The Less than Obvious podcast returns with a second season of new episodes once a month. Derek’s wife Angela died of cancer in 2017. In 2018, he released his book, “Tea Time with the Reaper,” which sketched a heartbreaking portrait of their lives together, her illness, and her death. While living through this difficult process, it became abundantly clear to him that as a society we have an unhealthy relationship with our own mortality -- and by extension death in general. His less than obvious decision was to tell Angela’s story in a way that illuminates the ways that facing the reality of death can help us get better at dealing with life. Derek and I both share stories of mortality, loss, and learning how to carry on. You can find Derek and Tea Time with the Reaper on social media as @teatimewiththereaper at teatimewiththereaper.com, and the podcast on Apple Podcasts which provides “a platform for those who have had a loved one taken. for those who have been face to face with a terminal illness. face to face with unexpected death. and then forced to live with its aftermath.” Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo Interstitial music: Aaron Moore Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald

Brian Crall founded the Sacramento Comedy Spot, but that’s not really what he originally intended on doing. The comedy theater itself now offers shows six nights a week and classes in improv, standup, and sketch comedy four nights a week. It’s the biggest comedy school in northern California. That’s quite an outcome for someone who was only trying to do a single show…just to see how it would go. Little did he know that the business degree he threw the towel in on would become just as important as the theater degree he actually got. For quite a long time, he was working a “real” job as a sky cap to support his family AND the theater…rather than the theater supporting him. And that wasn’t the only sacrifice he made along the way. I started taking improv classes from Brian last August, and he ended up being on my short list of favorite people I met in 2017. Perhaps what I admire most is his ability to just let it go and perform without being afraid of failing. It’s all the more shocking that at one point he suffered with terrible stage fright. You can find Brian on social media as @brianccomedy and The Comedy Spot @saccomedyspot Also check out The Top 10 List Podcast! Resources: Websites: SacComedySpot.com & SacramentoComedyFoundation.org More about the Harold -- Long Form Improv 12 Stars who got their start in improv comedy (including Amy Poehler, Ed Helms, Zach Woods, Aziz Ansari, Kate McKinnon, and Donald Glover Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald

This episode contains a frank discussion -- in adult language -- about real issues like depression, suicide, relationships, and sexuality. It may not be suitable for all ages.   “Rational decisions don’t always work out for me.” New York Times bestselling fitness/lifestyle author and founder of Roman Fitness Systems, John Romaniello talks about how overthinking things sometimes takes him down the wrong path, and how following his gut sometimes provides clarity.  He also discusses how his lifelong struggle with depression led to a sincere suicide attempt that he initially kept secret from everyone, and how writing a powerful blog post about his experience has proven to be a turning point in his life. Finally, he explores how he gained insight into his dissatisfaction with social norms around relationships, and how the use of MDMA (in addition to therapy) helped him find a new way to look at his own identity. You can find John on social media as @johnromaniello, and at Romanfitnesssystems.com Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald   Resources: There’s Always More to Say: Tattoos, Semicolons, and Suicidal Depression by John Romaniello "Three Waves of Polyamory" article New York Times Article on MDMA Article: MDMA Assisted Therapy for PTSD PowerCast #107 with Janae Kroc

Mike Beech is Matt Vincent’s partner in HVIII Brand Goods, but that’s not his most important job. He’s a stay-at-home dad keeping with the demands of raising three young kids, while his wife works as a physician. He talks about his past jobs in the corporate world, the decision to leave it behind for the home gig, and how to being the best parent you can doesn’t mean getting hung up on trying to be the best dad EVER. You can find Mike on IG @beeeeeeeeech (that’s 9 Es), @HVIIIBrandgoods, TheHVIII.com, and ThrowBros.com Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald

Several years ago, Michael Fahey approached me with an idea. He wanted to make a documentary about Westside Barbell. I did my best to talk him out of it, but luckily I didn’t succeed. (I also offered some encouragement along the way.) It took quite a while to come together, and it sorely tried his patience and stamina, but in the end his “lack of sensible quit” has produced an outstanding, (nearly) finished product. Michael explains how his time editing the documentary “Forks Over Knives,” and a stop off at the NFL Network fueled his desire to produce his own project, how a conversation with a reality show producer let him to make contact with me, and how the crazy journey to make the film played out. You can find the film’s website at westsidevstheworld.com. Instagram @westsidefilm Facebook Twitter   Resources Westside Hoodie with balls The Story of Elite Fitness Systems The “Athlete Family” of Archetypes   Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald  

Momma’s Boys Podcast partners, Mike Farr and Omar Isuf take a minute to get serious about the decisions that took them out of the paths they found disappointing or tedious…and into what? Mike broke up with his one true (sports) love, and Omar left behind a college scholarship. They ultimately the ended up catching and riding the wave of new media offered by the rise of YouTube, podcasts, and social media. What do their stories have in common? An intolerance for dissatisfaction. That Alan Aragon tweet about IIFYM. Resources that Omar Mentions: The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Taleb The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) Some of the places you can find Mike and Omar. Momma's Boys Podcast Website Mike's YouTube Omar's YouTube Mike's Instagram Omar’s Instagram Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald  

Can you finance a life filled with travel, hanging with friends, and racking up cool experiences with the kind of job you can get without a college degree? If you do it right, you can. John Tims did some research, took some chances, and figured out what kinds of jobs he wanted to target. After years on the job, he found he wanted to do more and create additional income. He did that by launching a side hustle into high-end men’s products (beard care, razors, toiletries, and other awesome stuff) by starting a company appropriately named “Self Wrought.” What are you willing to do to get to the life you want? You can find John and his products at SelfWrought.com and on Instagram at @selfwrought Resources:  Business Insider -- Highest paid jobs that don't require a degree. Huffington Post - 49 High paying jobs that you can get without a degree. Forbes - 20 high-paying blue collar jobs Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald

Jacob Ross was working on a Master’s degree with his sights set on getting a PhD in neuroscience in his home state of Texas. A fateful phone call lured him to a dramatically different life in Chicago training athletes…professional athletes.           Jacob is now an athletic performance coach and consultant.  You can find him on social Instagram @jacob.w.ross. Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald

Matt Reynolds was a high school teacher and football coach who was ticking off the requirements to become a principal. Eventually all the boring, non-competitive stability--and the crushing math of the Rule of 80--made him realize he wanted more from the many years he had left until retirement. An unexpectedly successful hobby gym, and an unforeseen twist of fate, and an uncommon business approach led him to become head of a fast-growing online coaching business. Matt is now owner/founder of Starting Strength Online Coaching, and co-host of The Starting Strength Podcast (and formerly Barbell Logic). You can find him on social media @reynoldstrong and @ssonlinecoaching. Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald          

Ryan Spencer decided that the best way to follow up his outstanding high school experience was to return…as a teacher. Not just any teacher. The COOL teacher. A last minute internship pulled him toward politics instead and changed his life forever. Ryan is a lobbyist at Dimare, Brown, Hicks, and Kessler in Sacramento, CA. You can find him on social media @politicalmuscle. Host: Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Instagram: @lessthanobvious Twitter: @lessthanobv Facebook Logo: Joseph Manzo.  Audio Engineered and Produced by Jim McDonald