Life Conversations with a Twist

Join me once a week for a new interview with a local, badass woman who has an amazing story to tell. Join me in conversation so you too can gain inspiration and empowerment from these stories! If you love hearing about leadership, relationships, families, motherhood and navigating hard times, then tune into my podcast and share with others. If you love what you hear, share and tag me on Instagram at @heathernelson.life. You can also visit my website at heathernelson.life.

Life Conversations with a Twist is a society podcast hosted by Heather Nelson, with 216 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Heather Nelson hosts Life Conversations with a Twist, a society show with 216 episodes published.

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  Episode #18

  A Birth Mother's Adoption Story with 90 Day Fiance's with Kimberly Menzies

  Oct 1, 202650 min

  "Do you know what it's like to wake up and not have any secrets? I'm so free." — Kimberly Menzies For years, Kimberly Menzies kept one part of her life locked away. She built a whole story around it, a marriage that wasn't quite what she said, a picket fence meant to keep people from looking too closely. Then her son found her, and she realized she was done carrying it alone. In this episode of Her Story Unscripted, a women's podcast built on honest conversations with women, Kimberly, known to many from TLC's 90 Day Fiancé, shares the real life story behind the headlines. She talks about placing two children for adoption while serving in the Army, reconnecting with her son Larry, the ongoing search for her daughter, and the flood of messages from birth mothers and adoptive families since she went public. She also gets candid about love and heartbreak on camera, the comments that still sting, the grief of losing her mom and sister, and what it means to live life on her own terms now. If you've ever been afraid of what people would think if they knew the whole story, Kimberly's freedom might feel a little contagious. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:58 Welcome to Her Story Unscripted 01:24 Heather welcomes Kimberly (and admits she was nervous for this one) 03:06 Life after reality TV: "I'm just a normal woman" 06:52 Grief, COVID, and how she first connected with Usman 09:00 Meeting on camera in Tanzania, and the private trip to Nigeria 11:21 The breakup that became a defining moment 12:55 What the comments did, and didn't, take from her 17:45 The notebook: answering every birth mother and adoptive family 19:00 The search for her daughter, and why she can't give advice 22:48 Heather on surrogacy, and the gift of making a family 23:37 The "picket fence" story she built to protect herself 29:19 Her relationship with Larry and his adoptive mom 31:53 Speaking as a birth mother at 22, and the man who changed his mind 36:11 Grief, health, and becoming the rock of the family 37:52 Love after reality TV, and being fully known 40:50 Forgiveness and friendships across the 90 Day cast 45:32 What's next for Kim (and why "Kimbali" is retired) 46:37 A shared love of Michael Jackson 48:05 Her one regret, God's timing, and her tight circle 49:40 Wrap-up About Kimberly Kimberly Menzies is a mom, cat mom, U.S. Army veteran, and birth mother best known to audiences from TLC's 90 Day Fiancé franchise, including 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, 90 Day: The Single Life, and Pillow Talk alongside her son, Jamal. Off camera, she works full time as an assistant manager at a five-star spa, where her love of hospitality and wellness come together. After years of keeping her adoption story private, Kimberly chose to share it publicly, and she has since become a trusted voice for birth mothers, adoptive families, and adopted children who reach out to her every day. Today, she's focused on authenticity, wellness, and living life entirely on her own terms. Instagram TikTok Support the show

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  Episode #17

  The Song About Body Image She Knew She Had to Share with Kassidy Coulter

  Sep 24, 202644 min

  “I can't remember a day I didn't think about my weight.” — Kassidy Coulter There's a kind of honesty that takes an entire year to work up the courage to say out loud. This week on Her Story Unscripted, singer/songwriter Kassidy Coulter shares the story behind the song she almost didn't release — and what it took to finally let it go. Kassidy grew up in Sonoma County and now lives in Nashville, building an independent music career one honest song at a time. In this conversation, she opens up about writing "Body Image" after a year of picking herself apart in her sister's wedding photos, the Christmas Day she played it for her mom and sister for the first time, and the stage fright she's carried since she was a little girl. We talk about authentic storytelling, self-discovery, and what it really looks like for a woman to build something from scratch while still learning to be kind to herself along the way. If you've ever looked at a photo of yourself and gone straight to the parts you don't like, this conversation will feel like sitting with a friend who gets it. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction — Heather welcomes Kassidy Coulter 02:34 - Growing up in Sonoma County and finding her way to music 04:17 - The stage fright she's carried since childhood — and the exercise that helped 14:05 - The year of chasing a number on the scale before her sister's wedding 17:39 - The Christmas Day she played “Body Image” for her family for the first time 21:27 - Building an independent music career, one song at a time About Kassidy Kassidy Coulter is a country-pop singer/songwriter based in Nashville, originally from California. She's been writing songs since she was a little girl, turning the things she's most afraid to say into music that feels less like someone else's story and more like your own thoughts, played back to you. Her songs — including "Body Image," "That Guy You Hate," and "Twenty Something" — blend vulnerable storytelling with conversational lyrics and pop-leaning country melodies. Beyond her music, Kassidy brings that same openness to social media, where she shares unreleased songs, acoustic performances, and the stories behind her writing. Connect with Kassidy Website Instagram Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube TikTok Facebook Support the show

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  Episode #16

  Growing Up Between Two Worlds — On Belonging and Self-Discovery with Urmi Hossain

  Sep 17, 202631 min

  "I just felt like I had to choose one. But by choosing one, I knew I was betraying my cultural identity, and I was betraying myself." — Urmi Hossain There's a version of belonging that means folding yourself in half to fit somewhere — keeping one culture on for school and another for home, and never letting the two sit in the same room. For a long time, that's the only version Urmi Hossain knew. Urmi is a wealth management professional based in Montreal, born in Italy to Bangladeshi parents. In this real life story, she shares what it was like walking into a male-dominated finance career without realizing it, why she left a demanding job to ask who she was outside of her title, and how writing her book finally let her stop choosing between two cultures and start embracing both. If you've ever felt like you had to leave part of yourself at the door to belong — this authentic storytelling conversation about women's identity and life transitions is for you. New episodes every Thursday on all major podcast platforms. Connect with Heather: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Timestamp 00:00 Introduction — Heather welcomes Urmi Hossain 02:40 Wearing many hats — chasing impact, not titles 08:20 Leaving a demanding job to find herself outside of work 09:34 Walking into a male-dominated finance world without realizing it 15:45 Writing Discovering Your Identity and embracing both cultures 19:13 Starting a podcast about immigration and belonging 30:23 Where to connect with Urmi Hossain About Urmi Hossain Urmi Hossain is a self-published author, speaker, podcast host, and finance professional based in Canada, holding both her CFA and CAIA designations. Her book, Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle, reflects her journey as a third-culture woman navigating belonging, culture, and self-worth. She hosts Stories Beyond Borders, a podcast amplifying diverse voices on identity, migration, language, and what home really means, and serves as Co-Chair of Women in Leadership's Montreal Chapter. When she's not in the boardroom, you'll find her boxing, running, or with her nose in a good thriller. Instagram Instagram (Personal) Youtube Podcast Book: Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle Support the show

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  Episode #15

  Real Life Stories of Resilience: 24 Years as a Las Vegas Police Officer with Annette Mullin

  Sep 10, 202641 min

  "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

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  Episode #14

  Perimenopause, ICU Burnout & Finding a Doctor Who Listens with Jennifer Peterson

  Sep 3, 202650 min

  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

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