Contemplation is something we tend to think of ancient Greek philosophers or medieval monks doing, not as something a modern person would do unless they were especially religious or erudite. In this episode, Ellen invites us to consider that contemplation may actually belong to all of us, like a birthright, and that it may bring a happiness and freedom we might have been seeking elsewhere. After exploring the meaning of the word--from modern day usage, to a 12th century Scotsman's formulation, to the word's Latin and Greek origins--Ellen suggests a few simple ways we can all start to incorporate contemplation into our busy, modern, perhaps secular lives.
To learn more about First Creatures, visit firstcreatures.com.
15 Feb 2026
Ep. 7: Time without a face
What time is it? That such a bizarre question has become commonplace shows how thoroughly we have internalized the clock and accepted it as reality. It's hard to think of time in any way other than minutes and seconds, which has made us as a species incredibly productive (and a bit neurotic) over the last several centuries. In this episode, Ellen explores how this miraculous invention took hold of our minds, and how we might wriggle free.
References:
Technics and Civilization (1934) by Lewis Mumford
Revolution in Time (1983) by David S. Landes
The Relevance of the Beautiful (1977) by Hans-Georg Gadamer
Cello Concerto in B minor, op. 104 (1895) by Antonín Dvořák
More info: https://firstcreatures.com/podcast
5 Nov 2025
Ep. 6: Ad tendere
Ellen explores three inspiring perspectives on attention, revealing why cultivating focus is a worthwhile endeavor.
14 Jun 2025
Ep. 5: It makes you wonder
Ellen explores the intertwined relationship between wondering and wonder, revealing their reciprocal influence and importance in fostering curiosity.
10 May 2025
Ep. 4: Games to play inside your head
Did you ever play games as a kid that didn't require any special equipment or the ability to move around? Games that you could play on endless car trips or while waiting in a long line? Such games were our primary line of defense against boredom back in the days before smartphones. Now that we're adults (adults with smartphones, no less), could it still be beneficial to have a few games like this up our sleeve?
In this episode, Ellen Riccio describes four games and activities you can play inside your head, all by yourself, when you want to get out of your head. These games gently coax you out of your thought loop and into having a conversation with the world.
The games:
(5:45) A Hundred Years From Now
(14:35) The Documentary Game
(20:50) This is Not a Tree
(28:55) A Poem
To learn more, and to support the podcast, visit our website.
12 Apr 2025
Ep. 3: Quantity Time
Just hanging out with friends. It sounds like something from a bygone era, or like something you did when you were younger. In this episode, Ellen makes a case for doing it now, even (especially) if you are a busy adult saddled with responsibilities.
Learn more, and support the podcast, at firstcreatures.com/podcast
8 Feb 2025
Ep. 2: Coming to our senses
In this episode, Ellen talks about what it means to come to our senses--to gather our senses--and how doing so opens up possibilities for lingering, contemplation, conversation, and more.
Support this podcast at firstcreatures.com/podcast
12 Jan 2025
Ep. 1: The Walk
In this episode, Ellen shares how going for a daily walk--the same one for eight years straight--has become much more than physical exercise.
firstcreatures.com/podcast (https://firstcreatures.com/podcast)
26 Nov 2024
Intro to Lingering
First Creatures is a podcast that provides inspiration and moral support for lingering. But what is lingering, exactly? In this introductory episode, Ellen Riccio gives the surface a good scratch.
Learn more at firstcreatures.com (https://firstcreatures.com/podcast).
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
18 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
41
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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