Was It Chance?

Welcome to the beautiful world of queer romance with author Alison Cochrun. Hear about the stories behind her heartwarming novels that celebrate love's many hues and the courageous journey of self-discovery that echoes through her pages. From the award-winning "Kiss Her Once for Me" to the charm of "The Charm Offensive," and the excitement building around "Here We Go Again," Alison shares her thoughts on crafting the quirkiest, most endearing characters that resonate with readers everywhere. Discover how a feverish six-day writing stint morphed into an international bestseller, and why taking risks can lead to the most beautiful of love stories — in books and in life. Grab your favorite cozy blanket and a cup of tea; this is one conversation about life, love, and literature that you won't want to miss. Connect with Alison on her website and Instagram. Get copies of her books The Charm Offensive, Kiss Her Once for Me and Here We Go Again. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales **Content warning: We do talk about mental health and suicide towards the end of this episode. EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Alison Cochrun chose “quirky, Queer romance” because she’s always loved a “Happily ever after” but after reading “The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Gulliory she wanted to start writing her own. Alison didn’t always intend to write Queer books because she didn’t know she was gay until she was 33. Most of her writing when she was younger was Young Adult Fantasy Writing “The Charm Offensive” helped Alison come out and embrace her Queerness From a young age Alison knew she wanted to be a writer or a teacher. Low self confidence got in the way of writing at first. In her mid twenties Alison was super risk adverse and had a massive fear of failure that turned her off of writing and taking the teaching path. Alison wrote the first draft of “The Charm Offensive” in six days - it felt like a fever dream. Sharing that messy first draft was the intentional risk Alison took that lead to what is now an international best seller. Alison writes very personal stories and, thus, gives a lot of herself to the audience when she writes a book. Writing characters that are based on different parts of herself allowed Alison to develop a beautiful feedback loop between herself and readers. It allowed her to continue to be more vulnerable in her writing. Alison shares that there is a lot of writing that happens that isn’t writing. It’s about getting to know your characters and really understand them. Alison is a big fan of former Was It Chance guest, Venessa Kelley who has done art for Alison’s work. Advice to up and coming writers: write the story you want to write - there are readers out there! Trust yourself. Winning the Lambda Literary award for best LGBTQ Romance in 2023 was an amazing moment in Alison’s life. She is currently finding opportunities to teach writing and stretch her writing skills in new genres. Leaving her teaching career to be a full time writer was the greatest risk of Alison’s life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Step into a world where dance meets stillness, and artistry transcends boundaries. Join us as we uncover the magic behind James Jin's lens, where each click captures not just a moment, but a story. Discover how James's Artist Mindset transforms his subjects into empowered, expansive artists, and learn why his work is more than just photography—it's a journey of self-discovery and expansion. James Jin is a Brooklyn-based artist, singer, educator, and photographer on a mission to transform the experience of being photographed and “seeing” ones self. Through his Artist Mindset photo session, James helps clients tap into their more expansive selves, capturing stunning moments that transcend far beyond the shutter click. His work, showcased on Instagram and his website, reflects a unique blend of photo shoot, therapy, and guided meditation. Alan and James's chance encounter at a "Pretty, Witty and Gay Cabaret" (hosted by past WIC guests Jasmine and Cassidy) event sparked a conversation about the transformative power of photography as live, in-action coaching. James creates a safe, empowering space for vulnerability to shine, helping his subjects become more expansive artists. He encourages artists to step out of their comfort zones believing that discomfort leads to profound learning and growth. Connect with James on his website and Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Alan and James met by chance at one of Cas and Jas’s “Pretty, Witty and Gay Cabaret” events The James Jin process is about creating an environment where people can feel safe enough to open up to being vulnerable while on camera James wants to help his subjects feel empowered to do this work for themselves This is really a live, in-action coaching experience using the art of photography as the vessel This experience helps you be a more expansive artist James was in High School when he first picked up a camera but it wasn’t until post-college that he decided to make this a career. Dancers of New York was the “chance” encounter that really changed things for James. The idea of this was inspired by Humans of New York. His approach is “I will create opportunities for you to challenge yourself, go out of your comfort zone, and face your fears—because when you get better at doing those things consistently, you get closer to where you want to be.” Business school was how James learned NOT to do things. Ditching the “business as usual” approach. James credits Seth Godin for helping him think outside of the box with his work. The next phase of business is to work with artists for repeat sessions to build their confidence and support them as they grow and expand professionally The moments filled with regret are also the moments where you learn the most and it’s a gift to embrace them. When you feel discomfort don’t run from it, explore it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From New York Times bestselling author comes a tale of personal redemption. Uncover the incredible journey of Lara Love Hardin in this intimate episode, Lara reveals her struggles, the power of self-forgiveness, and the profound impact of storytelling. Dive into a story of hope and the unyielding strength of the human spirit that promises to leave you inspired. Listen now - the story of Lara Love Hardin is one you won't want to miss. Connect with Lara on Instagram get a copy of ‘The Many Lives of Mama Love’ Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Lara didn’t expect her memoir, “The Many Lives of Mama Love” to touch so many lives and provide peace to so many The books Lara works on, as a literary agent always have impact - that’s what she’s seeking to put out into the world Prior to releasing her memoir, she was living in a constant state of fear and shame - the book was a way to release all that fear and shame. Owning your story is so incredibly powerful Lara spent so much time trying to prove she was worthy and good enough but always afraid her past would take everything away Forgiveness is easy for Lara - with everyone except herself. When she wrote the chapter on “self-forgiveness” for Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s book she had to face this head-on and it changed the game “Reading was my first addiction” - reading was an escape and a way to protect herself If you want to be a writer you have to read and read and read With a natural aptitude for writing Lara got a lot of attention and approval at school and she craved more of that Writing is a way for Lara to feel good There’s a very special gift to be able to write in the voice of others Collaborative writing and ghostwriting are, basically, the same thing Two years out of jail and on probation, Lara was struggling to get a job. When she saw a Craigslist post for a part-time literary agent assistant When someone believes in you, you rise above and beyond their expectations - we all need to be believed in Lara worked her way up to CEO from Idea Arcitechs and then left to start her own agency, True Literary. True Literary’s mission is to help create books and content that entertains, transforms, provokes, and inspires (not necessarily in that order). Starting her own agency was about the freedom to choose who she worked with and what books/authors she took on and also being able to decide how she wants to spend her time and be fully free “There is no room for creativity when you’re in survival mode” The Gemma Project is about gender and trauma-responsive care for incarcerated women Stay tuned because Lara’s memoir is being optioned for a made-for-TV film It takes a lot to shake Lara, she doesn’t fear failure because she doesn’t personalize it. It’s all just feedback Hope can be squishy but Lara’s philosophy is “I look forward to looking back on this someday” and she loves it when people underestimate her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anoushka Lucas is a singer, songwriter, actor and theatre composer. Raised in London, Anoushka spoke French before she spoke English, and has a degree in Russian and Italian from Oxford University. Anoushka has been writing songs since the age of 14 and has been described as “an exceptional voice and a great songwriter” (Jamie Cullum, BBC Introducing 2017). Her debut album, Dark Soul, was produced by Martin Terefe (Jamie Cullum, KT Tunstall, Martha Wainwright) and was released in July 2019. Anoushka is starring in U.Me: The Complete Musical, which boasts a new original soundtrack and is performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The Book is by Simon Pitts and Theo Jamieson with music and lyrics by Jamieson (The Famous Five, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Here Lies Love), and the music has been produced by music producer Steve Levine, who has worked with the likes of Culture Club, The Beach Boys, The Clash and many more. Listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvgg Connect with Anoushka on: Instagram or her website. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Venessa Vida Kelley is a Washington, DC-based author, illustrator, and sequential artist. Her work focuses on magical realism, fantasy, and culturally diverse romance. Venessa has been featured alongside the works of such authors as Casey McQuiston, TJ Klune, Everina Maxwell, Sophie Gonzales, Becky Albertalli, Sarah Rees Brennan, Alexis Hall, Jennifer Weiner, and others, as well as the marketing campaign for Amazon Studio’s highly-anticipated movie adaptation, “Red White & Royal Blue.” Her graphic novel debut, MANU FACES THE MUSIC, is in development with Oni Press, with her first illustrated adult historical fiction novel WHEN THE TIDES HELD THE MOON set to debut with Erewhon Books in 2025. Connect with Venessa on: Instagram or her website. And support her work via Patreon and Etsy. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Venessa dreamed of being an animator as a child and fell in love with sequential art Sequential artist is the fancy term for comic art One of the original viral “fan artists,” Venesssa never lost sight of her passion even when working in voiceover and marketing for The Federal Government When her day job got a little too heavy, Venessa would retreat to a novel for pleasure and create sketches from those works. A random share on Twitter turned viral and catapulted Venessa to the core of fandom love. Much of Venessa’s artwork is driven by the desire to get books she loves in front of a larger audience. She has always worked to support BIPOC and LGBTQ authors and help raise awareness for their work. Venessa’s art is mostly digital art because it’s fast and doesn’t take a lot of expensive resources but she begins with pencil and paper sketches. Eventually, it became impossible to have a day job and make art professionally. She chose her own graphic novel and we’re all so glad she did. Be the ladder - Venessa loves helping other artists to value themselves and fight for their fair share, especially in the face of AI art. We love Venessa’s approach to “failure” She believes in a “Bless your mistakes” approach to life. In the episode, we talk about emotional deficit - what it is and how to deal with it. There is NO wasted time - ever. All of Venessa’s past experiences are showing up in her own work and she’s wildly grateful for all of her experiences. It wasn’t until Venessa was in her 30s that she began to untangle her identity and embrace her Queer identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine leveling your life up video game style. Well, good news - you don’t have to imagine it because Steve Kamb has created it. Steve is the nerd who founded NerdFitness.com to help average folks, nerds, and misfits level up their lives. White working a job he hated, Steve started NerdFittness as a way to bring a little joy into his life and share what he’s learned about fitness as a nerd who didn’t make the team and, ok, also to help people avoid the same mistakes he made when he started his own journey. Connect with Steve on Threads and Instagram, or his website. Find NerdFitness here. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS What is “NerdFitness?” Steve has always enjoyed working out but was cut from his high school basketball team even though his brother was the team captain. Turns out nutrition is more important than anything else when it comes to Fitness.” Since Steve truly hated his door-to-door sales job he was willing to learn, try new things, and take a chance on a wild new business. Strict routines simply are not for everyone. It’s okay to skip a day and then go back to something that works for you. If your routine makes you want to give up, try something different. After a visit with college friends and 14 months in a job he hated, Steve decided to pick up and move to Atlanta. In Atlanta, he started working for a company that does floating music festivals. This was an awesome sales and marketing job. Steve was given a lot of free reign to explore and try new things in his new role and it laid a beautiful foundation for what would become Nerd Fitness. The “chance” that really changed things was when Steve realized he could do things that he enjoyed and had fun with. After leaving his full-time job and going all in on Nerd Fitness Steve decided to be a digital nomad for a year. Early on in the business, Google changed its algorithm and, suddenly, Steve’s blog posts went from 100 views a month to 150,000 a month! Steve built his business bit by bit. He just kept showing up and doing the thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's your word for 2024? Happy holidays and have a wonderful new year, everyone! Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paula Lafferty is a writer whose story is as inspiring as it is extraordinary. From the early days of jotting down snippets of imagination in journals that littered her parent's house, Paula's journey led her to a pivotal moment during the pandemic when she discovered the vibrant communities of BookTok and WriterTok on TikTok. It was there that she rediscovered her voice and reignited her passion for storytelling. Fueled by her unwavering determination, Paula is standing on the cusp of releasing her debut novel, "La Vie De Guinevere," in the fall of 2024. But this isn't just a story; this conversation is an invitation to be part of Paula’s remarkable journey. Starting this January, you can support Paula's pre-kickstarter campaign for "La Vie De Guinevere.”. By following her journey, you can witness the magic as it unfolds, and consider joining her Kickstarter to support the birth of a literary legacy. Join us in celebrating Paula's incredible tale of resilience, creativity, and the power of taking intentional risks. Connect with Paula and follow her self-publishing journey on TikTok, and Instagram, and join her newsletter list so you get all the information as soon as it’s available. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales **Content warning: We do talk about mental health and suicide towards the end of this episode. EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Paula started writing “snippets” of stories when she was young. This was her version of journaling. She calls them the graveyard of unfinished stories. Her writing style includes oral narration so that the story comes out as intended. Finding TikTok during the deep days of the pandemic and stumbled upon BookTok and WriterTok. Something shifted within her then. “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and think about all the things I didn’t do because I was afraid I would fail. That is what regret is made of.” Paula pursued traditional publishing because she really wanted someone else to tell her she was good enough! And she was able to get a publishing contract was due to her large social media following. But in the end, she chose self-publishing to take her Social Media family with her along the journey. Getting a film degree was Paula running away from writing, even though she was writing scripts it still felt like hiding. After the death of a dear friend, Paula realized she didn’t want to pursue something that didn’t truly light her up and left filmmaking. Paula is an eternal optimist and often discovers failure only in reflection. Pre-kickstarter for La Vie De Guinevere will start in January. La Vie De Guinevere will be released in fall 2024 but in the meantime follow Paula and her journey and consider being part of her Kickstarter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Chris Sabol and Billy Aberle the creative team behind the new musical, Straight Forward a musical built on a true story. Billy is the Founder and CEO of a theatrical tech startup, Prodooser and the co-founder and a board member of StraightForward’s producing partner, Pivotal Productions, a non-profit educational-based theatre company. Chris is a proud public school music educator in New Jersey. He is also a co-founder and current Artistic Director of Pivotal Productions. Their collective directorial credits are vast and if we ever want to get to this interview we don’t have time to list them all. Connect with Chris on Instagram. Connect with Billy on Instagram. Follow Straight Forward on Instagram. Listen to Heather’s original interview with Mike Iamele where he shares his and Garret’s story first hand. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKAWAYS Chris and Billy met at Wagner College and sparks just flew. Pivotal Productions was born right after College. They started officially working on Straight Forward way back in 2014 Bringing this musical forward right now is perfect timing as we’re, finally, seeing a lot of Queer love representation in public art. Chris and Billy embraced opportunity and reached out to Mike and Garrett and asked to turn their story into a musical. This was their first co-writing project and it took a long time to learn each other and how to compliment one another. The Pandemic allowed them time to really dedicate the time needed to get this show together. After the workshop of Straight Forward, they took it to the New York Theatre Festival. Through Pivitol Productions, Chris and Billy are able to train, educate and employ young theatre artists to find their own voice and gain meaningful experience so they can have long, lasting careers in the industry. Prodooser is digitizing production and moving away from all of the archaic stuff in the industry. Billy’s thoughts on failure: What did I learn? What will I do differently next time? Being receptive to more failure as a form of growth. Chris’s thoughts on failure: My relationship with failure is more complicated. I tend to relish in the negative but am working through it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time to meet Alan’s twin. Ok. Brendon Kumarasamy is not actually Alan’s twin but they are two peas in a pod for sure and it’s so much fun to hear them ignite ideas and inspiration off of one another. The energy in this episode is pure fire with a heavy dose of laughter because that’s what we do here on Was It Chance! Brendon Kumarasamy is a master manifestor who created his business, Mastertalk at the age of 22 by showing up and showing up and showing up - he embraced really unexpected chances, took a lot of risks, and trusted his own intuition and passions. Through his work with MasterTalk Brenden coaches ambitious executives & entrepreneurs to become top 1% communicators in their industry. For Brenden, his work is there to foster his deeper passion which is to provide free access to communication tools for everyone in the world. Check out his super popular YouTube channel - MasterTalk, and find him everywhere else on the internet as well, including Threads where you can regularly find Heather challenging and asking questions. MasterTalk Website, Linkedin, Instagram, Threads, TikTok. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: If Brenden was only allowed to be on one social media platform it would be LinkedIn because there’s not a lot of competition for posting and sharing content. Branden considered him an anti-creative. He studied accounting in University. He stumbled upon communications by chance. How do we make communication/speaking feel like eating a tub of ice cream? The first 50 people Brenden coached, at the age of 20 - he didn’t charge anything. He started as a mentor to other students. MasterTalk started because Brenden couldn’t find anyone creating good content on being a better speaker and communicator. Working with coaches has completely transformed Brenden’s life. Public speaking is body language, learning how to smile, summarizing, saying someone's name. It’s important to ask the right question. If you’re getting answers to the wrong question it doesn’t get you anywhere. “Communication is the accelerator of dreams.” “How would your life change if communication was easy?” “We’re all lucky. We just need to figure out in what ways we’re lucky.” Failure is a definition and a workout. The relationship successful people have with failure is very different than the relationship unsuccessful people have with it. How do you know which opportunities to pursue and which risks to take List them all out Follow energy, not passions - what brings you the most energy (that will lead you to your passion) On a scale of 1-10, how energetically excited would you be to work on this project for the next 10 years? Compare the items on the list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk with Spoken-Word Poet, Rashan Brown, or you may know him by his stage name, Rush (The Mic). Rashan is the brilliant mind behind "Poetry Me, Please" – a vibrant community platform and event series that serves as a global stage for poets to let their creativity flow through the power of words. With showcases in NYC drawing in a whopping 500 people on an average night. Rashan has created something really extraordinary not only for the artists but also for audience members. Rashan has been featured in PIX11, NBC, Ebony, REVOLT & The Grio. Rashan's voice and brand have partnered with LLoyd Banks, Harlem's Fashion Row, NY Independent Schools, Accenture, Columbia Business School, Republic Records, Rupi Kaur, TIER, AfroFuture, City Winery, The Cutting Room & SOBs. Connect with Rashan and Poetry, Me Please on their website, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Don’t forget to book your tickets for the November Showcase at The Apollo on Saturday, November 25th Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Poetry Me is a digital and physical platform for Poets all over the world. Rashan started writing poetry during High School Heartbreak After being a teacher for several years, Rashan found himself back in the spoken word world for a friend's Showcase. He was drawn to recreating this wonderful feeling but not charging the artists for performing. Poetry is a style of a collective of words you’re putting together - in a “poetic style.” Spoken Word is the passion that you put behind the poetic style. It’s tone, volume, body involvement. The intentional risk was in marketing himself and Poetry Me, Please. Rush (The Mic) is a performer who does all sorts of spoken word with corporations as well as showcases. Community is for poets in general but specific for Black and Brown poets. The crowd has a deep experience by hearing these spoken-word poets share their experiences on stage. Rashan is always focused on pouring back into the community. Poetry Me, Please is fully funded through ticket sales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might recognize him as the original 'Culture Vulture' from the groundbreaking show “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,” but there's so much more to this incredible soul. Meet Jai Rodriguez, a force of creativity and passion who has been shaping American culture for nearly two decades. Jai is most well known for his role as a member of the original Fab Five in Queer Eye For The Straight Guy and we get so many great stories from his time on Queer Eye in this conversation but his journey is rich and beautiful. This is such an inspiring, heart-centered conversation that is sure to fill your emotional cup! Jai's journey began at the young age of 12 when he embraced chance and went to his first audition, followed by performing arts high school. Then at only 18, Jai graced the Broadway stage as 'Angel' in the critically acclaimed musical “RENT.” From there, he took the theater world by storm, appearing in iconic productions like “The Producers” and creating the unforgettable role of ‘Zanna’ in the off-Broadway sensation “Zanna, Don’t!”. But that's not all - he even headlined a Las Vegas residency with the hit show “Sex Tips For Straight Women From A Gay Man.” Jai shares behind the scenes from many of his theatre adventures in this episode. Set to make his debut at 54/Below on Oct 26-28, for his latest cabaret show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” which promises an unforgettable performance filled with love, laughter, and personal stories, and it’s a little bit naughty in all the right ways. Get your tickets to Jai’s show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” at 54/Below (there is even a virtual option!) and be sure to connect with Jai on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Website. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Jai has a theatre career that’s spanned over two decades! A precious kid who was always finding a way to perform, Jai was always a theatre kid. 12-year-old Jai took intentional risk and called the first casting director to see if he had been cast in his first show. He was! After attending a performing arts high school, his mother refused to support a performing arts education for college. He snuck into the city to audition for an agent and instantly got signed to play Angel in RENT! You may never be the best at something but it’s your uniqueness that sets you apart. Always be yourself and believe in yourself. RENT was Jai’s “Waiter gig” in NYC. Jai took a 6-month leave of absence to do Zanna Don’t and only making $400 a week (which was a massive pay cut) when he was asked to audition for Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. He was instructed to fabricate his backstory in order to be cast in Queer Eye. They aged him up and gave him a degree! This is the 20th anniversary of the original The Fab Five Jai’s approach is to never punch down. Queer Eye was originally intended to be a comedy, no one expected it to be so heart-centered. Jai’s show “A Thousand Sweet Kisses” at 54/Below is funny, honest, and racy! Audience members will include Queer Eye cast members and other celebrities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like all good 80’s kids, Drew Stern loves a good Choose Your Own Adventure story. In fact, it’s this approach that has led this former musical theater actor turned award-winning technology CEO to such great success. With three high-growth tech exits in the last decade, Drew's innovative spirit and passion for creative success have made him a trailblazer in the world of technology and the performing arts. Discover how Drew embraced chance and combined his two passions—performing and tech—to create Stageyo AI, the world's 1st digital marketplace and AI engine connecting stage performers with their supporters. Learn how he envisions using technology responsibly to foster authentic connections between performers, their art, and their patrons. Don't miss this inspiring story of intentional risk-taking and leadership that has earned Drew recognition as an influential CEO and celebrated entrepreneur. Connect with Drew and Stageyo AI on Instagram and on the web. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Drew’s career had two phases. He grew up the youngest of 5 and everyone performed constantly. Tech was unexpected. Tech was a chance Drew embraced. If you want to be a great leader, go put on a play - this creates trust, creativity, team player, and being a great listener. No entrepreneur can do anything on their own. It has to always be a team effort. Getting venture capital investment is like auditioning, frustrating, scary, difficult and most of them don’t book. You need to be able to see the future, then make it happen (manifest it), and then move on. Sometimes you have to close a great show. Growth is a combo of intentionality and embracing chance. You have to have the confidence to take the chance. Drew created his own Machine Learning AI platform well before AI was a household name. Stageyo was born from a desire to build things more emotionally aligned for Drew and allowed him to blend his two passions: Performing and Tech. Stageyo is about creatine agency, equity, and access around performing arts. It answers a need for authentic connection between performers, their art, and their patrons. Technology is the great equalizer between agency, equity, and access. Envision, trust, and know your capabilities. Past successes allow Drew to play, test things out and really explore possibilities. There are two sides to the AI coin. There are great challenges to using it responsibly. How can you use technology to enable people to enjoy things in real life - this is one of Drew’s goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A globally renowned magician and performer, Asi Wind shares his journey in the world of magic and the art of performance, including his childhood encounter with a magician that shaped the rest of his life. He shares insights into his creative process, discussing how he designs and refines his tricks, always striving to balance perfection and enjoyment. Asi reflects on his views on failure, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and finding beauty in imperfections. He speaks about the unique connection between a performer and their audience, highlighting the role of empathy and sensitivity in delivering a memorable experience. He also touches on various topics, including the significance of perspective, the inspiration drawn from everyday acts performed with care and attention to detail, and the idea of continuous improvement–providing a fascinating glimpse into the mind and philosophy of a dedicated magician and artist. This episode is a special crossover with Alan's solo podcast, The Theatre Podcast. Asi Wind is a highly acclaimed magician known for his innovative and captivating performances in the world of magic. He has performed all over the world and is currently sharing his talent on the off-broadway stage in "Asi Wind's Inner Circle" which is produced by David Blaine and is currently scheduled to until January 2024 at the time of this episode drop (it’s already been extended at least 4 times – we lost count!). Connect with Asi: Instagram: @asiwind Youtube: @asiwind Twitter: @asiwind Facebook: @AsiWindsInnerCircle Magician REVEALS trick and still fools Penn & Teller!!! - Asi Wind on Penn & Teller: Fool Us Connect with Heather and Was It Chance: Slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files Follow Was It Chance Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes those with the quietest voice make the biggest impact. Analena is an experienced Human Design & Energetic Alignment Coach, Life, Health, and Mastery Level Coach. She is also certified in Energy Healing modalities like Emotional Acceptance, Infinity Healing, and the Rapid Relief Technique. She supports Conscious Introvert Leaders to create Success on their own terms so they can enjoy life more while creating more Impact with Ease (and without the Burnout!). After going from BORED & UNFULFILLED TO... FIRED, she developed the BLOOM Framework, which integrates Human Design and helps her Clients activate and listen to their birth-given Success Strategy that is already hidden in their DNA. She is also a Co-Founder of the Aligned Living Academy where Conscious Leaders obtain their Human Design Certification. She currently lives in South Florida drinking Aperol Spritzes while watching Topgun Maverick on repeat and obsessing about African Elephants. Connect with Analena on Instagram, or her website. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: We recorded this episode on the 777 portal! Learn all about it. Trust yourself and put what you want into the world. Don’t embrace the negative. Analena was raised that religion was fear-based not hopeful and helpful. That led to a path of spiritualness. Gutsy Analena started a new business while still working in corporate and at her annual review, she handed her boss her new business card. Talk about embracing intentional risk. The wellness industry can really screw you up. Be sure you’re making aligned choices. Growth came when she learned to allow herself to feel crappy sometimes. To be honest about all of your feelings and emotions. Masculine energy is go, do, take action, get shit done. Feminine energy is about leaning back, being in your body, and tuning more into how you feel. It’s about receiving and allowing what’s meant for you to find you. For Analena, her masculine energy is more powerful when she leads with the feminine energy first. She has a gift of making things easy and practical. Any modality is only as power as the energy of the human putting it into play. Live the question! Analena’s work is always starting from “you are whole.” And builds from there. What you resist persists. Your feeling want to be felt in order to be released. Less is more. Slowing down to QuantumLeap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whoa buddy are y’all in for a treat! For this episode Alan and Heather were live and in person in the middle of Time Square with Jasmine Rafel and Cassidy Hamilton - two brilliant Queer artists who are truly shaking things up! It was a conversation that none of us wanted to end. Jump in on this truly exceptional conversation between three lesbians and an Alan. From deconditioning gender “norms” to learning to express yourself no matter what and so much more. Don’t wait to dive into this episode. Jasmine has over a decade of experience working in the dance industry for the likes of Ariana Grande, JoJo Siwa, Tori Kelly, and more, and is now making her Broadway debut as Imogen in & Juliet. Cassidy is a writer/producer who has spent her career developing new works theatre projects working underneath some of the industry’s most successful producers behind projects like Broadway’s ROCKTOPIA and The Trans Siberian Orchestra, and currently serves as an associate producer on AVALONA: An Immersive Musical. Together, not only are they both producing Co-Founders of SKYLAR STUDIOS, they are also a queer couple working in the industry and have an upcoming show called Pretty, Witty, and Gay Cabaret coming up this Sept 27th at GreenRoom42 with a new cast of industry trailblazers from Broadway's biggest shows, such as & Juliet, SIX, Moulin Rouge, KPOP and more. They created this show to playfully challenge the heteronormativity of the American musical by providing a refreshing and exuberant new queer twist on your favorite Broadway hits. Connect with Jasmine on Instagram. Connect with Cassidy on Instagram. Grab your tickets to Pretty, Witty, and Gay! Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Live, in person, interview from Time Square Gender “rules” deeply affect what artists believe they can and should be pursuing. It’s time to get rid of them. It’s imperative that we create spaces for people can be on the outside what they feel they are on the inside. Gender expression is not exclusive to the Queer community. All art is always growing, changing, and expanding. Sometimes coming out and accepting a “label” is about other people because it’s easier for someone else. Once you make a choice to live your truest self it stops feeling like a risk and becomes required to survive. Jasmine moved to NYC from LA in 6 days to take the job with & Juliet. This dream came true almost as soon as she decided to stop pursuing Broadway work. As always, trust the universe because it has your back. Cass’s heart belongs to new works and developmental theatre. It’s all about learning to trust yourself and put yourself out there. Hold discomfort for a second longer than seems possible and seeing what shows up. Try what your heart tells you to peruse! Listen to where the universes is pushing you. Each failure is a stepping stone to the next best thing if you learn from it. The dream changes. Allow it to change. Get comfortable with the journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Performance is as much science as it is art says this week’s guest, Javier Muñoz. But Javier also knows that the Universe is vast and always looking out for him. Javier is one of the kindest, most sincere people on Broadway and this conversation is filled with beautiful moments so don’t miss a second. With stage credits that include the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival's off-Broadway show hit All Is Love, In the Heights, and of course Hamilton (where he took over for Lin-Manual Miranda and earned the title of “Sexy Hamilton”). TV and film credits include of course the 2021 release of In the Heights, Blindspot, Odd Mom Out, Shadow Vaults, Eureka!, Central Park, Quantico, and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. He is now starring alongside Jessie Mueller in My Heart Says Go, a musical concept album which is available for streaming now. Connect with Javier on Instagram and listen to My Heart Says Go! Don’t forget to catch the companion podcast Javier did on The Theatre Podcast With Alan Seales as well. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Although Javier is the youngest of three, he didn’t reap the benefits of that position. From an early age, Javier recorded “Fame” and learned the dance moves and mashed them with popular music, and created his own music videos. In 5th grade, Javier went on his first camping trip and discovered a true night sky filled with stars and it fully changed him. From there his dream was Astro Physicist and study Astronomy. Science is just exploration, curiosity, and asking questions and that’s exactly was a good actor does with a script. Javier was a first-generation college student. Mentors are, literally, everything! It took Javier a long time to become introspective and really look inside himself. In 2002 Javier got HIV and couldn’t book a gig for anything so he quit the business and took a job at a high-end restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen. He decided to do this one last show that his friend Josh has written and while in the rehearsal room, he meets someone who wants him to audition for In The Heights. He agrees to do two weeks at Manhattan Theatre Club. Unfortunately, his part in the show got cut and this lead to him taking over the lead after Lin-Manuel Miranda Next thing you know Lin-Manuel Miranda put Javier through “rap school.” When it came time for Hamilton, Javier and Lin teamed up again to create the character of Alexander Hamilton. Javier got a direct offer to do My Heart Says Go and he took it without even seeing the music and script. Whatever you chose is right, because you chose it. When things don’t work out or go my way I really do trust that it’s for a reason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erica Lynn is an American actress and dancer born in Bakersfield, California where she began her dance training at the tender age of 3. By 6 years old, she had caught the performing bug in her first theatrical performance as Molly in Annie the Musical. Erica began to pursue a professional career as an actress in 2016, starring in her first short film, It's the Taste. In 2020 she made her feature film debut in Netflix's The Prom, directed by Ryan Murphy. Follow Erica and learn more on Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Erica knew from the earliest age that she wanted to be an actress. Dance was her primary focus for years and found her way back to the theater through backstage. While Erica does feel fear and stage fright, she says that “performing feels like home.” She was active in competitive dance and it was about passion, not winning. Erica found her first agent by befriending a flight attendant who had a nephew in Glee, which she was watching during the flight. A series of crazy events. The Prom (movie) was filmed in California and it was Erica’s first-ever film audition. Being on set for The Prom was a blast. Just a bunch of theater nerds having a great time together. Erica loves self-tapes and thinks this process was a positive to come out of the pandemic. Family Lead on Netflix coming out soon Failure is a common companion in the acting world but Erica stays hopeful, excited and engaged. Erica’s favorite moment/memory from being on the set of The Prom was the ability to learn from more experienced actors on set. But having Kerry Washington checking in on her was a highlight moment. Be the person you want to work with… That’s how to be successful in this industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Alan’s dad jokes to real comedy! Afraid but failing forward anyway - This week we bring you Maria Shehata, a multi-award-winning Egyptian-American comedian based in London who has been featured on Showtime's Bridging the Gap, Comedy Central's The Watch List, Dave Channel’s Comedy Guide to Life, Comic Relief’s viral Modern Dating Horror Stories, and BBC’s Period Dramas and Breaking the News. Her writing has been featured in Modern Love in the New York Times, Comic Relief, and BBC Radio 4. Maria was shortlisted as Top Five Best New Acts at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe and showcased as Pick of the Fringe at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe and she’s featured in the upcoming, season 2 of Comedy Central Live. She’s about to go on tour so be sure to follow her on Instagram and TikTok and her website. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Maria grew up in Columbus, Ohio as a shy kid that never spoke up and was terrified of public speaking. She always admired comedians and how they captured the audience. Baby steps are the key to anything and everything you may want to be successful at. She surrounded herself with comedy in everywhere possible, expect performing, for a long time before she actually went on stage. The win was just showing up on stage. Stand-up can be lonely but she tests things out at small open mics and getting feedback from other comics. Fear is based on the unknown. Once you have experience and information the easier it is to show up and do big things. Preparation is everything in Standup. Connections and friendships make a massive difference when building a career in comedy. Failure is not trying. Everything else is learning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Orgasms, vulvas, cramps, Oh My … Tune into this wildly fascinating conversation with Lauren Lee-Crane, founder of Semaine Health. Semaine Health provides plant-based, science-backed supplements that help people experience a better quality of life at every stage. Lauren and Semaine help break the taboos around periods, women's health, and menopause with their clinically backed supplements. Lauren embraced this journey after her own traumatizing and painful experience with stage IV endometriosis and says that starting her own supplement company wasn’t nearly as painful as dealing with endometriosis! Connect and learn more: Semainehealth.com and on social media: Instagram and TikTok. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. And it hurts like hell! Everyone needs to be talking about periods and have an understanding of what’s actually happening to 50% of the population. After diagnosis, Lauren didn’t want to talk about it at all. She would have ignored the pain forever but her body simply wouldn’t let her. Her husband, a scientist, decided to create supplements to ease her pain. Semaine’s supplements are plant-based, safe, and only need to be taken when they are on their cycle. There is a massive inequity in women’s health across the world. It’s so important to listen to your body and be patient. Semaine was well-received by almost everyone as it served a community of people who suffer from period-related issues. Transitioning into peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause became a focus as women grew older and needed a different type of support. Semaine Health offers supplements that support women, non-binary and trans folks with PMS and period support, daily hormone balance, menopause essentials, urinary tract support, pre and probiotic for gut health. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It turns out this guest is the older version of our very own Alan Seales. Get ready for excellent Dad jokes and a lot of laughs. Seriously though - Jeffery Madoff has a wildly inventive and creative brain and a masterful entrepreneurial spirit. For Jeff, barriers are simply not something that exists because his creative spirit always finds a way to thrive. Jeff is a Fashion designer, teacher, author, playwright, and producer who helps dispel the myth that artists can’t be good business people and that good business people can’t be creative! Jeff has directed award-winning commercials, documentaries, and web content for clients such as Ralph Lauren, Victoria's Secret, Tiffany, Radio City, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and Harvard University just to name a few. He’s also the writer and producer for “PERSONALITY” a play based on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist, Lloyd Price that just opened in Chicago in June 2023. Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn, Instagram, and his website. Get Jeff’s book: Creative Careers: Making a Living with Your Ideas See Personality in Chicago Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Jeff had no plan on what he was going to do but he was always seduced by ideas. Fashion design was never a passion but an opportunity. He did have some merchandising experience from his parent's business when he was younger. Jeff put his designs on the back of a motorcycle, headed to Chicago, and made a name for himself. We make sense of our lives through the rearview mirror. By the age of 22, Jeff had over 100 people working for him. When Jeff decided to move to NYC he lost his financial backing. So he closed his company in Wisconsin and took off. As a young man with long hair in the 70’s Jeff had to prove he had financial backing in order to be taken seriously. Jeff has embraced opportunity over and over again through meeting other people, embracing storytelling, and being willing to simply try things that interested him. If you’re paying attention everything you do plays a part in everything else you do. It’s easier to start at the top and work your way down. You never know until you try and there’s no reason not to go big. Jeff believes that you shouldn’t say no to yourself. You shouldn’t say no to yourself. If you’re passionate about something give it a try. There are enough people that will say no to you. Don’t say no to yourself. Jeff was his own fallback position. There was no other Plan B. He focuses on the goals rather than the obstacles in the way. The way to “run distance” is to break it down into smaller milestones and then celebrate those milestones. Perseverance is more important than talent. Jeff says he’s smart enough to know what he doesn’t know. After being a guest speaker for a class at Parsons, Jeff took a job as a part-time professor (he was actually hired by Tim Gunn!). His class is about Creative Careers. The way you talk to yourself makes a big difference in how successful you’ll be. Opportunities are not opportunities if you don’t recogonize them. It was absolute chance that Jeff was introduced to Lloyd Price and that’s what eventually led to Jeff writing and producing Personality which is now running in Chicago. Don’t wait for someone else to make magic happen in your life, do it yourself. There’s courage and there’s confidence. Confidence is a capability that comes from repetition. Courage is stepping off the edge of the cliff and not knowing what’s going to happen. Doing a play is like a start-up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amber Trueblood traveled across the country supporting her two oldest sons as they starred in the hit musical The School of Rock and along the way she picked up some lessons, while traveling and homeschooling, that eventually made their way into her new book The Unflustered Mom. This book teaches moms (and all parents) practical and achievable strategies for reducing anxiety and overwhelm. She’s also a licensed marriage and family therapist, best-selling author, speaker, and mother of four sons. She has over 25 years of experience in mental health and co-founded The M.E.C.A. Project to help teens and young adults thrive Mentally and Emotionally through Conscious Awareness. Amber has been featured in People, Oprah Magazine, CNN, Motherhood Maternity, Good Day LA, and many more. Connect with Amber on her website, and Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Amber chose to homeschool her kids. This started when their glow-up for learning started to fad in traditional schools. Things worked out nicely when her two oldest sons went on tour with School of Rock. Amber’s approach to life and parenthood has been to make it fun and not focus on the challenges or pressure. Amber wrote her first book, Stretch Marks, While touring with her family - this was her way of focusing on herself and prioritizing her own needs while being the main planner, packer, and organizer for a family of 6 on tour and homeschooling. Find your own anxiety style with this short, free quiz. Amber leans into creativity, especially things she’s not an “expert” at to help channel frustration and the challenges life throws at you. Take your risk on the road. Amber really embraces the “what’s the worst that can happen” mindset and tries new things. Life approach: Slow down. Enjoy the present moment. Being grateful. Celebrating daily wins. Just take the first risk. TAKE THE RISK and see what happens. You will likely surprise yourself with the results. Be particular about who you share your ideas and work with. You can take risks without turning yourself inside out and allowing people to walk all over you. And be very clear about what you want after you share. It’s your responsibility to take risks in a way that maintains your self-care and preservation. Preorder the Unflustered Mom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creative success comes in many many different formats and we’re sharing something totally new to Was It Chance today! Meet Julie Civiello Polier - she is, literally, the aesthetician to the stars. Julie is a licensed aesthetician – specializing in gua sha and reflexology – Reiki Master, an intuitive guide, and a celebrity facialist. Julie also specializes in facial mapping because Our skin is a message board for everything that is going on inside of us. Our faces are a map of our whole body, all our organs, and their corresponding emotions. In 2020, Julie launched LINEA, a holistic gua sha beauty kit designed to educate and empower people to connect with their inner and outer bodies. Julie has worked with top brands True Botanicals, KORA Organics, and Jenni Kayne. Her work has been featured in Vogue and Conde Nast just to name two. And she has a brand new book out called Gau Sha and Crystal Massage: Techniques for healthy, clear, and glowing skin. Get all of Julie’s links and contact info here and be sure to follow her on Instagram Get her book: Gau Sha and Crystal Massage: Techniques for healthy, clear, and glowing skin. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Gua Sha is an ancient ritual to bring things out of the body and cleanses As a young child, Julie went to an acupuncturist (which was really frowned upon) with her mother and it introduced her to understanding the body. Julie was an actress until she was 26 years old. Everything changed when she got in a terrible car accident and couldn’t perform anymore. Meditation was a healing modality after the accident and she healed herself completely after 9 months. Becoming an aesthetician and combining it with the other spiritual modalities gave Julie a sense of freedom and possibility. She knew there were ways to help other people heal themselves. Society tells us aging is one way only. Julie says that’s not true. Physical appearance is deeply related to emotions. The face is a beautiful mask that leads to healing you mind, body, and soul. Julie embraced a lot of experimentation and playing to figure out how to create her signature approach to supporting clients. She doesn’t hold judgment on what people want to do. She holds space for everyone and supports them. Make sure you feel empowered in the office of your doctors and healers! Be thoughtful and intentional. Make sure it’s collaborative. The lips are heart tissue. Literally pulled from our hearts while in utero. Julie is moving into group events, virtual face readings, and courses because she wants to help as many people as possible by being active in their healing. Time traveling is when you go back into thoughts and experiences and rewrite them into what you wish they had been. You can apply this in forward motion also by setting intentions for you day. Time travel but deciding what your true experience will be, surrender and fully embrace! Julie loves failure because it’s the breeding ground for learning, growth, and opportunities. The message is, to love yourself. You can’t get it wrong! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in to hear how The Avengers lead to this week's guest accepting his claim to fame as “The Broadway Trainer.” We even get a few off-the-cuff renditions of Shut the Eff Up Alan! Joe Rosko is the founder of Built For The Stage, Broadway’s #1 online fitness training platform, and its accompanying podcast on Broadway Podcast Network (with over 200 episodes to date!). In the past six years, Built For The Stage has trained clients in over 50 Broadway shows and on international stages around the globe. BFTS clients can currently be seen in such Tony-nominated and Tony-winning shows as “Some Like It Hot,” “& Juliet,” “New York, New York,” “Wicked” and “Hamilton." Joe has some terrific fitness and overall wellness tips about preparing for this busy and exciting time leading up to Broadway’s Biggest Night. Joe began his professional career as a trainer and actor at the exact same time in 2007. Since then, it has been his mission to build a bridge between the worlds of fitness and theatre. Joe believed that actors were truly professional athletes but didn't feel as though the theatre community was equipped with the proper resources to train like said athletes. This realization led to the creation of Built for the Stage. Joe and his coaches pride themselves on having the unique abilities to continue a performer’s fitness progress while being in or out of a show. Connect with Joe on his website, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Broadway performers are the Olympians of theater. It’s important to challenge your body in different ways to protect it during such rigorous work as eight shows a week. How the hell did Joe get here? It was the perfect storm of three specific things: He started playing sports at the age of 4 A middle school girlfriend talked him into trying out for the school play An entrepreneurial spirit. Joe studied theater in college and continued to do both theater and sports. While performing in school shows he was also playing football which is a little nuts, if you ask us. Built for the Stage really started in college when he started training fellow actors at the age of 18. Although his fellow athletes gave him a little shit, they were always supportive and sat in the front row when he did a show. Everything in life is mental. It’s all about what you decide to make it. After college training was a “survival” job. He discovered Crossfit in NYC and ended up managing a gym which led to early virtual training. In order to be accessible to Actors, no matter their work status, all of Built for the Stage’s programs have always been virtual. During the pandemic, Joe lowered the cost of the Built for the Stage app and donated proceeds to the Actor’s Fund. While it may look like it’s all rainbows and butterflies it’s not. Joe works countless hours, drives and flies thousands of miles, and puts his whole heart and soul into the work. Although Joe does have a bit of a Midas touch, he embraces failure with the mindset of “never be afraid to ask” and this has helped lead to his massive success. Having a really great niche is game-changing! Built for the Stage Podcast on BPN. Joe is a big believer in the power of no. Stay focused and don’t say yes to things that don’t serve you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joanne Lipman knew she wanted to be a journalist at the age of 7. What happened next was a combination of hard work and embracing chance and opportunity and perhaps a little luck in working with folks who truly wanted to see her succeed and believed in her. Joanne is a bestselling author and pioneering journalist who began her career reporting for the Wall Street Journal, rising to the position of deputy managing editor (the first woman to attain that post). She subsequently was the founding editor-in-chief of Conde Nast Portfolio magazine, was Chief Content Officer of Gannett, where she was Editor-in-Chief of its USA Today and the USA Today Network, encompassing the flagship publication plus 109 metro newspapers including the Detroit Free Press, the Des Moines Register, and the Arizona Republic. In that role, she oversaw more than 3,000 journalists and led the organization to three Pulitzer prizes. She has served as Editor-in-Chief of USA Today, USA Today Network, Conde Nast Portfolio, and The Wall Street Journal’s Weekend Journal, leading those organizations to six Pulitzer Prizes. She is also an on-air CNBC contributor and Yale University journalism lecturer. Connect with Joanne on her website. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Although Joanne has a vast and impressive career, she considers herself a journalist first and foremost. Joanne first wanted to become a journalist at the age of 7 after reading Harriet The Spy. As a freshman in college, Joanne got a summer job working for her local, New Jersey, newspaper which led to an unpaid internship at a fledgling but “real” newspaper. While commuting to Manhattan for her internship she started reading The Wall Street Journal and it completely changed the direction of her passion. The skill that helped most, as an editor, was being able to conceptualize ideas and find a common thread. When Joanne first started at Wall Street Journal there wasn’t even a women’s room - that’s how few women worked at the paper. She was offered promotion after promotion for five years and kept turning them down. But she wasn’t “mommy tracked” and stayed on the top of the list. This was an unusual and wonderful opportunity. Leaving Wall Street Journal was difficult and risky but Condé Nast made an offer she couldn’t refuse. Post Traumatic Growth is being open to new opportunities because of the stress associated with traumatic experiences. After the financial crises, advertising feel apart and the magazine she’d created, Conde Nast's “Portfolio” closed. This was the chance opportunity that lead to writing her own books. Reinvention Roadmap from Joanne’s book, Next: Search, struggle, stop, solution In order to solve problems you have to stop thinking about the solution! Turn your brain off and do something different - then the answers will appear. We don’t talk about failure enough and we all fail! Tracking your failures provides really excellent data. Pay attention because nothing is wasted! Get Joanne’s books, Next!, That’s What She Said: What Men Need to Know (and Women Need to Tell Them) About Working Together, and Strings Attached. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Donnelly grew up a theater lover but believed had to pursue a “real career” and decided to get a finance degree. Although the voice inside his head told him to fully walk away from theater, he simply couldn’t do it. Fast forward years later and Alex is producing the Corkscrew Theater Festival. While securing in-kind donations for the festival, Alex is offered an unexpected turn (some may call it chance!?) in the form of a job with Production Resource Group (aka PRG), the longtime global live event innovation company that turns creative dreams into technical realities. Alex decided to take this intentional risk and joined hosts Heather and Alan to share just how well it all worked out. It’s pretty amazing what having the courage to make a cold ask can lead to! Tune in to hear all about it plus some pretty cool behind-the-scenes tech stuff from our lovable mega nerds Alan and Alex. Follow Alex on Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Alex Donnelly has an impressive resume. He’s a key innovator behind some of Broadway's most iconic moments His previous career was banking and it was complete chance that he joined PRG and then the theater division. As a child attending theater was a reward for good behavior. As many people think, Alex went to college planning on a degree that would lead to a “stable career.” In fact, getting into college was his main goal for the majority of his life - but what happens after achieving that goal!? Asking strangers for money was easy for Alex and he excelled at it - this included helping his theater friends raise money for their own work. Chance stepped in when Alex started the Corkscrew Theater Festival, and he was introduced to PRG assuming they would just be a lighting sponsor for the festival. Little did he know what awaited him. There have been several moments where Alex is just in awe that his life has taken him down this path. Sometimes things simply don’t work out - it’s to be expected. His approach to balancing is that you can only prioritize one thing at a time. Essentially you can have it all but not at the same time. The way Fringe allows folks to do theater doesn’t lead to an artists best work, but it does open the door and help build a resume. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and reach out to strangers - you never know what will happen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Norman takes the stage by storm in the lead role of Evan Hansen for the touring cast of Dear Evan Hansen. But he’s also an incredibly nice guy with a great sense of humor. In fact, Anthony and our co-host, Alan, are two peas in a pod. Heather had her hands full for sure ;) A talented musician who plays multiple instruments, Anthony thought his career would be in Jazz and then he started getting cast in Musicals and the two roads diverged. Anthony has performed in many wonderful shows including The Prom, Newsies, Love...Reconsidered, and City of Light as well as TV shows such as Living the Dream, Chicago Med, and Mare of Easttown. He has been a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Follow Anthony on his Website, Instagram or TikTok. Go see Dear Evan Hansen in a city near you and check out both Anthony Norman and Past WIC guest, Lili Thomas! Get tickets here. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Anthony grew up as a musician in Chicago as the youngest of three. He loved being in the background watching his older siblings play music and picked up the Sax when he was in 4th grade. At one time he had a fantasy of going to college to play professional basketball. After performing in High School his uncle approached and offered some vocal lessons and things just kicked off from there. Anthony essentially taught himself to play multiple instruments. Getting booked as Jack in Into The Woods for the Illinois Theater competition is what really set things off with acting. He decided to lean into acting (over jazz) when his sister said “Is Jazz a passion or a hobby.” And that provided a lot of clarity. The audition process for Dear Evan Hansen was extremely rigorous but once cast he was really empowered to put his own touch on the character. Playing a high schooler but no longer being one provides a lot of insight in his role as Evan Hansen. Anthony says it’s a lot of fun. Touring is hard, hard work. It’s fun to explore new places but the constant travel is intense. Anthony says he has a great relationship with failure. Everything he has “failed” at has led to something so much better. Relationships are so key and important in having a creative career. Being in The Prom changed everything in Anthony’s life. Anthony honored us with his own version of STFU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab your popcorn and get ready to hear some amazing stories from Reality TV wedding planner, Donnie Brown. Donnie starred in the very first wedding planning reality TV show, “Who’s wedding is it anyway” on The Style Network and then went on to start in 10 of the show's 11 seasons and its spin-off! Co-host, Heather Vickery had the opportunity to share the virtual stage with Donnie at a celebration of our friend, Eddie Babbage, and his podcast Wedding Industry Insider. Donnie Brown is considered one of the leading wedding and event planners in the industry today. With over 3 decades of experience, He’s helped shape the landscape of the modern wedding and is a serious trendsetter. He has been profiled and quoted in every fashion and wedding magazine you can find on the newsstand. He’s the author of "Donnie Brown Weddings: from the couture to the cake" and when not planning weddings and other events, he travels the world for speaking engagements. Connect with Donnie via his website and connect on Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Donnie started in the floral business. Was approached by Lion Entertainment to be the star of “Who’s Wedding is it Anyway.” Didn’t seek the job. Planned LeAnn Rimes' wedding- that catapulted everything. They are still friends and in regular contact. Donnie gets his BIG personality from his mom. Connections and relationships are everything - build relationships if you want to embrace chance. No interest in going back to the way things were before the pandemic. Life is less stressful. Communication is always the most important thing - even in the creative process. Positive reinforcement helps folks relax and stay creative. Donnie solves problems in his sleep. Sometimes less is more - know yourself and do what’s best for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you remember when our collective hearts broke watching “Connor's mom” breakdown in Dear Evan Hansen? Yeah, that was traumatic! And Lili Thomas does it every single night on stage as she performs the beautiful and devastating role of Cynthia Murphy for the North American touring company of Dear Evan Hansen. The child of two world-renowned classical musicians, Lili made her own path in the arts. She became a triple threat by training extensively in acting, singing, and dancing in addition to, of course, learning several instruments. She plays professionally on 6 different instruments. Lili recently completed the pre-Broadway run of Octet and is an acclaimed vocal coach, choreographer, director, and the hardest job of all, parent of two kids. She’s kind, funny and crazy talented! Follow Lili and learn more on Instagram, grab tickets to see Dear Evan Hansen here, and make sure to stick around to the end of the episode for a fun, dirty joke form Lili! Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Being exposed to professional musicians helped Lili embrace chance as an entertainer. She randomly started singing with a live band at the age of 5 and people loved it. The thrill was real! Both of Lili’s parents are world-renowned musicians but they didn’t pressure her into playing music, which Lili considers a gift. Lili’s performing love is musical theater - that’s her creative home. She loves playing complex characters and embracing them fully which she does beautifully. It’s really hard to balance being a parent and needing daycare with auditioning (as a job) because it’s not a paying job but must be treated as a job. When she went back to theater it felt like breathing again. This is truly where she's meant to be. She has such a loving and supportive family who love seeing her pursue her dreams. Positivity and energy are the core of who Lili is and that’s counter-intuitive to the role she plays in Dear Evan Hansen. When Lili needs to decompress and get into creative a space she needs total quiet and solitude (just like our co-host, Heather!). The most creative minds are also the most curious ones. Self-taping has become really dangerous for people - it drives perfectionist behaviors and that’s just not possible. It sets unrealistic standards and puts undue pressure on actors (and kids!). Returning to the theater has been part of Lili’s journey toward loving herself and it’s magical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MANIFESTATION, BABY! This week Heather and Alan talk with Manifestation expert, Sami Moog, about how we can all create the future we desire. We are, in fact, constantly creating our futures whether we’re aware of it or not. This was such a fun, eye-opening and exciting conversation. You’re going to want to soak up every moment of it. Sami discovered manifestation in 2007 when The Secret came out and since then he’s been on a lifelong journey to try and understand, and expand upon, these principles! He’s the author of “Alchemy of Imagination: The power of your mind to transform your life” which he wrote while sitting at a local nature preserve! He’s got a killer TikTok presence and manifestation is the name of the game for Sami. Get an astrology reading from Sami here. Connect with him on TikTok. Get Sami’s book here. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: True manifestation takes action. Work is positive, effort is negative. All manifestation requires work! It's an energy thing, not a mental thing. True manifestation takes intentional habit because life has a way of knocking us down. The choice is yours. You can’t expect life to work out for you. The steps of manifestation: Visualize in 1st person, belief, and release. Visualization: Thinking about what you want while also feeling good about it. Belief: trust and know it will come to be. Release: release the how and attachment but not the desire. No anxiety about it. Maintain a high vibration. The universe does not locally exist! Scientists have proven it. Our reality is an ILLUSION. The consciousness of people creates beauty and turmoil (and everything in between). Synchronicity: You think about something and then it just appears. Visualize something you desire no more than a few times and then believe and release - otherwise it will turn into anxiety. When you’re manifesting it may not always appear in a linear, predictable fashion. Keep your visualizations short so you don’t complicate the message. Meditation is to release all thoughts, visualization is to focus on a specific thought. Mornings are better for vibration, evenings are better for visualization. Failure is an important, although painful, step to becoming a mature soul. Sometimes we go through rough periods in life, not getting what we want, in order to remind us to manifest. Manifest the afterthought - not the experience of achieving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of you have heard of MacGyver … Not only was it an internationally successful television show, but it’s also become a full-on verb for many (especially us Gen Xers) “Hold on, let me go MacGyver that!” In this episode, Alan and Heather got to chat with Lee Zlotoff brainchild behind the world-renowned MacGyver franchise. Lee is an award-winning writer, producer, and director of film and television. In addition to creating the original MacGyver TV series, he also wrote and directed the indie hit film The Spitfire Grill which won the coveted Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and has also become a successful musical with over 700 productions. More recently, he is the author of the best-selling book The MacGyver Secret: Connect to your Inner MacGyver and Solve Anything as well as MacGyver: Meltdown, the first installment of a new MacGyver fiction series. Lee is also the Executive Director of The MacGyver Foundation which is funded by a portion of the proceeds from all the MacGyver projects. Now entering into the wonderful work of musical theater, he has executive produced the world premier concept album for MacGyver the music and the Musical is on its way to Broadway! But Lee is so much more than his resume. He’s an inspiration and a force of nature. Listen in to hear how he manifests all of his desires and why it’s important for him to help society do the same. Learn more on the website and Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: There’s serious power in gathering talent together and sharing ideas. Start with NOTHING! You might be surprised by what you’ll find. Lee’s education taught him that great ideas come from conversation and collaboration It’s about the magic that comes from everyone putting in their best effort We seek to feel good - look for it inside of you first, then it will show up in the world. If you dare take the risk to find what you’re seeking inside of you - the opportunities appear. Lee created something powerful by “taking away the gun” for the superhero. MacGyver CORE VALUES: avoid conflict, resourcefulness, and maintain a sense of humor and humility. Breaking out of a block: Write the problem down, then go do something else and forget about it for a bit, then go back and ask “what do you have for me?” I don’t worry about where the answers are going to come from - I surrender and trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mikayla Petrilla realized early on in her career that there was a “side door” to nearly everything. Although she hadn’t been a serious actor in school, Mikayla knew acting was her desired career. So she took all of her other skills and went to work supporting theatre companies, shows, and other theater-adjacent businesses. Eventually, she grew her acting resume and now has an impressive resume including Saturday Night Live, The Marvelous Ms. Maisel, Inventing Anna, and more. In addition to her acting and “side door” work, Mikayla is dedicated to lifting up gender equality in the theater and tv/film industry through community and inclusiveness. When not performing, Mikayla volunteers with Off the Lane, Young Storytellers, and Togetherhood, three organizations that support inclusive and accessible arts education for both inner city schools K-6 and young arts professionals. Heather and Alan really enjoyed this conversation. It’s a beautiful reminder that there are lots of ways to solve a problem, get what you deeply desire, and be a damn good person in the process. Makayla’s self-awareness is inspiring. Find all of Mikayla’s social links here. Learn more on the website and Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Mikayla was the child put on the “family” stage for holidays. Becoming a performer was NOT chance - Mom put her into it. But chance still played a powerful role because Mikayla was not active in her school performances. When it was time to apply for college she decided to take the risk despite not doing as much performing as a teenager. Her theater teacher judged her personal charachter and that was unacceptable to 14 year-old Mikayla. Wise beyond her years, it pushed her forward in empowering ways. There is a “Side Door” to everything. Use your skills in multiple creative ways. Taking risk and having it pay off gives you confidence to ask for more and invite other people to collaborate. Being a valuable team member means recognising the importance of everyone's job, appreciating the roles everyone plays and being grateful. Manifestation is science “I don’t know how easy it would be for people to say yes!” The pandemic essentially forced people to turn inward and do necessary self-work. Accountability is incredibly powerful in achieving your dreams and goals. Cultivate as much calm as possible amongst the chaos. The grief process of “failure” is about knowing that we all move through it differently. It’s important to understand what happened and give yourself some grace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like it or hate it, 2022 is over! Alan and Heather chat about all of the incredible guests from the past year while sharing some of their favorite moments. Good times were had by all. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow that leading man energy and never lose sight of the goal! Mauricio Martínez is a major international star of both stage and screen most recently seen in Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of Unmasked: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. In addition to playing Emilio Estefan in Broadway's On Your Feet!, He is an International Emmy Winner and tells novella superstar and was a household name in Latin America before crossing over to Broadway. We got a little silly with this live interview in the heart of Time Square but don’t let that fool you. Mauricio brings all the best creative manifestation energy and shares his empowering path from a childhood dream (inspired by a teacher no less) to realizing every single one of his dreams and then some. Connect with Mauricio on Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Mau felt his “leading man” destiny from a very young age. He never doubted himself and acted accordingly at all times - he deeply believes that this is what has led to his success. Sometimes you have to sing your way through the day (perhaps even a little off-key). Mindset matters more than just about anything else. You are not required to trade your time for money or “pay your dues” to achieve your goals and dreams. Your internal chaos and emotional trauma can manifest themselves into physical alignments. Life is for having fun - trust yourself - believe in yourself - and then lean into it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole is one half of a sister/sister duo that co-founded a high-end jewelry brand called Sorllina. Nicole and her sister Nicole grew up on the north shore of Long Island, NY, where they were raised with a deep appreciation for the arts and shared a love of design. After graduating with a Fine Arts degree from USC, Nicole studied Jewelry Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Kim attended Tulane University for Art History and then relocated to Florence, Italy to continue her studies. Upon Kim’s return to New York, the sisters decided to set the course for their future business. As an homage to their heritage, Kim and Nicole chose to name the collection Sorellina, the Italian word for ‘little sister.’ Check out SORELLINA on Instagram or via their website. And if you’re witchy like Heather and Nicole grab your own set of Heather’s Manifestation Cards, Create Brave. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Sometimes it’s best not to know how difficult something will be. Knowing would hold you back - embrace opportunity when it’s available. Nicole “loves fire” and that lead to her high-end jewelry business. Speaking directly to Heather’s heart - Nicole and her sister never let fear guide their decisions. Sometimes your heart knows its calling from a very young age. Creativity manifests in so many different ways - stay open-minded. There must be joy! Seek it, chase it, embrace it! There were a lot of people, especially in the jewelry world, who looked down on us and didn’t treat us with respect. But something just kept showing up and proving this was exactly where we were supposed to be. There’s an amazing that comes from jewelry. Jewelry is the biggest proof that there’s magic in the world. Gemstones are a beautiful metaphor for life and the human experience. They start out raw and need to be loved and nurtured to bring out their beauty. Infuse abundant energy into all of your creative endeavors. The more you go through in life, the more you see your own strength and live into possibility. “I believe in having a positive attitude that I can get through anything because I’ve done it before.” Don’t just wait for life to show up. There’s no power in that. Take intentional action but be flexible and shift when the time is right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Critically acclaimed, award-winning writer/director/producer Steve Silverman’s work has been called ‘Sly’ by the Los Angeles Times, which is his all-time favorite single-word review. Theatre includes All About Steve, not a one-man show but a twist on the classic film All About Eve, his horror comedy 666 Westbourne Drive, and his musical mashups Jesus Christ Super Star Wars & The King and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Speaking of the force, he’s the force behind the one-woman show festivals 15 Minutes of FEM and the standup comedy show Slideshow. To eat and get health insurance, Steve is an award-winning writer/producer/director in the world of on-air promotions where he’s worked for FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, Bravo, several ad agencies, and most recently, Hulu. He’s directed Whoopi Goldberg, Reba McEntire, Mindy Kaling, Zooey Deschanel, the original Fab Five from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and more … Steve’s just finished the first draft of a new novel, a ‘cozy’ murder mystery, and you can hear him weekly on his podcast, World Gone Good where he talks to everyday people making good here on planet Earth including our very own Heather Vickery. Since our episode was recorded, Steve has left Twitter but you can still catch him on Instagram or check out his website Worldgonegoodpodcast.com. For info on his upcoming play. Happy Birthday, McKenna visit HBMPLAY.COM here. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Steve is a regular guy who knows a lot of cool people and hosts a feel good podcast. His first BIG intentional risk was turning down a paying job, right out of college, to become an unpaid intern for soap opera, General Hospital. Steve is the “king” of quitting! Really it’s just getting new information and making a different decision. Adults can be bullies. But you don’t have to accept that bullshit. Trust your instincts - the universe has your back. When people tell you who they are, believe them. Steve’s podcast, “A World Gone Good” came about because the world was falling apart and he really wanted to put some joy back into the world. Be willing to take action in the moment. Be open and willing - there’s so much to be excited about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably know Justin from the very first season of American Idol in 2002 - or you may know him from his appearances on the Broadway stage, including Wicked, American Idiot, Romeo & Juliet, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and In Transit. He’s Lil Sweet in the Diet Dr. Pepper commercials, the host of the Audition Secrets Podcast, was just seen down in Washington DC in the out-of-town production of Once Upon a One More Time, a show inspired by the music of Britney Spears. He is a public speaker, coach, author, and CEO and it was our pleasure to have this impassioned and joy-filled conversation with the one and only, Justin Guarini. We cover a lot of topics in this interview from tag team coaching Alan, a Justin Guarini special rendition of STFU Alan, parenting tweens and teenagers to some behind-the-scenes stories from Justin's days on American Idol. The truth is, Justin Guarini is a hell of a guy with a very big heart. Tune in to laugh with us, feel big feelings with us, and get seriously inspired! You can connect with Justin on his website, Twitter, his podcast, or his super hilarious account on Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Justin is dedicated to giving back and helping others. Even when you’re experienced in the entertainment industry you can be mistreated. He tries to set himself up for failure before it actually happens so he’s not disappointed. Embrace your fears and the devil on your shoulder and just try things! Justin had a lot of stage experience prior to being on American Idol. Anyone can sing and dance but it’s important to learn the business of show The moment Justin knew he wanted to be on the stage was in 1986 while being in the audience at the Jackson Five Victory Tour. “I was willing to surrender, in that moment, to intentionally risk the dream I had been chasing for so many years in order to have faith and trust in my internal calling.” Trust that all timing is the right timing. The hardest thing to do is surrender, it’s also the most important! It’s the DOING of the things that’s the prize - not the having of the thing. Have a vision for where you want to go but be willing to improve! Stop trying to make money, start creating more value. Uncover the value you have already offered the world. There’s incredible power in questions. ASK MORE OF THEM! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse McAnally is a mega nerd – and therefore one of our absolute favorite people. He’s a film director, actor, YouTuber, songwriter, podcaster, and a Dungeons and Dragons enthusiast. He has been making movies since he was 5, acting out elaborate plots with dolls, and forcing his family to watch. After graduating from Wayne State with a degree in Media Arts and Studies, he decided to return to his high school hobby: sharing his passion for musical theatre with others through his podcast, Musicals With Cheese, where he teaches a layperson new to the community the ins and outs of being a theatre nerd. He now has a feature film in the works called The Daughters of the Domino that I am super excited to talk about. Jesse, welcome! Jesse also graced us with an impromptu performance of Shut The Fuck Up Alan! Stay until the end so you don’t miss it. Support Jesse’s Kickstarter for his first feature film, The Daughters of the Domino. Check Jesse out on Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Jesse was a media Obsessed child that wanted to soak it all in and put his own spin on it Creativity comes from discovering “it’s possible” - whatever “it” is for you! The fourth wall NEEDS to be broken down. Modern streaming society has stripped this from the “crowd-facing” content and it’s a shame. Partner with folks you enjoy working with! It’s really important to have fun while you work. Be a great friend first, then a collaborator. It never hurts to be kind. The worst sets are the ones where people are afraid of the director. Ask yourself if you’re in an emotionally space safe to take on intentional risk. The all-or-nothing element of a Kickstarter really motivates people to participate in your project. The quality of the crew greatly affects the final product. You can have massive fear of rejection and still show up and do big, brave things. Many performers and public figures are quiet and introverted. All that exists is because YOU are here and you created it! BE PROUD OF YOURSELF! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A comedian, a theater nerd, and a coach walk into a room … Ok, this sounds like a bad dad joke set up but it’s actually what happened when Heather and Alan welcomed Ben Ptashinsky-Skinner to the podcast. Listen close because in between jokes and hilarity is some serious content. Ben is a stay-at-home dad, husband, and part-time performer. Voted Orlando’s best comedian in 2021 & 2022 as well as Orlando’s Best Actor in 2018, 2019, & 2021, Ben has become a viral sensation on social media. Host of his own cooking show, “Any Schmuck Can Cook,” Ben believes that budget-friendly, healthy meals should bring families together. Be sure to watch Ben’s show “Any Schmuck Can Cook” on Instagram and connect on TikTok Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Ben fell into having a cooking show! When you DO stuff, you become an expert at it. What will change the world, is sitting around the table with your family. If you want to be successful at something, you have to work at it and practice! Advocate for equality through visibility. The right people will find you if you are authentic and show up as yourself. Things are special because they are not consistently readily available. Allow them to be special. Allow yourself to be proud of your own work. You can KNOW you are good at something. Every time you do something, it adds up! Compound effect. Earning money is important. Don’t give your passion away for free! Successful people take risks. Sometimes playing it safe is accepting a path of unhappiness. If you want to be an influencer, put yourself out there as often as possible, build your audience and then get an agent (Yes! There are agents for influencers). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jay Clouse helps people become professional creators. He is the writer of Creator Science and the host of Creative Elements, a narrative-interview podcast exploring how today’s top creators make a living with their art and creativity. He previously led the Community Experience team for Pat Flynn and Smart Passive Income, designing their paid membership community and cohort-based course programs. Jay is also the creator of the wildly successful, #Tweet100 campaign. This is another live interview Heather and Alan did during PodcastMovement in Dallas. Prepare for some incredible truth bombs, but laughter and silliness also ensued! Jay love’s to connect! Follow him on Twitter or TikTok and check out Creative Science for exceptional insight for creators at every stage of their journey. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Do something different! It sets you apart from the crowd. Create a situation where you can fail publicly to help you stay accountable! Brilliant creativity hack. The more you do a thing, the more successful you’ll be at the thing. Figure out your own quirks and work with them! Don’t always imitate others. Take what you want, but don’t overcomplicate things. Kids show up and do things they don’t know how to do. That’s how they learn - adults often don’t. Expand your view on what entrepreneurship actually is. The creator world is all about actualizing your own vision, not someone else’s. You can “learn out loud” and take others on the journey. It’s a win-win. Reward the people who take early risks with you. Earned insight is so valuable - charge accordingly. Humans don’t push themselves to the limits. That’s why coaches and consultants are so valuable. Move forward faster by learning what doesn’t work (some people call that failing). There’s space for being aspirational! Embrace it. Ask yourself: What are the unique skills that I want? Stop comparing yourself to the big shots in your industry. It’s not serving you. Know when to let enough be enough. And also when to let good enough be good enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You only have to make a few of the right decisions to line up your career and your life for fulfillment. And then it’s just work. You’re going in the right direction. Keep going.” This week’s guest, Lindsay McMahon, joined hosts, Aland and Heather LIVE from Podcast Movement ‘22 in Dallas. Lindsay’s innovative approach to marketing and teaching English as a second language has made Lindsay and the All Ears English team one of the world's go-to resources for ESL. Listen in as these three friends have a hilarious but heartfelt conversation about being entrepreneurs, taking a chance on podcasting, and the ultimate power of relationships. Lindsay McMahon is the founder and co-host of All Ears English. The All Ears English Podcast is downloaded 7 million times per month globally and has been ranked in Best of Apple Podcasts categories in 2018 and 2019 and as well as #1 in US Education Language Courses. Lindsay and her team have been featured in Podcast Magazine, Language Magazine, and Forbes. Learn more at www.allearsenglish.com and connect with Lindsay and her team on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_ vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Embracing your passion can lead to unexpected opportunities. You have to captured folks hearts in order to capture their heads. “Edu-tainment” = Education + Entertainment Diversify how you do your work and stay open to completely changing your direction. Learning, growing, and success are all about connection not perfection. When you follow your intuition you run into chance. Do something that makes you excited to go to work. Stay true to your audience and remain aligned with your integrity. Dip your toe in and try things. Stretch yourself and your horizons. Spend your time doing the things that brings the magic and delegate the rest. Don’t keep yourself so busy that you can’t take bigger risks. You’re letting yourself down. Often what looks like a failure or breakdown is really an opening for something far more wonderful. Life is here for you! You only have to make a few of the right decisions to line up your career and your life for fulfillment. And then it’s just work. You’re going in the right direction. Keep going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Ian Eisendrath, being an artist is like coming home. So many kids, Ian shares, don’t feel like they fit or belong until they find their creative outlet. By embracing chance, trusting his gut and putting himself out there in big ways, Ian has done just that. The University of Michigan School of Music graduate could never have predicted the path he would forge that has included various roles on the original Broadway version of Come From Away, which led him to a 2018 Olivier award and a 2017 Grammy nomination. Ian served as the Music Supervisor, Executive Music Producer, and Arranger for Come From Away. After the show's successful run on Broadway, Ian then music-supervised the Apple TV film version, which was recorded live on stage in New York City. Ian is currently the Executive Music Producer on Apple’s Spirited (starring Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell & Octavia Spencer) and his upcoming projects include Disney’s live-action Snow White (starring Rachel Zegler & Gal Gadot) and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (starring Shawn Mendes, Javier Bardem & Constance Wu). Ian has traveled the world with his family and continues to take exceptional risks that seem to have beautiful rewards. He’s always looking for that “I can’t not do this” feeling as that’s his sign to go, go, go! We love when our creative worlds collide! Ian is also a big fan of former WIC guest, Josh Breckenridge (we’re big fans also!). It was fun to chat about that during the episode. Follow Ian on Instagram and on the web. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS So many artists are kids that felt they “didn’t have a place” when they were younger. Access to live theater and music can, literally transform a child life. Mentors matter from a very young age. You have to ask for it … take the risk, put yourself out there. It’s with the risk because you never know what the answers will be if you don’t ask. Sometimes we can love what we do so much that it induces fear of failure. It’s amazing what people will do for and with you once they know how deeply and passionately you care. That you won’t lead them stray because you care too much to let it fall apart. Art, music, and theater are so powerful. They help people heal, grow and learn. Look for that “I can’t NOT do this” feeling and then go, go, go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digital projection has changed the face of theater and other immersive, creative experiences. No one does this work better than Nicholas Hussong. Nicholas is an artist, designer, and creative producer who was recently nominated for a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play for his work as Projection Designer on the recent Broadway production of Skeleton Crew. With an impressive resume including graduating from Yale School of Drama, Nicholas has worked as a creative programmer for Marc Jacobs, director of design for Smith & Westward, and is the co-creator of FEAST, an immersive dining experience with Listen&Breathe. Nicholas is also an adjunct professor at The New School in New York, NY, and at USC in Los Angeles, CA. Tune in to hear Nicholas share his creative process and how he consistently embraces risk and opportunity. Follow Nicholas on Instagram and on the web. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Being part of a team is amazing. Just because you're creative doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. More minds are better than one Your career is about skills, not education - just get that receipt (degree). You have your whole life to figure things out You are your own definition of success Get out there and do the work. That’s how you really learn. Be kind and available Don’t judge a “job” by its cover - judge it by how it feeds your soul and passion. Real-world experience always plays into your professional work. When the opportunity presents itself, get in, get messy and just fail until you get it right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Rutt is a podcaster who has spent the majority of her career in radio and television production. She’s the co-host of two LGBTQ-focused podcasts: Latter-Day Lesbian and Queer Life Crisis Which, of course, you can access anywhere you find podcasts. Mary decided to use her production talents to offer a voice to marginalized folks within the queer community and unexpectedly created a safe space for those who decided to leave their religion(s). Mary’s podcasts support folks who are experiencing PTSD and trauma due to past religious affiliations. You can learn more about Mary’s personal story in her interview with Heather on The Brave Files: Religious Recovery. Tune into this hilarious but honest episode to gain an insider's perspective on life after religion. Follow Latter-Day Lesbian on Instagram and TikTok. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. ore about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS When life is crazier than fiction you create a podcast about it! Telling your truth and being authentic can lead to an incredible and supportive community. For me to live as my true self I needed to step away from my religion and my mother's values. If you see a need and you have a matching skill, step up and fill that need. Listen to your audience! They can give you some excellent ideas Don’t be afraid to pivot when the opportunity presents itself. Your audience may not be who you think they are! Be open-minded. Leaving a “high demand religion” is difficult. It strips you from your community and that community needs to be replaced somehow. Find your people! What’s the worst that can happen?! Try new things! Take risks! You don’t have to be great at everything, but that doesn’t make you a failure. Seek knowledge to learn what you’re drawn to!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time ever, we have two amazing guests on the show. Dori Berinstein and Sammi Cannold directed and produced the Apple TV Documentary, The Show Must Go On which chronicles the race against time to save live theater in the wake of a global pandemic. The film focuses on some of the theater-makers determined to win the race. In March of 2020 and for the first time in history, the performing arts were decimated worldwide when theater shut down indefinitely in every country except one: South Korea. From the frontlines in Seoul, this film follows a company of artists involved in two theatrical productions--the World Tour of The Phantom of The Opera and the South Korean Tour of Cats--two of the productions that pushed ahead safely during the pandemic and helped show the way forward. And a continent away in the UK, the film simultaneously follows Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of Cats and The Phantom of the Opera among others. Webber used the example set by his Korean colleagues to fight for theater's future on the West End and beyond. The Show Must Go On chronicles the survival of the performing arts and the worldwide resuscitation of an artform with the fate of a global industry at stake. But more importantly, the film tells a human story - one of the resilience of storytellers and their determination to come together to heal, create, and inspire. Stream The Show Must Go On on Apple TV+ today! Our guests have inspiring bios: Dori Bernstein is an Emmy Award-winning documentarian, a four-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway producer, and an Olivier Award® winner. Berinstein most recently joined Ryan Murphy as producer of the Golden Globe Award®-nominated Netflix feature film adaptation of her musical The Prom. Dori is also Co-Founder/CEO of the Broadway Podcast Network. Find Dori on Instagram. Sammi Cannold is a director who is one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment, has worked for CBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and Cirque du Soleil. This is your first documentary feature, and upcoming projects include several new musicals, revivals, and feature films. Associate director credits include the Broadway production of GREAT COMET. Outside of her work in theater, film, and TV, Sammi currently serves as Senior Case Manager for Human First Coalition, an organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. Sammi holds a B. A. from Stanford University and an M.A. from Harvard University. Find Sammi on Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Creativity will always find a way to be expressed. There’s a way, find a way! Look for hidden opportunities. Be open minded, they are there. “How you do it” doesn’t have to be the way you get it done. Use tech to your advantage. Everything you need may already be at your fingertips. Once again, community is often what makes all the difference. Get out there and grow your network from a heart centered space. Use your skills to help with your creative endeavors. All of your skills are useful. Make the big ask, you never know when someone will say YES! Focus on the storytelling, not the platform. Be willing to throw yourself into the fire and risk failure in order to create magic. Never think of any project as a failure. Everything leads to some new knowledge and opportunity. Design your own metrics for success. Artistry is always about changing the world. Art heals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome the brilliant Morgan James to the show. Morgan is a singer/songwriter with a set of pipes that can blow the roof off of any house she’s performing in. She made her Broadway debut in The Addams Family, nabbed a few other Broadway credits including Godspell and Motown the Musical, and signed with Epic Records before deciding to take her creative destiny into her own creative hands. Morgan takes a completely unique approach to producing her own albums with the direct support of her fans. She frequently collaborates with Postmodern Jukebox, has her own comedy podcast called Gettin’ Peggy Wit It where she roasts her Broadway friends, and has just released a new EP called “Jesus Christ Superstar: Highlights From the All-Female Studio Cast Recording,” which completes the She Is Risen series of EPs. And when we say all women, we mean down to the interns, production staff, and everyone else! Morgan shared that working with an all-female crew was a first for everyone and it was the reason many women signed onto the project. Morgan has a truly unique approach to creating that always includes her fans. Be sure to follow her on all the socials: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and of course get all the details on her website. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. ore about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Everything has shaped me. Everything has led to where I am. I look back and thank all of the things that didn’t work out. You don’t always have to “know how.” Just start, you’ll figure it out. You never know who’s listening and watching you. Be prepared. And always do your best. Sometimes you can get “in” via a different opening. The door isn’t always open. Don’t let that stop you. Go out on the limb. Have faith. Put yourself out there. Sometimes passing dreams can become real things. Listen to your subconscious. Cut through the bullshit and create your own path. Use others as inspiration but don’t try to follow their path - you can’t have their path. It’s already taken. When your biggest fear comes true, you realize you can and will achieve anyway. Just don’t quit. Allow life to humble you. Get to know the process of your passions. Keep creating. Always creating. Don’t worry about it being “good.” Just show up! Perfection gets in the way. Don’t chase it. Be real. Show real. That’s what folks desire most from any creator. If you’re lucky, your dreams evolve. You’re never finished! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Grizabella was the wrong cat to die. Welcome to my Ted Talk.” Mike Abrams, a fellow Broadway Podcast Network member, never imagined his life would revolve around the musical … CATS! Born and raised in Indianapolis, Mike is an avid sports fan who spends the majority of his free time watching early 2000’s sitcoms. In 2016, he moved to New York and made the decision to embrace every unique opportunity that came his way. And this is how he ended up seeing the revival of CATS. He never knew this one decision would completely change his life. After the show, Mike became obsessed with the (lack of?) plot and unique ending featured in CATS. Suddenly, he found himself sharing his theories about the show with anyone who would listen, and hasn’t stopped since. Mike’s theories developed into what was, supposed to be, a 10-episode podcast. The Wrong Cat Died is now 80+ episodes and going strong. Connect with Mike and the podcast on Instagram. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS If you’re open to opportunity, you’ll find some amazing things just hiding around the corner. When you take on new projects, ask yourself “What do I need to give up to do this?” Be open to connection for the sale of connection. When we meet people from a place of honesty and genuine curiosity/interest we build powerful networks that can lead to truly wonderful things. There’s an entire set of Cards Against Humanities cards dedicated to CATS! Just because you’ve always done things a specific way does not mean you must continue to do them that way. It’s ok to change things up! Prioritize rest and things that give you peace. Life is short - enjoy it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

José Rolón calls himself a “nuptial maestro” which, as a recovering wedding planner, our host Heather thinks is hilarious!! For almost a decade, José has made a name for himself with his chill vibe and generous command in wedding planning and design. Making him one of the top wedding planners in NYC. Now, where this story takes an unexpected and delightful turn is that during pandemic quarantine, José and his family chose to take TikTok by storm! And as a result, he’s been featured on the TODAY Show, NowThis News, Ellen’s Game of Games, Tamron Hall Show, Univision Se Habla USA, and The Drew Barrymore Show. If that wasn't enough, José was named co-host of Season 2's web series Parenting Wins and named Tiktok’s 2021 Latinx Trailblazers. After the tragic loss of his husband, this single father of 3 has leaned into chance and opportunity in a very big way. This episode is both heartwarming and hilarious. You do NOT want to miss the amazing content José and his family is putting out. Be sure to follow him on all the platforms including Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS This is the time to bring forward stories and positivity Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time. Be sure you know when you’re there Sometimes, among the deepest, darkest times, you’ll find a direction and a light. Trust your instincts. Listen to your gut. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from reaching for your dreams. Lean all the way into your community. Allow them to support you and help you get to the next step on your journey. Sometimes you’re going to completely mess up. That’s ok. You can move past it. Your mistakes don’t define you. Prioritize self-care if you want to be a great parent (or anything else!). Never shy away from standing up for what you believe in. Ride your exciting wave and just see what happens! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denise Duffield-Thomas is THE money mentor for the new wave of online entrepreneurs who want to make money and change the world. She helps women charge premium prices, release the fear of money and create First Class lives. Her books, Lucky Bitch, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch, and Chillpreneur give a fresh and funny roadmap to living a life of abundance without burnout. She describes herself as a lazy introvert and an unbusy mother of 3 who is, like our hosts, Heather and Alan, a big fan of Hamilton an American Musical! Make sure to follow Denise on all the socials including Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Be willing to try things and then adjust rather than waiting for things to be perfect. Money fears are holding you back from leaving unhealthy situations but it doesn’t have to be this way How can we embrace our inner 8-year-old? They say the most honest things! Create opportunities rather than waiting for “luck.” Being Nurodiverse can be a superpower when you’re an entrepreneur The internet has allowed women of all kinds to achieve financial independence. You can, literally, create and sell anything! Make up your title - you deserve to be anyone you desire to be. Look for a coach or mentor who can help you find the answers for yourself. The key to creating opportunities and manifesting your desires is self-love and acceptance. EFT is an excellent way to clear pathways and open yourself up for self-love and acceptance. Money is simply a tool we use. Normalize talking about it. You’ll be happy when you decide to be happy. Consider batching your projects to follow the momentum and get shit done. Prioritize things that bring you joy. Take your core skill set and figure out how to maximize it! You may be leaving a lot on the table. Keep confetti in your pocket because you never know when you’ll want to celebrate and sprinkle gratitude and joy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week you get to enjoy the soothing sounds of a tropical rainstorm whenever Alan speaks and … yes … we really DO talk about anatomically correct Vagina plushies and so much else. WOW! We had way, way too much fun in this interview. It’s one of those conversations where the laughter can’t help but make you laugh. Christina Ray-Lynn Connelly AKA Danger bot is a voice-over artist, comedian, animal lover, fitness buff, and improviser. She’s also the designer of anatomically correct Vagina plushies that she hand makes! She has an incredibly funny Instagram account and is bursting with so much creative talent is simply cannot be contained. Listen in on this very candid conversation about chasing your dreams, challenging taboos, and pushing societal norms for the greater good of all. Make sure to follow Christina on her hilarious Instagram account @dangerbot and see her Vagina plushies at @xoxofeltlikelove. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our Instagram DMs at @wasitchance. More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram and Threads, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS What’s the next mistake I can make so that I can really grow and learn? Embracing the “taboo” can create space, openness, comfort, and understanding for others. It can create freedom. Get help and allow others to support you. This is the only way to “do it all.” Sometimes tragedy can lead to opportunity. Ask yourself: How can I fail “differently!?” Sometimes a certain thing is just not meant for that moment. Stop “acting” and just “be!” Often feeling afraid is a sign that something wonderful is about to happen. If you’re comfortable, you’ve basically already decided you know what’s going to happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices