The Music of Healing: Tommy Sands on Peace, Hope, and Human Connection

In this special live conversation, Stephen Bauman sits down with legendary Irish folk singer, songwriter, and peace activist Tommy Sands. From his childhood in rural Ireland to his work during The Troubles, Sands reflects on how music can bridge divides, heal wounds, and create space for reconciliation.Together, they explore the role of art in conflict resolution, lessons learned from peacebuilding efforts around the world, and why hope remains an essential act in an increasingly polarized age. The conversation concludes with stories of Pete Seeger and a moving performance of Sands’ beloved song, “The Music of Healing.”00:00:00 Introduction: Meeting Tommy Sands00:01:32 Music, Storytelling, and the Work of Peace00:06:07 Harvard, Conflict Resolution, and the Music of Healing00:15:25 Travel, Perspective, and Breaking Tribalism00:17:03 Growing Up in a Musical Irish Family00:20:45 The Troubles and the Good Friday Agreement00:23:12 Lessons from Israel, Gaza, and Iran00:32:30 Algorithms, Division, and Our Shared Humanity00:36:29 Faith, Love, and the Common Ground Between Religions00:42:21 Pete Seeger, Hope, and “The Music of Healing” Get full access to Living in the Meantime at livinginthemeantime.substack.com/subscribe