Let’s Begin: Daytime meditation, breathwork, and affirmations

We spoke to Christopher Fitton, host of Sleep Cove, to find out more about his new daytime meditation podcast, Let’s Begin…

Sleep Cove has become a massive success with nearly 100 million downloads. What do you think has contributed most to its global popularity and success in the health and wellness space?

I would say the key factors behind Sleep Cove’s massive success are accessibility (our podcast is free and ungated), trust, and the genuine value we provide to people seeking better sleep and relaxation.

First and foremost, we’ve focused on creating high-quality content that people can easily access and benefit from. Whether it’s guided meditations, sleep stories, or calming soundscapes, we’ve aimed to create something for everyone. I believe Sleep Cove resonates globally because we meet a fundamental need: the desire for better sleep, which impacts every aspect of life – health, well-being, and overall happiness.

Over time, we’ve consistently provided a safe and relaxing space that people can rely on. Trust is essential in the health and wellness space, and I’ve worked hard to ensure our listeners know they can count on us for authentic, carefully crafted content that’s focused on their well-being.

Also, I think my voice is unique, and people genuinely find it calming. Of course, I think the American audience likes a British accent, too!

You’ve noticed a strong demand for your daytime meditation episodes on Sleep Cove, which led to the creation of Let’s Begin. Can you tell us more about how the idea for a dedicated daytime meditation podcast came about?

We’ve experimented with some daytime content on Sleep Cove, and those tracks became super popular. Also, Spotify really promoted our daytime content, and it got millions of listens. From that, people started to ask for more daytime content, so we decided to develop a daytime meditation podcast to help people relax during the day.

Let’s Begin will focus on meditation and relaxation with an emphasis on staying awake. How will the content differ from Sleep Cove, and what specific needs or gaps in the wellness space are you aiming to fill with this new venture?

Let’s Begin takes a slightly different approach from Sleep Cove. While Sleep Cove has been all about helping people wind down and get to sleep, Let’s Begin offers guided meditations and mindfulness exercises that can either relax, energise or centre people throughout their day.

The key difference is the intended outcome. With Sleep Cove, we focus on rest, relaxation, and inducing sleep. Instead of focusing on sleep and rest, Let’s Begin aims to guide listeners towards clarity, focus, and stress reduction while crucially remaining awake and productive. This is ideal for people looking to bring moments of calm and mindfulness into their busy schedules, whether at work, during breaks, or while managing everyday stress.

The gap we’re aiming to fill with Let’s Begin is providing accessible meditation for people who may struggle to find time for mindfulness in the daytime. There are many “paid-for” apps from large corporations, but a podcast like this can offer free meditations to anyone who can access them.

Importantly, every episode will have a “wakeup section “at the end to ensure that even if you have drifted off, you will be awakened again through an energising countdown. These wake-up sections are designed to energise you so you are ready to face the day!

Meditation is often used for different purposes, like relaxation, focus, or overcoming challenges like social anxiety. How do you plan to structure episodes to address both general and targeted issues for your listeners?

The way we’ll approach this is by creating a range of episodes that cater to different needs. Some episodes will be general guided meditations designed for daily use, where listeners can take a few minutes to relax, re-center, and ground themselves, no matter what’s happening in their day. These episodes will be broad and accessible, perfect for people looking for a moment of calm, whether they’re commuting, taking a break, or preparing for a busy day.

At the same time, we’ll have more targeted meditations that address specific issues, such as overcoming social anxiety, managing workplace stress, or improving concentration. These episodes will be more focused, offering practical techniques and mindfulness practices designed to tackle those challenges directly. For example, for social anxiety, we might include meditations that focus on self-compassion, confidence, and grounding in the present moment. For focus, we’ll offer practices that boost mental clarity and reduce distractions.

By offering a mix of general and specific meditations, Let’s Begin can serve as a flexible tool for listeners, whether they want to integrate mindfulness into their daily routine or find support for a particular challenge. We’re building a large back catalogue, ensuring that everyone can find something that resonates with their needs.

You’ve mentioned that Let’s Begin will feature shorter meditation episodes as well as longer ones. How do you see these shorter meditations, like breathwork and positive affirmations, fitting into people’s daily routines?

Shorter meditations, such as breathwork and positive affirmations, are designed to fit seamlessly into people’s daily routines, offering quick but effective mindfulness breaks. These shorter episodes are perfect for listeners who may not have time for a full meditation session but still want to incorporate moments of calm and focus into their day.

I see these brief practices fitting into various parts of people’s routines – whether it’s taking a few minutes in the morning to set a positive tone for the day with affirmations, using breathwork during a stressful moment at work, or pausing for a quick reset in the afternoon. The idea is to make mindfulness easy and accessible, even in small pockets of time.

Breathwork, for example, can be a powerful tool for calming the nervous system in just a couple of minutes, making it ideal for people who need immediate relief from stress or anxiety. Positive affirmations, on the other hand, are great for boosting mood, self-confidence, and motivation, which can be beneficial as part of a morning routine or anytime someone needs a mental pick-me-up.

The shorter episodes will give listeners flexible, bite-sized tools they can use anytime, anywhere. Whether someone has five minutes between meetings or needs a quick mental break, these practices are meant to provide simple, effective support without requiring a large time commitment.

The launch timing of Let’s Begin coincides with a period when stress levels tend to rise after summer. Why do you think this is the perfect moment for people to embrace daytime meditation, and how do you hope your podcast will make a difference in their lives?

The timing of Let’s Begin’s launch is right in autumn, which is intentional because this is a period when many people experience rising stress levels. After the slower, more relaxed pace of summer, transitioning back into the hustle of work, school, and everyday responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Demands increase, and routines become more hectic, which can easily lead to heightened anxiety, stress, and burnout.

Also, the clocks change at the end of October and I have always noticed an uptime in listeners here as I think people are naturally a little more “down” in the “darker months”.

I believe this is the perfect moment for people to embrace daytime meditation because, during this transition, having tools to stay grounded and calm throughout the day is essential. By integrating mindfulness into their daily lives – not just in the evening or at bedtime – people can manage stress more effectively and prevent it from building up. Let’s Begin offers a way for listeners to find moments of peace in the midst of their busy schedules, which is especially needed when life gets more demanding.

I hope the podcast will make a meaningful difference by helping listeners cultivate a sense of calm, clarity, and balance. Whether it’s through quick breathwork sessions to reset during a stressful day or longer meditations to improve focus and mindfulness, Let’s Begin is here to support people in maintaining their well-being.

My goal is to help listeners reduce stress and feel more in control of their mental and emotional health, even as their lives get busier. Ultimately, I hope Let’s Begin will empower people to approach their days with greater ease, and the podcast becomes their home of daytime relaxation.

 Listen to Let’s Begin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps >>

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