Julian Badillo didn't take the traditional path to becoming one of the youngest NACA board members and an Xactimate Mobile trainer for Pilot Catastrophe—he sent 300+ emails in a single month, turned grief into purpose, and bet on himself when others doubted. In this episode, Julian breaks down his mobile-first workflow from front door to closed claim, shares why AI is both threat and advantage to adjusters, and explains how he built his career on Facebook groups and stubborn persistence. From The Sims to sketch AR, from Puerto Rican pronunciation debates to the ethics of large language models, Julian brings raw honesty about the feast-or-famine reality of independent adjusting while showing exactly how to create opportunities when storms aren't hitting. Plus: the father voicemail story you need to hear, why seasoned adjusters get estimates wrong, and the billboard message inspired by his late brother Ryan. Whether you're struggling to break in or looking to level up your exact mobile game, Julian's "all in" philosophy might be exactly what you need to hear.

Key Topics:

• Xactimate Mobile workflow and sketch AR capabilities
• AI tools in adjusting (ChatGPT, Xact AI, Google Notebook LM)
• Building a career through networking and volume outreach
• The future of independent adjusting post-2024 hurricane season
• Common estimating mistakes from rookies to veterans
• Training, consulting, and alternative career paths in insurance

Guest: Julian Badillo – Xactimate Mobile Trainer & Consultant, Pilot Catastrophe | NACA Board Member

Hurricane season officially ends today, and while 2025 didn't bring a U.S. landfall, we're closing it out with the real deal: Dr. Hurricane Hal Needham.

In this episode of Beyond the Sketch, Dr. Needham breaks down what it actually takes to survive extreme weather, from understanding wind and flooding to the often-overlooked dangers of storm surge. We dive into forensic meteorology, the critical role of hurricane hunters in collecting real-time data, and why impact-based forecasting is changing how communities prepare for disasters.

But here's the contrarian angle: Dr. Needham explains why human complacency is one of the biggest threats we face. With populations in vulnerable coastal areas exploding and a quiet hurricane season potentially lulling people into a false sense of security, the real risk isn't just the next storm. It's whether we're ready for it.

We also discuss data-driven risk analysis, how past weather events inform future predictions, and why communicating risks in simple, actionable terms can save lives. If you think a calm hurricane season means you're off the hook, think again.

This is the hurricane conversation the insurance industry needs to hear.

Burnout Isn't the Problem, Your Nervous System Is

Think you can power through burnout with a vacation or a long weekend? Think again. Chelsy Bell Carpenter, former large-loss adjuster turned burnout recovery expert, reveals why your body won't let you rest—even when you're exhausted.

After quitting her 10-year insurance career in a single night, Chelsy discovered something terrifying: her cells were aging like she was in her 60s. She was 35. The culprit? A nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode for years.

In this episode, Chelsy breaks down:

• Why "work-life balance" is a myth (and what to aim for instead)
• The early warning signs of burnout that high performers miss for MONTHS
• How chronic stress literally changes your body at a cellular level
• Why discipline isn't dirty—it's your secret weapon
• The free tools that helped her reverse years of damage

Chelsy's launching her Built to Last workshop (completely free) to teach insurance professionals and high-achievers the Stabilization Method: nervous system regulation, authentic communication, and workplace disciplines that actually work.

If you've ever felt guilty for sitting still, or can't remember the last time you truly rested, this episode might save your life.

Learn more: ChelsyBellCarpenter.com