Meet RecipeZZZ for Sleep | Podcast

We had the good fortune of connecting with RecipeZZZ for Sleep and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi RecipeZZZ for Sleep, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have so much respect for artists and those who are able to make a career out of their creativity, and I never set out to have a creative career. It’s not something I dared to dream about. I was content to just be able to enjoy other people’s work. I’m more of an art appreciator who has a chance to dabble in creative work.

Art saves lives. Art in its many forms saved me during a challenging childhood. Books, films, art and music were transportive and inspiring. They opened up windows to worlds beyond known experience.

I saw the power of art and literature – and the power of personal expression in my own life and in the lives of students when I taught English many years ago.

Years ago, during a difficult time with work, I gave myself a daily assignment to find something beautiful every day – and take a photo of it with my phone. In many ways, that little project changed my perspective on the situation and eventually led to a connection to photography and reconnecting to beauty in the everyday.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The RecipeZZZ for Sleep podcast started as a personal project. Podcasting was interesting to me, and I wanted to try it.

And I was trying to solve a problem: finding a podcast or app to help ease insomnia and fall asleep with a voice that wouldn’t turn me off. I had tried different types and couldn’t find one whose voice would work for me. Also as a food lover, I thought maybe reading cookbooks quietly and calmly might be a way to help people fall asleep in a different way – like white noise for food lovers. I also included a few meditations, breathing exercises and poetry readings – all with the intention of helping others with a moment of calm in their day. It was definitely niche – not a business, but a project.

I was and still am shocked by how well it has done, even beyond the project’s conclusion a couple of years ago. There are more than 88,000 downloads (and increasing every day) from around the world. And people ask me to continue, which I’m considering. But it’s amazing to me that anyone would be interested in the little niche personal project. I really hope it helps people.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are too many to list but a few are: LACMA
Now Serving (great cookbook store)
Republique
Grand Central Market
MDK Noodles (Myung Dong Kyoja)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrisson

There’s opportunity in absence. And take a risk and create what you wish existed in the world. It might not be perfect, but it would not have existed if you didn’t try. Shoutout to all who are creating what they wish to see in the world.

Website: https://recipezzzforsleep.wordpress.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recipezzzforsleep/

Image Credits
RecipeZZZ for Sleep