The Sleeping World: Tidal Drifting with a Seahorse

by Mumble Media, Cynthia Kimola (Narrator), Audible Sleep

Wind down by escaping into nature. Part soundscape and part bedtime story, The Sleeping World is an intimate journey through ecologies around the world.

At the southernmost tip of South Africa, where fresh and salt water collide, a tiny seahorse appears to levitate. Seahorses are the ocean’s slowest swimmers, but they have one of the world’s fastest muscle contractions, using it to suction up their prey. In this episode, we meander through eelgrass with a male Knysna seahorse as he twines tails with his partner, changes color to match the sand, and even gives birth to a brood of tiny seahorses.

This is the world in its natural state, defined by seasons, routines, and cycles. By the time this seahorse is ready to drift off, swaying gently with the current, you’ll be ready to drift off too.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

Produced by Audible and Mumble Media
Written by Sarah Craig
Narrated by Cynthia Kimola
Executive Producers for Mumble Cara Ehlenfeldt and Jake Young
Executive Producer for Anna Stitt
Sound Design and Mumble Media
The Mumble Media team is Jaymeson Catsouphes, Cara Ehlenfeldt, Liz Mak, Lee Mengistu, David Tatasciore, Renée Vargas, Jake Young, and Sharif Youssef
Andrea López-Cruzado
Head of Creative Kate Navin
Head of Audible Originals, North Marshall Lewy
Chief Content Rachel Ghiazza

Genres: Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published April 2, 2026

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a whole series of these, “the sleeping world” stories on Audible. Free if you’re a subscriber, not sure if there’s a cost if you are not a subscriber.
I’ve listened to several and this one is my favorite. Promoted as stories that help you fall asleep, I enjoy playing one when I go to bed even if I know I’m not going to have any trouble falling asleep. Soothing and relaxing sounds.