The podcast celebrating Black voices and experience through the music that shaped them, returns to BBC Sounds for a second series. Songs To Live By is a listening party where each episode, two influential Black guests from different generations join host Vick Hope to talk about the songs that mean the most to them.

Extracts from the two tracks the guests bring with them are played throughout the episodes, as they swap stories about their formative years. Vick and her guests use music as the cue for illuminating and moving conversations about why the songs are significant to them, their experiences from across the decades and the music scenes and artists they loved, and how they influenced them.

The first episode features spoken word artist and activist George The Poet and rapper Graft discussing how they were introduced to Hip Hop, navigating the entertainment industry and how their musical heroes inspired them to challenge preconceptions and succeed. All soundtracked by iconic music from Nas, 2Pac, Chipmunk and Little Brother.

Vick Hope says: “With Songs To Live By back for a second series, I’m so happy and moved to once again be able share the stories and songs that have shaped such influential Black lives and voices. We’re back to laugh and cry together, to reflect on our history and cultures, where we’ve come from and where we’re going. This has been such an illuminating podcast to record, an education at times, celebrating the resilience, ambition and magic of my brilliant guests: writers, actors, poets, comedians, musicians, activists, sportspeople and broadcasters with the most incredible experiences and insightful perspectives of the world. It is a podcast about pain and about hope, but most of all about the music that soundtracks us becoming who we are. You're all invited to our listening party so expect to hear Reggae, Rap, Gospel, Jazz, Motown, High Life, Roots, Hip Hop, Funk, Soul and more, and be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster as we hear the stories behind the songs on this really special, brand new series.”

Guests already confirmed for the new series include producers Roni Size and Swindle, singer and author Pauline Black, rapper and songwriter Enny, Radio 1Xtra’s Remi Burgz, comedian Angie Le Mar, poet and musician Roger Robinson, singer Avelino, DJ Seani B and more.

Previous guests include Dane Baptiste, Mica Paris, Sophie Duker, Tiffany Calver, Zeze Millz, poet Benjamin Zephaniah, Lady Phyll, Jordan Stephens and Shola Mos-Shogbamimu.

Songs To Live By is the first podcast in a series of co-production collaborations between the BBC and Warner Music Group. Working together, BBC and WMG will create a number of ambitious new podcasts with different formats that have great storytelling and music at their centre.

The first episode of Songs To Live By series 2 is available on BBC Sounds now, with new episodes available weekly.