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.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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