More Than Before

Hosted by Nathan Cook

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102

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Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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/@MoreThanBeforePodcast

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October 22, 202610 min

How to Create Lasting Change by Becoming the Person Your Goals Require

Nathan Cook shares a reflective solo episode on year-end self-assessment, personal growth, and the gap between setting goals and becoming the kind of person who can sustain them. He ties together fatherhood, health, speaking, and business to show why lasting change usually comes from small, consistent decisions rather than intensity or inspiration alone.This episode is useful if you are looking back on your year and asking what kind of person you need to become next. Nathan’s core question is simple but challenging: are your goals aligned with your calling, and are you willing to step into the discomfort required to grow into them? Key topics In this episode, Nathan reflects on how quickly the year has passed and why the end of the year is a good time for honest self-evaluation. He shares his personal December rhythm of stepping away with his wife, Willow, to separately review the year and then discuss what should change next. Nathan explains that many people are good at starting goals but struggle to keep them going, citing examples like podcasts ending after 10 episodes and workout routines fading after six months. He argues that sustained progress depends on becoming the person the goal requires, not just wanting the outcome. Nathan uses health and fitness as an example, saying that losing weight is one thing but becoming someone who can maintain that lifestyle is the real challenge. He describes how small choices, like eating less, working out more, or skipping donuts, compound over time into real change. Nathan also connects this to fatherhood, saying he wanted to be physically capable of playing with his kids without injury. He shares his own stretch season of teaching a homeschool speaking class for students ages 11 to 13 and revisiting his early, unpolished YouTube videos. Nathan talks about growth through repetition, failure, and feedback, including a Toastmasters critique that taught him to slow down and use pauses. He closes by asking whether an opportunity is aligned with the person God has called you to be, rather than simply being something interesting or impressive. “We are really good at starting things and really bad at keeping things going.” “Are you the person that your dreams need you to be?” “The question is, is that really the person that you’re called to be?” Timestamps 00:00 - Year-end reflection and why this season invites honest self-assessment 00:59 - The December practice of reviewing the year separately and together 01:28 - Why most goals fail: starting is easy, sustaining is hard 02:25 - The real question behind health goals is identity, not motivation 03:22 - How to make goals sustainable instead of just achievable 04:19 - The importance of small decisions over time 05:11 - Fatherhood, fitness, and changing habits to stay present with your kids 05:41 - Tiny daily choices that support long-term transformation 06:09 - Are you becoming the person your dreams require? 06:48 - Teaching speaking, revisiting old work, and growing through discomfort 07:47 - Resistance, persistence, and why hard seasons are part of progress 08:17 - Talents and interests versus true calling 09:08 - Asking whether an opportunity aligns with your calling 09:38 - Closing encouragement and invitation to reflect on the year ahead Notable Quotes “We are really good at starting things and really bad at keeping things going.” “Are you the person that your dreams need you to be?” “The question is, is that really the person that you’re called to be?”

October 15, 20261 hr 11 min

From Invisible to Unstoppable | Dorota Cebartowska

Unlock your potential with Dorota Cebartowska's inspiring journey from invisibility to leadership! 🌟 In this episode, we dive deep into her transformative story, exploring how she overcame challenges and became a successful leader in Mary Kay, inspiring thousands along the way. Key takeaways: Discover the seeds of success from Dorota's childhood in Poland. Learn how she turned feelings of invisibility into a powerful drive for leadership. Understand the importance of unconditional love and support in leadership. Explore the balance between motherhood and entrepreneurship. Gain insights on overcoming limiting beliefs and embracing your true potential. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Dorota's childhood and early challenges 02:00 The journey to visibility and leadership 05:00 The role of unconditional love in leadership 10:00 Balancing motherhood and career 15:00 Overcoming limiting beliefs 20:00 Final thoughts and insights What's your biggest challenge with stepping into your potential? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for more inspiring stories and leadership insights! #Leadership #Inspiration #WomenEmpowerment

October 9, 202658 min

Kill Complacency, Choose Purpose | Marty Hofmann

Are you living with intention, or have you slipped into autopilot? Marty Hofmann grew up on an Iowa farm as one of ten kids, learning the importance of hard work, responsibility, and faith. Today, he's an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and author of Kill Complacency . But Marty's pursuit of success came at a cost. His wife once told him she'd considered leaving because even when he was home, he wasn't really present. In this episode of More Than Before, Marty shares what that wake-up call taught him about marriage, faith, family, and living with purpose. We explore Christian entrepreneurship, overcoming fear, learning from failure, building meaningful relationships, and becoming intentional with what God has placed in your hands. IN THIS EPISODE: When ambition gets in the way of family Why failure is necessary for growth Rebuilding marriage through intentional action Faith, business, and financial stewardship Raising responsible kids Breaking complacency and living with purpose CONNECT WITH MARTY HOFMANN Book & Website: https://www.killcomplacency.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martyhofmann1/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyhofmann CONNECT WITH NATHAN COOK Website & Coaching: https://www.morethanbefore.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethanbeforepodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoreThanBeforePodcast CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 03:37 Meet Marty Hofmann 04:19 Growing Up on an Iowa Farm 08:46 The Entrepreneurial Mindset 13:54 Lessons From His Father 16:35 Bible College and Ministry 20:45 Marriage and Entrepreneurship 24:08 The Alpaca Shearing Business 27:19 Learning From Failure 31:56 Business Decisions Gone Wrong 33:36 The Importance of Wise Counsel 36:40 When Success Comes at a Cost 39:16 Faith and Financial Stewardship 41:08 Rebuilding His Marriage 44:05 Why Kill Complacency? 46:57 Parenting and Legacy 50:31 Breaking Screen Time Habits 54:03 Recognizing God's Direction 57:01 Experiencing God's Provision 58:35 A Family Legacy of Marriage 01:00:38 Lessons From His Mother 01:02:00 Making Faith Real 01:04:37 What Does More Than Before Mean? BOOKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED Kill Complacency — Marty Hofmann https://www.killcomplacency.com/ The Compound Effect — Darren Hardy Who Moved My Cheese? — Spencer Johnson How We Love — Milan & Kay Yerkovich https://howwelove.com/ Shepherding a Child's Heart — Tedd Tripp https://shepherdingtheheart.org/ The Go-Giver — Bob Burg & John David Mann https://thegogiver.com/ Weekend to Remember — FamilyLife https://www.familylife.com/weekend-to-remember/ Youth With A Mission (YWAM) https://www.ywam.org/ Opal Screen Time App https://www.opal.so/ SCRIPTURE REFERENCED Genesis 5:21–24 Job 1:21 Psalm 50:10 MORE THAN BEFORE Hosted by executive coach Nathan Cook, More Than Before explores faith, identity, leadership, and personal growth. If this conversation challenged you, share it with someone who needs encouragement to live more intentionally. Be More. See More. Experience More Than Before. #MoreThanBefore #KillComplacency #IntentionalLiving #ChristianLeadership #PersonalGrowth

October 1, 20261 hr 5 min

How to Start Over When Life Falls Apart | Max Konan

What do you do when life forces you to start over? Max Konan has had to answer that question more than once. After surviving a traumatic brain injury at just four years old, Max had to relearn how to walk, recognize the people around him, communicate, and navigate life with hearing loss. Years later, he lost his mother, left Côte d’Ivoire for the United States, and found himself cleaning up a nightclub just months after graduating from law school. But Max kept rebuilding. Today, he is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and the author of Start Over to Win: How to Build the Life You Want When You Don't Have Everything You Need . In this conversation, Max and I talk about what starting over actually looks like when the plan you had for your life falls apart. We get into his childhood in Côte d’Ivoire, surviving a traumatic brain injury, losing his mother, immigrating to America, loneliness, scarcity, entrepreneurship, faith, forgiveness, grief, fatherhood, and why failure can become something you build from instead of something that defines you. One of my favorite ideas from our conversation is simple: You don't need to have enough to start. Start with what you have. Max also shares why starting over doesn't mean erasing everything that came before. Your failures, experiences, relationships, lessons, and even the painful parts of your story can become resources for what you build next. If you're in a season where life looks different than you thought it would, this conversation is for you. 📖 GET MAX'S BOOK — START OVER TO WIN Start Over to Win by Max Konan Learn more about Max and his work: Max Konan's Official Website 🔥 THE B.R.A.V.E. TOUR — OCTOBER 2026 Max is taking the message of Start Over to Win on the road this October with conversations about resilience, leadership, overcoming setbacks, and turning adversity into opportunity. 📍 St. Louis, Missouri — October 15–17 📍 Chicago, Illinois — October 18–20 📍 Washington, D.C. Metro — October 23–26 Tour details, venues and updates: B.R.A.V.E. Tour Dates & Events ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 — From Law School to Cleaning a Nightclub 00:25 — Meet Max Konan 01:08 — Growing Up in Côte d’Ivoire 02:52 — Growing Up With 12+ Siblings 04:23 — What His Mother Taught Him About Business 06:33 — Negotiation, Value & Hearing “No” 09:08 — The Accident That Changed Everything 11:19 — Learning to Live With Hearing Loss 13:33 — Education Became His Way Out 15:34 — Loneliness, Isolation & Finding Connection 17:49 — Why Max Wasn't Allowed to Play Outside 18:05 — Creating His “Book of Possibility” 19:39 — Lessons From His Mother & Father 21:14 — Losing His Mother at 24 23:27 — His Son Gave Him a Reason to Rebuild 24:51 — Finally Coming to America 26:37 — The Reality of the “Promised Land” 28:08 — The Loneliness That Changed His Mission 30:00 — Meeting Paul & Redefining Success 31:44 — From Law School to Cleaning Vomit 34:04 — Teacher to Entrepreneur 34:57 — Losing Everything in the 2008 Crisis 37:31 — Breaking the Scarcity Mindset 39:04 — Starting With What You Have 39:30 — How Max Found Jesus 41:15 — Faith & Making Difficult Decisions 43:33 — Why Forgiveness Matters When Starting Over 45:27 — Learning to Forgive Yourself 47:01 — Why You Need to Grieve 49:46 — Fatherhood & What Really Matters 54:30 — There Isn't Just One Way Forward 56:27 — The Reality of Chasing Your Dreams 58:15 — What “Start Over to Win” Really Means 59:41 — The First Step When You Feel Empty 1:02:20 — What Does “More Than Before” Mean? 1:04:00 — Closing Thoughts MORE THAN BEFORE The greatest growth in life isn't simply about achieving more. It's about becoming more of who you were created to be. Subscribe for conversations about identity, faith, leadership, personal growth, resilience, purpose, and becoming more than before. Be more. See more. Experience more than before. #MaxKonan #StartOverToWin #MoreThanBefore #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingAdversity #Faith #StartingOver #Entrepreneurship

September 26, 20262 hr 2 min

When You Can’t Fix It: Kiel Harvey on Losing His Daughter, Faith & Sanfilippo Syndrome

What happens when you’ve spent your life believing hard work can solve almost anything—and then you face the one thing you cannot fix? In this episode of More Than Before , I sit down with my longtime friend Kiel F. Harvey for a deeply personal conversation about fatherhood, grief, faith, and losing his daughter, Raelin, to Sanfilippo syndrome Type A (MPS IIIA) . Kiel shares his story from growing up in Oregon and struggling in school, to Bible college, losing his best friend, building a career in sales, getting married, and becoming a father. Then life changed. After years of developmental concerns, specialists, and unanswered questions, Kiel and his wife, Stacey, learned that their youngest daughter had Sanfilippo syndrome—a rare, progressive genetic disease. Kiel immediately went into problem-solving mode. He researched doctors, pursued clinical trials, traveled to specialists, and searched for anything that might save his daughter. Eventually, one of the leading specialists told him something he never expected: Go home. Love your daughter. Spend as much time with her as you can. Raelin passed away at eight years old. This conversation is about what happens when faith meets a problem you cannot solve. Kiel shares what it was like to pray for healing that did not come, how Raelin changed his definition of success, why she forced him to slow down, and what he now believes about service, suffering, purpose, and the Kingdom of God. One of the most powerful lessons from this conversation is simple: Sometimes you cannot fix the problem. But you can still show up. You can still love people. You can still serve. And you can still make something better. Chapters 00:00 – Meet Kiel Harvey 04:12 – Growing Up in Oregon 12:13 – Bible College and Early Adulthood 15:25 – Losing His Best Friend 20:21 – How Kiel and Stacey Got Together 27:29 – Becoming a Father 34:46 – The Grandfather Who Shaped Him 41:52 – Career, Family and Success 45:46 – Raelin Enters the Story 50:01 – Something Wasn’t Right 54:32 – The Initial Autism Diagnosis 59:15 – Searching for Answers 1:03:48 – The Night Kiel Felt Called to Pray 1:08:25 – Discovering Sanfilippo Syndrome 1:12:09 – “My Daughter Is Not Going to Die” 1:14:06 – “Go Home and Love Your Daughter” 1:17:15 – Living With a Terminal Diagnosis 1:21:06 – Raelin’s Final Months 1:23:23 – How Do You Keep Your Faith? 1:29:30 – Why Does God Allow Suffering? 1:32:01 – Hope Beyond Death 1:34:34 – Stop Fixing. Start Being Present. 1:36:37 – When Success Stops Mattering 1:41:49 – How Raelin Changed Kiel 1:42:50 – What She Taught Him About God’s Kingdom 1:53:54 – What More Than Before Means to Kiel 1:57:44 – “I Can’t Fix It, But I Can Make It Better” 2:02:17 – Closing Connect With Kiel From The Source Kiel’s Bible study workbook designed to help people learn how to study Scripture for themselves. https://kielharveybooks.com RockReader Bible reading, study, journaling, and discipleship resources. https://rockreader.com Kiel’s Substack – Upon Further Examination https://kielharvey.substack.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kielfharvey Learn More About Sanfilippo Syndrome Raelin’s Story – National MPS Society https://mpssociety.org/en/living-with-courage/raelin/ Cure Sanfilippo Foundation https://curesanfilippofoundation.org National Organization for Rare Disorders https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/mucopolysaccharidosis-type-iii/ More Than Before More Than Before is about becoming more of who God created you to be so you can be more, see more, and experience more than before. https://www.morethanbefore.org SEO Keywords: Kiel Harvey, Kiel F. Harvey, Sanfilippo syndrome, MPS IIIA, Raelin Harvey, grief and faith, losing a child, Christian grief, faith after loss, rare disease, special needs parenting, fatherhood, unanswered prayer, Christian podcast, More Than Before podcast

September 17, 202650 min

Stop Being the System | Adi Klevit

If your business only works because you’re holding everything together, you don’t really have freedom. In this episode of More Than Before , I sit down with Adi Klevit , founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group and host of the Systems Simplified Podcast . We talk about Adi’s journey from Israel and Venezuela to building her own company, why entrepreneurs resist structure, and what happens when all of the knowledge in your business lives inside one person’s head. We also get into AI, automation, delegation, SOPs, and business systems —and why you have to understand your workflow before you try to automate it. If you’ve ever said, “It’s just easier if I do it myself,” this conversation is for you. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why systems create freedom 00:15 Meet Adi Klevit 01:42 From Israel and Venezuela to Oregon 03:39 Becoming an entrepreneur at 13 07:11 How travel shaped Adi 09:37 Why industrial engineering? 13:09 The power of language 15:23 Learning how business works 17:30 Betting on herself 21:07 Do you have the entrepreneur bug? 23:12 Find the gift you were built for 24:04 Why businesses need systems 25:24 Why entrepreneurs resist structure 29:38 “It’s easier if I do it myself” 32:26 AI, automation & workflow 35:21 Stop Carrying Your Business In Your Head 37:52 When one person knows everything 40:59 Don’t wait for an emergency 43:13 Your systems have to evolve 46:58 Lean into your gift 48:35 The power of networking up 49:45 Final thoughts CONNECT WITH ADI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adiklevit/ Business Success Consulting Group: https://bizsuccesscg.com/ Systems Simplified Podcast: https://bizsuccesscg.com/podcast/ Look for Adi’s new e-book: Stop Carrying Your Business In Your Head MORE THAN BEFORE https://www.morethanbefore.org Instagram: @morethanbeforepodcast If you know a business owner who is carrying way too much of their company in their own head, send them this episode. Be more. See more. Experience more than before.

September 3, 202658 min

She Lost Herself Trying to Please Everyone | Inge Rock

What happens when the life you built completely falls apart? Inge Rock shares how people-pleasing, fear of losing love, and years of ignoring herself eventually led to the collapse of her marriage, business, and finances. At one of her lowest points, with only €20 left, she bought a book that changed the direction of her life. In this conversation, we talk about rebuilding after rock bottom, personal responsibility, forgiveness, stillness, identity, Bob Proctor, and why success means something very different to Inge today. Her definition of **More Than Before** says it best: **“More myself. Less ego.”** Chapters 00:00 — “I Was Such a Mega Pleaser” 00:21 — Meet Inge Rock 02:50 — Who Was Inge Growing Up? 09:43 — How Her Parents Shaped Her Identity 13:01 — Egyptology, Art & Becoming a Teacher 16:03 — Starting Her Career in Sales 19:19 — What She Learned About Self-Image 21:12 — When Her Life Started Falling Apart 23:40 — The People-Pleasing Pattern 25:13 — “You Are Responsible” 27:10 — Fear of Being Left 32:05 — Down to Her Last €20 34:22 — The Book That Changed Everything 35:23 — Discovering Bob Proctor 37:00 — Going All-In on Personal Development 38:44 — Nothing Left to Lose 40:34 — Losing Her Hunger 43:29 — Learning to Be Still 44:20 — Grief Changed Her Again 46:26 — Hearing Yourself Beneath the Noise 48:31 — The Power of Forgiveness 51:34 — Responsibility vs. Blame 53:04 — Parents, Identity & Old Wounds 55:12 — What She’d Tell Herself at Rock Bottom 56:49 — What “More Than Before” Means to Inge 57:39 — What’s Next for Inge Rock What part of Inge’s story hit you the hardest? And what identity from your past are you ready to let go of? Subscribe for more conversations about identity, growth, leadership, faith, and becoming more of who you were created to be. #IngeRock #PersonalGrowth #PeoplePleasing #MoreThanBefore Connect with Inge Rock Website: https://ingerock.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingerocks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inge.rock/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inge-rock-0403531/ Email: inge@ingerock.com Explore Inge’s programs, Life Code, resources, and newsletter: https://learn.ingerock.com/

August 27, 202613 min

You’re Not Failing Enough

What if not failing is actually a warning sign? Most of us spend our lives trying to avoid failure. We want to win, look competent, make the right decision, and stay away from anything that might expose our weaknesses. But what if constantly winning means we’ve stopped challenging ourselves? In this solo episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook shares a lesson that challenged the way he thinks about failure, growth, and what it means to truly stretch your capacity. Nathan reflects on a martial arts tournament where he traveled eight hours only to lose to one of his own teammates. Frustrated by the loss, his sensei gave him a perspective he would never forget: “You only lose if you don’t learn.” That loss eventually changed how Nathan trained, competed, and even how he treated the people competing against him. The lesson? Failure doesn’t have to define you. It can develop you. In this episode, Nathan explores: Why winning all the time might mean you’re playing too safe How failure exposes opportunities for growth Why learning changes the meaning of losing How stretching yourself expands your capacity The fear that keeps adults from trying new things Why failure is an opportunity to course-correct How to become a better loser—and a better winner Why developing your God-given gifts requires intentional growth The connection between stewardship, challenge, and becoming more Nathan also shares areas where he is currently stretching himself—including teaching young students public speaking, writing, and considering stepping more deeply into biblical teaching. When was the last time you attempted something you weren’t sure you could succeed at? If you can’t remember, maybe the goal isn’t simply to become more successful. Maybe you need to become more willing to fail. Because if you want to grow your capacity, you have to live in a way that stretches your capacity . Let us know in the comments: Where are you stretching yourself right now? And remember— Be more. See more. Experience more than before. failure, learning from failure, fear of failure, personal growth, growth mindset, overcoming failure, resilience, personal development, leadership development, Christian personal growth, Christian leadership, stewardship, self improvement, building capacity, Nathan Cook, More Than Before Podcast The QuestionSEO Keywords

August 13, 20267 min

Your Circle Is Shaping Your Future

Who are the five people you spend the most time with—and are you becoming more like them? In this solo episode of More Than Before , Nathan Cook explores the powerful idea that we become like the people we consistently surround ourselves with. From childhood friendships and video games to mentorship, coaching, faith, family, finances, and personal growth, Nathan shares how proximity quietly shapes our habits, standards, thinking, and ultimately our results. This episode challenges you to do one simple exercise: write down the five people you spend the most time with. Then ask yourself: Would I trade lives with them? Not because their lives need to be perfect, but because the people closest to you are influencing the direction you're moving. Are your relationships challenging you to grow? Are they strengthening your faith? Are they making you wiser? Are they holding you accountable? Are they helping you become the person you were created to be? Or are you unintentionally adopting habits, attitudes, and priorities that are pulling you in the opposite direction? Your circle doesn't just affect your present. Your circle is shaping your future. Listen now, evaluate your five, and start becoming intentional about who has influence in your life. Be more. See more. Experience more than before.

August 6, 20261 hr 15 min

You Can't Quit | Ivan Krcelic on the Power of Hunger

Most people think success comes from talent. Ivan Krcelic knows that's not true. Growing up in Argentina, Ivan wasn't the best tennis player—in fact, he was often the worst player at his academy. While others practiced with teammates, he practiced against a wall. That relentless hunger eventually led him to America, where he built successful businesses, coached elite athletes, and became the founder of Tennis Prime and the author of You Cannot Teach Hunger . In this episode, Ivan shares the lessons that shaped his life: the work ethic he learned from his father, why discipline will always outlast motivation, the sacrifices required to build something meaningful, and how becoming a father has redefined his purpose. If you've ever questioned whether you're talented enough, smart enough, or capable enough, this conversation will remind you that success belongs to the people who refuse to quit. In This Episode: Why talent is overrated• The difference between discipline and motivation• Lessons from growing up in Argentina• Building a business from the ground up• Why failure is part of success• The importance of hunger and grit• Entrepreneurship, sacrifice, and legacy• Fatherhood and finding purpose If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder to keep going. Remember to Be More, See More, and Experience More Than Before.

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