Ep 7 | Music: The Soul of Peaceful Activism & Justice: Part 1 (USA)

Ep 8 | Music: The Soul of Peaceful Activism & Justice: Part 2 (Global)

In this second instalment of their exploration of musical activism, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi travel far beyond the United States to examine how artists around the world have used music to confront injustice, challenge authority, and inspire change. From the voices of Latin America and South Africa to contemporary movements in Iran, Russia, China, and beyond, the episode highlights musicians whose songs became powerful acts of resistance. Along the way, they uncover stories of courage, exile, censorship, and sacrifice, while celebrating the enduring ability of music to unite people across cultures and borders. These artists may have come from different countries and traditions, but they shared a common belief: that a song can be far more than entertainment — it can be a force for freedom and justice. Music in this podcast Mercedes Sosa (ARGENTINA) - Duermo Negrito https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR9AJwjZeIg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR9AJwjZeIg] Violeta Parra (CHILE) - Miren Como Sonrien https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2ldR1EvhG0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2ldR1EvhG0]    Victor Jara (CHILE) - Manifesto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj-3mpjDC8M [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj-3mpjDC8M]  Miriam Makeba/Hugh Masekela (S. AFRICA ) Soweto Blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHtWuVwZSs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHtWuVwZSs]   Rana Mansour (IRAN) - Beraye (composed by Sherwin Hajipour) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX0OumECPOk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX0OumECPOk]   Pussy Riot (RUSSIA) - Chaika https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VakUHHUSdf8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VakUHHUSdf8]   Sinéad O’ Connor (IRELAND) - Famine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyLnbjtBLX4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyLnbjtBLX4]   Cui Jian (CHINA) No More Disguises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yao6f0QIgA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yao6f0QIgA]   Fela Kuti (NIGERIA) - Beasts of No Nation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BhNPiq78k [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BhNPiq78k]   Bob Marley (JAMAICA) - Redemption Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZpxaeICYyg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZpxaeICYyg] Ep 8 | Unify Playlist additional songs Alicia Keys and Angelique Kidjo perform “Afrika” at Mandela Day 2009 from Radio City Music Hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThdXkwu42aw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThdXkwu42aw]  Mercedes Sosa, Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento e Gal Costa - Volver a los 17 (composed by Violetta Para) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krEMw8E5ZAg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krEMw8E5ZAg]  Joan Baez & Mercedes Sosa “Gracias A La Vida” (composed by Violetta Para) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMuTXcf3-6A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMuTXcf3-6A]  Arlo Guthrie - Victor Jara (composed by Arlo Guthrie & Adrian Mitchell) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatEqeFmXdQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatEqeFmXdQ]  Hugh Masekela - Stimela (Coal Train) - Jazz Day 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=650IZTWZa50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=650IZTWZa50]  Sarafina (Movie) - Funeral Song/Freedom is coming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXyh7YPQ9Y [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXyh7YPQ9Y]  Papa WemBa - Esclave (Slave) (A song tribute to Nelson Mandela, comparing struggles of Africans’ slavery around the world, and the struggles of the South Africans during apartheid.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFiNaSTTgeQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFiNaSTTgeQ]  Shervin Hajipour - Baraye (full version with English lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0th9_v-BbUI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0th9_v-BbUI]  “Coldplay” perform Iranian protest song “Baraye” in Buenos Aires featuring “exiled Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJb3uc1D1D8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJb3uc1D1D8]  Linton Kwesi Johnson - Sonny’s Lettah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uvY5qU7ayg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uvY5qU7ayg]  Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus (Lyric Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSOqWgqwynQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSOqWgqwynQ] Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come {LYRICS} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAGbRHxyHs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAGbRHxyHs] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musictheunifyingforce.substack.com [https://musictheunifyingforce.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 7 | Music: The Soul of Peaceful Activism & Justice: Part 1 (USA)

In this episode, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi explore the powerful role of music as a force for social change, tracing a lineage of musical activism from early voices like Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie to the rise of politically charged folk, soul, and hip-hop. Through iconic songs and personal reflections, the hosts examine how artists have challenged injustice, amplified marginalized voices, and shaped cultural movements across generations. Part 1 sets the stage for a journey through music that doesn’t just entertain—but provokes, resists, and inspires. Music in this podcast: Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbcZstt8ACY] Woody Guthrie - Tear the Fascists Down [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOqGU1F-U7A] The Weavers - If I had a Hammer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSUsyzUFcKs] Joan Baez - Oh, Freedom [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaWmg658bFw] Mahalia Jackson - We Shall Overcome [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W02hDYBcqU] Bob Dylan - Blowin’ In the Wind [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA] Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBiAtwQZnHs] Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo-5MI9-yjU] Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution will not be Televised [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwSRqaZGsPw] Grandmaster Flash - The Message [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PobrSpMwKk4] Jesse Welles - Join Ice [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61I4hlig78w] Ep 7 | Unify Playlist (additional songs) Phil Ochs - I Ain’t Marching Anymore [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rVTBCtYjoY] Woody Guthrie - I Ain’t Got No Home/ Old Man Trump [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbbNH3KTB_I] Gil Scott-Heron - We Almost Lost Detroit (No Nukes Concert Live) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01WRqq-ubsU] Linton Kwesi Johnson - Making History [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtVkLVOP9cU] Boogie Dowh Productions (feat. KRS1) - You Must Learn [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78gslUjRV9k] Public Enemy - Fight the Power [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmo3HFa2vjg] BDP/Stop The Violence Movement - Self-Destruction [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmX5TgWsfEQ] Baby Cham feat. Alicia Keys - Ghetto Story [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loPRsrqrDXc] Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis (Live) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zNDYlMVVUM] Herbie Hancock’s The Imagine Project- Imagine [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVAQl7qq-aI] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musictheunifyingforce.substack.com [https://musictheunifyingforce.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 6 | One World: Faith in Music (Vol 2)

We continue our journey into the role of music within spiritual traditions—this time turning our focus to India.Beginning with a tribute to the legendary Asha Bhosle, Yusuf Gandhi introduces us to the rich landscape of devotional music across Hindu, Sikh, and other faith practices. From the ancient sounds of Dhrupad in temple spaces to the evolution of Khayal under Mughal influence, the episode traces how music moves across time, culture, and belief. We travel through bhajans, kirtans, and Shabads, and across regions—from North to South India—before stepping outward into global parallels, from Indonesian gamelan to Rastafarian music.At its heart, this episode is a reminder: while traditions may differ, music continues to connect, transcend, and unify. Music in this podcast: Mere Sahib, Mere Sahib - Asha Bhosle [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2SJd5CWvjs] Shiva Shiva - Wasifuddin Khan Dagar [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoddkpEprqY] Raghupati Raghava Rajaram [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtfufkz68KM] Nirbhay Nirguna - Kumar Gandharva [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1tXJu-1O8U] Giriraj Sudha - Remember Shakti [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGXcoDlhmoY] Nadaswaram in Temple [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rObB8Eaqgdw] Kerala Drums in Temples [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTTI7BgIwbA] Gamelan Music [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEWCCSuHsuQ] One Love - Bob Marley [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqmMdI7KchI] Episode 6 | Unify Playlist on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnpn7KN1vgS1ediekdp79ldmMi_3ob_UC] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musictheunifyingforce.substack.com [https://musictheunifyingforce.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Special Episode: One-on-one interview with Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan | Part 3

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan : his collaborations with music and musicians from around the world, as well as nurturing and educating his sons and grandchildren to preserve and cement his legacy. Music in this podcast Raga Celebration Sarod Maestro - Amjad Ali Khan - Raga Durga This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musictheunifyingforce.substack.com [https://musictheunifyingforce.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Special Episode: One-on-one interview with Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan | Part 2

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan : his collaborations with music and musicians from around the world, as well as nurturing and educating his sons and grandchildren to preserve and cement his legacy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musictheunifyingforce.substack.com [https://musictheunifyingforce.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]