Anthony Veneziale and Aneesa Folds return to the podcast with the same brilliance and warmth that made their first appearances unforgettable—this time teaming up to talk about their new boundary-breaking musical, Co-Founders, premiering at ACT in San Francisco. With its Bay Area hip hop roots, tech satire, and cutting-edge stage visuals powered by Unreal Engine, the show challenges both theatrical norms and late-stage capitalism, all while telling a deeply personal story about representation, equity, and belonging. We unpack the eight-year journey behind the show’s creation, how Aneesa came aboard, and how both artists bring authenticity and heart into every moment—onstage and off.

We also dive into hip hop’s regional influence on the show’s score, the emotional toll of being labeled a “breakout star,” and why community and kindness are non-negotiable parts of the creative process. And if that’s not enough, we improvise the plot of a musical called Mystical Desperate Zebras. This episode is a celebration of art that disrupts, heals, and uplifts—don’t miss it.

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