What’s the most unexpected advice you’d hear from an award-winning illustrator and author?

Not “draw every day”… but how to run creativity like a business without losing the joy that made you start.

In this episode of Unexpected Advice, I’m joined by my longtime friend Jerry Bennett to talk about the business of being creative: contracts, pricing, revisions, and the confidence it takes to put your work into the world. Jerry shares how he built community through conventions and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, how he learned to create structure when no one is making you show up, and why contentment can be the most practical strategy for surviving feast-or-famine work.

We cover:

• Why every creative needs a clear agreement and how revisions can quietly wreck your time
• Pricing your work when clients don’t always know what they want
• Community-building as a growth strategy, not just networking
• Creating a consistent routine and protecting rest so you don’t burn out
• Money basics for creatives including taxes, expenses, and staying as debt-free as possible
• Why Jerry is focused on original storytelling over chasing big-name logos

If you’re building a creative career or any kind of independent business, this conversation will help you protect your craft and your calendar.

You can learn more about Unexpected Advice by visiting https://insightfullycurious.com/unexpected-advice-podcast

In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther Angell is joined by her friend and former colleague Michelle Scobie (whose career spans SAP, Dell, Microsoft, and Cargas) for a real conversation about something many of us forgot how to do after the last few years: show up with intention.

Michelle shares practical, approachable ways to reconnect with friends, build community in a new place, and get past the fear of “bothering people.” From using simple openers at networking events (compliments, comments, and finding a “tag team” buddy) to staying connected long-distance by picking up the phone, she breaks connection down into small, doable steps.

They also talk about how social media can create a false sense of closeness, why relationships need consistent nurturing, and how your network matters not just for friendship, but for career resilience too - especially in a world of layoffs and rapid change. Michelle closes with tactical advice for job seekers, including leveraging LinkedIn intentionally, leaning into referrals, and building skills that aren’t going away (hello, AI).

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, lonely, or just out of practice… this episode is your reminder: Just show up.

You can learn more about Unexpected Advice by visiting https://insightfullycurious.com/unexpected-advice-podcast

What does a prosecutor know about parenting?

More than you might think.

In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther Angell sits down with Nicholas Thurman, a seasoned prosecutor, public servant, and father of three, to talk about the surprisingly transferable lessons between the courtroom and raising kids.

From discipline and consequences to independence, integrity, and breaking generational cycles, Nick shares how being intentional (not perfect) has shaped his approach to parenting. Together, they explore tough topics like discipline, values-based decision-making, confidence, empathy, and what it really means to “raise adults, not just kids.”

In this candid conversation they cover:

• Why consequences matter (and how to make them meaningful)
• How to break generational patterns without losing what worked
• The role of faith, integrity, and empathy in raising resilient kids
• Letting children fail with confidence
• Why parenting shouldn’t be accidental

Whether you’re a parent, future parent, leader, or someone navigating responsibility for others, this episode offers perspective you might not expect, but might really need.

You can learn more about Unexpected Advice by visiting https://insightfullycurious.com/unexpected-advice-podcast