Life in Seven Songs

Latest Episodes:

Rufus Wainwright’s rough road to becoming ‘the greatest songwriter on the planet’ Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Over the last three decades, Rufus Wainwright has released 10 studio albums, written two operas, and countless songs for TV and film. He’s been praised for his originality—Elton John once called him the songwriting GOAT. But in this episode, Rufus explains why having the confidence to be himself was really just about survival. Here are his songs:

1. Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland

2. Heart Like a Wheel - Kate & Anna McGarrigle

3. I'm Losing You - Kate & Anna McGarrigle

4. Raspberry Beret - Prince

5. Begin the Beguine - Ella Fitzgerald

6. La Donna è Mobile - Luciano Pavarotti

7. Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

Listen to Rufus Wainwright’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

Inside actor Rita Wilson's other life as a singer Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Actor, producer, and director Rita Wilson is known for her performances in films like “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Now and Then.” Her name can be found on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in credits for massive hits like “Mamma Mia!” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” (She's also been married to one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Tom Hanks, for the past 37 years.) But despite her success, Rita spent her entire career dreaming of a different one—to be a singer-songwriter. In this episode, Rita talks about taking risks later in life, grappling with regret and grief, and finally finding her voice as a musician. Here are her songs.

Ode to Billie Joe - Bobbie Gentry
Everything I Own - Bread
She’s Leaving Home - The Beatles
California - Joni Mitchell
I will Always Love you - Linda Ronstadt
Slip Slidin’ Away - Paul Simon
Some Things I'll Never Know - Teddy Swims

Listen to Rita Wilson’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

Director Cord Jefferson on winning an Oscar and writing for love Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

Writer and director Cord Jefferson charts his journey from being a rule-following kid to an angry teenager to an adult with depression. After a lifetime of rejection, Cord shares what helped him finally make "American Fiction," the Oscar-winning film that was always in him. Here are his songs.

Flamenco Sketches - Miles Davis
The What - Notorious B.I.G. (Feat. Method Man)
Boxcar - Jawbreaker
My Old School - Steely Dan
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads
If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
Ben's My Friend - Sun Kil Moon

Listen to Cord Jefferson’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

Introducing Professional Book Nerds: An Interview with Daniel Handler Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

On this special episode, we’re featuring a conversation from our friends at the Professional Book Nerds podcast, a podcast from the book nerds at OverDrive.

Every week host Joe Skelley chats book recommendations on a theme with his friends and bookish experts, interviews authors and personalities, and encourages people to check out all the amazing resources their library has to offer. Ranked number 5 of the top 100 book podcasts, this is the place for book nerds!

In today’s episode, Joe chats with author Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) LIVE during his book tour for And Then? And Then? What Else? Joe and Daniel talk about Tim Curry, sharing your personal life publicly, and what exactly it’s like being Lemony Snicket.

Listen to more episodes of Professional Book Nerds and follow the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/professional-book-nerds/id1065515588

Failing publicly and feeling at home with Nextdoor’s Nirav Tolia Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

Cofounder and CEO of Nextdoor, Nirav Tolia, looks back on his childhood in small-town Texas, and how an inner conflict about belonging may have led to him creating the first social network for neighbors. With his commitment to building community, it’s no surprise two of his seven songs include the words ‘home’ and ‘house’ in their titles.

Take me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
The Reflex – Duran Duran
World in My Eyes – Depeche Mode
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
If My Heart Was a House – Owl City
Con Te Partirò – Andrea Bocelli
Beautiful Day – U2

Listen to Nirav Tolia’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions?

Rock photographer Jay Blakesberg on capturing the souls of legends Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

From Nirvana to BB King, The Rolling Stones to Radiohead, legendary rock photographer Jay Blakesberg has been documenting music icons for nearly 40 years. His work has been published in thousands of magazines, documentaries and books, but what he’s most known for is creating a seminal photographic archive of the Grateful Dead. Here are his songs.

Hey Jude – The Beatles
Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
Wooden Ships – Crosby Stills & Nash
Eyes of The World – Grateful Dead
Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) – Talking Heads
Tangled up in Blue – Bob Dylan
Attics of My Life – Grateful Dead

Listen to Jay Blakesberg’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

Sandra Bernhard’s ‘risky, beautiful, and heartbreaking’ life Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

From her groundbreaking role playing one of the first openly gay characters on television, to her iconic appearances on David Letterman — where she repeatedly made the host speechless — actor and comedian Sandra Bernhard has always been unapologetically herself. And yet, decades into her career, she says she still discovers new layers every time she performs. Here are her songs.

Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) – Doris Day
Stop! In The Name Of Love – The Supremes
Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
People's Parties – Joni Mitchell
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Sylvester
Lose Again – Linda Ronstadt
Edge Of Seventeen – Stevie Nicks

Listen to Sandra Bernhard’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

Chesa Boudin, raised by radicals, on the songs that shaped him Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

Lawyer Chesa Boudin’s professional life has been nearly as tumultuous as his upbringing. He was raised by family friends because his parents—members of the Weather Underground—were incarcerated for crimes committed when he was just 14 months old. Boudin eventually became a progressive San Francisco district attorney representing criminal justice reform. However, he was recalled a few years later. These are his songs.

Worlds Apart (1985 Original Broadway Cast) – Daniel Jenkins
Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
Dear Mama – Tupac Shakur
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be – Free Nina Simone
Be (Intro) – Common
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
Baby Shark – Pinkfong

Listen to Chesa Boudin’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

Rahsaan “New York” Thomas on breaking barriers behind bars Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

Rahsaan “New York” Thomas spent more than two decades incarcerated before being granted a commutation for his rehabilitation efforts behind bars. He shares how his life was shaped by growing up in Brownsville, “the murder capital of New York,” the music that got him through prison life and what he’s working on now. Here are his songs.

Rapper's Delight – The Sugarhill Gang
Survival of the Fittest – Mobb Deep
Do What I Gotta Do – Ralph Tresvant
Good Man – India Arie
Black – The-Dream
Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down – Alicia Keys

Listen to Rahsaan “New York” Thomas’ full playlist on Spotify and also check out the podcast Ear Hustle about life inside prison. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

Why Kara Swisher loves country music and the military Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

Longtime journalist and media entrepreneur Kara Swisher has been covering Silicon Valley and the Internet since the days of dial-up. She’s taken nearly all of technology's titans to task with a fearless, no-nonsense style. But in this episode, she shows another side of herself: the “San Francisco liberal lesbian who loves country music and wanted to be in the military.” Here are her songs.

The Last Great American Dynasty – Taylor Swift
Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) – Doris Day
Corner Of The Sky – John Rubinstein
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
Jesus, Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood
Wahine ‘Ilikea – Dennis Kamakahi
Quarter Moon – Cheryl Wheeler

Listen to Kara Swisher’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

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