Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
Wellness Loud
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.
Rank History (30 days)
Recent Episodes
20 episodesPiano Piano
Our story tonight is called Piano, Piano, and it’s a story about replacing rush with something more settled and helpful. It’s also about a walk and a watering can, a dishcloth and a deep breath, and the useful lessons we can learn at any age. 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 Solidarity and Snacks. They are a mutual aid group providing supplies along Skid Row every Saturday. Sign-Up for our Newsletter HERE to be in the know! Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 Pre-order Kathryn’s new book On the Street Where You Live. NMH Merch, Autographed Books and More! Listen to our daytime show Stories from the Village of Nothing Much Sit Meditation with Kathryn Follow us on Instagram Visit Nothing Much Happens for more Village fun! Stop by for some tea with the Innkeeper and Chef with this playlist! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Petrichor (Encore)
Originally Aired: May 15th, 2022 (Season 9, Episode 2) Our story tonight is called Petrichor, and it’s a story about things getting greener as the spring rain falls. It’s also about a record player with a favorite album on the turntable, deer dozing in the grass, and making a habit out of enjoying yourself. Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 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! Bring treats to your favorite furry friends with this playlist! 🐶🐾🐈 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Concert in the Park
Our story tonight is called A Concert in the Park, and it’s a story about a warm evening spent enjoying live music. It’s also about tiger lilies and elephant ears, stone benches and sneakers, and the memories that melodies can bring to the surface. 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 Southern Poverty Law Center, working in partnership with communities to advance the human rights of all people. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code NOTHINGMUCH at oneskin.co/NOTHINGMUCH#oneskinpod Pre-order Kathryn’s new book, On the Street Where You Live. 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. Bring some treats to Marmalade, Birdie, and Crumb with this playlist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Lilac Booth, Part 2 (Encore)
Originally Aired: May 5, 2025 (Season 15, Episode 36) Our story tonight is called The Lilac Booth, Part Two, and it’s a story about a lovely spring day at the farmer’s market and the sweet smell of a favorite flower. It’s also about street food and sunshine, memories pulled forward by a breath of perfume, crumpled dollar bills, and the kind of beauty that can sit on your windowsill. 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 Kathryn’s new book On the Street Where You Live. 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
The Garden Center (or, The Left-Handed Snail)
Our story tonight is called The Garden Center, or, The Left-Handed Snail, and it’s a story about a quiet corner of the plant nursery where a slow moving community is coming together. It’s also about push brooms and dropped leaves, shadows in the gloaming, and something rarer than a four leaf clover. 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. We give to a different charity each week, and this week we are giving to Dogs Matter. They provide and promote a safe and healthy environment for pets of those in recovery. 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! Get Cozy at the Cabin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Lilac Booth, Part 1 (Encore)
Originally aired April 28, 2025 (Season 15, Episode 34) Our story tonight is called The Lilac Booth, Part 1, and it’s a story about a Spring morning at a familiar farm house. It’s also about bullfrogs and garden clogs, old vases collected from friends, armfuls of fresh flowers, driving with the window down on a warm day, and the small decisions that add up to make a new path in life. Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Slightly More Happens - May Mischief
Our stories tonight feature a fan favorite character who has been known to get up to some gentle floral-related trouble. We’ll come along for a lilac heist in the countryside, then spend some time restoring an old house, and finally visiting the farmer’s market for a bit of community service. 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 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 Elephant Havens. They protect, preserve, and hand-rear young African elephant orphans. 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
A Month of Sundays (Encore)
Originally Aired May 13, 2024 (Season 13, Episode 39) Our story tonight is called A Month of Sundays, and it’s a story about finding a way to make time for rest and enjoyment. It’s also about a tin box of recipe cards, a neatly made bed with the corners folded down, aunts and idioms, porch swings and school buses, and the delight of one of the best days of the week. Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 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! The Innkeeper always has room for you with this playlist! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Wind Phone
Our story tonight is called The Wind Phone, and it’s a story about a gentle way to say what’s heavy on your heart. It’s also about wood chips and lilacs, a private spot protected by trees, and lifting a handset to set down some grief. 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. 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 Hot Mess Express. They are a women-led nonprofit serving women in our communities with no judgment through cleaning, organizing, and offering a fresh start. 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! A Little Bit of Marmalade and Crumb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tiny House (Encore)
Originally aired April 14, 2025 (Season 15, Episode 30) Our story tonight is called Tiny House, and it’s a story about a snug small space to relax in. It’s also about impatiens for the flower bed, sunny days on the edge of the woods, hammocks and reading nooks, and the relief of having fewer decisions to make and more time to enjoy. Thank you for being a Premium subscriber. 💙 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April Showers
Our story tonight is called April Showers, and it’s a story about a cloudy day spent window shopping in the village. It’s also about the lovely sound the point of an umbrella makes against cobblestones, a bicycle ride taken just before the rain falls, and the perfect place to settle in to watch once it does. Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 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 Birdie’s Bookmobile, a non-profit organization committed to ending book deserts and improving children's literacy and book access in Metro Detroit. 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! A playlist full of Marmie, Birdy, and Crumb! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Tulip Farm (Encore)
Originally Aired: April 18th, 2021 (Season 7 Episode 8) Our story tonight is called The Tulip Farm, and it’s a story about a bright spring day among beds of flowers. It’s also about a gift left at dawn, redwing blackbirds, and soft moments that take your breath away. Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 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. 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! Find NMH Spotify Playlists Here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Late at the Library
Our story tonight is called Late at the Library, and it’s a story about an evening of study in a quiet spot. It’s also about pens and pencils, a story told on a felt board, hushed footsteps through the mezzanine, and the camaraderie of people sharing a common goal and space. 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 Gathering Place. They work to address the impact of marginalization by offering access to a broad range of basic necessities and wrap-around care options. 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. 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 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! Find NMH Spotify Playlists Here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
First Mow of the Year (Encore)
Originally aired April 29, 2024 (Season 13, Episode 35) Our story tonight is called First Mow of the Year, and it’s a story about a day of yard work as spring arrives in full. It’s also about pinecones and ladybugs, a glass of water enjoyed on the porch step, the sun on the back of your neck, and the shared experiences that connect us. 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
Slightly More Happens - April Adventures
Our stories tonight carry us into the bright days of Spring, with stories about time spent in gardens and neighborhood streets, enjoyable chores and small adventures, seeds and shovels, and the joy of growing sunlight. 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 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. We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to Hearts 4 Minds Inc. Helping de-stigmatize mental illness. 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! The Cabin awaits with this playlist! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Piano Lessons (Encore)
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
Connect the Dots
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
Toast and Marmalade (Encore)
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
Crayons and Grains of Sand
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
Rain on the Lake (Encore)
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