PLAY PODCASTS
Held captive in Iran, Sarah Shourd found solace in a Seal song

Held captive in Iran, Sarah Shourd found solace in a Seal song

Life in Seven Songs

March 4, 202532m 22s

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (podtrac.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

Journalist, author, and playwright Sarah Shourd shares the songs that helped her though a childhood steeped in violence and poverty, and the 410 days she spent in solitary confinement as a political hostage in Iran. From screaming along to Rage Against the Machine as a teenager to belting out ‘Crazy’ by Seal in her prison cell, Sarah’s always used her voice. Now, she speaks out against the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and mass incarceration. Here are her songs.


  1. She’s Got her Ticket - Tracy Chapman 
  2. Killing in the Name -  Rage Against the Machine
  3. Crazy - Seal
  4. At Last - Etta James
  5. ELEMENT. - Kendrick Lamar 
  6. Suit of Armour - Danika Smith 
  7. This Joy - Resistance Revival Chorus


Listen to Sarah Shourd’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected].