Local Voices (Miami)

Kenlie is................helping make Pilates something for the boys. Born in Arkansas with a background in dance, she started enjoying mat workouts in her warmups before ever encountering a reformer (pilates machine). She moved her senior year of high school to Florida and went to UCF, where she studied psychology, One day she saw a poster at her gym of a true pilates class, and next thing you know, she got her 500hr comprehensive certification from the internationally accredited Balance Body program. Teaching at Equinox here in Miami during COVID, she met several professional athletes open to leveraging the practice, and once the pandemic hit, she started to teach private lessons. Now a top instructor for the at home app and equipment provider, YourReformer, Kenlie is soon to open her own studio, and continues to provide expert training to her crew of professional athletes, with career elongation and injury prevention in mind. Listen in for a great discussion about the history of pilates, from a pilates purist, and don't forget to follow @KenlieReedPilates, on Instagram for a peek into the world where pilates and professional sports mix together.

Samantha is...................one of the best food bloggers in the city. Half Cuban, half Chinese, and a tad bit Jamaican, she loves studying the melting pot that is Miami. Her obsession with the art of cuisine, started with her parents who would always take her and her siblings out to restaurants on the weekends, and with her grandparents who were frequent bakers. In high school she started practicing photography, and in the summer before her freshman year at FIU, she saw a list for top 50 spots to check out in Miami, which motivated her to start her own blog. Now at 23k followers and growing, she enjoys running @BiteOfMia, with an accounting job on the side, and is focused on serving up more and more content every year, with a growing focus on recipes and cookbooks.Follow her on IG @BiteOfMia, consult her portfolio of reviews before your next dinner reservation, and don't forget to slide into her DMs for a quick thank you or partnership request.

Natalie is..............on her way to an Oscar, or at least we're all hoping. Born in Miami, growing up in Kendall, she did theatre in high school, and started acting professionally after graduating from UNC Chapel Hill with a business degree, A lover of reality and competition shows, she applied to Big Brother one year, and made a great impression, however she ultimately wasn't chosen. Fast forward a few years later, the same casting director gives her a call, for a new reality based Netflix show called Twentysomethings, and this time she applies and gets the role. After getting some limelight with that one season show and adapting to the new attention she received, Natalie is currently working on independent film work and taking classes at a film school here in Miami, studying screenwriting and film production, and soon directing as well. Always one to take initiative, she sees a lot of potential for growth in her career, and is enjoying learning about production here in Miami, and preparing for her next big role.Follow her on IG @keepitcabo, check out Episode 6 of Netflix's Twentysomethings, and listen in for a great conversation about acting fundamentals and tips for those now auditioning.

Oz is..................a fan of the lyric, "A job ain't a job, it's a damn good time." As a local beat writer studying the music scene, he gets to take a closer look at the heart of entertainment. Born in Dallas, his family from Mexico, he went to the University of Miami for Finance, then switched over to Journalism & Film when he accepted that he had always been a culture nerd, and that music was his passion. He started writing for the school's paper, Miami Hurricanes, then once he graduated, he got his start at the local paper Miami New Times, writing a concert review for Travis Scott. Now a part-time tour manager as well as part time music beat writer, Oz is enjoying learning more and more about the music scene, while also spreading more awareness of great artists. Follow him on IG @Oz.Espino, and listen in for a great discussion about the creative process, and some special house music shoutouts to up and coming acts.

Joe is..............a great example of how a weakness or personal challenge, can become a personal strength. After growing up with Tourrettes syndrome, he became especially conscious and compassionate towards others, realizing that everyone is going through something and deserves kindness. Born outside Annapolis, Maryland, he grew up playing soccer as a child, went to the state championship his senior year, and ended up playing in World Cup Qualifying matches for the USA Futsal team. During COVID, he moved to Miami and slept on the beach for a while before making connections, and promoting for local venues. He has started coaching and training other soccer players, with an emphasis on mindfulness, and is a regular at pickup games in Miami and the famous Muscle Beach on Ocean Drive.Follow him on IG @barefo0t_bandit, and listen in in for some good wellness tips & reminders.

Drew is.............bringing masculine yoga energy to Miami. Born in Boston he used to make fun of yoga, until he tried it one day and eventually got hooked, doing yoga #everydamnday for 3 years, After getting his 200hr and 500hr RYT on international retreats in Japan & Greece, he decided to move to Miami, and knowing very few people, started offering yoga in Margaret Pace Park as way of normalcy. While his classes started with just 5 or so people, now he regularly sees 100s at his Monday 7pm and Wednesday 7am classes, and has also started running monthly Manatee Island Yoga retreats, and international extended retreats with SurfYogaBeer (https://www.surfyogabeer.com/) Follow him on IG @yogadrew99, and come by one of his classes to get a strong push of encouragement. Drew is all about doing > having, trying new things, and saying yes to those little inklings to explore and take chances. Sign up for one of his retreats and get your year off to a great start, stretching your limits and growing into new projects.

Shay is...................Miami's latest Pilates star, bringing a level of consistency and professionalism that no one can deny. Born in Dallas, Texas, she went to Nova Southeastern briefly before deciding to join the Navy, serving as a master helmsman and fitness leader on the ships, getting sailors ready for their fitness readiness tests each year. Since meeting her husband, she now works in clinical research in the area of women's cancer, and also serves as an EMT. When a friend suggested that she get certified in pilates with Jungle Johanna (Thompson), she took the leap, and now finds herself leading classes almost every day, and is putting on some of the best weekend wellness events that Miami has to offer. Follow her on Instagram @sweatwithshay_ for updates on her weekly classes, and uplifting affirmations shared daily. She has a retreat coming in May 2025 in Nicaragua, so you have plenty of time to experience a Shay class, and join in on the exotic adventure, assuming you claim a spot!Shay IG >> https://www.instagram.com/sweatwithshay_/Nicaragua Retreat >> https://www.sweatwithshay.com/retreats

Troy is..................the man behind the curtain, helping create moments that transform. As Executive Director of the Washington Avenue Business Improvement District, he oversees a main avenue in South Beach, and has great insight into what makes a community thrive. Born in Seattle, Washington, he was a child prodigy on the drums, majoring in Business Administration, after some timely advice, and minoring in Music, he has always sought to connect his passion and his practicality. Early in his career, he served as Vice President of the Jimmy Hendrix Estate, overseeing a major case that had a big historic impact on artist's rights. He also helped create the first state gospel choir, that reached the Billboard Top 50. After dealing with a divorce, he chose to create a new life here in South Florida, like many of us, and took up his post as avenue director after much soul searching and passing up of more lucrative opportunities. With a big heart for giving back, Troy is an inspiration to all of us here in Miami, helping us focus on what truly matters, having a great impact and rising above ourselves.Interested in collaborating on charity efforts? - Shoot a DM to @localvoices_miami on IGReady to make a donation to assist us in highlighting local role models? - Click here to donate >> https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ADR3N468FDH3GOpen to a 1 to 1 chat regarding where you might have the most fun giving back? - Book a time with me right here >> https://calendly.com/simbaleadershipcoach/30minOther business inquiries & suggestions - Email [email protected] Ali Exhibit link >> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/muhammad-ali-historical-timeline-tickets-866784966167Cheers,Simba

Tito is.............as energetic as it gets. Fueled off Florida orange juice, & the drive to honor his father, he carries an electric energy into every performance, and describes them even as religious, cathartic experiences. Born in New York City, son to the King of Latin Music, Tito Puente, he was exposed to the music scene early, whether that be drums in the garage, or the opportunity to go touring with his father in the summers. He made the decision to move down to Miami 30 years ago, all by himself, and proceeded to put out his own albums, "Got Mambo", and now recently "The King & I", as will as securing his own radio show, "Con Clave with Tito Puente Jr." on Sundays. Creative in his own right, he has now launched his own hot sauce brand, which you can test out @ TitoPuenteJrHot.com. Listen in for a inspiring discussion regarding the future of music in Miami, and the fundamentals of salsa music. Follow Tito on all social channels @TitoPuenteJr, and check out some of his shows if you have the chance, he brings the electricidad.

Aimee is................a culmination of Miami's inclusive yoga community. Someone transformed from feeling unsafe, to feeling empowered. Born in New Jersey, her parents separated when she was young, and it was quite difficult, she ended up not seeing her dad for 20 years. She became super withdrawn, and when her family moved down to Miami to stay with her grandparents, it was super chaotic, and she started feeling unsafe. Then one day, her aunt invited her to a hot yoga class. After pushing through some vulnerability, she started to feel safe in her body and got addicted to yoga, doing it every day. After a little while, she started to feel unsettled again in shavasana, and went completely cold to her practice. She was brought back into it by the unconditional love found, @bodyforyoga, where she experimented with free classes, as well as the community @earthandusfarms, Finally she was drawn into the deities @synergyyoga, and opted in for her 200hr teacher training with Victoria. Super transformed, she is now leading classes at the Gale Hotel and other locations throughout the week. Catch her on Instagram @aimeelovesyoga, and if you're inspired after listening to her story, you can review a list below, of current Miami yoga teacher trainings, enlisting for this year >> Mimi Yoga >> January 29, 2024 - April 12, 2024(Wynwood) - https://mimiyoga.com/products/tt-in-personCasa Vinyasa >> September - January(Coral Gables) - https://casavinyasamiami.com/200hryogateachertrainingMiami Life Center - May 18 to June 15, 2024(Wynwood) - https://miamilifecenter.com/200hourNamaste,~Simba

Geoff is...............the Dude, the dude for turning your brain from fear to love in 5 days. Born & raised in Miami, he grew up in an alcoholic home, and developed addiction issues, sleep, anxiety, depression issues, all the above. Around age 30 he started transforming himself, learning to cope with meditation and prayer, until at age 35, he started studying psychology, and realized the power of objectivity in motivating the transformation of others. Having been a data science guy for quite some time, he studied with an inventor of a neurofeedback system, and eventually created his own standardized program, called the Supermind Method, combining education & psychological therapy, fully integrated with neurofeedback. He guarantees his services, and is coming out with a new book this year called, "How to Live Anxiety Free". Try him out for mental clarity at https://www.supermind.us/, & to develop greater flow, try me out at SOTIMiami.com. Either way, enlightenment guaranteed. Namaste.

Gaby is here.............teaching us about gratitude and respect. Born in Quito, Ecuador, she always loved cooking, and used to film herself making macaroni & cheese as a little child. An avid lover of travel, she credits her passion for hospitality to her days traveling the world, playing in golf tournaments for Ecuador. First having moved here about 8 years ago, she saw a need for an Asian style market here in Miami, and started 1-800-Lucky with her fellow partners. Having studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney, Australia, and Les Roches in Switzerland, Gaby has the pedigree and the passion to innovate great new concepts, the new one upcoming being A secret one with robots. She loves to learn from her team, and even pays for university for many of her employees, giving opportunities to folks from all over to find new purpose, and transform their lives, Follow 1-800-Lucky on IG, and don't forget to ask "Why" you do what you do, it may lead you to some more fulfilling outcomes.SIMBA Takeaways >> Local Business Owners..........Focus on the joy of seeing transformation happen live in front of you.............IT's special & can be accentuated / increased>> DJs...........You get to travel so much,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ask yourself if you might be ready to start laying down some roots, and preparing to leverage all your experience with hospitality by taking some more notes >> Miami folk.........."Miami can bring out the best of you.........or the worst of you"..............Consider if you have the budget to hire DJ Simba as your Life Coach @SOTIMiami.com, first chat is free ;)>> World............Ramadan starts this week...........Consider how you can integrate more surrender and humility and respect for the Sun.Namaste,~SIMBA

David is............A new best friend around the corner..............in with the Miami New Times and teaching us at LV about the value of A good mic check ;)................Born in Evanston, Illinois, he moved here when he was a baby to Key Biscayne, and went to FSU, where he first got paid to write. After graduating college, he moved to California and eventually made his way down to LA, where he lived in Hollywood for 8 years, learning screenwriting, and getting his break writing a script for "Finding Rin Tin Tin". Always someone who loved reading and telling stories, he wrote his first book at 16 years old, "A King's Tale", and has two published books most widely spread in Miami, the "End of the World" and "Yo-Yo". He moved back to Florida after meeting his wife here, while spending the holidays with family, and now they have a 9 year old and live in Miami Beach. After running into an old friend from high school, Liz Tracy, he got the opportunity to start writing stories for the local paper, Miami New Times, and now he enjoys being a music writer and getting to interview some of the nation's biggest stars when they come into town. Subscribe to the daily emails from the Miami New Times, and keep an eye out for David's writing, he likes to add a comical peanut butter touch.SIMBA Takeaways>> Enough Rates make a Game, learn to play with your Fortitude>> Learn about the Science of Flow, & the beauty of basketball>> Listen to Simba's challenge to stars to dedicate more of their new projects to causes>> Learn about the importance of budgeting and always keeping yourself open to talking to strangers>> The magic of the sharing economy, and how to live A truly LIGHT life @ SOTIMiami.com>>The importance of turning off your notifications, and subscribing to the right morning emails>> The SECRET scientific measure of Enlightenment (Warning - IT's a bit dirty ;))>> The power of prayer pleasure and the joy of downsizing your life @ SRF>> The power of turning your childhood thorn into your greatest strengthUntil next time,Namaste~Simba

Pete is..........done looking for enlightenment. He invited himself over for chili.Listen in for some great Rejuvenism talk,Are you in the 1%, or even just consider yourself blessed,Consider why you don't give more of your growing gifts to charity,The Kingdom of Heaven, peaks at around 80k,More money, more problems,Wondering how to open your heart more...........In this episode you will learn,The best way to pray and Ohm down intentionsThe best way to soak up energy from the sunSIMBA's most important mantra >> "May WE Project only the most Peak of Possibilities" (Say IT fives times per day at least)Why you should start tithing (10%), sharing more consistently your wealthThe Four C's: Cleanliness, Control, Contribution, ConnectionThe pose no yoga teacher should be leaving outThe Three Stages of Life: Words (Reading), Sacraments (Traveling), Charities (Committing)How you can start catching more syncs & miracles in your life (Book on my calendar >> SOTIMiami.com)How SIMBA wakes up and what sources he reads, to dedicate his workout, & prayerThe Power of setting up weekly Facetimes with your family circleNamaste ,~SIMBA

Geoff is.............livin in his own type of heaven. Born in New York CIty, he studied business at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and went to work on Wall Street, before even the beginning of the internet. After 19 years, and remote work became possible, he moved down to Miami Beach, where he manages money for friends and family. Having met his star bass player, Jose de Jesus, in his younger days, Geoff enjoys playing with @lotuscollective and the drummers at South Pointe on Sundays, as well as playing with his cover band, The Mac.Key SIMBA Takeaways:Remember the 4 rungs of life each day:Cleanliness - GodlinessExercise - Touch the SkiesPrayer - PowerTension - Release~Simba

Frankie is.........humbly making Miami a landmark running club city. Born in Coconut Grove, he remembers the first time his dad invited him out for a run, and the rest is history. Loving the feeling of independence and control that running provides, he did cross country in high school, and walked on to two years of track at FIU. After studying public relations as an undergrad, he ended up going for a Masters in Public Administration, realizing he had an affinity for local politics and government work. While working on his own small business, and as an intern for various elected officials, he one day landed himself in a room where the question was asked, Why Miami no longer had its own marathon...........(there use to exist an Orange Bowl Marathon). At the ripe young age of 21, Frankie stepped up to the plate and helped launch the first edition of the Miami Marathon in 2003. Producing races ever since he was a teenager, he was uniquely situated to overcome the red tape and political buy-in required, resulting in an event that has helped bring over 200 million dollars of revenue to South Florida. Since getting bought out by fitness giant, Lifetime, Frankie has been focused on growing the Baptist Health - Nike run clubs, which now total 8 different locations and host thousands of social runners each week, in addition to recently being named Miami's Chief Wellness Officer by Mayor Francis Suarez. Check out one of the run clubs near you by visiting www.runclubnetwork.com, and follow Frankie on IG @frankieruiz. All paces are welcome.

Tiff is...........the Queen of Miami Yoga........spreading her Utopia, Shanti Shanti Shanti. Born in Durham, North Carolina, she moved down to Florida to work for Sprint as soon as she graduated Meredith College, going back to Duke to get a degree in MBSR, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from their integrative medicine department. Starting her yoga path during undergrad, she realized she fully loved it later in life, when she was going through some traumas, getting hit by a car on her bike, breakups, and losing her mom. Turning to yoga helped her create her own Utopia, where everything happens for a reason. When Synergy Yoga school owner, Victoria Brunacci, challenged her to grow in her practice and do her first 200 hour training, she answered the call, and followed up with her 300 and 500 hour trainings. Now fully running some of Miami's most creative yoga events, whether that be 4:20 Space Yoga on Saturdays, or weekly Immersive Beyond Monet yoga, or Full Moon Moxy yoga, or even weekly volunteering at the Global Empowerment Mission, Tiffany is living her calling and even has her own website, https://www.tifftopia.com/, where you can review her different events and retreats, like the one she does in Morocco.Follow her on IG @tifftopia, and step into her high frequency world. You may forget your problems.

Frankie is...........an artist who wants to.........."nip it in the bud at the youth". What that means is, he's an eclectic crusader. Born in Miami Gardens, he attended a magnet program for acting as a youth, learning to love music from his father, a rapper, and his mother, a singer. He remembers trying to make his first guitar out of a wooden door, then slinging enough cookies and cream Hershey's bars at school, to buy his first real guitar. Performing at the legendary Miami venue, Churchill's, Frankie learned to start making some money with his wrd frndz, and now is full time paying his bills with music, supporting other artists in the studio, and working with his fiancée, Simone, on their nonprofit, Context of a Generation, providing a platform for other local artists in the area. Follow him on IG, @frankiemidnight_, check out his linktree for a link to his new album, Wrd Frndz, and listen to the full episode to catch Frankie spitting some serious truth.

Ron is.............THE MAN at the zoo. Born in New York City, his father a Cuban immigrant, and his mother the daughter of Colombian and German immigrants, he always loved animals, and initially wanted to be a veterinarian. After his family moved down to Florida in 1972 to live on a farm and raise horses in addition to mangos & avocados, he was truly exposed to the raw outdoors. His first job with animals was at the Miami Serpentarium, and his senior year at UF, he was offered the job of zookeeper for the zoo in Crandon Park in Key Biscayne. His first big mentor was Jim Fowler, a side host for the show "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom", who taught him even more about carrying forward a sense of play and wonder with the animals. After being hired as zookeeper for the Miami Zoo, he eventually stared his own endowment, the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, raising millions of dollars to support high tech equipment for conservation efforts, & enabling youth with scholarships in the field. If he had a billion dollars, he would invest it in the education and sustainable work opportunities of those living in developing countries very near to precious animal reserves. A strong believer in holding up our promise to the urban development line in Miami, he is passionate about preservationism and has many close friends to thank for his progress thus far. Follow him on IG @ronmagillwildlife and listen closely to the episode, to hear some of Ron's favorite underrated spots to see wildlife, in both South Florida and his favorite getaway spot, Africa. He is the man behind the Lion King. Thank you Ron.

Millah is..........the Founder, CEO and voice of the meditation app, YouTuneIn. Born in Brazil, she remembered her calling for music at an early age, putting on Millah shows for her friends & family, eventually going into acting with her passion for psychology and consciousness. She started her own acting school in Brazil, for three years developing her own method for psychic growth, until at one point she had a revelation that her path would be music. Soon following that, she started the Meditation app, Youtunein, (Youtunein.com), to create a guided experience for meditation, helping users become more present and access their higher consciousness. Having worked in social work, healing the people of Brazil, worked on acting sets for Prime level TV Shows, and directed her own screenplays, Millah is versatile and aware of her main mission, contributing to the growth of the collective consciousness of the universe, and helping people tune in to their higher self. Follow her Instagram @millahofficial, check out her app @YoutuneinApp, and come to one of her Vibrational Transformation Events in Miami, to discover deeper levels of peace and vibration in your life.