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Coming out during the height of radio rock, cutting her teeth in Alaskan bars, dealing with periods of being unhoused — Jewel had to go through just about everything before becoming the singer-songwriter icon she is today. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, the artist recounts how that journey led her to classics like “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “Hands.”
Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch part of the discussion via the video below.
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Jewel digs deep into her origins, reflecting on raising money for boarding school tuition to hustling for café gigs in San Diego. Even as she began to gain traction, ultimately releasing her debut studio album Pieces of You, it was no overnight success. But her genius eventually won out, with tracks like “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “Hands” (the latter off her sophomore album Spirit) climbing to the top of the charts.
In addition to telling the story behind each of those songs (hey, that’s the name of the show!), Jewel touches on her mental health advocacy and work with organizations like InnerWorld (which provides a safe virtual community focused on peer-based help) and the Inspiring Children Foundation (which offers a comprehensive program to improve the mental, emotional, and social well-being of young people).
Listen to Jewel tell the story behind “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “Hands” above, or on your favorite podcast platform. For more of Jewel, grab tickets to her 2024 tour dates alongside Melissa Etheridge. The artist also recently opened “The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel” at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, exploring “the intersection of music, mental health, technology, and art” with paintings, sculptures, and a 200-piece drone show choreographed and scored by Jewel herself.
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Follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media, and keep up with the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.