Freedom Needs a Soundtrack

About Freedom Needs a Soundtrack

Thirty years ago, the Beastie Boys, U2, Rage Against the Machine, Björk, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, A Tribe Called Quest, and other major artists came together for nonviolence, freedom, and Tibet through the Tibetan Freedom Concerts. In this six-part audio documentary, concert co-founder Erin Potts tells how a small team of twenty-somethings helped build one of the largest concert series of the 1990s. With friends, artists, activists, and organizers who were part of the story, Erin looks back at how the concerts began, what they changed, and what their legacy offers today. This series is a Rangzen production produced by Adonde Media (http://adondemedia.com) and distributed in partnership with KALW Public Media in San Francisco. To learn more about the concerts go to freedomneedsasoundtrack.com (https://www.freedomneedsasoundtrack.com/), and hear other podcasts distributed by KALW at kalw.org (http://kalw.org).

Publisher

Rangzen Productions

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jun 2026

Latest episode

20 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 7 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   20 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   After the Storm

   Erin Potts and Deyden Tethong interview Lhadon Tethong and Ngawang Sangdrol about the enduring impact of the Tibetan Freedom Concerts on the fight for freedom.

2. 

   13 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   No Slowing Down

   Erin Potts and Deyden Tethong discuss overcoming immense challenges to host the New York Tibetan Freedom Concert, a pivotal moment for the movement.

3. 

   6 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The First Concert

   Erin Potts and Adam Yauch detail the monumental effort behind the first Tibetan Freedom Concert, showcasing music's power to drive activism and inspire change.

4. 

   29 Jun 2026

   "Standing up for Freedom"

   Erin Potts and Adam Yauch explore how music and activism unite for Tibet, leading to the Tibetan Freedom Concerts.

5. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Inside Tibet

   Erin Potts and Sam Chapin recount their harrowing journey inside Tibet, witnessing and documenting a violent crackdown on a peaceful protest.

6. 

   15 Jun 2026

   The Power of Music

   Erin Potts and former Tibetan nun Ngawang Sangdrol discuss how music fuels activism and resistance, sharing personal stories of courage and joy.

7. 

   5 Jun 2026

   Introducing Freedom Needs a Soundtrack

   Erin Potts, co-founder of the Tibetan Freedom Concerts, shares the story of how she and a dedicated team mobilized global artists for Tibet, offering insights into the concerts' impact and enduring legacy.

Inside a recent episode

After the Storm

Published 20 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Adam spoke at the rally and he was talking about nonviolence and sort of the why behind what we were doing. I think we're all really, in a sense, working towards world peace because the values that are within Tibetan culture and Tibetan religion of compassion for all beings and nonviolence. […]

Who has been a guest on Freedom Needs a Soundtrack

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Erin Potts
• Rebecca Rankin
• John Norris
• Flea
• Deyden Tethong

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

61 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

24 ratings

Contact Freedom Needs a Soundtrack

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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