Life as a Playlist

lemming drops studio•www.lemmingdrops.com

I’m Sarah Black, a writing and communication professor, using this podcast to tell my life story through 64 'Top 40' Billboard songs. These aren’t necessarily my favorite songs although some are, or the best songs, but rather my life as a playlist.

Last refreshed: August 21st, 2025 at 10:18 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Debbie Gibson and Swing Out Sister

The future for Life as a Playlist and my eight happiest childhood memories. #DebbieGibson #SwingOutSister

Mar 01, 2021•25 min

The Spinners and The Four Tops

How Covid-19 has exacerbated injustices in our criminal justice system, and honoring the life of a beloved student #Covid-19 #EndMassIncarceration #Motown #FourTops #TheSpinners

Feb 08, 2021•26 min

My Top 10 Divas of the 2010s

Your favorite diva for the 2010s based on audience vote is Lizzo! Hear all about her and my 9 favorites of the decade here. #divas

Jan 04, 2021•38 min

The Calling and The Pointer Sisters

Luke Allen, host of Christmas Actually, joins me to discuss the soundtrack of Love Actually and its top-40 songs. #thecalling #pointersisters #loveactually #christmas

Dec 25, 2020•39 min

Frank Sinatra and Florence + The Machine

Childhood rejection, the subsequent fear of failure, self-forgiveness, and forging a new identity. #frank sinatra #florenceandthemachine #atichyphobia

Dec 14, 2020•21 min

27 Male Vocalists

I ranked your nominations for the most emotionally resonant pop/rock male vocalists of all time in an unscientific and highly subjective order. See where your favorite landed!

Nov 30, 2020•27 min

Martha and the Vandellas, George Jones & Brenda Carter, Public Enemy, Bruce Springsteen, and Ray Charles

Songs for the 5 states that flipped from red to blue, and a huge thank you to Navajo Nation, Rural Utah Project, Fair Fight, and Black Voters Matter. #FairFight #BlackVotesMatter #StaceyAbrams #LaToshaBrown #Georgia #Pennsylvania #ChuckD #RayCharles

Nov 09, 2020•22 min

Everlast and Ani DiFranco and Marilyn Manson

From Roe v. Wade to 2020 Part 2: the 19 most pro-choice Billboard-charting artists and why we must fight to keep abortion legal in the U.S. #abortion #RoevWade #Everlast #AniDiFranco #MarlynManson

Nov 02, 2020•28 min

P.O.D. and Digable Planets

From Roe v. Wade to 2020: 60 years of abortion song history in the U.S. by Billboard-charting artists. #RoevWade #abortion #SupremeCourt #AmyConeyBarrett #P_O_D #DigablePlanets

Oct 26, 2020•37 min

TLC and Korn

My 48 hours in a psych ward at age 23. #endstigma #defundthepolice

Oct 12, 2020•25 min

Lauryn Hill and Peggy Seeger

The long history of eugenics in the U.S.; forced sterilization for women of color and forced births for white women; how white supremacist Christofascists are seizing power through the courts #AmyConeyBarrett #LaurynHill #PeggySeeger

Sep 28, 2020•25 min

Alicia Keys and Jennifer Lopez

Follow black activist women on twitter, don't be a TERF, and 8 other steps you can take to dismantle the patrarchy.

Sep 14, 2020•23 min

Lizzo and Alanis Morissette

Feminist anthems, sexism in podcasting, and a day in the life of one American woman. #Lizzo #Alanis

Sep 07, 2020•23 min

Incubus and Kasey Musgraves

The second part of an overview of my life experience with music, and marriage. #Incubus #KaseyMusgraves #playlists

Aug 31, 2020•17 min

Patty Smyth and Destiny's Child

The first part of an overview of my life experience with music, different genres, different songs. #PattySmyth #DestinysChild #playlists

Aug 24, 2020•12 min

Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Wonder

Political campaign songs, my ideological evolution, and how to get involved in the 2020 election before it's too late. #FleetwoodMac #StevieWonder #campaignsongs #misogyny #feminism #politics

Aug 17, 2020•17 min

Madonna and Cardi B

Sex, The Talk, first fantasies, and feminist icons. #madonna #cardib

Aug 10, 2020•22 min

Amy Winehouse and The Cure

Robert and Luke, the hosts of Two Minutes About Time, join me to discuss the soundtrack of About Time and its top-40 songs. #amywinehouse #thecure #abouttime

Aug 03, 2020•31 min

NKOTB and Blind Melon

Discussing middle school mishaps, boy bands, and finding your fellow freaks. #nkotb #blindmelon

Jul 27, 2020•19 min

Britney and Mariah

Discussing 90s pop culture, first loves, parasocial relationships, and mental health. #BritneySpears #MariahCarey #divas

Jul 20, 2020•16 min

Pilot Episode

An introduction and an explanation of what is to come.

Jul 13, 2020•3 min

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