WONDER: Childhood, Memory, Listening to the Earth

WONDER: Childhood, Memory, Listening to the Earth

Author: Mia Funk September 16, 2026 Duration: 20:44

“It's my past selves that I feel are so intertwined with the experience of moving home and of childhood, that they're inside of us, that they're with us.”

Those past selves that the poet Ada Limón speaks of aren't ghosts, they are part of our present. Before we had the words to explain the world, we understood it through the warmth of sunlight, the scent of rain, and the sound of a mother’s voice. Today, we are joined by composers Max Richter and Dustin O'Halloran; biologist David George Haskell; and cognitive psychologist Donald Hoffman. We hear from the host of First Voices Radio, Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lincoln Center’s Chief Artistic Officer, Shanta Thake; and photographer Ralph Gibson, who reflect on beauty, childhood and the memories that give their life meaning.

(0:00) ADA LIMÓN (24th U.S. Poet Laureate, Startlement) Returning to the Place of Childhood and Imagination (13:05) (19:10)

(2:24) TIOKASIN GHOSTHORSE (Founder, First Voices Radio) The Virtue of Patience and Connecting with Nature (5:08)

(3:45) MAX RICHTER (Oscar & Golden Globe-Nominated Composer, Hamnet, SLEEP, Arrival, The Blue Notebooks) First Musicial Memories (11:34)

(6:59) SHANTA THAKE (Chief Artistic Officer, Lincoln Center) Childhood Memories

(8:19) DUSTIN O'HALLORAN (Emmy Award-winning Composer, 1001, Silfur, Transparent, Lion) Exploring Soundwaves Underwater (12:23)

(9:53) DAVID GEORGE HASKELL (Biologist, Author, How Flowers Made Our World , The Songs of Trees) The Sensory Awakening of Childhood

(14:11) DONALD HOFFMAN (Cognitive Scientist) Childhood and the Magic of Nature

(16:23) RALPH GIBSON (Leica Hall of Fame Photographer) Vision in Childhood and the Perception of Time

To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.

Episode Website

www.creativeprocess.info/pod

Instagram:@creativeprocesspodcast


Hosted by Mia Funk, The Creative Process delves into the inner workings of the artistic mind. This podcast is built on intimate conversations with a remarkable range of voices-from authors and filmmakers to dancers, scientists, and activists. Each episode moves beyond the finished product to explore the life, discipline, and unique practice that shape a creator's work. You'll hear from recipients of the world's highest honors, including Oscars, Emmys, and Pulitzer Prizes, as they share unfiltered experiences and hard-won wisdom. The discussions naturally span a wide spectrum of human expression and concern, touching on books, film, theatre, and music, while also engaging with critical themes like social justice, climate change, and technology. What unites these conversations is a deep curiosity about how creativity functions not just in the studio, but as a force in culture and society. Listening feels like being a fly on the wall for a thoughtful, meandering talk where the focus is always on the person behind the craft. It’s a chance to understand how diverse thinkers navigate challenges, find inspiration, and contribute to the broader dialogue through their art and advocacy. This isn't about quick tips or superficial interviews; it's a sustained look at the motivations and methods that drive meaningful creative work across disciplines.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Creative Process · Arts, Culture & Society: Books, Film, Music, TV, Art, Writing, Creativity, Education, Environment, Theatre, Dance, LGBTQ, Climate Change, Social Justice, Spirituality, Feminism, Tech, Sustainability
Podcast Episodes
ADA LIMÓN on Interconnectedness, Startlement & The Power of Poetry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:27
My guest today is Ada Limón. She served two historic terms as the 24th poet laureate in the United States. She has brought poetry to public parks across the US, and her words have traveled through deep space, engraved on…