One Last Question Before You Go: Received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Kyle Thiermann:
1. What is the name of the book, and when was it published?
One Last Question Before You Go. Published: November 18, 2025
2. What’s the book’s first line?
In one of my earliest memories, my mom and I are walking along the sidewalk in downtown Santa Cruz, past the clock tower, a stately red brick structure with an American flag at its peak and a man slouched at its base. He sat on a skateboard, cardboard sign in hand, and smelled forgotten.
3. What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Kyle Thiermann’s dad once bought a hot-air balloon off a hitchhiker. His mom and stepdad are trying to spread a conspiracy theory. Now, with his first book, Kyle wanders the American West—through rich redwood forests, seedy surf culture, and a 1997 RV with teal carpet interior—to probe how asking the right questions can change a relationship. Blending witty narrative with practical advice and twenty-seven bold questions, the popular podcast host and pro big wave surfer shows that interviewing our parents can create way more than digital family heirlooms. It can reframe the way we see each other.
4. What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
The initial spark for this project started two years before my mom broke her hip. It was a blustery spring morning, and I recorded a podcast with a charismatic old hound, who also happened to be my dad (Episode 204). Viral is a strong word, but for my little corner of the internet, the podcast was very popular. In the following weeks, I received dozens of emails from listeners who picked up their phones and interviewed their own parents. One listener named Ian from Montana wrote, “I just listened to your podcast with your dad and became motivated enough to interview both of my parents individually. Wow, I feel such a weight lifted from my chest! These recordings have become my most valuable possessions.”
5. What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
90 percent of the total time American children spend with their parents will be before the age of 18. But for many of us, the stories we formed in childhood linger long after we move out, affecting our work, relationships, and sense of self. Interviews are tools to soften and remold the shape of our parents. Questions are invitations to see our parents in the present tense. They are a willingness to let ourselves be surprised, and a declaration that we care about the wisdom of elders in a culture obsessed with youth.