“Around the World in 80 Days”? Nellie Bly Did It Faster

Welcome to Sleepytime History — true stories from the pages of history for a full night's rest.

Tonight we drift back to the autumn of 1889, when a young journalist named Nellie Bly set out to do something the world believed impossible. Inspired by Jules Verne’s novel *Around the World in 80 Days*, Nellie embarked on a real-life race against time — a quiet but determined attempt to circumnavigate the globe faster than fiction had imagined. With only a single gripsack, one sturdy dress, and an iron will, she boarded a steamship from New Jersey and stepped into history. She travelled alone across continents and oceans — through gaslit stations, monsoon-soaked ports, and distant cities connected by the thin threads of 19th-century railways and steam routes. What few knew was that another reporter had been secretly dispatched in the opposite direction, turning her journey into an unannounced race.

Long before her 72-day voyage, Nellie Bly had already made headlines by infiltrating the infamous Blackwell’s Island asylum under the guise of madness. Her undercover exposé shocked the nation and led to major reforms in mental healthcare — revealing not only her courage, but the quiet power of journalism done with compassion and resolve. Tonight’s tale is one of resilience, curiosity, and understated rebellion, told against the backdrop of Victorian travel, journalistic risk, and the timeless call of the unknown.

This episode features themes of audiobooks, tranquil history, unwind with history, history for sleep, and history for serenity and harmony. You’ll hear about Nellie Bly, her 72-day journey, Blackwell’s Island, 19th-century journalism, Victorian travel history, and how she turned Jules Verne’s imagined adventure into lived reality.

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 Nellie Bly: Around the World in 80 Days

00:43:58 Origins of the Loch Ness Monster

01:24:55 Cleopatra: Dangerous, Bewitching & Irresistible

02:06:33 Rasputin

02:53:21 Who were the Radium Girls?

03:30:26 Origins of Merlin the Wizard: Fact or Fiction?

04:16:56 536 AD: The Worst Year in History?

05:04:07 Count Dracula - Origins of a Gothic Legend

05:50:26 Alcatraz: Only Three Men Ever Escaped. Did They Survive?

06:37:24 Yasuke: Legendary African Samurai of Feudal Japan

07:19:58 Defiance Incarnate: Boudica, Celtic Warrior Queen

Watch on Spotify – ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0KP99A1YtXj7wsHgAd7ukm⁠

For early access to new episodes and ad-free listening, join us on Patreon — ⁠https://www.patreon.com/SleepytimeHistory⁠

Or Buy Us a Coffee – ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/sleepytimehistory⁠