Hold This Thought

with Christian Boatright

Welcome to Hold This Thought, an open-ended conversation podcast where every week, a new guest joins me for unscripted conversations. We discover their passions, explore curious topics, and gain insights about life along the way. In a world built for constant distraction, this is where things slow down, for thoughts worth holding onto. No scripts. No agenda. Real people. Real stories. Real life. The first three episodes release on 3/16/26. Streaming on YouTube and Spotify. @HoldThisThoughtPodcast

  1. Nov 2

    050 | 50 Episodes. 10 Months. One Incredible Journey. | David Williams

    Season Finale | Mental Health | EMDR Therapy | Rediscovering Faith | Church Disillusionment | Fifty episodes. Nearly ten months of conversations, ideas, unexpected moments, and a whole lot of work behind the scenes. For this Season One finale, I’m joined by David Williams, the man who has helped bring Hold This Thought to life behind the camera and behind the editing timeline. After editing hundreds of videos and helping shape the content you've seen throughout the season, it's time to finally bring him into the conversation. We talk about the journey behind the podcast, the creative process, and some surprisingly deep topics, including cultural influences on language, mental health, dissociation, counseling, EMDR, spiritual bypassing, and the complicated process of navigating church disillusionment while rediscovering a genuine faith in Christ. It's a conversation about growth, healing, perspective, and finding freedom in the middle of it all. Thank you to everyone who has watched, listened, shared, and been part of these first 50 episodes. This is the end of Season One, but definitely not the end of the conversation. See you in Season Two! #HoldThisThought #Episode50 #SeasonOneFinale #DavidWilliams #Podcast #VideoPodcast #PodcastJourney #BehindTheScenes #PodcastProduction #ContentCreation #VideoEditing #CreativeProcess #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Dissociation #EMDR #PersonalGrowth #FaithJourney #ChristianPodcast #ChurchHurt #SpiritualGrowth #SpiritualBypassing #FindingFreedom #AuthenticConversations

  2. Oct 26

    049 | Stop Waiting Until You're Ready. Just Start Creating | Ivory Nemorin

    Filmmaking | Producing | Risk-Taking | Entrepreneurship | Family | Creativity What does it actually take to turn a creative idea into something real? In Episode 049 of Hold This Thought, filmmaker and producer Ivory Nemorin joins Christian for a conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, and the courage to start before you have everything figured out. From producing documentaries and television shows to learning through failure, Ivory shares how experimenting, taking risks, and building with what you have can open doors you never expected. They also explore how entertainment evolves with each generation, why the Savannah Bananas have found a way to reinvent baseball for modern audiences, and what aspiring creators can learn from the process of bringing an idea to life. But building a creative career introduces challenges that go far beyond the work itself. With five children and a wife who is also a creator, Ivory discusses the importance of putting family first while pursuing ambitious projects. Christian and Ivory explore work-life balance, financial freedom, traditional career paths, and the tension between following your passion and paying the bills. They also discuss youth sports specialization, preserving children's health, creating meaningful family traditions, and why experiences often matter more than material possessions. The conversation takes a deeper turn as they examine the importance of human connection, emotional intelligence, protecting relationships, and maintaining your faith and values while pursuing creative ambitions. So how do you build something meaningful without losing sight of what matters most? Ivory offers a perspective shaped by years of creative experimentation: start with your priorities in order, learn what you enjoy through experience, and resist the temptation to let money dictate every creative decision. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, entrepreneur, artist, parent, or someone trying to create a more intentional life, this conversation offers practical insights into pursuing your ambitions while remaining grounded in your values. The central takeaway is simple: you don't need perfect conditions to begin. Create with what you have, learn as you go, and keep moving toward the life you envision. Ivory Nemorin is a filmmaker and producer passionate about storytelling and bringing creative ideas to life. He believes in taking action before everything is perfect, learning through failure, and creating with the resources available. As a father of five and a creative entrepreneur, Ivory shares his perspective on pursuing ambitious creative goals while balancing family, faith, and the values that matter most. Chapters: 00:00 | Introduction and the Creative Journey 05:53 | Starting Before You're Ready: Ivory's First Documentary 10:00 | How the Savannah Bananas Reinvented Baseball for a New Generation 15:06 | Inside a Documentary About Caribbean Music and the Music Industry 19:47 | Why Young Athletes Should Play Multiple Sports 25:00 | Balancing Creative Ambitions With Being a Present Father 35:02 | Pursuing Creative Freedom While Paying the Bills 40:46 | Creating Family Traditions That Last a Lifetime 52:11 | Create With What You Have: Making Something From Nothing 57:30 | Producer vs. Director: Understanding the Difference 1:03:34 | Taking the Leap on a Creative Dream 1:08:40 | Why Human Connection Is the Most Important Commodity 1:14:03 | Leadership, Faith, and Moving at the Pace of Your People 1:20:34 | Balancing Faith, Family, and Creative Ambition 1:24:10 | Creating for the Passion, Not Just the Money

  3. Oct 19

    048 | What If We're Asking the Wrong Questions About Life? | Kenneth Parraro

    Unconventional | Intellectual | Philosophical | Faith vs. Atheism | Search for Truth | Honest | A.I. Kenneth Parraro has spent years chasing adventure, from the Appalachian Trail to roughly 30,000 miles on a bicycle. But what began as a pursuit of distance and accomplishment eventually became something much deeper: an examination of why we run, what we are actually searching for, and whether adventure is still meaningful when it starts feeling like work. Kenneth and Christian unpack freedom, solitude, relationships, fear, agency, and the realization that sometimes the biggest journey is learning how to be comfortable with your own mind. The conversation then takes a sharp turn into some of the biggest questions imaginable: Can humans actually perceive objective reality? Are our beliefs fundamentally shaped by the hardware and experiences we were born with? Can AI help us see beyond the limitations of human perspective? Kenneth wrestles openly with religion, Christianity, atheism, free will, consciousness, death, and the possibility that the most intellectually honest answer is simply, "I don't know." They ultimately land on curiosity, humility, and iteration as ways of navigating a world where neither person believes they have everything figured out. Kenneth Pararo is an Atlanta-based host and writer who explores the tension between digital modern: life and raw human experience. Guided by a background in psychology and years of testing personal limits on foot and two wheels, he uses The Book of Moron podcast as a canvas to unpack identity, endurance, and everyday absurdity. He approaches every conversation like a long-distance trail: with grounded candor, open curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the friction. Chapters: 00:06 | Why I Bike 16:48 | The Freest I've Ever Felt 28:56 | Go Fast Alone, Go Far Together 39:04 | Reframing Everything 48:47 | If Adventure Feels Like Work, You're Doing It Wrong 58:24 | 30,000 Miles Around the Earth 01:07:15 | Humans Can't Objectively See Reality 01:17:04 | What Actually Feels True? 01:27:08 | AI Gives Us a Point of Comparison 01:37:30 | We're Asking Questions From a Limited Vantage Point 01:45:57 | The Free Gift of Christianity 01:56:54 | The Most Honest Answer Is "I Don't Know" 02:06:17 | AI Might Be Our Best Attempt at Understanding Reality 02:15:28 | What Do Humans Actually Value? 02:24:45 | Your Phone Is Hijacking Your Attention 02:31:04 | The Bad Thing Doesn't Usually Happen 02:40:57 | Evolution Isn't Moving Toward Anything 02:50:17 | Is AI's Disobedience a Sign of Intelligence? 02:59:21 | Your Emotions Don't Necessarily Describe Reality 03:02:38 | You Can't Iterate Blank

  4. Oct 12

    047 | Sometimes You Are the Problem in Your Relationships | Dr. Wendy Douglas

    Faith | Relationships | Compatibility | Chemistry | Attraction | Obedience What if the patterns hurting your relationships are coming from you? In this episode of Hold This Thought, Christian sits down with Dr. Wendy Douglas to talk about faith, relationships, healing, self-awareness, and the patterns that shape how we move through life. Dr. Wendy shares lessons from her books Dating and Waiting with God and Reset: Managing Life’s Chaos, Setbacks and Relationships. She shares insights such as why dating is data, why chemistry does not always mean compatibility, and why sometimes you have to pause and honestly evaluate your own role in a relationship. The conversation also explores what happens when God removes things we thought we needed, why Christians have to guard against becoming modern day Pharisees, how mentors and difficult experiences shape leadership, and why the situations that feel beneath us can sometimes be preparing us for something greater. At the heart of the conversation is a simple challenge: look inward, get honest, and let God reshape what needs to change. Hold This Thought Dr. Wendy Douglas is a Christ-centered author, speaker, mentor, relationship educator, and Architect of Resets dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's transitions with wisdom, faith, and emotional maturity. With more than twenty years of executive leadership experience, she combines biblical truth with practical strategies that empower readers to reset unhealthy thinking, rebuild after disappointment, and make healthier life decisions. Www.datingandwaitingwithgod.com ⁨@DatingandWaitingwithGod⁩ Chapters: 0:00 | The Conversation That Changed His Perspective 3:33 | Dating and Waiting With God 12:04 | The Power of Pausing and Resetting 18:42 | Being Good Does Not Mean Being Godly 26:45 | “I’m Dating in My Gaps” 34:18 | Understanding Instead of Judging 44:51 | Why Self Awareness Comes First 54:28 | When God Strips Everything Away 58:19 | Letting Go of Control 1:04:21 | Making Faith Practical in Real Life 1:12:32 | Protecting Your Spiritual Compass 1:18:10 | How Leadership Is Cultivated 1:29:44 | When Your Job Feels Beneath You 1:38:33 | Dating Is Data 1:42:23 | Sometimes What Attracts You Is Just Familiar

  5. Oct 5

    046 | Blind Draw | I Was In A Cult For Eight Months | Hunter Hensley

    Cults | Magic | Faith | The Constitution | Pickleball | Women's Sports Hunter Hensley returns for Blind Draw, and the conversation goes everywhere. We unpack Hunter's experience in a controversial Christian community that he now describes as a cult, including prophetic claims, questionable interpretations of Scripture, and a 20% Donation expectation that made him start questioning the entire relationship. Then the questions get progressively harder: Are aliens real? Is magic real? Is the Constitution outdated? Would you give up free speech or the right to bear arms? The conversation eventually moves through faith, supernatural experiences, conspiracy theories, government power, personal identity, competition, and the beliefs each of us would actually be willing to die for. Oh, and of course- Pickleball. What's YOUR DUPR? IG: @officialhunterhensley www.hunterhensley.com Chapters: 00:00 | The Questions Begin 07:39 | Hunter's Experience With A Cult 09:28 | The 20% Tithing Red Flag 13:06 | When A Prophet's Predictions Failed 18:58 | Charismatic Leaders And Accountability 25:59 | Are Aliens Real? 30:22 | Is Magic Real? 40:03 | Witchcraft, Healing And The Supernatural 45:16 | Is The Constitution Outdated? 57:50 | What Would You Die For? 1:13:02 | Free Speech Or Guns? 1:18:23 | Which Right Protects Freedom More? 1:41:17 | What Do You Pretend Not To Care About? 1:46:26 | Should Women's Sports Get Equal Pay? 1:58:02 | What Do You Believe But Can't Prove?

  6. Sep 21

    044 | Why Trying Harder Doesn't Produce The Fruit You Want | Aaron Snow

    Food Discipline | Drug Addiction | Good vs. Bad Fruit | Reconciliation | Stewardship | Pastor Aaron Snow joins the conversation to unpack the connection between identity, discipline, faith, and the fruit our lives produce. His story moves through personal transformation, addiction, leadership, fatherhood, and the difficult process of becoming the person you know you are called to be. The conversation also explores what it means to stop chasing approval, embrace discipline, and live from a deeper sense of identity. Aaron shares lessons from his own journey and challenges the idea that we can simply force change, pointing instead toward the deeper roots that ultimately shape our lives. Aaron Snow is the Senior Pastor of Purpose Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, husband to Caity, and dad to London and Lincoln. With over 30 years in local church leadership and more than a decade leading teams in the corporate marketplace, Aaron carries a deep conviction that the greatest work a man can do is reconcile his heart back to the love of the Father, because when that happens, the Church becomes the unstoppable force it was intended to be. His passion is helping sons and daughters, whether from the pulpit or in the boardroom, move from a life of performance and pressure into the freedom of leading from identity. Aaron's mission is simple: help people live and lead on purpose. www.wearepurposechurch.com FB & IG: @AaronSnow12 Chapters: 0:00 | The Discipline Problem 8:35 | Embracing the Suck 16:06 | What’s the Fruit? 24:58 | Seven Years of Addiction 33:07 | From Addiction to Freedom 40:03 | When Darkness Meets Light 48:11 | The Excavation of Your Life 56:07 | Kindness as a Witness 1:04:00 | Who Is Your First Neighbor? 1:13:37 | The Moment He Heard, “You’re My Son” 1:22:34 | The Church Was Meant to Be Unstoppable 1:30:04 | Peace the World Can’t Explain 1:38:49 | What Your Children Really Need From You 1:45:04 | The Courage to Be Who You’re Called to Be

  7. Sep 14

    043 | He Played 500 Hours of Catan… Here’s What He Learned | Ben Austin

    Catan | Boardgames | NICU Journey | Theme Parks | Immersion What starts as a conversation about Catan quickly turns into something much bigger. Ben Austin joins us for an unusually nerdy and surprisingly deep conversation about why The Settlers of Catan became such a phenomenon, the negotiation and diplomacy hidden inside the game, and how the game's balance of strategy and luck mirrors real life. From there, we go down the rabbit hole of board games, movies, Marvel, Star Wars, and theme parks and the psychology of why certain fictional worlds capture our attention while others do not. Then the conversation takes a much more personal turn. Ben opens up about his son being born three months early at 27 weeks, the uncertainty and intensity of their NICU experience, and the terrifying moments that came with watching their baby's vital signs suddenly crash. We talk about how modern medical technology changed the outcome, including the procedure that eventually closed his son's PDA, before returning to another shared obsession: theme parks. Ben explains why Universal's theming and architecture create such powerful immersion, why Hagrid's is unlike virtually any other roller coaster, and how a $300 million ride can make you feel like you've actually entered another world. Ben Austin is an entrepreneur and family business leader who operates Austin Property Solutions while helping grow Austin Sound Design. A devoted husband and father, Ben is passionate about his faith, family, gaming, golf, with a particular love for Star Wars, Marvel, and Universal. https://austinhomeinnovations.com/ IG: @austinhomeinnovationsllc Chapters: 00:01 | The Board Game That Was Supposed to Be Boring 06:08 | What Catan Actually Teaches Us About Life 09:06 | Why Negotiation Is Built Into Catan 12:16 | Ambition, Diplomacy & The Cost of Being a Tyrant 18:15 | The Resource You're Sacrificing in Real Life 21:21 | Why Luck Can Beat 500 Hours of Experience 29:05 | Are Board Games Actually a Waste of Time? 40:13 | How Marvel & Star Wars Created Massive Fandoms 48:19 | Should They Remake the Original Star Wars? 57:19 | Why Harry Potter Is the Perfect Gateway to Fantasy 1:17:45 | Their Baby Was Born 3 Months Early 1:28:10 | Why Theme Parks Feel Like Another World

About

Welcome to Hold This Thought, an open-ended conversation podcast where every week, a new guest joins me for unscripted conversations. We discover their passions, explore curious topics, and gain insights about life along the way. In a world built for constant distraction, this is where things slow down, for thoughts worth holding onto. No scripts. No agenda. Real people. Real stories. Real life. The first three episodes release on 3/16/26. Streaming on YouTube and Spotify. @HoldThisThoughtPodcast