Best Bastards Of The Universe Podcasts (2025)

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Beyond the Barrel: Jeff Cohn’s Reflections on Wine, Legacy, and Living with Passion 1:36:59

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2d ago1:36:59

1:36:59

Get ready for an iconic journey through an unsung corner of California wine country on this episode of Beats Vines & Life. Host MJ Towler is on the road, welcoming the legendary Jeff Cohn—founder of JC Cellars and a mastermind of California Zinfandel and Rhône varietals—for a conversation that's as rich and layered as the wines they sip. From humbl…

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#485: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner // Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist // Part One 52:36

2d ago52:36

52:36

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 …

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#484: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Three 42:28

9d ago42:28

42:28

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 experien…

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The Maverick of Moon Mountain: Phil Coturri Reflects on a Life of Complexity 1:12:30

15d ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Get ready for a journey through time, culture, and the lush hills of Sonoma Valley on this episode of Beats Vines & Life. Host MJ Towler sits down with the legendary Phil Coturri, a man known as The Godfather of organic mountain grape viticulture and the force behind Enterprise Vineyard Management and Winery 16600. In this colorful conversation, Ph…

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#483: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part Two 46:02

17d ago46:02

46:02

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 (i…

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Envoys and Entrapment 16:09

18d ago16:09

16:09

The gang negotiates tariffs.By talonpowers

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Independent Operations 18:22

18d ago18:22

18:22

The gang has a meeting and throws a party.By talonpowers

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Moff Missions Moff Problems 20:35

16d ago20:35

20:35

The gang kidnaps . . . excuse me, assassinates the sector governor.By talonpowers

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A Glittering Gamble of Wits and Wreckage 16:30

16d ago16:30

16:30

The gang goes to the casino.By talonpowers

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The Accidental Baron's Gambit 17:08

16d ago17:08

17:08

The gang conquers a hunting moon.By talonpowers

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The Backstabbing Herglic 15:35

16d ago15:35

15:35

The gang pulls off a bacta heist but gets caught up in an insurance scam.By talonpowers

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Tailgunner's Delight 16:58

16d ago16:58

16:58

The gang pulls off a starfighter heist and makes a new friend.By talonpowers

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Nobody Said Becoming Rebels Would Be Easy 18:14

16d ago18:14

18:14

The gang gets together and pulls off their first mission.By talonpowers

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Halloween Horror Nights 34 OPENING WEEKEND 1:13:39

21d ago1:13:39

1:13:39

Myself and our Grace have one of, if not, the best weekend of our lives at HHN34. Re uploaded with improved back ground audio for a better all round listening experience

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#482: Tyler McKenzie // Hamilton Dance Captain and Universal Swing // Part One 51:15

24d ago51:15

51:15

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 t…

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Drinking to the Future: Inside Sonoma’s Organic and Biodynamic Wine Revolution at S.O.R.B.E.T 1:31:51

1M ago1:31:51

1:31:51

Welcome back to another episode of Beats Vines & Life! Today, we’re taking you inside the vibrant, forward-thinking world of Sonoma’s wine scene with a recap of the S.O.R.B.E.T tasting in San Francisco —no, not the dessert, but the Sonoma Organic Regenerative Biodynamic Educational Tasting, where the future of wine and sustainable farming takes cen…

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A Special Announcement from Gillian + Lin-Manuel Miranda's First Appearance on the Pod (2017!) 1:06:59

1M ago1:06:59

1:06:59

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 …

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Ranking the Houses of HHN34! I said ranking not, it doesn't matter 1:40:15

1M ago1:40:15

1:40:15

bonkers

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Community, Connection, and Creativity: What to Expect at the Must-Attend 2026 DTC Wine Symposium 30:16

1M ago30:16

30:16

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Beats, Vines & Life—your go-to podcast at the intersection of music, wine, and the vibrant rhythms of everyday living. In this episode, host MJ Towler takes us to the stunning Sonoma Mountain in California for an exclusive, sun-soaked conversation with Barbara Gorder and Brian Baker, the powerhouse duo behind t…

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#481: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part Two 48:10

1M ago48:10

48:10

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 t…

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Grit, Grapes, and Southern Roots: Larry Turley’s Journey from the ER to the Vineyard 1:29:37

1M ago1:29:37

1:29:37

On this episode of Beats, Vines & Life, host MJ Towler sits down for an illuminating conversation with Larry Turley, founder of Turley Wine Cellars. This episode dives deep into Larry’s remarkable journey from growing up on an organic farm in Tennessee, navigating the Jim Crow South, and working as an ER doctor, to ultimately founding one of Califo…

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#480: Desmond Sean Ellington // Hamilton Standby // Part One 1:06:11

2M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

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 mea…

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#479: Jeffrey Seller // Broadway Producer 1:02:32

2M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

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 t…

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Redefining Wine Culture, Building Legacy Vineyards and World-Class Wine Experiences: Chatting the Vines with Michael Evans and Wright Lassiter. 34:41

2M ago34:41

34:41

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Beats, Vines & Life, where host MJ Towler takes us deep into the world of passion-driven winemaking and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Broadcasting live from a secret spot in Northern California, MJ sits down with Michael Evans, the founder of The Vines, and Wright Lassiter, a dedicated member, entrepreneur, …

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#478: Nevin Steinberg // Hamilton Broadway's Sound Designer // Part Two 57:28

2M ago57:28

57:28

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 Mirand…

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This One Goes Out to The Wine I Love: Jay Boberg on Discovering R.E.M., The Go-Go’s, and Oregon Wine! 1:28:36

2M ago1:28:36

1:28:36

On this episode of Beats, Vines & Life, host MJ Towler sits down with Jay Boberg—visionary music entrepreneur and co-founder of Nicolas J Winery—for a wide-ranging, personal conversation that bridges the worlds of music, wine, and following your passions. From co-founding the legendary IRS Records at just 21, to working with icons like R.E.M., the …

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#477: Nevin Steinberg // Hamilton Broadway's Sound Designer // Part One 1:03:01

2M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

Award winning sound designer Nevin Steinberg has made it to the pod! Nevin is such a captivating storyteller and everything he talks about is infused with gorgeous detail and a palpable feeling of both awe and gratitude. You know how they say "how can you not be romantic about baseball?" How can you not be romantic about sound design?! That's what …

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Terrific Terrifier is coming to HHN 34 33:43

2M ago33:43

33:43

& we couldn't be more thrilled

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From NBA Culture to Wine Ambassadorship: Exploring Wine and Life Through Basketball with Hall of Famer Marc Spears 1:49:02

2M ago1:49:02

1:49:02

Welcome back to Beats, Vines & Life! In this episode, host MJ Towler sits down with the legendary Marc J. Spears—Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, senior writer at ESPN’s Andscape, and a bona fide wine enthusiast. Hailing from the Bay Area with deep roots in both sports and wine culture, Marc shares stories from his 26-year career coverin…

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#476: Jonathan Dinklage // Hamilton Broadway's Concertmaster // Part Two 44:45

2M ago44:45

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After a quick detour talking about the magic of Rush, Jonathan Dinklage is back for round two and we’re diving into his Hamilton story. After participating in that reading he almost didn’t go to, Jonny says it was all over for him. He knew Hamilton was phenomenal and now he gets to be a part of it. From working with Alex Lacamoire to perfect the ma…

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#475: Jonathan Dinklage // Hamilton Broadway's Concertmaster // Part One 47:15

3M ago47:15

47:15

Grab your Rush t-shirt and your record collection because Jonathan Dinklage, Hamilton Broadway’s concertmaster, is here to blow your mind. He’s one of the coolest dudes ever and has stories for days, so buckle up. Concertmaster is a very fancy way of saying that he’s the first violinist in the pit and he’s the direct liaison between the musicians a…

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Oh what a week! HHN34 just got flesh on them bones 33:55

3M ago33:55

33:55

Here are the five original haunted houses announced for Halloween Horror Nights 34 in Orlando over the past 10 days, plus an enhanced ranking with fresh insights: 1. El Artista – A Spanish Haunting Premise: 19th-century Spain, an isolated country manor home to Sergio Navarro, a tortured painter. His art takes on a life of its own, possessing both h…

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Love Stories, Porch Pounders, Late Harvests, and the Bastard Tongue Phenomenon! 56:10

3M ago56:10

56:10

Welcome back to Beats Vines & Life! In this special bonus episode, host MJ Towler sits down with Justin and Beth Harmon, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind Argot Wines out of Sonoma. This lively conversation delves into the couple’s unique journey in the wine industry—from their serendipitous first meeting while sorting Sauvignon Blanc at a cu…

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#474: Manny Schvartzman // Hamilton Music Director and Conductor // Part Three 58:21

3M ago58:21

58:21

Manny Schvartzman (Hamilton Music Director and Conductor) wraps up his episodes with some of the best questions he's ever been asked thanks to the Patreon Peeps. Manny discusses his favorite musical moments from the show, little details we should all look for, how he's still learning things even after performing the show over 1,000 times, and why s…

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From Accidental Farmers to Pinot Royalty: The Kanzler Vineyards Story 1:24:11

3M ago1:24:11

1:24:11

On this episode of Beats Vines & Life, host MJ Towler sits down with Alex Kanzler and Zach Stichler, the dynamic duo behind Kanzler Vineyards in the Sebastopol Hills of Sonoma County. Their story is one of serendipity, hard work, and a deep connection to both land and family—think accidental farmers turned boutique winemakers, whose grapes have mad…

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#473: Manny Schvartzman // Hamilton Music Director and Conductor // Part Two 54:02

3M ago54:02

54:02

Manny Schvartzman (Hamilton Music Director and Conductor) is back for round two as he continues discussing his experience putting up Rent in Cuba with Andy Señor, Jr in 2014. The whiplash of going from the shiny, multimillion dollar On Your Feet to a space with daily power outages and a lack of running water was an intense, rewarding, and life chan…