Was It Chance?
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.
All Episodes
#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.
#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 self-trust compound over time.
#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?
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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 procrastination project.
#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 waiting tables in her 40s while raising kids and chasing her dream.
#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 trajectory.
#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.
#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.
#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.
© Broadway Podcast Network, All Rights Reserved