A Special Announcement from Gillian + Lin-Manuel Miranda's First Appearance on the Pod (2017!)
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 hours while drinking a custom cocktail inspired by the bodegas of Washington Heights. We’re going back to October 2017, when Lin-Manuel Miranda himself first joined me on the podcast. It all started with a Twitter DM, which led to Lin visiting my tiny New York City apartment (slanted floors, whistling toilet, the works) to record one of the biggest conversations of my life. It was a monumental moment for me, for the podcast, and for the listeners. What followed became known as #Lintoberfest: five episodes filled with the excitement, stories, and rare audio from that unforgettable day. Below you’ll find today’s relevant links including the rest of Lin’s episodes, as well as the original description from when Episode 88 originally dropped in 2017. Playbill Exclusive: After a Decade, The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast Will Drop Final Episode in 2026 Aaron Burr Panel at the South Street Seaport /// Lin-Manuel Miranda on The Hamilcast (so far) /// #88: Lin-Manuel Miranda // Part One #89: Lin-Manuel Miranda // Part Two #90: Lin-Manuel Miranda // Part Three #91: Lin-Manuel Miranda // Part Four // The B-Sides #92: Lin-Manuel Miranda // Part Five // The B-Sides #225: Lin-Manuel Miranda Returns! // Part One #226: Lin-Manuel Miranda Returns! // Part Two /// Original description and links from October 1st, 2017 /// Lin-Manuel Miranda came over to my apartment and we had so much fun that I have FIVE episodes for you! Welcome to #Lintoberfest, with my husband Michael Paul Smith joining me for these episodes. In Part One, I try to get over the fact that Lin is recording in my living room – spoiler! I don’t! – But regardless, we tell the story of how Lin ended up on the podcast, details of the early days of Hamilton, why Lin is a Hamilton/Burr hybrid, and quote The West Wing a LOT. We also eat popcorn and drink the Spark Into a Flame cocktail, made especially for Lin and inspired by his Inwood, NYC roots. Stay tuned for four more episodes: two more with Lin and then the Lin B-Sides which will be outtakes, non-sequiturs, and commentary by me and Mike (you know Mike). And no, I’m still not over the fact that this happened! No chill whatsoever! To help Puerto Rico:https://hispanicfederation.org/donate Donate to disaster relief:List of charities to donate to victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and MariaBaker RipleyOne America AppealThe Humane Society Previous episodes referenced:Shockwave Part OneShockwave Part TwoMandy GonzalezIan Weinberger Part OneIan Weinberger Part Two Episode Transcript /// LinManuel.com /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps
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#481: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part Two
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 up out of his seat like a rocket, and lets us in on tiny Hamilton moments where he connected with his fellow actors on stage. Desmond Sean Ellington on Instagram /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps
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#480: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part One
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 his first Broadway show at 33 years old, Desmond brings his life experiences to every creative thing he does. Desmond Sean Ellington on Instagram /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps
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#479: Jeffrey Seller // Broadway Producer
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 Jonathan Larson, including an emotional retelling of what it was like working on the show after Jonathan’s tragic and unexpected death. He also discusses working with Lin-Manuel Miranda on In the Heights and Hamilton, expounds on Hamilton’s social and political responsibilities (rejecting the current administration's hostile takeover of The Kennedy Center, for example), discusses ways around Broadway’s current ticket prices, and candidly opens up about Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party and The Last Ship with Sting in never-before-heard specificity. Plus, Baz Luhrmann’s La Boheme, the power of writing a letter to get what you want, and how when it comes down to it... it’s all about making shows with your friends. Jeffrey Seller on Instagram JeffreySeller.com /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps
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#478: Nevin Steinberg // Hamilton Broadway's Sound Designer // Part Two
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 Soundcloud The Town Hall in New York City /// Gillian's Website The Hamilcast on Twitter The Hamilcast on Instagram Join the Patreon Peeps
In this podcast about all things Hamilton, host Gillian Pensavalle speaks with guests, and sometimes co-host/all time husband Michael Paul Smith, about the innerworkings of the show, how it came together, what it takes to put on all around the world, finding Hamilton references in everyday life, and much more. The Hamilcast has played host to every member of the original creative team, aka "The Cabinet", including repeat visits from Hamilton creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Hamilcast features interviews with cast members from every Hamilton tour, Broadway, and UK company--crew members, musicians, creatives, and the hard working people behind-the-scenes that keep the production alive. Plus: historians, super fans, celebrity Hamilton enthusiasts, and group cast recordings!
When I started this podcast in January of 2016, I could not have imagined the incredible community that has grown around the show and the amazing experiences that have come my way. Thank you to everyone who has listened, appeared on the show, contributed, or reached out in any way. This podcast is for you and I absolutely love making it.
If you have any great Ham stories or funny references that you've come across, let me know! Email TheHamilcast [at] gmail [dot] com, or contact me on social media @TheHamilcast. I also have a Patreon that has given rise to the loveliest corner of the internet, ever. You can learn more about how to be a part of that lovely corner, and how to submit questions to guests, and to be part of my monthly AMA's at https://www.patreon.com/TheHamilcast
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