Ep. 13 - Sumeera Younis: From Emotional Farewells to Social Justice

A Life in Six Songs

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On this episode, we sit down with Sumeera Younis, a native Pakistani who grew up in Michigan, did a pit stop in Istanbul and now lives in Washington DC with her husband and three kids. Join us as we hear about Sumeera’s immigration to the U.S from Pakistan with the song “Pardesi, Pardesi,” and then being exposed to the political messages in Rage Against the Machine in car rides to high school with her brother. Sumeera shares the stories of graduating from law school and studying for the bar exam, with the help of “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” by Manic Street Preachers, and falling in love with her husband through “Temptation” by New Order. We close out our conversation with the documentary Searching for Sugar Man and the song “Sugar Man” by Rodriguez, and then, Sumeera’s moving story of fertility treatment through “The Waiting” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Pull up a folding chair, grab a drink, find a spot “around the fire,” and enjoy the conversation and community.

Connect w/ Sumeera on her Instagram

Follow your hosts David, Raza, and Carolina every other week as they embark on an epic adventure to find the songs that are stuck to us like audible tattoos that tell the story of who we are and where we’ve been, to help us figure out where we’re going. It’s a life story told through 6 songs.

WHO WE ARE

DAVID: Creator & Host @ALifeinSixSongs

Drummer | Educator | Philosopher | Combat Veteran | PTSD Advocate

CAROLINA: Co-Host @ALifeinSixSongs

Storyteller | Professional Facilitator

RAZA: Co-Host @ALifeinSixSongs

Lawyer | Producer | Solo Project: Solamente | @razaismyname

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Liked songs from this life story? Check out A Life in Six Songs playlist on Apple Music and Spotify
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• Are you a veteran who is struggling? Call the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1.
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فصول

1. A Life in Six Songs (00:00:00)

2. Our Guest Today is Sumeera Younis (00:01:26)

3. "Pardesi, Pardesi" and Leaving Pakistan (00:04:26)

4. Studying for the Bar Exam and "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" by Manic Street Preachers (00:13:15)

5. The Political Messages in Rage Against the Machine (00:24:53)

6. Falling in Love and "Temptation" by New Order (00:38:09)

7. The Documentary, "Searching for Sugar Man" and "Sugar Man" by Rodriguez (00:46:20)

8. Navigating Fertility Challenges with "The Waiting" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (00:55:13)

9. Life Reflected in Musical Memories (01:09:13)

10. Lightning Round! (01:09:52)

11. Sumeera's Message: Free Palestine (01:13:41)