Leah Renee: From Mormon Housewife to Stand-Up Comedian (Part 1)

Leah Renee: From Mormon Housewife to Stand-Up Comedian (Part 1)

What happens when the identity you were handed… no longer fits the person you’re becoming? In Part One of this special two‑part cinematic conversation, Michael sits down with Leah Renee — the only ex‑Mormon housewife turned stand‑up comedian she’s ever met. Before the comedy stages, before the sold‑out shows, before the reinvention… there was a life built inside a belief system she once thought she’d never leave. In this first half of her story, Leah opens up about: • Growing up devout Mormon in a single‑parent military home • The early cracks in her identity • The moment she realized the life she was living wasn’t truly hers • The pressure of being a Mormon mother of three • The creative spark she buried for years • The internal unraveling that set her transformation in motion This episode is raw, funny, emotional, and deeply human — the origin story of a woman who would go on to rebuild her entire life from the ground up. And just when we reach the moment everything begins to shift… Part One ends. Because Part Two — dropping this Sunday — dives into the transformation itself: • Leaving Mormonism • The kitchen birth • Losing 90 pounds • Touring Europe • Becoming a four‑time Edinburgh Fringe performer • Finding her comedic voice • Rebuilding her identity from scratch If you’ve ever felt the pull toward a life you haven’t yet lived, this two‑part episode is for you. Stay tuned — Part Two arrives Sunday, taking the place of our usual Over the Teacup special. Find us on Apple, Spotify or your favorite listening platform; visit us on our YouTube channel Find everything "One More Thing" here: https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast [https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast] Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/onemorething] Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcasts This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

The Art of Legacy: Creativity, Culture & the Stories We Save

Art is more than color on canvas — it’s memory, identity, and the way a culture says, “We were here.” In this powerful conversation, Michael sits down with Dr. Archana Srivastava, TEDx speaker, PhD historian, award‑winning artist, and founder of ArtSage and Les Trésors Art Gallery. Her mission is urgent: to save India’s vanishing folk and tribal art forms, some preserved by only a few families left. Together, they explore how art becomes activism, why creativity is the most underrated leadership skill, and what we stand to lose when cultural traditions fade. Dr. Archana shares her journey as an “artrepreneur,” her work bridging legendary masters with emerging artists, and her fight to protect the stories that shaped a civilization. This episode invites listeners to reflect on legacy, identity, and the responsibility we all share in preserving the beauty and wisdom of the past. This episode explores: • Why artists are the original disruptors • How creativity shapes leadership and innovation • The disappearance of India’s folk & tribal art • What’s at stake when cultural memory fades • The founding of Les Trésors Art Gallery • How ArtSage supports artists with resources, technology & opportunity • What legacy truly means in a changing world Find us on Apple, Spotify or your favorite listening platform; visit us on our YouTube channel Find everything "One More Thing" here: https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast [https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast] Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/onemorething] Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcasts This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

How Many Creative Lives Can One Person Live? From Comedy to Opera to Fantasy

What happens when a lifelong storyteller refuses to stay in one lane? In this episode, Michael sits down with Richard Sparks — acclaimed British comedy writer, opera collaborator, and fantasy novelist — to explore a career defined by reinvention, imagination, and the courage to follow creativity wherever it leads. Richard has written for some of the most iconic comedy voices in the UK, crafted librettos for opera, and now builds entire worlds through fantasy fiction. His journey is a masterclass in artistic evolution, resilience, and the joy of creating without boundaries. Together, they explore: The early days of British comedy How opera shaped his storytelling Why he shifted into fantasy writing What it means to reinvent yourself creatively The craft behind humor, world‑building, and character The lessons learned from a lifetime in the arts This is a warm, witty, and deeply inspiring conversation with a man who has lived multiple creative lives — and is still writing new chapters. Find us on Apple, Spotify or your favorite listening platform; visit us on our YouTube channel Find everything "One More Thing" here: https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast [https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast] Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/onemorething] Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcasts This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

When Your Nervous System Won’t Rest with Tim Thomas

What happens when a Special Forces operator, professional fighter, and lifelong warrior finally meets the one opponent he can’t out‑run: his own nervous system? In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Michael sits down with Tim Thomas, founder of Breathwork in Bed, former Australian Special Forces operator, PTSD survivor, and a man who rebuilt his life one breath at a time. Tim shares how trauma rewired his body, how sleep became impossible, and how breathwork became the doorway back to peace, presence, and identity. Together, they explore: * What combat and chronic stress do to the nervous system * Why breathwork is one of the fastest ways to regulate the body * How sleep, trauma, and breath are interconnected * The moment Tim realized he was no longer okay * How he rebuilt his life through breath, stillness, and self‑compassion * What he teaches thousands of people today through Breathwork in Bed This episode is a cinematic journey into healing, resilience, and the quiet power of coming home to yourself. Themes: trauma recovery, breathwork, sleep, nervous system regulation, identity, resilience, Special Forces, healing Find us on Apple, Spotify or your favorite listening platform; visit us on our YouTube channel Find everything "One More Thing" here: https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast [https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast] Find Tim breathworkinbed.com [https://breathworkinbed.com/] Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/onemorething] Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcasts This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Hiking for Healing: A Veteran's Journey on the Appalachian Trail — Producer's Choice Replay

With Father's Day just around the corner, we're reaching back into our library to bring you one of the most moving conversations we've had at this table — and one that has stayed with us long after the microphones turned off. At 72 years old, Marine combat veteran Rand R. Timmerman did something most people half his age will never attempt. He hiked the entire 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail. But this wasn't just an adventure — it was a mission of love. Rand's brother Ron, a 71-year-old Army veteran, was drowning in grief after losing his wife. Rand himself was in recovery from alcoholism. What began as a physical challenge became a spiritual passage — one that transformed both brothers in ways neither of them anticipated. In this deeply moving conversation, Rand shares the humor, danger, heartbreak, and healing that unfolded mile after mile. From critters and storms to moments of grace and unexpected human kindness, this is a story about resilience, brotherhood, and the extraordinary power of nature — and love — to restore the soul. As we head into Father's Day weekend, we couldn't think of a more fitting story to share. It's about showing up. About choosing someone else's healing alongside your own. About what it means to be a brother, a veteran, and a human being walking forward — one step at a time. Pull up a chair. This one is worth every mile. Originally aired April 8, 2026 🎧 Find us on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite listening platform. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel. Find everything One More Thing Before You Go here: https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast [https://taplink.cc/beforeyougopodcast] Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/onemorething] Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcasts This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy