In this episode, Taylor Mac joins us to discuss their latest musical-theatrical work, created with composer Matt Ray and set in ancient Athens on the eve of Socrates’ execution. Sentenced to death for “corrupting the youth,” Socrates spends his final hours debating virtue, singing, dancing, and communing with friends, while Plato attempts to record the events. Blending philosophy, history, and theatrical playfulness, the piece celebrates what cannot be written down: the joyous, essential experience of “the hang.”

The conversation is moderated by Shayok Misha Chowdhury, an Obie and Whiting Award–winning writer and director who was a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Public Obscenities. His multidisciplinary work across theater, music, poetry, and film has earned numerous honors, including a United States Artists Fellowship and a Princess Grace Award.