Episodes

  • Introducing Professional Book Nerds: An Interview with Daniel Handler

    Introducing Professional Book Nerds: An Interview with Daniel Handler
    Jan 14 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Failing publicly and feeling at home with NextDoor’s Nirav Tolia

    Failing publicly and feeling at home with NextDoor’s Nirav Tolia
    Jan 7 2025
    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?
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Rock photographer Jay Blakesberg on capturing the souls of legends

    Rock photographer Jay Blakesberg on capturing the souls of legends
    Dec 17 2024
    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.
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Sandra Bernhard’s ‘risky, beautiful, and heartbreaking’ life

    Sandra Bernhard’s ‘risky, beautiful, and heartbreaking’ life
    Dec 3 2024
    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.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Chesa Boudin, raised by radicals, on the songs that shaped him

    Chesa Boudin, raised by radicals, on the songs that shaped him
    Nov 19 2024
    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.
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Rahsaan “New York” Thomas on breaking barriers behind bars

    Rahsaan “New York” Thomas on breaking barriers behind bars
    Nov 5 2024
    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.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Why Kara Swisher loves country music and the military

    Why Kara Swisher loves country music and the military
    Oct 22 2024
    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.
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Turns out, Mark Cuban is an emotional guy

    Turns out, Mark Cuban is an emotional guy
    Oct 8 2024
    Billionaire businessman and investor Mark Cuban is known for making — or crushing — entrepreneurs' dreams on the TV show Shark Tank. But in reality, he's a big softie. Here, he talks about getting his start selling trash bags as a kid, opening a bar before he was even 21, and betting on the Internet early. Here are his seven songs, including his life’s “theme” and a song that brings him to tears. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry Life’s Been Good – Joe Walsh September – Earth, Wind & Fire Fame – DMX Rapper's Delight – The Sugarhill Gang Eminence Front – The Who Listen to Mark Cuban’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at lifeinsevensongs@sfstandard.com.
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins