032 • Broadway and Back Again: Harvesting a Creative Life with Caren Lyn Manuel-Tackett

What do you get when you mix Broadway, figure skating, soap-making, falconry, gardening, and mental health storytelling?

You get Caren Lyn Manuel-Tackett.

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and fellow creative shapeshifter to talk about what it really looks like to live a wildly creative life. Caren's journey has taken her from the Broadway stage (Rent, Hair, BKLYN, and more) to voiceover studios (Winx Club, TMNT), to building a community-focused arts and agriculture hub in rural Massachusetts. Her roots run deep in music, movement, nature, and soul.

We talk about art as survival, what it means to come home to yourself, and how she continues to make space for all the pieces of who she is — without picking just one lane.

✨ In this conversation, we dig into:

• Growing up in a legendary musical family

• Making her Broadway dreams happen and what came after

• Creating original work like "Slide" and "Womyn In 3" to process real life stuff

• Mental health, family history, and how art helped her move through it

• What life looks like now as a farmer, performer, producer, and all-around creatrix

• Why getting your hands in the dirt can be just as powerful as being on stage

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🔗 Want to learn more about Caren Lyn? Start here:

Caren Lyn's website: https://carenlynmanuel.com

Caren Lyn on Wikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caren_...

Caren Lyn on Playbill Vault: https://www.playbill.com/person/caren...

Playbill “Cue & A” with Caren Lyn: https://www.playbill.com/article/play...

BroadwayWorld article on "Slide": https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-bro...

Playbill article with Anthony Rapp on directing and early "Rent": https://www.playbill.com/article/excl...

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Let’s chat: Did anything from this episode spark something for you? DM me or tag us on social to share your biggest takeaway and let's continue the conversation 🖤✨

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on Mind Your Own Biz are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the podcast. The content shared in this episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, medical, legal, or financial advice. Always do your own research and consult with a qualified professional when needed.