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More Than Before

More Than Before

Von: Nathan Cook
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 MORE THAN BEFORE, hosted by Nathan Cook, shares stories of leaders, creators, and everyday people who live from identity, not just achievement. Each episode dives into faith, leadership, purpose, and personal growth—revealing how challenges refine rather than define us. Be inspired to live with greater intention, excellence, and authenticity. 🎥 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@MoreThanBeforePodcastNathan Cook Persönliche Entwicklung Persönlicher Erfolg
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  • Svelte for Life (with Duane Deason): Operational Wisdom for Life & Business

    Svelte for Life (with Duane Deason): Operational Wisdom for Life & Business
    Feb 19 2026

    What does it look like to live “svelte”—not just in business, but in life?

    CPA, author, and entrepreneur Duane Deason joins Nathan Cook on More Than Before to share how global childhood experiences shaped his identity, how operational discipline can protect families (not just profits), and why becoming “more than before” starts with redefining success.

    Duane grew up across South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden, later biked across America with a Christian group, started a business at 27, and faced a fatherhood moment that changed everything. This episode is part leadership, part life audit—and a powerful reminder that how we operate reflects who we are.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Why many companies manage costs poorly—and why layoffs aren’t the first answer

    • The difference between being “lean” and being svelte (lean + attractive + healthy)

    • How global perspective builds resilience, empathy, and adaptability

    • The fatherhood “crucible” that reshaped Duane’s priorities

    • Applying operational wisdom to life: cut noise, protect what matters

    • Beekeeping lessons that surprisingly translate to relationships and conflict

    • Faith as a journey: conviction, presence, and seasons of growth

    Timeline / Chapters:

    00:00 – Redefining success + what “More Than Before” really means
    00:33 – Intro: perspective, integrity, and stewardship
    01:11 – Why Duane launched a podcast (teach people to fish)
    02:28 – Growing up overseas: the lens it gave him
    05:12 – Sweden vs. Saudi Arabia: two different worlds
    06:44 – Culture shock coming back to the U.S.
    08:18 – Parents, truth, honor, and work ethic
    12:29 – Boarding school + broken leg turning point
    15:22 – Choosing accounting (a fork-in-the-road moment)
    17:22 – Biking across America + learning from small towns
    22:55 – Starting a business at 27
    25:07 – Fatherhood changes the definition of success
    30:07 – Marriage, work priorities, and honesty
    32:45 – Small business passion + big business waste
    36:12 – Defining “Svelte” (lean + attractive)
    38:16 – Cut costs to fuel growth, not just profit
    40:07 – “Svelte for Life”: simplifying what steals time
    44:56 – Beekeeping, nature, and living grounded
    47:13 – The bee lesson on relationships
    48:29 – Faith in phases
    50:52 – Duane’s definition of “More Than Before”
    52:32 – Outro + share this with someone who needs it


    If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review—it helps more people find the show.
    And DM Nathan on Instagram with your biggest takeaway: What do you need to “trim” to live more svelte?
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    53 Min.
  • The Mindset That Cancer Couldn’t Take: Choosing Your Response | Diana Fritz

    The Mindset That Cancer Couldn’t Take: Choosing Your Response | Diana Fritz
    Feb 5 2026

    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 losing her eye—while choosing to live as a victor, not a victim. This conversation explores faith, resilience, leadership, humor in adversity, and why imperfection can actually qualify you to help others.

    If you’re walking through a hard season, this episode will re-center your perspective and remind you that your scars don’t disqualify you—they can shine.

    ⏱️ Episode Chapters

    00:00 — “It came back and started to spread again…”
    00:18 — Introduction: why Diana’s story re-centers you
    01:11 — Growing up in Pennsylvania + family legacy
    02:44 — Sunday dinners, faith, and childhood memories
    06:10 — Lessons from her grandparents: work ethic & grace
    09:06 — Who Diana was as a kid: athlete, peacemaker, DISC “S”
    11:38 — Childhood dreams and early ambition
    12:20 — Torn ACL, loss of identity, and first major pivot
    14:33 — Man’s Search for Meaning and choosing your response
    18:01 — Faithfulness, leadership, and unexpected open doors
    20:05 — First cancer diagnosis near her left eye
    24:53 — “Stop fighting to save your eye. Fight for your life.”
    25:11 — 10–12 hour surgery and losing her eye
    26:18 — Humor in suffering: “God didn’t make me a pirate.”
    26:40 — How her journey shaped her sons
    30:03 — Turning discomfort and curiosity into connection
    31:55 — Losing her sense of smell + burning homework story
    34:18 — Gratitude, adaptation, and a new normal
    36:26 — What still drives her today: adding value to people
    38:59 — Why imperfection can actually qualify you
    42:07 — Living visibly and embracing accountability
    43:01 — Nutrition, sugar, and health awareness after cancer
    44:15 — Faith becoming personal through adversity
    48:52 — Community, boundaries, and going to God first
    51:44 — Kintsugi: brokenness made beautiful
    55:52 — What “More Than Before” means now
    57:28 — Final encouragement + call to action


    Connect with Diana on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-fritz-b032064/

    🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode encouraged you.
    Be more. See more. Experience more… than before.
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    58 Min.
  • Burnout, the Wilderness, and Why Leaders Don’t Escape It — with Robb Gossen

    Burnout, the Wilderness, and Why Leaders Don’t Escape It — with Robb Gossen
    Jan 22 2026
    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, and transformation. Robb shares his own story of burnout, what he learned coming out of it, and how leaders can stop trying to muscle their way through and start building a healthier, more sustainable way to live, lead, and love.If you’re leading at work, leading at home, and feeling stretched thin—this episode is for you.Key TakeawaysThe wilderness isn’t a season to dread—it can become a season of growth if you learn how to see it differently.You don’t always go from wilderness → promised land; often it’s wilderness → wilderness, and each season requires a new “toolbox.”Surrender is the turning point: you can’t shift your perspective until you stop denying where you are and release control of the outcome.Margin is the first thing to disappear on the road to burnout—when margin is gone, people become more reactive than responsive.Identity isn’t “one-size-fits-all.” Your strength, purpose, and calling must be anchored in being loved, valued, and created with purpose—not tied to performance or role.Marriage and leadership aren’t 50/50—they’re 100/100, with seasons where one person carries more when the other can’t.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 — The wilderness isn’t something to dread00:28 — Robb’s focus: helping leaders/pastors facing burnout02:06 — Robb’s burnout story and the “Shifting the Wilderness” framework05:10 — You don’t go from wilderness to promised land—often it’s wilderness to wilderness07:53 — “Different wilderness = different toolbox” (stop using old tools)09:13 — There’s still life in the wilderness (perspective shift)10:09 — Why camping in the wilderness reveals what’s buried in you12:04 — Nathan’s “desert comes alive at night” perspective point12:53 — Robb’s childhood: farm life in Southeast Kansas → ministry journey17:35 — Farm lessons: hard work, improvisation, handling the unexpected20:08 — Marriage wisdom from generations: love, joy, faithfulness over time24:53 — Crucible moments in marriage: grief, loss, and suffering together31:01 — How surrender changes the wilderness (and your leadership)35:04 — “Marriage isn’t 50/50—it’s 100/100”36:13 — Corrie ten Boom + the “fleas” perspective story36:26 — Do we stay in the wilderness because we won’t learn the lesson?42:47 — Burnout warning signs: control, overwork, and disappearing margin44:16 — The “book margin” metaphor: why margin is essential to health50:20 — Identity, purpose, and the danger of forcing a single model of “manhood”56:57 — 1 Corinthians 12–13: gifts don’t matter without love01:02:32 — How to connect with Robb + why this matters01:03:52 — “More Than Before” for Robb: living with more grace, joy, peaceResources & Links MentionedConnect with Robb: Instagram — @shiftingthewildernesshttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingthewilderness/Corrie ten Boom (referenced story about perspective): The Hiding Placehttps://www.corrietenboom.com/the-hiding-place/Bible passages referenced:1 Corinthians 12–13 (community, gifts, and love)Galatians 5:22–23 (fruit of the Spirit)The wilderness narrative in Exodus / Israel’s journeyCall to ActionIf you’re in a wilderness season—or you know a leader who’s quietly burning out—share this episode with them. Then take 30 seconds to follow/subscribe and leave a rating and review on Spotify. It helps more people find these conversations and start living with greater purpose, margin, and grace.Remember: be more, see more, and experience more… More Than Before.
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    1 Std. und 7 Min.
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