking in with tales that comfort, voices that soothe, and stories that offer shelter. And no, not every cozy story has to involve a kitchen; sometimes comfort sounds like building spreadsheets in a blanket fort or hexing your ex in a mossy cave.   Today’s brew: a hot, spiced, freshly-pressed apple cider with ginger, cinnamon, and maybe a bit of bourbon. It’s up to you.   Show Notes If you enjoyed this episode and you’d like to help support the podcast, please subscribe and leave a rating and review, or share the link with a friend. Steeped in Storytelling, Season 1, Episode 8 “Stories as Shelter: Cozy Fiction & Sensory Joy.” Hosted and Produced by DeLong Voiceover. Released 11 December 2025 via Podbean. Some of the spaces I spent time in, researching for this episode:  My kitchen A nearby coffee shop My cozy reading nest  Sound Credits Sound effects by freesound_community from Pixabay Music by folk_acoustic from Pixabay