The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

As The Hamilcast starts to wrap up, I couldn't end this thing without jumping on the mic with Michael Paul Smith and making a podcast love letter to every listener, guest, Patreon Peep, and cool experience from these last ten years. Of course I couldn't mention everything and even as I type this, I'm kicking myself for not going back and discussing every single episode and every single experience at length and with extreme detail. But this feels very self serving as it is (woof!) so please, if you're reading this, please know how much I love I have for this entire journey, and how much fun I've had with you. It has been the absolute best and even though we do get sappy at times in this very special bonus episode (no but literally, it's a Very Special Episode of The Hamilcast), I still want these last few weeks to be a PARTY. So grab your popcorn (wink!) and join us as we take this walk down memory lane and remember, to quote Thomas Kail, I made this show for you.  Michael Paul Smith's website Michael Paul Smi

On August 21st, 2025, I hosted a #HamilTEN event where I was asked to moderate a conversation with five actors who have played Aaron Burr over the years: Nik Walker, Donald Webber Jr., Jared Dixon, Marc delaCruz, and Deon'te Goodman. It was extra fun because they are all my friends and have all appeared on the podcast! This is the full audio of our chat, including the first announcement about the ending of The Hamilcast. It won't be any surprise for you to learn that this conversation was *excellent.* All of these guys have so much insight and incredible things to say; we absolutely could have kept talking for a lot longer but with subways to catch and half hour calls to make, we were on a very strict deadline. We had deep dives on deep dives into Burr the person, Burr the character, and everything that comes with the massive responsibility of playing this role. We talked about if Burr is truly a villain or really just misunderstood (and kinda valid in his thought process?!), and learned about clues into the

Renée Elise Goldsberry is on the pod and yeah no there are no typos detected this actually happened! We covered so much ground and I am still in awe of what a warm, generous, honest, and thoughtful person Renée is. This episode is *packed.* Want to hear about her album Who I Really Am and what it was like to record it over four years and how Renée put her heart and soul into it? Done! How about her new Satisfied documentary, which is a deeply personal look into originating Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton while also raising small children and realizing she didn't have to choose because YEP we covered that, too. Oh hey maybe even Girls5Eva and a deep dive into Wickie Roy's whole vibe and (some of) her best lines and why women should never apologize for being ambitious? CHECKKKKK. Did I fangirl over Documentary Now!'s genius and hilarious Original Cast Album: Co-Op and tell Renée how often that episode is brought up on this podcast because we all love it so much? I SURE DID. #thebrownandthebeige #rooned Plus! René

Jennifer Simard is back for round two and I do not at all regret to inform you that this is now a First Wives Club fan podcast. As she takes questions from the Patreon Peeps, Jennifer talks a lot about her process as Helen Sharp in Death Becomes Her, from respecting the source material without doing a Goldie Hawn impression to staying true to the story that is in front of her (the script on a Broadway stage as opposed to the movie from 1992). Jennifer also dives into the what she calls "the real nougaty center of comedy" which is, say it with me! Pain! Darkness! Tragedy! I mean, come on, that's where the good stuff is! Why? Because all of those things come back to the truth. Oh hey did you know betrayal therapy is a thing? It sure is, and if Jennifer wasn't a multi-faceted and unbelievably talented performer, she'd probably be studying that area of psychology.  Don't worry, we still have fun this week! Jennifer unabashedly loves television and talks about the people and shows she loves: Carol Burnett, Laverne

The multi-talented Jennifer Simard is on the pod! Can you believe?! The three-time Tony nominated star of Death Becomes Her on Broadway AND bonafide TikTok sensation was generous enough to chat with me for so long that she has *two* episodes. Unreal.  This week, Jennifer tells me her Hamilton story, talks about the beauty and madness of Tony season (especially when she was first nominated in 2016), explains the panic of realizing she had onstage seating for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, and makes an extremely compelling pitch for why she should play King George III.  Plus, Jennifer talks about her journey as Helen Sharp in Death Becomes Her, from her first reading to opening night and beyond, including how grateful she is for the fantastic team (both on and offstage!) that makes the campy magic that the audience absolutely loves being in on. Jennifer Simard on TikTok Jennifer Simard on Instagram Jennifer Simard sings "You'll Be Back" as Hamilton's King George III /// Gillian's Website The Hamil

As I wrap up with author Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, we have a first for the pod! A Patreon Peep is taking questions from his fellow Peeps! The deep dive continues as Daniel shares more stories that didn’t make the book (Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist) and even tells us more details about things that *did* make the book. Plus, Daniel nerds out about Shakespeare, talks about his incredibly inspiring students and why "the future of the form is in good hands" (seriously, you will want to see these musicals YESTERDAY), and if you thought we were done talking about the nineties you have notttt been paying attention! Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist Daniel Pollack-Pelzner What Shakespeare Actually Did During the Plague (ARTICLE) Art + Medicine: What Shakespeare Actually Did During the Plague (VIDEO) Scrivener App (Not an ad! I don't do ads! It was mentioned!) Agustina San Martín Warriors /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, cultural omnivore and author of Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist, is back for round two and the deep dive continues! This week, Daniel tells us all about the time Stephen Sondheim visited Lin’s high school dished the dirt about West Side Story with a room full of teenage theatre kids. That's where Lin learned that not even Sondheim nails it on the first try, and the messy process can lead to something even better than the original. That could be its own episode but hell no there's so much more going on this week! Among other things Daniel talks about what *he* learned while writing the book, the power of a great cliffhanger (seriously, you'll get chills!), and the importance of finding your field of other people in bee costumes. Ahem... I trust you’ll understand the reference to the 90’s lore without my having to name that tune. Plus, Daniel fills is in about his work on Mary Kathryn Nagle's upcoming (and currently untitled) documentary film on tribal consulting tribal so

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner is an award winning author, educator, and bonafide fan of culture, Shakespeare, musicals, and artists. His new book, Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist, is part biography, part deep dive, and part oral history. It’s also a very beautiful (and honest!) tribute to Lin-Manuel and all the people and steps involved in the journey to who he is today. But if you think this is a boring stop on a press tour, think again! Daniel has been a Patreon Peep of The Hamilcast since 2018 and after years of writing about Hamilton’s cultural impact and then talking to over 150 people about Lin-Manuel Miranda for this book, he has three amazing episodes packed with story after story after story. This week, Daniel talks about the origin story of the book, pitching the idea to Lin-Manuel, Lin’s high school screenplay about the Hamilton-Burr duel, and why LMM’s one request was that the first person to be interviewed be his mother, Luz Towns-Miranda. She is a renowned psychologist (with a focus on c

We're wrapping up Tyler McKenzie's episodes as he continues to take questions from the Patreon Peeps. Tyler talks about his special bond with the Charlotte arts community, his experience go-go dancing for the legendary Trixie Mattel, and we won't call it a comeback but Janet Jackson is performing again and you need to get yourself there to experience it. We also had to take some time to discuss the pure magic that was the start of the Philip Tour. It was such a moment in time and it was very, very special for a lot of people - and not just for the people in it. For Tyler, the Philip Company will always be home, and he talks a lot about community, boundaries, and relationships *outside* of work. This is still a series about reflection so Tyler very honestly talks about what it's like to leave a show that wasn't just artistically fulfilling, challenging in all the ways, and an unparalleled learning experience but let's get real: he spent eight years answering that horrifying "so what are you up to?!" question b

Tyler McKenzie is back for round two! Tyler just wrapped up an eight year journey with Hamilton, starting as a swing on Broadway for six months and then spending the rest of his time as a Universal Swing and the Dance Captain of the Philip Tour. Make no mistake, Tyler was traveling all over the place, but as an original member of that now-famous (infamous?) Philip Company, "Philip will always be home." This week, Tyler talks about embracing his role as a teacher and a leader, which is absolutely pivotal when you're the dance captain. His teaching philosophy is simple: he understands that every performer learns differently. It's simple, but it feels rare! Tyler rightfully sees his ability create a safe space as his superpower, and he explains how he loves allowing dancers to learn, question, grow, and be as authentic as possible. It was wild to hear about how he was able to find all *kinds* of stability when his phone could ring at any moment telling him he needs to get on a plane tomorrow morning to dive head

Tyler McKenzie is back on the podcast! Tyler joined Hamilton Broadway in 2017 and only had one week off before starting rehearsals for the yet to be revealed Philip Company. He graciously spent his first night off with me, recording his first episode of The Hamilcast. Tyler would join me once again when Mike and I had a party with some members of the Philip Company in Vegas in 2018. Today, Tyler wanted to come back on the podcast to reflect on his eight year journey with Hamilton. We recorded this at the end of May 2025, just days before his final performance on tour... in Las Vegas. Tyler went from Hamilton Broadway to an original member of Philip, and during his time on tour he went from a swing to a universal swing to being both a universal swing *and* the dance captain of the Philip company. So yes, there is a lot to unpack. Not to mention that during the COVID lockdown, Tyler worked as a professor at Penn State teaching dance and musical theatre, and using this platform to hire his fellow performers when

The news is out! After nearly ten years and what will be 500 episodes, The Hamilcast will be coming to an end on January 26th, 2026, the podcast’s official ten-year anniversary. While the community isn’t going anywhere and the archive will always remain available, the weekly episodes you’ve come to expect will soon be wrapping up. Until then, this is going to be a PARTY. Let's celebrate this journey with memories, special events, plus a few repeat episodes to bring things full circle and look back on some extraordinary moments on the pod. While there is plenty of time to get emotional, I do want to make sure that I say I've loved making this show for you for all these years. Thank you for always being excited about things with me. It's been such a fantastic ride and I'm so happy to be celebrating with you. As we kick off the final stretch of The Hamilcast, let’s revisit when we fanned that spark into a flame, otherwise known as the time Lin-Manuel Miranda came over and ate popcorn with me and Mike for four ho

Desmond Sean Ellington is back for round two to further show that if you have to chase something, it’s probably not for you. This week, Desmond reflects on his five years touring with Hamilton as a standby and how he used what he learned making his Broadway debut in Hell’s Kitchen (after starting with the show down at The Public). As he continues to spread the Gospel of Surrender™, Desmond expands on his Hell’s Kitchen experience including how and why he turned down a chance to go back to Hamilton (hint: Broadway was calling!). Desmond also talks about being a firm believer that we all have the power to create the world we want to live in, why his unconventional way of finding his passion continues the cycle of representation, and reminds us to stay kind because that’s really what it’s all about anyway.  Plus, Desmond walks us through going craaaazy viral with his “One Last Time” soundcheck (if you haven’t heard it before GET READY it’s so good), how seeing Satisfied for the first time made him want to shoot

Desmond Sean Ellington spent five years on tour with Hamilton as a Standby and recently made his Broadway debut in Hell’s Kitchen, after starting with the show down at The Public.  Desmond’s story is so interesting because it’s a case study in what can happen when you make the hard decision to leave something behind that you know deep down isn’t meant for you - even if it’s terrifying! In Desmond’s case, he left college without a plan and even though he had no interest in theatre at the time, he always knew he “was going to be a star.” Once he walked away from what didn’t serve him, the whole world opened up. And to be fair, Desmond has an uncanny ability to speak what he wants into existence, like when he gave himself two years to be cast in Hamilton and found himself on tour with the show two months later.  From performing in Atlanta (shout out to The Alliance Theatre) to seeing the world as a background vocalist for renowned gospel/R&B recording artists, to being bit with the Broadway bug when he saw h

Award-winning and prolific Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller has finally made it to the podcast! Jeffery has produced Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, Hamilton, The Cher Show, and revivals of West Side Story and Sweeney Todd, just to name a few. Altogether his shows (currently) have 22 Tony Awards, and he's the only Broadway producer to have put up two Pulitzer Prize winning musicals: Hamilton and Rent. Jeffrey is the author of Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir, which the New York Times describes as “a combination coming-of-age and rags-to-riches story that is unsparing in its description of his colorfully challenged-and-challenging father, unabashed in its description of his sexual awakening, and packed with behind-the-scenes detail, especially about the birth of Rent.” Not to mention the audiobook is voiced by a stellar cast of Broadway voices, and talking about them gives Jeffrey an idea *in real time *during our recording.  In our hour-long conversation, Jeffrey expands on his experience producing Rent with J

In Nevin Steinberg's second episode, the award winning Broadway sound designer gives even more insight to some of your favorite Hamilton moments including The Yorktown dance break and the stuttering gunshots heard throughout the show. And get ready to have your mind blown as Nevin shares the evolution of the Satisfied rewind, from Lin-Manuel Miranda's very first demo to the layered masterpiece we all know and love today anddddddd he shares a secret (and creepy! and awesome!) Easter egg that I promise you don't know about. While taking questions from the Patreon Peeps, Nevin talks a lot about how each sound is specifically chosen to tell a story, and even accents like cannon explosions and snare drums each have "their own personality."   Plus, Nevin talks about the steam whistle in 2023's Sweeney Todd revival, shares his thoughts on new cinema sound, explains his fascination with what it takes to be a great leader, and why when it comes down to it Nevin is only in it for the banter. Lin-Manuel Miranda on Sound

Award winning sound designer Nevin Steinberg has made it to the pod! Nevin is such a captivating storyteller and everything he talks about is infused with gorgeous detail and a palpable feeling of both awe and gratitude. You know how they say "how can you not be romantic about baseball?" How can you not be romantic about sound design?! That's what I say, anyway. In his first episode, Nevin walks us through his early career from working all night editing reel to reel tape with nothing but the ghost light and a healthy fear of the shadows (This is so fascinating and cinematic!! He can still taste the metal of the razor! That will make sense when you listen, I promise! I love it so much!) to dinner theatre and Sunset Boulevard and eventually a chance meeting on 42nd Street when he heard about a project called In the Heights.  Nevin has the most beautiful things to say about his experience working on Hamilton, including how it saved his career and reinstalled his faith in art and the people he gets to make it wit

After a quick detour talking about the magic of Rush, Jonathan Dinklage is back for round two and we’re diving into his Hamilton story. After participating in that reading he almost didn’t go to, Jonny says it was all over for him. He knew Hamilton was phenomenal and now he gets to be a part of it. From working with Alex Lacamoire to perfect the material, to getting the now legendary group of musicians together, Jonny is still not over how awesome it is that he gets to do this for a living.  This week, Jonny talks about why the Hamilton arrangements are so perfect, what it was like playing with legends like Barbra Streisand and Lady Gaga, and explains why karaoke is just the best, especially when Paul Rudd is involved.  UPTOWN MAMAS: A BENEFIT FOR MOMS IN NEED Comes To The Green Room 42 In May King Crimson - The Court of the Crimson King One More Once - No Middle Ground Jonathan Dinklage /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps

Grab your Rush t-shirt and your record collection because Jonathan Dinklage, Hamilton Broadway’s concertmaster, is here to blow your mind. He’s one of the coolest dudes ever and has stories for days, so buckle up. Concertmaster is a very fancy way of saying that he’s the first violinist in the pit and he’s the direct liaison between the musicians and the conductor. Jonny tries to downplay it (and yes, the term “concertmaster” sounds stuffy and has a lot of weight to it because it’s from the 1870s) but it’s a VERY important role. It’s a gig he almost didn’t take because when Alex Lacamoire called him to do a reading Jonny was like, “I don’t know, man, a reading?” But Jonny heard something in Alex’s voice that made him think that this was something he shouldn’t pass up.  In addition to Hamilton, Jonny’s a world class musician, arranger, composer, and producer. He’s worked on Broadway for over 30 years - both in the pit and on original cast recordings, he has about a zillion film and tv credits, and he’s played

Manny Schvartzman (Hamilton Music Director and Conductor) wraps up his episodes with some of the best questions he's ever been asked thanks to the Patreon Peeps. Manny discusses his favorite musical moments from the show, little details we should all look for, how he's still learning things even after performing the show over 1,000 times, and why seeing Hamilton is like going to an amazing restaurant. Plus, his favorite composers, why drummers are the heartbeat of a band, secrets about Hamilton's Exit Music, and the importance of staying curious and always striving to be better than yesterday. Oh, and we're still an Alex Lacamoire Appreciation Podcast :) Manny on Instagram REMASTERED: Yunchan Lim 임윤찬 – RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30 /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps