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Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness
You Are What You Watch with Walt Hickey
Hi friends, Penn here. As some of you know, I am obsessed with all things sci-fi. This traces way back to my childhood during the Star Wars and Star Trek days that sparked a lifelong fascination for all things space. It’s the main reason that I always wanted to be an astronaut. Fast forward to today, you can see that life took me in a wildly different direction. (Plus I have terrible vertigo so I would have made a horrible astronaut.) Dashed childhood dreams aside, the impact these movies and shows had on me got us thinking.
Turns out, the stuff we consume has a greater impact than you think. Walt Hickey wrote a fascinating book called You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything that discusses just that. In it, Hickey dives into (among many other things) the power of entertainment, how it can have an actual physical effect on us, and how it can greatly shape who we are as individuals and as society. So we invited him on this week’s podcast! Also bonus–after the interview, Kim and I test our 90’s pop culture knowledge with our producer, Ann Marie. (And I remain the champ of Britney Spears knowledge…IYKYK.)
Special Announcement: We launched a 3-part bonus podcast series about ADHD! You can listen to the Part 2 now and pre-order our new book ADHD Is Awesome!
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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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32. Stuffing Is Wet Bread & Other Hot Takes
44:46||Season 9, Ep. 32It’s Thanksgiving week, which means two things: delicious food and at least one unhinged opinion... or several. Here's the deal, the estrogen has left my body and my perimenopause is gonna tell it like it is. Penn and I dive headfirst into all things turkey season, like why I start Christmas music in November, whether turkey is actually just a gravy delivery system, and why perimenopause isn't so bad.We revisit the USPS uniform - thanks to an absolutely iconic voicemail from a mail carrier named Andy. (Do we need Ralph Lauren and Glen Powell to step in? I think so.) Add in a little not-sponsored peanut brittle, Penn revealing he's a thigh guy, and one dramatic gas company saga where we got gaslit - and you’ve got yourself quite the holiday special.Whether you’re prepping mashed potatoes, sitting in traffic, or hiding from your family in a guest room—come hang out with us. I even share my favorite Thanksgiving table conversation starters. (There are some below if you're looking for topics!) 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 Uncle Rusty's Peanut Brittle Questions for Thanksgiving:1. If you started a rock band, what would your name be?2. Did you ever want to change your first name?3. Have you ever had a psychic reading? Was it accurate?4. If you could meet one fictional character, who would it be?5. What was your proudest moment from this past year?6. What was your worst haircut/hairstyle of all time?7. What’s the strangest date you’ve ever been on?8. What’s your personal anthem or theme song?9. Are there any chores you secretly enjoy?10. What is the trashiest TV show that you love?11. What is your favorite charity?Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 two 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!
31. Aging Is Actually Awesome
49:45||Season 9, Ep. 31Even though I do miss the collagen in my neck, you couldn’t pay me to be 25 again. (As it turns out, aging is pretty awesome!) This week Penn and I are talking about the things we’d never want to relive from our twenties and the surprising joys of getting older... including reading your comments! Thank you for sharing some truly unfiltered thoughts about thongs, weddings, and Taco Bell at 2 a.m.Before we get into the meat of show, Penn issues a formal apology (or seven) to our new favorite listener, Pam, and we decide to start the "Dude You Look Good!" movement. (Send us pics and Penn will compliment you! Shoulders up, please.) It's a fun ride including why the kids are saying 'chopped' and how 50th birthday parties are secretly the best parties of all. 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.Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 two 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!
30. The Truth About Longevity with Dr. Eric Topol
01:02:53||Season 9, Ep. 30What’s the secret to living longer and better? (Spoiler: It’s not a cold plunge or protein popcorn.) In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant Dr. Eric Topol — cardiologist, scientist, and author of Super Agers — to separate fact from fiction in the world of longevity.We learn that blood tests are getting really good, GLP-1 drugs show real promise, and to always call Dr. Topol before you buy something TikTok tells you to. We cover everything from protein myths, weighted vests, and saunas to tests that could one day prevent Alzheimer’s and cancer. Penn and I also cover sleep tips, landlines, and Max Headroom. (Gen Xers, you get it.)We hope this episode leaves you smarter, calmer, and surprisingly optimistic about the future of aging. 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.Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 two 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!
29. Making Friends, Marriage, & Maybe Aliens
44:41||Season 9, Ep. 29What do Whitney Houston and alien overlords have in common? This podcast! This week, we are diving deep into important topics from the Laugh Line: how to make new friends in your 40s, keeping marriage steady when life gets messy, and the latest wellness hacks we may—or may not—regret trying (Looking at you to give me feedback on neurofeedback!)Also, Penn and I venture into some pop culture in our "You Heard It Here First… Except for the Fact That by the Time You’re Hearing This, the Event Is Over" segment. (Spoiler: Penn geeks out over the 3I/ATLAS.) It’s equal parts science, silliness, and soul-searching, sprinkled with Presidential Fitness trauma, a sincere apology to Dr. Scholl's, and jamming out to Whitney Houston. Basically, just a Tuesday at our house... 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.Order our new book, All You Can Be With ADHD (also available on audiobook!)Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 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 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!28. Advice for Gen Z From Your "Golden Girls"
52:02||Season 9, Ep. 28On our recent book tour, we met so many amazing tweens and teens who surprised us by saying they listen to this podcast. (Yes, this one! The one about aging knees, perimenopause, and remembering dial-up internet.) Somewhere between the hugs and deep conversations, it hit us: We might actually be their Golden Girls.I loved watching the Golden Girls growing up, so we've decided to embrace it. In this episode, we share a love letter to our younger selves — advice we wish we’d known in our teens, 20s, and 30s that we want to pass along to Gen Z. From not chasing the guy peaking in high school to keeping your passions — we’ve learned a few things. Plus, I can deinfluence you with my latest TikTok purchase. (TikTok Shop is the new QVC, by the way.)So grab your orthotic slippers, listen to Penn's version of “Thank You for Being a Friend,” and enjoy some voicemails from our answering machine — your Golden Girls are 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.Order our new book, All You Can Be With ADHD (also available on audiobook!)Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 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 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!27. Living Parallel Lives with Dustin & Melissa Nickerson
49:47||Season 9, Ep. 27Sometimes the best therapy is laughing with people who truly get it. This week, we sit down with comedian Dustin Nickerson and his wife Melissa to compare notes on our parallel lives (and to remember to hit the record button this time... more on that in the show.) From forgetting luggage to forgetting pictures of kids, we swap stories about ADHD marriage dynamics, youth sports, and the emotional rollercoaster of sending your first kid to college. Plus, we play “Bring It Back or Pass” to debate the comeback potential of frosted tips, cassette tapes, and SkyMall catalogs.You can find out more about Dustin and Melissa by tuning into their hit podcast "Don’t Make Me Come Back There" and find dates for Dustin on tour. 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.Order our new book, All You Can Be With ADHD (also available on audiobook!)Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 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 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!26. All You Can Be with ADHD (For Kids!)
39:49||Season 9, Ep. 26It’s here! We’re celebrating the release of our very first children’s book, All You Can Be with ADHD, with an episode families can enjoy together! When we set out to write All You Can Be with ADHD, our goal was simple: To help kids feel proud of how their brains work. We wanted them to see their energy, focus, imagination, and even their distractions as strengths — not shortcomings. Sure, ADHD can bring challenges but it’s got some pretty cool stuff too! In this episode, we read a few pages from the book and share some amazing messages from ADHD kids, like 10-year-old Gordon (who may be my most favorite Laugh Line caller yet). We also talk about how to handle hobbies that fizzle out, what it means to find your own motivation, and how every superpower needs a little practice. I even share my “Three Piece Nuggets” on what I hope every kid takes away from the book. (If you're a kid with ADHD, know that Kim and I are rooting for you, and we cannot wait to hear all the great things you accomplish!)So grab your kids and join us for a journey into the ADHD brain—full of creativity, curiosity, and possibilities! 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.Order our new book, All You Can Be With ADHD (also available on audiobook!) Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 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 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!25. Parents Weekend & Getting Bursitis
54:39||Season 9, Ep. 25Have you ever been on a wellness journey and gotten BURSITIS?! In this week’s episode of Laugh Lines, we discuss how my need to be more active led to a very glamorous new diagnosis. (Yep, I’ve officially reached the age where I ice my hips during a podcast recording… and then find out I can get frostbite.)Penn and I recap our emotional rollercoaster of a Parents Weekend—seeing our daughter thriving at college, resisting the urge to cry in front of her, and maybe hosting a parents’ night that felt like a frat party. We also get into why kids are saying “six seven”, things women in perimenopause cannot remember, why toe spacers might actually improve your brain health, and my road to 50 update. (Please tell me pull-up tips!) 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 our new book, All You Can Be With ADHDVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 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 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!24. Hamilton, Hearing Loss, & Sing-Alongs with Alex Lacamoire
50:46||Season 9, Ep. 24If Broadway had a heartbeat, Alex Lacamoire might be it. You probably know him as the Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning musical genius behind Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, In the Heights, and The Greatest Showman. This week, we are beyond grateful to welcome him to Laugh Lines!Penn and I are lucky enough to call Alex and his wife, Ileana, our friends. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of his journey—from a Miami kid with a hand-me-down piano to a Broadway legend. We talk about how he sees music in colors (yes, synesthesia is real!), why lifting others up matters just as much as creating unforgettable scores, and how he’s overcome incredible odds. Born with significant hearing loss, Alex has gone on to orchestrate and arrange some of the most iconic music of our generation.Oh—and did I mention we sing? A lot. From The Muppets to Broadway, Alex graciously humors us as everything turns into a sing-along (and even shares a keyboard with Penn). We adore Alex, and after listening, we think you will too. 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.Follow Alex to keep up on his latest projectsPre-order our new book, All You Can Be With ADHDVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow 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 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 and executive produced by Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, with original music by Penn Holderness (and this week, Alex Lacamoire!) 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!