Share

cover art for Turning Kids Dreams In Entrepreneurship with Jess Ekstrom

The Holderness Family Podcast

Turning Kids Dreams In Entrepreneurship with Jess Ekstrom

Season 6, Ep. 39

I like to think I am a recovering ‘snow plow’ parent. You’ve heard of helicopter parents that hover over their children, right? Well, instead of just hovering, you remove all the obstacles for your kids in order for them not to experience disappointment. I think it’s hard for any parent to see their kids struggle, but the struggle is what builds resilience, right? This week on the podcast, we interviewed Jess Ekstrom to hear her story in entrepreneurship and her new book, Create Your Bright Ideas, for tweens and teens.


A piece of advice I love from Jess is around  “safe falls.” Jess is a new Mom and her daughter is learning to walk. She said that she knows she can give her daughter more room to explore and test her new found skill when she knows she can fall safely. Jess said that’s the same for kids and entrepreneurship. You have to let them try on their own, especially when they can fail safely. 


Listen to our talk with Jess and tell us know what you learned! Let us know by calling 323-364-3929 or emailing us at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. And if you like this podcast, please consider leaving us a review!


Play Our Game

Shop Our Merch

Grab Our Book

Join Our Newsletter


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, Sam Pressman, and Ashley Cimino.


Follow us on YouTube

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

Follow us on Facebook

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 51. Behind The Music with Our Team (Part 2)

    31:06||Season 7, Ep. 51
    Welcome to Part 2 of Behind The Music with Our Team! (If you haven't heard Part 1, you can tune in here.)Every year on the podcast we do a round-up of our favorite moments, but this year we decided to do something a little different. This week we kick off a two-part series "behind the music" with Ann Marie Taepke and Sam Allen, our two of our integral team members. We had so much fun in this podcast, it had to be two parts. In Part Two, we continue with our reflections on 2024 including Ann Marie's voice notes, Sam on the side of the road, Penn giving more flowers, and Kim in her main character era. We wish you a happy & healthy holiday season, thanks for listening and being here with us! PS. We are taking 2 weeks off for the holidays. Our next episode will drop January 14, 2025. See you then! Visit Our ShopJoin 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.
  • 50. Behind The Music with Our Team (Part 1)

    35:01||Season 7, Ep. 50
    Every year on the podcast we do a round-up of our favorite moments, but this year we decided to do something a little different. This week we kick off a two-part series "behind the music" with Ann Marie Taepke and Sam Allen, our two of our integral team members. We had so much fun in this podcast, it had to be two parts. In Part One, we share our favorite videos and the stories behind creating them. We talk about why Kim loved breaking the rules, the fun police, and how being unhinged made this year fun. We will release Part Two on December 24, 2024 before taking two weeks off for the holiday. Listen and tell us what your favorite videos/moments were! Visit Our ShopJoin 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.
  • 49. Do What Matters with Kendra Adachi

    44:47||Season 7, Ep. 49
    Sometimes I can feel like I can conquer the world, and sometimes I don't want to get out of bed. 93% of time management and productivity books are written by men. (By the way, I love men but women are built different!) There are so many more nuances to women who are looking for help prioritizing and planning. So this week, we have a ladies-only episode where I interview Kendra Adachi, also know as "the Lazy Genius." Kendra is a 3-time New York Times bestselling author, nationally ranked podcaster, wife, and mom. Her latest book is called The Plan: Manage Your Time like a Lazy Genius. Listen to her give us advice on how to get stuff done that matters without turning into a tired robot. You can learn more about Kendra here: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/.Shop our 2024 Gift GuidesVisit Our ShopJoin 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.
  • 48. A Very Hallmark Holiday with Julie Sherman Wolfe

    45:25||Season 7, Ep. 48
    Last month on the podcast, we played a bunch of Hallmark movie games in our Christmas Will Fix It episode. Penn and I had so much fun that we asked ourselves... should we talk to an actual Hallmark movie writer? Enter Julie Sherman Wolfe! Julie is an award-winning writer and producer who has written 26 MOVIES for Hallmark, including her most recent Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. We had the best time talking to her about her background, the Hallmark movie making process, and (gasp) the fact she also has ADHD! Hear us play another Hallmark movie game with Julie as well as pitch who we would play if she wrote us into her next flick. You can follow Julie on Instagram at @julie_sherman_wolfe. Are you a proud Hallmark movie watcher? Shop our 2024 Gift GuidesVisit Our ShopJoin 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.
  • 47. Can Data Unite Us? with Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy

    40:18||Season 7, Ep. 47
    Everyone is about to have Thanksgiving with friends and family, some who may have very different political views than they do. It used to be that you could find something to agree on with those of another political party. Data shows that the political polarization in our country is worst now than ever. How did we get here? How do we fix it? This week we invited data scientist, research consultant, and keynote speaker, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Ph.D. on the show to discuss (she's a stand-up comedian and circus performer too - fun fact!)We talk about the role the media plays in our division, why disagreement is good for solutions, and we circle back often to the water damage issue currently happening at our house. You can learn more about Dr. Jones-Rooy here: https://www.jonesrooy.com/. Happy turkey day :)Shop our 2024 Gift GuidesGet Family Faceoff game - 50% off 11/29 onlyGet What The Flock game - 50% off 11/29 onlyVisit Our Shop - 25% full shop 11/29 - 12/2Join 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.
  • 46. Living By Airport Rules

    41:00||Season 7, Ep. 46
    We experienced our first "last" recently with having a senior in high school. That coupled with some stressful weeks had me living by airport rules. What are airport rules? I am so glad you asked. This week on the podcast, we give life updates and discuss airport rules (and why they should be temporary - like being in an airport.) Penn also shares his top 5 best and worst things at an airport... and it gets personal. Shop our 2024 Gift GuidesGet Family Faceoff gameGet What The Flock gameJoin 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.
  • 45. Christmas Will Fix It

    42:42||Season 7, Ep. 45
    Throughout my life (especially during COVID) I have learned that when life gets heavy, my defense mechanism is Christmas. Something about burying yourself in holiday cheer makes everything better. It has taken a long time for Penn to understand and embrace my need for Christmas. As soon as Halloween ends, Christmas begins.This week we invite our producer Ann Marie Taepke onto the show for some laughs. We play some games around Hallmark movies, decide what the best Thanksgiving side is, and Penn tells us his Top 5 underrated Christmas songs. At the end of the day, we hope this podcast makes you smile.Shop our 2024 Gift GuidesVisit Our ShopJoin 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.
  • 44. Missing Boring Elections with Pantsuit Politics

    41:25||Season 7, Ep. 44
    We are releasing this podcast on Election Day 2024, because we need some political therapy. Over the past couple presidential elections, the stakes are feeling higher and higher. I personally don't believe our bodies were made to handle all the constant information and stress in American politics. (Don't you remember when politics used to be boring?) This week we invited back Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers from the top-rated podcast, Pantsuit Politics, to discuss the state of our nation and how we move forward. Learn more about Sarah and Beth here: https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/Visit Our ShopJoin 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.
  • 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.