Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual

Latest episodes

Showing 8 · updated from the feed

Introducing: Sanctuary

Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual is a new podcast hosted by Grammy Award-winning musician and Silkroad Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens. Sanctuary is produc

Oct 8
5 min

Episode 5: Boston

Our final episode brings us to Boston, MA where, at the turn of the 20th century, Black men and women worked as Pullman porters and maids – serving predominantly white tr

Dec 19 2024
44 min

Episode 4: Standing Rock

Centuries before the Dakota Access Pipeline snaked beneath Lakota-Sioux land, the transcontinental railroad barreled through it. Standing Rock Sioux Reservation leaders D

Dec 12 2024
43 min

Episode 3: California

Episode 3 brings us to California, where historians Karen Ishizuka and Roland Hsu detail the contributions of Japanese and Chinese railroad laborers in a country that lev

Dec 5 2024
42 min

Episode 2: New York

Episode 2 of the American Railroad podcast brings us to Hell’s Kitchen, a New York City neighborhood that historian Miriam Nyhan describes as transformed by immigration a

Nov 21 2024
43 min

Episode 1: North Carolina

Episode 1 takes us to North Carolina, where host and Silkroad Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens reveals the origins of the popular Appalachian folk song, “Swannanoa Tunn

Nov 14 2024
36 min

American Railroad: Trailer

Embark on "American Railroad," a five-episode podcast that seeks to right historical wrongs by highlighting the untold stories and unheard voices from the diverse communi

Oct 31 2024
5 min

American Railroad: Teaser

From Silkroad and PRX, the American Railroad podcast is where history and music come together. New episodes begin November 14.

Oct 1 2024
1 min

Chart trend

Position in the Music Commentary chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#99#197JulAugSepOct

#1

all-time peak

10

days in the top 3 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 10, 2026).

#78 ▲ 90 Music Commentary US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

What sets American Railroad apart is its deeply immersive storytelling. Each episode is a symphony of perspectives, featuring interviews with historians, artists, and descendants of the railroad workers who built the tracks that connected a burgeoning nation. The voices are diverse and authentic, painting a picture of the railroads not merely as industrial achievements but as conduits of culture, struggle, and resilience. The podcast also excels in its exploration of the Silkroad Ensemble's music, which serves as both a soundtrack and a narrative force.

DrNYU · Dec 2024

I really love this podcast and am so grateful to have found it! I particularly enjoyed listening to the New York episode. The music was gorgeous and the story allowed me a peak into what life might have been like for some of my ancestors who came to New York from Ireland. Excellent storytelling!

Robthedino · Dec 2024

I learned so much not only about railroad building and music, which I know little to nothing about, but also learned about this particular use of incarcerated Labor (of which I do know quite a bit about) AND the deaths of 19 Black incarcerated men who had been forced to Labor at gunpoint. And all in 37 minutes!!

VikkiLaw · Nov 2024

A really delightful show, digging into the twin connective tissues of music and the railroad system. Fascinating subject matter and very well made.

lividjellyfish · Nov 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.