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Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep

Nothing Much Happens
  • 4.7 (10K)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Semiweekly

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.

  1. Slightly More Happens - July Journeys

    17h ago

    Slightly More Happens - July Journeys

    Our stories tonight treat us to many sunny moments in and around the Inn. They are stories about a stately home at the end of a long drive, a lake shimmering as rowboats glide across it, coffee cake and names in a ledger and a place to rest and enjoy some of the sweetest days of summer. Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 Try Nature’s Sunshine and experience the difference with supplements that are better for you and the planet. Go to ⁠naturessunshine.com⁠ today and use the code NOTHINGMUCH for 20% off your first order, plus free shipping. We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to ⁠Amma Center of Michigan⁠. Helping people meet each of their five basic needs — food, shelter, education, healthcare and livelihood — wherever and whenever possible. Join the new Village of Much Happens app! Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay in the know. 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

    1h 27m

  2. 4d ago

    In the Map Room (Encore)

    Originally aired July 7, 2020 (Season 6, Episode 1) Our story tonight is called In the Map Room, and it’s a story about the pleasures of looking at the world drawn out on paper. It’s also about a gasp of koi fish in a pond, a bike ride that leads somewhere surprising, and the view from the upper room of an old house. Subscribe to our ⁠Premium channel⁠. The first month is on us. 💙 Quince Make your summer bedding feel better. Go to quince.com/nothingmuch for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Register for the new Nothing Much Happens app! Launching July 9th! 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

    30 min

  3. Jul 6

    Out and Back

    Our story tonight is called Out and Back, and it’s a story about a calm way to cap a long summer day. It’s also about hickory trees and fresh hay in the field, katydids and kickstands, and letting your senses fill with the sights and sounds around you, being here while here is happening. Subscribe to our Premium channel. The first month is on us. 💙 Whether it's a hobby, a passion, or a long-held idea, Shopify can help you bring it to life. Start with a free trial at ⁠⁠shopify.com/nothingmuch⁠ We give to a different charity each week, and this week we are giving to ⁠Wishbone Pet Rescue⁠ in Douglas, Michigan. They work to protect, shelter, and rehome animals in need. ⁠⁠⁠Pre-register for the Village of Nothing Much app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Use code VILLAGE-FOUNDER for 25% off for life! Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay in the know. 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. Stop by The Inn on your adventures with this playlist! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  4. Jul 2

    The Evening of the 4th (Encore)

    Originally aired July 7, 2025 (Season 16, Episode 2) Our story tonight is called The Evening of the 4th, and it’s a story about a day-long event that ends with a picnic and a concert on the grass. It’s also about hand pies and potato salad, a busy kitchen full of aproned volunteers and the sound of the instruments tuning up on the patio. Thyme and lemon zest, and the satisfaction of sharing good times with your neighbors. Subscribe to our ⁠Premium channel⁠. The first month is on us.💙 ⁠⁠⁠Pre-register for the Village of Nothing Much app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Use code VILLAGE-FOUNDER for 25% off for life. 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. Spend some time at The Inn with this playlist! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  5. Jul 1 • Subscribers Only

    The Longest Day (Bonus)

    Our story tonight is called The Longest Day, and it continues my foray into prose poetry, inspired by the concept of sonder. It’s a story about a clothes line and a cooling night wind. It’s also about a rowboat and feathers skimming over water, heart shaped leaves and having as much time as you need and many pleasant ways to pass it. Thank you for being a Premium member. 💙 Pre-registration is open for the new ⁠NMH app⁠ launching on July 9th, 2026! 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! Sign-Up for our Newsletter⁠ HERE⁠ to be in the know!

    30 min
  6. Much More Happens - Volume 9 - Summer Favorites

    Jun 30 • Subscribers Only

    Much More Happens - Volume 9 - Summer Favorites

    Our stories tonight take you through warm months in the village and surrounding areas. We’ll visit wild woods and warm beaches, we’ll have picnics and find shapes in the clouds, we’ll paddle down the canal, put up batches of pickles and nap through summer storms. Thank you for being a Premium member. 💙 Pre-registration is open for the new ⁠NMH app⁠ launching on July 9th, 2026! 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! Sign-Up for our Newsletter ⁠HERE⁠ to be in the know!

    9h 30m

  7. Jun 29

    Slow Life

    Our story tonight is called Slow Life, and it’s about changing your pace in lots of small ways. It’s also about the texture of tree bark, your shoulders releasing from your ears, and the feeling of cello music vibrating in your chest. 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 Tiny Paws Pug Rescue, finding pugs their forever homes. Pre-register for the Village of Nothing Much app. Use code VILLAGE-FOUNDER for 25% off for life. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know. 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. Stop by the Cabin with this playlist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  8. Jun 25

    The Last Day of School (Encore)

    Originally presented as Bonus Episode 6 of Season 15 (June 1, 2025) Our story tonight is called The Last Day of School, and it’s a story about a slow parade of proud students through downtown Nothing Much. It’s also about baseball cards and bike spokes, lemon candies and bubbles, bookmarks and summer music, and lazy days ahead. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠Premium channel⁠⁠. The first month is on us. Pre-register for the Nothing Much Happens app launching July 9th at nothingmuchhappens.com/village-preregister using promo code: VILLAGE-FOUNDER to lock in the 25% discount for life.  Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠ to stay in the know. 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

    30 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
10,078 Ratings

About

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.

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