Want to know how professional DJs build playlists that feel intentional instead of random?

In this solo episode, DJ Hesta Prynn shares the exact playlist curation and DJ mixing techniques she used to create the official July 4th playlist for Renaissance Weekend—a conference attended by 400 of America's leading astronauts, CEOs, scientists, political leaders, artists, and innovators.

But this episode is about much more than making a playlist.

Here's something Hesta believes: American music is protest music. Whether it's Jimi Hendrix, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Kendrick Lamar, or RuPaul, some of our greatest songs are really arguments about who gets to belong here.

Using that idea as her guide, Hesta walks through her entire 33-song playlist and reveals the same storytelling techniques she uses as a professional DJ to move a crowd, surprise an audience, and make every song feel inevitable.

In this episode, you'll learn:
Why American music is rooted in protest—and how that shaped every song choice
How DJs use key, BPM (tempo), and energy to build seamless playlists
Why cover songs are one of the best ways to transition between genres
How to hide a powerful message inside a playlist without making it feel like a lecture
The RuPaul song that completely changed Hesta's perspective on being American
Crowdsourcing the set: how friends (including bestseller author and recent podcast guest NY Times journalist David Gelles) helped shape the final tracklist

 Listen to the full 33-song playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4s6thxFLtGNsDiuJWIGa0r?si=7e9d675e92f84046

Connect with Hesta: 

 Follow Hesta on Instagram: @hestaprynnmusic

Substack: https://hestaprynn.substack.com/

 

 Have thoughts on the playlist—or a song Hesta should have included? Email musicistherapypod@gmail.com.

Learn more about Renaissance Weekend: https://www.renaissanceweekend.org/

Want to know how professional DJs build playlists that feel intentional instead of random?
In this solo episode,&nbsp;DJ Hesta Prynn&nbsp;shares the exact playlist curation and DJ mixing techniques she used to create the official July 4th playlist for&nbsp;Renaissance Weekend&mdash;a conference attended by 400 of America's leading astronauts, CEOs, scientists, political leaders, artists, and innovators.
But this episode is about much more than making a playlist.
Here's something Hesta believes:&nbsp;American music is protest music.&nbsp;Whether it's Jimi Hendrix, Beyonc&eacute;, Bruce Springsteen, Kendrick Lamar, or RuPaul, some of our greatest songs are really arguments about who gets to belong here.
Using that idea as her guide, Hesta walks through her entire 33-song playlist and reveals the same storytelling techniques she uses as a professional DJ to move a crowd, surprise an audience, and make every song feel inevitable.
In this episode, you'll learn:
<ul>
<li>Why American music is rooted in protest&mdash;and how that shaped every song choice</li>
<li>How DJs use&nbsp;key, BPM (tempo), and energy&nbsp;to build seamless playlists</li>
<li>Why cover songs are one of the best ways to transition between genres</li>
<li>How to hide a powerful message inside a playlist without making it feel like a lecture</li>
<li>The RuPaul song that completely changed Hesta's perspective on being American</li>
<li>Crowdsourcing the set: how friends (including bestseller author and recent podcast guest NY Times journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-wealth-was-supposed-to-mean-with-david-gelles/id1867296156?i=1000747329880" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-wealth-was-supposed-to-mean-with-david-gelles/id1867296156?i%3D1000747329880&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1783737341542000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3EiM78eqiIzuUqhIjutaRn">David Gelles</a>) helped shape the final tracklist</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;Listen to the full 33-song playlist: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4s6thxFLtGNsDiuJWIGa0r?si=7e9d675e92f84046" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4s6thxFLtGNsDiuJWIGa0r?si%3D7e9d675e92f84046&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1783737341542000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1b8j925dtiSLFeZzS58mn4">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4s6thxFLtGNsDiuJWIGa0r?si=7e9d675e92f84046</a>
Connect with Hesta:&nbsp;
&nbsp;Follow Hesta on Instagram:&nbsp;@hestaprynnmusic
Substack:&nbsp;<a href="https://hestaprynn.substack.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hestaprynn.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1783737341542000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0rE2zxgPXIIF3f_hZeLJHR">https://hestaprynn.substack.com/</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Have thoughts on the playlist&mdash;or a song Hesta should have included? Email&nbsp;<a>musicistherapypod@gmail.com</a>.
Learn more about Renaissance Weekend:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.renaissanceweekend.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.renaissanceweekend.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1783737341542000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1HObSExZMvyf5v_B8DuHsV">https://www.renaissanceweekend.org/</a>

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.

What if the song you can’t stop playing isn’t random? What if it’s pointing to something you want - or someone you’re becoming?

DJ Hesta Prynn’s Music Is Therapy is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.

Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.

Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta’s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.

This is not just a podcast.  It's unconventional therapy for your entire life. 

Music is Therapy - your session starts now.

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.
What if the song you can&rsquo;t stop playing isn&rsquo;t random? What if it&rsquo;s pointing to something you want - or someone you&rsquo;re becoming?
DJ Hesta Prynn&rsquo;s Music Is Therapy is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.
Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.
Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta&rsquo;s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.
This is not just a podcast.&nbsp; It's unconventional therapy for your entire life.&nbsp;
Music is Therapy - your session starts now.

DJ Hesta Prynn's Music is Therapy

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.

What if the song you can’t stop playing isn’t random?
What if it’s pointing to something you want -
or someone you’re becoming?

DJ Hesta Prynn’s Music Is Therapy is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.

Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.

Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta’s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.

This is not just a podcast. 

It's unconventional therapy for your entire life. 

Music is Therapy - your session starts now.

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.
What if the song you can&rsquo;t stop playing isn&rsquo;t random? What if it&rsquo;s pointing to something you want - or someone you&rsquo;re becoming?
DJ Hesta Prynn&rsquo;s&nbsp;Music Is Therapy&nbsp;is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.
Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.
Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta&rsquo;s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.
This is not just a podcast.&nbsp;
It's unconventional therapy for your entire life.&nbsp;
Music is Therapy&nbsp;- your session starts now.

DJ Hesta Prynn: Every Trick I Used to Build a Playlist for 400 of the Smartest People in America

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5ae6a2f0-ba56-4665-ad23-b4830047b05a/transcript