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Welcome to Heidi Herman’s Website

Presentations & Programs

Heidi was a pleasure to work with, was knowledgeable about the subject matter, and was able to work through any technical hurdle during the recording. She is an experienced public speaker, who exhibited passion for the subject of which she spoke.

~ Julie DeStefano, Belmont Gallery of Art

Heidi Herman’s zoom presentation was wonderful in the detail and enthusiasm she brought to her program…entertaining and motivational!

~ Gay Strandemo, Adult Services, Waunakee Public Library

Gary Strandemo

On With the Butter is a wonderful and inspiring book! Through Heidi Herman’s vibrant and engaging, and often humorous stories, intertwined with unique ideas and helpful information, she encourages curiosity, connection, and a call to action.

~ Laura Haw, Adjunct Instructor in Aging Studies, University of Indianapolis

Laura Haw

Choose One of Four Standard Programs or Create a Custom Topic 

Passionate Aging -
A Midlife Mind Reset

Personal and professional success improves through putting vitality and purpose in life beyond work. Mental exhaustion, burnout, and loss of passion occur when what we do becomes the sum of who we are, when our personal identities are closely linked to our careers. Finding purpose and passion in casual or playful pursuits separate from career is vital to healthy lifestyle balance and long-term happiness! This entertaining and informative session pulls from my motivational book, On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life. Leaning on my own thirty years in corporate telecommunications and understanding the motivation, I help professionals understand and embrace progression planning, mentoring emerging leaders, and working towards better business continuity and (eventually) more fulfilling retirements.

Passionte Aging - A Midlife Mind Reset

Personal and professional success improves through putting vitality and purpose in life beyond work. Mental exhaustion, burnout, and loss of passion occur when what we do becomes the sum of who we are, when our personal identities are closely linked to our careers. Finding purpose and passion in casual or playful pursuits separate from career is vital to healthy lifestyle balance and long-term happiness! This entertaining and informative session pulls from my motivational book, On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life. Leaning on my own thirty years in corporate telecommunications and understanding the motivation, I help professionals understand and embrace progression planning, mentoring emerging leaders, and working towards better business continuity and (eventually) more fulfilling retirements.

Vitality of a Viking

A keynote presentation of living life is based on Scandinavian ideals and my book On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life and a book I co-authored with my mother, Íeda Jónasdóttir entitled “Never Too Late.” Using philosophies from all five Scandinavian countries, this program enlightens and motivates attendees to achieve balance between work and personal life.

Understanding what you do for a living is only a part of your entire existence allows you to find a more purposeful life beyond work and an outlook that increases vitality, extending beyond career and into retirement. The concepts of Friluftsliv (Norway), Hygge (Denmark), Lagom (Sweden), Þetta reddast (Iceland) and Sisu (Finland) can’t be translated to indiviaul words in English. They represent ideas and philosophies fundamental to the Scandinavian culture but can be understood and applied to American lifestyles to increase vitality and purposefulness in life, balancing working and living.

Vitality of a Viking

A keynote presentation of living life is based on Scandinavian ideals and my book On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life and a book I co-authored with my mother, Íeda Jónasdóttir entitled “Never Too Late.” Using philosophies from all five Scandinavian countries, this program enlightens and motivates attendees to achieve balance between work and personal life.

Understanding what you do for a living is only a part of your entire existence allows you to find a more purposeful life beyond work and an outlook that increases vitality, extending beyond career and into retirement. The concepts of Friluftsliv (Norway), Hygge (Denmark), Lagom (Sweden), Þetta reddast (Iceland) and Sisu (Finland) can’t be translated to indiviaul words in English. They represent ideas and philosophies fundamental to the Scandinavian culture but can be understood and applied to American lifestyles to increase vitality and purposefulness in life, balancing working and living.

Living Well At Every Age

Personal identities can be closely linked to careers and separating from that to create a vibrant life outside of work can be difficult. Being passionate about activities outside of work work is vital to a healthy lifestyle, starting during midlife and continuing into retirement years. Leaning on my own thirty years in corporate telecommunications and subsequent years as a writer, I understanding how difficult it is to give priority to fun over work.

Popular with libraries, book clubs, and writer’s conferences, this motivational session looks at how a life philosophy became an inspirational book. An Icelandic immigrant, Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman, lived a full and active life into her nineties, fueled by a Scandinavian philosophy that it’s never too late to try new things. In this program, I talk about that year of 93 new things and her photo journal book, Never Too Late, which chronicles those experiences. I share how that led to my work, On With the Butter!, a motivational book inspired by her example. It’s a book about active aging that’s been hailed by US Review of Books as a ‘fresh perspective on living well at any age’ and called ‘an upbeat and sincere primer on living one’s best life’ by Kirkus Review.

Living Well At Every Age

Personal identities can be closely linked to careers and separating from that to create a vibrant life outside of work can be difficult. Being passionate about activities outside of work work is vital to a healthy lifestyle, starting during midlife and continuing into retirement years. Leaning on my own thirty years in corporate telecommunications and subsequent years as a writer, I understanding how difficult it is to give priority to fun over work.

Popular with libraries, book clubs, and writer’s conferences, this motivational session looks at how a life philosophy became an inspirational book. An Icelandic immigrant, Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman, lived a full and active life into her nineties, fueled by a Scandinavian philosophy that it’s never too late to try new things. In this program, I talk about that year of 93 new things and her photo journal book, Never Too Late, which chronicles those experiences. I share how that led to my work, On With the Butter!, a motivational book inspired by her example. It’s a book about active aging that’s been hailed by US Review of Books as a ‘fresh perspective on living well at any age’ and called ‘an upbeat and sincere primer on living one’s best life’ by Kirkus Review.

Legendary Iceland:
Land of Fire and Ice

Take a journey through Iceland, a land where legends come alive, led by an Icelandic-American author. This presentation is a virtual vacation of Iceland, blending the breathtaking landscapes and fascinating history with
the unique mythology of this Nordic culture. This photograph and video tour takes attendees along the famous ring road across the entire country, where they learn about the landscape, the country’s history and folklore, and the culture of today. A fascinating and entertaining presentation on one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations

Legendary Iceland:
Land of Fire and Ice

Take a journey through Iceland, a land where legends come alive, led by an Icelandic-American author. This presentation is a virtual vacation of Iceland, blending the breathtaking landscapes and fascinating history with
the unique mythology of this Nordic culture. This photograph and video tour takes attendees along the famous ring road across the entire country, where they learn about the landscape, the country’s history and folklore, and the culture of today. A fascinating and entertaining presentation on one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations

Icelandic Folk Tales

Tales & Legends of Iceland

This one-hour presentation provides an entertaining look at Icelandic folklore from trolls to wiggle-waggle monsters and many things in between. The Hidden Folk, Monster Worm, Yule Lads, Gryla, and more! The mythology is a blend of Viking legends, stories from the Sagas, and folklore brought from other countries.

How the Icelandic people have incorporated it into daily life is both fascinating and refreshing. The warnings, lessons, and instruction presented in the stories reflect wisdom, tolerance, and common-sense approach to life. I share stories and talk about the meanings – suitable as an entertaining hour for children ages 6 and up.

Great program for schools!

Icelandic Folk Tales

Tales & Legends of Iceland

This one-hour presentation provides an entertaining look at Icelandic folklore from trolls to wiggle-waggle monsters and many things in between. The Hidden Folk, Monster Worm, Yule Lads, Gryla, and more! The mythology is a blend of Viking legends, stories from the Sagas, and folklore brought from other countries.

How the Icelandic people have incorporated it into daily life is both fascinating and refreshing. The warnings, lessons, and instruction presented in the stories reflect wisdom, tolerance, and common-sense approach to life. I share stories and talk about the meanings – suitable as an entertaining hour for children ages 6 and up.

Great program for schools!

Icelandic Cooking Demonstration

The food and cultural history of Iceland is unique to Scandinavia and dates back to the time of the Vikings. I will prepare two dishes from my cookbook while sharing the history and trends of food in Iceland from settlement, to former days, to present.

Samples for taste testing included as part of the demonstration. I partnered with my mom, Ieda Jónasdóttir Herman, to develop this presentation from our co-authored cookbook.

Icelanic Cooking Demonstration

The food and cultural history of Iceland is unique to Scandinavia and dates back to the time of the Vikings. I will prepare two dishes from my cookbook while sharing the history and trends of food in Iceland from settlement, to former days, to present.

Samples for taste testing included as part of the demonstration. I partnered with my mom, Ieda Jónasdóttir Herman, to develop this presentation from our co-authored cookbook.