BIT Voices Podcast

BIT Voices Podcast

by B Donald Harris
EntrepreneurshipTech News
Season 3
Who Controls the AI? Adrian G. Miller Jr. on Governed AI, Agents & Human Judgment
AI can be a powerful thinking partner—but what happens when we let it fill in too many of the gaps? Adrian G. Miller Jr. joins BIT Voices to explain why effective AI systems need more than prompts and guardrails: they need governance that keeps human judgment, identity, and control at the center. Adrian is a software engineer, founder, and systems architect with nearly 30 years of experience across flight simulation, connected devices, trading systems, risk management, and navigation. As the founder of Life Powered by AI, he is building systems, tools, and infrastructure designed to reduce cognitive and operational load while keeping AI accountable to the person using it. In this conversation: → Why ambiguity causes AI to fill in gaps you never intended it to fill → Adrian's concept of "governed judgment" and why meaning without enforcement isn't enough → The four questions Adrian believes should govern an AI model or agent: What is it supposed to do? What is it allowed to do? What must it refuse to do? Where's the proof? → Why AI should reduce cognitive load without taking away human judgment, authorship, identity, or control → What companies are getting wrong about AI adoption, token usage, and model selection → Why Adrian sees AI as a potential equalizer—and an opportunity for people to turn their knowledge into leverage → Why builders shouldn't let the AI hype cycle rush them into tools and systems they don't actually need CHAPTERS 00:00 Why AI Overfits 01:06 Vegas, Work, and the AI Journey 09:51 BitVoices Network 12:49 Meet Adrian G. Miller Jr. 14:43 What Is Life Powered by AI? 17:09 Building AI That Understands the Human 20:29 Putting Humans at the Center 23:33 Who Is Adrian Beyond Technology? 25:15 AI as an Equalizer 26:38 Rediscovering the Builder 29:15 Meaning × Enforcement = Governed Judgment 30:20 Four Questions for Governing AI 31:58 What Companies Are Getting Wrong About AI 34:22 Rapid Fire 42:33 Don't Get Sucked Into the AI Hype 45:02 Connect With Adrian 46:47 Final Thoughts ABOUT NOTABLEBIT NotableBIT is a studio building visibility, memory, and infrastructure for Black builders in the AI era. BIT Voices Podcast is one of four properties in the ecosystem. BECOME A FOUNDING BUILDER → https://bitvoices.network EXPLORE THE ECOSYSTEM → NotableBIT Studio — https://notablebit.com → B Donald Harris — https://bdonaldharris.com → BIT Voices on Spotify — [PASTE SPOTIFY URL] → BIT Voices on Apple Podcasts — [PASTE APPLE PODCASTS URL] HOSTS → B Donald Harris — https://bdonaldharris.com → Major Phillips — https://www.instagram.com/bi.leader/ CONNECT WITH ADRIAN → Website — AdrianGMillerJr.com → Social — @AdrianGMillerJr
S3 · E2
Aug 25, 2026
47:50
Building Systems That Listen: Rashida Lovely on AI, Reciprocity, and Coexisting With Technology
Rashida Lovely joins B Donald Harris and Major Phillips for a powerful conversation about reimagining the relationship between technology, humanity, and community. As the founder and CEO of the Afree Foundation and president of Newave Enterprise, Rashida is building at the intersection of digital innovation, resource sovereignty, housing, and community infrastructure. She is the principal architect of the Co-existence Co-efficient (Ce) protocol and the Web of Agreement (WOA) system — a vision for technology designed around reciprocity, stewardship, and human-centered systems. In this episode, Rashida shares how the philosophy of “listening infrastructure,” inspired by George Washington Carver, shapes the way she thinks about building technology. She explores why many modern systems are designed for extraction rather than relationship, how AI changes the way we think about ownership and creation, and why the next generation of builders must move beyond simply using systems to creating them. The conversation also explores decentralized technology, the future of digital infrastructure, community wealth-building, and Rashida’s mission to redefine what it means to coexist with technology. This is a conversation about systems, purpose, and the responsibility builders have to shape the future. Connect with Rashida Lovely: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashida-lovely-a530423b/ Newave Enterprise: https://newaveenterprise.com/ Afree Foundation: https://afreefoundation.org/ Learn more about BIT Voices Podcast: https://bitvoices.network Hosted by: B Donald Harris https://bdonaldharris.com Co-Host: Major Phillips https://www.instagram.com/bi.leader/ #BlackBuilders #BITVoices #NotableBIT #ArtificialIntelligence #TechnologyLeadership
S3 · E1
Aug 9, 2026
54:21
Season 2
Building Toffee: Terry Threatt on AI, FinTech, and Solving Real Problems
What happens when a software engineer gets tired of not being able to see the finish line of paying off debt? He builds the solution himself. In this episode of the BIT Voices Podcast, we sit down with Senior Software Engineer, independent builder, and Toffee creator Terry Threatt to discuss building products that solve real problems. What began as a personal debt-payoff journey ultimately became a fintech application designed to help people understand how their financial decisions impact their debt-free future. But this conversation goes far beyond personal finance. Terry shares his unconventional path into software engineering, building products while working full-time, leveraging AI as an independent developer, mentoring the next generation of technologists, and why strong engineering fundamentals still matter in the age of AI-assisted development. If you're a software engineer, founder, indie hacker, or aspiring builder, this episode is packed with insights on solving problems you actually understand and using technology to create meaningful solutions. In this episode, we discuss: • Building Toffee and solving a problem born from personal experience • Why seeing your debt-free date changes financial behavior • Building products while working a full-time engineering career • Using AI to become a more effective software engineer and independent builder • Why AI should accelerate learning—not replace technical fundamentals • The future of software engineering in the age of coding agents • Transitioning into tech without a traditional computer science background • Mentorship, imposter syndrome, and lifelong learning • Why problem-solving matters more than being loyal to a programming language • Teaching the next generation how to think like builders Terry reminds us that some of the best products don't begin with a business plan—they begin with a problem worth solving. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT BIT VOICES PODCAST BIT Voices Podcast amplifies Black excellence in technology by creating space for Black builders, founders, engineers, and innovators to share their stories, expertise, and vision for the future of technology. ---------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH TERRY THREATT Website: https://www.terrythreatt.com Instagram & Threads: @manwittaplan Toffee: Available on iOS and Android Book: How to Get Into Tech Without Spending a Ton on a Degree ---------------------------------------- EXPLORE THE ECOSYSTEM https://notablebit.com https://bdonaldharris.com https://bitvoices.network ---------------------------------------- #BlackBuilders #BlackInTech #SoftwareEngineering #FinTech #AIEngineering #BITVoicesPodcast
S2 · E9
Jul 17, 2026
2:57
Traveler-First Tech: Tony Jefferson on Traveling Session
Tony Jefferson joins BIT Voices Podcast to talk about Traveling Session, a traveler-first social platform built around Personalized Travel Discovery. Most travel platforms point everyone toward the same popular destinations, attractions, and tourist traps. Tony is building something different: a platform that helps people discover places based on how they actually travel, what they value, and who they trust. In this conversation, Tony shares how his 21 years of U.S. Air Force, IT, and cybersecurity experience shaped the way he thinks about travel, community, and building technology. After spending more than a decade stationed overseas in Japan, Germany, and South Korea, he saw the gap between generic recommendations and authentic local experiences. We talk about travel styles, overtourism, algorithmic bias, hidden gems, foodie travel, Black travelers seeing more of the world, and what it takes to bootstrap a custom-coded platform from the ground up. Tony also breaks down why Traveling Session is focused on the traveler, not just the destination — and why real perspectives from real travelers matter more than another generic top-ten list. Connect with Tony and Traveling Session: Website: https://travelingsession.com/travel-feed/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-jefferson-traveling-session/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelingsession/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TravelingSession Learn more about the BIT Voices ecosystem: https://bitvoices.network
S2 · E8
Jun 30, 2026
1:39:45
Building the Synaptic Web: Michael Brown on Arachne, AI Agents, and Black Tech Community
Michael Brown joins the BIT Voices Podcast for a conversation about technology, entrepreneurship, AI, community, and building with purpose. Michael is a technology executive and entrepreneur with three decades of experience across finance, healthcare, retail, enterprise software, and AI development. In this episode, he shares how an early love for programming grew into a career in software, why curiosity and humility still matter in tech, and how the rise of AI agents is changing the way engineering teams think about security, governance, and observability. We also talk about Arachne, the AI development platform Michael is building through Synaptic Weave, Inc. Arachne is designed to simplify the software development lifecycle for AI systems by helping teams package, deploy, observe, and govern AI agents with more confidence. Michael also shares the story behind the Juneteenth Conference, which began during the pandemic and has grown into a space dedicated to celebrating and supporting Black excellence in technology. This year’s Juneteenth Conference will take place in Chicago on June 19 and 20, with traditional conference sessions on Friday and a hackathon on Saturday. In this episode, we discuss: Michael’s early start in programming with a Tandy computer Why software still feels like “magic” The shift from prompt engineering to context and harness engineering The security risks of AI agents and vibe-coded applications Building Arachne and the future of AI development infrastructure The founding story of the Juneteenth Conference Why Black tech spaces still matter What it means to build companies with community, trust, and long-term impact Register for the Juneteenth Conference: https://juneteenthconf.com Check out Arachne and sign up for the beta: https://arachne-ai.com Learn more about Synaptic Weave: https://synapticweave.com Listen, subscribe, and join the movement as we continue amplifying Black builders, founders, technologists, and innovators shaping the future. BIT Voices Network Built By Builders. For Builders. https://bitvoices.network https://www.instagram.com/notablebit/ https://www.instagram.com/nowthatsmajor4real https://www.instagram.com/randall.c.phillips/ #BlackInTech #BITVoices #JuneteenthConference #AI #AIAgents #SoftwareDevelopment #TechLeadership #BlackExcellence #Entrepreneurship #ArachneAI #SynapticWeave #TechCommunity
S2 · E7
Jun 16, 2026
1:35:04
From Code to Courtrooms: Ian Bruce’s Justice Quest
In this episode of the BIT Voices Podcast, B Donald Harris and Major Phillips sit down with Ian Bruce, founder of Justice Quest, a justice-centered legal operations company built at the intersection of software engineering, AI, legal workflows, and access to justice. Ian spent nearly a decade as a software engineer building web applications across multiple industries. But after finding himself navigating federal court and realizing how difficult the legal system can be for everyday people, he did what builders do: he started engineering a solution. This conversation explores Ian’s journey from coding web applications to developing systems that help manufacture legal intelligence, organize case files, speed up legal workflows, and support attorneys and individuals fighting complex legal battles. Ian shares how he began treating legal cases like structured repositories, how AI agents can support legal strategy when used responsibly, and why empathy, human judgment, and justice must remain central as technology enters the legal space. We also talk about the deeper mission behind Justice Quest: helping civil rights, wrongful conviction, and justice-oriented law firms fight more efficiently with better tools, stronger workflows, and strategic support. Ian makes it clear that his goal is not simply to build legal tech for anyone, but to empower the people and firms already doing justice-centered work. If you know a civil rights firm, wrongful conviction organization, justice-oriented attorney, or legal advocate who could benefit from Ian’s work, connect with him and Justice Quest. Connect with Ian Bruce: Website: https://justicequest.pro Instagram: @dadgod_LB Business Instagram: @justicequest.pro Watch, subscribe, and join the movement as we continue amplifying Black builders, founders, technologists, and innovators shaping the future. BIT Voices Network Built By Builders. For Builders. https://bitvoices.network https://www.instagram.com/notablebit/ https://www.instagram.com/bi.leader/ #BITVoicesPodcast #BlackTech #LegalTech #AI #JusticeQuest #BlackFounders #TechForGood #CivilRights #WrongfulConviction #SoftwareEngineering #BlackBuilders #ArtificialIntelligence #AccessToJustice
S2 · E6
Jun 3, 2026
1:58:48
AI Adoption Has a Human Problem
AI
In this episode of the Notable & Black in Tech Podcast, B Donald Harris, Major Phillips, and Randall Phillips sit down with LaMont Wheat, Executive AI Integration Architect, Founder of UHMUM Learning, and creator of the PhaseLock™ framework. LaMont brings a powerful perspective on what it really means to lead in the agentic AI era. This conversation moves beyond the hype of AI tools and automation into something deeper: clarity, authorship, governance, human agency, and leadership under pressure. We talk about why organizations often struggle with AI adoption, how AI can accelerate friction when teams are not properly oriented, and why leaders must understand that AI does not replace leadership — it reveals it. LaMont also breaks down his work as a Harmonic Architect, helping leaders and organizations move from fragmented AI usage to aligned execution. This episode is for founders, executives, technologists, builders, and anyone trying to understand how to use AI without losing control of the human systems behind it. Topics we cover: * What it means to be a Harmonic Architect * Why AI orientation matters before adoption * The danger of moving too fast without structure * How AI exposes leadership gaps * Human-in-the-loop governance * Why “living governance” matters in the agentic era * How leaders can maintain authorship, clarity, and control * The PhaseLock™ framework * AI, identity, resistance, and organizational change Connect with LaMont Wheat UHMUM Learning: https://uhmum.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamontwheat Executive AI Orientation Reset: https://stan.store/lamontwheat/p/ai-orientation-reset Email: Lamont@uhmum.com Guest: LaMont Wheat Harmonic Architect | Executive AI Stabilization & Governance Advisor Founder, PhaseLock™ — Human-in-the-Loop Coherence for the Agentic Era Hosted by: B Donald Harris - https://www.instagram.com/notablebit/ Major Phillips - https://www.instagram.com/bi.leader/ Randall Phillips - https://www.instagram.com/randall.c.phillips/ https://bitvoices.network Subscribe for more conversations with the Notable & Black in Tech. #NotableBIT #BlackInTech #BitVoices #ArtificialIntelligence #AILeadership #AIGovernance #AgenticAI #BlackTech #TechPodcast #LeadershipAndAI
S2 · E5
May 19, 2026
1:39:35
Building Human-First Systems in the Age of AI | Yousef Bin Ageil on StoreHouse & The Soil Institute
In this episode of the Notable & Black in Tech Podcast, B Donald Harris, Major Phillips, and Randall Phillips sit down with Yousef Bin Ageil, founder of The Soil Institute and creator of StoreHouse, a next-generation micro-grocery model designed to fight food deserts, support local farmers, and build community-owned food systems. Yousef shares the powerful story behind his mission, from being impacted as a child by the realities of hunger and human suffering, to building early businesses, traveling to Indonesia at 21, working around innovation and government leadership, and living among farmers across the region. Those experiences shaped his belief that essential systems like food, water, shelter, health, and belonging should serve people, protect dignity, and remain in the hands of communities. The conversation explores how broken systems often leave both farmers and communities without power, why middlemen can distort access and ownership, and how StoreHouse is being designed to connect farmers directly with communities that need fresh food. Yousef also discusses the launch of The Soil Institute, the evolution of StoreHouse, the importance of truth and ownership in founder-led work, and his vision for Year Zero: The Human Rebirth, a documentary project exploring humanity, AI, sustainable systems, and the future of human-centered innovation. This is a conversation about purpose, faith, technology, food justice, human dignity, community ownership, and what it means to build systems that serve people instead of replacing them. Connect with Yousef Bin Ageil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousefbinageil/ Instagram: @Iamyabaa The Soil Institute: @ThesoilInstitute Website: The Soil Institute StoreHouse Project: StoreHouse Initiative Email: info@thesoilinstitute.org Topics covered: Community-owned systems, food deserts, StoreHouse, The Soil Institute, farmers, AI, human dignity, future of work, sustainable systems, Black builders, entrepreneurship, purpose, ownership, and Year Zero: The Human Rebirth. https://www.instagram.com/notablebit/ https://www.instagram.com/bi.leader/ https://www.instagram.com/randall.c.phillips/
S2 · E4
May 9, 2026
1:55:52
From Power BI Queen to Purpose-Driven Builder | DeNisha Malone on AI, Data & Thinkers and Doers
In this episode of The Notable & Black in Tech Podcast, we sit down with DeNisha Malone — widely known as the Power BI Queen — to talk about her journey in data, her work in AI, and how she’s helping create real pathways into tech for the next generation. From Power BI and Microsoft Copilot to mentorship, entrepreneurship, and purpose-driven work, this conversation is full of insight for anyone trying to grow in today’s tech landscape. We also talk about Thinkers & Doers, DeNisha’s initiative focused on helping students bridge the gap between learning and real-world application through mentorship, project-based experience, and exposure to real opportunities in data and AI. She shares why practical experience matters, how AI is changing the way we work, and why people need to adapt, learn, and stay ready as the industry continues to evolve. This episode touches on: Power BI and Microsoft Fabric AI in the modern workflow Mentorship and workforce readiness Creating real opportunities for students * Entrepreneurship, purpose, and building beyond tech titles Connect with DeNisha Malone LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denishamalone Thinkers & Doers: https://thinkersdoers.org God's Farmacy: https://www.denisham.com/ Call to Action Apply to the Thinkers & Doers mentorship program as a student, or partner with the organization to bring data and AI solutions to your company or community. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations amplifying Black voices in tech. https://www.instagram.com/notablebit/ https://www.instagram.com/bi.leader/ https://www.instagram.com/randall.c.phillips/ https://bitvoices.network
S2 · E3
Apr 21, 2026
1:13:55
AI, Community, and Comebacks: The Real Tech Journey
In this episode, we sit down with JC Smiley, Founder of Tech Scene Media, to talk about building community, navigating tech, and creating access where it doesn’t exist. JC shares his journey—from stepping away from tech for nearly 20 years to teaching himself again and building a platform that connects Memphis’ growing tech ecosystem. We also dive into: How AI is changing how developers work Why community is the real advantage in tech The importance of visibility and access Lessons from building without a roadmap Why it’s never too late to get back into tech This conversation is for builders, creators, and anyone trying to find their place in tech. 🎯 Key Takeaway: Tech isn’t just about skills—it’s about community, access, and showing people they belong. 🔗 Connect with JC Smiley: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcsmileyjr/ https://memphistechscene.beehiiv.com/ 🚀 Join the movement: BIT Voices is building a new kind of tech community—where builders connect, collaborate, and grow. https://bitvoices.network
S2 · E2
Apr 7, 2026
1:20:15
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