Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

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 something he realized he missed... performing. He is about to release his first new album in nearly two decades and y'all, his first single is a BOP. The new album comes out September 25th. And because this is Laugh Lines, I somehow end up teaching Clay about perimenopause. Never a dull moment here...This week, we also get to the bottom of Gen Z slang with the help of Yahoo Scout (so we finally know what a situationship means). Try Yahoo Scout. #YahooPartner #YahooScout #ad We love to hear from you. Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also listen to this show wherever you get podcasts.Listen to Clay Aiken's new albumPre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on Facebook00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines6:51 Clay Aiken Is Here!8:31 North Carolina Roots21:20 Behind-the-Scenes of American Idol36:03 What The Gen Zers Are Saying - Sponsored by Yahoo! Scout40:20 Sexuality Obsession49:00 Being A Dad52:11 In The Studio1:00:38 Rewind or Fast ForwardLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!

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 learned yet, why preparing kids for a digital future might actually mean less tech in the classroom, and whether AI is taking things one step too far. But the best news? No one is stuck. Attention, memory, and learning can improve, and there are changes parents and schools can make right now.Penn and I also lean all the way into our Gen X roots, including the rotary phone (aka the original fidget spinner.) Turns out we may be advocating for less tech while being extremely entertained by very old tech. We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube.Get Jared's Book, The Digital DelusionPre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines4:57 Schooled By Gen Z12:28 Welcome, Jared Cooney Horvath15:33 Too Much School Tech?20:06 The Power of Handwriting24:22 Change In Schools28:55 The Use of AI35:05 When To Use Tech39:03 How To Make Change42:01 How Teachers Feel46:10 Deep Note Taking53:!2 The Good News57:10 Knowledge & Creativity

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. Knowing that her gift could help families like ours someday is an incredible source of hope.We talked about all of this in the show and we also found ourselves laughing through grief. We discovered that writing an obituary can really make you question your own life accomplishments, discussed what food should be served in our memory, and learned that the preferred vehicle for riding into the great beyond is a Chrysler Pacifica.One of the greatest gifts my mom left us was her detailed “death wishes.” She made her choices known so we didn’t have to make them for her. It made me realize that talking about what you want after you’re gone doesn’t have to be morbid. It can actually be an incredible act of love for the people you leave behind.Thank you for the outpouring of love you’ve given us since this news broke. We are so lucky to have you here. We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube.For more information on Alzheimer’s Brain DonationOur guide to Write Your Own “Death Wishes”Pre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines3:04 Complicated Feelings11:21 Make A Death Wish15:53 Our Death Wishes28:22 Mary's Final Act37:12 Men Supporting Men41:42 Dropping Lola Off

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 some words of encouragement we can use with our own children.Not only does Dr. Emily King help kids with ADHD, autism, learning differences, and giftedness... she also had an incredible voice. So obviously, we couldn't leave without a surprise song parody to summarize the show. (And she even sings it with us! Should we do more of these?) This conversation left us feeling less overwhelmed, and reminded that success doesn’t have to look the same for every kid. I hope it does the same for you.We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube.Get Emily’s new book, The Neurodivergent LearnerPre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines!4:56 Welcome, Dr. Emily King7:40 Defining Neurodivergence12:35 Uneven Development14:08 Neurodivergent Translations17:08 The School System25:53 Gender Differences32:23 Getting Diagnosed42:30 Verbal Doesn't Work48:36 Celebrating Wins55:14 Surprise Instant Parody

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 became a "crossbody bag with legs”, and we pitch our dream challenges if we ever got a weird job as producers for The Amazing Race. (Spoiler: The college move-in day challenge where you cram 800 things into half a dorm room and then your child leaves you forever. FUN!)This episode was SO much fun because of all of you. Thank you to everyone who called, wrote, commented, and shared your questionable employment history with us. Please keep it coming because next we want to hear what unhinged things you did in the 80s/90s that would never fly today. (We did WHAT?!) You truly make this show better and much, much weirder. We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube.Pre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines!3:!5 Kim Went to Puerto Rico10:53 Today Is About Weird Jobs16:37 Sam's Weird Job20:27 Ann Marie's Weird Job21:53 Daryl the Talking Reindeer23:25 Gen X Retirement Homes26:31 Cynthia Sold Karaoke32:10 More Weird Jobs41:25 Send Us Your Stories42:24 Amazing Race Challenges

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 implications for how new Alzheimer’s blood tests are interpreted. Plus, we hear from you about the Gen X movies that hit VERY differently when you watch them with your kids. Clueless, Spaceballs, and Stand By Me. (Listen, it was a different time!)Finally, one thing we don't always agree on is what videos we make. So we also ask our Laugh Liners to let us know: Should we publish Penn's "Peeing In The Pool" parody? Buckle up for the world premiere right here on Laugh Lines. The decision is up to you! We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube.Pre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines!2:57 Do We Get Along16:01 Creative Differences20:08 Should We Post This?25:41 Things We Never Agree On30:45 Penn's Gonna Talk About Alzheimer's41:20 Reflecting On Gen X Movies

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 intensely, why hormonal changes like perimenopause can make it even harder, and what we can actually do about it.We also talk about the surprising upside of feeling things deeply, because the same brain that feels rejection so intensely also experiences joy, awe, empathy, and connection in a really beautiful way. (And somehow we end up talking about WikiFeet. Because of course we do.)Whether you have ADHD or you've simply spent your life feeling "too sensitive," this conversation is for you. We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. (Also send us your weird summer jobs!) You can also watch our podcast on YouTube.Learn more about Dr. Sasha HamdaniGet Dr. Sasha Hamdani's book, Too SensitivePre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines!2:41 Growing Up Sensitive8:17 Welcome Dr. Hamdani11:24 What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria?20:32 RSD Without ADHD26:36 Dealing With Criticism30:43 RSD & Perimenopause33:37 Best Practices for RSD40:08 Movement Is Effective44:48 Chronic Apologizing47:59 RSD Advantages51:17 RSD Calls from the Laugh Line1:00:45 RSD Relationship Hack

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 at all, and why kids actually learn better through connection than fear. We even put Jon through a round of our "Hill You'll Die On" game to find out where he stands on everything from pajamas at school and homework to smartphones and curfews.Whether you're raising toddlers, teenagers, or just trying to recover from how you were parented yourself, this conversation might make you rethink a few things. It definitely did for us. We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. (Also send us your weird summer jobs!) You can also watch our podcast on YouTube. Learn more about Jon FogelGet Jon's book, Punishment-Free ParentingPre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!

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 1991 was somehow 35 years ago, play a very heated game of The Price Is Right, and give a spirited tribute to the late Bonnie Tyler. Yes, Penn got out the recorder.If you're navigating hormones, parenting grown kids, or simply trying to figure out how we all got this old, come laugh with us. We promise you'll leave feeling a little less alone. We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube. And thanks to our partner, OLLY, for sponsoring this episode!Pre-order Get It Done & Have FunVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookLaugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness is an evolution of The Holderness Family Podcast, which began in 2018. 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 three billion views and over nine million followers since 2013. Penn and Kim are also authors of the New York Times Bestselling Books, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD and All You Can Be With ADHD. They were also winners on The Amazing Race (Season 33) on CBS. Laugh Lines is hosted and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness. Laugh Lines is also written and produced by Ann Marie Taepke, and edited and produced by Sam Allen. It is hosted by Acast. Thanks for listening!