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 rare chemo complication that led to septic shock, and how humor, curiosity, faith, and the right people helped her move from simply surviving to living with purpose.

This conversation covers:
• Why curiosity is the key to becoming more than you were yesterday
• How humor heals and creates connection in hard seasons
• What people actually need when facing cancer or crisis
• Why choosing the right tribe matters more than proximity
• How to advocate for yourself when life feels out of control
• What it means to live a life that is truly More Than Before

This episode is honest, hopeful, and filled with laughter—especially for anyone navigating illness, caregiving, leadership pressure, or a season of uncertainty.

👉 If this conversation encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope today.

⏱ Episode Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Don’t wait. Be curious.
00:23 – Meet Deb Krier: cancer thriver, communicator, podcaster
01:38 – Growing up in Walden, Colorado
03:18 – Parents, independence, and early life lessons
05:21 – Outdoor childhood and learning freedom
07:24 – Broadway dreams and law ambitions
11:35 – Early jobs and learning self-advocacy

14:11 – Learning communication at the American Cancer Society
15:12 – Comedy, coping, and emotional resilience
17:40 – The mammogram call that changed everything
21:17 – Chemo complications and septic shock survival
26:51 – Regaining control inside the hospital
31:07 – Listening deeply and human connection
33:41 – Building Wise Women Communications
35:29 – Launching Trying Not To Die
38:47 – How to support someone with cancer
42:05 – Why Deb calls cancer a blessing
45:13 – Marriage, caregiving, and tribe
49:47 – Track the beagle and finding levity
53:34 – Why humor breaks down walls
55:17 – What it means to live More Than Before
56:21 – Final encouragement

Key Takeaways

• Don’t wait to live. Tomorrow is never promised.
• Curiosity fuels growth. Asking better questions leads to becoming more.
• Your tribe matters. Choose people who support, not just surround.
• Be specific when helping others. Concrete support matters more than vague offers.
• Humor heals. Laughter lowers stress and builds connection.
• You get a vote. Advocate for yourself—in health, leadership, and life.

🔗 Guest & Resource Links

Deb Krier• Trying Not To Die: https://tryingnottodie.live

• Wise Women Communications
• Podcast: Business Power Hour (1,100+ episodes)

More Than Before
• Follow on Instagram: @morethanbeforepodcast
• Subscribe for weekly conversations on faith, leadership, resilience, and growth

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 how community can shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance, why silence is a leadership skill, and what it really means to become more than before—with presence, purpose, and compassion.

Chapters

00:00 Grief, loss, and gratitude
00:20 From small-town Hungary to global podcasting
02:28 Feeling like an outsider—books, art, and identity
03:40 Denmark exchange year and the desire to “see the world”
05:11 Travel memories, getting lost, and family influence
07:47 Self-esteem, hard work, and staying consistent
09:47 Frida Kahlo and creating beauty through pain
12:47 Ireland with two suitcases + 1,000 euros
17:40 Cyprus, lifestyle rhythms, and choosing calm
20:10 COVID season: losing loved ones + losing the business
21:00 Healing through art + daily gratitude
22:09 Building Podcast Connections (accidentally)
25:58 Silent Thinking Sessions: what they are and why they work
28:01 What silence teaches: presence and listening
32:43 Motherhood: patience, presence, and trust
36:06 Scarcity vs abundance mindset
39:25 Community: the fastest way to change your energy
41:05 Consistency and rebuilding strength (one step at a time)
44:04 Noemi’s top 3 life foundations
45:20 Faith journey and ongoing growth
48:21 “More Than Before”: purpose, presence, and making people feel seen
49:16 Final encouragement + share with a friend

Links:

• Noemi’s website / waitlist: noemiberes.com

• Follow Noemi on LinkedIn

• Noemi’s YouTube (ASMR reading podcast)

🌲 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 faith. ✨

Randy shares:

• 🌲 Growing up roaming miles of forest in upstate New York

• 🔧 A father who lived by “Make it happen, son”

• 🇺🇸 Rising to the top 1% of enlisted ranks

• 💼 Getting fired *twice* by the same CEO—and choosing integrity

• ❤️ A powerful moment of real forgiveness

• 🎥 How trail cams, nature, yoga, Reiki, and faith all intersect

• 🔥 What it means to trust intuition and hold life lightly

This episode is for you if you want to grow, lead with integrity, or learn how to let go of the weight you’ve been carrying.

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⏱ **CHAPTERS**

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00:00 Fired Twice & the Lesson: Don’t Lose Yourself

00:22 The Explorer’s Mindset – Intro to Randy

00:55 Randy’s Humor & Warm Start

01:05 Growing Up in the Woods of Upstate NY 🌲

01:20 Learning Independence & Curiosity

02:48 Dad Working in the 130° Pot Room 🔥

03:29 Encyclopedias, Snow, and Digging Carrots ❄🥕

05:03 Winter Adventures & Early Resilience

05:32 Lessons from His Parents

05:42 A Dad Who Could Fix *Anything*

07:41 Spinning a Truck Tire to Start the Engine 🤯

08:14 Western Novels & Early Dreams

08:30 Choosing the Air Force 🇺🇸

09:42 Outranking His Sister & Life in Korea

10:35 Azores: First Duty Station

10:49 Told He’d Be a Chief One Day

11:54 Accidentally Deleting ALL the Files 💻😂

13:29 Airman of the Quarter at 18

13:57 Why Randy Excelled

15:33 Mentorship that Shaped His Path

17:36 Information vs. Action

18:52 Fired by the Same Boss… Twice 😳

19:13 Turning a $120M Contract Around

23:15 Seeing the Writing on the Wall

25:07 Packing the Office & Staying Calm

25:40 Choosing Integrity Over Bitterness

26:22 Launching His Own Company 🚀

27:31 Crucible Moments: Forgiveness ❤️‍🩹

30:51 What Forgiveness *Feels* Like

33:11 From Military to Entrepreneur

35:36 A Grandmother’s WWII Perspective

36:40 Maxwell, Yoga, Reiki & Leadership

36:47 Trail Cams, Wildlife & Curiosity 🐻

39:14 Sharing Nature with Others

41:29 Biggest Influences

42:46 600 Dairy Queen Blizzards 🍦

44:28 A Gettysburg Battlefield Retirement

45:20 The Power of Human Connection

46:26 Integrity as a Leadership Identity

48:25 Trusting Intuition: God’s Feather vs. the 2x4

51:50 How His Wife Transformed His Faith 💛

56:01 What It Means to Be “More Than Before”

56:42 Closing Thoughts

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💡 **WHAT YOU’LL LEARN**

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• How an explorer’s mindset creates resilient leaders

• Why attitude and effort can outpace talent

• The difference between saying you forgive and *feeling* forgiveness

• Why forgiving yourself unlocks freedom

• How intuition, faith, and intention shape decisions

• Why growth matters “until the last minute”

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🧰 **CONNECT WITH RANDY WILSON**

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🌐 Website (REEL PD): https://reelpd.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyjwilson

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🎙 **CONNECT WITH MORE THAN BEFORE**

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🌐 Website: https://www.morethanbefore.org

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethanbeforepodcast

▶️ Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoreThanBeforePodcast

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If this episode encouraged you, tap **Follow**, leave a 5-star review, and share it with someone who needs these insights.

**Be more. See more. Experience more… than before.**