Heart of the Story

Nadine Kenney Johnstone
  • 5.0 (17)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Author and holistic writing coach Nadine Kenney Johnstone shares interviews with today's top women writers about how to navigate life when things don't go according to plan. Guests include 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.

  1. 5D AGO

    Nadine on the Living Centered podcast

    214 In this encore episode, Nadine shares her guest appearance on the Living Centered podcast where she talked about tapping into your innate wisdom through journaling your story. This vulnerable, powerful conversation was one of Nadine's favorite podcast chats as a guest. She also gets practical and shares accessible journal prompts that changed her life and the lives of her workshop and retreat participants. Originally aired in 2023. The Living Centered Podcast is an invitation to a different way of living. Every Monday, they sit down with mental health experts, artists, and friends for a practical and honest conversation about how to pursue a more centered life—rediscovering, reclaiming, and rooting in who we truly are. onsiteworkshops.com    About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

    55 min

  2. AUG 31

    Sabbatical Adventures #8: Back to School

    213 Nadine is taking a semi-sabbatical this year to study, try new things, & travel, and she's sharing her adventures with you in a podcast series that will air monthly throughout the year. In this 8th episode, she shares the highlights, challenges, and takeaways from August, which was a month of transitions. Here are the links for her 2025/2026 workshops and retreats: Publish the Personal (virtual): Fridays, Sept 12- Oct 17 (almost full)Writer Workout Membership (virtual): Every Monday, Try a class on Sept 8Revision Retreat: Craft Your Best Draft (In-person): Aug 2026, Madeline Island School of the Arts, WI Covered in this episode: How Nadine is prioritizing rest and creativity as she transitions back to teachingThe little moments that've marked her son's transition into full pre-teen territory and what she's doing to foster his autonomy How to recognize when you're caught in unachievable back-to-school-routine expectationsHow she's using IFS for self-healing and within her relationshipsHow honest conversations are healing old woundsThe number one question that helps lead to repairThe trick that's helping her re-establish her writing routine *This is the eight episode in a year-long series for paid subscribers. Access for the full episode is available when you become a paid subscriber on Substack. About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

    9 min

  3. AUG 17

    Writing through the Side Door with Abigail Thomas

    212 In this encore episode, Nadine chats with literary legend Abigail Thomas about the interesting turns her life has taken, how she accesses hard stories, and her unique approach to structure. In this vulnerable interview, Abby shares painful moments and how she's come to embrace acceptance. In this conversation that covers an array of heartfelt topics, Abby also shares the hilarious thing she does when she's blocked. This wisdom-filled episode will resonate with writers and non-writers alike. Covered in this episode: How Abby never had a plan and the interesting twists life has takenWhat prompts she recommends to get people writingThe word that changed Abby's perspective about guiltThe hilarious thing Abby does when she's blockedHow to capture the human experience on the pageWhat she's learned with age and what advice she'd give to her younger self About Abigail Thomas: Abigail Thomas has four children, twelve grandchildren, two great grandchildren, two dogs, eleven books, and a high school education. About Nadine: Learn more about Nadine's Writer Workout membership for women writers here. Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings, Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular newsletter on Substack.

    1h 2m

  4. AUG 10

    Nadine on the Radically Loved Podcast

    211 In this encore episode, Nadine shares her guest appearance on the Radically Loved podcast, where she talks about the power of writing in your healing journey. About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

    45 min

  5. AUG 3

    Sabbatical Adventures #7: A Month of Contrasts

    206 Nadine is taking a semi-sabbatical this year to study, try new things, & travel, and she's sharing her adventures with you in a podcast series that will air monthly throughout the year. In this 7th episode, she shares the highlights, challenges, and takeaways from July, which was a month of contrasts. Covered in this episode: An update on her ongoing areas of study: creativity, perimenopause, and environmental supportHow Nadine adjusts her writing rhythms in the summerNadine's week of day dates with her husband while their son was at campThe many new experiences Nadine embarked on Nadine's favorite non-alcoholic drinks of the summerHow supporting your body is like investing in a 401kThe tension between our individual needs versus our responsibilities as mothersHaving difficult conversations as a necessary part of growth *This is the seventh episode in a year-long series for paid subscribers. Access for the full episode is available when you become a paid subscriber on Substack. About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

    4 min

  6. JUL 27

    Nadine on the Daring to Tell podcast - Pt 2

    209 In Part 2 of this encore series, Nadine talks to Daring to Tell host, Michelle Redo, about the life-changing impact that journaling has had on her, and she shares an excerpt of her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart. About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

    58 min

  7. JUL 20

    Nadine on the Daring to Tell Podcast pt. 1

    208 In Part 1 of this 2-part encore series, Nadine talks to Daring to Tell host, Michelle Redo, about the life-changing impact that journaling has had on her, and how it led her to create her own guided journal. Stay tuned for part 2 of their conversation next week, when Nadine shares a sneak peek excerpt of her new book, Come Home to Your Heart. About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

    19 min

  8. JUL 13

    Nadine on the And So She Left podcast

    207 This encore episode from when Nadine was a guest on the And So She Left podcast is about perfectionism, pivoting, and persistence. Nadine Kenney Johnstone has always surrounded herself with words. As a child in the Southside of Chicago, Nadine found herself nose-deep in countless books, drawing strength and understanding from the narratives within. Her local library was where her passion for literature bloomed, where she learned to nurture relationships with her loved ones and make sense of her surroundings. Her resilience in overcoming hardships, including bouts of intense burnout and panic attacks, has been nothing short of inspirational. In recognizing the potential of the written word to forge deep personal connections, Nadine embarked on a journey as a full-time writing coach. She established her organization, WriteWELL, with the mission of uniting wellness and writing through retreats and workshops. Nadine’s podcast, Heart of the Story, amplifies the heartfelt narratives of writers she’s worked alongside. Her goal? To empower as many women as possible, encouraging them to share their most vulnerable moments with the world. In this conversation, Nadine pulls back the curtain on her own experiences with overwork and the invaluable life lessons she learned in her early years about tenacity and perseverance. She also highlights the power of personal narratives and the freedom in being able to pivot at any stage of one's journey. About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

    57 min
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Author and holistic writing coach Nadine Kenney Johnstone shares interviews with today's top women writers about how to navigate life when things don't go according to plan. Guests include 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Nadine Kenney Johnstone
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Nadine Kenney Johnstone
  • Show Website
    Heart of the Story

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