Episodes 52
Avg. Duration 34m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (18)
Since May 2025
Latest Episode May 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
100%
Hosting
feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

Author and writing coach Nadine Kenney Johnstone shares interviews with today's top women writers, including Jen Hatmaker, Catherine Newman, Maggie Smith, Molly Wizenberg, Abigail Thomas, Dr. Hillary McBride, Emily P. Freeman, Laura Tremaine, Sari Botton, Francesca Royster, Susan Piver, Jane Friedman, Mae Yoshikawa, and more. Nadine also shares her own stories of healing, hope, and following her heart.

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Recent Episodes

Summer News

May 31, 2026 5m

250 Nadine shares her summer break plans for the podcast. Use the time to catch up on episodes you've missed!If you’d like a highlight reel of the last 5 yrs, we’ve released a “Best of” Heart of the…

You Are Welcome Here

May 24, 2026 14m

249 Nadine reflects on an essay she wrote in a time of deep despair.Join Nadine at an upcoming retreat:Let Go Retreat June 14-17, Door County WIRevision Retreat: Craft Your Best DraftAug 24-28, 2026,…

My Favorite Summertime Place

May 17, 2026 20m

248 Nadine reflects on an essay she wrote about her favorite place to be in the summertime.Join Nadine at an upcoming retreat:Let Go Retreat June 14-17, Door County WIRevision Retreat: Craft Your…

Paying It Forward

May 10, 2026 20m

247 Nadine reflects on an essay she wrote about a friend swooping in just when she needed it and how it inspired her to pay it forward.Join Nadine at an upcoming retreat:Revision Retreat: Craft Your…

Nurturing Your Nervous System

May 03, 2026 27m

246 Nadine reflects on an essay she wrote about anxiety and safety.Join Nadine at an upcoming retreat:Revision Retreat: Craft Your Best DraftAug 24-28, 2026, Madeline Island School of the Arts,…

Holding On in the Letting-Go Years

Apr 26, 2026 22m

245 What is it like to be a midlife mom raising a middle schooler—when time seems to speed up just as you wish you could slow it down? When your child is reaching for independence, but every part of…

A Hopeful Practice for Stressful Times

Apr 19, 2026 22m

244 Ten years ago, during a particularly stressful and uncertain time, Nadine started a practice of of gathering good moments as reminder notes she could read when anxious. She compiled them into an…

Looking Back 5 Years Later

Apr 12, 2026 19m

243 Five years ago, Nadine's father passed away at the age of 57. Nadine looks back on the spring of '21 and the years since, reflecting on all that has evolved. She explores important questions…

Finding Joy in Hidden Places

Apr 05, 2026 18m

242 Nadine revisits an Easter-themed essay she originally wrote in 2021 and reflects on what's changed in the 5 yrs since. She also shares the writing process behind the essay and gives some writing…

Taking a Grown-Up Gap Year w/ Nic Antoinette

Mar 29, 2026 55m

241 What if a gap year wasn't only reserved for high school grads trying to find themselves? In this encore episode, writer, hiker, and anti-capitalist tiny biz owner, Nic Antoinette, discusses the…

Sometimes It's Just Hard

Mar 22, 2026 31m

240 Nadine gives a personal update by sharing her recently written essay, Sometimes It's Just Hard, in which she opens up about her upcoming move, the state of her marriage, and the past events that…

Midlife Freedom w/ Susanna Daniel

Mar 15, 2026 49m

239 Author Susanna Daniel joins Nadine to talk about her new novel Girlfriending—a deeply personal work of autofiction inspired by heartbreak, midlife reinvention, and the messy joy of dating again.…

Living Life on Our Own Terms w/ Molly Wizenberg

Mar 08, 2026 58m

238 This encore chat w/ bestselling memoirist Molly Wizenberg covers it all: partnership, parenting, writing, teaching, navigating midlife, and taking brave action. At its heart though, it's a chat…

Date Night Gone Wrong

Mar 01, 2026 16m

237 Nadine shares an essay about a couple’s painting night that went awry and how she went about writing the piece. Join Nadine, Molly Wizenberg, and Hallie Bateman in Spain from Oct 26-Nov 2 for…

The Cure for Creative Block w/ Hallie Bateman & Molly Wizenberg

Feb 22, 2026 1h 4m

236 What if the secret to a sustainable creative life isn’t thinking bigger — but thinking smaller?In this heartfelt and wide-ranging conversation, Illustrator Hallie Bateman, memoirist Molly…

How to Build a Creative Practice + Join Us in Spain!

Feb 15, 2026 31m

235 Creativity often feels elusive, especially when life gets busy. How can we prioritize our writing when there's not a minute to spare? In this episode, Nadine shares how you can harness the beauty…

What Happened After Couples Therapy

Feb 08, 2026 22m

234 What happens when the opposite traits that attracted you to your partner become the very things that frustrate you?Nadine revisits an essay she first wrote in 2018 and originally shared on…

How It Started, How It’s Going: 5 yrs of Podcasting

Feb 01, 2026 22m

Five years ago—amid the uncertainty of a global pandemic—Heart of the Story was born. In this special anniversary episode, Nadine reflects on the journey that began in isolation and grew into a…

I Went Silent for 5 Days: Lessons from a Mediation Retreat

Jan 25, 2026 33m

232 Five days. No talking. No technology. Just awareness.Nadine shares her powerful experience from a five-day silent Vipassana retreat—and what emerged when there was nowhere left to escape. From…

I Stepped Away for a Year: Lessons from My Sabbatical Year

Jan 18, 2026 54m

What happens when you don’t fully step away — but you stop rushing forward?Nadine reflects on the key takeaways from her semi-sabbatical: a year of working part time, studying deeply, and…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Heart of the Story have?

Heart of the Story has published 52 episodes since May 2025, covering topics in Alternative Health, Arts.

Is Heart of the Story still active?

Heart of the Story is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 34m.

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