More Than Before

What happens when your doctor says, “We’ve been fighting to save your eye… now it’s time to fight for your life”? In this powerful episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook sits down with Diana Fritz —executive leader, mom, woman of faith, and author of Uniquely Imperfect, Uniquely Qualified . Diana shares her journey through a rare cancer near her left eye, multiple surgeries, and ultimately losi...

Most leaders don’t burn out because they’re weak. They burn out because they’re trying to survive a wilderness season with the wrong tools—and with no margin left . In this episode of the More Than Before Podcast , Nathan Cook sits down with pastor and leadership coach Robb Gossen (aka “Shifting the Wilderness”) to reframe burnout, pressure, and hard seasons through a lens of surrender, identity,...

In this episode of More Than Before , Nathan sits down with Joe Buys , performance coach and founder of Buys Family Fitness , to talk about identity, faith, fatherhood, marriage, mentorship, and what it really means to win in life. Joe shares his journey from growing up in small-town Michigan, chasing music dreams in Los Angeles, and grinding through hardship—only to discover that true strength is...

What happens when life forces you to slow down, let go of control, and face your own mortality? In this powerful episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook sits down with Deb Krier —PR expert, master communicator, and three-time cancer thriver—to talk about what it truly means to live fully when tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Deb shares her journey through stage 4 metastatic breast cancer , surviving a...

In this episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook talks with Noemi Beres —co-founder of Podcast Connections , linguist, artist, and creator of the Silent Thinking Session . Noemi opens up about losing her father and grandmother, losing her business during COVID, and how that season birthed a daily practice of gratitude, silence, and consistent habits that helped her heal and rebuild. You’ll hear h...

🌲 What do childhood explorations in the woods have to do with becoming a Chief Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force—and later getting fired twice by the same boss? In this episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook talks with leadership coach and Air Force Chief (ret.) **Randy Wilson** about the explorer’s mindset, childhood lessons, and crucible moments that shaped his life, leadership, and fait...

American Idol runner-up Clark Beckham sits down with Nathan Cook for one of the most authentic, vulnerable, and wisdom-filled conversations you’ll hear this year. Clark opens up about: The pressure after American Idol Growing up in a musical family Getting dropped by Quincy Jones Productions Rebuilding confidence after rejection Why curiosity beats talent How sports built the discipline he still r...

Pastor Jim Domen shares a transparent journey from brokenness to freedom — from identity confusion and loss to faith, family, and purpose. He opens up about childhood struggles, same-sex attraction, loss of his daughter Samantha, and how God redeemed his story through grace and healing. Nathan and Jim talk about fatherhood, mentorship, Ironman discipline, and the power of surrender. ⚠️ Content Adv...

What does it mean to be all in, real, and bold ? In this inspiring episode, Nathan Cook talks with Tim Novak , Maxwell Leadership faculty member, bestselling author, and co-founder of Christian Youth Theatre. Tim shares how a single moment — and six powerful words — redefined his life, his faith, and his influence. You’ll hear real stories of redemption, marriage, leadership, and purpose. Learn ho...

What if the hardest moment of your life was the one that shaped who you were created to be? In this powerful conversation, Nathan Cook talks with Justin Hughes —husband, father, global IT leader, and Marine veteran—about walking through depression, facing failure, and finding strength in perseverance and faith. From wanting to quit Marine bootcamp to leading global teams, Justin’s story is a maste...

Mike Harbour’s journey proves that leadership isn’t born in a boardroom—it’s forged through grit, growth, and grace. Raised in small-town Arkansas, Mike overcame a violent home, failure in school, and years of anger before discovering purpose through the Army, mentorship, and faith. Now, as the founder of Harbour Resources , host of the Lead Up Podcast , and author of Quit Losing Talent , he equip...

What does it take to lead one of the world’s most trusted leadership brands, help launch multiple bestselling books, and still stay grounded in family, faith, and humility? In this episode of the More Than Before Podcast , host Nathan Cook sits down with Jared Cagle , Executive Vice President at Maxwell Leadership , who oversees publishing, content development, and talent management. From small-to...

What if true success isn’t about how much you get—but how much you give? In this conversation, The Go-Giver coauthor Bob Burg unpacks the inner game of success, why generosity scales influence, how to turn learning into action, and the surprising gift inside his lifelong battle with OCD. We also talk about the power of loyal mentorship, animal rescue, sales as service, and the simple “small steps”...

What does it take to lead with resilience, focus, and intentional living when life hits hard? 🚀 In this episode, Paul Gustavson —co-founder & CTO of SimVentions , author of Breaking Average and Face the Mountain , and co-host of the Breaking Average Podcast —shares his journey from near-death experiences and an MS diagnosis to leading a 450-person tech company built on faith, innovation, and...

What do sub-zero ice baths, carrots, and Jesus have in common? In this conversation, Matt Chenard—a faith-driven business coach and host of The Lifestyle Engineer Podcast—shares how he went from homeschool hockey kid in Alberta, Canada (and 7 concussions) to a Christian entrepreneur helping men design a purpose-driven life, a 16-hour workweek, and real work-life balance. We cover:Faith, fatherhood...

Boredom isn’t something to avoid—it’s something to embrace. In this solo episode of the More Than Before Podcast , Nathan Cook explores how boredom creates space for creativity, mindfulness, and self-reflection. We live in a culture addicted to technology and constant distractions. From our phones to endless notifications, our attention is being stolen every second. But what if silence and stillne...

In this episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook sits down with international bestselling author and coach Sarah J. Pitts , whose journey from fitness to coaching entrepreneurs is a powerful story of resilience, identity, and clarity. Sarah shares how growing up in a small UK village shaped her early identity, how failure at university redirected her path, and how personal injuries led her into d...

In this inspiring episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook sits down with leadership coach, speaker, and trainer Antoinette Griffin —a “formerly shy, forever introverted” professional—who has transformed her natural wiring into a leadership superpower. From eating lunch alone in a high school bathroom to speaking on stages, teaching at the University of Texas, and building a thriving YouTube chan...

Are you a lifter or a leveler? Your words have the power to build or break — both yourself and everyone you interact with. In this solo episode of More Than Before, Nathan Cook reveals how to identify which one you are, shift your mindset, and choose words that create growth, connection, and purpose. You’ll discover:✅ How your self-talk shapes your identity and limits your potential✅ The differe...

Aaron Smith’s life reads like an action movie—Marine, deep sea welder, free diver, spearfishing guide, and psychedelic healing facilitator. But behind the rugged resume is a man in relentless pursuit of peace over purpose. In this in-depth studio conversation, we explore Aaron’s journey through darkness (literal and spiritual), mastering the mind through water and breath, his experience with shall...

Ever feel like life is spinning out of control? Between work, marriage, parenting, and all the unknowns—you’re not alone. In this vulnerable solo episode, Nathan Cook shares what’s really been going on behind the scenes and the biblical insight that’s been grounding him through it all. Drawing from Proverbs 14:4 — “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the streng...

“Complacency looks like busyness, feels like comfort, and sounds like excuses.” Chris Robinson, EVP at Maxwell Leadership Entrepreneurial Solutions and author of From Drift to Drive , joins Nathan for a deeply personal and practical conversation about how to stop drifting and start driving—with clarity, action, and intention. Chris shares his raw journey from chasing a baseball dream, to six colle...

📌 Show Notes – Episode Summary Do you feel stuck chasing goals that never materialize? This solo episode of More Than Before with Nathan Cook is your wake-up call—and your roadmap. Nathan gets honest about the real reasons we don't get what we want—and it’s not for lack of trying. From unknowingly chasing someone else’s dream to overcrowding our lives with distractions, we often block the very ou...

Why do some people grow faster than others? The secret might be ownership. In this episode, Nathan dives deep into four powerful strategies to help you take back control of your life and live with purpose: ✅ Execute without excuses 🔁 Be radically consistent ⚡ Make decisions with confidence 🏡 Shift from renting → owning → stewarding your life You’ll discover how responsibility fuels transformat...

In this episode of More Than Before, Nathan Cook discusses the importance of recognizing and embracing opportunities in our lives. He reflects on personal growth and the challenges of saying yes to new experiences, especially as a parent. Nathan shares valuable insights on evaluating opportunities based on personal values, priorities, and the potential to add value to oneself and others. He encour...