Genius Is a Team Sport (Just Ask Lin-Manuel Miranda) or his Biographer | Pet of the Week

What do you get when you think you're interviewing Lin-Manuel Miranda… but instead end up with the scholar who might know him even better?

In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Daniel Pollack-Pelzner - New Yorker contributor, Shakespeare scholar, and author of Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist. Daniel spent years talking with over 150 people from Lin’s world, his family, mentors, collaborators, and Lin himself - to unpack how a sweet, curious kid from Washington Heights became the most transformative voice in modern musical theater.

This conversation isn’t just about Lin, it’s about genius as a slow build, creativity as collaboration, and what it really takes to find your artistic voice. Whether you're a theater geek, a Miranda superfan, or just someone trying to turn inspiration into something real, this one hits deep.



Check out Daniel’s book, available now:

• Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist - Buy it on Bookshop.org

Follow Daniel:

• Twitter/X: @dpppollack

• Instagram: @danielpollackpelzner

• More about Daniel’s work: danielpollackpelzner.com

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Adam will be leading a live workshop on The Art of the Interview at this year’s Central Coast Writers Conference, happening September 26–27, 2025 at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. For details and registration, visit cuesta.edu/writers-conference

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

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CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

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ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

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