Was It Chance?

Mark Daley describes his life as a series of wrong doors at the right time. Tune in as Mark shares his remarkable journey from growing up closeted and steeped in shame to political campaigns to pioneering LGBTQ+ rights, becoming a foster parent, and then reshaping foster care for at-risk youth. This episode will challenge everything you think you know about risk, family, and the power of unexpected moments to lead you home. Mark's story is a masterclass in turning the unexpected into the unforgettable. Tune in to uncover the life lessons hidden in unexpected places and learn why sometimes, the wrong door can lead you to exactly where you need to be. Don't miss this beautiful conversation with a man who found his voice, his purpose, and his family by embracing the twists of fate. Connect with Mark on his Website and Instagram. Learn more about The Foster Parent here. And grab a copy of Marks best selling book, Safe. Listen on Spotify Premium for free or support Indie bookstores and listen on Libro.fm. 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 Mark’s life has been all about “wrong door, right time.” Working on an election campaign is crazy because you know you’re going to lose your job at some point. Mark started as an intern working on The Hill while still a college student. This led to eventually working on Hillary Clinton’s first presidential campaign. Being around politics as a teenager sparked this interest in public office. Safe was about telling Mark and his family’s story and seeing if it could make a difference for other families. Several members of Mark’s family had come from Foster Care and it always held a special place in his heart. Growing up Gay often comes with a sense of shame, especially for people growing up in the 80’s. What is One Iowa - The idea came to Mark in the shower (where all good ideas start). The message was not really about equality, it was about fairness. Thefosterparent.com was founded because Mark knew he could really offer was a way to recruit more foster parents and get more awareness of this issue. They do this via very targeted micro-campaigns.  Foster Care should always be about reunification but sometimes that simply is not possible. Mark connected with Lara Love Hardin as a Foster Parent who was empathetic towards the parents who have had children entered into the system. Taking risks is a major part of parenting but as a foster parent, it’s more difficult because of all the rules.  FINAL page of the book Failure always leads to a lesson, or perhaps the opportunity simply wasn’t the right thing for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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