What does it mean to direct with care in an industry that often forgets its people? In this episode, George Ellzey Jr. joins Mishu for an unflinching and heartfelt conversation about navigating burnout, building emotionally safe sets, and resisting the achievement spiral. They explore the quiet rewards of creative leadership, how to protect your joy when the hustle hits hard, and why making room for humanity on set might be the most radical thing you can do.

George is a Chicago-based director and screenwriter known for his award-winning short Cottage Grove (now streaming on AMC+) and his experimental film SWITCHIN’, featured on NBC5 Chicago and Open Television. His work has screened at national and international festivals including Athens International, Black Harvest, Micheaux, and Tallgrass. George recently won Best Student Narrative (Cottage Grove) and Best Screenplay (All Good) at the 2025 Lindsey Film Festival. A graduate of Bowdoin College and DePaul University’s MFA program, he brings a steady, reflective voice to Chicago’s evolving indie film scene.

In this episode, we talk about:
→ Setting boundaries and expectations on indie sets
→ The danger of achievement obsession in creative careers
→ Burnout, depression, and learning to pause
→ Sharing knowledge instead of gatekeeping
→ Leading with care and creating room for vulnerability

Learn more about George’s work and follow his production company on Instagram at @cottagegroveproductions.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.