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. 4d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Aug 6

    Women's Self-Care Isn't Selfish — The Papers We Can't Let Go Of with Lisa Woodruff

    "I was just really in a dark place, and that's when I started Organized 365." — Lisa Woodruff There's a stack of papers somewhere in your house you've been meaning to deal with. Maybe it's in a drawer, maybe it's a basket by the door. For Lisa Woodruff, that stack of overwhelm became the thing that changed the whole direction of her life. In this episode, Lisa Woodruff — founder of Organize 365 — joins Heather to share the honest, unscripted story of the recession, the family loss, and the years of invisible overwhelm that led her to build a company around one radical idea: your home is a business, and you're the CEO. They talk about the five levels of work happening in every household, why paper is the hardest thing to let go of, and the Sunday Basket system that's changed how thousands of women run their weeks. If you've ever felt like the mental load of running a home is quietly running you, this real life story about women, order, and starting over 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 Lisa Woodruff. 02:17 — Lisa's path from stay-at-home mom to founding Organize 365. 08:42 — The recession, her parents' divorce, and losing her dad — all at once. 15:32 — The five levels of work happening in every home. 24:11 — Why paper is the hardest thing to organize, and what to actually keep. 31:46 — What the Sunday Basket is and how it changes your week. 44:18 — Where to connect with Lisa Woodruff. About Lisa Woodruff Lisa Woodruff is a productivity specialist, home organization expert, and founder and CEO of Organize 365®. After spending a decade as a stay-at-home mom, she built a company that helps women organize their homes and their paper with functional systems that actually work — including her bestselling Sunday Basket® system. Her top-rated Organize 365® Podcast has surpassed 25 million downloads, and she's the author of several Amazon bestselling books, including The Paper Solution. Lisa is in the final stages of a PhD in Psychology, where her research focuses on operationalizing the definition of housework and testing real interventions for homeowners. Her mission is to free every woman to pursue her unique passion and gift with the world. Instagram Website  Facebook  Email Support the show

    Women's Self-Care Isn't Selfish — The Papers We Can't Let Go Of with Lisa Woodruff

  7. Jul 30

    Women's Self-Care Isn't Selfish — The Importance of Nervous System Regulation and the Skin with Amelia Castillo

    "If you're the caretaker of someone in any way, it will also take a toll on you. And it's okay to then say, I need someone else to help me while I help this person."— Amelia Castillo There's a version of self-care we've all been sold — bubble baths, candles, a glass of wine we didn't even want. And then there's the real thing, the kind that shows up quietly in your skin when nobody's watching. Amelia Castillo is a Sonoma County esthetician with 17 years of experience, and in this episode she shares the honest story of what happened to her own skin when her best friend was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. We talk about the nervous system, perimenopause and hormones, why women carry so much guilt around self-care, and what it really costs to hold someone else's hand through the hardest moment of their life. If you've ever felt like your body was trying to tell you something, or you've been the strong one for someone else while quietly falling apart, 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 Amelia Castillo. 01:49 — Amelia's 17 years as an esthetician and how her approach has evolved. 04:05 — The nervous system, the skin, and why it gets overlooked. 08:17 — Redefining self-care beyond bubble baths and wine. 23:29 — Caring for her best friend through stage four breast cancer. 19:41 — Perimenopause, sleep, and the evening routine that changes everything. 47:26 — Where to connect with Amelia.  About Amelia Castillo Amelia Castillo is a wife, mom, esthetician, and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach with nearly two decades of experience. As the owner of Bare Skin Beauty, she is passionate about helping women feel confident in their skin through a blend of science, wellness, and real life sustainability. Website Instagram YouTube Facebook Support the show

    Women's Self-Care Isn't Selfish — The Importance of Nervous System Regulation and the Skin with Amelia Castillo

  8. Jul 23

    Midlife Burnout, Hormones, and the Truth About Mineral Depletion — with Dori Martin

    "It's totally her minerals, it's not her."— Dori Martin There's a particular kind of tired that doesn't go away with sleep — the brain fog, the inflammation, the mood swings that make you feel like a stranger in your own body. For years, Dori Martin thought that was just what happens to women in midlife. It wasn't, and what she discovered instead is the heart of this conversation. Dori Martin is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner who uses Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis to help midlife women understand what's really going on beneath the surface. We talk about the decade of caretaking that led to her own burnout — from a divorce with two small children, to getting engaged to a man given a terminal diagnosis, to watching her own labs come back worse than his. Dori explains why mineral depletion is so often mistaken for a personality problem, and what it actually takes for a woman's body to feel safe enough to rest and recover. If you've ever felt exhausted, inflamed, or like your moods aren't quite your own — this one will feel like a mirror. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 Introduction — Heather welcomes Dori Martin. 03:25 Dori's 2006 divorce and the start of a decade of holding it all together. 03:25 Getting engaged to a man given a terminal diagnosis. 26:26 The mastermind, the flatline, and the shame of not keeping up. 14:08 What Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis actually shows. 16:11 Sodium, potassium, copper — the minerals behind mood and burnout. 38:13 Nervous system regulation, safety, and functional freeze. 46:54 Where to connect with Dori Martin.  About Dori Martin Dori Martin is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis specialist who helps midlife women understand the connection between mineral depletion, hormone imbalance, and burnout. After navigating her own years of unrecognized depletion — through single motherhood, caregiving, and building a business from the ground up — she now helps women read their own body's data so they can stop guessing and start healing. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, three kids, and a whole lot of hard-won wisdom about rest. Website Instagram YouTube Facebook Support the show

    Midlife Burnout, Hormones, and the Truth About Mineral Depletion — with Dori Martin
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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
    214
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Her Story Unscripted
  • Show Website
    Her Story Unscripted

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