The Sleeping World: Desert Echoes with a Bat

By: Mumble Media, Audible Sleep

Narrated by: Cynthia Kimola

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

The sun sinks over the Rio Grande, the mountains around it glow orange, and the world slows down. The Mexican free-tailed bats inside the Jornada Cave are just starting to stretch and murmur. In this episode, we visit the nursery where all the baby bats stay together, and we accompany a new mother as she journeys into the sky with the rest of her crew for a night of hunting bugs via echolocation.

This is the world in its natural state, defined by seasons, routines, and cycles. By the time this bat has fed herself and nursed her babies and is ready to sleep, you will be too.

Produced by Audible and Mumble Media
Written by Fil Corbitt
Narrated by Cynthia Kimola
Executive Producers for Mumble Media: Cara Ehlenfeldt and Jake Young
Executive Producer for Audible: Anna Stitt
Sound Design and Mix: Mumble Media
The Mumble Media team is Jaymeson Catsouphes, Cara Ehlenfeldt, Chester Gwazda, Liz Mak, Lee Mengistu, Renée Vargas, and Jake Young
Fact-Checker: Andrea López-Cruzado
Head of Creative Development at Audible: Kate Navin
Chief Content Officer at Audible: Rachel Ghiazza

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

©2025 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC

Great narration

I love learning along with beautiful imersion. The narration was terrific and beautiful. The sounds of nature are especially great for bedtime. Looking forward to the others in the series.

Great bedtime story

This is a greats bedtime story, calming voice and interesting facts that are helpful if you’re having a restless night.

Narrators hypnotic, soft & warm

Not a thing to dislike about this. I've been a bats fan since I can remember the outside. Misunderstood. Magnificent. Vulnerable to an awful level and the best 'sleeping story' yet. I may have to visit this cave now. ♡

the Sleeping World

beautiful story, beautifully narrarated. I absolutely love this series. I listen to all the versions daily

interesting

Very interesting, but the narrator's accent makes it a difficult listen. I've listened several times, and some of the words I still have not been able to decipher.