Here's how it works:
I set the volume to be as low as possible while still allowing me to understand the content.
This makes me focus in order to hear the words, and since the topic is very interesting to me (with incredible guests), I naturally concentrate.
This deliberate effort channels all my brain power into listening, preventing my mind from being bombarded by a multitude of thoughts at a rapid pace.
I usually set the sleep timer to 30 minutes in the podcasts app. In my years of applying this method, I've only managed to stay awake past the half-hour mark twice.
Why this particular episode?
As mentioned earlier, the guests (and the host) are exceptional, and the information they share remains intriguing even after repeated listening. Moreover, their soothing voices, slow pace, and absence of interruptions or advertisements contribute to the calming effect.
I hope this helps!
I just wanted to add that I tried multiple podcasts intended to induce sleep, but their lack of any substance (by design, of course), does not work for me as my brain would start drifting not long after I start listening.
Also, having one single episode to listen to over and over again means that I can simply download it once to be able to play it even when there's no internet. The repeat listening also creates a reinforcement effect where, now, I feel my lids becoming heavy almost as soon as I hear the host talking!
for me that would be something that i would like to dream about, so i'd focus on the story just enough so that i can take it into my dreams.