028 | Turning Childhood Trauma Into Purpose | Chris Borelli

Foster Care Story | Adoption | Creative Entrepreneurship | Audio Engineering | Music Production | Advertising CareerIn 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@[email protected]:00:00 | Introduction02:02 | Building The Studio And Great Audio08:46 | Podcast Audio Vs Music Production13:01 | Chris's Path Into Audio Engineering19:18 | Specialist Or Jack Of All Trades?24:09 | Foster Care, Adoption, And Childhood Trauma31:34 | Finding Piano In The Middle Of Pain38:18 | Family History, Healing, And Perspective45:41 | Learning From A Difficult Past51:11 | Vulnerability, Art, And Self Expression57:03 | Drake, Authenticity, And Impactful Music1:03:59 | Perspective Changes Everything1:05:05 | Ron Burton Training Village And Opportunity1:07:48 | The Internship That Changed His Life1:13:19 | Launching Hued Creative And MP31:20:42 | Creative Freedom, Purpose, And Identity1:26:52 | Keeping The Pilot Light Lit1:28:40 | Final Thoughts