Holding Patterns Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/holding-patterns 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. © 2026 Ashton Arnold bf5a5487-3f41-54f5-9ef9-db3c821271d5 yes en Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:05 -0700 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:02:13 -0700 https://img.transistorcdn.com/GsgVDlvgBx30-wp95-H_5ZtMJ5yLzxR_7l7suCFW9mo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83ODQx/ODZjYTQyMzI1OGY0/N2VmMjVjYjQyZThh/NjhlYi5wbmc.jpg Holding Patterns episodic Ashton Arnold 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. What if you’re not lost, just living in a part of the story no one talks about. Personal growth, self discovery, life transitions, relationships, lifestyle Ashton Arnold No No 10. The Cost of Constant Change | A Solo Episode on Anxiety & Letting an Identity Go 10 10 10. The Cost of Constant Change | A Solo Episode on Anxiety & Letting an Identity Go full 7d7e2497-d3d8-47cf-84f5-e98559293342 https://share.transistor.fm/s/df6126f8 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.

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?"


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, Travel Is No Cure for the Mind, and connect his "box" analogy to what I'm experiencing in my own life.


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.

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.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> 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.

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?"


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, Travel Is No Cure for the Mind, and connect his "box" analogy to what I'm experiencing in my own life.


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.

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.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 2451 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.

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?"


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, Travel Is No Cure for the Mind, and connect his "box" analogy to what I'm experiencing in my own life.


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.

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.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Personal growth, self discovery, life transitions, relationships, lifestyle No 9. The Process is the Point | A Master's Thesis on the In-Between 9 9 9. The Process is the Point | A Master's Thesis on the In-Between full 5cb56375-0c71-4f01-bb4b-7c65e9e9e473 https://share.transistor.fm/s/da85be49 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.


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.

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.

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.

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.

______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> 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.


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.

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.

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.

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.

______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 3878 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.


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.

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.

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.

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.

______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Personal growth, self discovery, life transitions, relationships, lifestyle No 8. Trying to Manufacture Certainty | A Perfectionist’s Guide to Coloring Outside the Lines 8 8 8. Trying to Manufacture Certainty | A Perfectionist’s Guide to Coloring Outside the Lines full ca7bc56e-1b98-482d-ba78-e77f973ca72c https://share.transistor.fm/s/da4a8357 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. 

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?


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.

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.

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.


And finally, a simple question: if your younger self could see the life you're building today, what would make them proud?

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> 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. 

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?


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.

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.

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.


And finally, a simple question: if your younger self could see the life you're building today, what would make them proud?

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 3356 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. 

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?


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.

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.

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.


And finally, a simple question: if your younger self could see the life you're building today, what would make them proud?

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> perfectionism, uncertainty, self sabotage, education, raft guide No 7. A Life Built Around Leaving | Using Travel to Cope, Mental Health & Knowing When to Stay 7 7 7. A Life Built Around Leaving | Using Travel to Cope, Mental Health & Knowing When to Stay full e6fe8874-7c62-433e-9e12-66617ad2ed46 https://share.transistor.fm/s/59c387c0 This episode is for anyone who has wondered what it actually means to live the "traveler" lifestyle for years at a time.

Today, I have my friend Andi Borden on the podcast. She has spent the majority of her adulthood living a very nomadic life; many titles can be used to describe her: chef, baker, activist, tree-planting cook, shelter worker…honestly, the list goes on. She's someone who has truly lived a thousand lives, and this conversation reflects that.

We get into all of it. How travel can start as a goal and slowly become the only coping mechanism you know. The way moving countries can silence depression and anxiety just long enough to keep going, until you finally have to stop and sit with it. What it feels like to belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and why the people who don't travel will never quite understand your life, and why you'll never quite understand theirs either.

We also talk about the moment you realize you're tired. Not of travel, but of running. And what it actually looks like to choose to settle down when your whole identity has been built around leaving.

This is one of my favorite conversations I've had on this podcast yet. If you've ever sat with that deep, 3 am kind of question…Am I doing the right thing? Am I running from something? Is any of this adding up to what I think it is? I think you’re going to get a lot out of this one.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> This episode is for anyone who has wondered what it actually means to live the "traveler" lifestyle for years at a time.

Today, I have my friend Andi Borden on the podcast. She has spent the majority of her adulthood living a very nomadic life; many titles can be used to describe her: chef, baker, activist, tree-planting cook, shelter worker…honestly, the list goes on. She's someone who has truly lived a thousand lives, and this conversation reflects that.

We get into all of it. How travel can start as a goal and slowly become the only coping mechanism you know. The way moving countries can silence depression and anxiety just long enough to keep going, until you finally have to stop and sit with it. What it feels like to belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and why the people who don't travel will never quite understand your life, and why you'll never quite understand theirs either.

We also talk about the moment you realize you're tired. Not of travel, but of running. And what it actually looks like to choose to settle down when your whole identity has been built around leaving.

This is one of my favorite conversations I've had on this podcast yet. If you've ever sat with that deep, 3 am kind of question…Am I doing the right thing? Am I running from something? Is any of this adding up to what I think it is? I think you’re going to get a lot out of this one.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 3857 This episode is for anyone who has wondered what it actually means to live the "traveler" lifestyle for years at a time.

Today, I have my friend Andi Borden on the podcast. She has spent the majority of her adulthood living a very nomadic life; many titles can be used to describe her: chef, baker, activist, tree-planting cook, shelter worker…honestly, the list goes on. She's someone who has truly lived a thousand lives, and this conversation reflects that.

We get into all of it. How travel can start as a goal and slowly become the only coping mechanism you know. The way moving countries can silence depression and anxiety just long enough to keep going, until you finally have to stop and sit with it. What it feels like to belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and why the people who don't travel will never quite understand your life, and why you'll never quite understand theirs either.

We also talk about the moment you realize you're tired. Not of travel, but of running. And what it actually looks like to choose to settle down when your whole identity has been built around leaving.

This is one of my favorite conversations I've had on this podcast yet. If you've ever sat with that deep, 3 am kind of question…Am I doing the right thing? Am I running from something? Is any of this adding up to what I think it is? I think you’re going to get a lot out of this one.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> nomadic lifestyle, depression, anxiety, escapism, solo travel, seasonal work, planting roots No 6. Confidence Before Competence | Solo Travel, Loneliness & Reinvention 6 6 6. Confidence Before Competence | Solo Travel, Loneliness & Reinvention full b365fcfc-d61b-412f-a1df-9c3385b2654c https://share.transistor.fm/s/f57ffbd2 In this episode of Holding Patterns, I chat with my friend and fellow tour guide, Regan Fox, to talk about solo travel, loneliness, the excitement of uncertainty, and the strange beauty of not having life figured out.


Regan shares the winding path that took her from studying environmental management in Florida to living in Bakersfield, California, traveling solo through Morocco and Europe, working seasonal jobs across the U.S., and eventually guiding trips through national parks.


Together, we reflect on:

  • Learning to be alone without feeling lonely
  • Why uncertainty can become an opportunity instead of a fear
  • The freedom (and chaos) of solo travel
  • Seasonal work, transient lifestyles, and constantly starting over
  • The pressure of “having a plan” in your 20s
  • Finding peace in stability after years of movement
  • Why confidence often comes before competence
  • Trusting that every experience is shaping you into who you’re becoming

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> In this episode of Holding Patterns, I chat with my friend and fellow tour guide, Regan Fox, to talk about solo travel, loneliness, the excitement of uncertainty, and the strange beauty of not having life figured out.


Regan shares the winding path that took her from studying environmental management in Florida to living in Bakersfield, California, traveling solo through Morocco and Europe, working seasonal jobs across the U.S., and eventually guiding trips through national parks.


Together, we reflect on:

  • Learning to be alone without feeling lonely
  • Why uncertainty can become an opportunity instead of a fear
  • The freedom (and chaos) of solo travel
  • Seasonal work, transient lifestyles, and constantly starting over
  • The pressure of “having a plan” in your 20s
  • Finding peace in stability after years of movement
  • Why confidence often comes before competence
  • Trusting that every experience is shaping you into who you’re becoming

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 3299 In this episode of Holding Patterns, I chat with my friend and fellow tour guide, Regan Fox, to talk about solo travel, loneliness, the excitement of uncertainty, and the strange beauty of not having life figured out.


Regan shares the winding path that took her from studying environmental management in Florida to living in Bakersfield, California, traveling solo through Morocco and Europe, working seasonal jobs across the U.S., and eventually guiding trips through national parks.


Together, we reflect on:

  • Learning to be alone without feeling lonely
  • Why uncertainty can become an opportunity instead of a fear
  • The freedom (and chaos) of solo travel
  • Seasonal work, transient lifestyles, and constantly starting over
  • The pressure of “having a plan” in your 20s
  • Finding peace in stability after years of movement
  • Why confidence often comes before competence
  • Trusting that every experience is shaping you into who you’re becoming

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Personal growth, seasonal jobs, solo travel, loneliness, tour guiding, uncertainty No 5. The Heartbeat Analogy | Highs & Lows of Life Abroad 5 5 5. The Heartbeat Analogy | Highs & Lows of Life Abroad full 0aa28c79-03d5-4a57-9c7a-f778fa3d561c https://share.transistor.fm/s/baff6ac5 In this episode of Holding Patterns, I sit down with Nico Iriondo, a friend I met while working at a ski resort in New Zealand. We have a really honest conversation about life abroad, identity, and what happens when you keep stepping into the unknown.


Nico has spent the last six years traveling the world, visiting over 70 countries, and living through multiple versions of himself. From corporate marketing professional, to full-time backpacker, to someone now navigating what it looks like to return home and rebuild life again in Colombia. We discuss the tension between stability and freedom, and what it really means to leave one life behind for another.


At the center of this episode is the heartbeat analogy from Episode 1. It is a reminder that life isn’t meant to be flat and predictable, but full of highs and lows that shape who we become. 

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay
_______________________________________________

(00:00) Welcome to Holding Patterns

(01:31) Meet Nico

(03:34) Family Roots and the Wake-Up Call

(05:02) Motorcycle Trip Sparks Change

(06:45) Booking the One Way Leap

(08:36) The Impact of Fear

(12:24) Hakuna Matata Omen

(14:35) Backpacking Highs and Lows

(16:21) The Heartbeat Analogy

(21:33) COVID Pause and Corporate Return

(22:40) Australian Working Holiday Visa

(23:31) Second Leap Abroad

(24:20) Backpacking Fatigue

(25:44) Jumping into the Unknown Again

(28:17) Corporate Comfort Trap

(30:07) Life Is Short Wakeup

(31:33) New Boxes to Check

(33:28) Buying the Ticket

(37:46) Friends Are Family

(41:03) Reverse Culture Shock

(42:50) Redefining Success

(45:44) Advice to Younger Self

(47:08) Goodbyes

]]> In this episode of Holding Patterns, I sit down with Nico Iriondo, a friend I met while working at a ski resort in New Zealand. We have a really honest conversation about life abroad, identity, and what happens when you keep stepping into the unknown.


Nico has spent the last six years traveling the world, visiting over 70 countries, and living through multiple versions of himself. From corporate marketing professional, to full-time backpacker, to someone now navigating what it looks like to return home and rebuild life again in Colombia. We discuss the tension between stability and freedom, and what it really means to leave one life behind for another.


At the center of this episode is the heartbeat analogy from Episode 1. It is a reminder that life isn’t meant to be flat and predictable, but full of highs and lows that shape who we become. 

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay
_______________________________________________

(00:00) Welcome to Holding Patterns

(01:31) Meet Nico

(03:34) Family Roots and the Wake-Up Call

(05:02) Motorcycle Trip Sparks Change

(06:45) Booking the One Way Leap

(08:36) The Impact of Fear

(12:24) Hakuna Matata Omen

(14:35) Backpacking Highs and Lows

(16:21) The Heartbeat Analogy

(21:33) COVID Pause and Corporate Return

(22:40) Australian Working Holiday Visa

(23:31) Second Leap Abroad

(24:20) Backpacking Fatigue

(25:44) Jumping into the Unknown Again

(28:17) Corporate Comfort Trap

(30:07) Life Is Short Wakeup

(31:33) New Boxes to Check

(33:28) Buying the Ticket

(37:46) Friends Are Family

(41:03) Reverse Culture Shock

(42:50) Redefining Success

(45:44) Advice to Younger Self

(47:08) Goodbyes

]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:13:29 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 2885 In this episode of Holding Patterns, I sit down with Nico Iriondo, a friend I met while working at a ski resort in New Zealand. We have a really honest conversation about life abroad, identity, and what happens when you keep stepping into the unknown.


Nico has spent the last six years traveling the world, visiting over 70 countries, and living through multiple versions of himself. From corporate marketing professional, to full-time backpacker, to someone now navigating what it looks like to return home and rebuild life again in Colombia. We discuss the tension between stability and freedom, and what it really means to leave one life behind for another.


At the center of this episode is the heartbeat analogy from Episode 1. It is a reminder that life isn’t meant to be flat and predictable, but full of highs and lows that shape who we become. 

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay
_______________________________________________

(00:00) Welcome to Holding Patterns

(01:31) Meet Nico

(03:34) Family Roots and the Wake-Up Call

(05:02) Motorcycle Trip Sparks Change

(06:45) Booking the One Way Leap

(08:36) The Impact of Fear

(12:24) Hakuna Matata Omen

(14:35) Backpacking Highs and Lows

(16:21) The Heartbeat Analogy

(21:33) COVID Pause and Corporate Return

(22:40) Australian Working Holiday Visa

(23:31) Second Leap Abroad

(24:20) Backpacking Fatigue

(25:44) Jumping into the Unknown Again

(28:17) Corporate Comfort Trap

(30:07) Life Is Short Wakeup

(31:33) New Boxes to Check

(33:28) Buying the Ticket

(37:46) Friends Are Family

(41:03) Reverse Culture Shock

(42:50) Redefining Success

(45:44) Advice to Younger Self

(47:08) Goodbyes

]]> Life abroad, reverse culture shock, redefining success, fear, uncertainty, expat, identity shift No 4. Let Go or Stay Stuck | Dealing with Rejection & Finding Community 4 4 4. Let Go or Stay Stuck | Dealing with Rejection & Finding Community full d8738bd0-b2b8-4a48-9293-9d168b75c542 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5e7f61eb In this episode, I sit down with my friend Caroline Kane, whom I met in New Zealand, and she has been expanding my perspective and world ever since!

From Fort Collins, Colorado, Caroline created a career path for herself within wildland fire. She has spent years moving between seasonal roles, including guiding, working on chainsaw crews and prescribed burns, often living in tents, working long seasons, and navigating the industry as one of the few women in the field.

After a season in Colorado, she found herself in a holding pattern shaped by funding cuts and repeated grad school rejections. She was faced with uncertainty, fear, and the pressure of not knowing what would come next. What carried her through was community and learning to let go of the plan she thought she needed.

Her story highlights the power of persistence, letting go of rigid expectations, and the community that can come from an unconventional path.

_______________________________________________


Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> In this episode, I sit down with my friend Caroline Kane, whom I met in New Zealand, and she has been expanding my perspective and world ever since!

From Fort Collins, Colorado, Caroline created a career path for herself within wildland fire. She has spent years moving between seasonal roles, including guiding, working on chainsaw crews and prescribed burns, often living in tents, working long seasons, and navigating the industry as one of the few women in the field.

After a season in Colorado, she found herself in a holding pattern shaped by funding cuts and repeated grad school rejections. She was faced with uncertainty, fear, and the pressure of not knowing what would come next. What carried her through was community and learning to let go of the plan she thought she needed.

Her story highlights the power of persistence, letting go of rigid expectations, and the community that can come from an unconventional path.

_______________________________________________


Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 2716 In this episode, I sit down with my friend Caroline Kane, whom I met in New Zealand, and she has been expanding my perspective and world ever since!

From Fort Collins, Colorado, Caroline created a career path for herself within wildland fire. She has spent years moving between seasonal roles, including guiding, working on chainsaw crews and prescribed burns, often living in tents, working long seasons, and navigating the industry as one of the few women in the field.

After a season in Colorado, she found herself in a holding pattern shaped by funding cuts and repeated grad school rejections. She was faced with uncertainty, fear, and the pressure of not knowing what would come next. What carried her through was community and learning to let go of the plan she thought she needed.

Her story highlights the power of persistence, letting go of rigid expectations, and the community that can come from an unconventional path.

_______________________________________________


Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Seasonal Work, Fire Ecology, Rejection, Community, Backpacking, Guiding, PHD, Personal Growth, Reflection, Life Transitions, Navigating Your 20s No 3. Uncertainty Means Freedom | Trusting Yourself Through Fear 3 3 3. Uncertainty Means Freedom | Trusting Yourself Through Fear full 39de87dc-570e-468b-9106-5ff86b61fef6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/41f03f90 In this episode, I sit down with one of my best friends and my favorite Argentinian, Madalen Azpeitia. We met working at a heli-ski lodge and later reunited in Nelson, BC. Madi shares her upbringing in a close, immigrant-rooted Argentinian family and strong cultural expectations to attend university and follow a conventional path. After studying international relations and then law, Madi’s holistic therapy work (including Reiki and family-tree-focused emotional work) helped her confront anxiety, build self-love, and close the chapter on pursuing a degree despite social pressure. We discuss her fear and loneliness before buying a one-way ticket to Spain in 2022, traveling through Portugal, securing a New Zealand working holiday visa, withdrawing a sponsorship application due to unhappiness, and moving to Canada in 2024. Madi reflects on high-quality relationships formed through travel, entering a new “in-between” while building a life with her partner, and celebrating uncertainty as a space for choice.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> In this episode, I sit down with one of my best friends and my favorite Argentinian, Madalen Azpeitia. We met working at a heli-ski lodge and later reunited in Nelson, BC. Madi shares her upbringing in a close, immigrant-rooted Argentinian family and strong cultural expectations to attend university and follow a conventional path. After studying international relations and then law, Madi’s holistic therapy work (including Reiki and family-tree-focused emotional work) helped her confront anxiety, build self-love, and close the chapter on pursuing a degree despite social pressure. We discuss her fear and loneliness before buying a one-way ticket to Spain in 2022, traveling through Portugal, securing a New Zealand working holiday visa, withdrawing a sponsorship application due to unhappiness, and moving to Canada in 2024. Madi reflects on high-quality relationships formed through travel, entering a new “in-between” while building a life with her partner, and celebrating uncertainty as a space for choice.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:10:54 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 2650 In this episode, I sit down with one of my best friends and my favorite Argentinian, Madalen Azpeitia. We met working at a heli-ski lodge and later reunited in Nelson, BC. Madi shares her upbringing in a close, immigrant-rooted Argentinian family and strong cultural expectations to attend university and follow a conventional path. After studying international relations and then law, Madi’s holistic therapy work (including Reiki and family-tree-focused emotional work) helped her confront anxiety, build self-love, and close the chapter on pursuing a degree despite social pressure. We discuss her fear and loneliness before buying a one-way ticket to Spain in 2022, traveling through Portugal, securing a New Zealand working holiday visa, withdrawing a sponsorship application due to unhappiness, and moving to Canada in 2024. Madi reflects on high-quality relationships formed through travel, entering a new “in-between” while building a life with her partner, and celebrating uncertainty as a space for choice.

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Personal growth, self discovery, life transitions, relationships, lifestyle No 2. Sometimes You Just Need Your Mom | Learning To Embrace New Beginnings 2 2 2. Sometimes You Just Need Your Mom | Learning To Embrace New Beginnings full 7d4263c7-3f1a-4932-a1d5-70b3775be309 https://share.transistor.fm/s/45c19a8d In this episode, I speak with my roommate/soul sister/friend, Brittany Nutt, a registered massage therapist and energy worker who previously worked as a tree planter for 10 years. Britt shares her experience growing up in a small rural BC town as the youngest of three, shaped by financial stress and a strong sense of independence. She describes a difficult period after ending relationships, feeling isolated on Vancouver Island, and experiencing her deepest depression. She felt a need for major change, moved off the island to her mother’s home in the Okanagan, and spent a month in a “holding pattern” before starting a heli-ski lodge job in Bella Coola where we met. We discuss coping tools—movement, nutrition, therapy, and friendship—and how the experience strengthened her trust in inner knowing and life’s process.
_______________________________________________
Britt's Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/brittnuttsy?igsh=MWkwM3hlMmliYjhraA==)

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> In this episode, I speak with my roommate/soul sister/friend, Brittany Nutt, a registered massage therapist and energy worker who previously worked as a tree planter for 10 years. Britt shares her experience growing up in a small rural BC town as the youngest of three, shaped by financial stress and a strong sense of independence. She describes a difficult period after ending relationships, feeling isolated on Vancouver Island, and experiencing her deepest depression. She felt a need for major change, moved off the island to her mother’s home in the Okanagan, and spent a month in a “holding pattern” before starting a heli-ski lodge job in Bella Coola where we met. We discuss coping tools—movement, nutrition, therapy, and friendship—and how the experience strengthened her trust in inner knowing and life’s process.
_______________________________________________
Britt's Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/brittnuttsy?igsh=MWkwM3hlMmliYjhraA==)

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:51:38 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 2955 In this episode, I speak with my roommate/soul sister/friend, Brittany Nutt, a registered massage therapist and energy worker who previously worked as a tree planter for 10 years. Britt shares her experience growing up in a small rural BC town as the youngest of three, shaped by financial stress and a strong sense of independence. She describes a difficult period after ending relationships, feeling isolated on Vancouver Island, and experiencing her deepest depression. She felt a need for major change, moved off the island to her mother’s home in the Okanagan, and spent a month in a “holding pattern” before starting a heli-ski lodge job in Bella Coola where we met. We discuss coping tools—movement, nutrition, therapy, and friendship—and how the experience strengthened her trust in inner knowing and life’s process.
_______________________________________________
Britt's Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/brittnuttsy?igsh=MWkwM3hlMmliYjhraA==)

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)

Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Personal growth, self discovery, life transitions, relationships, lifestyle No 1. The Seasons I Didn’t Plan For | A Solo Episode 1 1 1. The Seasons I Didn’t Plan For | A Solo Episode full 5604753c-32f2-47a0-bc52-8155fde507b2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/45aec877 Welcome to Holding Patterns! This first episode of the podcast is a bit different than the rest - it's a solo one. I am diving into the origin of Holding Patterns and the motivation behind this creative endeavor. Additionally, I discuss feeling stuck after university, how relationships and conversations broadened my perspective, and a heartbeat analogy I learned from a friend in New Zealand about highs and lows as proof of being alive. I outline my background (Colorado, business school, Spain, NZ, Canada, tour guiding) and how studying abroad led me away from a traditional corporate path into travel and seasonal work. I describe major holding periods: losing plans to return to Spain, four difficult months at home, struggling for work in Canada, and I share coping tools, including journaling, leaning on friends/family, therapy, movement, and reflection, ending with Tara Mohr’s poem “The Rhythm.”

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)
Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Welcome to Holding Patterns! This first episode of the podcast is a bit different than the rest - it's a solo one. I am diving into the origin of Holding Patterns and the motivation behind this creative endeavor. Additionally, I discuss feeling stuck after university, how relationships and conversations broadened my perspective, and a heartbeat analogy I learned from a friend in New Zealand about highs and lows as proof of being alive. I outline my background (Colorado, business school, Spain, NZ, Canada, tour guiding) and how studying abroad led me away from a traditional corporate path into travel and seasonal work. I describe major holding periods: losing plans to return to Spain, four difficult months at home, struggling for work in Canada, and I share coping tools, including journaling, leaning on friends/family, therapy, movement, and reflection, ending with Tara Mohr’s poem “The Rhythm.”

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)
Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:46:13 -0700 Ashton Arnold Ashton Arnold 2864 Welcome to Holding Patterns! This first episode of the podcast is a bit different than the rest - it's a solo one. I am diving into the origin of Holding Patterns and the motivation behind this creative endeavor. Additionally, I discuss feeling stuck after university, how relationships and conversations broadened my perspective, and a heartbeat analogy I learned from a friend in New Zealand about highs and lows as proof of being alive. I outline my background (Colorado, business school, Spain, NZ, Canada, tour guiding) and how studying abroad led me away from a traditional corporate path into travel and seasonal work. I describe major holding periods: losing plans to return to Spain, four difficult months at home, struggling for work in Canada, and I share coping tools, including journaling, leaning on friends/family, therapy, movement, and reflection, ending with Tara Mohr’s poem “The Rhythm.”

_______________________________________________

Holding Patterns Instagram Here! (https://www.instagram.com/holdingpatternspod?igsh=MXB1ajk3ZHhwdjYxMg%3D%3D)

Cover art by Remy Arnold (https://www.instagram.com/remyarnoldxo?igsh=dWx3aWJsMmZheWNx)
Music by penguinmusic - Better Day from Pixabay

]]> Personal growth, self discovery, life transitions, relationships, lifestyle No