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Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep

Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
Author: Wellness Loud
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© 2025 Wellness Loud
Description
Can’t sleep? You’re not alone—and there’s help.
Nothing Much Happens is a bedtime story podcast beloved by millions. Yoga and meditation teacher Kathryn Nicolai tells soothing, cozy stories where—just as the title says—nothing much happens. That’s the magic.
Instead of spiraling thoughts or anxious scrolling, you’ll be gently guided to a calm, comfortable place. Each episode is read twice, with a slower second telling to ease you into rest.
Trusted by listeners for over seven years and streamed more than 180 million times, it’s a ritual of safety, comfort, and sleep.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Find our bestselling book Nothing Much Happens in over 20 languages worldwide.
469 Episodes
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Originally aired April 15, 2024 (Season 13, Episode 31)
Our story tonight is called Piano Lessons, and it’s a story about a well-loved upright piano and the boy who plays it. It’s also about a little cottage where ivy grows up the bricks, middle C, lesson books, and metronomes, and finding the things that feel like they were always meant for you.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Spend time with Marmie, Birdy, and Crumb with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our story tonight is called Connect the Dots, and it’s a story about a moment carved out of the afternoon and a method to reorder a busy mind. It’s also about raindrops and a birdbath, a clear spot at the kitchen table with enough light to see by, dots and lines and not having to decide.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Nature’s Sunshine is offering 20% off your first order plus free shipping. Go to naturessunshine.com and use the code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout.
We give to a different charity each week, and this week we are giving to The Painted Turtle. More than a camp, it's a place where children with serious medical conditions can just be kids. Totally Free of Charge.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Stop by the Inn with this playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally aired April 5, 2021 (Season 7, Episode 7)
Our story tonight is called Toast and Marmalade, and it’s a story about the first few months of a lifelong friendship. It’s also about a collar with a bell on it, letting go of what-ifs, and the joy of watching someone discover a year of firsts.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
A Playlist filled with more Marmie, Birdy, and Crumb!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our story tonight is called Crayons and Grains of Sand, and it’s a story about a quiet morning at home on the cusp of a new season. It’s also about a warm patch of sunlight on the wood floor, a clementine peeled in one long curling piece, a full box of crayons, and building peace inside as things change.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Nature’s Sunshine is offering 20% off your first order plus free shipping. Go to naturessunshine.com/ and use the code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout.
Function | Own your health for $365 a year. That’s a dollar a day. Learn more and join using my link. Visit https://www.functionhealth.com/tcm/nothingmuch and use gift code NOTHINGMUCH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.
We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. They envision a peaceful world rooted in respect and justice for all living beings.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Stop by The Cabin with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally aired March 24, 2025 (Season 15, Episode 24)
Our story tonight is called Rain on the Lake, and it’s a story about a sudden arrival of drops and dark clouds on a spring afternoon. It’s also about a brooch in a jewelry box, the smell of rain mixing with lake water, mist and lamps lit in the darkness, memories of rainbows and rowboats, and taking rest as showers move across the horizon.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit https://www.curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
Fatty15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to support your long-term health and wellness - especially as you age. You can get an additional 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/NOTHINGMUCH and using code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Stop by the Inn with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our story tonight is called Soap Bubbles and Sidewalks, and it’s a story about some spring cleaning done in the fresh air. It’s also about a curtain shifting near an open window, a hose and bucket, old CDs in the glovebox, clean that goes all the way into the corners, and the energy that returns when the spring does.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Start your business today with the industry’s best business partner, Shopify, and start hearing “cha-ching.” Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at: shopify.com/nothingmuch
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code NOTHINGMUCH at oneskin.co/NOTHINGMUCH #oneskinpod
We give to a different charity each week, and this week we are giving to Frosted Faces Foundation. They deliver the promise of family and comprehensive veterinary care for senior pets whose love and lives are in jeopardy.
Pre-order Kathryn’s new book here.
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Join the Adventures of Marmie, Birdy, and Crumb with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally aired March 11, 2024 (Season 13, Episode 21)
Our story tonight is called Mudlarking on the River, Part 2, and it’s a story about a search for ordinary treasures in the sand on a bright spring morning. It’s also about a coin with a hole through its center, the red and white pole of a barber shop, forsythia stems, curiosity, and imagination, and seeing the things around us with new eyes.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit
curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
Nature’s Sunshine is offering 20% off your first order plus free shipping. Go to
naturessunshine.com and use the code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout.
Pre-order Kathryn’s new book here.
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
First This Meditation Podcast
Pay It Forward Subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Stop by the Cabin with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our stories tonight speak to the magic of the Inn on the lake, a secret space behind a hidden door, coffee cake and cat companions, getting to redo a formative moment with your present day heart and mind, music and glimpses of mid-winter sun, and the hope that comes from bravely wearing your heart on your sleeve.
We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to The Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center. They are the largest provider of free- and low-cost legal services to Michigan's vulnerable communities. They are working for a Michigan where justice does not depend on how much money you have, and where immigrants are welcomed into our communities.
It’s time to turn those “What Ifs” into “cha ching” with Shopify today. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/nothingmuch
Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code NOTHINGMUCH. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Play with Marmie, Crumb, and Birdy with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally aired March 4, 2024 (Season 13, Episode 19)
Our story tonight is called Mudlarking on the River, Part 1, and it’s a story about a sunny morning in early spring that inspires a walk along sandy banks. It’s also about ordering your usual at the bakery counter, Canada geese and garden gloves, being gentle with yourself, and hidden treasure waiting to be unearthed.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Stop by The Cabin with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our story tonight is called The Temperature Blanket, and it’s a story about a project inspired by a chance meeting and a yen to keep track of the days as they pass. It’s also about blank books and seashells, granny squares and garter stitches, rows of yarn blending into a account of the year, and taking a few moments each day to make something lasting and beautiful.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to the Prism Project. Prism Project offers a Safehouse Program, providing full wrap-around, restorative services to child survivors of trafficking.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Get Cozy at the Inn with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our stories tonight lead you through the vernal season, from the drizzly cool days of March, the on-again/off-again sunlight of April, and into the blossom filled environ of May. There will be long walks in the fresh air, seeds planted and flower beds raked, sweet treats from the bakery, trips to the cottage and the cabin, and of course, some lilacs and gentle larceny.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally Aired: March 5th, 2023 (Season 11, Episode 10)
Our story tonight is called Catnap and it’s a story about Marmalade the cat and Crumb the dog as they find ways to play through the winter. It’s also about a spark of something sweet that begins to grow between friends, a pup cup enjoyed on a heated patio, and a suitcase ready to be packed.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
More Marmie, Crumb, and Birdy Adventures on This Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our story tonight is called Paczki Day at the Bakery, and it’s a story about a bustling morning in a shop downtown. It’s also about rose hip jam and powdered sugar, wax paper and yearly traditions that have lasted for as long as anyone can remember, a line stretching down the sidewalk, generous tendencies among neighbors and the people who exist in every community, making days smoother and sweeter.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
It’s time to turn those “What Ifs” into “cha ching” with Shopify today. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/nothingmuch
We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to the Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit. They work to provide gently used furniture to neighbors in need, giving stability and dignity to families overcoming challenges such as homelessness, domestic violence, extreme poverty, or sudden crises like fires or floods.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Stop by The Inn with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally Aired: February 14, 2022 (Season 9, Episode 7)
Our story tonight is called Supper Club, and it’s a story about adventures in cooking and friendship. It’s also about less being more, a bubbling pandowdy, and the patience it takes to carefully fold a dumpling.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
Fatty15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to help support your long-term health and wellness - especially as you age. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/NOTHINGMUCH and using code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Come Visit The Cabin with this Playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our story tonight is called The Ducks in the Middle, and it’s a story about a walk over snowy fields on a mid-winter day. It’s also about a collection of old watches in the back of the closet, stepping into a ray of sunshine and how it feels to have a friend watching out for you.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
OneSkin | Get 15% off OneSkin with the code NOTHINGMUCH at https://www.oneskin.co/NOTHINGMUCH #oneskinpod
We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to the International Institute of Minnesota. They help immigrants and refugees make Minnesota their home. Their comprehensive offerings include refugee resettlement, English education, workforce and leadership development, college preparation, and immigration and citizenship assistance.
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Visit the Inn with this playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally Aired: February 3, 2025 (Season 15, Episode 10)
Our story tonight is called Little Harmonies, and it’s a story about small bits of ordinary magic that happen everyday. It’s also about new specials at the coffee shop, tulip bulbs, and a dog met at the mailbox. Notes jotted down in a journal, and the feeling that you’ve tuned into a special frequency that you might have missed before.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
Function Health | Own your health for $365 a year. That’s a dollar a day. Learn more and join using my link. Visit functionhealth.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use gift code NOTHINGMUCH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
Visit your favorite furry friends with this playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our stories tonight speak to the magic of the Inn on the Lake, a secret space behind a hidden door, coffee cake and cat companions, getting to redo a formative moment with your present-day heart and mind, music and glimpses of mid-winter sun, and the hope that comes from bravely wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Stop waiting and start selling in 2026 with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial at shopify.com/nothingmuch and hear your first "cha ching."
Nature’s Sunshine is offering 20% off your first order plus free shipping. Go to naturessunshine.com and use the code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout.
We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to Living Hope Canine Rescue. Their goal is simple but powerful: to keep dogs out of shelters before they ever have to enter.
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally aired February 8, 2021, Season 7, Episode 3
Our story tonight is called Keepsake, and it’s a story about stepping back through time to remember a particular rainy day. It’s also about sunflowers, the things our younger selves can teach us, and a scrap of something saved for years in a box.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our story tonight is called The Valentine in the Drawer, Part Two, and while it is connected to Part One, it is actually set long before the bit we heard last week. This is actually our first ever historical Nothing Much Story, something I had much too much fun with. If you manage to hear any of it, which I doubt, as you are already very sleepy, you’ll notice it is full of village easter eggs and familiar locations. It’s a story about a cold February morning, made bright and warm by an envelope slipped into a mailbox. It’s also about fogged up windows on a streetcar, a kettle about to whistle, red roses and marbles, galoshes stepped into with haste, and a small drawer in a desk filled with love notes.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
See less carts go abandoned and more sales go “cha ching” with Shopify and their Shop Pay button. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/nothingmuch
Our listeners get 15% off plus free shipping when they buy two or more pairs of prescription glasses at WarbyParker.com/NOTHINGMUCH — using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad
We give to a different charity each week, and this week we are giving to The Center for Wildlife. Their vision is to instill a sense of understanding, responsibility, and compassion for our natural world, leading to a society connected to nature and empowered to take action. They do this through conservation medicine, environmental education, community empowerment, and advocacy.
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Come Stay at The Inn with This Playlist!
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Originally presented February 12, 2024, Season 13 Episode 13
Our story tonight is called The Greenhouse, and it’s a story about flowers and vases, and the deep green scent of plants in a warm space in the winter. It’s also about a silver wine bucket, music playing while you work, pine needles and mint, and the small and big ways of building the life you want.
Get better sleep with Cured Nutrition’s Sleep Bundle. It’s already 10% off, and you can stack an additional 20% off at checkout. Plus, all orders over $100 ship free. Visit curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH and use code SWEETDREAMS at checkout to save.
Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙
Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book Here!
NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More!
Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much
Sit Meditation with Kathryn
Pay it forward subscription
Follow us on Instagram
Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun!
Looking for Marmalade and Crumb? Come find them on this playlist!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices







I love the idea of using bedtime stories to wind down—finding gentle ways to relax is so important. I also explore various wellness and recovery practices to support better sleep, reduce stress, and boost overall well-being. You can check out some practical tips and routines here: https://www.simplyzenliving.com/wellness-recovery/ Do you combine these stories with any other recovery practices, like gentle stretching or meditation, before bed?
thank you
story starts at 6:40
great thank youu♥️
music wakes me and so do louder ads. bye
A career move made me change from a lifelong night owl to a (bad word coming).... MORNING PERSON! ewww. But this podcast has eased the transition! #RecoveringNightOwl able to easily drift off to sleep pre-10pm!
love this podcast never fails making me relaxed 😴😴😴
story doesn't start until 7:20
I put this episode on whenever I have trouble sleeping, and it is genuinely the episode that helps most with falling asleep, I’ve never reached the end of it. Please do more of these! Both your voices are so so soothing ❤️
Thank you 🌸
Good stuff 😴
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