Life in Seven Songs

Jamie Brisick was living the California dream – a pro surfer sponsored by Quicksilver, traveling the world and competing on the ASP World Tour. But beneath the “Malibu Barbie” facade, tragedy was brewing: his brother was descending into a drug addiction that would soon claim his life. Jamie left the world of surfing and reinvented himself as a writer, with his words appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian. But sudden tragedy would soon strike again. In this episode, Jamie shares how music became both an escape from pain and a pathway toward healing. His story shows us how sometimes our greatest losses become our most profound teachers – and that life has an extraordinary capacity to “totally blow you away,” even when it seems utterly broken. Here are his songs.

To celebrate one year of Life in Seven Songs, Sophie answers some burning questions about the show, shares a few songs off her list, and turns the mic to you — our listeners — to hear about the songs tied to your life stories. Here are your songs: Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing At All Glass Animals - Heat Waves Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue The B-52's - Roam Radiohead - Paranoid Android Carole King - Beautiful U2 - Beautiful Day Stevie Wonder - As Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence Madonna - Vogue The Police - Every Breath You Take Thank you to everyone who sent us songs. Our inbox is always open lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.

This week, we Willkommen actor and musician Josh Radnor! Josh is best known for playing Ted Mosby on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother for nearly a decade. But that success came at an unexpected cost: an identity crisis that left him feeling trapped in a character he didn’t create. In this episode, Josh talks about his formative role as the MC in his high school’s production of Cabaret, his first “almost kiss” (soundtracked by Aretha Franklin), how psychedelics helped him stay centered amidst the whirlwind of fame, and the chance encounter that launched his second career as a musician in his 40s. Here are his songs. Rocky Mountain High – John Denver Respect – Aretha Franklin  Willkommen – Cabaret (Joel Grey, original cast recording)  “Cabaret” All I Want – Joni Mitchell Delicate – Damien Rice  Tara – Dechen Shak-Dagsay Cmon – Fred Again/Brian Eno Listen to ⁠Josh Radnor's playlist⁠ on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at ⁠⁠⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Dr. Orna Guralnik broke barriers by bringing actual therapy sessions to millions of viewers through Showtime’s hit docuseries “Couples Therapy” — but her rebellious streak started much earlier. In this episode, Dr. Guralnik talks about the songs that transformed her into a "real" teenager, the therapist who changed her life, and how music has sparked both connection and conflict in her family. Plus, she draws a surprising line between Kendrick Lamar and Igor Stravinsky—and explains why therapy, like music, is a lifelong process of learning and discovery. Here are her seven songs. The Beatles - Let It Be Igor Stravinsky - Rite Of Spring Lou Reed - Coney Island Baby Robert Wyatt - A Last Straw Tuxedomoon - Bonjour Tristesse Modest Mouse - The Good Times Are Killing Mw Kendrick Lamar - Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst

Keeley Hazell has lived a life that would make great television – which is probably why she inspired the beloved character Keeley Jones on Ted Lasso. In her new memoir, “Everyone’s Seen My Tits,” Keeley chronicles her chaotic childhood, her conflicted experience as one of Britain’s famous Page 3 topless models, and her journey to shed internalized shame as she reclaims her narrative. In this episode, Keeley gets real about her internal battle between empowerment and objectification, the time she went to jail at age 14 for punching a cop, and the disastrous interview that launched her journey to become an “unlikely feminist.” Here are her songs. Pulp - Common People Mariah Carey - Hero Eminem - Criminal So Solid Crew - 21 Seconds Fish Go Deep ft Tracey K - The Cure and The Cause Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do Father John Misty - When You Are Smiling And Astride Me Listen to Keeley Hazell's playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at ⁠⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs.com⁠⁠⁠. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com⁠⁠⁠.

At 20 years old, Amanda Knox found herself alone in an Italian jail cell, falsely accused of a brutal murder, and facing 26 years in prison. She was called “Luciferina” in the courtroom – and far worse in the tabloids. But Amanda never stopped fighting to clear her name and tell her story – most recently, as Executive Producer of a new miniseries on Hulu. In this episode, Amanda opens up about how music became a lifeline – via the three CDs she was allowed in her cell and a paper keyboard to practice piano. Music connected Amanda to her fellow prisoners, to the outside world, and to the silly, optimistic person she’d always been. Here are her songs. Gipsy Kings - Hotel California Dido - Thank You Regina Spektor - Apres Moi Cat Power - Maybe Not Flight Of The Conchords - Hurt Feelings Florence and The Machine - Shake It Out Chris Ballew - Troubles Behind Listen to ⁠Amanda Knox's playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at ⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs.com⁠⁠. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ⁠⁠lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com⁠⁠.

This week, we’re revisiting a favorite – our conversation with former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who just released “Coming Up Short,” a memoir that doubles as a national reckoning. The title is a nod to his height — just under 5 feet — but also to a country that, he argues, has fallen short of its ideals. He offers a blueprint for how to find its way back. In this episode, Bob reflects on the moments — and music — that shaped his politics: being bullied as a child, narrowly avoiding the Vietnam draft, and his love for Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” Here are his songs. Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers Chain Gang – Sam Cooke Baby I Need Your Loving – The Four Tops Lady Madonna – The Beatles Metaphor – The Fantasticks Suzanne – Judy Collins

You probably know Mary Louise Kelly’s voice as the co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered. But you may not know that the veteran journalist has faced her fair share of challenges – from discovering she had severe hearing loss at 40 to making an agonizing choice between work and motherhood while reporting from a Black Hawk helicopter over Baghdad. In this episode, recorded live at the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival, Sophie dives deep with the former national security correspondent, whose tales from the front lines are almost as exciting as her tales of falling madly in love in her fifties. Here are her songs: Debbie Gibson - Only in My Dreams James Baskett - Zip a Dee Doo Dah Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion Oasis - Champagne Supernova Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten Ylvis - The Fox What Does The Fox Say Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason

Walter Isaacson, an award-winning journalist and biographer of icons like Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci, discusses his deep ties to New Orleans and the songs that shaped him. He shares childhood memories tied to the city’s vibrant music scene, reflecting on the significance of tracks like 'Iko Iko' and 'When the Saints Go Marching In.' Isaacson delves into themes of resilience through Irma Thomas's 'It’s Raining' and explores the cultural fusion in Jon Batiste’s 'FREEDOM,' painting a rich tapestry of how music embodies personal and communal narratives.

Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and 2024 MacArthur Fellow who writes books for young people – but he didn’t finish a book until he was 17. Instead, Jason found his literary voice in the rap lyrics printed in cassette tape liner notes. In this episode, Jason traces his journey from a kid disconnected from his assigned reading in school to becoming one of the most influential voices in young adult literature. He opens up about his fraught relationship with his father, spinning Bob Marley records by hand on a broken turntable, and why he doesn’t want to be a parent despite having “dedicated [his] life to kids.” Here are his songs. Queen Latifah - U.N.I.T.Y. Goodie Mob - Soul Food Tracy Chapman - Talkin' Bout a Revolution Bob Markey & The Wailers - Is This Love Camp Lo - Luchini AKA This Is it Billy Joel - Vienna Clarence Carter - Patches