Épisodes

  • How music shaped Maria Konnikova, from PhD psychologist to poker champion

    How music shaped Maria Konnikova, from PhD psychologist to poker champion
    Jan 20 2026
    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”
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    33 min
  • BD Wong on music, identity, and fighting for Asian American visibility

    BD Wong on music, identity, and fighting for Asian American visibility
    Jan 13 2026
    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”
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    36 min
  • How Hinge founder Justin McLeod’s love story shaped a dating empire

    How Hinge founder Justin McLeod’s love story shaped a dating empire
    Jan 6 2026
    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”
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    37 min
  • Go-Go’s singer Belinda Carlisle says her life got interesting when she got sober

    Go-Go’s singer Belinda Carlisle says her life got interesting when she got sober
    Dec 30 2025
    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”
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    30 min
  • ENCORE: Why Kara Swisher loves country music and the military

    ENCORE: Why Kara Swisher loves country music and the military
    Dec 23 2025
    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.
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    34 min
  • How actress Mayim Bialik is rethinking her worth after a lifetime in the spotlight

    How actress Mayim Bialik is rethinking her worth after a lifetime in the spotlight
    Dec 16 2025
    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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    30 min
  • Inside musician John Grant’s pain: Seven songs that saved his life

    Inside musician John Grant’s pain: Seven songs that saved his life
    Dec 9 2025
    John Grant’s music is known for its brutal honesty – songs about desire, rage, and shame. But the story behind that voice is even more extraordinary. Raised in a religious household where being gay meant losing your family and being rejected by society, John grew up believing he deserved the violence and hostility he faced.And yet, what stands out most when John tells his story is not the pain but the persistence – his ability to keep showing up, to find joy in small moments, and to let music crack open something hopeful inside him. In this episode, John shares the seven songs that shaped his life, the artists who showed him new worlds, and the acts of kindness that helped him survive. He reflects on healing from self-hatred and why, despite everything, he still considers himself an optimist. Here are his songs. Abba, “Eagle” Yello, “Sometimes (Dr. Hirsh)” Nina Hagen, “Antiworld” Throwing Muses, “Dirty Water” Colder, “To The Music” Jenny and Johnny, “Animal” Asha Puthli, “Space Talk”
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    34 min
  • 31 and done: Why F1 champ Nico Rosberg walked away at the top

    31 and done: Why F1 champ Nico Rosberg walked away at the top
    Dec 2 2025
    From the outside, Nico Rosberg lived every young racer’s dream: born to a Formula One world champion, raised with a go-kart track in his backyard, and the Monaco Grand Prix roaring outside his bedroom window. But behind the glamour was a different story: one of a sensitive young man dealing with crushing pressure and a bitter friendship-turned-rivalry with Lewis Hamilton that pushed him to his limits. In this episode, Nico talks about the secret mental training that helped him survive the intensity of Formula One, the final-lap showdown that resulted in his world title, and his decision to retire just five days later, at the peak of his career. He reflects on rebuilding his identity, finding meaning off the track, and teaching his daughters to do the same. Here are his songs. Elton John - Can You Feel the Love Tonight Avicii - Levels U2 - Beautiful Day Queen - We Are the Champions Robbie Williams - Something Beautiful Myles Smith - Stargazing Klingande - Jubel
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    31 min