Unexpected Advice

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What if the story you’re telling yourself… isn’t the whole story?

In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther sits down with sales leader John Ratchford to explore a topic most people don’t associate with sales: perception.

From coaching young sales professionals to raising six kids, John has learned that emotion shapes reality more than we realize. And often, we’re reacting to the version of events in our heads — not the full picture.

Together, they discuss:

• Why perception isn’t the same as truth
 • How emotion influences leadership decisions
 • The power of pausing before reacting
 • Asking, “What information am I missing?”
 • Why listening builds more trust than talking
 • And how kindness can completely shift a moment

This conversation moves beyond sales and into leadership, parenting, faith, and everyday human interaction.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, reacted too quickly, or assumed you had all the facts — this episode is a thoughtful reminder:

You’re only seeing part of the picture.

Listen now and reconsider what might be missing.

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

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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

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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

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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

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Failure is something most of us try to avoid, hide, or move past as quickly as possible. But what if admitting failure is actually your greatest advantage?

In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther Angell is joined by Tom Dardick, CEO of The Mentor Machine, for an honest conversation about failure, ego, and growth. Tom shares his own experience with a major business failure and reflects on what it taught him about humility, resilience, and leadership.

Together, they explore why failure feels so personal, how our ego shapes the stories we tell ourselves, and why there is no “getting over” failure: only going through it.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why failure is part of learning, not a personal flaw
• How ego can keep leaders stuck
• The difference between regret and growth
• Why small, incremental actions matter more than big pivots
• How leaders can rebuild alignment and trust

If you’ve ever felt defined by a failure, this episode offers a powerful reframe: failure doesn’t diminish your leadership. Avoiding it might.

🎧 Listen now and discover why admitting failure may be your greatest advantage.

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

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In this episode, Melissa shares her personal journey of how ramping up her physical fitness didn't just stop her body from constantly hurting; it completely transformed her mental attitude and leadership style. She realized that by prioritizing fitness, sleeping more, and feeling better, she showed up as a happier and more pragmatic leader for her team.

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

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Join us as we welcome Michael Bendure, a successful media personality and creator. You might know him as the host of the internationally syndicated radio show "Tonic: The Funky Groove Show," or from his Top 100 Apple Podcast, "40 Minutes of Funk." He's also a well-known abstract artist and musician in the Norman, Oklahoma region.

But, as we say here on the show: That's not what we're gonna talk about!

Michael's passion today is his world of unique collections, which include fascinating items like vintage Swatches, ceramic Christmas trees, and lava lamps. He shares his story and offers his unexpected advice on:

• How to approach your collecting hobbies mindfully.
• Tips for getting the most enjoyment and lasting value out of your curated items.
• Crucially, his advice for collectors on how to keep your partner from losing their mind!

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