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What makes a crime story stay with you long after you've turned the final page? Is it the mystery? The characters? Or the emotional truth hiding underneath the story? Michael sits down with writer, researcher, and author Rhonda Parker Taylor to explore the psychology behind compelling crime fiction—and how the experiences we carry through life can find their way onto the page. New conversations return next week. In the meantime, we're reaching back for one of Michael's favorite conversations, exploring what happens when human behavior, emotional intelligence, and storytelling collide. Rhonda's debut novel, Crossroads, may be a suspenseful crime thriller, but beneath the mystery are characters navigating emotion, relationships, difficult choices, and the consequences that follow. Together, Michael and Rhonda explore how her experiences, academic research, encounters with law enforcement, and the people she's met have influenced the way she creates characters—and why emotional intelligence can make the difference between a character we simply read about and one we actually understand. But this conversation goes beyond the mechanics of writing. It's about why certain stories connect with us, why complicated characters feel real, and how the choices people make—on the page and in life—can reveal something about human nature. Because sometimes the most compelling mystery isn't simply what happened. It's why someone made the choice that changed everything. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

In this episode Michael sits down with Jessica McGann, a world traveler whose journey took her solo through 30 countries over more than two years. Discover what it’s truly like to experience the world firsthand—and how those experiences shaped the person she became. Jessica’s journey eventually led her into the film and television industry, where she worked behind the scenes on popular productions including Big Brother Canada, Top Chef Canada, Blown Away, and All-Round Champion. But her story took another unexpected turn in 2020, when her mental health reached a breaking point. That difficult chapter became a turning point, leading Jessica to pursue a Diploma in Life Coaching and eventually share what she learned through one-on-one sessions, workshops, and her podcast, The Pivot Point. This is a conversation about travel, transformation, creativity, resilience, and the unexpected turns that shape a life. Before we return to a new conversation next week, we’re reaching back into the One More Thing Before You Go archives for a story worth experiencing again—or perhaps hearing for the first time. Sometimes the journey changes us in ways we never anticipated.And sometimes, the story is worth revisiting. This is In thisOne More Thing Before You Go, 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What actually shapes you into who you are today? Is it where you grow up? The choices you make? The people you meet? Or the moments that seem insignificant at the time—but quietly change the direction of your life? For Clifford Brown, the path was anything but predictable. In this conversation, Michael sits down with Clifford Brown, a former Beverly Hills attorney who walked away from a successful legal career in 1987, giving up two-thirds of his income to join the U.S. Agency for International Development. What followed was nearly three decades working across Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia—including leadership roles in Guinea and Sierra Leone, Kyrgyzstan, and Colombia. But the story begins much earlier. Growing up along Washington State’s Columbia River, Clifford worked farms, canneries, tugboats, and railroads before joining an oceanographic research vessel that took him to Tahiti and Latin America. That journey planted an idea that would eventually change the course of his life: the world was bigger than the one he knew. A Thomas Watson Fellowship took him back to Latin America. Learning Spanish, as Clifford describes it, was “like growing another soul.” And years later, when an unexpected opportunity appeared, he followed that curiosity into a completely different life. Michael and Clifford explore the choices, encounters, risks, and unexpected turns that shaped that journey—and what happens when you stop trying to design your life and start paying attention to where it is leading you. At the heart of the conversation are three ideas: PRESENCE • CURIOSITY • STORY The three pillars of The Herst Method™—and a reminder that sometimes the most important chapters of our lives begin long before we realize we're writing them. Because the life that shapes us isn't always the life we planned. Sometimes, it begins with a road we didn't expect to take. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What if you could leave the place that shaped you… but never really leave it behind? The sounds, smells, stories, traditions, and struggles of our childhood can follow us farther than we ever realize. In this powerful conversation, Michael sits down with Donald Williams, co-author of Born of Nothing: From White Trash and Lintheads to Purpose Across Generations, to explore heritage, identity, belonging, travel, and the places that shape who we become. Donald grew up in a South Carolina cotton mill village surrounded by more than 80 first cousins and generations of family. He eventually became the first in his family to graduate from a major university, earned three degrees from Clemson University, and traveled and worked across the United States, South Korea, and Japan. But the farther Donald traveled, the more clearly he began to see where he came from. Michael and Donald explore what happens when we encounter cultures different from our own—and discover that beneath the differences in food, faith, family, and tradition, people often want the same things: connection, purpose, belonging, and a better life for the next generation. Through stories of the American South, family heritage, travel, agriculture, food, and generational memory, this conversation asks a deeper question: Can you reinvent yourself without losing the people and places that made you who you are? At the heart of the conversation are three ideas: PRESENCE • CURIOSITY • STORY™ Because sometimes you have to travel far from home… to finally understand where you came from. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What makes a crime story stay with you long after you've turned the final page? Is it the mystery? The characters? Or is it the emotional truth hiding underneath the story? In this replay of one of Michael's favorite conversations, Michael sits down with writer, entrepreneur, and academic researcher Rhonda Parker Taylor to explore the powerful intersection of storytelling, emotional intelligence, and crime fiction. Rhonda's debut novel, Crossroads, is a suspenseful crime thriller—but beneath the mystery is something deeper: complex characters shaped by experience, emotion, difficult choices, and the consequences of the paths we take. Together, Michael and Rhonda explore how life experiences, relationships, law enforcement encounters, mentorship, and academic research can find their way into a writer's imagination—and how emotional intelligence can transform the way we understand both fictional characters and ourselves. This isn't simply a conversation about how to write a crime novel. It's about why we tell stories in the first place… and what those stories can reveal about who we are. PRESENCE • CURIOSITY • STORY The three pillars of The Herst Method™—and the foundation of how Michael explores the stories behind the people he interviews.Three ideas at the heart of this memorable conversation—and at the heart of what makes great storytelling connect. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcas This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

What if the most important recipe you ever learned had nothing to do with food? For Chef Don Bowie, it started in his grandmother’s kitchen—and became a lifelong journey through food, culture, entrepreneurship, and community. In this conversation, Michael sits down with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Don Bowie, founder of Taste Kitchen + Bar in Houston, to explore how one early influence can shape an entire life. With more than two decades in the culinary world, Don has built a career around a simple belief: food should nourish us, but it should also give us an experience worth remembering. From global flavors and Texas influences to the lessons passed down from his grandmother, Don reveals how cooking became more than a profession. It became a way to connect people, tell stories, create belonging, and give back. Michael and Don explore the intersection of food, heritage, creativity, and purpose—and why inspiring the next generation of chefs may be one of the most meaningful things a successful chef can leave behind. Because sometimes the recipe for a meaningful life isn't written on a menu. It's passed from one generation to the next. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

Some stories don’t just belong to a family. They belong to all of us. What would you do to survive if everything you knew had been taken from you? Martin Bodek's grandfather survived four armies, two world wars, starvation, poison, and a 1,600-mile journey home during World War II. He survived what should have been impossible—and then faced the harder question: How do you build a life after surviving history? In this deeply moving conversation, Michael sits down with author Martin Bodek to uncover the extraordinary story of his grandfather—a Holocaust survivor whose second life was shaped by faith, family, food, and an extraordinary will to begin again. From the devastation of war to rebuilding a life in Israel, surviving the Six-Day War, and ultimately spending 40 years as a chef in the United States, his journey reveals that survival isn't always the end of the story. Sometimes, it's the beginning of another one. Michael and Martin explore the responsibility of preserving family history, the relationship between trauma and identity, and the surprising ways food can carry memory across generations. Because when those who witnessed history are gone, the stories they left us become our responsibility to remember. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What if giving up alcohol didn't mean giving up adventure? Travel is supposed to expand our world. But what happens when the very places we travel to seem to revolve around drinking? A hotel minibar. An airport bar. A champagne toast. A business conference where networking happens over cocktails. A cruise where drinks seem to follow you everywhere. For travel writer Teresa Bergen, traveling alcohol-free isn't about living a smaller life. It's about finally being free to experience a bigger one. In this conversation, Michael and Teresa explore the unexpected challenges of sober travel—and the freedom that comes from learning how to navigate the world on your own terms. Teresa shares what she's discovered through 15 years as a travel writer specializing in outdoor adventure, wellness, vegan and sober travel, and why she believes we didn't get sober to have little lives. Her new book, Sober Travel Handbook, offers practical strategies for navigating airports, hotels, conferences, family gatherings, cruises, and unfamiliar cultures without alcohol becoming the center of the experience. But this conversation goes deeper than travel tips. It's about what happens when we stop allowing other people's expectations to define how we experience the world. Because the goal isn't simply to travel without alcohol. It's to discover how much more life there is to experience when you don't need it. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What if a story buried in your family for more than a century suddenly asked you to tell it? Brigid Kennedy’s story begins with a real Irish treasure hunter, her great-grandfather Robert Patrick Kennedy, who crossed the Atlantic, married Eudocia Rodrigues in Arequipa, Peru, in 1910—and then disappeared into the Amazon. The story survived in fragments until one night, when Brigid’s grandmother appeared to her in a dream and asked her to write the family story. Brigid had never written a novel. She said yes. The result is LOST — The Lost City of Incan Gold, a historical fantasy rooted in her Irish and Incan heritage. In this remarkable conversation, Michael and Brigid explore family mysteries, ancestral places, the power of heritage, and what happens when we travel across the world to reconnect with the people who came before us. From Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher and Galway to the monastery in Peru where her great-grandparents married, this is a story about the past refusing to stay buried—and one woman’s journey to bring it back to life. Sometimes the story isn’t lost. It’s waiting to be remembered. Takeaways: The story of Brigid Kennedy's great-grandfather, an Irish treasure hunter, is a profound tale that spans cultures and generations.Brigid's journey to write her family's history began with a dream from her grandmother, prompting her to uncover a long-buried legacy.The intertwining of Irish and Incan heritage in Brigid's novel serves as a testament to the power of ancestry and storytelling.Brigid's travels to Ireland and Peru allowed her to connect deeply with her roots, enriching her narrative with authenticity and emotion.The act of saying 'yes' to her grandmother's call led Brigid to rediscover her family's past and share it with the world through her writing.The conversation highlights the importance of reclaiming one's heritage and the stories that shape our identities across time and space. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What if the places that carry humanity's deepest wounds also have the power to heal something within us? In this episode of One More Thing Before You Go, Michael welcomes poet, author, photographer, and adventurer Briana Gervat for a deeply reflective conversation about history, solitude, resilience, and the unexpected ways travel transforms us. In 2022, Briana set out alone on an extraordinary pilgrimage along the Western Front, walking hundreds of miles from the border of Switzerland and France, across the Vosges Mountains, and through the battle-scarred forests and villages where World War I forever changed the course of history. But this isn't simply a story about war. It's a story about what happens when we slow down enough to hear the whispers of the past—and our own hearts. Together, Michael and Briana explore what it means to walk alone through landscapes marked by unimaginable loss, how nature quietly teaches resilience, why solitude can become one of life's greatest companions, and how simple moments—sharing a meal, meeting a stranger, or following an unfamiliar path—can reconnect us with what truly matters. Whether you're drawn to history, travel, poetry, or the search for meaning, this conversation invites you to see the world—and perhaps yourself—with fresh eyes. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why walking through historic places changes the way we see ourselves • How solitude can become a source of strength instead of loneliness • What the landscapes of the Western Front still have to teach us today • The surprising connection between nature, memory, and healing • How travel can become a journey inward, not just across the world Sometimes the longest journey isn't measured in miles. It's measured in perspective. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What if the greatest lesson from Hollywood wasn’t about making blockbuster movies—but about living a more focused, creative, and meaningful life? In this episode of One More Thing Before You Go, Michael welcomes Steven Puri, former EVP at DreamWorks and VP at 20th Century Fox, whose career helped shape iconic films including Transformers, Star Trek, Die Hard, and Independence Day. Yet the most compelling story isn’t what happened behind the camera—it’s what happened within. Steven shares an extraordinary journey from television news anchor to software engineer, from Oscar-winning visual effects producer to Hollywood executive, entrepreneur, and founder. Along the way, he opens up about selling his first company at 28, enduring the disappointment of failed startups, and discovering that success without purpose is never enough. Together, Michael and Steven explore why flow—that rare state where focus, creativity, and performance align—may be one of the most valuable skills we can cultivate in an age of constant distraction. They discuss how setbacks reshape identity, why failure often becomes our greatest teacher, and how purpose emerges when we stop chasing achievement and start pursuing what truly matters. Whether you’re a creator, entrepreneur, leader, or simply searching for greater clarity and fulfillment, this conversation offers practical insights into unlocking your best work—and perhaps your best self. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why flow states unlock peak creativity and performanceThe surprising lessons Hollywood taught about storytelling and human natureHow failure can become the catalyst for reinventionWhy focus is becoming one of the world’s rarest—and most valuable—skillsPractical ways to create the conditions for deeper work, creativity, and fulfillment Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs don’t happen on a movie set. They happen within us. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What if the greatest challenges of your life were preparing you for your greatest purpose?Resilience isn’t something we’re born with—it is built through adversity, difficult choices, and the moments that quietly redefine who we become. In this cinematic conversation, Michael sits down with Jim Paulk to explore how life’s unexpected setbacks can become the foundation for purpose, personal growth, and lasting strength. Jim shares the defining moments that tested his character, the lessons he learned when life refused to follow the script, and why resilience is less about surviving hardship than discovering who you become because of it. Together, Michael and Jim explore what it means to live intentionally, embrace uncertainty, and find meaning even in life’s most difficult seasons. If you’ve ever questioned your direction, struggled through adversity, or wondered whether your hardest chapter has a greater purpose, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and practical wisdom you’ll carry long after it ends. This episode explores resilience, purpose, overcoming adversity, personal growth, mindset, intentional living, and the courage to keep moving forward—even when the path isn’t clear. One More Thing Before You Go is a cinematic interview podcast where every conversation begins with curiosity, deepens through presence, and reveals the stories that shape who we become. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH Proud member of the Podmatch Network of Top Rated- Podcas This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

What happens when a man chooses to honor his late mother and grandmother by opening a restaurant run entirely by grandmothers? That question sparked one of our most beloved conversations — and inspired Nonna’s, the heartwarming new film starring Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, and Brenda Vaccaro. In this special Over the Teacup Sunday replay, Michael and Diane — joined by guest co‑host Nicole — revisit the extraordinary true story of Joe Scaravella, founder of Staten Island’s iconic Enoteca Maria, where grandmothers from around the world cook the dishes of their heritage, one night at a time. This episode explores: Joe Scaravella’s journey — how grief, love, and legacy led to a restaurant unlike any other Vince Vaughn’s connection to the role and why he was the perfect choice The all‑star cast and the emotional weight each actor brings to this Italian‑American story The cultural power of food — and why Nonna’s is more than a movie; it’s a celebration of identity, memory, and the women who keep tradition alive Whether you’re discovering this story for the first time or revisiting it with us, this episode is filled with culture, heart, history, and the kind of warmth only a grandmother’s kitchen can create. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

What if the future isn't something we're trying to predict... but something we're trying to understand about ourselves? The stories we tell about tomorrow often reveal more about today than we realize. In this thoughtful conversation, Michael sits down with author and cultural thinker Amy Bernstein to explore why speculative fiction has become one of the most powerful ways to make sense of an uncertain world. Together, they examine how imagination helps us process fear, hope, identity, and the questions that refuse to leave us alone. Their conversation moves beyond books into something deeply human—why creativity matters when the world feels unsettled, what art can say that facts alone never can, and how the stories we create often become the mirrors that help us recognize ourselves. Along the way, they explore: • Why speculative fiction is having a cultural moment. • How imagined futures help us navigate real-world uncertainty. • The courage it takes to keep creating when doubt is loud. • Why artists often challenge the stories society tells us to accept. • What fiction reveals about identity, belonging, and the future we're quietly building together. If you've ever wondered why certain stories stay with you long after you've closed the book, this conversation offers an answer—and perhaps a few new questions worth carrying with you. Because sometimes the most revealing stories aren't about the future at all. They're about who we're becoming. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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

In this episode, Diane and Michael take a deep dive into Elle, the new prequel series that reimagines Elle Woods’ early life. With their personal connection to Karen McCullah Lutz, the screenwriter behind the original Legally Blonde, they bring a fresh, intimate perspective to the conversation. They discuss: • The show’s premise • Cast, producers & creative team • The 1990s Seattle setting • Themes of identity, belonging & early empowerment • Mixed reviews & audience reactions • Why this prequel matters today A cinematic, heartfelt exploration of Elle Woods before she became Elle Woods. 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 Want to be a guest on One More Thing Before You Go? Send Michael Herst a message on PodMatch, here: PODMATCH 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