Gillian Pensavalle

The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast

Arts EN ↓ 513 episodes

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, musicia...

Author

Gillian Pensavalle

Category

Arts

Podcast website

www.thehamilcast.com

Latest episode

Jan 26, 2026

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Episodes

#500: Lin-Manuel Miranda Returns! // Part Two 26.01.2026

Here we are! We've hit the 500th and final episode of The Hamilcast (at least for now). Please excuse the shameless reference, but I am honored and thrilled that in this episode, Lin-Manuel Miranda really and sincerely teaches me how to say goodbye.  And honestly, we have a blast! This episode is beyond packed! We talk about how much we love Renee Elise Goldsberry (including Co-Op and Girls5Eva ),...

#499: Lin-Manuel Miranda Returns! // Part One 19.01.2026

Lin-Manuel Miranda returns to The Hamilcast for the third and final time… at least for now. Lin was first on the show in 2017, and it was true Russell Hammond partying with "real Topeka people" moment when he came over to a then-stranger's apartment and recorded in my living room for about four hours. In this penultimate episode, we're talking about HamilTEN, HamilTEEN, and HamilTIME. Translation:...

#498: Thomas Kail Returns! // Part Two 12.01.2026

Hamilton director Thomas Kail is back for round two and he usually makes me cry at the end of the episode, but this time he's switching it up and doing it at the top of the second episode. But don't worry, I deflect and change the subject pretty quickly! Whew!  Tommy is as thoughtful as he is honest, so while he talks about the power of live theatre and offers insight into how and why he works the...

#497: Thomas Kail Returns! // Part One 05.01.2026

Hamilton 's brilliant director Thomas Kail helps me wrap up the podcast with two thoughtful, insightful, and sweet episodes. Tommy is known as "The Architect" and I'm telling you, the guy lives up to the title and then some. This week T.Kail unpacks a lot of the HamilTen celebrations and how they came to be, including how they landed on the decision to release the Hamilfilm in movie theaters, his...

#496: Alex Lacamoire Returns! // Part Two 29.12.2025

Alex Lacamoire is back for round two and I hope you're ready because not only does he put that keyboard to very good use, but Alex was also kind enough to bring isolated stems from the Hamilton cast album. Yep, I know, it's insane. Not only does he play some of his favorite parts (the Stevie Wonder moment in One Last Time and the Eleanor Rigby part of the opening number, for example) but Alex give...

#495: Alex Lacamoire Returns! // Part One 22.12.2025

Hamilton 's award winning music director and orchestrator Alex Lacamoire is back after his legendary three episode series in 2018 and he's here to help wrap this show up right! Lac never comes to the pod empty handed and once again brought a keyboard, a laptop full of Hamilton music that no one has ever heard, and his ✨immaculate✨ vibes.  This week, Alex talks about celebrating ten years of Hami...

#494: Andy Blankenbuehler Returns! // Part Two 15.12.2025

Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler is an absolute treasure trove. There's really no other way to say it. This is his fifth episode of The Hamilcast and he's still dropping details and Easter eggs and insight into a show we've all been talking about for over ten years. HOW DOES HE DO IT?! I have no idea, but at the very least, these episodes let you in on his incredible thought process. Thi...

#493: Andy Blankenbuehler Returns! // Part One 08.12.2025

Here we go! The grand finale of The Hamilcast is officially underway with the return of Hamilton 's mastermind choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler! Andy was the last guest before lockdown, coming over in person in February of 2020. Five years later, he's back to celebrate #HamilTEN and reflect on over a decade of working the show we are still happily dissecting all these years later. I love talking...

#492: Leslie Odom, Jr. // Hamilton Broadway's Original Aaron Burr 01.12.2025

It feels very fitting that after ten years and speaking to dozens of actors who have played Aaron Burr, the very last one to grace the podcast is Hamilton Broadway's original (inimitable!) Leslie Odom, Jr. We didn't have a long time, but let me tell you... we had a GREAT time. This episode is funny, it's moving, it's layered, it's healing, it's so much of why Leslie Odom, Jr. is such a fascinating...

THROWBACK // Episode #93: Anna-Lee Craig (2017) 24.11.2025

This is the last throwback before we really dive in and start wrapping up The Hamilcast. Anna-Lee Craig is Hamilton Broadway's A2 (assistant sound), and when she came on the podcast all the way back in 2017, she made all of our heads explode. It actually keeps happening because I STILL hear from listeners about this conversation. I mean, she invented the famous ALC Special! And, come to think of i...

THROWBACK // Episode #77: Mandy Gonzalez (2017) 17.11.2025

Time for another throwback! The truly effervescent Mandy Gonzalez came on the podcast in 2017 and gave new meaning to "I'm about to change your life." It was so important that she came on the show because, duh, she is THEEEEEEEE Mandy Gonzalez. Mandy was kind, gracious, and generous, and her recording was a big turning point in the life of The Hamilcast. It was a really, really big deal that she c...

Bonus B-Side: Back to Basics with Michael Paul Smith! 10.11.2025

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...

#491: Aaron Burr, Sir(s) // #HamilTEN Event at South Street Seaport 03.11.2025

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...

#490: Renée Elise Goldsberry // Hamilton Broadway's Original Angelica Schuyler 27.10.2025

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 h...

#489: Jennifer Simard // Part Two 20.10.2025

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 Bro...

#488: Jennifer Simard // Part One 13.10.2025

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)...

#487: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner // Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist // Part Three 06.10.2025

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 incre...

#486: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner // Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist // Part Two 29.09.2025

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,...

#485: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner // Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist // Part One 22.09.2025

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...

#484: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Three 15.09.2025

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 th...

#483: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Two 08.09.2025

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 h...

#482: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part One 01.09.2025

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 w...

A Special Announcement from Gillian + Lin-Manuel Miranda's First Appearance on the Pod (2017!) 25.08.2025

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 journ...

#481: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part Two 18.08.2025

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...

#480: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part One 11.08.2025

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'...

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