The Nightly — "The Amish Romance Novel Written In A Week" (Dec 30, 2025)

Host: Kristen Meinzer
Guest/Co-Host: Josh
Theme: A cozy, late-night pop culture chat that features Kristen reading an excerpt from an Amish romance novella she wrote in a week, with Josh’s live reactions, questions, and tangential stories on creativity and community.

Episode Overview

This episode offers a unique, light-hearted exploration of pop culture comfort reading through the lens of Amish romance novels. Kristen Meinzer, the host, reads aloud from her self-penned novella "Return to Intercourse: An Amish Romance," which she wrote in less than two weeks. She and Josh discuss writing challenges, the popularity and charm of Amish romance as a genre, and creative projects' joys, all wrapped in the show’s signature cozy, winding-down mood.

1. Celebrating Creative Wins & Setting the Scene

• [01:37] Kristen and Josh open with reflections on recent creative accomplishments—Josh finished revising a project, and Kristen just kicked off a new podcast.
• They highlight the pleasure found in collaborating with friends:
  • "It's so fun just to take that first step and for the first step to go well… recording with somebody who you genuinely like." —Kristen (02:48)
• Warm, funny banter about wearing big floppy nightcaps sets a playful, laid-back tone.

2. Writing an Amish Romance Novel—in a Week

• [04:19] Josh, playfully, asks Kristen about the rumor she wrote an Amish romance novel.
• Kristen explains the origins:
  • The novella was a requirement for another audio project: "We were required to write a book in less than two weeks." —Kristen (05:03)
• The initial draft was scrapped after feedback, so she rewrote it all over again in week two.

Book Details

• Title: Return to Intercourse: An Amish Romance
  • Set in Intercourse, Pennsylvania (and towns with similarly eyebrow-raising names)
• Premise: Amish teen Sarah Yoder is called back to her hometown after a barn-raising accident, leaving behind her "English world" boyfriend, aspiring NASCAR driver Tanner.

3. Why Amish Romance?

• [06:23] Kristen discusses Amish romance as a genre:
  • "At the time… Amish romance was one of the top three most popular genres… And I am myself, admittedly, an Amish romance reader. I like Amish romances. I love a little bit of bonnet touching… some buggy riding, some community chipping in… it's mostly about the anticipation." —Kristen (06:30)
  • She compares the anticipation in Amish romance to preferring "Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day." (07:08)

4. Live Reading: Excerpts from Return to Intercourse

• [07:43] – [15:47]
  • Kristen reads extended scenes, with Josh interjecting with questions, praise, and commentary.
  • The storytelling blends Amish culture, romance tropes, and NASCAR enthusiasm (with input from an 11-year-old NASCAR "consultant").

Notable Excerpt Highlights

• Sarah and Tanner’s relationship is sweet, rooted in mutual care:
  • "When I'm with you, there are no limits. I feel as though I can do anything or go anywhere as long as you're by my side." —Sarah (via Kristen, 12:00)
• Sarah’s home life and Amish values are contrasted with Tanner's fast-paced world:
  • After a tragic barn accident, family responsibilities pull her back home.
  • "This wasn't just any old injury. It was a severe barn raising accident involving broken bones, a punctured lung, and worst of all, amnesia."_ —Kristen, reading (13:28)
• Delicate cultural dynamics: expressing affection in public is "as acceptable as a flagrant lug nut violation in nascar." (15:15)
  • "Thank you, 11 year old, for teaching me the term flagrant lug nut violation." —Kristen (15:58)

Josh's Commentary

• "Your Tanner voice is incredible." —Josh (11:46)
• "This is really suspenseful and intense… I hope Papa’s okay. I’m fully invested, by the way." —Josh (13:00)
• "This is really amazing. I'm glad he didn't commit a nut violation." —Josh (15:51)

5. Fact-Checking and Tangents: Rumspringa and Amnesia

• [10:25] Kristen offers context on rumspringa, explaining typical lengths and realities vs. media portrayals.
• [16:42] Josh shares a personal story about his dad experiencing real-life transient amnesia, adding humor and empathy to the discussion:
  • "My association with it was like, guy on an island gets conked on the head with a coconut… But my dad… it's called transient global amnesia… It lasts about 20 hours." —Josh (16:55–17:15)

6. Pulling Back the Curtain: Where Does Her Book Go?

• [18:50] Josh asks about Sarah’s choices in the rest of the book.
  • Kristen describes how Sarah is torn between the quiet, steadfast new farmhand (embodying Amish values and reliability) and Tanner’s excitement.
  • "He's strong, he's stable, he's about getting the job done… and it makes Sarah wonder, is this really what I want in life?" —Kristen (19:03)
  • The discussion reflects on universal themes: balancing community expectations with personal desire.

7. Wrap-Up — Comfort, Humor & Bedtime Vibes

• Josh praises Kristen’s storytelling:
  • "You infused the story with so many, like, warm and lovely ideas that it's the perfect pre-bedtime listening." —Josh (20:33)
• Warm thanks and goodnights round off the episode’s cozy, winding-down mood.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “We did tip our big floppy nightcaps to you.” —Josh (03:36)
• “I like Amish romances… I love the idea of romance being mostly about the anticipation.” —Kristen (06:30)
• “The only limits in this life are those instituted by race officians.” —Tanner, via Kristen (12:30)
• “Expressing affection for Sarah on the driveway for all to see was as acceptable as a flagrant lug nut violation in nascar.” —Kristen (15:15)
• “Thank you, 11 year old, for teaching me the term flagrant lug nut violation.” —Kristen (15:58)
• “My dad had amnesia one time… it’s called transient global amnesia. And it just like kind of comes on very quickly and then leaves very quickly…” —Josh (16:42)

Key Segment Timestamps

• [01:37] — Opening catch-up: creative wins
• [04:19] — Setting up the Amish romance book project
• [06:23] — Genre discussion: Why Amish romance?
• [07:43] — Live reading begins
• [10:25] — Explaining rumspringa
• [13:00] — Story plot twist (Papa’s accident)
• [15:45] — First reading ends
• [16:42] — Josh’s amnesia story
• [18:50] — Book resolution and themes
• [20:33] — Closing thanks & bedtime wrap-up

Takeaways

• The episode is a feel-good, gently silly exploration of writing, genre fiction, and the joys of making something—even “badly”—just for the fun of it.
• Kristen’s reading and Josh’s questions offer playful insights into both Amish romance and creative experimentation.
• Listeners get both a peek into a quirky, specific genre and universal reflections on choice, community, and comfort storytelling.

Perfect For: Those seeking soothing, humorous content to unwind; creative types looking for solidarity in the joyful messiness of making art; or anyone who’s ever wondered about the world of Amish romance novels.