From Marine Corps to Heart-Centered Rebel - Harmonize Your Life Podcast Ep. 7

[00:00:00] Speaker A: So, yeah, I got to the Marine Corps and the first time drill instructor laid into me, I was like, oh, you really effed up now, buddy. I had eight minutes until the possibility of living or dying was very real. But the idea was that it started me on this quest for making sense out of this world we're in, because all of the. I realized that the music and the ceremonies happen after you've gone through hell and back. And it also started helping me connect with my dad. Literally a couple days before he died, we had this amazing conversation. But in this moment, he said that there must be something in you if you were able to do that. You know, that's something I had not heard. And I was able to say to him that I can see what you've been through. So making those connections is just crazy important because there's so much healing right there. And at that point, then what we're talking about is really getting down into your heart. Because before that, it's a lot of head game, a lot of manipulation and just the darkness of the world. [00:01:09] Speaker B: Everybody has some role that we play throughout our lifetime that as we change like, like our identity and who we be, that role is always a part of us. And if it's not a part of us, we go search for it, right? And it's conscious or it's unconscious for some people. And so I would say, as I was listening to your journey, that role that has been continuous is this like heart centered rebel, right? Like, I'm going to do it differently. I'm going to challenge, you know, the status quo. [00:01:42] Speaker C: We don't really consciously understand that this is what we're doing all the time, you know, with. With our spouse, with our children, with our neighbors, with our community, with our co workers, with the media. We watch, you know, the books we read, you know, the things that we're putting in our minds. Our words have immense power, right? How are we using our words? You know, so we're either, you know, tuning, like actively consciously walking into a room and holding our power and our strength, you know, plucking our violin string metaphorically and resonating our world instead of the world resonating us. So that really reflected in what you're discussing here with doing good daily. [00:02:29] Speaker D: Welcome to Harmonize youe Life. Conversations that inspire, awaken and harmonize. I'm your host, Kingsley Willis, and each week we talk with experts in functional medicine, therapy, technology, quantum biology and personal growth. Today I've got Dr. James Miles on the podcast today, along with co founder Michael McDonald and our CEO Amanda Carpenter. And let's just dive right into it. James, tell us how you met Michael. Start at the beginning. [00:03:00] Speaker A: Actually, the. The thread is Amanda in Heart Math. Through that we, we have Patrick Narduli. And he was like, hey, you know, you need to kind of look at the stuff that Amanda's doing. She's with this crew of folks. You need to check it out. And of course, you know, the busy guy babbles. And then I don't remember how we got him back on that call, but I know I reached out to say, hey, Amanda, let's just connect. And then through that, I came to a call and. And there was Michael. Michael talking. I was like, hey, I need to talk to this guy and see what he's doing too. And so we got on the call. [00:03:39] Speaker D: Wonderful. And I love your background because I see the sacred geometry, I see all of the connections. So that's where my mind was going. So tell us about HeartMath. For those who don't know. How would you introduce it to folks who are not sure what heartmath is all about? [00:03:56] Speaker A: You know, heart Math to me is a reflection of some really brave, forward thinking hearts. You have Doc Childry, you've got Roland McCrady, Deb Rosman Howard, Brian Kabaker. There's just a group and there's a whole team. And what they spent the last 30 years doing is looking at the power of the heart to, in my language now, not theirs, to be part of the solution. And so they have really come along with research with tools and very practical techniques that helps a person drop into their heart. And there is a physiological power of the heart that can really regulate the heart brain connection and help you come forward in your own journey in ways that's just transformative. And so heart meth has done that, put it into forms that are really accessible. And then they let crazy people like me come in and get involved and spread it even more. [00:04:55] Speaker D: Wonderful. So, Amanda, tell us about how you met James and how you made that connection where you're like, oh, I've got to have him talk to Michael. [00:05:09] Speaker B: Well, I met James through HeartMath. He was actually one of my teachers. He's a master trainer with heartmath and was leading one of the certifications that I was taking. And I don't know which one it was because there's been so many. It was pre pandemic and then continued through the pandemic too, because I remember, like I was out at heartMath Institute in California. 2017ish and then activating the Heart of Teams was a new beta program that they were launching, and that was in 2020 because I was supposed to go out to California for that and that was online. So I think that program was the second time that James and I connected. And because you were guiding that program too, weren't you? Were you leading that program? Yeah. Okay. I thought so. And I have a special place in my heart for powerful heart centered men. Like, I tend to like zero right in on them. And so we were in, we were in some other conversations and maybe it was through Patrick Norduli that we connected at a deeper level. And so we've been having conversations, you know, kind of behind the scenes relative to Heart Math and just our own heart centered journeys for a couple years now. And, you know, sometimes there's long gaps of silence and all of a sudden we'll jump back in and poke each other. Right, and, and see what's happening. So Heart Math has really changed all of the work that I do in the world. And I'm so grateful to the Heartmath Institute, all of their research and all of those that are involved, James being one of them, to bring forward the mission. And really HeartMath has had the science. I mean, since the 90s, the science has been there, it's been sitting right there. And I think there was a huge opportunity once the pandemic hit for HeartMath, who's always been doing the same thing, but suddenly there was a light of awareness and I think the world was ready for it. And those of us, like James, myself and some of the other trainers within the Heartmath Institute have really integrated the research of HeartMath into everything that we do. Like, I would not be as effective at what I do if I didn't have the research of the Heartmath Institute to lean on. Like, it has really, it has really proven, if you will, and I, and I put that in quotes because research has a human element to it. Right. But it has really proven the bridge between the quantum world and the spiritual world, the bridge between Newtonian physics and the spiritual world. Like, it has really, we can see what happens at the level of the heart, you know, so that's one of the things that just has caused me to lean in and I've. And as soon as I found the Heartmath Institute, I knew that it was going to be a key piece of the mission and all of, all of the work that I do in the world. And when I met Michael in March of this year, I Knew, like, we don't have the science to prove it yet, if you will, but I know that the platform has an impact on our heart rate variability and it's just a matter of time before we have the research to show that. But in my experience and all the research from HeartMath Institute, I have no doubt that the platform is impacting the physiology of the human heart. [00:08:30] Speaker A: That will be fun to measure. They really will. And just to throw in and out, Amanda, when you first took the training, you had talked about transitioning from the way you were showing up in your work. And that was the intriguing thing that we first talked about when we got on a call about that, because I was really intrigued by just how you showed up and what you were doing. So that was actually our first call. Now, as you were saying that, I just remembered that. [00:08:57] Speaker B: Oh, well, thank you for remembering that. That's bringing back the industrial athletic world. Because I took heart math to the industrial athletic world to show that the rhythm of the heart impacts the access that we have to our brain, which can actually impact accidents and injuries. And so a very masculine, hardworking use of the physical body world. It was amazing to see them drop into their hearts and use their hearts. And so when I first got involved in HeartMath, I'm like, what will these really masculine men think? You know? And my higher self knew better. And I just had to keep reminding myself, they all have a heart. They all have a heart. And they received it so well. And there's amazing stories on lives that have been saved because of heart rate variability and what the HeartMath Institute has done and the training that we brought to the industrial athletic world. [00:09:46] Speaker D: Very cool. I'm wondering, Michael, how do you see the tie in between what you're doing at Aya to HeartMath? Can you talk about that? [00:09:57] Speaker C: Well, you know, it's interesting because, you know, really diving into Dr. Miles's work at Resilient Village and doing good daily, you know, he's really pioneering a new. I don't know how to explain it, but it's a teaching, right? They offer courses and teachings on how to elevate and do good daily. And it's all around being heart cent. And, you know, Amanda really brought the whole heart centered, heart math reality, you know, into the forefront for me. And since then, you know, my life has been changed because of it. I mean, we even have heart centered AI because of her. And seeing what James is doing, I just see this beautiful synergy. I don't know what it looks like yet. But we're on the same path, just using different tools to do it. So I see a synergy of us possibly adding value to what he's currently doing and what he's doing adding value to what we're currently doing. There's a great overlap there. And when James and I spoke a few days ago, I was really excited to bring forth his story. I mean, from. From boarding school to his path to college, to his path to heart, math and ultimately Resilient Village. I would love to hear, James, if you could kind of give us, you know, who you are, because you're such a brilliant human bringing such a powerful message. And I just. I want everybody to hear how you got to where you're at now. [00:11:50] Speaker A: I'm working on becoming brilliant. I don't know. One day I'll get there. But I call myself too, you know, with truthful joking, I call myself the quintessential Forrest Gump, you know, but the. Yeah, you're absolutely right. I was born in Chicago, and I'll just give the kind of key bullet points on it. My dad was one of the first African American district commanders in the city of Chicago. And so while that was just a huge thing, and we're going back to, you know, the 50s and 60s time period, which of course dates me, too, and then my grandfather was also a policeman in Chicago, which was kind of unheard of before that. But needless to say, my view of community was this nurturing place. My great grandmother was right down the street from the police station. We were in another direction at the same time. That same community threatened to bomb our house. The first time I was in court because the guy wanted to beat me with a bat because my father was part of the group that was arresting and doing that. So this really mixed understanding of community that I had to live in and walk in and which blocks I could walk down or not moving forward. We went to Puerto Rico, where I got an exposure to the fact that there were people who lived in this world in a completely different way. My dad moved us to Puerto Rico when he retired. And being there for a few years, and so that just like, wow, there's this whole other place and where you eat and love it if you want to have a good Christmas. Man, Puerto Rico, they know how to celebrate the holidays. That is where it's happening. And so then coming from there, then I went to a boarding school, Kemper Military School, in college in Boonville, Missouri, and just said, lovely folks in Booneville. There was a detention home on one side of town and military school on the other. So when you say you went to school in Booneville, you had to say which side of town you were on. So I was at Kipper Military School, which is now closed, but that was another big stretch in what community is, because now I'm meeting kids from all over the world and I'm seeing income levels like I'd never seen it before. You know, class systems and, of course, the issues of race and all that coming into play and having to learn to navigate it. So again, now, community even got more complicated with me as this kid navigating. And so I turned down an opportunity to stay there and get a commission in the army. And I went to University of Illinois because I thought I was missing out on what the regular kids were doing. [00:14:31] Speaker C: Well, wait, wait, let me stop you there, because there's something. Some juicy moments in there, because your dad. Right, tell me about your dad and your decision between the army and the Marines. [00:14:45] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh. Well, he. He was clearly a barrier breaker. He went in the army as a private, came out as a lieutenant colonel. Again, we got to think about the time. So that was some pretty serious stuff. So he was trying to make sure I didn't have to go through what he did. Flew into Missouri, General Blakefield, Chief Ignacio, my kind of mentor, father figure there on campus, and my. The three men, you know, kind of, I guess, hard butts. I'll clean up. The language, you know, got me in the office. And I had. I stood there and told them I was not going to stay. General Blakefield said, I'll help you get into any of the academies you want, West Point, Annapolis. I looked at him, I was like, no, because, you know, rebellious. The hell with this. I've done this. I've done what you said. I've excelled. I'm doing my thing. And so I went to University of Illinois and just completely got bored and decided to drop out. And not only that, enlist in the Marine Corps of all the branches. And so my father was like, you piece of. Whatever. I don't know. We're done, you know, and it was tough. It was tough for a little bit there. [00:15:57] Speaker C: Well, you know, and that's where I really connected with you, too, because I, you know, you know, once a Marine, always a Marine. So I'm a Marine as well. Right. And very similar now. I didn't have the choice of going to West Point. Right. So, you know, I may have made a different decision, but, you know, I still. I still made my own path. And, you know, I didn't go the path that my father was pushing at the time, and. And I ended up just kind of surprised. I'm in the Marine Corps, so very similar to you, but, wow, that must have been, like, a really tough. I mean, maybe it wasn't tough for you to turn that down because you had a better roses. I mean, not that it would have been an easy road because, you know, West Point's West Point, but still, it's like, you know, not many people get that opportunity, and some people would literally do anything for that opportunity, but you had. You were just. What was driving you inside, like, what, What. What made you go, thanks, dad. That's a great opportunity, but I have this feeling that I need to go this. This direction. This is the way I'm going to go. Like, there must have been something monumental, a decision there. That must have been a big point in your life. [00:17:15] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, it's disconnection. At the heart of it is disconnection. There is a place when, if we connect with our head and our heart and we connect with each other, you're able to navigate some of these murky kind of decision points I think that all of us have. I still have today. And so clearly my own head and heart connection was just so rattled by all of these transitions. Then my dad, in so many ways, our relationship was fraught with him trying to make sure, you know, I was rough and tumble and able to handle things, and me like, well, damn, Can. Can I just get a hug? What's up? You know, I didn't understand all that he went through himself and things about his journey. And so in the midst of those disconnections was me trying to, you know, figure something out. And the one thing was, I'm not going to do what you all say. You know, I've done this. I quote, unquote, excelled at the military school when a lot of people did not think I would, for varying reasons. But I excelled in. In spite of some of the roadblocks, I should say, and really moved up. So this idea, like, let me. If I could do this here, let me go there, do something else. But I was just completely disconnected from one. The reality of the support. I actually had, the uniqueness of the opportunity, as you said. But rebellion is rebellion, and I think it's generally comes from disconnection and pain. [00:18:47] Speaker D: Interesting. That's. That's powerful. Yeah. I'm curious. So, so. So let's pick up on the story again. So you're. You're in the Marines. [00:19:00] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:19:00] Speaker D: What happens Next. [00:19:02] Speaker A: So, yeah, I got to the Marine Corps and the first time drill instructor laid into me, I was like, oh, you really effed up now, buddy. It was real clear. But here's the way, you know, just universe for me. I'm man of faith and say God works in a lot of ways. I came out honor man in boot camp, which means I was at the. I was the top graduating private, you know, Michael, you know the deal. So I was honor man for platoon and I was honor man for the series. I wasn't, you know, another guy beat me as honor man for the company. So when you're honor man, which is considered an honor from the title, that means. So there was 80 something guys in my platoon and there were four platoons in the series. So I graduated the top recruit out of that bunch. You get to pick your own profession or mos, Military occupational specialty, so long as you have the scores. So, of course, this is Marine Corps fashion. I had all of two seconds to tell them what occupation I wanted. And so I had one time in Chicago, I had got a chance to touch a computer. Now this is the 70s, so we're going back. So anyway, he said, what do you want to say? Computers. I thought I'd answered it. Then he said, programming operations blew me away. I didn't know there was an option. So I just, I said operation, I didn't know. And then I got to computer science school and graduated in the top of that class. And so that got me assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And then that's where this ideal of the bigger world came into play. Because, you know, that's, that's the top of the military command food chain is very skewed, very odd. Not the best first duty assignment. And the Marines, whenever I got back to training, they always gave me an extra butt kick. And to make sure I had not lost the fact that I was a Marine. Michael. Sure, you could imagine that, you know, but the idea was that it started me on this quest for making sense out of this world we're in, because all of the. I realized that the music and the ceremonies happen after you've gone through hell and back. They don't happen before. And then I realized that, in fact, in one case, my job, the job I had, I knew that under certain circumstances I only had eight minutes to live. And within those eight minutes, we had to accomplish certain things. Let's just say that I had eight minutes until the possibility of living or dying was very real. You know, you never know. But the ideal of Just having all that kind of information and the other things I was exposed to really opened me up to the quest I'm on. To be more focused on the quest I'm on today through some other channels. And it also started helping me connect with my dad, because all of a sudden, now one he figured, and he said it to me, and just the way things work, literally a couple of days before he died, we had this amazing conversation. But in this moment, he said that there must be something in you if you were able to do that. You know, that's something I had not heard. And I was able to say to him that I can see what you've been through. So making those convictions, it's just crazy important because there's so much healing right there. And at that point, then what we're talking about is really getting down into your heart. Because before that, it's a lot of head game, a lot of manipulation and just the darkness of the world. And so that. That was kind of a big thing about the Pentagon in that early part. My first I did. I had 10 years in the Marine Corps. The first, say, five, six years was just navigating that space. And it also brought me on a quest of what is spirituality, you know, how decisions are made. Because world leadership is just. Can be so disillusioning. If you are really hearing leaders and people who are supposed to be in the know how they come about decisions. You're like, oh, my gosh, there's got to be something else, you know? So for me, it was just, what does that mean for where I'm going? [00:23:31] Speaker D: Love that. I love that. That's that story, especially about your father. You know, I think we all can relate to that. Those moments where you're trying to. You're trying to kind of, like, live up to what your father wants, but you're also trying to, like, make him proud. And ultimately, it's about just that connection, right? Which I think is a whole. I mean, we could do series after series about how males connect to each other, because, you know, especially in the military. Not that I know a lot about it, but, you know, I have some friends who've been in the military. Michael, one of them friends have been Marines. How we relate to each other. I think in my case, sports had a lot to do with connecting with my father. But let's talk about. Let's talk more about that connection with your father, because it sounds like you. You kind of came to a series of crossroads, and you said you have, like, three seconds to decide. Is it program or is it operations? So how. How did you make those decisions? Like, what were those? And did you regret the. The program versus operations? [00:24:39] Speaker A: That's the Forrest Gump stuff, you know, like, why I chose the Marine Corps. It was. I knew what the army, the, the Kemper was an army school. So I kind of had a dose of the army stuff. I dabbled on the Navy side, you know, Air Force, because remember at that point, young kid, I want the challenge and the growth. And the regular kids were born. They kept saying, wow, you're deep. And I was like, what are you shallow? What the hell is this deep thing? You know, I'm just here. And so the ideal of in those moments, you kind of get that, what that instinct is. And sometimes I think we have amazing breakthroughs when we just trust and when those pressure points. A lot of times I was just left with instinct. There wasn't a lot of time to process, you know, so the, the Marines, I saw this Marine going down the hall. I was like, wow, those guys are crazy. You know, let me see what that's about. You know, almost every Marine has some version of why they chose the Marine Corps over the other branches. But then, then like, you know, as you said Kingsley, I'm saying the Kingsley, as you say Kingsley, then the ideal at that moment, it was just like, you got to give an answer. This is like at near the end of boot camp. So you just know, give an answer, don't volunteer. Do what you got to do and do it to the best of your ability. So I thought operations, because that just sounded like the big stuff was, was the thing. And so, you know, just doing it. And of course, when you're in it, which was big about the Marine Corps, taught me that when you get dropped off, you're going to do. You're going to do whatever you're going to do. If you don't leave, they get you for awol. No matter what you're in, you got to do what your orders are called for. When you're there, you're going to do what you need to do to survive, and you're going to do what you need to do with your buddies. It's really about your team and managing the situation. All that glory and stuff. That's like later. And so there was so many moments when you just in it, working it out. And remember for me, community had all these layers of complexity. So that was just another version of the same thing. By the time I got there, this idea of, of dynamic spaces was just part of My DNA, you know, and working through it. But the question is, how do you work through it and how do you navigate both the situation and the personal connections? And so my dad, I was carrying them with, with me. And I'll throw one quick story in as an example. When he came to visit me at one point, I was a senior cadet officer at the military school and everybody was singing my praises and how great a leader I was and how this, that the other, you know, because those schools can really hyper develop you. I mean, I was a really great leader, but I wouldn't play basketball because they expected the tall black guy to play basketball. So I was like, no, I'm going to do what you don't expect me to do again, fighting these elements. So anyway, my dad came to visit during one of the parents weekends and he says, you're not doing so good. And I looked him like he was crazy. You know, I felt like, here's. Oh, man, what are you talking about? Everybody's telling you how good I was. Well, fast forward a couple of decades later. I saw what he saw. He could look at the way I was managing my space and could tell that I wasn't healthy on the inside. But I wasn't able to hear it. Now here's a man who had led all kinds of people, been through all kinds of changes himself. Whether we like all this decision or not is not the issue, but that experience. And he was trying to share it, but disconnect. I didn't have enough of the connection to trust. And I'm listening to all this and of course I'm just trying to survive. So you stuff it down, you know, you don't deal with a lot of your issues. So when he said that years later, I saw myself handling some stuff. I was like, oh my gosh, this is what he was trying to tell me. Here it is. And so you know that like examples like that also start to shape, you know, when I have discoveries and then I try to make my decisions better. [00:28:58] Speaker D: Love it. Yeah. This is so fascinating just hearing your, just hearing your story about, you know, how the path you, you take to get where you are. Okay, so explain how, how does the doctor thing. I'm assuming it's a PhD, right? Tell us the story of, of how you got from Marine to doctorate, because. Yeah, I'm intrigued. [00:29:27] Speaker A: Yeah. So my last tour of duty was part of a group in Quantico, Virginia, where we, you know, we were not only designing Metro at that time would be considered like a metropolitan area network. You know, we Were working on really kind of cutting edge stuff. IBM had a team permanently assigned on base that we worked with because we were that kind of out there on the cutting edge. Anyway. I remember in my first. From that first round of experiences, I started questioning spirituality. And so I got involved with the church and because that was the mode for that that I understood. And that led to me then when I got out, I mean, it led to me becoming a minister in the Baptist church when I got out then I met a guy named Dr. Kane Hope Felder. And Dr. Kano Felder was a amazing scholar and gentleman who. He specialized in New Testament language and literature. So, you know, just spoke multiple languages. I got a chance to become his grad assistant because initially I just wanted to study and learn. I had no interest in really being in the pulpit like that. And so he convinced me we were in Israel on a trip and there's a whole nother piece there. We were in Israel, got into a whole debate and he agreed to mentor me. And so I would meet with him every other week. So this couldn't turn us down because he's. Because he was considered one of the top scholars in this area. And he looked at race, class and gender in the Bible. So I had not heard anybody talk about that. I hadn't heard about talk about black presence in the Bible. Like, what is this? Oh, my goodness. And this whole expanse of world. He was the reason why I was going into Egypt each year, you know, doing things with them and. And on and on. So that led to me. He convinced me to go to Howard Divinity School where I worked on a Master and did a Master of Divinity instead of a Master's of Arts. The Master Divinity is kind of the professional side of it, which is designed to, you know, educated clergy in the pulpit. And he made sure I took classes like with Ephraim. I did a piece with Ephraim Isaac out of Princeton. Just a lot of things that. Because Kingdom felt that was his space, he really made sure I was groomed and developed theologically and socially, which is a big thing about connection. Because our just like we're socializing behavior, our nervous system is socialized, you know, how all those things, learning how to connect them and to debunk all the stuff that we've been taught. And so that was painful to me because I was taught so many things that I had to realize weren't right, weren't accurate. But the world revolves around these for power dynamics and other reasons. And people are afraid to do different. So I did that One now. So my first doctorate was actually a doctorate of ministry out of Virginia Union and where I, I worked on looking at how to finance economic development through faith based channels. Faith based organizations. That was really the first one. And you can see again, it's different being in the church space and I'm talking about finance and economic development. Almost got put out of the program because the director didn't think it was churchy enough. And the Marine in me came out at the wrong time. And he, he, he said, what? You know, what the little old ladies think? And I said, what do you want? Because I had a 5,000 member church at the time. So what you want? I got them, I got them big, tall, short, skinny, fat, dark, light. I got a little, little ladies and they're the ones telling me to do this. Which was true. The church was actually encouraging me to keep going and help them bring the stuff back. But that was not the way to say it. So almost got put out and the dean of the school stepped in and said, no, we want people who are doing the unusual again, connections. Because if I had just followed the typical way, it would have connected to historical practice. But a disconnect from what was really needed because you figure on a given Sunday, millions of dollars passed through these churches. And what we were doing is looking at ways to leverage that to help bring development through those same people because they're the ones that would benefit from it. So that was my first doctorate. Then the second doctorate was a PhD. It was working with Dr. Terry Mason, who was the chief medical officer for, for Cook County. He was the Commissioner of health for Chicago and he was the head of public health for Cook county as well. So it's a 5 million resident county. And I worked with him to create this thing, this model called the center for Total Health at the Cook County Health and Hospital System. And so that was the SEC. That was my Ph.D. work is enterprise systems change. Basic culture change at the enterprise level. But it was that the center for Total Health was designed to help people reduce the dependency on pharmaceuticals using lifestyle change and basically food. So that was the second doctrine. But again, you can see these complexities of how we bring action into very sometimes complex community spaces. [00:34:58] Speaker D: Wonderful. Yeah. Okay, well, you mentioned Princeton. So now I know the connection between us because I grew up as a faculty brat. My father was a professor of African American Studies at Princeton. So there's a, there's a tie in. Well, a little tie in. [00:35:18] Speaker A: He make no Kano Felder then, because Felder actually taught at Princeton before He came to Howard. [00:35:24] Speaker D: Okay. [00:35:25] Speaker A: He may know him. So just see if he knows the cane. Hope Felder. [00:35:29] Speaker D: Well, I wish I could ask him, but sadly he's passed. Okay, thank you. So. Okay, let's go back to Michael and if you could talk about sort of that connection between Aya and Heartmath that you see. And like, let's, let's. Let's talk about the music for a second and how all this ties in, you know, as. As we know you. You were also Marine. Connect those dots for us. [00:36:04] Speaker C: Well, yeah, I mean, going back to the Marines and something James mentioned that he won not only one, but two. What's the, the honor. Honor guy. Right. So that was a big, you know, that's the Marine. Marine Corps. Boot camp is tough, right? You know, I went, I went in it in 88. What year were you, James? [00:36:33] Speaker A: 81. [00:36:34] Speaker C: 81. Okay. So I imagine it was even tougher back in the early 80s. I mean, it was tough. You know, I remember watching Full Metal Jacket like the week before I went into Marine Corps. Right. So that's kind of what I was expecting to stir things up here. And that's what I got. Right. Like it was, it was pretty close to that. Yeah. It's like I remember, I remember you. We had these huge canteens of green canteens, right? [00:37:07] Speaker A: Yep. [00:37:08] Speaker C: And every night you had to set stand at the end of your bunk and I think there were 60 guys in our platoon and they'd go, canteens ready, drink. And so you had, I don't know, 60 seconds to drink this whole big huge container of water. Right. And you know there's people throwing up. And if you threw it up, you had to drink two more. Like it was like crazy. Like. Yeah, it was tough. I mean, just, you know, the 2:00am wake up calls with the garbage can lid and you know, if you messed up, you know, you missed chow that day. You know, sometimes you had five minutes to eat, if you're lucky. Right. You know, stuffing bread into your shirt so you could hopefully eat it later. But if you got caught, don't get caught. So knowing what it means to, to have earned not only one, but two like that, that's a statement, you know, of what. Of kind of what cloth you're. You're cut from. You know, I won the Band of Brothers award out of MOS training, if you're familiar with that. But yeah, it's like the, you know, what you've done and you've achieved just in your early life in the Marine Corps is a testament. You Know, I've got so much respect for you, James, because I know what that means. Right? And that's just a little snippet of your life now tying in, you know, the music. And you said something, you know, the music and the parades comes after, right? The hard work and the banging of trash can lids at 2:00am and so I, I feel like in my journey, you know, from marine, you know, to year, you know, how many years is that? You know, four decades, almost four decades after, to, you know, the founder of iFit, where we are, you know, revolutionizing music. You know, we're, we're presenting resonance frequency music and sonic supplements. And I feel like we're, we've, we've moved into a time to where we've done the hard work and now we've got this platform that is enabling and inspiring, you know, people to, to step in to a life that they truly want and the life that they love by consciously being the, the doer, right? Awake and conscious and, you know, as you were talking and you know, seeing the, the sacred geometry behind you and that beautiful picture and knowing that you have, you know, embarked in a lot of, you know, top secret conversations, you know, none of to be divulged on this podcast. But I sent an image to Amanda a few nights ago and it was talking about quantum physics. And I may butcher it, but it was something like along the lines, quantum physics is where they hide spirituality, right? And through your journey, you know, it's apparent you've become, and you may have always been, but it's evident, and you speak of this, that you've become this spiritual being, right? But you've also gone through all of the science, right? You've, you've been in the military, you've gone, you've done the education, you know, heart math is centered on the science. So you know, the science. And you're, you're also a spiritual being that you recognize. And I'm curious your thoughts on, you know, the, the science and the spirituality, because I'm seeing, you know, it's all spirituality. Like it's all, you know, it's all, you know, consciousness is all there is, energy in motion. Right. And I'm just curious how you perceive that through all of your journey and your learnings and where you are now, you know, with resilient village, you know, do good daily. I mean, tell us about, tell us about that and how you kind of bridge the science with the spirituality. [00:41:53] Speaker A: Yeah, that's really one loaded and beautiful kind of framing of that question there, Michael. So doing it daily is an evolving reality. Just like music, spirituality, science. The challenge with all of that is that they expand with our own conscious awareness. And so the fact is that we just are, you know, we are. It is, I am, period. Anything after that is. Is about this ideal of journey and expansion or contraction, but it's about journey and how that energy is being moved and used. Music is one of the amazing ways to unlock it. And the fact is that I think we are walking music. So that one of those three guys, Chief Abraham K. Ignacio, he was actually a Chief Warrant Officer 4 out of the army, but he was music. So he was the band master. And I played in the band through those. Those years there. Kemper. And this, this understanding that when we just get to our isness, I know that's not the most, but when we get to our isness, then the idea of locating ourselves. So doing good daily is an attempt at really saying every place to go, but no place to hide. Doesn't matter where you are, Everybody can do good daily. If there's nothing but the practice of breathing a little bit more friendly to your own heart and soul, then because just that act right there, that simple act of just slowing down for a moment, even if you're in a crisis situation, just the recognition that if I just bring in a moment to open up the possibility, there may be some other wisdom here. So doing good daily is a way of just saying that everybody can do this. We just need to practice the awareness of it. And so just like our social behaviors is conditioned, our nervous system is conditioned, our awareness could be conditioned. It doesn't mean there's always the answer, but it does mean that we'll be progressing along a path of helpful, beneficial growth in some way or another, no matter what your circumstance. And so to put that down, where there's. There's what. What was a universal principle that everybody, no matter what, could somehow have a play a part in. Then the idea that when we do good daily and keep practicing that and grow, then we could be a part of the solutions that are needed at growing levels of complexity. You know, first it's just me connected with me. Like I was saying in the beginning, you know, what about my head and heart? You know, let's not be afraid of it. Even to this day, I'm learning to embrace all my gifts because for so long, I'm not in the pulpit now. One of the reasons was me, because I was allowing that world to sometimes cloud out the fuller sense of what I understood to be my Gifts and purposes. Although I was steeped in trying to make things better. Although at times as a leader, I may have made them worse. But, you know, at least we try. But the ideal of the connections within self, then with those loved ones of those closest to you immediately in your area, and then to be a part of the solutions needed on a bigger scale. Which is why I love what I'm learning about. I am, to be frank, because there's so many places where we have these phenomenal platitudes and just you're soul stirring. Like, there's a joke that's said in the church about some sermons. They're like, wasn't that a good sermon? Wasn't that a good message? Yeah. Really? What did they say? I don't know. You know, because I'm just so caught up in the experience of it, that concert that, you know, that composition, whatever. But the essence of it for to be practical. It looks to me, Aya, I resonate with this is my interpretations. You all are. I. But I'm just giving my interpretation. That Ayah challenges us to see ways to go from just this thought into some practical expression that can have transformative potential. Now, this is not you. This is James. Even at the placebo level, there's benefit. Now how much more beyond that? And so this ideal inside resilient village, you know, how do we collaborate and partner so people can take all that power that's inside us because we just are. It is, it's there. Learn how to access it, not be afraid of it, and then be willing to take the chance to step out and see where it would take us and doing good daily. It was just one of the ways we have to drive that. We look at healing, building and thriving as the other triad, because you're either healing, building, and the goal is to thrive in a positive way. So again, these simple ways to convert all this just amazing awareness. And it seems like it's happening at increasing rates now that how can we just tap into it and then convert that into being part of the solutions that we so desperately need and want in our collective lives? [00:47:38] Speaker C: Now that's awesome. You know, as you. As you're speaking about that, you know, do good daily now, I'm currently writing a chapter in a collaborative book that will be out in the first of 2025. And it's essentially around tune or be tuned. Right. Like, we're all vibrational. Like you said, we're music, music in motion. Right. And most of us go through life kind of in an unconscious fashion. Not recognizing. Well, as an example, you're at a party and somebody walks through the door. And sometimes it's the life of the party and they're like, woo, let's get the party started. Other times, it's another type of personality. They walk in and they're just like, they're low. They bring the energy down, right. And so that strong violin string in the violin store, you know, you strike that violin hard enough, then all the violins will resonate with it, right. They'll all become in resonance. Right? Same thing with the party. You know, you got this strong personality. They're either up or they're down, but the whole party feels it. And it, that entity raises the experience and likewise lowers it. And we don't really consciously understand that this is what we're doing all the time. With our spouse, with our children, with our neighbors, with our community, with our coworkers, with the media. We watch, the books we read, the things that we're putting in our minds. Our words have immense power. How are we using our words? So we're either, you know, tuning, like actively consciously walking into a room and holding our power and our strength, you know, plucking our violin string metaphorically and resonating our world instead of the world resonating us. So that really, you know, reflected in what you were discussing here with, you know, doing good daily. And I'm curious, like, do you have any, I'm sure you do. Some, some hacks or how do you, how do you coach someone into stepping into that frame of mind and not just once, but having it become part of their, their life? [00:50:14] Speaker A: Yeah. So at as simple as we have a three tiered model for transformation and at the base of that tier is foundational practices. If I can just, even if I'm not fully in touch. But I know something, you know, this is just maybe out of sync or it's working and I want to understand it better. Then it's like, what are your daily habits and practices? Just what are they? Now this needs to do our best to do this from a non judgmental place, because that will skew how we look at things. But what are they? It doesn't matter what it is, just what are those practices and to what degree do those daily habits and practices support where you, your heart is telling you you want to be or go. And I can tell if my heart is saying something different than what I'm experiencing. If I keep feeling that tension or that longing or there's something, no matter how good this moment is, there's something else. And so that at the basic level now, you know that there's principles, practices and theoretical structures. But at the core of it is what are your foundational practices? When we can look at those, then we start having something to work with. It's like having a garden to, you know, to now build and see and nurture. The next then level is then at that middle is then integration and what we call solution sourcing. Now in the old way of thinking, people always talk about problem based learning. That's what's and it was amazing. You know, we use it in so many ways across almost all of my career experiences. But really is, is how much more beneficial is it to think about? I'm seeking a solution, not just looking for more problems. And so we say then at this point, these are my practices and how do I integrate these practices into the solutions I'm seeking? And then how can I be? Because remember, I am is key. How can I be then and embody this process? So now it's not just what's going on, but how do I shape my daily practice. Even if something is good, maybe it's not the degree that I'm doing it maybe needs to be modulated. So at that middle level is kind of where am I trying to go with these practice, you know, what's going on, what am I feeling that urge to accomplish, do or experience and why? And then how do I find solutions or efforts to experience that better? So for me, when I said that I, I came and started Studying with Kane O'Feller. I was trying to understand this spiritual world and what I was seeing wasn't giving it to me. It was amazing. I'm not, not, you know, God bless those that, that was, that was it for them. But I was looking for something more and my soul would not let me rest. And then this, this I heard this guy literally on the radio and I went to go hear him speak. And then a lot of things happened to get us to working together. But the idea was that I was seeking and wanting to do so. What are the solutions you're sourcing? How are you practicing it? That goes back to the foundation. Can I tweak my daily practices to align with these solutions I'm sourcing Even if I can't analytically identify opportunity, can I energetically or spiritually just start visualizing it, connecting with it and bringing it forward? So that's the middle area, if you get that. So the ideal of solution sourcing and integration and then at the top then is new beginnings and sustainability. So now that I've got this momentum going now can I embrace this newness? Because, you know, if. If you're like me, I'll just deal with me. Each stage was also an identity transformation. And so I had to learn when I got out the Marine Corps, I had to come be okay with no longer being a Marine in uniform. So now I had to, you know, do the now I still had the computers, I had all this other stuff, but I had to develop a new identity. When I stepped out of the pulpit, it was like, well, are you called or not? I had to allow this ideal of calling to, like, evolve. So most of us have these identity and positional, social. Positional opportunities for growth. So it's like new beginnings. Can I embrace and just understand these new beginnings? And then what does it mean to sustain it? Sometimes that sends me right back down to the foundational practices, because maybe I've learned something that's not meant to be sustained. It was just meant to augment. And so it becomes a very fluid. That's our basic model for change and transformation. So foundational practices, integration and solution, sourcing new beginnings and sustaining and then learning to move up and down. And so I might be advanced along that pyramid structure in one area, but really still struggling, foundation another, and being okay, because it's all me. It just is now. So that's the basic model. And you can see how doing good, daily, smack in the middle. Let's take judgment out and bring in that heart, brain, heart, soul, connection with your sense of being and how you see the world and start working with it. [00:55:55] Speaker C: I love it. I love it. Now I see. I see a direct tie in here. Let me ask you, James, if you could wave a magic wand, and you can, because you are, and it just is. Right? [00:56:12] Speaker A: It is. [00:56:13] Speaker C: Where are you going to go from here? Now that you've got this foundation of knowledge, you have your programs, like, what is the ultimate goal? Like, what is it that you hear to ultimately do? What's the big picture? [00:56:33] Speaker A: Yeah, the big picture is that Regene Village, the current name of that picture, is to become a place where we can come together and explore moving through that transformational model to be part of the solution we need in this world. So what does that look like? That looks like getting some of these ideas and concepts that we've been testing over the last eight years, get them into forms and make it more accessible and resilient. Village is to be a king and queen maker. It's not supposed to be the king and queen and so the idea that now is not just what, what does Dr. James L. Miles, or, you know, the reverend doctor whatever title you want to use. Not that it's like, how can we start tapping into those that are called to this, those we collaborate with, and we just keep making the wisdom and the insights more accessible so that people can take it and create and do even things that we wouldn't imagine. And then the next piece of the Resilient Village model is then to have we have an online learning management system. So the idea is to be able to host these collaborations and places of training for the single purpose of helping be people become the solution in their own journey. It's kind of like the hero's journey, but empowered in this. And what are the tools and techniques and who are the partners where we can learn to do that and do it better and then be able to put it into place in a way that people can receive it. I was taught in the ministry world that sometimes I was hurting people, you know, or just boring to them because I'm trying to get information and learning out. And this one way that one of my teachers said it was, if you want me to drink a strange drink, you must bring it in a cup. I recognize. And so learning how to put these into cups, they recognize without the cup hijacking the whole process. [00:58:41] Speaker C: Right. [00:58:42] Speaker A: And so that's the next level of mastery inside the Resilient Village space. And then of course, third is when it's taken over by others and it just takes on expressions and we're able to just fund it, fuel it, support it, and have fun with it together across the globe. [00:59:03] Speaker C: Amazing. So what I'm going to do now is I'm going to share my screen and we're going to go to craft my Sonic. And what we're going to do, James, is we're going to create a Sonic supplement that will help unlock exactly what you want to elevate to your next level of being with Resilient Village and the people that you're touching. So first of all, let's give it a title. So three or four words. What would you like to title the Sonic supplement that will unlock exactly what you want to unlock for a resilient village in your mission? [01:00:02] Speaker A: You know, what comes to me first is thriving healers and builders. [01:00:13] Speaker C: Okay, so what is this Sonic supplement? Now think in terms that you have this, you know, all powerful supplement and you can think of it in the physical form like you've got this supplement that you can take and it'll do this and it'll manifest this. What is the properties of this supplement that you're going to be able to take yourself and you're going to be able to offer it to your thriving community? [01:00:45] Speaker A: You know, first would be that the right souls and energy is drawn into the resilient village model that can hold space and help nurture opportunity for self and others. And that we are masterful at being a part of the solutions that are needed to help just elevate humanity and the societies that humanity is housed in. And then finally that we exceed even our own most amazing imagination and become one with just the spirit of positive possibility in our lifetimes and beyond. So hopefully that's not too much for the. [01:01:47] Speaker C: No, no, we can go on. Any more keywords that you'd like to infuse this? I mean you. You've got like. We can go on. We like. Whatever you want to infuse in this supplement we can do. So if any other. Sorry. [01:02:02] Speaker A: Resilience. [01:02:05] Speaker C: Okay. [01:02:05] Speaker A: Regeneration, resonance and revitalization. There's kind of a little alliteration there. [01:02:18] Speaker D: Ours. Yeah, I love it. [01:02:21] Speaker A: Those would be really key. There's a. There's a game I'm playing and soon will convert into a workbook and it's called the. The yes Mindset. And so really bringing to life the yes Mindset. [01:02:47] Speaker C: Beautiful. Do you feel complete with that? [01:02:51] Speaker A: Yes. [01:02:52] Speaker C: Okay, let's see what Aya gives us here. [01:02:57] Speaker A: I'm really looking forward to this. [01:03:00] Speaker E: Through the forest's wisdom, I see clearly my path illuminated by the Earth's light. [01:03:11] Speaker C: So here we see. I'm going to turn down the volume, let it play in the background. So interesting. The first one. So we've got a 10 track Sonic supplement here and Aya curates. She turns your want into an algorithm. She matches that algorithm to the resonance frequency music collection for Maya Fit. And she pairs it in specific order, exactly what you're looking for. So she's bringing back frequencies and music that align with achieving that which you stated. And in the first position here we have the third eye forest. And anytime you want to look at the, you know, the. The intention and the meaning, you click on the tooltip here on the top right hand corner of it. And through forest wisdom, I see clearly my path illuminated by the Earth's light. This is at 7.83 Hz frequency known as the Schumann resonance represents the Earth's electromagnetic heartbeat. The natural frequency emerges from the space between the Earth's surface and the ionosphere. So we see that in the first situation and it's kind of like the opening of the third eye. And interesting. We have a lot of tracks here from the same collection, Bulls of nature. The second one is the challenge situation here. This track highlights the immediate challenge or obstacle that the corn is facing in relation to their current situation to represent hurdles or difficulties that need to be addressed or navigated. So in order for us to achieve this, which we wrote. So this is something that this frequency and the intention of this track and the way this track was produced is helping to navigate that. And interesting. We have third eye as the situation. Third eye forest, third eye night. Right in the challenge position. Right. So very interesting. Into the focus section here. This is track indicates where the current's attention or efforts should be directed. Suggests the key areas or aspects to better manage the situation or achieve desired outcomes. So the focus right now is fulfillment through selflessness. And I don't know if that rings true for you, but I feel intuitively that that's kind of where you're coming from right now, is that this resilient village for you. And you said it perfectly. You know, we're not about being the kings and the queens. We're here to make kings and queens. I can totally resonate with that. And so that is fulfillment through selflessness. What are your thoughts around that, James? [01:06:19] Speaker A: I would agree. I probably should have said benevolent kings and queens. [01:06:23] Speaker C: Yes. [01:06:23] Speaker A: You know, because it's not a domination over, but a servant leader supporting those who are already on the path. [01:06:33] Speaker C: So, yes, beautiful. Then the recent past. We go into the seven of wands. And let's go ahead and just click on that for a second and we'll take a listen. [01:06:43] Speaker E: Seven of wands triangle. It signifies perseverance, defending one's position or facing challenges head on. It might be pointing towards situations of standing one's ground, resilience or warding off competition. The track strengthens your resolve, ensuring you stay true to yourself. [01:07:04] Speaker C: Let me turn that down for a second. We'll take a look here. So let me turn it down. There we go. Okay, so this is the recent past from where you're emerging from in your quest to achieving this mission. So by choosing the seven of Wands track, it signifies perseverance, defending one's position or facing challenges head on. It might be pointing towards situations of standing one's ground, resilience or warding off competition. Now, from your story, James, that you told us within this last hour, I mean, I'm seeing this card written all over that. I don't know what has transpired within the Immediate recent past. But maybe you can give us some insights to that and how this kind of fits into the here and now for you. [01:08:01] Speaker A: Sure, I'll be very transparent. The ups and downs of the entrepreneurial side of all this is that I just came off of an amazing two months of travel training interaction to come back and only find that two of my key clients have put a. Decided to postpone some of the contracts that we had in place. And so you get those kind of moments where you have to just still understand and believe in what you're doing. And of course I have others who want me to go back to the old way of doing business development, but that's not the path. The path is more transformative way. And so just trusting and moving in it and being able to do that in a way that positions us to not worry and still be present, though they do want these conflicts kind of work and are ready for it. [01:09:04] Speaker C: Incredible. Incredible. [01:09:06] Speaker A: That's. That's hot. Depressed hope. Maybe by the time this airs that all that'll be done and there will be nothing. [01:09:14] Speaker C: Well, let's, let's continue looking at this, this 10 track sonic supplement because this will give us insight and clues into that. So the possibilities that we're moving into right now. And you can hear that again, another one from Bowls of Nature Collection and possibilities. So this track explores opportunities or paths the quorum might consider. It opens up different prospects or alternative ways of thinking about a situation so again we can dive deeper into this one. So I'm deeply connected to the earth, drawing strength and stability from its core. Now, this is your possibility right now. So there's a possibility and I don't know, maybe you're already doing this, but are you a type of person to put your bare feet in the cool grass or go on a nature hike or just, you know, be one with nature for a period of the day. Because this is telling us that this is a possibility for you in the now to help kind of usher in the new. [01:10:26] Speaker A: I love the reminder. I love that. And for the last maybe three weeks, I have not really been doing that. And so I love that reminder. Absolutely. [01:10:38] Speaker C: Yeah. So this is, this is urging you to do what you do, that whatever it is, where you feel connected to the earth and all that is, and to breathe it in and to feel the sun on your face. So, you know, however you do that, you know, this supplement is telling you, hey, that's, that's what's needed right now. And then moving into the near future. And interesting because like I Said I keep saying this, you know, it's ironic, I mean, or perfect universal timing, that you have so much from the same collection of bowls of nature, right? This is all, you know, nature sounds with different Tibetan bowls to really help you grow now. And this, I would urge you, I'm going to save this and send this to you, James. And this is something that you can listen to in the background. You can meditate to it, you can move your body to it. And if you're anything like me or Amanda, you love to move your body to music. And that's a great way to release old energies that no longer serve you. So there's some tracks in here that will definitely get your heart moving. But the near future, we're moving into Crown Moon Pond here. [01:12:02] Speaker E: My mind mirrors the depth of the Earth, serene and full of life's pulse. [01:12:07] Speaker C: Yeah, my mind mirrors the depth of the earth, serene and full of life's pulse. So again, another one at the frequency of the Schumann resonance, it's urging you to commune with nature. And that's your near future. Your power position is root moon melt. And this is your power. This is what you've got. So I let go, sinking into Earth's comforting embrace, grounding and free. So you know this, right? Like you inherently know, you know, the power of communing with nature and grounding and how that can energize you and just bring new awareness, new thinking to the forefront. And then the environment, that which surrounds you, is flexible strength. So, and that to me, is you. Like, you are strong, you're flexible. When life tests you, be like a willow, strong enough to stand your ground, but flexible enough to bend without breaking. Now that's exactly how I see you, James. Do you have anything that you'd like to add to that? [01:13:24] Speaker A: You know, we are adopting the Tree of Life as a core symbol. I see that on the back on the wall back there. But this idea of understanding that it may not feel good, but that bend and flex to lean into it so we can grow. And I see myself going through a season of change where actually I'm having to let go of some relationships while embracing new ones and understand that it's part of that movement, even if it feels a little uncomfortable or even scary to be candid. [01:14:04] Speaker C: Wow, Amazing. Well, now we're moving into your hopes. And this is. This chakra presents the Corinth aspirations, wishes, or best case scenarios regarding the situation. It sheds light on what the corn is hoping to achieve or what they desire from the outcome. And again, another one from the Bowls of Nature collection. [01:14:26] Speaker E: I am reborn with the earth, grounded and refreshed. [01:14:30] Speaker C: So each dawn I'm reborn with the earth, grounded and refreshed. You know, I'm really just intuitively getting here, James, that your communing with nature is a key not only for your personal well being journey that you're on, but also for the insight into vitality that will be needed in order to bring your vision to its full maturity. That, that, you know, I know you see it as this amazing tool that, that helps millions upon millions across the globe. And so, you know, I'm really seeing that your partnership with nature is going to be a key driver and it'll also, I believe, will become, if it's not already, a piece of your teaching. And when you, when you mentor people to become stepping into their greatest selves through doing good daily, I have a feeling that again, and I preface this, and if it's not already part of the curriculum, that communing with nature in a specific powerful way will be a part of that solution. [01:15:45] Speaker A: Yeah, I'll tell you this, Michael. There was some, Sometime in probably 2007, 2008, I was involved with the International Society of Sustainability Professionals and it was even on the board of directors for. But one of the things that there's two other guys and myself, we would go into for six years, we went to high schools teaching leadership based on these environmental principles. Like it could be biomimicry, it could be many things, but bringing that sense of nature and the lessons from nature in. So that's inside the foundation of Resilient Village. And we actually, and there's very specific applications that we use for that, including a community development training program that we have. So you're absolutely right, that's. And it's beautiful, it's amazing. [01:16:39] Speaker C: Well, look, look at the, look at this journey. Right, so we started at the first position, third eye forest. Right. We're meditating there. We've got the sun in the background and we've moved all the way to the 10th the outcome which is, you know, ironically, resilient frequency. Right, Resilient village, resilient frequency. And you see how strong and formidable this image is. There's just pure strength, vitality, confidence, like we've arrived. Right? And so let's take a quick listen to this for a good 30 seconds and we'll. [01:17:26] Speaker E: In the symphony of life's challenges, let your resilience be the frequency that stands out amidst the clash of sounds. Discover and amplify your unique tone. A beacon in the Storm of adversity. [01:18:32] Speaker C: Wow. Wow. So, yeah, I. I don't know about you guys, but I felt that. That. [01:19:17] Speaker A: Yeah, you got me wishing I could have that music you use in some of these workshops. I'm doing well. [01:19:23] Speaker C: You can. You can. This. This sonic supplement, I just saved it for you. [01:19:27] Speaker A: Okay. [01:19:28] Speaker C: And that is yours. So you can. You can express that how you'd like. And I'll. I'll show that once we get off. I'll. I'll send that to you, but just to show you it's there in the chat too. Boom. It's that easy. Wow. Tell me your thoughts. [01:19:58] Speaker A: You know, synergy, if I had to come. Synergy and expansion are two words that are coming up. I've been embracing the invitation to lean into the journey even more, and I just love it. And as I say what I. What I thought from my first impression of the AYA platform, and of course, being able to talk with you all is just this sense of kindredness and the idea of how. How. Without even knowing all the detail, you know, and of course, I keep digging through that, but how this can be leveraged to share with others for their journey as an example of that conversion. And so those. That's just. And I'm feeling grateful. Grateful, humbled to be really, you know, I'm feeling what's inside. There's a big degree of humility that's powerful, not that, you know, destabilizing type of humility. And so I. I accept the invitation to keep growing. And you all are part of that. [01:21:17] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Well, hey, I want to. I want to focus on Amanda for a second because she's our. Our leader. She's the CEO of iFit. And, you know, she's been. She's been so patiently just observing and witnessing the unfolding of this conversation, but I know that she has a viewpoint. Tell us, Amanda, what you've experienced here over the last 30 minutes. [01:21:50] Speaker B: Yeah, so. Well, James, I've known bits and pieces of your story, but to hear your story all together and all at once is so amazing. So thank you for sharing it. And I would say that, like, going back to the beginning of your story, you know, everybody has some role that we play throughout our lifetime that as we change like. Like our identity and who we be, that role is always a part of us. And if it's not a part of us, we go search for it. Right. And it's conscious or it's unconscious for some people. And so I would say, as I was listening to your journey, that role that has been continuous. Is this like heart centered rebel? Right. Like, I'm gonna do it differently. I'm gonna challenge, you know, the status quo. And even like one of the first conversations that you and I had was around law enforcement and like, just like, you know, how do we break through that? You know, they're sitting there, they're prisoners in our trainings and you know, how do you break through that? You know, it was, it was at a time where it was a greater challenge to break through that. And really nobody, I don't believe anybody is an expert of anything until they've held the emotional experience of something. So it doesn't matter the degree, the accolades, you know, none of that matters. What matters is what emotional situations did we find ourselves in where we were desperate. Like when we are in an emotional state of desperation, all rationalization and reasoning go out the window. Right. And to me, it's those life experiences that build the true expertise of who we're who are here to be. Right. The true expert. Right. So these pieces of your journey that I hear, Heart centered. Heart centered rebel. When you went back with your dad and you said, you know, I can see what you've been through, you said, I can see what you've been through, but the way that I interpret that is I can feel what you've been through. Right. Like we carry, we carry the trauma of seven generations within us. And because you've done it differently, look at what, what work you've done for your ancestors and you're not carrying what happened to your ancestors forward in the this life. Right. You are that heart centered, grounded individual who's going to do it differently and do it with love every step of the way. [01:24:18] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:24:18] Speaker B: You know, and that's one of the things that I just so appreciate about you and love you for. You know, you've got that, that wonderful masculinity, but with such a gentle heart. So, you know, thank you for the resilience that you've had. Thank you for everything that you went through over those years. You know, being a black man in the Marines, when you were even growing up in inner city Chicago when you were, was not easy. Right. And that's a level of expertise that you carry in your cells that I don't carry. Right. Like you know what that feels like. And so I so appreciate the fact that you were able to feel that and to move forward in life to guide others. Because another thing you said is people are afraid to be different. [01:25:01] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:25:01] Speaker B: And you were not afraid to be different. Right. So that's who you're here to lead. You're here to lead people into their difference, if you will, which is really our beingness, right? Our uniqueness. You're here to make them feel safe as they step into their unique, authentic selves of who they are and to protect them, you know, because Dr. James Miles is not somebody to be messed with. He might have a very gentle heart, but he does it with power, right? And so you make people feel loved and protected as they step into their uniqueness. And I so appreciate you for that. So, you know, thank you for everything that you've been through in life and thank you for always following your heart. Those little synchronicities that you shared throughout your story of just whether it was instinct or knowingness. You know, sometimes when we're put under pressure, we make the right decision, right? And so there's gotta be something higher at play here, like we all know it on this call, right? Like we are not all that. So. And I believe it's those moments when we're never alone, right, that something comes in and helps us. And if we stay present, those synchronicities will always show up and guide us. And so your story proves that to the success that you now have. And I can also hear that you're in another transition of letting of previous piece of ego and stepping into this newness. And I know your wings are going to catch you and I'm right there to give you a big mama bear hug and say, yes, play bigger. You can do it. Look at what you've done every step of the way. Yes, absolutely, yes. So thank you so much for being you. Thank you for sharing your story with everyone and I'm so excited to see what you continue to do in this world and what we together with Aya and resilient village can do in this world. [01:26:44] Speaker A: Well, let it be recorded. I'm going to borrow that heart Senate rebel that resonated. [01:26:49] Speaker B: That is your role. Right? Remember we talked about yesterday roles like what is your role? That is your role. [01:26:55] Speaker A: That resonated. So thank you. Thank you, Amanda. [01:26:58] Speaker B: You're welcome. [01:26:58] Speaker A: Much love. Thank you. [01:27:00] Speaker D: Wow, that's. That's a wonderful way to, to end our conversation, which I hope continues. And I will call you the Reverend Dr. James Miles from now on. I love that, love that ring. The heart centered rebel. I appreciate you coming on our show today and thank you to Michael for suggesting it and Amanda for your. Your insights as always. I'm glad you're on the show. Thank you again, all of you. [01:27:30] Speaker A: Kingsley, I'm hoping I get a chance to hear about your journey a bit too at some point. [01:27:36] Speaker D: Yes. Well, you know, we'll have to do. We're gonna have to do a part two. [01:27:39] Speaker A: Well, thank you all. This is. The timeliness of this for me, cannot be underestimated. And we'll unpack that down the road, but I really mean that. Thank you all so much. [01:27:52] Speaker C: Beautiful. Thank you, James. It was wonderful. Much love. I'm looking forward to growing this relationship and just seeing where. Where our paths and values align. [01:28:06] Speaker A: Absolutely. Just. We'll make it happen. [01:28:08] Speaker C: Yep. [01:28:09] Speaker A: And Amanda, we will continue. [01:28:11] Speaker B: Absolutely. Absolutely. Love you, James. Love you. [01:28:15] Speaker A: You too. [01:28:16] Speaker D: Well, we should. We should definitely do a part two. After you dive deeper into the Aya platform. After you listen to the sonic supplement. After. Yeah, down the road, let's do part two. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Harmonize youe Life. We hope you found inspiration and practical insights to enhance your well being. Until next time, stay well and keep shining.