PODCAST · education
Was It Chance?
by Alan Seales, Heather Vickery & Broadway Podcast Network
People talk about manifestation as a thing that you can just think into existence. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. When it comes to making your creative dreams come true, what really matters is putting yourself in a position to thoughtfully and intelligently take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. And sometimes these opportunities show up in very unexpected ways. We’re Heather Vickery and Alan Seales, two perfect strangers who met by chance and embraced opportunity! Listen in as we chat with other successful people about the risks they took, and continue taking, to put themselves on a path to creative success. WAS IT CHANCE? The podcast about embracing opportunity and taking intentional risks for your creative life.
Episodes
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#120 - Megan Minutillo Weiner: What If the Detour Is the Career?
What happens when the career you thought you were supposed to have turns out not to be the career you actually want? Megan Minutillo Weiner is a writer, poet, Broadway producer, and creator whose career has taken plenty of unexpected turns. From teaching theater to producing her own cabaret…
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#119 - Loki Mulholland: History Isn’t Finished, It’s Waiting for You
Loki Mulholland grew up with a civil rights icon Joan Trumpauer Mulholland for a mom, but like most kids, he mostly just knew her as Mom. It wasn’t until he saw her in his history books that he began to understand the extraordinary role she had played in the Civil Rights Movement. In 2011, Loki...
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#118 - Sarah Marshall: What Happens When You Let Yourself Belong
Sarah Marshall has lived a lot of different lives. She served in the U.S. Navy, built a career in engineering and technology leadership, practiced martial arts, traveled the world, and eventually became a novelist. But one of the biggest transformations in her life came when she finally stopped...
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#117 - Diana Colleen: The Book She Never Planned to Write
Diana Colleen found healing, then trusted the story that wouldn't let go. Sometimes the biggest creative risk isn't starting something new. It's believing you're the right person to do it. Diana Colleen never imagined she'd write a novel, but after life-changing psychedelic-assisted therapy…
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#116 - Carmella Lowkis: The Plot Was Always the Plan
Author Carmella Lowkis joins Was It Chance to talk about the intentional path she built toward becoming a published novelist. From working in her childhood library to strategically entering the publishing industry, Carmella shares how every career decision was made with one goal in mind: writing...
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#115 - Alexandra Beller: Trusting the Dance Before You Know the Steps
What if creativity isn't about setting the perfect goal, but about learning to trust yourself in the unknown? In this episode, Heather and Alan sit down with choreographer, educator, somatic practitioner, and author Alexandra Beller for a conversation that moves far beyond dance. Alexandra shares...
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#114 - David Homan: It’s Not Who You Know. It’s How You Show Up
David Homan believes that relationships are the foundation of every opportunity, and this conversation is a masterclass in what that actually means. David, the CEO of Orchestrated Connecting, joins us to share how a career that began in music and the arts eventually led him to build a global...
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#113 - Tiffany Crum: This Story Might Save Your Life: A Podcast Episode
Author Tiffany Crum joins Alan and Heather to talk about the twenty-year journey behind her breakout debut novel, This Story Might Save Your Life. From growing up on a dairy farm next to a maximum-security prison to working in the film industry, getting fired from Warner Bros. after accidentally...
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#112 - Kern Carter: Read Between the Grind
This week on Was It Chance?, we sit down with author Kern Carter for a conversation that starts with collective grief, simulations, and angry Brooklyn cab drivers, then unfolds into one of the most honest discussions we’ve had about creativity, anxiety, ambition, and what it really takes to build…
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#111 - Chris Dattoli: Betting on Yourself in a Feast or Famine Career
Alan and Heather sit down with New Jersey–based voice actor and coach Chris Dattoli to unpack the winding, risk-filled path that led him from a corporate marketing job he despised to a thriving career behind the mic. Chris shares how a mix of early creative instincts, a pivotal audiobook...
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#110 - Katy Scoggin: What Happens When You Document Your Own Divide?
We sit down with documentary filmmaker Katy Scoggin to unpack the decade-long journey behind her deeply personal film Flood. What begins as a curiosity about science, faith, and her upbringing as a young earth creationist evolves into a profound exploration of family, identity, and the limits of...
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#109 - Ray Hartjen: When Time Stops Being Unlimited
In this episode, Alan and Heather sit down with Ray Hartjen—a self-described professional storyteller whose career has spanned investment banking, pharma, tech, marketing, and creative writing. Ray shares how storytelling became the throughline across every chapter of his professional life, even...
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#108 - Merit Kahn: Optimistic Personality Disorder - Turning Life Into Comedy
In this episode of Was It Chance, Alan Seales and Heather Vickery talk with comedian, keynote speaker, and storyteller Merritt Kahn about turning life’s unexpected plot twists into powerful creative material. Merritt is the creator and performer of Optimistic Personality Disorder, a one-woman…
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#107 - Rich Wright: The Dark Side of Creativity—and the Way Through
Content Note: This conversation includes discussion of suicide and severe depression. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States or a local crisis resource in your area. In this deeply...
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#106 - Troy Horne: Why Midlife Is the Best Time to Chase the Dream
Heather Vickery and Alan Seales sit down with Troy Horne, a multi-hyphenate creative whose career spans music, Broadway, television, entrepreneurship, and authorship. The conversation explores what it really means to take intentional risks—especially in midlife—and how clarity, courage, and...
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#105 - Paul Pape: Santa for Nerds, Making the Things That Don’t Exist Yet
What if saying “yes” before you know how is the real creative superpower? In this episode of Was It Chance, Heather Vickery and Alan Seales sit down with Paul Pape—creative problem navigator, TEDx speaker, author, and the man affectionately known as “Santa for Nerds.” From a studio in Nebraska,...
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#104 - 2025 End of Year Reflection
In this special year-end wrap-up episode, hosts Heather Vickery and Alan Seales kick 2025 out the door the only way they know how: with candid reflection, sharp banter, and a deep appreciation for creative risk. From standout guests and unforgettable conversations to personal highs, hard-won...
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#103 - Kay A Oliver: Leaving Hollywood Without Leaving Storytelling
Award-winning author and Hollywood veteran Kay A. Oliver joins Was It Chance to unpack a career shaped by creative persistence, hard-earned reinvention, and the courage to walk away from systems that no longer fit. With more than three decades in Hollywood—spanning writing, production, consumer...
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#102 - John DeDakis: Interviewing Hitchcock, Writing Thrillers, and Facing Failure
We sit down with award-winning novelist and former CNN senior copy editor John DeDakis—a storyteller whose life and career have been shaped by remarkable twists of fate. From navigating the Vietnam War draft and interviewing Alfred Hitchcock as a 20-something Army broadcaster, to decades in...
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#101 - Kara Cutruzzula: The Sliding Doors of Creativity
Heather and Alan sit down with writer, lyricist, editor, and creative force Kara Cutruzzula—whose winding, multidimensional career is a masterclass in following curiosity, embracing uncertainty, and letting creative energy lead the way. Kara shares how a series of “sliding doors” moments shaped…
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#100 - Bianca D’Alessio: Selling the Hamptons and Finding Yourself
What a milestone! For our 100th episode, we’re joined by the powerhouse that is Bianca D’Alessio—real estate broker, reality TV star of Selling the Hamptons, and now author of Mastering Intentions: 10 Practices to Amplify Power and Lead with Lasting Impact. In this inspiring, high-energy...
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#99 - David Armstrong: Broadway’s Untold Story- Who Really Created the American Musical
We sit down with David Armstrong — lifelong theater-maker, educator, and author of Broadway Nation: How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical. David’s 40-year career as a director, producer, choreographer, and writer has been steeped in creative risk, from his…
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#98 - Audrey Goldberg Ruoff: How Failure Fueled a Debut Novel
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff knows a thing or two about living a double life—in the best way possible. By day, she’s a middle school teacher, bringing “Ms. Frizzle-level” energy to the classroom. By night (and early mornings, and stolen weekends), she’s a novelist who just released her debut adult…
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#97 - Megan Michelle: When the Universe Hands You a Saga
Sometimes creativity shows up in the most unexpected places. For author Megan Michelle, it was during recovery from open heart surgery and battling severe light sensitivity that her debut novel Skylark came to life. What started as a vivid story playing in her mind became the foundation for The...
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#96 - Evelyn Skye: The Write Amount of Delusion
Bestselling author Evelyn Skye joined us for this episode, and wow—what a ride. Evelyn is the author of ten novels, including The Hundred Loves of Juliet and her brand-new release The Incredible Kindness of Paper. Her books have been published in 16 languages, and she’s written for Netflix and...
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#95 - Tad Stoermer: The Founding Fathers Were Not Your Heroes
In this deeply compelling and eye-opening episode, we sat down with historian and viral TikTok creator Tad Stoermer, whose work dismantles the "Patriot Myth" and reimagines the American narrative. With a resume that includes Colonial Williamsburg, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and a PhD in history, Tad...
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#94 - Victoria Christopher Murray: An Overnight Sensation After 25 Years
Victoria Christopher Murray always knew she was born to be a writer—she was literally introduced as one at the age of seven when her second-grade class performed her first play. That moment sparked a lifelong passion, even if it took decades to pursue professionally. Now a New York Times...
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#93 - Laura Wood: Therapy, Romance, and Embracing the Chaos
This week’s guest is the brilliantly charming and very British Laura Wood — author of 17 (yes, seventeen!) books including her newest adult rom-com, Let’s Make a Scene. Laura is a screenwriter, novelist, unapologetic romantic, and former PhD student whose creative journey started as the ultimate...
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#92 - Serena Burdick: When Your Grandmother’s Nude Sparks a Novel
USA Today bestselling author Serena Burdick is living proof that creative success doesn’t follow a straight line. In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, Serena shares how her journey from aspiring actor to celebrated novelist came with plenty of unexpected twists—including returning to...
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#91 - Nick Rashad Burroughs: Living the Life You Were Meant to Create
This episode is a masterclass in following your gut, showing up fully, and creating your own path—even when it’s not the one you planned. Nick Rashad Burroughs joins us to share the wild and wonderful story of how a missed ride after school led to an accidental audition… and an entirely new life...
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#90 - Lena Hall: Finding Your True Voice by Saying “F** It”*
Tony Award-winning performer Lena Hall joins Heather and Alan for a wide-ranging and often hilarious conversation about discovering her true creative voice—literally and metaphorically. From her roots as a ballerina bred by artistic parents, to reinventing herself after vocal surgery, Lena shares...
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#89 - Becky Mollenkamp: Redefining Success on Your Own Terms
What does it mean to live gutsy? In this episode, we sit down with mindset coach Becky Mollenkamp, the powerhouse behind the Gutsy Boss brand. Becky’s journey from journalist to entrepreneur to feminist coach is full of brave pivots, hard-earned wisdom, and a whole lot of intentional unlearning....
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#88 - Mei Lee: Blending Ancient Practice with Modern Applications
What happens when you blend ancient wisdom with modern science? Meet Mei Lee, a powerhouse entrepreneur who retired from a 30-year career in finance to follow her passion for natural healing and skincare. Growing up in Hong Kong, Mei watched her father practice traditional Chinese medicine,...
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#87 - Don Mamone: Different Doesn't Mean Broken
Ever feel like you’re living a life that doesn’t quite fit? Don Mammone knows that feeling all too well. After years of thriving in the hospitality industry, Don took a leap of faith, leaving behind the “shoulds” and societal expectations to pursue photography, coaching, and a life lived...
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#86 - Venessa Vida Kelley (from the vault)
Originally aired Jan 30th, 2024, we are bringing this back because When the Tides Held the Moon is now available for (pre) order! Venessa Vida Kelley is a Washington, DC-based author, illustrator, and sequential artist. Her work focuses on magical realism, fantasy, and culturally diverse romance....
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#85 - Jaclyn Goldis: The World Traveling Novelist
Jaclyn Goldis is a former estate planning attorney turned author and adventurer. After seven years practicing law in Chicago, Jaclyn left her career to travel the world with just a backpack, eventually settling in Israel to write full-time. Her fourth novel, The Safari, will be released in May…
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#84 - Jennifer Apple: There Is Enough Space To Go Around
"There is enough space to go around - we can ALL show up and do the thing and be successful" - Jennifer Apple. Ever wonder what it's like to throw out the rulebook and chase your dreams full throttle? That's exactly what we're diving into on today's episode of Was It Chance with our amazing guest...
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#83 - Jen Ponton & Deborah Unger: Maiden Mother Crone
You’re in for a treat today as we chat with not one but two fantastic guests: Jen Ponton and Deborah Unger are incredibly talented performers who’ve built remarkable careers in theatre, film, and television. Their paths intertwined fifteen years ago during an old-school teleconference with a...
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#82 - Pepe Muñoz: It’s Not Talent, It’s Tylenol
Meet Pepe Muñoz, the artist whose path from professional dancer to renowned fashion illustrator and now Broadway performer will leave you inspired. With a career marked by intuition and bold risks, Pepe has seamlessly merged his passions for movement and visual art. From collaborating with Céline...
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#81 - Maddie Price: Age Is Only a Number
Imagine having a clarity of purpose and drive to pursue your passions that allows you to achieve more before age 17 than many do in a lifetime. Welcome to the world of Maddie Price, a teenage theatrical powerhouse who's turning her creative vision into a Broadway-bound reality. From her early…
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#80 - 2024 End of Year Reflection
Welp, we made it through yet another year around the sun. Or the sun has made one more revolution around the earth? Nope, flat earthers, you wrong. Anyhoo, join us for our final episode of the year - discussing some of our favorite interview moments, and moments in general, from 2024. Make sure…
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#79 - Rowan Jetté Knox: Normalizing Trans Youth
Meet Rowan Jetté Knox, the award-winning Canadian writer and human rights advocate who embodies the power of embracing change and living authentically. Rowan courageously shares his family's journey towards acceptance of both his middle child and wife's transgender identity in his bestselling...
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#78 - Lyndsay Rush: Butt-Cracks of Light and Resurrectile Dysfunction
This week on Was it Chance, we're joined by Lyndsay Rush, the poet behind the viral Instagram account @maryoliversdrunkcousin. With her debut collection A Bit Much, Lyndsay has been making readers laugh and think about the big questions of life. From body image to aging to whether or not to have...
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#77 - Janusz Domagala: Baking with Pride on on Reality TV
Join us for a delightful conversation with Janusz Domagala, the charming and talented baker from The Great British Baking Show and Crime Scene Kitchen. Janusz shares his inspiring journey from Poland to the UK, driven by a desire to improve his English and live openly as his authentic self. We…
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#76 - Kaitlin Johnstone: Kindess Rooted in Justice, Grounded in Action and Open to Change
"You can't be what you can't see.' This is the hard reality many kids face when they don't see themselves reflected in the stories they read. This week on Was it Chance, we're shining the spotlight on the entrepreneur on a mission to change that narrative. Meet Kaitlin Johnstone, the powerhouse...
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#75 - Nikki Payne: Writing Black Women Into Their Happily Ever After
What happens when a passion for social justice meets a gift for storytelling? You get Nikki Payne. By day, Nikki works as a civic anthropologist, making government services more accessible. But by night, she's a celebrated novelist, using her words to challenge the status quo and write Black…
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#74 - Lili Thomas (From the Vault)
This episode was originally released Feb 28, 2023 as episode 34. To listen to Lili's episode from Dec 2023 on The Theatre Podcast, click here. --- ORIGINAL NOTES --- Do you remember when our collective hearts broke watching “Connor's mom” breakdown in Dear Evan Hansen? Yeah, that was traumatic!…
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#73 - The Broadway Husbands, Bret Shuford & Stephen Hanna: Love, Fatherhood, and Broadway Dreams
Join Heather and Alan as they welcome the inspiring Bret Shuford and Stephen Hanna, known as the Broadway Husbands, to the "Was it Chance?" podcast. This charismatic couple's love story began in the bright lights of New York's Broadway scene, where they met in 2007 while pursuing their passions…
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#72 - Isaac Mizrahi: Becoming a Fashion Icon by Accident
A true New York City legend from the vibrant streets of Brooklyn to the stages of Broadway and the forefront of fashion, Isaac Mizrahi has left an indelible mark on every field he touches. With a career spanning decades, he's become a household name known for his sharp wit, bold designs, and...
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#71 - Dallas James Pritt: Turning Rejection into Fuel
Get ready to have your heartstrings tugged and your faith in new talent restored! This week, we’re thrilled to welcome the soulful, soaring voice of Dallas Pritt to the Was it Chance mic. Dallas is the rising star the music scene didn't know it needed until now, and we can't get enough of his...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
People talk about manifestation as a thing that you can just think into existence. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. When it comes to making your creative dreams come true, what really matters is putting yourself in a position to thoughtfully and intelligently take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. And sometimes these opportunities show up in very unexpected ways.
We’re Heather Vickery and Alan Seales, two perfect strangers who met by chance and embraced opportunity! Listen in as we chat with other successful people about the risks they took, and continue taking, to put themselves on a path to creative success.
WAS IT CHANCE? The podcast about embracing opportunity and taking intentional risks for your creative life.
HOSTED BY
Alan Seales, Heather Vickery & Broadway Podcast Network
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Was It Chance? have?
Was It Chance? currently has 120 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Was It Chance? about?
People talk about manifestation as a thing that you can just think into existence. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. When it comes to making your creative dreams come true, what really matters is putting yourself in a position to thoughtfully and intelligently take advantage of the opportunities...
How often does Was It Chance? release new episodes?
Was It Chance? publishes regularly with 120 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Was It Chance??
You can listen to Was It Chance? on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Was It Chance??
Was It Chance? is created and hosted by Alan Seales, Heather Vickery & Broadway Podcast Network.
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