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. 2d ago

    035 | Why I Started "Purefect" Meals | Sean Parker

    Gaming | RuneScape | Meal Prep Industry | Near-Death Experience Sean Parker is a entrepreneur with a passion for food, technology, and building meaningful experiences. As the founder of Purefect Meals, he combines bold flavors, practical innovation, and a customer-first mindset to create healthy, high-quality meals that people genuinely enjoy. Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Sean enjoys gaming, exploring emerging technologies, and discovering smarter, more efficient ways to improve everyday life. His passion for continuous learning and thoughtful problem-solving drives both his business and personal endeavors. Sean Parker joins Hold This Thought for a conversation covering the surprising life lessons hidden inside video games, the economics of RuneScape and MMOs, gaming addiction, immersive game design, entrepreneurship, launching Perfect Meals, customer-first business principles, startup challenges, and the health crisis that reshaped his outlook. Whether you're a gamer, entrepreneur, or simply interested in how hobbies shape real life, this episode is packed with thoughtful insights and memorable stories. www.purefectmeals.com Instagram: Purefect Meals Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Favorite Games 07:03 RuneScape's Real-World Economy 13:10 Gaming Addiction & Healthy Balance 19:04 Why Movie Games Were Special 25:42 Why Sean Started Perfect Meals 32:05 Building Meals From Scratch 38:05 Customer Service & Micro Center Story 44:11 Scaling A Meal Prep Startup 50:18 Recovering From A Life-Threatening Illness 56:42 Lessons From Surviving Sepsis 1:03:18 Faith, Perspective & Purpose 1:10:02 Entrepreneurship & Future Vision 1:16:42 Final Reflections & Advice

  2. Jul 14

    034 | He Built A Custom Knife Business From Scratch | Levi Herrick

    Knife Making | George Floyd Riots | Craftsmanship | Depression | Faith In this episode of Hold This Thought, I sit down with Levi Herrick, a custom knife maker and entrepreneur whose journey took him from rural Wisconsin to building a handmade knife business in Georgia. What begins with a debate about ostriches, wolves, and snakes evolves into a conversation about craftsmanship, social media addiction, dopamine overload, and staying connected in a distracted world. Levi shares how he got started in knife making, what goes into creating a handcrafted blade, and what separates custom knives from mass-produced products. As the conversation deepens, Levi opens up about depression, isolation, alcohol struggles, and suicidal thoughts during a difficult season of isolation in Minnesota. Together we discuss community, faith, purpose, and finding hope when life feels overwhelming. We also explore the George Floyd riots, peaceful protest versus destruction, questions about Revelation and the rapture, and what it means to follow Christ. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, mental health, craftsmanship, or faith, this episode offers plenty of thoughts worth holding on to northernknifeworks.shop IG: @northern_knifeworks Chapters: 00:00 Intro & The Ostrich Combat Question 05:09 Favorite Animals, Pets, And Snake Stories 10:43 Growing Up In Rural Wisconsin 14:22 Social Media, Dopamine, And Modern Distraction 23:03 Building A Handmade Knife Business 29:26 Katanas, Kukris, And Large Blade Projects 37:37 Craftsmanship, Woodworking, And Creating Things 40:02 College, Faith, And Formative Years 44:18 Living Through The George Floyd Riots 50:50 Peaceful Protest, Change, And Community 54:02 Faith, Identity, And Following Christ 59:54 Levi's Darkest Battle With Depression 01:05:00 Suicidal Thoughts, Hope, And Healing 01:10:41 What Would You Ask Jesus? 01:16:47 Heaven, Revelation, And Eternal Hope

  3. Jul 6

    033 | What Death Taught Me About Living | Taylor Hayes

    Vaccines | Medical Trauma | Public Trust | Fatherlessness | Forgiveness Taylor Hayes is a physician assistant, educator, researcher, author, wife, mother, and deep thinker. In this conversation we explore everything from social media algorithms, public trust, and healthcare to grief, trauma, parenting, faith, creativity, and forgiveness. Taylor shares what it was like growing up without her father, reconnecting with him decades later, working with critically ill patients, witnessing death on a regular basis, and ultimately transitioning into medical education. Along the way, we discuss family stability, raising children, burnout, writing, purpose, and the importance of asking difficult questions without losing our humanity. This episode is a reminder that some of life's most important conversations don't fit neatly into headlines, algorithms, or political camps. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction To Hold This Thought 01:31 Conspiracies, Algorithms, And Going Down The Rabbit Hole 10:26 Vaccines, Public Trust, And Asking Better Questions 19:22 Growing Up Black In Rural West Virginia 28:20 The CDC Shooting And The Dangers Of Distrust 36:32 End-Of-Life Care And The Conversations We Avoid 44:17 Witnessing Death As A Healthcare Provider 52:06 Leaving Clinical Medicine For Education 01:00:08 Growing Up In A Single-Parent Household 01:08:58 The Day Her Father Disappeared Again 01:17:22 Forgiveness, Brothers, And Letting Go Of Bitterness 01:25:08 Why Family Must Come Before Ministry 01:33:16 Discovering Creativity Through Writing 01:41:19 Fiction, Imagination, And Why Stories Matter 01:49:12 The Reality Of Writing A Book 01:57:43 Researching Burnout And Physician Well-Being 02:00:03 Final Thoughts On Creativity And Pursuing Ideas

  4. Jun 29

    032 | Why Kids Need Failure Early | Danny Sawyer

    On Set w/ Chadwick Boseman | Professional Baseball | Coaching | Grass (yep, grass) | Parenting | Failure Former pro athlete, actor, and coach Danny Sawyer joins Hold This Thought for a wide-ranging conversation on sports, life on a movie set, fatherhood, discipline, resilience, and the long-term impact adults have on young athletes. Drawing from years of experience on the field, in performance, and in coaching, Danny shares why discomfort, adversity, and failure are essential ingredients for real growth. This episode dives into youth sports culture, confidence, identity, parenting through pressure, and the danger of tying self-worth to performance. Danny and Christian explore what healthy competition actually teaches kids, how strong mentors shape character, and why protecting children from every setback may unintentionally weaken them later in life. At its core, this is a conversation about building capable, grounded people. Whether you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or someone trying to lead well in your own life, this episode offers practical wisdom on responsibility, perspective, emotional strength, and preparing kids for the realities of adulthood. Danny has been married to his wife for nearly 13 years and is the proud father of two sons. As a family, they love traveling, staying active, playing sports, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. A former professional athlete, Danny continues to prioritize health, fitness, and an active lifestyle. His competitive mindset, passion for sports, and commitment to personal growth continue to shape both his family life and the way he approaches leadership, coaching, and everyday life. Chapters: 00:00 | Life On Set with Chadwick Boseman 06:48 | Coaching Effort, Attitude & Respect Instead of Outcomes 13:27 | Why Parents Yelling From the Stands Miss the Point 19:56 | Kids Mirror Emotional Regulation Before They Understand It 26:11 | Failure, Confidence & Teaching Kids How to Respond 32:42 | Correcting Character vs Correcting Athletic Performance 39:08 | Competitive Parents & the Pressure Kids Quietly Carry 45:36 | Learning to Lose With Grace and Win With Humility 51:52 | How Coaching Changes From Childhood to High-Level Sports 58:14 | Life After Baseball & Losing an Athletic Identity 1:04:37 | Transitioning Into Marriage, Fatherhood & Family Leadership 1:10:56 | Prioritizing Family Time, Faith & Intentional Parenting 1:17:03 | The Lawn Conversation: Pride, Home & Creating Space for Kids 1:23:11 | How Baseball & Coaching Sparked an Obsession With Grass 1:29:44 | Reel Mowers, Bermuda Grass & Why Frequent Cutting Matters 1:35:58 | Sand Leveling, Top Dressing & the Science Behind Perfect Lawns 1:42:19 | Golf, Quiet Competition & Why the Game Feels Therapeutic 1:48:37 | Landscaping Projects, Creativity & Working With Your Hands 1:54:52 | Fitness After Pro Baseball & the Wake-Up Call to Get Healthy 2:00:41 | Sustainable Health, Recovery, Stewardship & Final Reflections

  5. Jun 25

    031 | A Coach, Security Engineer, & Creative Walk Into A Podcast | Jordan & Ethan Boatright

    In the first ever 3-person episode of Hold This Thought, I sit down with my two brothers for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, cyber security, history, sports, family, and the memories that shape us. One brother works in education. One works in cyber security and AI. I approach the world from the creative side. That mix led to a conversation that moved from childhood stories and sports to rogue AI scenarios, historical perspective, philosophy, and what actually makes life meaningful. We talk about growing up in the same house but becoming completely different people, how AI is changing education and human thinking, whether society is becoming too dependent on technology, and why shared experiences matter more than material things. This episode felt less like an interview and more like sitting in the room with three brothers having an honest conversation about the world and our place in it. Ethan Boatright is the youngest brother; a cybersecurity engineer with experience across both large enterprises and smaller organizations. He is a husband and father who enjoys spending time with family, gaming, and reading. His interests range from immersive RPGs and classic online games to technology, leadership, and fantasy literature. He is especially drawn to topics involving engineering growth, problem-solving, and long-form storytelling. Jordan Boatright is the oldest brother; an educator and coach with experience leading athletes across multiple sports and competitive levels. A graduate of both Samford University and Shorter University, he has coached football at various levels while also contributing to track and field, wrestling, and golf programs across three different states. Jordan is passionate about mentorship, personal growth, the outdoors, and continually learning new skills and perspectives. Chapters: 00:00 | Brothers, Family Traits, And The Junk Drawer Debate 06:12 | Cleaning Out Family Property And Why We Keep Things 12:01 | Nature Vs Nurture And Personality Differences 17:16 | AI, Knowledge, And The Collapse Of The Mentor Model 23:12 | Students, AI, And Outsourcing Human Thinking 29:47 | Mission Impossible, Rogue AI, And Nuclear Systems 33:00 | “Never Let A Computer Make A Management Decision” 38:03 | Hive Minds, Self-Propagating AI, And Takeover Scenarios 46:24 | Favorite Historical Eras And Why The Cold War Fascinates Us 51:37 | Teaching Students How To Think Through History 56:08 | Churchill, World War II, And Historical Leadership 1:01:42 | “History Is Written By The Victors” 1:09:12 | The Humanity, Art, And Innovation Lost In War 1:15:48 | How Regimes Suppress Creativity And Human Potential 1:22:03 | Curiosity, Information, And Modern Attention Spans 1:29:17 | Family Dynamics, Personality Traits, And Identity 1:36:28 | Childhood Homes, Neighborhood Memories, And Growing Up 1:44:50 | Little League Sports, Wrestling, And Competitive Drive 1:53:39 | Participation Vs Spectatorship And Why Some People Need To Contribute 1:59:18 | Video Games, Collaboration, And Shared Experiences 2:04:52 | Why Experiences Matter More Than Gifts

  6. Jun 22

    030 | The Bible Isn't Always Saying What We Think It Is | Dr. Don Allen

    Bible Translation | Faith | Theology | Leadership | Missions | Loneliness | Legacy Dr. Don Allen joins Hold This Thought for a conversation about faith, leadership, purpose, legacy, and the realities of building something that lasts. From planting a church with just six people to leading ministries that now reach more than 218 countries, Dr. Allen shares the story behind Church At War Hill, Victory 91.5, and RLN Global. Along the way, he reflects on the opportunities, pressures, and unexpected loneliness that often accompany influence and leadership. We discuss the moment he was given just one day to acquire a global radio ministry, the challenges of rebuilding struggling organizations, and why success often comes with unseen sacrifices. Dr. Allen also opens up about receiving a devastating medical diagnosis, choosing to continue his mission, and what that experience taught him about purpose and resilience. The conversation then turns to one of his most ambitious projects: translating Scripture for a new generation. We explore how historical context shapes our understanding of the Bible, misconceptions surrounding Revelation, and why familiar passages often carry deeper meaning than many realize. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Allen shares stories from around the world, lessons from decades of ministry, and a simple challenge for anyone pursuing a calling: don't miss the beauty right in front of you. Dr. Don Allen, his wife Christina, and their four children, Bethany, Zach, Jordan, and Charley, have enjoyed being a part of the ministry of The Church @ War Hill since 1992, where Dr. Allen serves as Lead Pastor. In this short period of time the ministry has grown from a handful of believers to a multi-campus congregation serving 2000 active attendees and has branched into an international ministry known as R.L.N. Global. Dr. Allen has an earned PhD from Southwest Bible College and Seminary, serves on international ministry boards, and in 2012 assumed the position of Executive Director of Victory 91.5fm, Atlanta’s largest independently owned radio station. With a thriving local church body, a television & radio broadcast reaching hundreds of thousands, pastoral training in the United States and abroad, international congregations, and Evangelistic outreaches around the world, Dr. Allen has enjoyed seeing this vision come to reality. Chapters: 00:00 | Introduction 03:31 | From Ministry Family to Church Planter 07:31 | Buying a Global Radio Network in One Day 12:20 | Real Love Now's Global Mission 14:33 | Preaching in the U.S. Congress 18:25 | The Hidden Loneliness of Leadership 23:07 | When Everyone Knows Your Name 30:50 | Being Told to Go Home and Die 32:18 | Helping Others Find Their Way Back 36:35 | Why Public Perception Isn't Reality 40:50 | Translating a New Bible Version 47:40 | Rescuing Girls from Human Trafficking 52:50 | Seven Years Translating the New Testament 55:03 | Making Scripture Understandable Today 1:01:46 | The Hardest Translation Decisions 1:04:27 | Interpreting Revelation Without the Noise 1:08:46 | The Importance of Biblical Context 1:15:06 | Photography, Beauty, and Seeing Differently 1:19:10 | Why Travel Changes Your Perspective 1:24:02 | Legacy, Purpose, and Final Reflections

  7. Jun 18

    029 | From Fatherless to Leading a Family of His Own | Jeff Boatright

    No Father| Pain | Responsibility | Growth | Purpose | Legacy What happens when you grow up without a father? In this episode, we explore a story that challenges the assumption that a broken home leads to a broken future. From never seeing his dad at a single game to being surrounded by coaches and men who stepped in, this conversation uncovers how influence, consistency, and perspective can shape a life far more than circumstance. The core message is simple, but not easy: 👉 You don’t control what you’re given. You control what you build from it. This episode dives into identity, responsibility, marriage, and legacy, and what it really means to become the man you didn’t have growing up. If you’ve ever wrestled with your past or questioned your direction, this conversation offers a perspective shift that sticks. And.. Happy Father's Day Dad. I wouldn't trade dads with anyone in the world. Chapters: 00:00 | Show Intro 04:54 | Growing Up Without a Father & Home Life Begins 10:04 | Father Absence & Perspective on Marriage 14:58 | His Mother’s Role, Faith, and Work Ethic 20:19 | Sports, Identity, and Becoming a Present Father 25:52 | The 3 Types of Disappointment 30:24 | Grief, Regret, and Honoring His Mother 35:19 | His Mom’s Later Marriage & Life Lessons 38:57 | Starting at UPS & Early Career Decisions 45:23 | Most Intense UPS Story (On-the-Job Incident) 53:00 | COVID Workload & Career Pressure Peak 57:45 | Buyout, Union Tension & Final Perspective Subscribe for honest conversations about the ideas shaping culture, business, and our world around us. 👉 / @holdthisthoughtpodcast

  8. Jun 15

    028 | Turning Childhood Trauma Into Purpose | Chris Borelli

    Foster Care Story | Adoption | Creative Entrepreneurship | Audio Engineering | Music Production | Advertising Career In this episode of Hold This Thought, Christian sits down with Chris Borelli for a deeply honest conversation about music, trauma, creativity, and perspective. What starts as a discussion about audio engineering and podcast production slowly unfolds into a powerful story about foster care, adoption, emotional healing, and the role music played in shaping Chris’s life. Chris shares how discovering piano during one of the darkest seasons of his childhood became both an outlet and a lifeline. The conversation explores everything from sound design and voiceover work to creative entrepreneurship, advertising agencies, rap music, vulnerability in art, and the emotional weight behind authentic storytelling. The two also dive into why the most impactful art comes from honesty, how perspective changes people, and why meaningful conversations still matter in a world filled with noise. From running seven miles every morning at a life changing camp program to eventually working with major brands and launching a creative studio with his wife, Chris’s journey is filled with resilience, reflection, and purpose. If you’re passionate about creativity, music, storytelling, personal growth, or simply hearing how someone transformed pain into purpose, this episode is for you. Chris Borelli is an artist, producer, and audio engineer based in Atlanta. After more than 10 years in the advertising industry, he transitioned more fully into audio work at the end of 2025, building on a career that blends creativity, production, and strategy. Alongside his personal music artistry, Chris works with brands, agencies, startups, and fellow artists as a voiceover artist, composer, and mix/master engineer. He also serves as Head of Operations for a creative studio founded by his wife, a photographer and creative director, helping lead projects across a wide range of creative disciplines. https://huedhuedhued.com/mp3 @chrisborelliofficial @hued.mp3 Chapters: 00:00 | Introduction 02:02 | Building The Studio And Great Audio 08:46 | Podcast Audio Vs Music Production 13:01 | Chris's Path Into Audio Engineering 19:18 | Specialist Or Jack Of All Trades? 24:09 | Foster Care, Adoption, And Childhood Trauma 31:34 | Finding Piano In The Middle Of Pain 38:18 | Family History, Healing, And Perspective 45:41 | Learning From A Difficult Past 51:11 | Vulnerability, Art, And Self Expression 57:03 | Drake, Authenticity, And Impactful Music 1:03:59 | Perspective Changes Everything 1:05:05 | Ron Burton Training Village And Opportunity 1:07:48 | The Internship That Changed His Life 1:13:19 | Launching Hued Creative And MP3 1:20:42 | Creative Freedom, Purpose, And Identity 1:26:52 | Keeping The Pilot Light Lit 1:28:40 | Final Thoughts

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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

Information

  • Creator
    with Christian Boatright
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © with Christian Boatright
  • Show Website
    Hold This Thought