Worklife with Adam Grant

Lin-Manuel Miranda Daydreams, and His Dad Gets Things Done

Jun 29, 2021

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of Broadway hits like Hamilton, joins his father Luis Miranda, a political strategist and activist. They explore how Lin transitioned from teacher to playwright and the emotional labor behind creative projects. The duo discusses the importance of taking risks, as exemplified by Lin's performance at the White House. They also touch on family dynamics in creativity, the role of daydreaming, and the significance of cultural representation, particularly in Latino storytelling. Their conversation is infused with humor and wisdom on balancing work and life.

44:10

Creator website

Episode guests

Luis A. Miranda, Jr.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Creative Journey of Lin-Manuel Miranda

24min

Navigating the Complexities of Musical Production and Global Management

2min

Taking the Stage: A Risky Debut

6min

The Art of Parenting and Creativity

11min

Cultural Impact and Representation in Entertainment

2min

Creative Collaborations and Family Dynamics

2min

In a world obsessed with efficiency, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash Broadway hits Hamilton and In the Heights began with idle curiosity. Adam interviews Lin together with his father, Luis, about finding harmony between creativity and productivity—and rhythm between work and life. They discuss what motivated Lin to take a big risk on the biggest stage of his life, the challenges of fitting in when you stand out, the importance of delegation and deadlines, and the lost art of doing nothing. Read the full text transcript at go.ted.com/T4G9.

This was an episode of Taken for Granted, but now the podcast is called ReThinking with Adam Grant, and it’s back with weekly episodes. You can listen to them right here in the WorkLife feed, or by following ReThinking with Adam Grant wherever you are right now.

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