More than Gold

What if music is humanity's oldest form of alchemy? For two seasons I've shared stories about opera, singer-songwriters, Shakespeare, cities, and remarkable women. This week, I finally understood they're all pointing to the same question: Why do I care so deeply about music? An unexpected visit to The Alchemy of Knowledge at Kansas City's Linda Hall Library revealed an answer I never saw coming. In this deeply personal episode, we journey from medieval alchemists to modern choirs, from Shakespeare to science, and from curiosity to transformation. Along the way, you'll hear  gorgeous choral performances from my own ensembles and discover how ordinary breath becomes extraordinary sound—and why that may be the greatest act of alchemy we know. Maybe knowledge isn't something we collect. Maybe it's something that changes us.