Nordell was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Her science journalism and writings on bias, prejudice, and discrimination have appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Guardian, the Washington Post, the New Republic, Slate, and Salon.
Earlier in her career, Nordell was a staff comedy writer from 2003-2005 for A Prairie Home Companion[1][2] a live radio variety show hosted by Garrison Keillor.
While on staff, she co-created and produced the interview series Literary Friendships, featuring writer pairs Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, Sandra Cisneros and Joy Harjo, Michael Cunningham and Marie Howe, Robert Bly and Donald Hall, and Dana Gioia and Kay Ryan.
The series won a 2006 Gracie Award from American Women in Radio and Television.