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The Holderness Family Podcast

Back on Meds & Weird Hobbies

Season 7, Ep. 21

Recently, I went back to therapy. Penn says has already seen a difference in me and I can feel it too. I'm a big fan of therapy and have been in and out of it, for whatever reason, my entire adult life. Doing the work (plus being encouraged by my doctor to go on a pediatric-sized dose of medication) has made the world a little brighter and easier for me to navigate. It goes without saying that therapy and medication are very personal decisions, but I want to be transparent and set an example for my kids so that they’re aware of the resources available to them.


Many of you who have followed us for awhile know that I’ve been talking about getting a hobby for YEARS. (My hobby is talking about getting a hobby.) So, I asked all of you what hobbies you do! And friends, did you ever deliver with some unique ideas. From photography to composting to beekeeping, there were so many great and different suggestions, so thank you. On this week’s podcast we react to some of those suggestions, discuss why hobbies are a good idea, and talk about us being quoted in People Magazine. (Let's set the record straight, BORGs are bad!)


Get more information on our book tour and virtual events: https://theholdernessfamily.com/adhd-is-awesome/#tour


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Kim and Penn are online content creators known for their award-winning videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 8 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.


The Holderness Family Podcast is edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, Julie Frahm, and Sam Allen.

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  • 43. Life Beyond Your Phone with Carlos Whittaker

    48:59||Season 7, Ep. 43
    When Penn and I were on The Amazing Race, they took away our phones, tablets, laptops… anything we could use to access the outside world or the internet. If we had a question, we couldn’t Google it to get the answer like we can now. We had to wonder. I remember when we got back I told everyone I wasn’t going to be on my phone as much as a result. (That lasted probably one week.) Our phones are amazing pieces of technology, but is having so much at our fingertips good for us? This week, we had Carlos Whittaker to answer this very question. Carlos recently wrote the book, Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human. As an experiment, he spent 7 weeks screen-free doing brain scans before and after. The results and learnings from his book were eye-opening. We talk about tips and tricks to connect more with the world around you as well as some fun encyclopedia facts from Penn! To learn more about Carlos and his work, go to: https://www.carloswhittaker.com/Get Family Faceoff at Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterCheck out What The FlockFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 42. Penn Turns 50!

    40:22||Season 7, Ep. 42
    This week is a very special episode to celebrate the fact that... PENN IS 50! Cue Sally O'Malley! (Those of you who are old enough get the reference.) To commemorate the occasion, Penn shares a bunch of lists with me: Things that mean a lot more at 50, thing that mean a lot less at 50, things he is cranky about at 50, and goals for the next 50! (Yay, goals... my favorite!) We also end the episode with some roasts from Taylor Calmus of Dude Dad, Myles Montplaisir of You Betcha, comedian Charlie Berens, and members of our team: Ann Marie, Sam, and Desmond. You make 50 look good, Penn! Here's to the next half century! Get Family Faceoff at Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterCheck out What The FlockFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 41. Panic Attacks, Hurricanes, & An Amazing College Kid

    44:21||Season 7, Ep. 41
    The last two weeks have been a lot in the Holderness house. First, Hurricane Helene has devastated the western part of North Carolina, where some of Penn's family still lives. So many people lost their lives and whole towns were wiped out. Before we could even wrap our minds around it, Hurricane Milton was barreling towards my hometown in Florida. Enter an ill-timed panic attack. This week we talk about how to have grace for someone living with anxiety, what professions we would have been if we followed our elementary school passions, and most importantly, we talk to Ethan Clark. Ethan Clark is a 21-year old college student and founder of North Carolina’s Weather Authority. He gained national attention for sharing real-time weather information during Hurricane Helene. Ethan has been running the NC Weather Authority since the 7th grade. He has over 600,000 followers and he has not missed a day of posting since 2016. He is an inspiration to Penn and I - we were so happy to have him on the show. You can learn more about Ethan here: https://www.ncwxauthority.com/. If you're looking to donate to western NC, check out our blog post.Visit the Holderness Family Shop Get our game What The FlockJoin Our NewsletterFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 40. Building Male Friendships with Jason Alexander & Peter Tilden

    47:05||Season 7, Ep. 40
    Earlier this year, we were invited to join Jason Alexander and Peter Tilden on their podcast “Really, No Really” to promote our new book, ADHD Is Awesome. It was an amazing experience, and the whole time I was in awe of their friendship. Jason and Peter have been best friends for decades, and it's apparent that they admire and care about each other deeply. So we invited them on the show to talk about the secret to building strong male friendships. Penn and I fall into gender stereotypes when it comes to friendships. I go deep quick with fewer friends, and Penn has more surface-level friendships with a lot of people. We talk to Jason and Peter about how they met, Seinfeld stories, and advice anyone can use to build deeper connection. We also have a special mailbag from Charlie Berens, Myles Montplaisir, and Taylor Calmus… The Husbands of Target! Penn asked each of them what the secret to male friendship was during a recent visit. You can learn more about Jason Alexander and Peter Tilden (and their amazing podcast!) here: https://reallynoreally.com/Visit our Holderness Family Shop Get our game What The FlockJoin Our NewsletterFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 39. Being Black & Having ADHD with Dr. Damon Tweedy

    42:23||Season 7, Ep. 39
    When we wrote our book, ADHD Is Awesome, one of the areas we wanted to cover more was the under-diagnosis of ADHD amongst minority populations. White children get diagnosed with ADHD at a rate of 11.5% while Black children get diagnosed at a rate of 8.9%. Additionally, studies have shown that Black children with symptoms of ADHD are treated more negatively by teachers and other adults. This week, we talk to Dr. Damon Tweedy, a professor of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine (and our friend) to learn more.Dr. Tweedy is the author of two books, Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine and Facing the Unseen: The Struggle to Center Mental Health in Medicine. His first book made the New York Times bestseller list and was selected by TIME Magazine as a top non-fiction book that year. Dr. Tweedy has been featured in publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Discover Magazine. We discuss Dr. Tweedy's personal stories about probably having ADHD himself along with the complicated issue of what it means to be Black and have ADHD. You can learn more about Dr. Tweedy here: https://www.damontweedy.com/.Limited Time Offer! October is ADHD Awareness Month - Get any of our ADHD merchandise for 20% off using code ADHD20: https://holdernessfamilyshop.com/Join Our Webinars! 10/1 - Free webinar with ADDitude Magazine and 10/9 - Pearson Assessments - get 50% off with code HOLDERNESS50.Get our game Family FaceoffGet our game What The FlockJoin Our NewsletterFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 38. What Happened to The Holderness Family?

    39:40||Season 7, Ep. 38
    It's been a while since we've done a Q&A podcast. The world is very serious right now and while it is important to engage in that seriousness, sometimes you need a diversion. So this is some cotton candy for your brain, and a big thank you to everyone who sent in questions for the show. We answer personal questions, questions around The Amazing Race, and some just for fun! Stick around for a special Top 5 from our producer, Ann Marie, and the most unhinged close to a podcast ever. (Sorry for all the butt stuff.) Get our game Family FaceoffJoin Our NewsletterShop Our MerchFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 37. You Know You’re Middle-Aged When…

    43:31||Season 7, Ep. 37
    Penn and I have had a lot of funny moments in our marriage that are signposts we are getting older. (Personally I feel like I've been "middle-aged" since age 12...) So we decided to ask YOU to help complete the sentence: "You know you're middle-aged when..." and you did not disappoint. The most middle-aged thing to happen during the making of this podcast? Penn having a back issue so bad he had to join us horizontally from our very firm IKEA couch. (You know you're almost 50 when...)Are you middle-aged like us? Tell us what we missed and thank you again for contributing to our podcast this week. You truly made us laugh.Join Our NewsletterShop Our MerchFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 36. Talking To Kids About Politics with Lindsey Cormack

    38:19||Season 7, Ep. 36
    Over the last couple of years, the political climate has gotten contentious. That sentiment has caused people to shy away from discussing politics and government with their children. Despite that, teens still think it’s important to follow current events, politics included. A recent survey of teens aged 13–17 found that 1/3 of respondents relied on their parents, family members, or teachers for information. We need to do the work to help guide them and make them feel safe talking to us.This week, we brought in Lindsey Cormack - an associate professor of Political Science and Director of the Diplomacy Lab. Her latest book, How to Raise a Citizen & Why it’s Up to You to Do It, aims to reinvigorate multigenerational political discussion and governmental know-how. We talk about what to keep in mind when listening to teens’ views on issues and 5 things teens must do before they fully participate in politics. (Don't forget about being more informed in your local and state government too!) Stay tuned until the end where we also discuss our Top 5 craziest laws.Learn more about Lindsey here: https://www.lindseycormack.com/Join Our NewsletterShop Our MerchFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.
  • 35. Getting Teens Organized with The Home Edit

    41:19||Season 7, Ep. 35
    Recently, I’ve been craving a project. With Lola starting her senior year of high school, I feel like maybe this craving is just a distraction (but, still a craving nonetheless!) There’s something about losing myself in organizing a closet that is therapeutic. So this week, we bring our favorite organizational friends, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit, on our podcast. Clea and Joanna have two new books out now. They have a children’s book and a teen book both about organization, so we thought we would get a few tips!The biggest thing you can do to start getting your teen or kid more organized is editing their space so they are invested in all the items they have. If they have a lot of junk they aren’t invested in, it’s harder to keep a space tidy. Clea and Joanna give us more tips about keeping spaces clean, and we entertain them with the Top 5 things Penn has found in his car. (Buckle up, this one gets weird!) You can learn more about their books here.Read or listen to a free chapter of our book, ADHD Is Awesome: https://theholdernessfamily.com/adhd-is-awesome/Shop Our MerchJoin Our NewsletterFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen.