What do you do when the spreadsheet is done, the advice has been heard, and something still isn't clear? Preston Smiles — author, embodiment teacher, and speaker — sits down to unpack the moment when logic hits a ceiling and something deeper has to take over. He calls it "first thought": the cleanest signal you get before fear, programming, and social conditioning pile on.

In this episode, Preston shares the real story of trusting an overwhelming inner "yes" that led him to meet his future partner. From there, the conversation goes deep into what embodiment actually means in practice: widening your window of tolerance so you can stay grounded when life gets chaotic — not just when everything is easy.

He also tackles one of the most common blocks for high-achievers: the belief that money and spirituality can't coexist. His reframe — that wealth is just neutral material that amplifies whoever is holding it — is one of the most practical takes on abundance you'll hear.

If you've ever made the "right" decision on paper and still felt wrong in your body, this conversation was made for you.

• (00:00:00) Why surrender beats strategy every time
• (00:01:24) Can you be spiritual and wealthy? Preston's take
• (00:05:39) The moment logic isn't enough to make a decision
• (00:06:10) "You'll meet your partner today" — trusting intuition in real time
• (00:12:33) First thought vs. overthinking: how programming hijacks your decisions
• (00:20:10) Money and spirituality — why most people split them (and how to stop)
• (00:28:30) The only two games in life: outside-in vs. inside-out happiness
• (00:34:10) What embodiment actually means (beyond the buzzword)
• (00:46:30) How to tell if you're embodied or just informed — watch what happens when things break
• (00:49:20) Parenting, nervous system regulation, and expanding your window of tolerance

• Preston Smiles: https://prestonsmiles.com
• The Living Question Podcast: https://livingquestionpodcast.com

The Living Question is a long-form podcast exploring the moments when logic hits a ceiling. We dive into the part of the story that rarely makes the headlines: the inner foundation that actually makes outer results sustainable. Beneath every significant decision is an inner orientation—intuition, conscience, faith, or lived truth—that quietly pulls you off course or serves as your deepest anchor.

This is not a show about theology, dogma, or forced inspiration. Instead, expect unhurried, private-feeling conversations with people who have built something real—a company, a career, a body of work—and hit a fork in the road where the "right move" on paper felt wrong in their body. We unpack the mechanics of applied alignment: walking away from "smart" opportunities, trusting convictions you can't yet justify, and navigating the friction of choosing integrity.

There are no packaged lessons, no extracted takeaways, and no premature clarity. Just the actual texture of how people move through the hard ones.

If you've ever needed to find your center of gravity when the obvious answers weren't enough, start here. Stay as long as you need. New episodes every week.