When Jane Smith’s van breaks down outside Bend, Oregon, she’s forced to face more than a busted alternator, she must confront the fear of being seen.

What follows is a story of healing, art, and the courage to call yourself an artist.

Brushstrokes to Breakdowns is a journey through silence, self-doubt, and the road that leads home-not to a place, but to purpose. Perfect for dreamers, painters, and anyone building a life from the ashes of what came before.

Keywords: artist journey, female entrepreneur fiction, vanlife story, creative healing, women in business, finding purpose, self discovery, small town romance, inspirational fiction, Hallmark style, business fiction, #HerStoryHerJourney, #BusinessFiction

✨ Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
💌 Join the Her Story Society for behind-the-scenes art and story notes → https://www.patreon.com/HerStoryHerJourney

About the Podcast: Her Story. Her Journey is where fictional storytelling meets real-world business inspiration. Each episode shares a short, emotionally rich story designed to help you move forward in your own entrepreneurial journey, whether you're just starting or starting over.

I'm Melissa, a successful business owner, mom of six, and business coach with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and 7 years coaching women just like you. I've built multiple income streams from home while raising a family, and I believe in learning through story, because stories stick. If you’ve ever felt like business advice wasn’t made for your life, you’re in the right place.

In this narrated fiction episode, Sam Antonio is more than a name, it’s a reminder that your past doesn’t define your future. This heartfelt story follows Sam as he learns to pursue his dreams despite mistakes, regrets, and the weight of history. Along the way, he discovers that the courage to move forward is often greater than the pain of looking back.

If you’ve ever felt stuck because of your past, doubted your worth, or wondered if it’s too late to begin again, this story is your invitation to believe otherwise. With warmth, grit, and inspiration, Sam Antonio shows us that no matter where we’ve been, we all have the power to step into where we’re going.

Want more behind-the-scenes insight, journal prompts, ad-free episodes, and early access to new stories? Join the Her Story Society on Patreon:

⁠⁠https://melahti.com/HerStorySociety⁠⁠

About the Podcast: Her Story. Her Journey is where fictional storytelling meets real-world business inspiration. Each episode shares a short, emotionally rich story designed to help you move forward in your own entrepreneurial journey, whether you're just starting or starting over.

I'm Melissa, a successful business owner, mom of six, and business coach with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and 7 years coaching women just like you. I've built multiple income streams from home while raising a family, and I believe in learning through story, because stories stick. If you’ve ever felt like business advice wasn’t made for your life, you’re in the right place.

What if one small “yes” changed everything?

In this uplifting short novel, 20-year-old Sofie travels to a weaving retreat in Wales, New Hampshire, craving peace and quiet. But instead of just yarn and solitude, she finds Krystin, a wildly creative weaver with a secret plan and Ben, her fiddle-playing son who carves tables by day and listens like the world depends on it.

Told in alternating points of view and steeped in creativity, this is a story about what happens when we stop playing small and start following the thread.

If you’ve ever:

• Said yes to something before you felt ready

• Found clarity in nature and quiet work

• Or fallen in love with someone who saw your soul before you did...

Then Where the Wild Threads Lead is for you.

💬 Drop a comment if you loved a moment in the story—we read every one.
🎧 Listen on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you tune into stories that feel like a hug.
Want more behind-the-scenes insight, journal prompts, ad-free episodes, and early access to new stories? Join the Her Story Society on Patreon:

⁠⁠https://melahti.com/HerStorySociety⁠⁠

About the Podcast: Her Story. Her Journey is where fictional storytelling meets real-world business inspiration. Each episode shares a short, emotionally rich story designed to help you move forward in your own entrepreneurial journey, whether you're just starting or starting over.

I'm Melissa, a successful business owner, mom of six, and business coach with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and 7 years coaching women just like you. I've built multiple income streams from home while raising a family, and I believe in learning through story, because stories stick. If you’ve ever felt like business advice wasn’t made for your life, you’re in the right place.

When life feels overwhelming, even something as simple as making crepes can become a lesson in slowing down.
This heartfelt fiction episode follows a mom who learns to regulate her emotions behind the counter of a beat-up food truck, discovering that calm doesn’t come from perfect circumstances, but from how we respond in the messy moments.
If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, struggled to keep your cool, or longed for a reminder that peace is possible right where you are, this story is for you.

Want more behind-the-scenes insight, journal prompts, ad-free episodes, and early access to new stories? Join the Her Story Society on Patreon:

⁠⁠https://melahti.com/HerStorySociety⁠⁠

About the Podcast: Her Story. Her Journey is where fictional storytelling meets real-world business inspiration. Each episode shares a short, emotionally rich story designed to help you move forward in your own entrepreneurial journey, whether you're just starting or starting over.

I'm Melissa, a successful business owner, mom of six, and business coach with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and 7 years coaching women just like you. I've built multiple income streams from home while raising a family, and I believe in learning through story, because stories stick. If you’ve ever felt like business advice wasn’t made for your life, you’re in the right place.

When MaryRuth’s husband walks out, she’s left with two daughters, a sewing machine, and a heart stitched together by frugality and fear. But what begins as a desperate act of survival - handmaking dresses at her kitchen table, becomes a slow and powerful transformation into self-worth, ethical business, and legacy thinking.

Set in Charleston, SC and filled with warmth, wit, and emotional honesty, Thread by Thread is a short fiction story that speaks to every woman who’s ever undercharged, underestimated herself, or thought playing small was the safest bet. With the help of a bold, big-hearted mentor named Sarah, MaryRuth learns that cheap things are cheap for a reason and sometimes the most radical thing you can do is raise your price and believe you're worth it.

Love this story? Share it with a friend who’s building something beautiful. And if you want access to the book club guide, quote cards, and bonus journaling prompts for Thread by Thread, join the Her Story Society at https://melahti.com/HerStorySociety

About the Podcast

Her Story. Her Journey. is where business inspiration meets storytelling. Each week, Melissa Lahti shares uplifting, creative tales that just might spark your next big idea. These narrated stories are safe to enjoy with your kids around and designed to keep your imagination flowing and your entrepreneurial fire lit.

Trilby thought being a “free spirit” made her the perfect wedding photographer - until missed meetings and late arrivals nearly wrecked her business.

In this heartfelt, Hallmark-style fiction episode, discover how one woman with ADHD learned that structure isn’t a cage but a lifeline.

With the help of a paper planner, supportive friends, and a few hard lessons, Trilby finds the peace that comes from showing up early and owning her brilliance.

If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, procrastination, or the fear that planning will steal your spark, this story is for you.✨ Want more behind-the-scenes insight, journal prompts, ad-free episodes, and early access to new stories? Join the Her Story Society on Patreon:
👉 https://melahti.com/HerStorySociety

About the Podcast

Her Story. Her Journey. is where business inspiration meets storytelling. Each week, Melissa Lahti Brown shares uplifting, creative tales that just might spark your next big idea. These narrated stories are safe to enjoy with your kids around and designed to keep your imagination flowing and your entrepreneurial fire lit.

When Mona offers to help organize the chaotic life of one of her massage clients, she doesn’t expect it to change everything including her own path. Hands That Heal is a warm and witty clean romance told from Mona’s perspective. It’s a story about a single mom with a giver’s heart, a tech business owner who's reluctant to trust, and the unlikely partnership that unfolds when healing touch meets hard-won boundaries.

This heartfelt fiction episode reminds us that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is ask for help or say yes when someone else does. Set in Fargo-Moorhead, the story blends gentle romance, business inspiration, and personal growth.

If you’ve ever carried too much for too long, struggled to speak your needs, or wondered if love could find you in the middle of real life… this story is for you.

Want more behind-the-scenes insight, journal prompts, ad-free episodes, and early access to new stories? Join the Her Story Society on Patreon:
https://melahti.com/HerStorySocietyclean romance podcast, female entrepreneur fiction, narrated love story, burnout recovery, trust and boundaries, single mom story, business mentorship fiction, healing relationships, her story her journey podcast, inspirational storytelling, audio drama for women, Hallmark-style fiction, uplifting love story

When generosity turns into exhaustion, it’s time to face the truth: you can’t build a business by giving everything away.
In this heartfelt fiction episode, one woman discovers that “helping” friends for free was keeping her stuck in survival mode. As she learns to value her time, charge what she’s worth, and step into her power, her business finally begins to flourish.
If you’ve ever felt guilty about pricing, struggled with boundaries, or wondered if your dream was worth pursuing, this story will remind you that your gifts are valuable, so are you.

charging what you’re worth, women entrepreneurs, stop working for free, boundaries in business, small business inspiration, imposter syndrome, burnout recovery, uplifting audio drama, Hallmark style story, business fiction podcast

Want more behind-the-scenes insight, journal prompts, ad-free episodes, and early access to new stories? Join the Her Story Society on Patreon:
⁠⁠https://melahti.com/HerStorySociety⁠⁠

About the Podcast: Her Story. Her Journey is where fictional storytelling meets real-world business inspiration. Each episode shares a short, emotionally rich story designed to help you move forward in your own entrepreneurial journey, whether you're just starting or starting over.

I’m Melissa, a successful business owner, mom of six, and business coach with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and 7 years coaching women just like you. I’ve built multiple income streams from home while raising a family, and I believe in learning through story, because stories stick. If you’ve ever felt like business advice wasn’t made for your life, you’re in the right place.