I do something like this, but instead listen to recordings of the animals from where I grew up. (Frogs chirping, rain in forest, and Barn Owl calls. Really relaxes me.) Also, I have found that if I watch a bunch of something that will make me laugh before laying down it helps. (Stand-up, comedy panel shows, Try Not to Laugh videos, etc.)

The radio is a good idea but I end up being interested by what's played or said in the radio and want to stay awake. I sometimes use white noise which works better for me, but is also pretty exhausting physically.

Having foam earplugs also really helps against the noise. Doesn't help when it's super warm and you wake up from that or when they fall out though, lol.

And my inner clock seems to have been set to 6:50 am because that's when I need to get up to go to work. If I'd sleep much longer on weekends, I would feel bad throughout the week because then my inner clock would be set to 9am but I still needed to get up at 7.

It will get better, I'm sure. Didn't want to make such a huge fuzz about it, just needed to satisfy the sidebar rule :D

there’s something about being tuned into static-laden local broadcasts that makes me feel less lonely and more connected

That's actually how the ingame music and ambience of Death Stranding made me feel! I know what you mean :)