What if you’re not lost, just living in a part of the story no one talks about? Holding Patterns is a podcast about the in-between. The messy, undefined seasons of life where nothing quite makes sense. Hosted by Ashton Arnold, a deeply curious traveler who is carving out a life beyond the conventional path. Ashton leads guests through the kind of conversations that get honest, intimate, and are rooted in what it actually means to be human. This show is for people who’ve felt unsure, off-course, or like they’re making it up as they go. Each episode features a conversation with someone who has built a life outside the typical script, unpacking the moments where success felt out of reach. From travel and relationships to money and mental health, nothing’s off-limits. Holding Patterns is here to remind you that you’re not behind, you’re not alone, and you’re allowed to figure it out your own way.
Holding Patterns
Claim This Podcastby Ashton Arnold
Podcast Overview
What if you’re not lost, just living in a part of the story no one talks about? Holding Patterns is a podcast about the in-between. The messy, undefined seasons of life where nothing quite makes sense. Hosted by Ashton Arnold, a deeply curious traveler who is carving out a life beyond the conventional path. Ashton leads guests through the kind of conversations that get honest, intimate, and are rooted in what it actually means to be human. This show is for people who’ve felt unsure, off-course, or like they’re making it up as they go. Each episode features a conversation with someone who has built a life outside the typical script, unpacking the moments where success felt out of reach. From travel and relationships to money and mental health, nothing’s off-limits. Holding Patterns is here to remind you that you’re not behind, you’re not alone, and you’re allowed to figure it out your own way.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/1/2026
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Recent Episodes
July 22, 2026
10. The Cost of Constant Change | A Solo Episode on Anxiety & Letting an Identity Go
<p>For episode 10, I'm bringing you another solo episode. This isn't an episode about what I've learned, it's an episode about what it sounds like while I'm still learning it. It's a little messy and unpolished, because I'm still in the middle of this Holding Pattern, and I wanted to document it before I had all the answers.</p><p>I spend a lot of time talking about anxiety; how it shows up in my life, when it tends to appear, and what changes when I stop asking, "How do I make this go away?" and start asking, "Why is it here?"</p><p><br>From there, I dive into the specific Holding Pattern I'm currently in and how it feels different from the ones I've experienced before. This one is less about not knowing what's next and more about not recognizing who I'm becoming. To help make sense of it all, I reference Lawrence Yeo's article, <a href="https://moretothat.com/travel-is-no-cure-for-the-mind/">Travel Is No Cure for the Mind</a>, and connect his "box" analogy to what I'm experiencing in my own life.</p><p><br>It's a vulnerable episode, but my hope is that if you're feeling anything like I am right now, it helps you feel a little less alone in the uncertainty.</p><p>Turns out it's a lot easier to interview people about their Holding Patterns than to share your own. But I guess that's what practicing what you preach looks like.</p><p>_______________________________________________</p><p>Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)</p><p>Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)</p><p>Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay</p>
July 1, 2026
9. The Process is the Point | A Master's Thesis on the In-Between
<p>This week’s guest is one of my best friends, Lexi Sullens. Lexi is a teacher, a two-time master's graduate, and someone who has spent the last several years building a life between Spain and the US.</p><p><br>We met while studying abroad in Sevilla in the spring of 2021, and five years later, we're still finding our way through holding patterns together. This episode is a fun mix of sharing our friendship lore (including our Michelin restaurant dinner) and unpacking how Lexi’s master's thesis is basically the framework for Holding Patterns.</p><p>Lexi shares what the past five years have looked like, from Fulbright rejection to teaching English through NALCAP, navigating a difficult year living alone while teaching at a boarding school, and completing two master's degrees. She also shares genuinely helpful insights for anyone curious about teaching abroad or looking for affordable paths to graduate school.</p><p>We talk about the difference between linear and cyclical time, why uncertainty (not the waiting itself) is usually the hardest part, and how easy it is to mistake an in-between season for failure instead of seeing it as part of the process. Along the way, we get into what it actually costs to push through a difficult season just to prove you can, and the small, unglamorous things that help you make it through: a gratitude list, a scheduled call with a friend, a yoga mat you haven't unrolled in weeks.</p><p>This conversation is about learning to trust the process when you can't yet see where it's leading, and choosing to be present instead of constantly chasing what's next.</p><p>______________________________________________</p><p>Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)</p><p>Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)</p><p>Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay</p>
June 17, 2026
Trying to Manufacture Certainty | A Perfectionist’s Guide to Coloring Outside the Lines
<p>This week, my friend Kate and I are talking about our obsession with certainty, and all the ways we try to create it when life refuses to give it to us. Kate is an Outward Bound instructor and middle school English teacher. Outside of her professional endeavors, she defines herself as an enthusiast of escaping into the wilderness and an advocate for earnestness. </p><p>From chasing achievement and validation to planning our lives down to the smallest detail, it's easy to convince ourselves that if we can just figure out the "right" path, we'll finally feel settled. But what if the very thing we're searching for is keeping us stuck?</p><p><br>We chat about perfectionism (eldest daughters, this one's for you), achievement as a source of self-worth, and how our surroundings shape what we believe success is supposed to look like.</p><p>Along the way, we discuss following the energy of people who inspire us, how passion projects can turn into something real, and why the chaos we're often trying to avoid may actually contain the outcome we're hoping for.</p><p>This conversation is really about the tension between competing desires, the voice that wants security and the voice that wants adventure, and how to decide which one gets the final say.</p><p><br>And finally, a simple question: if your younger self could see the life you're building today, what would make them proud?</p><p>_______________________________________________</p><p>Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)</p><p>Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)</p><p>Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay</p>
10 total episodes available
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- What is Holding Patterns?
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This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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