Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep

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.

Episodes

Thanksgiving at the Cabin (Encore)

November 27, 2025 • 34 mins

Originally presented as Season 14, Episode 51 Our story tonight is called Thanksgiving at the Cabin, and it’s a story about a walk through the woods with a friend to start the day. It’s also about the sun on your face, empty branches, and squirrels, cranberries, and apples. The sound of the shower in the other room, and a note written in the steam on the mirror. Family, as you find it, and the deep feeling of enough. For Cured’s...

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After Dinner

November 24, 2025 • 33 mins

Our story tonight is called After Dinner, and it is the third part in a series featuring some favorite animals in the Village of Nothing Much. You could go back and listen to the previous two if you’ve missed them, but you’ll probably be asleep in a few moments. This is a story about the quiet that settles in as the plates are cleared and the candles burn down. It’s also about passed-down recipes, dogs chasing through the halls, ba...

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The Joy of Missing Out (Encore)

November 20, 2025 • 32 mins

Originally Presented as Season 12, Episode 31 Our story tonight is called The Joy of Missing Out, and it’s a story about recharging your body when your battery has run down. It’s also about frost on the windows, reading a favorite book snuggled deep under the covers, being honest about what you need, and giving others permission to do the same. Cured Dream Gummies: Visit ⁠https://curednutrition.com/pages/nothingmuch⁠ and use ...

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Curtain Call

November 17, 2025 • 4 mins

Join Kathryn Nicolai and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th filled with calming bedtime stories, live music, guided journaling, and a few thoughtful surprises. You can tune in from anywhere! Tickets available now at ⁠pave.live/nothingmuchhappens ⁠🎟️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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The Guest Room

November 17, 2025 • 34 mins

Our story tonight is called The Guest Room, and it’s a story about making a space feel warm and welcoming. It’s also about fresh sheets and fluffy stacks of towels, a pearly button and a jewelry box, the clean feeling of a room that’s been properly aired out, a silly dog who sees every chore as a chance for play, and showing love through thoughtful hospitality. Join Kathryn Nicolai and friends for a one-night-only live virtual eve...

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Sunday Reset (Encore)

November 13, 2025 • 32 mins

Originally presented as Season 10, Episode 23 Our story tonight is called Sunday Reset, and it’s a story about a day set aside to plan for a good week ahead. It’s also about sheets hung on the line, drying in the last warm rays of the autumn, a record spinning on the turntable, and a changed outlook after advice from a friend. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th filled wi...

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Recipe Testing

November 10, 2025 • 36 mins

Our story tonight is called Recipe Testing, and it’s a story about a quiet afternoon at home, preparing for the holidays. It’s also about leaves raked into piles in the backyard, cranberries and pastry flour, the incredible softness of a dog’s ears, soup pots and sage, and the comfortable feeling of your loved ones resting nearby as you cook. Join Kathryn Nicolai and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, ...

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Autumn Sun (Encore)

November 6, 2025 • 35 mins

Originally presented as Season 14, Episode 45, November 4, 2024 Our story tonight is called Autumn Sun, and it’s a story about a day at Weathervane Farm, treating the animals to autumnal enrichment. It’s also about light shifting through orange and red leaves, the pillowy soil of a well tilled garden, the last pumpkins picked from their vines, and the simple joy of watching kids play. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night...

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Rainy Morning (Encore)

November 3, 2025 • 35 mins

Originally presented as Season 8, Bonus Episode 4 Our story tonight is called Rainy Morning, and it’s a story about savoring a good book from bed. It’s also about resting your eyes, having the house to yourself, and looking forward to the next great read. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th filled with calming bedtime stories, live music, guided journaling, and a few tho...

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Trick or Treat (Encore)

October 30, 2025 • 35 mins

Originally presented as Season 8, Episode 12, October 25, 2021 Our story tonight is called Trick or Treat, and it’s a story about a roaming the streets on All Hallows' Eve. It’s also about a gust of wind that turns you around, lit porch lights, and making memories with the people you love. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th filled with calming bedtime stories, live mu...

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Chef and the Ghost Light

October 27, 2025 • 42 mins

Our story tonight is called Chef and the Ghost Light, and it’s a story in which, fine, I’ll admit, something happens. The jig is up. It’s even a little spooky friends. So if that isn’t your cup of sleepy-time tea, please skip this episode and dive into one of the hundreds of others I’ve written for you. We’ll return to your regular programming next week. This is a story about Halloween Night at the Inn, as party guests dance and ca...

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Behind the Curtain (Encore)

October 23, 2025 • 34 mins

Originally Presented as Season 10, Episode 22, October 31, 2022 Our story tonight is called Behind the Curtain, and it’s a story about two friends meeting for the first time. It’s also about a copper kettle simmering on the stove, a gentle approach to tip people toward kindness, and cinnamon sticks and sliced apples. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th filled with calmi...

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The Gatekeeper Tree

October 20, 2025 • 37 mins

Our story tonight is called The Gatekeeper Tree, and it is ever-so-gently a spooky bedtime story. I know that’s not for everyone, so if it’s not for you, the good news is that we have hundreds of other episodes to listen always at your fingertips. This story is about a late night expedition, the flickering light of a lantern in the woods, tree roots that might trip you up, or make way, depending whether or not you ought to be there...

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The Curios Shop (Encore)

October 16, 2025 • 36 mins

Originally presented as Season 10, Episode 21, October 24, 2022 Our story tonight is called The Curios Shop, and it’s a story about a little shop in downtown Nothing Much, that takes the right set of circumstances to be found. It’s also about creaky wood floors, an old book covered in velvet, and a small grey cat with yellow eyes. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th fill...

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Rosewater and Witch Hazel

October 13, 2025 • 32 mins

Our story tonight is called Rosewater and Witch Hazel, and it’s a story about reclaiming your sparkle on a moonlit night. It’s also about a grey cat and a friendly neighborhood shop for needful things, flower petals and vanilla pods, brown paper and an ink pad, and taking time to pamper yourself, just as you deserve. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th filled with calming ...

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The Leaf House (Encore)

October 9, 2025 • 31 mins

Originally Aired: October 4th, 2020 (Season 6, Episode 7) Our story tonight is called The Leaf House, and it’s a story about an autumn day spent working in the yard. It’s also a game remembered from childhood, a spider’s web spun on a chrysanthemum, and different ways to think about home. Visit ⁠⁠curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH⁠⁠ and use code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout to receive 20% off your order. Subscribe to our ⁠Premium chan...

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Autumn at the Inn, Part 4

October 6, 2025 • 32 mins

Our story tonight is called Autumn at the Inn, Part Four, and for now it’s the last in this series. It’s a story about a new routine that heals as it unfolds, a morning cup of tea drunk from a window seat on the second floor, a room full of interesting objects, and stories waiting to be heard. It’s also about an armful of letters, a bike ride through falling leaves and stepping into something new to find yourself again. Subscrib...

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The Porch Steps (Encore)

October 2, 2025 • 33 mins

Originally presented as Season 12, Episode 19, October 2, 2023 Our story tonight is called The Porch Steps, and it’s a story about tending to a satisfying chore on a cool day. It’s also about acorns falling on the sidewalk, the scent of a wood fire on a cool night, a daydream about the wind, and stepping back to take in a job well done. Subscribe to our ⁠Premium channel.⁠ The first month is on us. 💙 ⁠NMH merch, autographed...

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Autumn at the Inn, Part 3

September 29, 2025 • 44 mins

Our story tonight is called Autumn at the Inn, Part Three. And, you guessed it, it is a continuation of the last two episodes. Though you don't need to go back and listen to those if you slept through them, which I hope you did. This is a story about arriving somewhere you've never been, but where you feel instantly at home. It's also about eucalyptus and chamomile, a thick blanket at the foot of the bed, ducks on the lake, meetin...

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Chef and Sycamore (Encore)

September 25, 2025 • 34 mins

Our story tonight is called Chef and Sycamore, and it’s a story about an afternoon in the kitchens at the Inn, as jars of pickles are lowered into the canner. It’s also about sheets of labels ready to add to the jars, the view of the hammocks in the side yard, and a kitty waiting not-so-patiently to play. For a limited time, you can try OneSkin with 15% off using code NOTHINGMUCH at ⁠oneskin.co⁠. Subscribe to our ⁠Premium ch...

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Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Thanksgiving at the Cabin (Encore)

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}After Dinner

The Joy of Missing Out (Encore)

Curtain Call

The Guest Room

Sunday Reset (Encore)

Recipe Testing

Autumn Sun (Encore)

Rainy Morning (Encore)

Trick or Treat (Encore)

Chef and the Ghost Light

Behind the Curtain (Encore)

The Gatekeeper Tree

The Curios Shop (Encore)

Rosewater and Witch Hazel

The Leaf House (Encore)

Autumn at the Inn, Part 4

The Porch Steps (Encore)

Autumn at the Inn, Part 3

Chef and Sycamore (Encore)

Popular Podcasts

Host

Kathryn Nicolai

Thanksgiving at the Cabin (Encore)

After Dinner