This lively podcast allows us to learn interesting insights from interesting people - but not the in the way you would expect. Every single guest, whether highly accomplished or just wildly interesting, shares a life lesson, a piece of advice, or a passion they've gotten really good at that the rest of the world needs to know about. It’s a fun way for you to learn something interesting about your fellow humans.
Retirement Is a Terrible Time to Slow Down; Advice from a Retired Communications Director
Send us Fan Mail Retirement Is a Terrible Time to Slow Down; Advice from a Retired Communications Director What happens when you retire after 21 years in a demanding career? If you're Janet Kacskos, apparently you get even busier! After retiring as Director of Communications at Millersville University, Janet had big plans to play golf, work out, and enjoy a little more free time. Instead, she started her own communications business, became a volunteer advocate for children, joined two golf le...
28 Sept 2026
Pay Attention to the Wind: Unexpected Advice from a Supply Chain Leader
Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop trying to map out every step of your life and start paying attention to what inspires you? In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther sits down with supply chain leader Amy Beck for a wide-ranging conversation about careers, identity, family, leadership, and the experiences that shape who we become. Amy’s own path has been anything but predictable: studying art history and organic chemistry, working in fashion in New York, moving into aerospace, a...
14 Sept 2026
Don’t Wait Until Retirement to Start Living; Advice from a Salesman
Send us Fan Mail What are you waiting for before you start living the life you want? Pete Moore spent nearly four decades building a career in sales, including 35 years with one small, family-owned company. Along the way, he learned that success isn’t always about chasing the next title, making the most money, or being the cheapest option. Sometimes it’s about knowing what you’re good at, taking care of your customers, and recognizing what “enough” looks like for you. Now retired, Pete is put...
31 Aug 2026
Your Attitude Solves More Than Equations; Advice from a Mathematician
Send us Fan Mail Most people would expect a mathematician to talk about formulas, equations, or numbers. Lucy's most important lesson has nothing to do with math. After careers as a math professor, defense industry program manager, business owner, and tax professional, Lucy has discovered that success isn't determined by talent alone. It's shaped by something much simpler: your attitude. In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Lucy shares why the people who succeed are often the ones willing to...
17 Aug 2026
It's Never Too Late to Collect Friends; Advice from a Retail Matchmaker
Send us Fan Mail How do you make new friends as an adult? For many of us, building friendships seems to get harder with age. We settle into routines, lean on the people we've always known, and assume our community is already set. But what if your next great friendship is still waiting to be discovered? In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther sits down with her neighbor, Odette, whose simple philosophy is one we could all use more of: it's never too late to collect friends. From moving ac...
3 Aug 2026
Porch Stories: Building Community One Conversation at a Time
Send us Fan Mail What can a front porch teach us about building a better life? In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther sits down with neighbor Colleen Jacobsen for a conversation that starts with wraparound porches and Long Island roots, but quickly turns into something much bigger. Together they explore why community doesn't just happen—it starts with showing up, saying hello, and making the first move. Along the way, you'll hear unexpected advice about meeting your neighbors, finding y...
20 Jul 2026
Leaving Home Without Losing Home
Send us Fan Mail What advice would you expect from someone who has worked in the White House, the U.S. Senate, and state government? Surprisingly, it isn't about politics. It's about leaving home without losing it. In this episode of Unexpected Advice: Right Next Door, Esther's neighbor Erica shares the lessons she learned while building a remarkable career that took her across the country before bringing her back to the neighborhood where she grew up. They talk about taking chances, building...
6 Jul 2026
Road Wisdom From Next Door
Send us Fan Mail Neighbor Jaime Sumner shares why the best education doesn't come from staying put - it comes from saying yes to the journey. Some of the best advice comes from people who've lived a little differently. In this episode, Esther sits down with neighbor Jamie Sumner, whose decades of road trips, cross-country adventures, and conversations with strangers have taught him that curiosity is less about where you go and more about how you experience the world. From exploring America's ...
6 Apr 2026
Not Every Customer Is Worth Keeping; Lessons from a Daycare Provider
Send us Fan Mail Not every customer is worth keeping—and that’s a lesson most business owners learn the hard way. In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther sits down with Lynn Anderson, a childcare provider with over 30 years of experience, to explore what it really means to protect your business by letting the wrong clients go. While her world revolves around caring for children, the lessons she’s learned about boundaries, trust, and alignment apply to any business, in any industry. Lynn ...
23 Mar 2026
Finding Your Passion: What’s the Headline of Your Scouting Report?
Send us Fan Mail How do you actually find your passion? For many people, passion isn’t something you discover overnight. It’s something you uncover through experience, failure, and the willingness to keep asking questions about what truly drives you. In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther sits down with Todd Thurman, Director of Athletics at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Todd’s career has taken him from national championship basketball player to professional athlete, coach, a...
9 Mar 2026
Your Best Decisions Were Made in the Rearview Mirror
Send us Fan Mail Some of the best decisions you’ve ever made… didn’t feel big at the time. In this episode of Unexpected Advice, Esther sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist, ordained minister, and grief counselor Megan Malick to explore why your best decisions were made in the rearview mirror. From choosing sobriety one day at a time to navigating the profound loss of both parents in quick succession, Megan shares how hindsight reveals resilience, strength, and growth we ofte...
23 Feb 2026
You’re Only Seeing Part of the Picture: A Sales Leader on Reality
Send us Fan Mail 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 perceptio...
9 Feb 2026
The Business of Being Creative: Contracts, Confidence & Community
Send us Fan Mail 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 ...
26 Jan 2026
Just Show Up: The Power of Intentional Connection
Send us Fan Mail 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...
5 Jan 2026
Parenting Advice from a Prosecutor
Send us Fan Mail 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 p...
22 Dec 2025
Why Admitting Failure is Your Greatest Advantage: Lessons in Failure from Tom Dardick
Send us Fan Mail 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 explor...
8 Dec 2025
The CIO's Take: How to Lead Better by Lifting Heavier
Send us Fan Mail 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
17 Nov 2025
The Zen of Collecting with Michael Bendure
Send us Fan Mail 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 f...
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