Her Story Unscripted

Heather Nelson
  • 4.8 (23)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Her Story Unscripted is a podcast where women share honest, unscripted conversations about life, growth, and the experiences that shape us — because the most powerful stories are the ones we stop trying to perfect. Hosted by Heather Nelson, this is a space for real conversations. Not rehearsed. Not polished into tidy narratives with clean endings. Just women showing up, telling their truth, and finding out they are far less alone than they thought. Each episode creates space for stories to unfold naturally — covering identity and personal growth, life transitions, relationships, resilience, and the beautiful complexity of everyday life. Whether you're in the middle of something hard, on the other side of it, or just trying to make sense of where you are right now, there is something here for you. Her Story Unscripted was born out of five years of authentic conversations — formerly known as Life Conversations with a Twist — and has evolved into a podcast with a clearer name and a deeper purpose: to make women feel seen, understood, and a little less alone in their own story. Hosted by Heather Nelson — connector, business strategist, community builder, and someone who genuinely believes that connection starts with being real. New episodes available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms. Authentic stories. No script needed. Guest inquiries and collaborations: heather@theconnectionhive.co Website: theconnectionhive.co/podcast

  1. 3d ago

    A Birth Mother's Adoption Story with 90 Day Fiance's with Kimberly Menzies

    "Do you know what it's like to wake up and not have any secrets? I'm so free." — Kimberly Menzies For years, Kimberly Menzies kept one part of her life locked away. She built a whole story around it, a marriage that wasn't quite what she said, a picket fence meant to keep people from looking too closely. Then her son found her, and she realized she was done carrying it alone. In this episode of Her Story Unscripted, a women's podcast built on honest conversations with women, Kimberly, known to many from TLC's 90 Day Fiancé, shares the real life story behind the headlines. She talks about placing two children for adoption while serving in the Army, reconnecting with her son Larry, the ongoing search for her daughter, and the flood of messages from birth mothers and adoptive families since she went public. She also gets candid about love and heartbreak on camera, the comments that still sting, the grief of losing her mom and sister, and what it means to live life on her own terms now. If you've ever been afraid of what people would think if they knew the whole story, Kimberly's freedom might feel a little contagious. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:58 Welcome to Her Story Unscripted 01:24 Heather welcomes Kimberly (and admits she was nervous for this one) 03:06 Life after reality TV: "I'm just a normal woman" 06:52 Grief, COVID, and how she first connected with Usman 09:00 Meeting on camera in Tanzania, and the private trip to Nigeria 11:21 The breakup that became a defining moment 12:55 What the comments did, and didn't, take from her 17:45 The notebook: answering every birth mother and adoptive family 19:00 The search for her daughter, and why she can't give advice 22:48 Heather on surrogacy, and the gift of making a family 23:37 The "picket fence" story she built to protect herself 29:19 Her relationship with Larry and his adoptive mom 31:53 Speaking as a birth mother at 22, and the man who changed his mind 36:11 Grief, health, and becoming the rock of the family 37:52 Love after reality TV, and being fully known 40:50 Forgiveness and friendships across the 90 Day cast 45:32 What's next for Kim (and why "Kimbali" is retired) 46:37 A shared love of Michael Jackson 48:05 Her one regret, God's timing, and her tight circle 49:40 Wrap-up About Kimberly  Kimberly Menzies is a mom, cat mom, U.S. Army veteran, and birth mother best known to audiences from TLC's 90 Day Fiancé franchise, including 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, 90 Day: The Single Life, and Pillow Talk alongside her son, Jamal. Off camera, she works full time as an assistant manager at a five-star spa, where her love of hospitality and wellness come together. After years of keeping her adoption story private, Kimberly chose to share it publicly, and she has since become a trusted voice for birth mothers, adoptive families, and adopted children who reach out to her every day. Today, she's focused on authenticity, wellness, and living life entirely on her own terms. Instagram TikTok Support the show

    A Birth Mother's Adoption Story with 90 Day Fiance's with Kimberly Menzies

  2. Sep 24

    The Song About Body Image She Knew She Had to Share with Kassidy Coulter

    “I can't remember a day I didn't think about my weight.” — Kassidy Coulter There's a kind of honesty that takes an entire year to work up the courage to say out loud. This week on Her Story Unscripted, singer/songwriter Kassidy Coulter shares the story behind the song she almost didn't release — and what it took to finally let it go. Kassidy grew up in Sonoma County and now lives in Nashville, building an independent music career one honest song at a time. In this conversation, she opens up about writing "Body Image" after a year of picking herself apart in her sister's wedding photos, the Christmas Day she played it for her mom and sister for the first time, and the stage fright she's carried since she was a little girl. We talk about authentic storytelling, self-discovery, and what it really looks like for a woman to build something from scratch while still learning to be kind to herself along the way. If you've ever looked at a photo of yourself and gone straight to the parts you don't like, this conversation will feel like sitting with a friend who gets it. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction — Heather welcomes Kassidy Coulter 02:34 - Growing up in Sonoma County and finding her way to music 04:17 - The stage fright she's carried since childhood — and the exercise that helped 14:05 - The year of chasing a number on the scale before her sister's wedding 17:39 - The Christmas Day she played “Body Image” for her family for the first time 21:27 - Building an independent music career, one song at a time About Kassidy Kassidy Coulter is a country-pop singer/songwriter based in Nashville, originally from California. She's been writing songs since she was a little girl, turning the things she's most afraid to say into music that feels less like someone else's story and more like your own thoughts, played back to you. Her songs — including "Body Image," "That Guy You Hate," and "Twenty Something" — blend vulnerable storytelling with conversational lyrics and pop-leaning country melodies. Beyond her music, Kassidy brings that same openness to social media, where she shares unreleased songs, acoustic performances, and the stories behind her writing. Connect with Kassidy Website Instagram Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube TikTok Facebook Support the show

    The Song About Body Image She Knew She Had to Share with Kassidy Coulter

  3. Sep 17

    Growing Up Between Two Worlds — On Belonging and Self-Discovery with Urmi Hossain

    "I just felt like I had to choose one. But by choosing one, I knew I was betraying my cultural identity, and I was betraying myself." — Urmi Hossain There's a version of belonging that means folding yourself in half to fit somewhere — keeping one culture on for school and another for home, and never letting the two sit in the same room. For a long time, that's the only version Urmi Hossain knew. Urmi is a wealth management professional based in Montreal, born in Italy to Bangladeshi parents. In this real life story, she shares what it was like walking into a male-dominated finance career without realizing it, why she left a demanding job to ask who she was outside of her title, and how writing her book finally let her stop choosing between two cultures and start embracing both. If you've ever felt like you had to leave part of yourself at the door to belong — this authentic storytelling conversation about women's identity and life transitions is for you. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamp 00:00 Introduction — Heather welcomes Urmi Hossain 02:40 Wearing many hats — chasing impact, not titles 08:20 Leaving a demanding job to find herself outside of work 09:34 Walking into a male-dominated finance world without realizing it 15:45 Writing Discovering Your Identity and embracing both cultures 19:13 Starting a podcast about immigration and belonging 30:23 Where to connect with Urmi Hossain  About Urmi Hossain Urmi Hossain is a self-published author, speaker, podcast host, and finance professional based in Canada, holding both her CFA and CAIA designations. Her book, Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle, reflects her journey as a third-culture woman navigating belonging, culture, and self-worth. She hosts Stories Beyond Borders, a podcast amplifying diverse voices on identity, migration, language, and what home really means, and serves as Co-Chair of Women in Leadership's Montreal Chapter. When she's not in the boardroom, you'll find her boxing, running, or with her nose in a good thriller. Instagram Instagram (Personal) Youtube Podcast Book: Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle Support the show

    Growing Up Between Two Worlds — On Belonging and Self-Discovery with Urmi Hossain

  4. Sep 10

    Real Life Stories of Resilience: 24 Years as a Las Vegas Police Officer with Annette Mullin

    "The best in people always shines through, even during the darkest times." — Annette Mullin There's the version of a crisis you see on the news, and then there's the version lived by the people who show up for it — the officers, the first responders, the moms trying to keep their own kids steady while everything around them feels unsteady. Annette Mullin lived both. Annette spent 24 years as a Las Vegas police officer — patrol, homicide, internal affairs, and nine years as a crisis negotiator. In this episode, she shares what it was like being an officer during the mass shooting on the Strip, becoming the first woman ever put in a supervisor role in her department's homicide unit, and the humbling first hostage case that taught her everything she now teaches as an instructor with the Black Swan Group. This is a real life story about resilience, service, and what it actually means to make someone feel heard. If you've ever had to hold steady for everyone else while quietly falling apart yourself, this conversation is for you. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 Introduction — Heather welcomes Annette Mullin 03:24 Annette's childhood dream of becoming a coroner and how it led her to policing 07:32 Being an officer during the mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip 09:45 Bringing her kids to a candlelight vigil to process as a community 19:42 Becoming the first woman supervisor in homicide 21:36 Nine years as a crisis negotiator and what it taught her about being heard 25:24 The transition to coaching with the Black Swan Group 39:39 Where to connect with Annette Mullin  About Annette Mullin Annette Mullin retired from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) in August 2021, closing out a 24-year career in law enforcement. She spent more than 20 years specializing in Violent Crimes Against Persons, working across Criminal Intelligence, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Abuse and Neglect, Internal Affairs, Force Investigations, and Homicide. Annette served as a Crisis Negotiator for nine years and led the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) for two of those years. In 2018, she was promoted to Director and built the Police Employee Assistance Program, providing health and wellness resources to LVMPD employees and their families. She has also taught Sexual Assault Prevention, Sex Trafficking Investigations, and Domestic Violence Prevention around the world, with engagements as far-reaching as Vietnam and Budapest. Today, Annette is a Negotiation Instructor and Coach with the Black Swan Group, translating those high-stakes experiences into practical tools for leaders, teams, and individuals navigating pressure, conflict, and growth. Website LinkedIn Support the show

    Real Life Stories of Resilience: 24 Years as a Las Vegas Police Officer with Annette Mullin

  5. Sep 3

    Perimenopause, ICU Burnout & Finding a Doctor Who Listens with Jennifer Peterson

    You think you have stability. You think you have your health. You think you have all these things. But in reality, they can be taken from you at any moment without warning — Jennifer Peterson There's a version of strength that looks like showing up for everyone else while quietly falling apart underneath it. Jennifer Peterson spent 25 years in critical care and trauma medicine — and then found herself on the other side of the emergency, bleeding out after a routine surgery, unsure she'd make it home to her own kids. In this episode, Jennifer shares the honest, unscripted story of that near-fatal medical crisis, the EMDR work that helped her carry it, and the burnout that finally pushed her to leave inpatient medicine. She opens up about why she pivoted into perimenopause and menopause care, and why so many women are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or handed antidepressants when what they actually need is real hormone support and someone willing to listen. If you've ever felt unheard by a doctor or like you had to fight for basic answers about your own body, this is a real life story about women's health, self-advocacy, and finding your people. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction — Heather welcomes Jennifer Peterson 03:12 — 25 years in critical care — how she got into medicine 09:41 — The 2017 surgery that nearly took her life 12:59 — EMDR and processing medical trauma 15:16 — Burnout, leaving inpatient medicine, and finding her real calling 19:01 — Why women are dismissed in perimenopause and menopause care 47:03 — Where to connect with Jennifer Peterson About Jennifer Peterson Jennifer Peterson is a Board-Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with more than 25 years of clinical experience. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Delaware in 2003 and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007, and spent the bulk of her career specializing in Critical Care Medicine and Transplant Hepatology. Now based in Rohnert Park, California, Jennifer draws on that deep clinical background to offer highly personalized care in perimenopause and menopause, medical weight management, and platelet-rich plasma therapy — blending evidence-based medicine with a more holistic, individualized approach to women's health. Website Facebook Instagram Support the show

    Perimenopause, ICU Burnout & Finding a Doctor Who Listens with Jennifer Peterson

  6. Aug 27

    The Birth Injury Attorney Who Advocates for Moms — Then Learned to Advocate for Herself with Gina Mundy

    "Our brains are wired for survival. They are not wired for success." — Gina Mundy There's a specific kind of courage it takes to walk out of your own life with nothing but a suitcase and $50 in your pocket. For Gina Mundy, that night came the day after Christmas, after 24 years of marriage, after she'd quietly stopped caring about the version of her life that looked perfect from the outside. Gina is a childbirth attorney with over 23 years of experience investigating what goes wrong in labor and delivery, and bestselling author of A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth. In this real life story about women navigating change, we talk about pitocin, doulas, and the racial disparities in birth outcomes she's still trying to understand — and then we talk about the night she left her marriage, and the brain science behind why staying somewhere unsafe can feel safer than leaving. This is an honest conversation about advocacy, identity, and starting over more than once in the same year. If you've ever felt your brain talk you out of a decision your heart had already made, listen in. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction — Heather welcomes Gina Mundy 03:15 — How Gina became a birth injury attorney by accident 12:00 — The realities of pitocin, induction, and advocating for yourself in labor 29:01 — The unanswered question about race and birth complications 36:03 — The night she left her marriage with $50 in her pocket 44:32 — Brains wired for survival, not success — and starting over twice in one year 48:08 — Where to connect with Gina Mundy  About Gina Mundy Gina Mundy is a childbirth attorney, bestselling author, speaker, podcaster, and mother of three based in the Detroit, Michigan area. For over 23 years she's specialized in childbirth cases and birth trauma litigation — traveling the country, analyzing medical records, and cross-examining the nation's top experts to understand why the most joyful day of a family's life sometimes goes wrong. She's the bestselling author of A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth, founder of the Safer Childbirth Community, and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast. She recently became a grandmother for the first time. Website Instagram YouTube Facebook LinkedIn TikTok Book: A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth: Expecting the Best by child-birth Support the show

    The Birth Injury Attorney Who Advocates for Moms — Then Learned to Advocate for Herself with Gina Mundy

  7. Aug 20

    Building a 7-Figure Business After Losing Everything with Jillian Murphy

    "Fun is an energy that people are magnetized to." —  Jillian Murphy There's a version of starting over that doesn't look like a five-year plan. For Jillian Murphy, it looked like losing her corporate job on a Tuesday, giving herself one day to feel bad about it, and hiring a business coach 48 hours later because she didn't have time to figure it out alone. In this episode, Jillian Murphy joins Heather to talk about building a seven-figure sales coaching business after being the first woman hired at her company since 1963 and then losing that job during the pandemic. They get into why Jillian calls her lead list her "love list," the moment she realized her old podcast brand no longer fit who she'd become, and why she still refuses to outsource her DMs or her content even with a thriving business. It's an honest conversation about women's identity, self-discovery, and what it really takes to rebuild on your own terms. If you've ever felt boxed in by a version of yourself you've outgrown, this conversation is for you. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction — Heather welcomes Jillian Murphy 02:06 — Being the first woman hired since 1963, and dropping out of the police academy 04:42 — Losing her corporate job on a Tuesday, hiring a coach 48 hours later 21:16 — Why she renamed her lead list her "love list" 41:29 — The moment she realized her podcast brand no longer fit her 14:26 — Why she'll never outsource her DMs or her content 44:20 — Where to connect with Jillian Murphy About Jillian Murphy Jillian Murphy is a Sales and Marketing Specialist with over 25 years of experience helping entrepreneurs master sales, messaging, and business growth. Website Instagram LinkedIn Support the show

    Building a 7-Figure Business After Losing Everything with Jillian Murphy

  8. Aug 13

    13 Years Sober — Kate Bee on Quitting Wine Culture for Good

    "Behind every craving for alcohol is some unmet need. Alcohol is like a sticking plaster." — Kate Bee There's a kind of struggling with alcohol that never makes it into the movies. No crash, no rock bottom — just years of feeling like something's a little off every time you reach for a glass of wine. Kate Bee knows that feeling well. She spent her twenties and most of her adult life before thirty in what she calls the gray area, before finally stopping — for good — thirteen years ago. Since then, she's built The Sober School and helped more than 4,000 women rethink their relationship with alcohol without shame or a lifelong label. Kate and I talk about mommy wine culture, the 100-day mindset shift that finally worked for her, and the confidence that showed up once she stopped numbing it. If you've ever wondered whether you need permission to question your relationship with alcohol, this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction — Heather welcomes Kate Bee03:12 — Kate's early drinking years and life without a "rock bottom"13:05 — Mommy wine culture and how alcohol gets marketed to women18:33 — The 100-day mindset shift that finally worked20:30 — What changed in Kate's body, career, and confidence23:34 — Heather's own honest reflection on her relationship with wine40:24 — Where to connect with Kate Bee and The Sober School  About Kate Bee Kate Bee is the founder of The Sober School, a coaching platform that helps women stop drinking and start living — without shame, labels, or deprivation. A former BBC journalist and certified life coach, Kate now empowers women across the globe to navigate alcohol-free living with confidence and joy. Her flagship program, Getting Unstuck, has supported more than 4,000 women in transforming their relationship with alcohol. Kate lives near Manchester, UK. Website Instagram Facebook X Support the show

    13 Years Sober — Kate Bee on Quitting Wine Culture for Good
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4.8
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Her Story Unscripted is a podcast where women share honest, unscripted conversations about life, growth, and the experiences that shape us — because the most powerful stories are the ones we stop trying to perfect. Hosted by Heather Nelson, this is a space for real conversations. Not rehearsed. Not polished into tidy narratives with clean endings. Just women showing up, telling their truth, and finding out they are far less alone than they thought. Each episode creates space for stories to unfold naturally — covering identity and personal growth, life transitions, relationships, resilience, and the beautiful complexity of everyday life. Whether you're in the middle of something hard, on the other side of it, or just trying to make sense of where you are right now, there is something here for you. Her Story Unscripted was born out of five years of authentic conversations — formerly known as Life Conversations with a Twist — and has evolved into a podcast with a clearer name and a deeper purpose: to make women feel seen, understood, and a little less alone in their own story. Hosted by Heather Nelson — connector, business strategist, community builder, and someone who genuinely believes that connection starts with being real. New episodes available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms. Authentic stories. No script needed. Guest inquiries and collaborations: heather@theconnectionhive.co Website: theconnectionhive.co/podcast

Information

  • Creator
    Heather Nelson
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Her Story Unscripted
  • Show Website
    Her Story Unscripted

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