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When to Stay & When to Go w/ Emily P. Freeman

Episode 215 • 14th September 2025 • Heart of the Story • Nadine Kenney Johnstone

215 In this encore episode with bestselling author, Emily P Freeman, we discuss how to decide whether to stay in or leave a space (a job, friendship, community, home, relationship, etc.) While no one else can choose for us, there are key questions that help us decide from an aligned space. That's why Emily P Freeman's latest book, How to Walk into a Room (which immediately landed on the bestseller list), is the perfect guide for discerning the next step in your big decision.

Covered in this episode:

Emily and Nadine share personal stories of hard goodbyes
The scene from the book that gave Nadine permission to be human
Why Emily’s editor urged her to have more self-compassion
Why we didn't choose wrong even if something didn't last forever
What to do when our investment in something makes it hard to say goodbye
How to give ourselves grace in the midst of transition-shame
What to do when we experience endings we didn't see coming
How to give ourselves closure when we haven't gotten it from someone else
Emily’s favorite 2-word mantra when we're in a seemingly long struggle
What Emily knows for sure

Download Nadine's mini-retreat reset for busy women here. This guided meditation creates calm and clarity so you can listen to the directions of your heart.

About Emily:

Emily P. Freeman is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of five books, including The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions. As a spiritual director, workshop leader, and host of The Next Right Thing podcast (more than 25 million downloads), her most important work is to help create soul space and offer spiritual companionship and discernment for anyone struggling with decision fatigue. Emily holds a master’s degree in spiritual formation and leadership from Friends University. She lives in North Carolina with her family.

website: https://emilypfreeman.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/emilypfreeman/

About Nadine:

Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart, is an essay collection and guided journal. She has been featured in Cosmo, Authority, MindBodyGreen, Natural Awakenings,Chicago Magazine, and more. She writes a regular column about mid-life reclamation on Substack.

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trailer Trailer

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