The Ducks in the Middle

The Ducks in the Middle

Author: Wellness Loud February 23, 2026 Duration: 37:02
Our story tonight is called The Ducks in the Middle, and it’s a story about a walk over snowy fields on a mid-winter day. It’s also about a collection of old watches in the back of the closet, stepping into a ray of sunshine and how it feels to have a friend watching out for you. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium channel.⁠⁠⁠⁠ The first month is on us. 💙 OneSkin | Get 15% off OneSkin with the code NOTHINGMUCH at ⁠https://www.oneskin.co/NOTHINGMUCH⁠ #oneskinpod We give to a different charity each week and this week we are giving to the ⁠International Institute of Minnesota⁠. They help immigrants and refugees make Minnesota their home. Their comprehensive offerings include refugee resettlement, English education, workforce and leadership development, college preparation, and immigration and citizenship assistance. Pre-Order Links for Kathryn's New Book ⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠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! Visit the Inn with this playlist! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever find yourself staring at the ceiling, your mind racing through the day's worries or tomorrow's to-do list? Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep offers a different path to rest. Created by Wellness Loud and narrated by yoga and meditation teacher Kathryn Nicolai, this unique podcast has become a nightly ritual for millions seeking a quiet mind. The concept is beautifully simple: each episode is a cozy, soothing story where, true to its name, nothing much happens. There's no dramatic plot, just gentle narratives about baking bread, walking through a quiet village, or noticing the details in a familiar room. This deliberate calm is the entire point, designed to replace that mental chatter with a sense of peaceful familiarity. To deepen that relaxation, every story is read twice. The first telling lets you settle in and picture the scene, while the second, slower repetition allows your breathing to sync with the pace of the words, gently escorting your busy thoughts toward stillness. It’s less about listening to a story and more about being lulled by one. If you're tired of counting sheep, this podcast provides a reliably soft, spoken-word sanctuary, a dedicated space to unwind and signal to your nervous system that it's finally time to rest.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
Podcast Episodes
The Tulip Farm (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Originally Aired: April 18th, 2021 (Season 7 Episode 8) Our story tonight is called The Tulip Farm, and it’s a story about a bright spring day among beds of flowers. It’s also about a gift left at dawn, redwing blackbird…
Late at the Library [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:49
Our story tonight is called Late at the Library, and it’s a story about an evening of study in a quiet spot. It’s also about pens and pencils, a story told on a felt board, hushed footsteps through the mezzanine, and the…
First Mow of the Year (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:20
Originally aired April 29, 2024 (Season 13, Episode 35) Our story tonight is called First Mow of the Year, and it’s a story about a day of yard work as spring arrives in full. It’s also about pinecones and ladybugs, a gl…
Slightly More Happens - April Adventures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:02
Our stories tonight carry us into the bright days of Spring, with stories about time spent in gardens and neighborhood streets, enjoyable chores and small adventures, seeds and shovels, and the joy of growing sunlight. S…
Piano Lessons (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:47
Originally aired April 15, 2024 (Season 13, Episode 31) Our story tonight is called Piano Lessons, and it’s a story about a well-loved upright piano and the boy who plays it. It’s also about a little cottage where ivy gr…
Connect the Dots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:22
Our story tonight is called Connect the Dots, and it’s a story about a moment carved out of the afternoon and a method to reorder a busy mind. It’s also about raindrops and a birdbath, a clear spot at the kitchen table w…
Toast and Marmalade (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:16
Originally aired April 5, 2021 (Season 7, Episode 7) Our story tonight is called Toast and Marmalade, and it’s a story about the first few months of a lifelong friendship. It’s also about a collar with a bell on it, lett…
Crayons and Grains of Sand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:04
Our story tonight is called Crayons and Grains of Sand, and it’s a story about a quiet morning at home on the cusp of a new season. It’s also about a warm patch of sunlight on the wood floor, a clementine peeled in one l…
Rain on the Lake (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:34
Originally aired March 24, 2025 (Season 15, Episode 24) Our story tonight is called Rain on the Lake, and it’s a story about a sudden arrival of drops and dark clouds on a spring afternoon. It’s also about a brooch in a…
Soap Bubbles and Sidewalks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:38
Our story tonight is called Soap Bubbles and Sidewalks, and it’s a story about some spring cleaning done in the fresh air. It’s also about a curtain shifting near an open window, a hose and bucket, old CDs in the glovebo…