Is it possible to live forever? And if so, should we even want to? This hour, we discuss the search for immortality, from ancient philosophers to the elixir of life. Plus, a look at immortalizing public figures through obituaries.

GUESTS:

• Tushar Irani is a Professor of Philosophy at Wesleyan University studying Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy

• Philip Ball is a freelance science writer and the author of Alchemy: An Illustrated History of Elixirs, Experiments, and the Birth of Modern Science

• William McDonald recently retired as the obituaries editor for The New York Times, a position that he held for the past 20 years

Music featured (in order):

• Galahad – Aoife O’Donovan

• You Only Live Twice – Nancy Sinatra

• If We Were Vampires – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

• Alchemy – Cam

• Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (But Nobody Wants to Die) – Ellen McIlwaine

• Fame – Irene Cara

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Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on July 8, 2026.