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by The San Francisco Standard
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- Feb 3, 202631 min
Al Roker shares his life story through seven joyful songs
Al Roker has been the weatherman on “Today” for 30 years, but that describes only a small part of his very full life. He’s also a bestselling author of fatherhood memoirs, cookbooks, and mystery novels and someone who’s remarkably open about his family and health struggles. In this episode of “Life In Seven Songs,” Roker discusses growing up as the oldest of six kids in New York City to become one of the most well-known people on television — and why the songs he loves are fundamentally joyful. “The A-Team” (from The A-Team TV series) Stevie Wonder, “Fingertips, Pt. 2” Soupy Sales, “The Mouse” Santana, “Black Magic Woman” The Doobie Brothers, “Listen To The Music” The Spinners, “I’ll Be Around” Elton John, “Philadelphia Freedom” This is also the last episode of Life in Seven Songs that we're planning to publish. Thank you so much for listening. We appreciate every single one of you. It's been a joy to work on this show.
- Jan 27, 202631 min
Seven songs that shaped Kris Bowers, the composer behind ‘Bridgerton’
Even if you don’t know Kris Bowers by name, you’ve almost certainly heard his work. He composed scores for “The Wild Robot,” “King Richard,” and other films, as well as for the TV series “Bridgerton.” (The new season premieres Jan. 29.) But on this episode of “Life in Seven Songs,” the focus is not the soundtrack. It’s the private playlist — the songs that shaped Bowers before anyone put his name in the credits. Bowers’ music education started early, with his parents’ ambition. Neither had more than a high school education, and they wanted their son to have opportunities they did not. Their chosen avenue was the piano. Bowers began a rigorous training program when he was just 4 years old. He says his parents’ idea was straightforward: He would get so good at piano that he would earn a scholarship to a great college, then become a lawyer. That plan held until Bowers discovered his own dream: composing for film. Here’s Bowers’ playlist: John Williams, “Theme from Jurassic Park” Earth, Wind & Fire, “Reasons” NSYNC, “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You” Oscar Peterson Trio, “Roundalay” Aretha Franklin, “Mary, Don’t You Weep” Death Cab for Cutie, “Passenger Seat” The Cinematic Orchestra, “To Build a Home”
- Jan 20, 202632 min
How music shaped Maria Konnikova, from PhD psychologist to poker champion
Maria Konnikova is a professional poker player, though she doesn’t even consider herself a gambler at heart. Before her pursuits at the poker table, Konnikova was a PhD psychologist and New York Times bestselling author, writing books about how we think and make decisions. After a string of tragedies hit Konnikova’s life, she took her psychological prowess to the world of poker, where her expertise on game theory and the human psyche eventually led her to become a champion. In this episode of “Life In Seven Songs,” Konnikova shares her journey as a daughter of Russian immigrants growing up in the Boston suburbs, where her feelings of being an outsider spurred her interest in the human mind. She describes how hip-hop became the soundtrack for her poker career, which she eventually wrote about in the best-selling book “The Biggest Bluff.” Here’s her playlist: Gang Starr, “Full Clip” SWV, “Weak” Vladimir Vysotsky, “Crystal House” Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, “The Crossroads” Fountains of Wayne, “Stacy’s Mom” The Walkmen, “We’ve Been Had” Billie Holiday and Lester Young, “Mean To Me”
- Jan 13, 202636 min
BD Wong on music, identity, and fighting for Asian American visibility
Actor BD Wong rose to fame with the Tony Award-winning performance of Song Liling in the 1988 Broadway musical “M. Butterfly.” He went on to pick up more roles on stage and on screen, including a 14-year run portraying Dr. George Huang in the TV series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Through all his successes and achievements, he’s faced personal obstacles, as well as having to face the challenge of being a gay Asian actor in an industry where most of his peers didn’t have his same background. In this episode of “Life In Seven Songs,” Wong details his journey as a boy growing up in the Sunset District nurturing his love of musical theater, to New York City as a young man where he lived in an apartment that was owned by the mafia. He talks about how the tragic loss of his baby made him a more confident public speaker, and how now, as an industry veteran, he’s championing Asian representation in the entertainment industry. Here’s his playlist: The Supremes, “Stop In The Name of Love” Charlie Rich, “Behind Closed Doors” Pacific Overtures OBC/Stephen Sondheim, “There Is No Other Way” Al Jarreau, “Boogie Down” Elton John, “The Greatest Discovery” Beyonce, “Love On Top” Dr. John, “Accentuate the Positive”
- Jan 6, 202636 min
How Hinge founder Justin McLeod’s love story shaped a dating empire
Long before he founded the dating app Hinge, Justin McLeod was a little boy in Louisville, Kentucky, belting out Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” from the backseat of his mom’s car. Looking back, that song feels almost prophetic, after Justin met – and briefly lost – the love of his life, only to win her back with a big, movie-worthy gesture. In this episode, Justin charts the story of building one of the most influential dating apps in the world – a journey intertwined with his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and his own epic love story. He reflects on the moment he thought Hinge was finished, why he believes we create rather than find “the one,” and the soundtrack to his tumultuous life story. Here are his songs. Meat Loaf, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” Pink Floyd, “Time” The Juliana Theory, “We're At The Top Of The World” Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, “Apologies” Jessie J, “Price Tag, ft. B.o.B” You+Me, “You and Me” Van Morrison, “Days Like This”
- Dec 30, 202529 min
Go-Go’s singer Belinda Carlisle says her life got interesting when she got sober
Belinda Carlisle says she’s been hit by lightning three times in her career: first with the success of the Go-Go’s, then with her solo hit “Mad About You,” and most of all with the global sensation “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” But behind that meteoric success, Belinda struggled for decades with a debilitating addiction to drugs, alcohol, and the chaos that came with them. In this episode, Belinda traces her journey from a turbulent childhood in Southern California to the LA punk scene that gave her freedom and a sense of invincibility. She reflects on the dizzying rise of the Go-Go’s, the moment she finally hit rock bottom after a three-day bender in London, and why the most interesting part of her life didn’t begin until she got sober. Here are her songs. The Beatles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” The Beach Boys, “God Only Knows” The Runaways, “Cherry Bomb” Iggy Pop & The Stooges, “Search and Destroy” Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen” David Bowie, “Fame” Roxy Music, “Love Is The Drug”
- Dec 23, 202533 min
ENCORE: Why Kara Swisher loves country music and the military
Today on the show, we're re-running a listener favorite: our interview with longtime journalist and media entrepreneur Kara Swisher, who's 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.
- Dec 16, 202529 min
How actress Mayim Bialik is rethinking her worth after a lifetime in the spotlight
Mayim Bialik has seemingly done it all: she became a beloved teen star on Blossom, earned a PhD in neuroscience, then returned to TV to play a neuroscientist on The Big Bang Theory. She’s written books, hosts a popular podcast, and is a mother of two. But after a lifetime of slipping in and out of different roles since the time she was 11, Mayim is taking a step back and asking herself a fundamental question: When you strip away all the identities you’ve performed, who are you really? In this episode, Mayim shares the soundtrack behind her complicated family history, the angst that shaped her teen years in Hollywood, and the significance of her latest role in the upcoming film Father Mother Sister Brother. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about finding love, loss, reinvention, and finding what grounds you. Here are her songs. Bob Dylan, “Abandoned Love” Bing Crosby, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” Violent Femmes, “Kiss Off” Elvis Costello, “Suit of Lights” Neko Case, “Hold On, Hold On” Jay-Z and Kanye West, “No Church in the Wild, featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream” MC Yogi, “Heaven Is Here, featuring Matisyahu”
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About Life in Seven Songs
What songs tell your life story? Host Sophie Bearman asks this question of some of the world’s most fascinating people. Through seven songs, guests reveal the milestones—and the music—that have shaped their lives. New episodes every Tuesday.
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