Shakespeare scholar, teacher, and cultural critic Daniel Pollack-Pelzner joins Chat Del Barrio to talk about his forthcoming biography Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist.

Daniel shares what he learned from over 150 interviews with Lin’s family, friends, and collaborators, as well as a lot of laughs, wonderful stories from Lin’s childhood, and the serendipitous Hamilton connections that trace back to Daniel’s own college theater days. He recalls discovering how foundational Lin’s mother, Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda, was to nurturing his sensitivity and creativity, teaching him that every feeling is “all grist for the mill”, and early influences such as Meredith Summerville, who first encouraged Lin to direct. We explore Lin’s habit of reworking early failures into later triumphs, from high school musicals to Hamilton motifs hidden in Warriors, and discuss the parallels between Lin and Shakespeare as artists, wordsmiths, and cultural figures, with a look ahead to what comes next.

Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist is out on September 9th in the US, 11th internationally, and is available to pre-order now.

Instagram: @danielpollackpelzner

Where you can find the book Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist

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Lin-Manuel Miranda's Instagram page

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Latest Work

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X (Twitter): @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

In this long-awaited episode, co-hosts Sarah and Stefs are joined by special guest Trisha McKethan, who brings us behind the scenes of the unforgettable Town Hall tribute concert held on May 19, 2025, honoring the one and only Lin-Manuel Miranda.This exclusive event celebrated Lin’s groundbreaking impact on theater, music, and community, culminating in his acceptance of the Town Hall Vanguard Award. Trisha, one of the lucky VIP attendees, shares all the details—from the chic rooftop pre-party and star-studded red carpet to the jaw-dropping performances and Lin’s emotional speech.

Expect tea on:

• Surreal mashups featuring Hamilton, In the Heights, Freestyle Love Supreme, and Lin’s concept album Warrior
• A heart-melting moment when Lin was nearly speechless accepting his award
• The unexpected “afterparty” (spoiler: cupcakes only)
• A live auction twist that landed Trisha tickets to Hamilton’s ultra-exclusive 10th anniversary show
• What’s coming up at LinFam Fest 2025 and a peek at the Miranda Family’s latest creative efforts at Tribeca Film Festival

Whether you're a diehard Lin stan or a fan of musical theater magic, this episode is a joyful, behind-the-scenes love letter to the ever-expanding Lin-Manuel Miranda universe. Tune in, and prepare to float out on a cloud of Broadway bliss.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda's Instagram page

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Latest Work

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

In this exciting episode Stefs, Sarah, take us along on their unforgettable New York City adventure. They share the excitement of experiencing Broadway firsthand—from the magical ambiance of The Drama Bookshop and cozy moments over tea to the surreal thrill of seeing Lin in person, both onstage and off. This episode is filled with candid, humorous, and touching stories. There were spontaneous hugs, backstage antics, and the joyous chaos of the BroadwayCon panel that left everyone in awe. Our lovely hosts also pause to honor Tobi’s memory, and dedicate the episode to the joy she brought to all of the LinFam's lives. They also tell us about the serendipity of experiencing NYC, the magic of Broadway's live performances, and the deep connections they felt with the city.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda's Instagram page

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Latest Work

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

Celebrating Lin's 45th year as well as his 2024 projects. A quick year-in-review from the Sarah & Stefs!

The birthday playlists:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1yS6Ca9xJeo903pXMSOT0E?si=1USUTYpYQX6UEDcavgnWqw&pi=e-ABAiDEBpS4Op

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/happy-birthday-lmm/pl.u-gxbllDmC5DXXRyK

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https://ondisneyplus.disney.com/show/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians

https://www.warriorsalbum.com/

https://hamiltonmusical.com/new-york/ (10-year-anniversery)

https://allinbroadway.com/

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

In this special episode, hosts Sarah and Stefs are joined by their first guest of the season, the iconic Bernie Wagenblast. Known as one of the voices of the New York City subway and a contributor to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Warriors album, Bernie shares captivating stories from her journey in transportation communications, voice acting, and her unexpected role in groundbreaking artistic projects.

From her start in radio to becoming an advocate for trans visibility through her feature in the award-winning short film In Transit, Bernie reflects on her experiences with wit and heart. Listeners will also get behind-the-scenes insights into the making of Warriors, including her unforgettable interactions with Lin-Manuel Miranda and others.

Bernie's short film discussed in this episode, from In Transit - https://www.intransit.nyc/short-film

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https://www.warriorsalbum.com/

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

🚨Lights up, boppers! In this thrilling episode, we dive deep into the release of Warriors, the powerful new concept album by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis. Join us as we share our firsthand experience of a surprise listening party hosted by Lin himself, recounting every unexpected moment, electrifying track, and jaw-dropping twist.

Warriors is more than an album—it’s a bold, genre-defying journey through a cityscape of danger, empowerment, and resilience, inspired by the 1979 cult classic The Warriors. We discuss how Lin and Eisa blend hip-hop, salsa, metal, and more into a seamless soundtrack of modern-day social themes, female empowerment, and personal strength. We also explore the unique fan community that’s grown around Warriors, how the album resonates with today’s cultural issues, and our imaginings of a potential Spider-Verse-styled animated adaptation!

Hit play to join the ultimate Warriors breakdown, complete with all the fan theories, favorite tracks, and insider stories you won’t want to miss. And don’t forget to connect with us on socials—let’s keep the Warriors era alive together!

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https://www.warriorsalbum.com/

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

In this episode, we dive deep into upcoming major release of The Warriors, with a unique mix of artists from different genres and backgrounds. Our discussion features some major names making waves on Broadway, hip-hop, and the silver screen.

🌟 Featured Cast Drops:

💥 Plus, we talk about the exciting gender-swapped Warriors led by Broadway stars like Phillipa Soo, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Lauryn Hill as Cyrus!

Tune in for all the reactions, speculation on the music, and some behind-the-scenes fun as the hosts discuss their favorite cast surprises, the album's unique tracks, and Lin's continued influence on both the Broadway and popular music worlds.

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https://www.warriorsalbum.com/

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

This episode, Stefs & Sarah speculate on Lin-Manuel Miranda's upcoming release of the concept album, The Warriors. (Recorded 8/6/24) They discuss who will be cast, who is the new co-writer, what will and sound like, and a short review of the movie. Also a few mentions of the his other upcoming projects like Mufasa.

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https://www.warriorsalbum.com/

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

Join Stefs & Sarah as they discuss the Tonys, and especially all the people that were there in Lin-Manuel Miranda's orbit (Jonathan Groff, Anthony Ramos, & Utkarsh Ambudkar). We also covered open hydrants, the LinFam Fest, and a potential appearance on future mystery album.

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New Luis & Lin-Manuel Miranda contact update, the physical mail address for fans:

4867 Broadway, Unit 743, New York, NY 10034

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Socials:

Insta:  @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira  / Sarah @sockstar  / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio  / Stefs @stefshiddles  / @tactus72

YouTube: @stefshiddles

Email: chatdelbarrio

We're back × 3...and we got Luis! This episode welcomes two new members to the team. Sarah as co-host and Paul as producer.

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We discuss and speculate about Lin's upcoming projects. What is the collaboration with Marc Anthony, is The Warriors a thing, and the upcoming Mufasa prequel. And last but not least, of course Stefs gave a Q&A for the man who raised Lin-Manuel Miranda himself, Luis Miranda. He has just released his memoir, Relentless, and was kind enough to give the LinFam community some time over Zoom.

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Socials:

Insta: @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefsteixeira / Sarah @sockstar_ / Paul @tactus1972

X: @chatdelbarrio / Stefs @stefshiddles / @tactus72

Email: [email protected]