019 | How a 4.5 GPA Valedictorian Thinks About Life’s Hardest Questions | Andrew Malooley

024 | I Had to Know the Truth… Even If It Cost Me Everything | Grant Adams

Cults | Dopamine | Smartphones | Video Games | Sex | Biology | Faith | Protestantism | Catholicism In this episode of Hold This Thought, I sit down with Grant Adams for a raw, wide-ranging conversation that cuts straight through modern life. We talk about why he ditched his smartphone for a flip phone, how technology is quietly reshaping our brains and relationships, and what we lose when convenience replaces presence. From there, we dive into deeper territory… marriage, sexuality, and whether modern culture has drifted away from how humans are actually wired to live. Grant shares his journey from Protestant pastor to Catholicism, unpacking the problem of authority, the explosion of denominations, and how early Christianity shaped his beliefs. This is one of those conversations that challenges assumptions, pushes boundaries, and forces you to think about how you’re living. Grant Adams is the husband of his sweet wife, Bridgette, and father of three wild kids. After several years of children’s, youth, music, and pastoral ministry, God brought him and his family home to the Catholic Church. Grant currently serves as the teen chastity educator for an ecumenical pro-life clinic and gives talks to local parishes sharing his testimony and love for the Catholic faith. Follow Grant on: IG: @rangergrant YT: @RangerGrant Chapters: 00:00 | The Lip Bite Story & Cold Open 09:41 | Why He Switched to a Flip Phone 20:12 | GPS, Memory & Are We Getting Dumber? 30:28 | Technology Trade-Offs & Losing Presence 41:07 | Discipline vs Convenience in Daily Life 51:18 | Abstinence, Teens & Cultural Reality 1:01:29 | Sex: Good, Dangerous & Misunderstood 1:11:42 | Biology vs Society (Are We Out of Sync?) 1:22:05 | Marriage Age, Fertility & Modern Norms 1:32:18 | Meaning, Family & Long-Term Purpose 1:42:27 | From Protestant Roots to Big Questions 1:52:36 | The Authority Problem in Christianity 2:02:41 | Why Thousands of Denominations Exist 2:12:53 | Sola Scriptura & Interpreting the Bible 2:23:04 | Early Church Fathers & Getting to the Source 2:30:12 | The Turning Point Toward Catholicism

023 | The Battle With Addiction Most People Never See | Sarah Carter

Sustainable Wellness | Faith & Redemption | Fitness Mindset | Personal Growth | Real Life Transformation This episode explores the deeper layers of health, identity, and transformation through a powerful and honest conversation with Sarah Carter. We begin with her early life, from being born in Spain to growing up in an active family, and how those experiences shaped her independence and mindset. What starts as a light conversation quickly evolves into a deeper look at personality, discipline, and the way people approach growth. Sarah shares how her passion for fitness developed over time, not through trends or shortcuts, but through consistency and a desire to build a lifestyle that lasts. That foundation eventually led her to create a business centered around sustainable wellness, helping others simplify fitness and focus on what actually works. As the conversation unfolds, we dive into the realities of modern fitness culture, including misinformation, comparison, and why so many people struggle to stay consistent. From macros and metabolism to long-term habits, this episode breaks down what truly leads to lasting change. There is also a much deeper layer to this conversation. Sarah opens up about addiction, both personally and within her marriage, and the challenges that came with it. What follows is a story of struggle, faith, and transformation that reframes everything about discipline, identity, and what it really means to rebuild your life. This is not just a conversation about fitness. It is about healing, growth, and becoming the person you were meant to be. Sarah is the founder of Swellness, where she helps busy women create a sustainable, healthy lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. She is a certified health coach, personal trainer, and nutritionist, and is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle from the inside out. When she’s not working or in the gym, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and reading mystery novels. Follow Sarah at: https://swellnessllc.com/ https://www.instagram.com/swellness_llc Chapters: 00:00 | First Impressions, Personality, and Lighthearted Start 07:18 | Born in Spain and Early Childhood Story 14:09 | Middle Child Identity and Independence 21:27 | Discovering Fitness and Love for Movement 29:11 | Anti-Trend Mindset and Sustainable Approach 36:42 | Building Swellness and Starting the Business 44:03 | Group Fitness, Community, and Connection 51:36 | GLP-1 Medications and Weight Loss Debate 59:08 | Food Noise, Addiction, and Internal Struggles 1:06:41 | Faith, Surrender, and Breaking Strongholds 1:14:22 | Nutrition Education and Fixing the System 1:21:47 | Macros, Metabolism, and Building Muscle

022 | What My Family Risked Coming to America | Justin Sundara

Identity Formation | Competitive Psychology | Cultural Insight | Life Transitions | Human Resilience This episode explores the intersection of identity, competition, and perspective through a wide ranging conversation with Justin Sundara. We begin with his unconventional relationship with anime and storytelling, unpacking how symbolism and character arcs shape the way we interpret meaning in our own lives. What starts as a conversation about entertainment quickly expands into something deeper, showing how identity is influenced by what we consume, create, and pursue. Justin shares his athletic background, including years of high-level football and the moment injury forced him to make a major decision. We move onto pickleball, where competition, obsession, and community reignite his drive. We explore what it really means to compete, the psychology behind improvement, and why that mindset never fully turns off. As the conversation evolves, we zoom out into broader ideas, including travel, perspective, and how new environments reshape the way we see the world, along with glimpses into the future of technology and human potential. The episode builds toward a powerful moment as Justin shares his family’s immigration story, one that reframes opportunity, sacrifice, and what it truly means to build a life. This is a conversation about how identity is formed, how perspective is earned, and how the experiences we inherit and the ones we choose shape the way we move through the world. Follow Justin's Journey: @j_sundara4 @pickleballwithjustin Chapters: 00:00 | Anime Origins and Rediscovery Later in Life 09:47 | Anime Tattoos, Itachi, and Symbolism Behind the Eye 18:52 | Football Career, Injury, and Identity Shift 28:11 | Discovering Pickleball and Competitive Obsession 37:26 | Skill Gap, Community, and What Separates Players 46:39 | Travel, Perspective, and Expanding Worldviews 55:58 | Space, Mars, and the Future of Humanity 1:05:14 | Evolution of Sports and What Comes Next 1:14:33 | Fantasy Football vs Dungeons and Dragons 1:23:48 | Strategy, Data, and Competitive Thinking 1:33:02 | Cultural Identity and Family Background 1:42:19 | Refugee Story and Crossing the River Under Fire 1:51:36 | Immigration, Freedom, and Perspective on America 2:00:41 | Power, Corruption, and Human Nature

021 | The Reality of Growing Up as an Immigrant in America | Gonzalo Manotas

Immigrant Experience | Cultural Perspective | Global Travel | Generational Responsibility | Aging And Care In this episode of Hold This Thought, I sit down with Gonzalo Manotas to explore identity, culture, and what really matters over the course of a lifetime. Gonzalo shares what it was like growing up as an immigrant in the United States, arriving without speaking English and navigating early challenges that shaped how he saw himself and the world. From struggling with something as personal as his own name to eventually traveling across dozens of countries, his story reveals how perspective is built through experience. We dive into the power of travel, why exposure to different cultures reshapes your thinking, and how something as simple as a name can carry deeper meaning than most people realize. The conversation then shifts into family, aging, and responsibility. After a personal experience with his mother’s health, Gonzalo made a major life shift into senior care, helping families navigate one of the most difficult and overlooked stages of life. We also explore modern culture, the loss of connection, and how ideas like “success” may be pulling people away from what actually matters. This is a conversation about identity, growth, responsibility, and perspective, and how all of it evolves over time. Gonzalo was born in South America and moved to the United States at a young age. He was raised in South Florida, where he met his wife and started his family. He later moved to Georgia to raise his children while building a career in a global corporate role. Travel has always been a significant part of his life, both personally and professionally. Today, he is focused on a new venture dedicated to supporting and caring for the senior community. www.amadaduluth.com Chapters: 00:00 | The Globe, Perspective, and Being a Small Speck 05:23 | Moving From Colombia to the U.S. 10:31 | Language Barriers and Early Identity Struggles 15:28 | Names, Insecurity, and Self-Confidence 20:19 | Do Names Belong to Certain Cultures? 25:22 | Travel, Career, and Life on the Road 31:07 | The Most Memorable Trips and Experiences 36:12 | His Mother’s Health Crisis and Turning Point 41:06 | Senior Care, Culture, and Family Responsibility 46:11 | The Future of Family and Aging in Society 51:04 | AI, Technology, and the Future of Work 56:08 | Using AI as a Creative Tool 1:01:37 | Building, Iterating, and Creating Something Real

020 | Why “Close Enough” Doesn’t Work | Peter Samuel

Why do some stories stay with us… while others completely fall apart? In this episode of Hold This Thought, we start with childhood favorites like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and follow the thread all the way through modern movies, video games, and adaptations. Along the way, we unpack why certain stories resonate across generations and why others miss the mark entirely. From James Bond copyright battles to failed adaptations like Eragon, this conversation explores the tension between creativity and staying true to what made something great in the first place. But it doesn’t stop at storytelling. We shift into real life… where the same principles apply. From business integrity to a real story of fixing a wedding disaster overnight, to deeper conversations around culture, faith, and honoring tradition, this episode is ultimately about one thing: Doing things right matters. ...More than we think. Chapters: 00:00 | Favorite Books & The Power of Escaping Into Story 07:24 | James Bond, Copyright Battles & Who Owns a Story 14:38 | When Two Versions Compete and the Industry Gets Complicated 21:11 | Why Bad Adaptations Frustrate People So Much 28:07 | Nostalgia, Fashion Cycles, and Why Things Come Back 35:18 | Video Games, Movies, and Living Inside the Story 42:26 | When Adaptations Actually Get It Right 49:33 | The Shift From Stories to Real-World Application 52:19 | Pricing, Value, and Doing Business the Right Way 59:04 | The Wedding Story: When “Good Enough” Isn’t Acceptable 1:06:12 | Religion, Geography, and How Beliefs Spread 1:13:34 | Cultural Respect, Honor, and Eastern Traditions 1:20:06 | The Tension Between Tradition and Personal Freedom 1:27:18 | Community, Accountability, and Showing Up for People 1:34:42 | Why Doing Things Right Still Matters Subscribe for honest conversations about the ideas shaping culture, business, and our world. 👉 / @holdthisthoughtpodcast