Hugging the World Back Together with Tim Harris

0:00My hugs are the best medicine to heal the world. You're legendary and known for it in your restaurant. You're a published author. You're a podcaster. You're a speaker. I always believe in dreams. If you can dream it, you can do it. How'd you learn how to be so joyful and encouraging? I am that way after coffee. Oh yeah, and I will sail my vessel to the river runs dry. You've mastered a craft that we're always going to chase, which is you love people really well. I'm so glad my mom and dad maybe the man who I am today. If there's people in our lives that bring value, maybe we tell them.

0:44We remind them. We deserve to be celebrated. Hey, we're twins. Oh, yeah? Oh, yeah. Miles, after I met you today for an hour, you are now my new best friend. You're an incredible human being. I love you, Miles. You're the best. Thank you, I love you too buddy. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. We've been taught everything except how to be human. I'm Miles Adcox, and this podcast turns raw experience into practical wisdom. So if you're ready to stop performing your life and start participating in it, you're in the right place.

1:21This is human school. Joy can be a hard thing to hold on to, but every now and then you meet someone who carries it naturally. You can feel it. It guides everything they do. Today's guest is an example of just that. He's an entrepreneur, A philanthropist, an athlete, speaker, and the host of Big Heart Talks, a podcast centered on connection, kindness, and living a meaningful life. But more than anything, it's how he shows up that makes a lasting impression.

1:58His presence, I can already tell, lights up every room he walks into. There's a real warmth to him that makes you feel seen, the kind that reminds you your life matters. And in a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, he keeps showing up with authenticity that reminds us the importance of staying connected to one another. His life is a true reflection of what he believes, that small acts of kindness, real connection, and choosing to show up for people can actually change lives. I can't wait to share his joy with you today. Please welcome my guest, Tim Harris. Thank you for having me on.

2:39I'm excited to talk with you, buddy. I'm excited you're here too. I know you traveled a long way from home down to Nashville and you came in today and I usually in the more western one because I, I, I host podcasts, I work in psychology. I help a lot of people do interesting things. But what I want to do more than anything is be a cowboy. And I try on most days. I've got horses and I chase music a little bit too. But I heard right before I walked in that you were talking to some of our other friends and I heard you say you've been listening to country music since you were like 13 years old.

3:11Is that? Right. Yeah. I got into it since I was 13 years old, 'cause I, I was listening to it with my parents and I got into it and I got addicted to it. Now it's awesome. You still addicted. Still. That's a good thing to be addicted to because I grew up on country music too, and I love country music. And you're in. You're in the hometown of country music. Nashville, TN, the capital. That's right. It's awesome there. Yeah. Did you, are you going to get to take any music in while you're here? Have you listened to any music just yet? In the only in in the airport.

3:43OK, great. Well, that's OK. There's lots of music in the airport. Did you see some people playing live music when you walk through? I did, yeah. Isn't that a great way to be welcomed to town? It's awesome live country music. Do you have a a favorite artist? I have a lot of favorite artists, mostly Garth Brooks. Garth. George Strait and Josh and Josh Turner. Come on, you got good taste. Those are deep cuts right there. Cuts. Yeah, I grew up as a 90s country music fan, and Garth was the king of the night. He's actually one of the kings of the genre because he's done so many amazing things.

4:17But Josh Turner's got that deep voice. It's I know you sing like Josh Turner. I can a little bit. Can you really? No way you can go deep like that? Like a bass. I guess I can. You have Josh Turner song that you love. There's some. There's a couple called Yarman and the other one called Long Black Train. Oh I love long back train. Oh yeah, it's awesome. Yeah, I'm trying to remember exactly how it goes. Do you know enough of it to give me a little bit so I can see if I can sing it with you? There's a long black train coming down the line, Feeling all the souls are lost and crying wheels of sin. Only evil remains.

4:56So watch our miles for that long black train. Come on, you actually have a really good bass voice because I thought I I picked it up the media that you gave me the tune I was, I started, I wanted to jump in and sing with you, but I was like, I'm not going to mess this up. You're a good singer. You sure you're supposed to be speaking and writing books and not singing country music too? Should we add that to your resume? Maybe. We'll find out after the Nashville stay. Well, listen, we're going to have a lot of fun things to talk about.

5:23But I thought I'd start because we share something in common which I hear you love coffee. That's my my go to. Is it? Well, guess what we did? So I was trying to think yesterday when my team said Tim loves coffee and I thought, well, Nashville is turning into kind of a little coffee town. It's not Seattle and some of the places that are really known for coffee in Portland. But we brought we picked Nashville's three local best coffee spots, and I thought, well, you and I could do a taste test to see if we could figure out which one we like the best.

5:56That's awesome now. We got yours set up the way you like it with a little oat milk and just a little bit of sweetener and no pressure. You can you can just sip it. You cannot sip it or do whatever you want, but I thought I would try it too. As you can see, it's got one 2:00 You got the same thing on yours 3 And I have no idea what's what, but I do know that I asked the team to do some research. I said find the three best local coffee spots. Now we learned after doing some homework. That's pretty debatable because there's a lot of people who think that their place is the favorite, but we're going to find out.

6:30We got 3 local ones today. You want to give them a go? Let's do it. Which one you want to start with? Maybe #1 #1 All right, let's give it a go. Top Coffee Tasters actually smells good. It's actually good. It's awesome. Yeah. Get a thumbs up. I get a that a thumbs up. OK, we'll find out in a minute who makes it, but first let's go to number 2 and #3 after that and we'll figure out which one we like the best. So I'm going to try to keep in mind what number one tasted like.

7:04All right, you ready for number 2? Excited, brother. Let's do it. How about we? Do a salute or a toast and number 20. Yeah. Good, but I'd say just a little bit more bitter than I like. I think I like #1 a little better. I kind of like the same thing as you. Yeah #1 just a little better. All right, We still got one more to go #3 it is. You ready? That's do it, brother. All right. Cheers. Cheers #3 is pretty good. They're all pretty good. They are, but I'm going to let you you say which one do you like the best?

7:50Number one. Number one, it is. You know what? And I fully agree, I think number one wins and I have the results. This is not a paid ad, but it's just Tim and I having some fun this morning on who we like with coffee. But we're going to see 8th and Roast. It's a local coffee maker here in Nashville, TN 8th and Roast. Hats off. You just won the coffee contest with Tim and Miles to start off Human School. How about that? That's awesome. Go 8th and Roast and you know what we can do?

8:18We're going to take away two and three and we'll leave one on the table. That way if you want to sip some coffee out of one, you're welcome to. I might do the same. Cheers. 8th and Roast and Frothy and Bongo Java. I know Bongo Java is the OG Nashville original coffee. You guys crushed it too. It was all good. Thank you for getting this over to us and thanks for participating in this for me. And congratulations 8th and Rose for the big win. That's awesome. All right, buddy.

8:45So Human School is this show I started last year. I know we have that in common. We both just started our own podcast, so congratulations on launching yours. I'm excited. It's awesome. Yeah, I'm excited too. But one of the reasons I wanted to to launch this show was I have been where I I've been working in mental health and psychology for the last 20 years is how I've spent my time. And what that looks like as a career is I'm in the business of helping people live better lives. If people feel stuck or sad, or they're going through something difficult, I might come along with some tools or some encouragement or some support to try to give them a lift. And if they're feeling a little stuck, I can act like a tow truck and try to pull them out and help them get going again. I believe that the single most important ingredient in helping people be reminded of who God created them to be is love. I really think it's love and as much as I'd like to think I've spent a career trying to learn how to optimize that concept to really love people.

9:51Well, I'm when you, when you prioritize that you become a student and you become you want to learn and be around other people who feel like they've mastered a craft and you got on our radar because you're one of those people. We feel like that we've watched the way that you move in the world and some of the things that you're doing and some of the things yet to come. And we feel like you've mastered a craft that we're always going to chase and we hope introduce other people to on the show, which is you love people really well. It's so awesome.

10:23And I'd love to hear from you a little bit about why love and bringing joy and meaning into the world is important to you. The love and joy that I bring into the world is Tony awesome. It's witty, a beautiful thing. I bring all that to my company. You talking about your nonprofit? Yes, Tim's Big Heart Foundation. Tell us about Tim's Big Heart Foundation. I motivate and inspire families for the future of their children. We're doing awesome things and I want kids to look up to me so they can be like me one day. It's awesome right there.

11:11And if you to be like you, tell me about you. How would you describe yourself? I describe myself as being the inspiration to all these families because I want them to see the light. And what if they see the light? What is that bit? So somebody like you who's wired to just like I see the light, what does that do for people? What does that do for you? That. Means they can have a big heart, just like I did from from mine, yeah. And that's one that's one of the things I want people to see and learn about today, especially with your foundation and your work.

11:48And what's the name of your podcast? Big hard talks with Tim. Big hard talks with Tim. Guys, you're going to want to find this podcast. I spent some time this morning watching some of the clips and was so moved. I think in a, in a world where there's so many things and so many people talking, I'm grateful for it. But every now and then you find a voice that just you trust. And I trusted your voice when I saw it and it got our attention and we wanted you to come sit and and be with us. And again, I'm so thankful that you did because I just think people could use your encouragement. Do you have an example?

12:22When you wake up in the morning, do you wake up thinking, I'm going to go encourage people today? Is it something naturally that is, that comes with you or did it come from your parents? Or how did you learn how to be so joyful and encouraging? I am that way after coffee. Oh yeah. The coffee's the magic ingredient, huh? The. Magic ingredient. My dad made me taste coffee long time ago. I didn't like it. I didn't like it as well as well, but my dad ordered me a coffee and put about six to seven things of sugar into my coffee to make sure. AI love coffee now.

13:07Yeah, it's awesome there. Well, you know what you just illuminated for me, which is a good reminder. I think sometimes we overcomplicate things and we and and I say to you, I said, what is it that makes you want to bring love and joy into the world? And sometimes it's as simple as something that you enjoy to start the day. Coffee. Coffee can be a good motivator to go live a good life. As a matter of fact, I'm going to have another swig of this good 8th and roast and see if it's as infectious as you as you say it is. We are roasting a good time today. Yes, we are.

13:41Oh yeah. It's awesome. You, you've got a, you've got a legendary saying that puts kind of an exclamation point on top of all your messaging, which is. Oh yeah. Yep, that is my one line trademark. One line trademark. It's awesome. I, I picked that up when my, when my dad helped me when I, when I'm getting ready for on tour for my speeches a lot. That's amazing. And I, I actually like it. You said it a few times in that and it's kind of encouraging it. No matter what I ask or say, you might end the answer with, Oh yeah, just a little bit of enthusiasm. When you do a talk, like a keynote talk, when you're going to a speech, what do you normally talk about? I talk about my 7 steps to in to my awesome life. Wow.

14:38Do you would you mind sharing some of those with us? Like sharing your seven steps or? One of them is don't complain about the darkness and be the light. Don't complain about the darkness and be be the light, be the light. Yeah. And I can tell you from working around studying how people work and that when you do complain, it creates A negativity loop and it starts having, it shifts the way we look at the world and look at the people around us. It creates a little bit of a lens of bias.

15:08And So what you're talking about is how do we shift that and look at the light and walk through life with a little more gratitude. And that actually is a proven tool to help people change, grow, heal, and live a better life. So that's a great strategy. It's awesome. Do you remember any of your other strategies? There's another one in my speech that I sometimes mention is to use my superpower and and I also when I had a restaurant some someone came came to me and told me that told me that his wife was expecting a baby girl who had Down syndrome like me and he was worried.

15:52So I gave him a call and told him that everything is going to be OK because we are Tony. Awesome. That's one of the things that you're legendary and known for is your restaurant and what was the name of the restaurant? No restaurant was called Tim's Place. Breakfast, lunch and hugs. You'll be getting one of those later today. I can't wait for a Tim hug. I haven't gotten 1 yet but I thought I might get one after this conversation. I think I gave one to you before we got in here. You did?

16:23OK. Yeah. Oh, yeah? Well, I want another one then. Sounds good. Yeah. Well, so breakfast, lunch and hugs. Tim's place. Why did you want to have a restaurant? I wanted to have a restaurant so I can be around people 'cause there's always been my favorite thing in the world, being by the front door. That's where the world comes in it. It's a special thing. And to be what makes it special, being around people. I think you're spot on in terms of it, but you, you use the metaphor, the front door.

16:56What what, what is it that makes you want to greet people and and make them feel seen and loved? That's always been my favorite thing in in the world because I want them to feel feel the the the great vibes in the restaurant and making making sure they feel welcomed and loved. When? When do you recall? Or do you recall? Like when you started feeling welcomed in love? Who was the first person you remember that loved you really well? The first person that welcomed me into this world was my mom and dad. I'm so glad they.

17:39I'm so glad they maybe the man who I am today. It's so awesome. What could you tell me a little bit about your mom and dad? What are their names and? The names are Keith and Jeannie. Keith and Jeannie. Yeah, yeah. And my dad had helped me a lot. He's doing a lot more work for the future of my company and and maybe a a famous Liberty as well. So your dad works for you now, huh? He actually helps me with my future. He helps you with your future. He's awesome out there.

18:17I'm just so happy that he's, he's always been there for me. My rock, my my legendary myth with and all that. Yeah. Well, I can tell you come from good stock. That's something we say here in the South that you I can, you can tell the often how someone is that somebody in their past has really loved them. Well, and one of the things I think we can gift our parents with when they do cool things like love and encourage and speak into who we can become is that we pass that down.

18:48We call it maybe, maybe a legacy. And it feels to me like you're carving a pretty wide path and creating a pretty big legacy with some of the things you're doing and and starting to do. Is it important to you that you create a ripple that other people might go and feel loved and welcomed and accepted also? It's pretty awesome. Yeah, it is. I also got accepted by my life coach Nikki. She's awesome. I'm so happy that she's my business partner and life coach and helping me with my everyday life.

19:24Is Nikki here? Yep. Hi, Nikki. Yeah, she's in the in the crowd somewhere. That, that, that was, that was one part I, I didn't know, Nikki, that you were the, the life coach as well. I think that's one of the most important things that we can do is find a trusted support professional to help guide our lives and our journeys. So one of the things we try to teach people with human school all the time is how to be a better human being. And we try to introduce tools. And one of the tools we suggest all the time is be willing to receive help from other people.

19:57And it sounds like you figured that out with your friendship with Nikki. It's awesome. I knew here from her sister Lauren. Yeah. Yeah. I did another thing differently than because I was I was an ambassador for another nonprofit called Hodge or Joy. And then her sister, one wanted wanted me to be taking to know her. She's awesome. Nikki, how are some ways that she helps you and encourages you? She helps me to stay with my diet plan the I am on right now. It's pretty strange, but I'm making, I'm making it happen so I can look 10 times more awesome. Yeah, it's awesome there.

20:50Oh. Yeah. Is it, is it important to you to tell me about eating clean? You said that a moment ago when we first started, or maybe right before we started, you said I eat really clean. And it sounds like Nikki's been influencing you with nutrition. And clearly part of it is to look better. I'm sure the other part maybe to feel better as well. But how's it been for you? Why is it important for you to eat that way? She's she's my life coach. I have a nutritionist that I was introduced to by my sister-in-law, Kathleen. Her name is Veronica.

21:24Yeah, how does she help the nutritionist? She's helps me with my food, help me with my food and portion control. It's hard for me. And do you eat that way to stay physically in shape or mentally in shape or both? Because I know you're an athlete too, right? You're a runner. Yeah, I'm a distance runner. I do a lot. Is that what you compete in in the Special Olympics is running? I do, I do. But of that too. Running. Playing basketball. Oh, you're a baller. You play basketball.

21:54Poly hockey is like, it's kind of like floor hockey without ice cases, with your running, with your shoes, with a puck and a stick and got crazy at it. Which is your favorite sport? Track. Track, Yeah, I cannot wait to tell you all about that. It's awesome. Now would be a good time. Tell me about it. I'd love to hear about track. This year I got selected to compete in the Special Olympics USA National Games. Wow, that's a big deal. Pretty awesome, right?

22:29It's incredibly awesome. We're. Traveling in June? Yeah, it's almost time. Where you going to go? Minneapolis, MN. Yeah. Oh, that'll be a good place to go and compete in. June is a good time to be in Minneapolis. It's not so cold there. It'd be nice and beautiful. Lots of lakes there too. Oh, it's it's awesome. That's exciting. Congratulations. Oh yeah, and I got selected to help a local fast food restaurant called Jersey Mike's. There's reporting Special Olympics, USA games.

23:01They brought me to the back of their kitchen to make sandwiches. They picked a good a good choice because you don't. You owned a restaurant. I bet you've made a few sandwiches in your. Day. It was fun. Jersey Mike's, hats off to you guys for supporting such an important 'cause. But yeah, that's that's a quite a big restaurant, that's a big chain. So you got to go in and make some sandwiches for them. Was it something that they filmed or did they just have you come in and do it? They have me and go and do it.

23:27OK. All right, right. Well, you ought to be a spokesperson for Jersey Mike's, if you ask me. So Jersey Mike's, you heard it here today. You need to spot what's your podcast one more time. Big heart talks with Tim. Big heart talks with Tim, I think needs Jersey Mike's as your anchor sponsor. So I'm going to invite him in Jersey Mike's. Call Nick, call Nikki, our friends over here and you need to sponsor this podcast. Don't you think you like Jersey Mike's?

23:51Oh yeah, they're awesome. They make a good sandwich, don't they? I'm just so happy that they're that they're supporting us. Yeah, me too. And with my biggest support team, my family, all my best friends, even my best friend, Ashton, Oh, Ashton. She's been my best friend since high school. All right, tell me about Ashton. Where does she? Where does she live? Is she close by your house or? She's she lives in New Mexico, OK, in Farmington, in Farmington, OK. Farmington, NM.

24:20And how'd you guys become friends? Became best friends through high school. High school, yeah. And do you remember when you met her the first time? I don't remember but. Just just know you guys can't became really good friends over time. We we did, yeah. Something tells me you'd be easy to be friends with. It's awesome right there. Yeah, She gave me my first job at a restaurant called Red. Robin. Red Robin. Yeah, that's a good restaurant, too. They make pretty good burgers.

24:47Pretty awesome there. Yeah. And then I, she was excited head, she was excited to know that I was wanting to own a restaurant back then. So she gave. I was just talking about it back then. I was just just a senior in high school. You already had that dream of owning a restaurant. I did and that and that and that dream came true. Yeah, I did. How did how did you, how did you contribute to helping it come true, do you think? I did a lot of studying in college. You.

25:17Did a lot. With restaurant hosting and office skills and done a lot of productrums where I go out and take the bus to the to the place where I work in town. It's awesome. What do you you strike me as a guy that if you have a dream, you're going to go chase it down and figure it out? Is that true? Are you somebody that believes in dreams? I always believe in dreams. If you can dream it, you can do it. If you can dream it, you can do it. Because I I have a hunch that one of the secret ingredients for dreamers, those that actually have a thought, they have a vision and they prep and they commit to it and they bring people around that vision who would encourage them to make it happen.

26:04I think it all starts with the belief that I can do anything I set my mind to. Do You agree? I do agree. Yeah. Is that your one of your philosophies in life? Yeah, yeah, it. Is one of the strategies I should say. Oh yeah, you got. How did you come up with your 7 strategies? I I just and it just comes natural. Just kind of came to you and you thought it was something you might want to share. It seems like I saw a clip online somewhere where you were sharing with the school and I saw you got like a standing ovation after your talk.

26:38I didn't get to see the talk, but I saw you had the standing ovation and you ran straight to the audience and we're giving them high 5. That was so cool. It's awesome, right it? Was brilliant. Did did did you? Do you have an audience that you love to talk to or why did you want to go talk to a school when they invited you? Why is it important for you to speak to kids? I've been touring about schools now because I became an author of a book and they were really excited. We haven't talked about the book yet. We we will soon.

27:08Tell me about the book. It's a good time for it. Oh. Yeah, my book that I became inauthorized is called The Book of Hugs. The Book of Hugs. Yeah, that's a perfect title. It's awesome, right? Yeah, is it? Tell me about the book. Tell me a little bit about it. What does it represent or what does it mean? It represents monkeys, bananas and a teddy bear. That's me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you have a? Did you did you bring a copy of the book? Yes, I did.

27:35Would you mind if we looked at it? Of course. Oh, that'd be. Oh, you got it right there. Fantastic. This is my book. Oh, the book of hugs. Congratulations, buddy. This is oh, there they are. There's the monkeys, the bananas, and there's you is the teddy bear. And it's awesome, right? It's very awesome. The monkeys have a special meaning because my best friend Ashton calls me her special monkey. That's why they're in that book. No way. Your your friend from high school, Ashton. Yeah.

28:05OK. Oh, this part of me wants to read this right now, but I kind of want, I don't want to read it all because I want all of you to go get the book of Hugs 'cause I, I mean, I'm excited to get into it. Would it be I'd, you know, I've, I'm a father. I've, I'm a dad. I've got an 8 year old son and a six year old daughter that I'm really. And they love when I read to him at night. It's awesome, right? Do you think I could buy this copy from you? Actually, I'm going to give it to you for free. You're.

28:39Going to gift it to me. Yeah, I mean, it gives it to you for me. Oh, thank. You. This is this is my gift to you for having me on here. Thank you so much. It's so meaningful. I'm going to put it right to you. So would you be open to signing it for me? Of course, as the author, could you do that now? That'd be fantastic. It's awesome. Tim's The Book of Hugs. Well, yeah. It's your first. Your first book, huh? That's a big deal. When did the book come out? It came out and it was published here in in Nashville. No way.

29:14Yeah, I wonder what publisher? I'll take a look in a minute it. Was Pat Hayes. Pat Hayes, You remember which company he works for? Is it Thomas Nelson? Maybe. I know what I know. Don't know. Aw, thank you for doing this. This is going to make it even more meaningful. Take your time. We got plenty of time. I'm going to keep sipping on this coffee while you write me a message. Sorry about the scruples here. That actually gives it a little character, give me a memory when I'm reading it to my kids tonight.

29:48What? What inspired you to want to write this book? Why do you feel like hugs are important? The hugs are important so I can teach kids how to give good hugs like me. And now you are now the owner of my book. Thank you. I feel like I kind of want to put the hug into motion right now. Would you mind if we pause and I kind of got a hug alongside the book? Let's do it, brother. Thank you buddy. I love you, Miles. Yeah, I love you too. Thank you so much.

30:17You're amazing. I love you. The and if, if if more people hugged. How do you think that might help the world? I, my hugs are the best medicine to heal the world. No. And I'd love to spread that right now. Make the world makes the world awesome. Especially with my I I hug my team too, not just my my parents. Yeah. I'll give hugs to Nikki and to my executive director, Marissa. I am so excited that we, my dad, chose to hire Marissa to be our executive director.

31:01She's doing a lot of great things. We're going to be travelling a lot more. We're going to have so much fun. Marissa seems really cool. I got a chance to meet Marissa right when we came in and they immediately had a vibe kind of like you have. They were just had a warm, really welcoming, loving presence. And so I thank you both for what you're doing, for what you're building. And thanks for coming to Nashville and joining us for this conversation. This is I'm having a ball already and I couldn't agree more.

31:28You got a good team behind you. I do have a great team and and a big support team with my family. Yeah, your mom and dad sound like they're just incredibly special. Oh yeah, and my nieces, my my nieces, my nieces and my nephews. And my sister in And my and my. You have two brothers back where you live. I. Have three. I have three brothers, but two. What are your brothers? Names named Dan, Tommy, and John. Dan, Tommy and John my. Yeah, my brother Tommy and John live out there with me right now in Albuquerque.

32:08OK. Yeah, I've been seeing them a lot more cause of the of the new kid that just came. Yeah, we're excited to have them in our lives. What's it like being an uncle? It feels great. Yeah. With this new kid that we just got, I can't wait to to run a lot more miles. How many are you running now? I'm not running right now, but I'm running in my mind right now. Yeah, fair enough. How many miles do you run a day? Usually on the treadmill, but I'm trying to get more to go outside more. Because somebody told me you ran, can you run like up to 10 miles?

32:49I did once. Wow. Training for a race. Wow. I have. I have a friend. He's a ultra marathon runner named Adam Trubow. OK. And he did a big race called the Leadville Trail 100 in Leadville, Co and he raised over $86,000 and he's, and he decided to use that to send me and my friends off to Minneapolis, MN. Our team name is Team New Mexico. And he, he's using that money to to send us off with. That's incredible. So cool. It's so cool. I've got a couple of friends that are extreme athletes and run those really long races. Ian Laurios just did a fundraiser, Chef Larios, he ran around the country of Bali or he got most of the way there, actually had an accident, broke his leg in the middle of it. But he did it for such a good 'cause that I think you got to build a whole bunch of homes for people that didn't have houses. It was really neat.

33:51And another friend of mine, Cam Haynes, is is an extreme athlete and a real inspiration to me, much like you are. Makes me want to go run 10 miles after this conversation. Yeah, 10. And with your name attached to it. Your name? Yeah. Do you like living in Albuquerque? I was pretty much raised there. I was born in Philadelphia, then raised there. OK, then I found out my executive director is from Philly. It's awesome. Oh yeah, we. Got Philly, Philly, New Jersey, and then Albuquerque all represented today and then a bunch of Tennessee people in Chicago, right?

34:30And oh, Georgia, Atlanta over here and 10 and we're 2 Tennessee guys. We got a lot of states represented in the room. Oh yeah, that's awesome. It's pretty cool. Are you excited to represent Albuquerque when you go to Minneapolis? Is it this summer? In June, right? I'm just not representing my hometown. It's the whole entire state, the entire state of New Mexico. Oh, it's all in New Mexico. It's all in New Mexico. That's a big deal. Who? I am representing with my friends.

34:54What about it are you most excited about? Flying on an NFL plane? What the Arizona Cardinals plane. What? Yeah, you get to fly in the Cardinals plane. They. Donated their plane for us to fly out to Minnesota. That's incredible. We have a three hour layover in Phoenix. Then they're gonna have, they're gonna have a Foo, a few football players in the airport security to escort me and my and our team out there to that plane to send us off. That's amazing. So you get to go, you get to meet some NFL guys while you're on the ground on your layover.

35:32Most of the time when you hear layover, you're like, oh, bummer, we got to wait in an airport. But this is actually one we welcome, because you're going to go meet some neat people. Yep, yeah, they're going to escort us out. Really. Plane after the after the layover. You're proving something that I think is another helpful tool that I'd like to encourage the people that listen to our conversation. And if it's OK with you as we follow along, I keep learning things.

35:55You keep dropping things out that I think are really helpful Nuggets that we would call like a tool to help us live a better life. And this is another one. I think when we're kind, I think it attracts kindness and I see you as a kind human. And because of that you say Jersey Mike's is doing this for this experience. In this event, the Arizona Cardinals have donated their the NFL get to fly on an NFL plane. We get to stop in Arizona and meet some players. So you by being kind, it seems like other parts of kindness are coming around your life.

36:25Is it always been like that for you? I think so. I think I think they renting out a private lounge for our team. Wow, it keeps getting better. For our team, so something won't be out in the public as much so we won't get mobbed. That's incredible. That's why they did that for us. Yeah, yeah, the airport did that for us. How has that been for you? Because right now you're you're a published author, you're a podcaster, you're a speaker. So you're becoming more known.

36:53People know you and you're going to you're you're headed towards even becoming a little more famous. I guess if you're going to be famous for anything, hugs is a big thing. Is a cool thing to be famous for. But how's it been? Do you get recognized sometimes? I do sometimes. Yeah. Even for a lot of famous people that are liking my stuff too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What does that feel like when somebody famous likes your stuff? It's awesome. Yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of great a lot of great friends from like that too. Yeah, You know, what I think is really cool about it is that and, and the same for me, I've had some famous people that have liked our show and had some famous people on our show. And one of the things about fame, I think because really fame is just influence.

37:37It means there's a lot of people watching what I do and I get to use that to steward a lot more kindness and ripple out some good things into the world. So I think it can be a lot of pressure sometimes for a lot of people that have a lot of fame because it feels like everybody's watching them all the time. But it feels like such a good opportunity that they can go just ripple goodness into the world. And I, I don't know what will happen with what you're building.

38:00What I hope happens and I, and maybe this will be a little small part of it, the people that will get to see you on our show is that your foundation will just really grow and help change a lot of lives. It's. Awesome out there. It's hard that that alone if we do that. I also got a great gift, yeah, that my business partner did for me. Yeah. She's going to give me that blue famous dot on my Instagram. Really. You're going to get certified? Is that what they call it?

38:32The check? Verified, not certified. You're going to get verified, verified. That's a big deal to get the blue check. Mark Yep is all things to my business partner. I love her so much. She sounds really talented. She's awesome. Yeah. Do you tell her often how you feel about her? Do you tell her you love her a lot? I tell her that I love her a lot. Yeah, yeah, she has. She has an amazing voice. I listen to her sometimes when I feel stressed. I listen to her voice. She is amazing.

39:04Is it calm and it helps calm you down a little bit when you're nervous or stress? Yes, she helped calm me down with her voice. It's so amazing, I love that. Yeah, me too. Every time I feel stressed. Every time I feel angry. Yeah, I listen to her. She's she has the voice of an Angel. Yeah. From up above. So cool. I had some sad times to myself. I had a few people that had passed in my life, but she helped me. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think it's so important to find a voice like that in our lives, and I'm so glad you found one.

39:43I did, I found 1 and I and I'm so blessed to have that. Yeah. And I think it's so important to do what you're doing right now, which I think we could all learn from that, which if there's people in our lives that bring value, maybe we tell them, we remind them and we speak into them. Just like you do that. So naturally you just, you know, we're in a conversation, but you just look over and you say what you do really matters. It's incredibly meaningful. You're voice of an Angel.

40:11And I know you guys might be used to it 'cause you get to work in this energy all the time. It's so beautiful and so encouraging. But for us, it's, and I hope our audience, we're just so moved by it, by what all the three of you are doing together and just how you steward and affirm your team. It's really something I can learn from. That's awesome mate. Yes, it's really awesome. Yeah, before I get into my speeches, stuff like that, I mean, you get hyped, but you know what?

40:37Cheers to this. Yeah, cheers. To this come on, what do you think? Still awesome, I love you. The coffee still works, it's still magic. It's awesome there. So, so you, you have had some moments. I was going to ask you about that and I'm really glad you brought it up. That was brave to bring it up just to say life is awesome and I'm an encouraging person who wants to bring hugs and joy to the world. But I'm also human and I've had some sad moments as well.

41:09So I think it's important we talk about those so we don't sit with it alone. But sounds like you've experienced some sad moments and lost some important people to you. There's. Some other songs that I listen to from from some other famous people that helped me. So music is one of the ways to help you. Music helps a lot. Good music, even music that calms me down. Yeah, the music helps you. Music, I think is a, a wildly important tool. It it's proven, it's gotten all kinds of psychological benefits, but it can really be a good partner for us and help ride us through some tough times.

41:40But well, listen, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you had some losses. I know I I spend a lot of time walking with people through seasons where they've lost somebody, and it sounds like you've got some good people around you to walk you through the tough moments in life too. Oh, yeah. And when the one person that that had passed recently was really hard for me because he was one of the guys that helped me publish my book. His name was Sandy Sandy. He was my.

42:08He was my buddy. Yeah, Sandy. Sandy work for the book publisher? Or was he a friend or. He was a friend of the book. Publisher OK Friend of the book publisher and help. I found out before he passed he had my book and gave it to his doctor so he can, so they can still have my book in spirit. Yeah. And doctors, much like what we try to do with this show, they help people. And I think sometimes it's the helper, sometimes people who help people need the encouragement as much as anybody, 'cause when you give encouragement all day, often you need something to fill your cup back up.

42:47And I have a hunch that the doctor that's holding this book of hugs, you probably, he or she probably know a whole lot of things about medicine, about the human body. But sometimes, much like myself and them, we need to be reminded that sometimes people just might need a hug. And maybe that's the best medicine we can give them, right? That's what your book's been teaching me so far and I've only had it for like 20 minutes. It's awesome, right? Today is so awesome.

43:12Yeah, the book is about about the hugs I give. And it's there's a lot of love right now in the book. Yeah. And I'm right now I'm trying to find love, trying to find love, trying to find love. OK. All right. Are you in my life? Are you dating? Not yet, but next month I'll be hosting a speed dating event. That's next month. Great. Are you going to when you, when you say host it, do you get to participate in it too? I'll. Be I'll be a part just bringing it.

43:42OK, but you get to host it and participate in it, so you'll do some speed dating. Yeah, our company is hosting it, but I am one of the participants in the speed dating. Yeah. That's fantastic. Are you excited about it? Are you a little nervous about it? I'm getting there, I'm excited about it and can't wait. Possibly to meet possibly a wife, maybe one day. Wouldn't that be amazing? See, it's time for me, 'cause I just turned 40 this year. OK, it's time to it's time to for me to settle down.

44:14Yeah, and pop that big question. Yeah, you. Have you thought about if you meet the girl of your dreams? Have you thought about how you might pop the question? There's some awesome ideas. Maybe take her to some of my speaking events and get her on stage and and proposed to her in front of in front of a giant crowd. That's a really neat idea. If I do it in private, probably a hot a hot air balloon ride. Oh, that's even a cooler idea. That's really romantic, actually.

44:49Or if if I have the guts, I could propose on an airplane and with proposed with proposed on an airplane while playing my guitar. Oh, that you play guitar? I have guitar at home. Do you really? I do. Oh my goodness. We got a couple guitars out there that the Gibson. You know what? You know Gibson guitars. Grab that one, Braden. I just want to show it to him, but Gibson is a legendary guitar maker. They're one of the originals and they make some incredible guitars. But they Gibson Gibbs Foundation is run by a friend of mine, Erica.

45:23And they were kind enough because I have a foundation as well. And we try to help some people with our foundation. Is that a is that a Gibson one there? Yeah. Oh wow, that's a good one. And I I like that. See. The brand, right? There. Oh yeah, I see. Isn't. That cool close needs. A. Little bit of love, but Gibson gives gifted our gifted us at on site and the on Site foundation with several guitars so that our guests could pick them up and learn to play them when they're going through sad times and that music could help heal them. That's awesome.

45:57That neat. Oh yeah, we could hook you guys up actually with the Gibson Foundation if you guys might need guitars for some of your work with your foundation and your company. That makes so fun too. Have another one at home. It'd be. Cool. Yeah, especially since you play I. Know I like to play. Yeah. What do you play? Do you have any songs you love to play? I I know of one it's fun you. Want to play it? Is that OK with you of? Course, I would absolutely love it here, I'll get this guitar for you.

46:25This would be fun there. You go. Oh wow. This is cool. It's getting a full Nashville experience. This is what we do. We put the guitar right on your or put the mic right on your guitar. You know a dream is like a river. Hold on, I'll do it again. You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows, and a dreamer is just a vessel that must follow where it goes, trying to learn from what's behind you and never knowing what's in store. Take each day a constant battle and just stay between the shores and I will sail my vessel. Till the.

47:14River runs dry like a bird upon the wind. These waters are in my sky. I'll never reach my destination if I never tried, but I. Will sail. My. Vessel till the river runs dry. There's bound to be wolf waters and all. Take some falls with the good Lord as my couch, and I can make through them all, and I will sail my vessel till the river runs dry like a bird upon the wind. These waters are my sky. I'll never reach my destination if I never try. So I will sail my vessel with the Gibson guitars. Yeah, Thank you.

48:11Oh, that's so good. That's my favorite song in the world. Yeah. Why? Because no, it helps me. No, what? I told you before how it helps me to relax from being angry. It's awesome. Yeah, yeah, that's a good one. The the message behind it. Do you know, I, I think I got this right. I'm going to have my team Ashley, if you could Google it and take a look to make sure. I think Victoria Shaw wrote that song. I know she was part of writing that song. Maybe Gordy Sampson was the other one, But the songwriter who wrote that song actually lives here in Nashville. Garth Brooks.

48:46Yeah, Garth I think was a Co writer on it as well. He was definitely the one that sang and performed it. I think he was on it as a writer. But Victoria Shaw, she write that by herself. She and Garth wrote it together. Sorry, Garth. Garth Brooks scene to see that, it'd be so cool. I think there might be a chance. Where do you I where do you want to meet that guy? You want to meet Garth? Yeah, he's a legendary of, of country music, man. He's awesome. He is a legend beyond legends.

49:15There, I, I have it there, there may, I think we might be able to get this in front of him. I think he might be able to see it. That was so cool. I know some friends of friends of, of Garth. I know his management team really well and I've met him a few times. He's such a nice guy and and one of my really good friends, Rhonda, worked for him for a long time. So we're going to try to see if we can get him to watch this. I know he'd love to see it. Oh yeah. It was awesome.

49:37And then Victoria Shaw, I think she would love to see it too, because I think it's one thing to write a song and perform a song like Garth did, but it's different when you see somebody else perform your own work. There's something beautiful and pure about it. I just want to make sure they turn up your mic and turn down mine. You got me in there so much. I sing it with you. But it was really nice. It was really beautiful. It's encouraging. Having someone doing that with me. You do good.

50:00Well, thank you. Thank you for letting me join along. I actually it's one of my favorite songs is too. And Garth was one of my favorite artists. He's actually I, I, I've been to a lot of concerts because I not only work in mental health, I also work in music. So I do both. I kind of work in the music business a little. Bit that's cool. That's awesome. And, and I love live music. I think it's medicine like what you talked about. It's awesome. But I got to tell you, I've been to a lot of shows over the years, a lot of shows for work and just a lot of shows for fun.

50:28But the best, one of the best live shows I've ever seen in my life is Garth Brooks. Have you ever been to on a Garth's concert? I haven't. I want to. Yeah, I don't know where Garth is right now. I know he take, he's take quite a bit of time off the road, but if and when he goes back on, seems like he's got a big one he's doing in London at Hyde Park. Maybe look that up and see what Garth's doing right now performance wise. It's in June. Has he got anything before that?

50:51I. Don't think so. Maybe on the 19th of June, Yeah, for that big trip in Minneapolis. I'd like to get you to a Garth show, though. I want you to see a Garth show, so I'm going to try to see if I can figure out a way to hook that up. But he doesn't tour a lot, he doesn't play a lot, so it would be a really special thing to get to see him. I also did something awesome. I got to meet someone cool. Yeah, tell me about. It back in my hometown, I used to work for a restaurant called the Range Cafe. Many years ago, I was working at a Range Cafe, waiting at my parents.

51:21It was in 2022 and I got and I got to meet Reba McIntyre, the queen of country music. I got to meet her. What was that like? It was so cool. Yeah, she didn't want to want to get mobbed with all the fans, but she only wanted to meet, meet the workers. She was down there for a filming. Yeah, film on one of her TV shows. Yeah, one of her shows, yeah. And she came to the range and I happened to work there and they, she just wanted to meet, meet the workers. And I happened to be a worker there. Yeah, that's super special that you got to meet Reba. She's another legendary I.

51:55Know she's. A country music singer. You're right. She's one of the Queens. I think you think about the queen of of the genre of country music. You think Dolly Parton and you think Patsy Cline and you think Reba McEntire. And we could probably go on to the newer generation. You like Miranda Lambert? I I like them too, yeah. Yeah. Dolly Parton is like, I think she's like a family member to Miley Cyrus. Is she? She might, yeah. I think you may be right about that.

52:22I know the two of them. Or I know Miley covered her song Jolene. I remember that. I loved that version of it. But I think they've been really close. I've seen them in some interviews, I think, together. So yeah, that's a good you like Miley as well. Oh yeah, I seen there's a show called Hannah Montana and I saw Dolly Parton being on on the show in one of the episodes. Oh, Dolly was in a Hannah Montana episode. Yeah, 'cause I think she, I think it might be a family member of them.

52:50OK, that's really cool. Yeah. Tell me a little bit more before we get away from the book, 'cause I want to get the sense of it, but tell me a little bit more about the book. You got 3 characters or three ideas, which is a monkey, a teddy bear and a banana. Tell me a little bit more about the book, could you? The the bananas is awesome there 'cause I love to eat them, yeah. Yeah. Not from the book. They're too tiny. You wouldn't want to eat those.

53:17No, you don't know. When I sit, when I lay down with my kids tonight at bedtime and I'm going to read them about this book. Is there a message you hope they take away? Is there something you hope there's? There's three simple steps to give a hug and want them to practice so they can actually get a Tim hug from me. Really. Yeah, Yeah. Would you mind sharing a little bit? Like what are the steps? There's three simple steps in in there. One of them is to ask first. Ask first.

53:44That's the first one. Yeah, why is that important? Because it's important to ask first in case if somebody doesn't want to hug, they can just give them high fives. Yeah, so it's OK to respect people's personal boundaries around hugs. I think that's really wise. Or there's a personal favorite called the hand hug that's good too. Even if they don't want a full on hug, there's another way to do it without giving a hug. Would you want to show me the hand hug?

54:12Yeah, I'll show you. OK bring your hand like this if I hear OK put you put your phone on my apartment that. It's a it's. Called the hand hug. A hand hug. If anybody that doesn't like hugging or they can try out a a hand hug, that's a hug. That's a good alternative. It's a good backup. Plan. That's a great backup plan. Yeah, I like that a lot. So the first step is to ask them about it. Ask them for if they why not follow the hug, but if not they can try that.

54:41Hand hug and then what? What might be a second step? They get an air hug. Oh yeah, so you give them another alternative idea, like with an air? Hug different eye. I did that for school. I do that for schools. I do a critical activity. I give them off their seat, off their off the carpet. When I'm reading my book, I would stand up with me and to raise their arms and practice the air hug. So you you start them this way. I start them this way and then let's give each other a hug and they come and bring in an air hug. Yeah.

55:19Bring it in like that. Like that. I did that recently. I bet that was a hit. Yeah, and there's more Boo Boo wings I'll be going to as well. Oh, you got some more gigs coming down. Some more gigs coming up soon. OK, good. You know, you were talking about when you were. You seem like a really creative guy too, like you're always dreaming and thinking about how you can create. And one of the creative ideas you had was when, and I think it's going to happen. I feel good about it.

55:45I think you're going to meet you're going to meet the love of your life and you're going to get to pop that question at some point. And when you do, I like what you were thinking about. You said maybe I'll do it, you know, as a talk when there's a lot of people and bring her on stage and. It's a maybe I'll have some other ideas you. Got some other ones? You may not want to reveal all of them 'cause you want to surprise her. There's one. Oh, there's one. Yeah, I want maybe propose to her in your studio. Here.

56:15Yeah, here. Wow, in your studio? That would be so cool. I want, I want to, I think about doing that. I'll tell you what, we'll make a deal right now that if when you meet her, I want to host you back in Nashville and we're going to take you out. Take the both of you out for a night on the town, let you see some country music, maybe take you to the Grand Ole Opry so you can see the history of country music. And we'll set up a little dinner for you at a great spot that I like where you can hear live music.

56:43And then we'll bring you back over here and you can do your thing. How's that sound? That'd be awesome and with the help of my friend Forest Black that we called to have him to be here when he on tour to come to, to be a part of this. Forest, Is he touring? He's an artist. He's going to be touring in May, OK this year, but when the time comes I want him to be here. Oh, he's a friend, so you thinking he might be able to play some music are? You doing that that?

57:09'D be cool. Wouldn't that be something? Oh yeah, such a good idea. He's awesome, I love him. So when you gave me that idea earlier, your idea about possibly doing it, I wanted to share this early and I forgot. I just was reminded again. You care if I share a story with you? So I speak too. And I used to speak a lot. I used to travel a whole bunch and talk a lot. In the last couple years when I started this project, and now I've got kids and I've been helping some other people that live on the road.

57:38I've been slowing down with some of my speaking engagements. But I really like to do it. But I did 1 about, let's see where. I guess it was maybe 10 years ago. I did one at Disneyland out the original Disneyland out in San Diego, and it was in the House of Blues and I was speaking there and my girlfriend was in the audience and there were several 100 people there watching the talk. And I played this trick on her where I had a heart player there, kind of like your idea where you want some music to be playing.

58:10So there was a heart player that started playing our our favorite song. It was John Legend, All of you. Is that the name of the song? All of you. Is that the way? Yeah. So they started playing that. And immediately she thought that's our song, but she didn't know what I was up to. I was being sneaky. And So what I did was I handed flowers to everybody in the audience. I handed a single rose to everybody in the audience. And I said, you know, in a moment, I want to invite you to give this flower to somebody who you have a lot of love and that you found a lot of meaning in. And I had already told them earlier that there was a moment that I was going to have them all give it to her so she could feel really special, but she didn't know that. So I gave mine to her and I invited her up on stage. And she sat up on stage and I walked up and I handed her the first flower.

59:04And then 400 people came behind me and they all handed her a flower too. So by the end, she was holding this many roses. That's crazy. And then when all the people came through, I doubled back and was the last in line and I was on one knee after the last flower held. And I I proposed to her and asked her to marry me. That saw somebody. It was really cool. I'm happy for you. Thank you. I am. Yeah, deeply. I am happy for you. Yeah. Thank you. When and and when you say you're happy for me and then you said I'm deeply happy for you, how would you describe like being deeply happy? No, no, I have a big heart and I wanted to give you that heart too.

59:46Yeah, I can tell part of what I why I enjoy talking to you so much. But by the way, how are you feeling? How are you doing? Are you doing OK with our conversation? You feel OK with it? I'm having fun. You're having fun. I am too. I just wanted to check on you and make sure because sometimes you never know. And if you were getting bored, I was like, we can talk about something more fun. But I'm glad you're enjoying it because I'm really enjoying it.

1:00:07But part of what I'm enjoying is that you have, when I'm talking to you, you're, you're a lot of people are going to get to know you by your words. Because you've now written them down in a book, you got a podcast, so people are going to know your voice. And I think that's a beautiful thing. But I think the real gift of communication is not what we say, it's what we consume. And you're a great listener. Has anybody ever told you that? No. Can I? Yeah, I want to tell you that you have.

1:00:36You listen with your eyes and with your ears, and I can tell you're not scared of emotion. Like if a moment touches you, you feel it in real time. And I think that's something we all can learn. For in my world, in psychology, we would call that being emotionally intelligent or emotionally in tune, attuned to the person in front of us. Which means I'm not going to hide my feelings. They're going to, they may come up in our conversation. And if I see something about you, I'm going to share it.

1:01:03I'm going to share that this makes me feel this way. And also I'm not going to hide the hard feelings like sadness. And you're just so open about how you talk about that. It's such a good example for all of us to see. It's awesome there because I am. I am that legendary to make people feel happy because I am the Albuquerque because biggest softy. Yeah, yeah. Oh yeah. That's why you played the teddy bear in this. Book. Oh yeah, the biggest softy there is.

1:01:30Oh yeah. Yeah. How would what do you, how would you describe a softy? What is a softy? Softy is is that teddy bear in the book? And and what does that mean to you? What do you want to be known for? We know for giving a lot more hugs. Yeah, giving a lot more hugs and a lot more love. Lot more love, yeah. Yeah. It's often there. Do you have a do you have a story that you could tell? I love the story you told earlier where you said in your restaurant you had a father that was going to have a, a baby that had Down syndrome and that you wanted to talk to him and encourage him. Is that right?

1:02:05That story? Oh, yeah. And well, let me ask you about that story specifically. But what did you say to him when you talked to him? Do you remember? I don't remember, I just told him that, told her that your daughter is a great gift and she is totally awesome. So, so so, so we can all be awesome at the same time. We are downright perfect. Downright perfect. A gift. Oh yeah, recently in in this month of March, we had a a big day on the 21st, happens to be World Down syndrome day. 21st of March. Yeah, 321. 3/21.

1:02:49The best day in the world. It's pretty cool. We deserve to be celebrated. We are center on God's love. And is that what that day is about to celebrate? Celebrate and see the ability. Yeah, see the ability cause often I'm sure people focus on what they might call a disability and they maybe not don't see the whole picture of just the gift that to the world that that you and your community are. And there is someone out in the world. He he's a He used to be a legendary football player before his name was Tim Tebow.

1:03:29Oh yeah. He's he he created a nonprofit. Yeah. And, and founded a really cool event called Night to Shine. And it is about, it is about that we are centered on God's love. And he treated us like royalty, rocking on the red carpet and rising limousines. And he believes that we are kings and Queens of this prom. It's a beautiful thing. Where does he? Does he host it in Florida? Is that where it is? About over 800 churches around the world he does. It he does it everywhere.

1:04:11All in one night. And my best friend, I have a best friend named Matt. He's a lead pastor for a big church and they hosted that event there. I didn't realize it was in so many places. I had a friend that just went down and and played at his chair. He had a charity event in Florida. And have you gotten to go to some of the Proms? Yeah, I went to that one. And if I were to New Mexico, 'cause my best friend hosted it, so cool. Was it cool? I go every year. Oh, you do up there.

1:04:43Yeah. Is it a tip? What's what's the event like? What's the experience like these? Dancing music? Yeah, there's a there's a lot of dancing and having fun having our having people that that would take us to the prom, Yeah. And you if, if you had a message to all your brothers and sisters that share that relatable experience of Down syndrome with you on that day in March, what would it be like if you were encouraging the whole world on that day? What would you want them to hear?

1:05:22I want them to hear all the love that I provided with the gifts that we have. So you'd want them to know that there's a tremendous amount of love and that they're actually a gift to the world. Yes they are, especially in my own, especially in my own family. They accept me just the way I am. I love them so much. I love my, I love my brothers and my nieces and my nephews. Yeah, I I'm just so happy they called me their famous Uncle Tim. Oh, yeah. It's awesome there.

1:06:04You're getting more famous by the minute too, by doing all these interviews. We hope a whole lot of people are going to see this. My my brothers, my one of my brothers have a Instagram and he shows my nieces my awesome videos and pictures on my Instagram. It's so cool. You you mentioned earlier about being you used the word God's love or God created us all and and, and to be in love. Has your faith or your belief in God been? Is it important to you?

1:06:38I never got into that ever since I've ever since my best friend met myself with Kimberly Pastor, I sometimes go to go to his church. OK, Yeah. So you sometimes go to go to his church. Yeah. All right. And I and I still have beliefs in what my life coach has. She's awesome, too. Yeah, sometimes she gets invited to sing on stage. It's so awesome. It's so beautiful. Yeah, she sings. She sings, Yeah. What? Why didn't you join? Yeah, why didn't you join us earlier in this sing along? You kept that from us too.

1:07:15You're. But you're in Nashville. We should take you both to an open mic night tonight. Maybe you could perform? We have to leave tonight though. Oh, you got to leave. That's what that's the life of Maybe next time being famous, you're always on the go right back to the next activity. Oh yeah, she sings like great, like worship songs. Oh yeah, there are so amazing. They help me fulfill my stress. Yeah, she's, she's amazing. Yeah, she is amazing. Yeah.

1:07:39Does she have? Do you have any favorite worship songs? Do you have any favorite worship songs to sing? Your favorite artist you ever heard of? A guy named Brandon Lake. Kind of a little bit. He's a Christian artist that does a lot of worship songs. I bet you might know some Chris Tomlin those are. Yes, I was going to mention him. Yeah, he's cool. He need something. Have you met Tomlin before? No, I haven't. He's a great guy, too. He's a buddy of mine.

1:08:06But I know. He lives here in Nashville. Oh, that's cool. Yeah. But I know someone named Nikki Tilde. He's awesome. Yeah. That's the best thing ever. That's true. Yeah, It's awesome, right? Chris Tomlin, who I know. Nikki Tilde I like. That Oh yeah, that's her. Artist name on her, on her music, is it? Yeah, she's amazing. It's awesome. Can you get her music like on like iTunes or Yeah, there's iTunes, Spotify, all the major. You can listen to that too.

1:08:36No way. Yeah. If you if you want to feel the the love and the power of her voice, you can check those out. They're amazing. We should, yeah. We pull up, pull it up. Let's see if we can find some. That's incredible. I'd love to hear her. She one of your favorite artists? She is and she be. She's got very close to my family. Oh yeah, she's the best part. Just choose the best part to our family, sometimes. Sometimes she's more than life code or person's partner. She's like a sister to our family. Nikki and Marissa, they both like sisters to me. I see.

1:09:20Oh, they're just, they're pulling her music up. Oh yeah, it's awesome. See what you got, Nikki? We're going to embarrass you. You can just be calm and listen to her voice. Be calm, be calm. Did you hear that Tim invited us all to be calm and listen to Nikki's voice, so join us. Come on, Nikki. Oh yeah. Come on, Nikki. Thank you, Nikki for Thank you Nikki for giving us the the most amazing voice that you had me come down from from being angry. Thank you. I love you Nikki.

1:11:07You are the best friend I I could I could ever imagine to have. Oh, yeah, sorry. Don't. Apologize, buddy. Yeah, tell me about that. Tell me about the emotion that comes up when you're talking to Nikki about being your friend. She always does that to me. It's it's so powerful. Yeah. Yeah, those happy tears. Yes, yeah, yeah. I think it's important to share happy tears every now and then. Yeah, that's why, that's why she helps me. It's amazing. Would you like a tissue? No, I don't need a tissue.

1:11:38I need coffee to wash away my tears. Tears to that. Oh yeah, to I mean to. I watch tears from. Speaking of, Oh yeah, do you have AI heard you had. Oh yeah. Made on a hat, maybe? Is that right? I did. Do you have one? Yes, I do. Could I see it? Come on. Oh yeah, baby. Oh. Yeah. Oh yeah. And we gave you guys some. You dance. Too as well. I'll get one of those. Yes, you do. Oh yeah. It's pretty cool. Every time you wear the hat, say the word. Say the word as many times as you can.

1:12:18What does Oh yeah mean? What does it mean? Like when you say it, what do you want to say? Like Oh yeah. What do you mean when you say Oh yeah? When I say Oh yeah, it gives me the hype to to pump the crowd. That's awesome. Hey, it's encouragement. Hey, guess what? Now, since you put it on, we're trends. Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah, my. It kind of works. So cool. There, have you ever seen heard of an actor named Matthew McConaughey? No, I haven't. I haven't heard of him.

1:12:48He's been in a lot of cool movies. I'm a fan of Matt's. I think he he's an actor. He does some cool stuff, but he's got a saying that became famous after he was given a speech on Oscars or somewhere. And he says, all right, all right, all right. After what he says. And I, I, when you say, Oh, yeah, it reminds me a little bit of when I've seen him done that in interviews because it's almost like no matter what you say, if you put an exclamation point on the end of it, that is just reminding all of us that love and life is what it's all about. That's what matters the most.

1:13:19And I think, oh, yeah, it does it quite well. It's awesome. Thank you for the gift of this hat. It's awesome buddy. I love this hat. I love this book. I'm racking up this morning with gifts. She brought us all kinds of cool stuff. Podcaster, author, speaker. Have you done a talk yet? That was your favorite? It was like that. You remember a speech? A speech. It's been a while. Yeah, it's been. A lot and I gave speeches, but I was a one of the last MCS for the Special Olympics, World Games.

1:13:54Wow. And I got to introduce the first lady, Michelle Obama, when she was the first one, the first lady of the country. No way. Yeah, you get to introduce her. Yeah, and I, I got about four hugs, 2 and at least two on stage and two more backstage. Oh, yeah, Before she left. Yeah. You met her? I met her. That's a big deal. She's awesome. Yeah, I've heard. That I met her husband. Well, you met president. They invited they, they invited me into the White House because of Special Olympics.

1:14:29They're hosting the the World Games. Who was her husband again? Barack Obama. Yeah, there's a viral video. Tim Harris hugs Obama. Check it out. It's amazing. Pull it up, I got to see. Oh yeah, that's cool, right? That's really cool. It's awesome, but but the second lady made a big impression. Huh the. First, he was the First lady. First lady, I meant. I meant first Lady. You're so funny. I stepped all over that moment. Yeah, The second lady is the vice president's. Well, it depends, I guess.

1:15:04Right now. And the first Lady. That's right. Yeah. Thanks for correcting me. The First Lady made quite an impression, it sounds like. She did, yeah. Yeah, 'cause I when I say what was one of your best memories when you were using your superpower outside of coffee, your voice and your and you were saying, you said it was when you got to MC that moment. Let me see it. Yeah, I went to one the last time. Please check it out brother. It's true. It's awesome, right you? Know presidents need some encouragement once in a. While too.

1:15:58Yeah, that was nice. Thank you, Tim. Wow, come on, I didn't even know you'd met a president, much less been at the White House. Before he before he left. Yeah, Yeah, before he left. He was, I was. He got the famous Tim hug. Oh yeah. And now the world can get more of the famous Tim Hugs. Because you've got I want, I want the whole country to get Tim hugs. The whole country. One person. Oh, yeah. Because God Bless America. Well, I think you're spreading a lot of hugs every time you talk, 'cause it feels when you, when you talk to somebody, it feels like a hug.

1:16:38He does? Yeah. Yeah. Well, the people, I wonder, you're so good at telling everybody how special they are. Oh, you're really good at it, actually. Are you good at hearing how special you are? It's just I like, I like, I like to be. I like to hear that from other people. I feel accepted and loved. It's amazing. Would you mind if I told you a little bit about how special I feel you are after knowing you for an hour? Oh, yes, please. Yeah. Well, I've said it off and on throughout the interview, but I feel really fortunate and lucky today to be having a conversation with you and to have met you.

1:17:17And I got to give credit to my team because you've got some really big fans in this room. Every, everybody on this team loves who you are and what you represent. So much so that they came to me and you're the 1st guest that they've come to me and said we have to get this guy on the show. Oh yeah, isn't that cool? And I've now our, we're a new show. So a lot of times we're asking for guests to come on the show. And thankfully we've had some teams that have reached out and asked if they could be on our show.

1:17:45But there's been one guest that my team unanimously said we want this guy on the show. And it was you and then and, and I didn't have to be convinced because I watched a couple videos and I just wanted to meet you and wanted to be in your presence. And so I want to compliment and affirm your presence, how you show up in the world, what you represent. Because I think you talk about love and you talk about joy and you talk about noticing the small little things in life and you bring up beautiful memories.

1:18:14But more than anything, it's just who you are and what you represent. The world needs more of it now because I I think we need to be unified and come together. And I feel like that's what you represent. It's awesome. And one of the things about love is that we should love each other for 1000 years. I know. 1000 years yes 'cause showing that love for so many years like. That, that's a lot of love. It's amazing that yeah, so cool, right? That is a a song that I know of is awesome.

1:18:45Yeah, yeah. So instead of me saying I love you today, I love you for 1000 years. It's awesome there. Yeah, yeah. Well, buddy, you're an incredible human being. And I just love you more. And with I'm going to tell you now on your show here like to to tell you something really special right now. After I met you, after I met you today for an hour, you are now my new best friend right now. Right now I'm making you my new best friend. Accepted. I'm loving Miles, you're the best. Thank you, I love you too buddy.

1:19:30Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well, I'll take it out. You're, you're the you're the kind of best friend that a guy would be lucky to have. I'm so, I'm so I'm so proud of who you are in the world, but I'm so proud of what you're doing and so proud of what you guys are doing. I think building this foundation and who it's going to reach and who it's going to encourage is so important. So I think your foundation Times, Big Heart Foundation is going to touch and encourage so many people. I think this book, the Book of Hugs, is going to touch and encourage so many people.

1:20:02And I just want to encourage you. I think you're a great human and now you're my best friend. So thank you for allowing me to be one of your best friends. I'm so happy. Yeah, I have a my best friend, I told you by name, Matt Mizell. He he would tell, tell a lot of people out there where they live, where they live a little bit about me and about you Can't go anywhere without making best friends. I can't. Yeah. Out when I'm out touring around schools, traveling, speeches. I usually make people my newest best friends because it's awesome.

1:20:39You do, You said earlier you talked about acceptance and how important it is that your parents accepted you. Your brothers, your family, your team, they accept you for who you are and it seems like you go accept everybody else and invite them into this beautiful experience of becoming best friends. What if we could all go out into the world everyday and look for new best friends? I made one. I made a best friend that's been doing work with my foundation named Zach.

1:21:07He's awesome. I love him. He's a cool guy. Zach. OK, He's awesome. How do you collect all these good people? You keep dropping all these. He became a best friend to me too. OK. We we always have fun together. So fun. What do you look for in a best friend? When you're finding to trying to find somebody you want to be a friend of yours, what do you look for in them? I'm look for. One of things I look for is making sure that they are nice and and and kind and being humble.

1:21:40Kind, nice and humble. Always stay humble and kind. Oh, my little Tim McGraw. Oh yeah, he's awesome there. Yeah, you like that? So you like? I imagine that world. I imagine that song with making best friends. Yeah, I want people to. I want people to be humble and kind, to be, to be anyone's best friend. Yeah, yeah. Humble and kind. It was written by a really good friend of mine, Lori McKenna, and she's an incredible songwriter, one of the best ever.

1:22:10And that song, I'm so glad you referenced that song. You're really good at knowing music. You know quite a bit of music and you play to and sing and all the things. What do you not do? Tim does it all. It's awesome. Yeah. Tim McGraw had messaged me a long time ago on Facebook and he he was making that album, the Home and Kine album, and he thought that I was that. Wow. And he messaged me. You helped inspire the album. Yeah, I helped him inspire his album. Damn, you are living a life my friend. Oh yeah, he's awesome that there. Yeah, I forgot.

1:22:44Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. You are such a pleasure. It's been such a delight to spend this time with you. I could sit with you all day and talk, but I want to make sure you have a little bit of time to see a little bit more in Nashville, maybe before you get on a plane. What time's your flight today, do you guys know? Five o'clock 5:00. OK. You're doing OK on time then. Have some fun with it. Yeah, go see some Nashville. Is there anything, Tim, is there any stories or anything you might want to share before, before we wrap up today, is there any, any, anything you might want to talk about? I want to take this off I know.

1:23:19Sure. So I can really get into it. Yeah. I want to mention not just stories, but mention a couple of my best friends because we talked about about me, me best friends instantly. That's what my best friend man as well, always told everyone, Yeah, I just love making best friends around the world, even with famous people. I became bet, but best friends with them too, yeah. Did you know I work with a lot of famous people with my job and I can tell you that people don't often see this, but sometimes famous people really need a friend as well. It's awesome that that is also a part of another great song. It's a Disney one.

1:24:16You've got a friend in me. Toy Story. Yeah. You got a friend in me. You got a friend in me? Oh yeah. Well, thank you. I'm glad. I'm glad that, you know, often if at the end of a conversation, if I were to say to somebody, is there anything else you want to talk about? Sometimes we think about, well, what is it I need to promote or like, what do I need? I need to say more about the book or say more about the foundation. But you chose to take that time to talk about your friends I admire.

1:24:49It I decided to 'cause I want you to, because I wanted you to be part of that life because you are so amazing. I love it, Miles. Thank you. I love you too. Yeah. I love you and your team. I'm making them my new best friends today too. All the team. Your team. Your team. Oh yeah. Well, we're we are lucky because I do think, you know, people are listening to this show ideally to pick up on some encouragement. You know, they might need a little bit or everybody I think deserves some encouragement and some insight and some of what you have driven down on with me today.

1:25:30And what I will remember the most is that all the things that we can talk about, nothing's as important as friendship. Having somebody in your life that sees you and loves you and speaks into you is the best medicine outside of maybe hugs that we could ever give you. Agree. I totally agree about that, buddy. Yeah, love guitars, boots and bling. Yeah. Oh, you're perfect. Gosh, I hope you'll come spend more time in Nashville with us. You are such a delight. This has been such a fun conversation. It's awesome.

1:26:04And can I show you something cool that I got from Amazon from from for coming out here? Please. Let me show you. Come over next to you real. Quick. All right. What? What, you got those boots to come to Nashville? To come here, yeah. Did you know how how much I love boots? Yeah. You would you pick the one day? I don't have them on, but I've got a closet full of boots. Those are really sharp. That hand tooling and that detail is really nice. And I love this, this color leather. I think it's really beautiful.

1:26:41But that right there is gorgeous. That's a really nice boot. Oh yeah. Yeah, they look great. They how do they feel? Do they fit OK You. Feel great, put that. Down for. You. I have a little bit of Nikki in my boots A. Little bit of wack a. Little bit of Nikki and Marissa too. Yeah, the boots are. The boots are really nice. I'm glad you got them. And you know what the cool thing about boots is? They get better with wear and age, so like they'll become more comfortable the more you wear them.

1:27:09I know I usually wear boots every day. Today I did, and I wish I'd worn my boots. I could have showed you some of my boots. What size foot are you? Do you remember? Size 10? Size 10? Oh, shoot. Size like a Bigfoot button but not that big. I'm an 11 1/2 but we got to keep that in mind because I'm always boot shopping. Thought I might send you a pair of boots some some Nashville boots, but I'm glad you brought. These do. That'd be awesome if you do. What else did you bring?

1:27:32You got any other? You got anything else to put any other rabbits to pull out of the hat over there? Maybe I have another one. Yeah, but they have it over there. I had it with me. Yeah. Is it down there? Oh. Yeah. Sorry, not here, No. Yeah. Let me see. Oh yeah. Oh yeah, let me. Look at it here. I'm a cowboy hat kind of guy though. Is that just there? See, that's the perfect fit. It's awesome. I see the side profile. Yeah, that looks really good. That's a nice hat.

1:28:14Pretty awesome, right? Have you ever been on a you ever ridden a horse before? A couple times in the years before. Like it or not. Like it I I would love to do that again. That's another thing we can do now that we're friends, is I've got horses. I love to ride horses, but I'd love to get you on a horse and take you on a trail ride. That'd be fun. Would that be fun? Yeah. I've got a horse that I think you would absolutely love named Spark, and it's awesome.

1:28:37Yeah, his name's Spark, and he's great. He'll take good care of you. And I think if you wear those boots and cowboy hat, we'll have to get a photographer out there to get great. Get a photo shoot for your speaker reel. Oh yeah, maybe it'll be awesome. Join the rodeo. Oh yeah. Well, look, I got you something as well. I. Don't know if I can't maybe. There you go. Buddy. Oh wow. Take a peek inside this and I'll tell you a little bit more about it when you open it up I.

1:29:11Don't like getting gifts? Yeah, I think it opens from that. Oh my God, card, that's cool. Yeah, we'll read the card later, but check out that gift in there. Oh wow. It's a real lab. Horseshoe thing. That's a horseshoe. It's a horseshoe. Yeah. Look here, let me show you. Check this out Marissa a Horseshoe. Now let me show you this, Bubba. This horseshoes are good luck. So you can take this with you and they'll bring you good luck, blessings and good fortune. But I didn't get you a new horseshoe. I got you a horseshoe that one of my horses wore. And so this one has been on the foot of a horse. That's why it looks kind of worn. But we got something engraved on it for you because we believe you represent this more than anybody we know, which is it says hope.

1:30:16We think you bring hope into the world by bringing Lovejoy and hugs. And everything that you represent is incredibly hopeful. Now we think the people who give hope need encouragement as well. So I wanted to send this with you because I want you to hold on to it. If it ever, if you ever get in a tough spot where you're feeling sad or, or angry or frustrated and you don't have Nikki's voice that usually calms you down or any of the angelic influences, you can grab a hold of this and remember our conversation and remember how loved you are by me and our team.

1:30:48And, and one day you're going to come back and we're going to ride horses. But in the meantime, if you ever need blessings, you just pick this horseshoe up, turn it upside down, and the blessings from us are going to come into your heart. I like that. I like that. There you go, Bubba. Thank you. Wow, this is awesome. It is so much miles. This means a lot to me and to my team. So excited. Yeah, we're excited. We're excited to to have have spent this time together and. By the way, I love the grass.

1:31:23Yeah. In the box, yeah. Yeah, there. Thank Kennedy for the packaging. She's super creative and made it look really pretty. Take that card and you can read it later. Yeah. Wait on the plane. Yeah, no special. Thank you for that. Of course. Well, buddy, is there anything else that you might want to share with our audience today before we wrap our conversation up? I'd like to mention my best friend Ashton. OK. For always making me feel inspired to talking with you. She's the biggest inspiration to to our family and to everything. Yeah, yeah.

1:32:02Thank you, Ashton. She's awesome. She's awesome. Yeah, and thank you so much. I'm so happy to have you in my, in my, in my brand new life now. Yeah. I'll always remember you, buddy. I'm honored to be here and likewise I'll remember you too. Thank you for this conversation. Thank you. It's been really beautiful. Well, this this, this conversation has been so meaningful and I want people to go to timsbigheart.org, your foundation, so that they can donate and get involved with some of the activities that you guys are doing. I know you're teaching life skills. I love the speed dating thing we talked about earlier and I think that sold out already.

1:32:38The one that you're doing in May. I think that is so cool. And I think I I think you guys have maybe got a dream to spread that around the country, which I think is just so inspiring and meaningful. I say I think a lot of people hopefully are going to get involved in your foundation and check out your books and all the goodness you're putting into the world. You're a good man, Tim. It's been good to be with you today. All right. Oh, yeah. One more of these and one more of these. Even though the coffee's cold now, we'll still drink it, right?

1:33:04Thank you. So much. Oh yeah. Thank you, buddy. Good stuff. Way to go, Tim. It's awesome. That's human school. Keep showing up, keep getting honest. If you like this episode and if it was beneficial, if you don't mind leaving us a review, that would really help us get more eyes and ears on our episode so we can encourage more people. I'm Miles Ed Cox, and I'll see you next time.