A Short Meditation Podcast
First This
First This is a short mindfulness and meditation podcast by Kathryn Nicolai, creator of Nothing Much Happens. Take ten minutes to settle your mind, observe your breath, and be gently led through a meditation practice.
First this, then that.
Also, listen on –
Meditation For Putting Your Phone Down
A short mindfulness practice to bring awareness to phone use. Explore three gentle questions—what am I doing, why, and how does it feel—to reconnect with your body and attention.
Breathing School: Ujjayi Breath
A guided mindfulness practice introducing ujjayi (victorious) breathing. Learn a steady, calming breath that builds lung capacity, focus, and grounded energy.
Most Things Don't Matter
A short mindfulness practice about releasing urgency, anxiety, and perfectionism.
Quiet Company
Narrow attention, rest in quiet, and gently reawaken your senses beyond overstimulation.
Effort and Ease
Learn to focus gently, stay present, and find clarity without tension or urgency.
Enough For Now
A soft, grounding meditation to help release gripping and settle into the simple “enoughness” of now.
When There is Grief
A grounding, compassionate meditation for anyone carrying something heavy.
Levels of Awareness
Steady breaths, simple points of focus, and a gentle reminder that each of us enters the moment with the awareness we have.
Musical Chairs
Today, we’re practicing coming back to the present—quickly, gently, and without judgment
Quiet Time Together
Today’s practice is all about softening—just a little. We’ll check in with the body, breathe deeply, and ease ourselves into the present moment one small percentage at a time.
Unitask With Me
In today’s practice, we slow everything down and let ourselves simply observe. No forcing, no fixing—just a gentle return to the breath and a little more space in the mind.
What's Most Advanced Is...
A grounding mindfulness practice about tuning into your body, noticing sensation without judgment, and redefining what it means to be “advanced” — presence, not perfection.
RAIN Method
Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nonreact. Learn to meet your thoughts and emotions with curiosity, compassion, and calm awareness.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Today’s practice focuses on progressive muscle relaxation, a powerful technique to help your body release tension, close out stress cycles, and invite deep calm.
Downshift, Then Decide
A short guided practice helps you soften your body, focus your breath, and reset your nervous system — perfect for moments of stress, overwhelm, or simply to begin again with intention.
Non-Grasping
Learn to release the urge to control, embrace sufficiency, and find peace in presence through gentle breathing and guided reflection.
Cookie Monster
Release tension, quiet racing thoughts, and gently sit with your emotions just as they are.