Hit and Miss with Monique Ming Laven

Irene the Alien got an out of this world chance to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Her 10-year dream came true. Then she crashed to earth. This drag queen got dragged. Now it’s time for vindication.

Luly Yang brought glamour to the land of grunge. She's Seattle's top fashion designer, and she talks about the mistake that almost made her business come apart at the seams. She learned enough to survive when disaster came and fashion stood still.

She was an astronaut, an International Space Station Alum, and an aquanaut before the age of 40. It all happened because she got stumped by a high school student asking about going to the bathroom.

The New York Times calls him the “Nerd King of Internet Cooking. He’s also a bestselling cookbook author, a social media star, and food critic. Kenji Lopez-Alt talks to Monique about being an MIT grad who did nothing with his degree … a person who made a bad decision on Twitter … and a cook who committed a jaw-dropping mistake with a plunger and pasta.

Forged by fire, that’s how Daniel Lyon describes his story. His fire engine was engulfed by the 2015 Twisp Fire. He was the only one who survived, and there were times he wished he hadn’t. Now, after more than 100 surgeries, burns over 70 percent of his body, and a lifetime of rehab still ahead, he takes responsibility for a mistake that he says changed his life.

Deborah Horne has been recording history for decades – from Rosa Parks to housewives picketing their husbands. The Emmy and Gracie Award winning journalist talks frankly about the mistakes and challenges along the way. She also gives insight into becoming Robin Williams' doctor ... and making him cry.

Rick Steves is now the go-to guide for Europe – but he actually found his calling on the way to Kathmandu. His hit and miss journey includes a whole lot of mistakes, multiple brushes with death, and the loss of his marijuana virginity in Afghanistan.

Sports is about a lot more than wins and losses. Ask any kid who’s trying to find a way to fit in – including a young Pat Chun. Now, as UW Athletics Director, he’s at the top of his field, but along the way, he’s had to confront suicide, a controversial trip across the Cascades, and a rejection from home. But at least he has the piece of paper that convinced his mom he’s not a failure

Boys in the Boat put a global spotlight on the University of Washington, and Hollywood royalty came calling. In this inaugural episode, Daniel James Brown tells Monique Ming Laven how Microsoft, Harvey Weinstein, and George Clooney were all part of his “Hit and Miss” journey. But it really began with a teenage decision - a mistake he thought would ruin his life.

Molly Moon Neitzel champions ice cream and progressive politics, but she did not reach success in one fell scoop. She tells me how her story includes the influence of Republican business-owning grandparents, failed political campaigns, tragic personal loss, and a mistake on the mic that she truly regrets.

Success is messy. And this is what it sounds like. The most colorful success stories in Seattle sit down with Monique Ming Laven to talk about their highs and lows. Celebrate their triumphs, sure. But also hear what’s made them what they are: the mistakes, the setbacks, the screwups that forced them to learn and grow. Before hitting a bullseye, there’s a whole lot of hit and miss. Laugh, cringe, listen and follow at kiro7.com/HitandMiss.