Career Advice & Gen X Cold Case

More from Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness All episodes →

1. 

   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…

2. 

   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…

3. 

   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…

4. 

   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…

5. 

   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…

6. 

   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…

7. 

   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…

8. 

   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…

9. 

   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…

10. 

    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…