Was It Chance? cover art

Was It Chance?

Was It Chance?

By: Alan Seales Heather Vickery & Broadway Podcast Network
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 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.Alan Seales, Heather Vickery & Broadway Podcast Network Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • #90 - Lena Hall: Finding Your True Voice by Saying “F** It”*

    #90 - Lena Hall: Finding Your True Voice by Saying “F** It”*
    May 27 2025
    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 how a mix of chance, grit, and gutsy choices helped her chart a bold path in musical theater, TV, and rock music. Whether she’s fronting a band, redefining her Broadway persona, or belting out Radiohead in her latest TV role, Lena proves that creative success comes from embracing the unexpected—and never losing your sense of play. You’ll hear about her journey through roles in Cats, Kinky Boots, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, her stint on All My Children as a hooker-turned-potential-series-regular, and the life-changing audition that landed her a role opposite Jon Hamm in Your Friends and Neighbors. Lena opens up about perimenopause, social media pressures, creative burnout, and how she’s learned to stop taking rejection personally—well, mostly. Key Takeaways: Lena’s vocal transformation after tonsil surgery that unlocked a whole new range and sound Why she left ballet and the Broadway grind to find a truer, edgier artistic path Her surprising and circuitous road back to Broadway—and then into TV and film How taking bold, creative risks (like bringing her own amp to an audition) led to breakout roles The importance of having financial and creative buffers to survive the industry’s constant rejection How Lena navigates social media with a “learned skin,” not just a thick one Follow Lena: 📱 Instagram: @lenarockerhall 🎵 TikTok (or as Lena calls it, "ShitTok"): @lenarockerhall 📺 Watch Your Friends and Neighbors on AppleTV+ Connect with the Hosts & Show: 📩 Email us at ⁠⁠wasitchancepodcast@gmail.com⁠ 🎧 Follow Was It Chance on your favorite podcast platform 📱 Connect with us on ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ✨ More about Heather at her ⁠⁠website⁠⁠, ⁠subscribe to her Substack⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠ 🎭 More about Alan via ⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠ and check out ⁠⁠The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • #89 - Becky Mollenkamp: Redefining Success on Your Own Terms

    #89 - Becky Mollenkamp: Redefining Success on Your Own Terms
    May 6 2025
    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. After the sudden loss of her brother, she started asking the big questions—and her life hasn’t been the same since. We talk about what it takes to break free from patriarchal conditioning, how people-pleasing sneaks into our lives and businesses, and why redefining success is an act of rebellion. Becky shares how she helps women-identified and nonbinary folks reclaim their agency, set boundaries without guilt, and build lives aligned with their values. If you’ve ever felt stuck in who you “should” be, this conversation will light something up in you. Connect with Becky: 🌐 Gutsy Boss Website 📬 Subscribe to her newsletter 📱 Follow Becky on Instagram Connect with the Hosts & Show: 📩 Email us at ⁠wasitchancepodcast@gmail.com 🎧 Follow Was It Chance on your favorite podcast platform 📱 Connect with us on TikTok and LinkedIn ✨ More about Heather at her ⁠website⁠, subscribe to her Substack⁠ and on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, and ⁠BlueSky⁠ 🎭 More about Alan via ⁠@theatre_podcast⁠ and check out ⁠The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales EPISODE TAKEAWAYS Grief can be a catalyst for transformation—Becky’s life changed profoundly after losing her brother. Unlearning patriarchal thinking is a powerful, ongoing process that requires self-awareness and community. People-pleasing often feels safe, but it limits our growth and authenticity. Success isn’t about external achievement—it’s about living in alignment with your values. Boundaries are a radical act of self-respect, not selfishness. Feminism isn’t just theory—it can be a daily practice in how we lead and live. Reinvention is possible at any stage of life and career. Coaching isn’t about fixing people—it’s about helping them access their own power. Vulnerability and honesty are business strengths, not weaknesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • #88 - Mei Lee: Blending Ancient Practice with Modern Applications

    #88 - Mei Lee: Blending Ancient Practice with Modern Applications
    Apr 22 2025
    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, instilling in her a deep respect for holistic wellness. After years as an avid tennis player, the sun took a toll on her skin, leading her back to her roots. She founded Ageless Zen, merging herbal healing with cutting-edge research to create a skincare line that’s as effective as it is natural. But Mei didn’t stop there—she built a technology platform to help others launch their own skincare brands and launched the Ageless Zen Community Partnership to give back. In this episode, Mei shares the differences between Eastern and Western medicine, the power of persistence in entrepreneurship, and why integrity is non-negotiable. Get ready for an inspiring conversation about reinvention, resilience, and giving back. Connect with Mei & Ageless Zen: Ageless Zen Website – Explore and shop the products. Ageless Zen Community Partnership – Support an organization or become a partner. Make sure to follow this podcast everywhere you find podcasts, leave a rating and a review, and slip into our inbox by emailing wasitchancepodcast@gmail.com. Connect with us on TikTok and LinkedIn and help us grow those platforms! More about Heather via her website, subscribe to her Substack and connect with her on LinkedIn, YouTube, and BlueSky. Listen to The Brave Files More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales Key Episode Takeaways: Eastern medicine focuses on natural healing with fewer side effects, a philosophy Mei built Ageless Zen on. After 30 years in finance, Mei embraced a new passion—creating a skincare line rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and scientific research. She’s personally tested her products for five years, ensuring top quality and effectiveness. Entrepreneurship is a long game—don’t quit, and surround yourself with a supportive community. Integrity is everything. She’s committed to making sure her products actually work! Mei’s Circle of Giving Foundation and Ageless Zen Community Partnership support important causes like metastatic breast cancer awareness and community fundraising. Failure isn’t an end—it’s a business opportunity. Mei’s optimism helps her take risks and keep going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins

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