Heidi Olinger Rées: A Life in Words, Wonder, and Unfinished Questions
Some kids play house; heidi played writer-editor.
She sent her first poems to Highlights magazine before she hit grade school, carefully signing her name as if she were already an established writer. They weren’t accepted, but that didn’t faze her — the rejection letters felt like an initiation. She had entered the world of publishing.
Her father encouraged her early love of words, weaving family stories of her great-grandmother, Minnie Everhart, a poet who, Heidi imagines, was a proper blue stocking with a sharp mind and an impeccable vocabulary. He took her on a private tour of one of the top journalism schools in the country before she was old enough to apply. And when she chose to study journalism, he scraped together the funds to buy her a Smith Corona typewriter — a gift that still holds weight decades later.
From Classrooms to Keynotes: A Career Built on Curiosity
Over the years, Heidi’s career has taken her from university classrooms to keynote stages to quiet moments of research where a single sentence can change the entire trajectory of a story. She has taught, founded the nonprofit, Pretty Brainy, led panels, delivered TEDx talks, and built a body of work that blends storytelling with science, history, and social change.
She’s the author of Leonardo’s Science Workshop, a book that brings art and science to life for young readers. She has spoken at BookCon alongside thought leaders including Ira Flatow and, since 2010, has collaborated on projects to make STEM meaningful and accessible to girls and women.
Whether she’s writing an investigative essay, developing an idea for a graphic novel, or speaking about the intersection of movement and storytelling, Heidi’s work centers around connection — between ideas, between disciplines, and most importantly, between people.
immersed in the art of asking the right questions
Heidi’s mission is clear: to write and share nonfiction stories, essays, and journalism that raise awareness and carry the possibility of healing. She’s drawn to the gaps in our collective narrative — the untold histories, the overlooked perspectives, the quiet stories that deserve a louder voice.
She believes in the power of words to move, to challenge, to illuminate. Her work isn’t about neatly packaged conclusions; it’s about sparking reflection, igniting curiosity, and offering new ways of seeing.
Beyond the Page: A Life of Curiosity and Craft
Heidi doesn’t just write about discovery — she lives it. She finds clarity in movement, whether she’s practicing yoga, hiking the Colorado mountains, or casting a line into the water while fly-fishing. She finds joy in the details: the perfect carbonara, the sharp wit of a Sherlock Holmes story, the kind of conversation that lingers long after it’s ended.
Her writing is an invitation — to pause, to reconsider, and maybe even to grow taller in your own skin. It’s an exploration of what it means to think critically, live authentically, and embrace the complex, messy, beautiful truths of being human.
What’s in a name
In adopting a new, professional last name, Heidi is resurrecting a foremother.
There’s More to Uncover
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Move the room
From science to storytelling, history to humanity — Heidi delivers talks that engage, challenge, and inspire.
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News + Muse
Fresh perspectives, essays, and musings on the intersection of science, art, storytelling, and the human experience.
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Get in touch
Questions, collaborations, or just a good book recommendation? Reach out. Let’s talk words, ideas, and what’s next.
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Books, essays + more
Learn about Heidi’s inspiring trajectory as an awarded thought leader, author, and keynote speaker.