Why does a few seconds of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake instantly feel mysterious…or even unsettling?

Music scholar Kirill Smolkin joins us to unpack the famous “Swan Theme,” exploring its emotional power, its surprising afterlife in horror films, and why music boxes have such a lasting psychological pull.

Together we trace how these sounds shape our emotional responses and discover how all of these threads come together in The Handmaid's Tale. Once you hear the “Swan Theme” this way, you may never hear it quite the same again.

What is it like to spend your career dancing swan roles?

Professional ballet dancer Trent Montgomery takes us behind the curtain of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the internationally acclaimed all-male ballet company celebrated for its extraordinary technique, pointe work, drag performance, and infectious sense of humor.

Together we talk about what it means to embody swan roles, why audiences connect so deeply with them, and how comedy can open doors to appreciating one of ballet's most enduring works. It's a conversation about artistry, athleticism, tradition, and the joy of performance.

Come behind the scenes with us as our team chats about our own first experiences with The Handmaid’s Tale, how Gilead reflects contemporary social commentary, and the ways the show connects to conversations happening on social media.

And, of course, we couldn’t leave out the music box and Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Theme”…and how that sound brings so many of these ideas together.

It’s a conversation about memory, culture, and the unexpected ways Swan Lake continues to show up in the stories we tell about our world.

📸: IMDb