Podcast · Learning

Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

by Kim & Penn Holderness · English · Learning

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 13 minNew

Do Men Need Better Friends? with Richard Reeves

Friends, this podcast has been months in the making. For years, Penn has come home from entire weekends with his guy friends with zero new information about their lives. His buddy's wife could be expecting a baby and Penn had no idea. ("Bryce's wife is pregnant?!") I have been concerned, but after our conversation with Richard Reeves, I’m realizing maybe I’ve been looking at male friendship all wrong. Richard is the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men . This week, he joins us to talk about why men connect shoulder-to-shoulder, how we need to think of their…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S10 · E38 · 29 Sep 2026 · 48 min

Trick Your ADHD Brain Into Getting Stuff Done

Yay! Our new children’s book Get It Done & Have Fun! ADHD Hacks for Awesome Kids is out TODAY! This week to celebrate, Penn and I are sharing our favorite ways to trick ADHD brains into doing things they absolutely do not want to do. (And share your hilarious tips!) Telling people with ADHD to “just try harder” doesn’t work. Sometimes you need to create fake urgency, turn your to-do list into a game, put your keys in the fridge, narrate your life out loud, or apparently tie yourself to the oven. (Please allow us to explain in the show.) Penn also shares strategies on writing a book when you…
S10 · E37 · 22 Sep 2026 · 44 min

We Need Creativity & Saxophone Solos with John Green

Have you ever loved doing something and then forgot why you loved it in the first place? Same. This week, we’re talking with the incredibly thoughtful (and incredibly delightful) John Green about why we all need creativity in our lives and how to find our way back to the things that bring us joy. John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who is returning to fiction for the first time in nine years with his new novel, Hollywood, Ending . Our conversation goes everywhere from why making art is part of being human to why it’s hard not to care about likes, views, and algorithms. We talk…
S10 · E36 · 15 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 20 min

American Idol, Empty Nests & Second Acts with Clay Aiken

Friends, the Clay Aiken came to our attic! This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I had SO much fun sitting down with multi-platinum singer, Clay Aiken, to talk about behind-the-scenes American Idol stories, what it means to show up as your true self, and what's next! We discuss auditioning with 80s theme songs, ADHD, Southern accents, flip phones, and what Clay is like when no one is watching. We also talk about what happens when you reach the stage of empty nesting and start asking, “Okay... now what?” Clay took time to raise his son, Parker, and now he's finding his second act by returning to…
S10 · E35 · 8 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

Rethinking Tech In Schools with Jared Cooney Horvath

Technology is such a huge part of our kids’ lives, especially at school, that we don’t always stop to ask: Is all of it actually helping them learn? This week, neuroscientist and educator Jared Cooney Horvath gave us a lot to think about. (And considering I haven’t been able to help with our kids’ math homework since elementary school, I definitely had some questions.) Jared joins us to explain what happens when screens replace handwriting, textbooks, and face-to-face interaction. We talk about the difference between using technology to “offload” work versus “outsourcing” skills we haven’t…
S10 · E34 · 1 Sep 2026 · 49 min

Remembering Penn's Mom: Grief, Laughter & Our "Death Wishes"

My mom passed away last week after a very long battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you’ve ever loved someone through this disease, you probably understand how complicated that grief can be. There is sadness and loss, but there can also be relief (and guilt for feeling that relief.) I’ve been around Alzheimer’s for almost 40 years, and I’m still learning that all of those feelings can exist at the same time. My Mom was a doer, a giver, and someone who spent her life serving her family and her community. And in one final act of service, she donated her brain to Alzheimer’s research .…
S10 · E33 · 25 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

What Our Neurodivergent Kids Need with Dr. Emily King

Even when everything is going right, parenting a neurodivergent kid can be emotional. (And yes, I cry this episode... twice.) This week, Penn and I are joined by our friend, child psychologist, and author Dr. Emily King, to help teach us what our neurodivergent kids need to learn and be successful. We talk about why “just try harder” doesn’t work, how to know when to push your kid, why girls can fly under the radar, and how small systems like checklists can make a huge difference. We also get emotional talking about our own experiences navigating school accommodations, and Dr. Emily gives…
S10 · E32 · 18 Aug 2026 · 47 min

Weird Jobs & Amazing Race Challenges

Recently, Penn and I asked you to tell us about your weirdest summer jobs. From working in customer service for the WOW Chips debacle to a stripping gorilla, you really showed up for this episode! Your calls and messages had us laughing, cringing, and repeatedly asking one very important question: Where were the child labor laws?! (I guess it was the 90s…) Every weird job teaches you a lesson along the way. We not only heard from you, we call Kim’s old roommate, and even our producers Sam and Ann Marie weigh in. We discuss why it's so much harder for teens to get that first job today, how I…
S10 · E31 · 11 Aug 2026 · 48 min

Do We Really Get Along & Alzheimer's Update

Recently, a dear friend asked me: "Do you and your husband actually get along all the time? Tell me the truth." So this week on Laugh Lines, we are pulling back the curtain on what it’s actually like to be married, raise kids, AND work together every single day. We talk about the things we’ll probably never agree on, why I have decision fatigue, and how sometimes it’s okay to go to bed angry. We also get an update on Penn’s Alzheimer’s prevention journey. He recently overdid it at the gym and developed rhabdomyolysis, but what doctors learn from his bloodwork could have important…
S10 · E30 · 4 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 7 min

Rejection Sensitivity & ADHD with Dr. Sasha Hamdani

Have you ever replayed a conversation in your head for three days because someone might have been upset with you? Friend... same. This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I sit down with psychiatrist and ADHD expert Dr. Sasha Hamdani to talk about something that completely changed the way we understand ourselves: Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). If you've ever been called "too sensitive," taken criticism way too personally, or apologized a hundred times a day, this conversation might explain why. Dr. Hamdani shares the science behind why so many people with ADHD experience emotions so…
S10 · E29 · 28 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

Wait, Are We "Gentle Parenting?" with Jon Fogel

Penn and I have joked about gentle parenting on this podcast more than once. As Gen X parents, it always sounded a little... soft. So when parenting coach Jon Fogel joined us, we figured we'd have a lively debate. Instead, about halfway through the conversation, we looked at each other and thought, "Wait... have we been gentle parenting this whole time?" Also, what is gentle parenting? (Apologies in advance for the many references to Penn getting hit in the balls by a pool noodle.) Jon helped us untangle why so much of what gets labeled "gentle parenting" online isn't really gentle parenting…
S10 · E28 · 21 Jul 2026 · 1 hr

Empty Nest Lessons & Estrogen Shortages

This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I not only strip down due to our A/C being out... AGAIN! We also tackle two things I never expected to happen in the same podcast: Becoming an (almost) empty nester and hunting down an estrogen patch like it was contraband due to a recent shortage. We discuss my hormones going on strike, and a voicemail from a mom preparing to send her child to college inspired us to share the biggest lessons we've learned after Lola's first year away. We also revisit "Father of the Bride" through Gen Z eyes (Spoiler: George Banks was making a lot of sense), realize that…
S10 · E27 · 14 Jul 2026 · 55 min

Beach Reads, Blockbuster, & Writing Your Novel with Emily Giffin

What do Blockbuster cards, Duke basketball, and a lifelong dream of writing a novel have in common? Somehow they all end up in this episode! This week, Penn and I are joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin, whose books have defined the modern "beach read" for millions of readers. (And I love a beach read, y'all.) Her latest book, Love You More , just came out this month. Emily shares the path that took her from practicing law to becoming a beloved novelist, and how she creates the messy, relatable characters we can't stop rooting for. Along the way, Emily joins Penn in…
S10 · E26 · 7 Jul 2026 · 40 min

College Advice From Our Daughter, Lola Holderness!

Last year, I was the mom crying in the Target parking lot while buying dorm room supplies. This year? Our daughter Lola is back home after her freshman year of college, and apparently... she knows things. So we handed her the microphone. In this episode of Laugh Lines, Lola shares everything she wishes she'd known before moving into her dorm - from making friends in those first overwhelming weeks to building good study habits, surviving finals, handling competitive clubs, and why you definitely do NOT need twenty athletic tops (I would like the record to show I tried to say this while we…
S10 · E25 · 30 Jun 2026 · 48 min

Career Advice & Gen X Cold Case

This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I cover a lot of ground... from career advice for creative dreamers to one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of our childhood: Whatever happened to the prize inside of box of Cracker Jacks? We discuss the World Cup reactions, answer your questions about public speaking and irrational fears, and explain why I identify as an iPhone with a very questionable battery. We also issue a challenge to our listeners... how long can you watch a TV show without your phone? Plus, Penn debuts a brand-new segment called Gen X Cold Case, and let's just say if you ever…
S10 · E24 · 23 Jun 2026 · 49 min

Attacked by Love Island & Stop Saying "That's The Way It Is"

This week on Laugh Lines, I learned two things about myself: I'm deeply triggered by people yelling at graduation ceremonies and I'm officially old enough to be attacked by Love Island. I also learned that I seriously dislike the phrase "that's the way it is" and feel it needs to be banned immediately. Penn and I cover a lot of important topics from our couch this week, including: Our week without air conditioning, "Gen X revenge" involving a dumpster, and what it's like having a son away in France for 3 weeks. We also spend way more time discussing bidets than any respectable podcast…
S10 · E23 · 16 Jun 2026 · 53 min

Running Man Fights Alzheimer's & Gen X Relics

This week on Laugh Lines, we're making a strong case that the Running Man may be more powerful than we ever realized. After reading a fascinating study on dancing and brain health, I convinced Penn to join me for one of my dance classes to see if shaking it off could help keep cognitive decline at bay. What followed was a reminder that Gen X may have one competitive advantage over younger generations: We absolutely crush the Running Man. (Why can't Gen Z do this?!) We talk about the surprising importance of community as we get older, and why getting outside your comfort zone never becomes…
S10 · E22 · 9 Jun 2026 · 49 min

Courage To Commit with Shawn Johnson East & Andrew East

Ever found yourself stuck in the paralysis of too many choices? This week, we're joined by Shawn Johnson East and Andrew East to talk about their new book, Courage to Commit. Yes, Shawn is an Olympic gold medalist. Yes, Andrew played in the NFL. And while they are both super talented and successful, their lives have taken commitment and work. We live in a world that constantly tells us to keep our options open. But when you choose something, whether it's a relationship, a career path, a healthy habit, or even a workout routine, it can actually bring more peace and less anxiety. Shawn and…
S10 · E21 · 2 Jun 2026 · 51 min

Gen X Retirement Home

When a visit to a memory care facility turns into a brainstorming session for the ultimate Gen X Retirement Home "in the year of our lord Dolly Parton 2026"... This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I reflect on a visit with his mom and find ourselves imagining a future filled with Oregon Trail reenactments, Running Man lessons, prank calls, and Pantera during music hour. We talk about the surprising connection between music and memory, why laughter and grief often show up together, and what we'd want waiting for us in our own retirement community. We also dive into a conversation about aging…
S10 · E20 · 26 May 2026 · 46 min

Vacation Realizations & Digestive Situations

This week, Penn and I are back from vacation and sharing our biggest realizations… including why people who travel with carry-on luggage only might actually be in a cult (but after losing our luggage twice in one trip, we are joining it!) We take official carry-on vows, talk about why you should never have a massage if you think you might crap your pants, and we time travel with music from scrubbing grout on Saturday mornings with Chuck Mangione and to the orthodontist chair with The Alan Parsons Project. (Send us your time travel songs!) We also unpack hearing tests, first class passenger…
S10 · E19 · 19 May 2026 · 51 min

Dad Jokes & Teen Texts with Dave Ogleton and Chip Leighton

This week on Laugh Lines, we invited two of the funniest dads on the internet to join us. We interview Dave Ogleton ( @fitdadceo ) - the viral King of Dad Jokes and author of So Dad It’s Good . And we also talk to Chip Leighton (@ the_leighton_show ) - the viral creator behind those hilariously confusing teen text exchanges and author of Dad, Can You Not? Dave and Chip help us answer life’s biggest parenting questions. Questions like: Does every Dad start laughing before he tells a joke? Is cringe a love language? What time is noon? And can Penn survive a dad joke competition with a…
S10 · E18 · 12 May 2026 · 45 min

Let’s Do Medium Maycember with Rachel Feintzeig

If your family calendar currently looks like a game of Tetris designed by a sleep-deprived raccoon… welcome to Maycember. It's called Maycember because it's busy like December without any of the fun twinkle lights. But here’s a little secret: Penn and I are almost out of Maycember… and it’s kind of amazing. We talk about what it’s like to finally reach the other side of the chaos and why, for those of you currently crying in a school parking lot while hot-gluing a costume together, there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. Penn and I also talk with award-winning journalist Rachel…
S10 · E17 · 5 May 2026 · 57 min

Kicking Alzheimer's Butt & Your Questions with Dr. Richard Isaacson

If you’ve been following along, you know Penn recently found out he has two copies of the APOE4 gene - basically the “high risk” genetic lottery for Alzheimer’s. And while we thought we were prepared for that news… we weren’t. It hit hard. For both of us. But this episode is not about fear. It’s about hope. This week we are sitting down (again!) with Dr. Richard Isaacson (the brain behind Penn’s prevention plan and one of the leading voices in Alzheimer’s prevention) to answer YOUR questions. And wow, did you have questions. We discuss what to actually ask your doctor, what Penn is doing…
S10 · E16 · 28 Apr 2026 · 45 min

Being A Good Human & Birth Vibes with Jen Hamilton

If there were ever a masterclass in being a good human… this is it. In this episode, Penn and I sit down with Jen Hamilton and y’all… She is exactly who you hope she is. Warm, hilarious, wildly honest, and the kind of person who makes you want to be better just by being in the same room. We talk about her new book Birth Vibes and cover what really happens in a delivery room. Jen has a gift of making the most awkward, messy, human moments feel normal, safe, and… dare we say, funny. But what makes Jen extraordinary isn’t just what she knows—it’s how she shows up. From supporting families in…
S10 · E15 · 21 Apr 2026 · 47 min

We Sang What?! 90s Music, ADHD Identity, & Space Cadet

I have a confession: I spent most of the 90s singing along to songs without having any idea what they were actually about. So this week on Laugh Lines, we go down a full nostalgia rabbit hole: CD booklets, radio station shoutouts, and the absolute shock of realizing some of our favorite 90s “bops” were not exactly PG. (How did we miss that?!) We take some calls from the Laugh Line. I share more about my ADHD diagnosis and how it’s shifted the way I understand my brain and my emotions. And then (because we are who we are) we head to space. Penn and Sam bring their “Space Cadet” dreams to life…
S10 · E14 · 14 Apr 2026 · 36 min

Life On The Spectrum with Tanner Smith

This episode of Laugh Lines stayed with me in the best way. This week, Penn and I sit down with Tanner Smith from Love on the Spectrum , and what starts as an interview quickly turns into something so much more meaningful. Tanner shares what it’s like to live on the autism spectrum in a way that’s honest, empowering, and incredibly hopeful. He reminds us that autism looks different for everyone. It can mean learning differently, needing more time, having deep passions, and even living a full, joyful life. We talk about purpose, routines, and the importance of patience for parents and for…
S10 · E13 · 7 Apr 2026 · 44 min

ADHD, Alzheimer’s & Life Lately

This week, Penn and I share some real-life updates from our house. I was recently diagnosed with ADHD at 50, which turns out… there were signs. I’m learning what that actually means for my brain, my emotions, and honestly, my entire life up to this point. (Something called “doom piles” should have honestly exposed my ADHD years ago.) Penn also shares an update on his journey to protect his brain health from Alzheimer’s. We talk about what he’s trying, what we’re learning, and how we’re thinking about the future. He has two copies of the APOE4 gene and has watched both of his parents succumb…
S10 · E12 · 31 Mar 2026 · 52 min

Finding Joy Anyway with Kate Bowler

There are some conversations that feel like a warm hug. They make you laugh, feel safe, and a little like you want to cry. Today's show is all of the above. This week on Laugh Lines , we sit down with New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and Duke University professor, Kate Bowler. (And I’m just going to say it... I would like to formally submit my application to be her best friend.) Kate’s new book, Joyful Anyway , asks a question that stopped me in my tracks: What if joy isn’t something we earn… but something that finds us? Even in the middle of the messy, complicated parts of…
S10 · E11 · 24 Mar 2026 · 41 min

Is This 50? (Happy Birthday, Kim!)

My favorite human is turning 50! If you know my wife, Kim, you know she is very self-deprecating and adorable about getting older. Kim thought 50 might feel like a big, Oprah-level moment. (Like angels singing... all-knowing wisdom... maybe a sudden ability to fold a fitted sheet.) Instead, it’s been a mix of gratitude, a little existential panic, and a lot of honest questions like: Is this what 50 is supposed to feel like? In this episode, we look back at what Kim thought 50 would be (Golden Girls, water aerobics, financial literacy… none of which fully happened) and our team surprises her…
S10 · E10 · 17 Mar 2026 · 53 min

Make Sleep Suck Less with Dr. Chris Allen

If you’re celebrating the rare night when you don’t have to get up to go to the bathroom… welcome. You are among friends. Sleep is one of my favorite topics. Penn and I often joke that I don't have FOMO (Fear of missing out) I have FOMS (Fear of missing sleep). As much as I love sleep, I also struggle with it. So this week, we invited Dr. Christopher J. Allen (also known as "Sleep Dr. Chris") to help us figure out why sleep gets harder as we age and what we can actually do about it. In this episode we talk about why our sleep changes in midlife, sleep hacks floating around TikTok, how ADHD…

About Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. Laugh Lines is all about aging better together and being able to laugh about getting older. The show features prominent experts, listener call-ins, and hilarious segments including “Are We Too Old For…” and “Gen Z Slang of the Week.” Kim and Penn Holderness are award-winning online content creators known for their original music, song parodies, comedy sketches, and weekly podcasts. Their videos have resulted in over two billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Book, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted, written, and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also produced, written, and researched by Ann Marie Taepke, and live produced, filmed, and edited by Sam Allen. It is audio engineered by Max Trujillo and hosted by Acast. Listeners can leave a voicemail at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is a English learning podcast from Kim & Penn Holderness. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Kim & Penn Holderness
Language: English
Category: Learning
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1378725018
Rights: Holderness Family Productions

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