Outside the Bell Curve

We’ve all been there, trying to outgrow the version of ourselves we were raised to be. The “good girl,” the rule follower, the one who doesn’t question anything… until suddenly you do.Mattie Jo Cowsert is a pastor’s kid turned shameless oversharer, actor, author of God, Sex & Rich People, and truly the definition of “I’ll do as I please.” From rebuilding her entire identity, to choosing a life that feels good, and staying out of situations that shrink you.We get into:• How the queer community and the diversity of New York City cracked open everything she believed about “purity culture”• Why “Fuckboy Monsters” was not only a chapter in her book, but a full era• What it really feels like to rebuild your identity in your 20s (and 30s)• Writing God, Sex & Rich People and developing her viral pilot • Why she refuses a safe 9–5 in favor of alignment,  joy, and simply believing in herself. Get ready to rethink the “rules” you grew up with, laugh at her overshares, and maybe feel a little braver about pursuing your passion projects.⁠⁠Follow Mattie Jo - https://www.instagram.com/mattiejocowsert/⁠⁠Follow Heather- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heather_hiccups/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Vandie is bold and not to mention, savvy. She went from tech to essentially the “fun-planer” at a dream company, has lived in 26 cities, co-founded a space for connection after college, and chose to be child-free in a very permanent way.We talk about “delusional positivity,” radical self-trust, quitting the checklist life, and showing up authentically (even when you’re still figuring it out).This Dutch Bros’ “donut girl” redefines what “having it all” actually means.🎙 Topics:The audacity of starting before you’re readyBuilding inclusive community spacesLife after being laid offChoosing the child-free lifeAuthenticity > perfection⁠Follow Vandie - https://www.instagram.com/vandieboo/⁠Follow Heather- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heather_hiccups/⁠ ⁠Follow the show on Substack- ⁠⁠https://travelinghiccups.substack.com/⁠ 

What happens when the ghosts get to know you?This Halloween, we’re with Spirit Chasers UK, the nonprofit ghost-hunting team making the paranormal accessible, affordable, and full of heart. David and Marie share their wildest encounters: a singing child, flying tables, a haunted cottage that sent them running, and explain why laughter might be the strongest tool in any investigation.A story about trust, energy, and finding community in the unknown.Learn about Spirit Chasers - https://www.spiritchasersparanormal.uk/ ⁠⁠Follow Heather- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heather_hiccups/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow the show on Substack- ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://travelinghiccups.substack.com/⁠⁠ 

Eric Jackson knows the game on and off the field. He’s an award-winning journalist and sports communications strategist, ate a hundred “no’s,” and still landed on his feet covering athletes from the NFL to the Olympics and artists from Ice Cube to Darius Rucker.He highlights the business of sports, showing the intersection where athletics, money, and culture collide.We talk resilience without a Plan B, student journalism that matters, athletes as entrepreneurs (yes, Ice Cube’s Big3 and Macklemore’s golf era), and why the scoreboard is only part of the story. Eric opens up about the journey to get here, giving back by teaching at Long Island University, dreaming about LA28, and designing a life that doesn’t look like anyone else’s.⁠Follow Eric - https://www.instagram.com/epjackson/⁠Follow Heather- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heather_hiccups/⁠ ⁠Follow the show on Substack- ⁠⁠https://travelinghiccups.substack.com/⁠ 

“We came to this world to live.”Meet Santiago Iglesias — an Argentine entrepreneur turned Mallorca adventure guide who left a 10-year accounting career to build a life of business ownership, cliff jumps, solar travel and navigating visas. He opened a hostel in Mar del Plata, Argentina, took the journey to Italian citizenship, and upped and moved across the world; learning patience, what happens when you slow down, what happens when you meet new people from different cultures, and all of the lovely bits in between. We touch on his favorite places from Uluwatu, to Australia, to where he now calls home. If you’ve ever craved a nudge to choose the unexpected—this is it.So, as always, this is your fun reminder to (maybe) ‘do the scary thing’ you never know what could happen. Follow Santiago here to hear about his adventures, hostel, and bar back in Argentina- https://www.instagram.com/san_iglesiass/ Follow Heather- https://www.instagram.com/heather_hiccups/ Follow the show on Substack- https://travelinghiccups.substack.com/ 

Jacey Jones didn’t plan on becoming a founder — but today she runs two companies in the travel space: TripSuite, a tech startup streamlining the travel advisor industry, and Kamira Travel, a boutique agency specializing in luxury adventure. Jacey shares how she pivoted from Wall Street and Silicon Valley into travel entrepreneurship, why advisors are more in demand than ever, and what it’s like to juggle two companies while chasing her goal of visiting every country in the world.Check our Kamira Travel: https://www.kamiratravel.com/Follow Kamira Travel on TikTok for inspiration: https://www.tiktok.com/@kamiratravelFollow the Show: ⁠Outside the Bell Curve on Substack⁠Follow Heather: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/heather_hiccups/⁠

Marcus Lorenzo Brandon has worn a lot of hats — college football player, cybersecurity entrepreneur, actor on Mayor of Kingstown — but through it all, the art has always come first. Marcus shares what it’s really like to chase acting while balancing a full-time career, why theater still has his heart, and why directing is calling his name. We talk football, philanthropy, and what it means to follow the feeling of your craft.Follow Marcus: https://www.instagram.com/marcuslorenzobrandon/Follow the Show: Outside the Bell Curve on SubstackFollow Heather: https://www.instagram.com/heather_hiccups/Volunteer in NYC: New York Cares

Redundancy → reinvention → 10,000 miles on the road. I bumped into a friend from Australia in Andorra of all places; as I’ve said before, that place is magic. Akhil is gearing up for the Mongol Rally 2025—~10,000 miles (≈16,000 km) of solo driving from Europe toward the far east of Kazakhstan, through deserts, mountains, and a whole lot of “not-a-road.” His journey is filled with up and down career pivots, from venture capital, to full-time adventure and the moments in between. So let’s get into about choosing the hard thing, solo travel, visas, camping fails, and why “regret minimization” might be the only decision framework you need.Follow Akhil's travels here- T0astfaceFollow Outside the Bell Curve on Substack- https://travelinghiccups.substack.com/s/podcastFollow Heather here- Heather_HiccupsMore travel insights here- TravelingHiccups

TikTok political commentator, and host of The Stay at Home Feminist, CC Binx grew up everywhere from Africa to the Caribbean to the Middle East, and that global lens shaped how she sees society — as a set of constructs meant to be challenged. From her early career in nonprofits to TikTok to her current platform as host of The Stay at Home Feminist podcast host, CC has unapologetic hot takes on what happens when hustle culture makes you sick, why Gen Z may never buy into the 9–5 dream, and how to embrace failure as part of the plot.For more show updates: ⁠Outside the Bell Curve⁠ on SubstackFollow CC here: ⁠CC Binx⁠ Listen to The Stay at Home Feminist

~Sometimes you're on a hike in Andorra and just wanna plop down to ask your new friend some questions, so let me introduce you to this small mountain valley chat~What happens when you swap an office job for 70 days on a bus across Europe? Patrick Davis did just that — and fifteen years later, he’s still guiding travelers through Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with a side of skydiving, sailing, and a sleuth of other random licenses. We talk about the intensity of Contiki’s infamous training, why being out of your depth can be a gift, the art (and chaos) of guiding, and what a life of constant movement really teaches you. Also: cloud spotting, wild horses, and why you should probably just book the trip.For more show updates: Outside the Bell CurveFollow Patrick’s travels here: Patrick Davis Adventure on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@patrickdavisadventure 

From a football coach’s daughter in Texas to a professional dancer in New York, Emily Paige has never exactly followed the script. From her years performing around the world, the pivot to casting and creative direction, and why asking for what you want is the real career hack, Emily is continuing her advocacy for artists.For more show updates: Outside the Bell CurveFollow Emily here: https://www.instagram.com/empaigeanderson/

For the forever curious, and the ones chasing wild ideas.Welcome to Outside the Bell Curve, a show for people who just can’t seem to color inside the lines. I’m Heather, and each week I chat with friends, creatives, and fascinating humans I meet on the road — folks with cool jobs, wild stories, and a habit of choosing the unexpected.We talk about the shaky moments, bold pivots, questionable career moves, one-way tickets, and all the peaks and valleys in between. Because really — does anyone know what they’re doing?From a small town in Texas to a residency at the Kennedy Center, or a drive from the UK to Mongolia, I’m full of questions for the people who’ve lived it.If you’ve ever felt boxed in or thought about switching things up, you’re in good company. Let’s explore what it means to live outside the bell curve.