The Holderness Family Podcast

We are so excited because this week we sit down with the fabulous Stacy London (yes, that Stacy London!) for some fashion therapy. Stacy London became a household name from the show What Not to Wear, but now she has now given us permission to toss the “rules” and wear whatever the heck we want. We talked about everything from Gen X “uniforms” (hello quarter-zips and yoga pants) to how our bodies shift in midlife and leave us without a style identity. Stacy reminds us that middle age isn’t an expiration date—it’s a renaissance. And fashion, at its best, is less about rules and more about joy and compassion for ourselves. (I told you it was fashion therapy.) Ps. Check out her new show Wear Whatever the F You Want with Clinton Kelly on Amazon Prime! It’s great!And because it wouldn’t be our podcast without a little detour, you’ll also hear an original song dedicated to Stacy and a hilarious debate about what to call you—our listeners. (Are you Laugh Liners? Laughables? The Laugh Pack? We need your vote.) If you’

If you’ve ever wondered how we can start with weighted vests and end up talking about Viagra… welcome to this week’s Laugh Lines. Penn and I are joined by our friend, the amazing Dr. Mary Claire Haver, who gives us the lowdown on bone density, creatine, menopause nutrition, and why getting enough protein sometimes feels like a full-time job. (Seriously, I made cottage cheese dressing recently. Who am I?) We dive into the surprising benefits—and possible dangers—of strapping extra weight to your body, my ongoing quest to stop saying “I’m fine” when I’m really not, and Penn’s top five most ridiculous “Where did I leave that?” moments. (Spoiler: One involves leaving a news camera on the side of a highway… a story I’ve never heard before!)Dr. Mary Claire also teaches us a sleep-saving trick that involves giving your husband a certain little blue pill… yes, seriously. (We cover enough ground for this to qualify this episode as cardio.) So grab your weighted vest, cottage cheese snack, and join us for a laugh-fille

Hi, my name is Kim and I don’t like to be told what to do. (But I do love your calls!) This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I take your voicemails and unpack everything from Gen Z stares to accidentally breeding super-intelligent squirrels to how “smash” means something very different now. (Sorry, Heather.) Penn also shares what it was like to meet one of his comedy heroes, Weird Al Yankovic, and why “I may get canceled for this…” is never a great sentence starter. Spoiler alert: Penn does it anyway… twice!We discuss wheels on your feet, Tony Hawk doppelgängers, and how Gen Z thinks Nine Inch Nails is a literal hardware situation. Penn and I also need your help naming our Laugh Lines community. (Does Laugh Liners sound too much like Flatliners?) Join us for an always chaotic and fun hang… hard pants not required. 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

We started this episode with tears, and somehow ended up in outer space. (Welcome to Laugh Lines!) This week, I had a completely unplanned “Menty B” (short for mental breakdown) about our daughter leaving for college. There are feelings. So many feelings. And mascara malfunctions. Then (try not to get whiplash) we take an emotional U-turn to bring on former astronaut and NYT bestselling author, Mike Massimino, to talk about setting big, bold, seemingly impossible goals.Penn really dislikes goal setting, but he loves space. So he felt like an astronaut could help him be a better goal setter. Mike shares the truly wild story of how he overcame three rejections from NASA, trained his eyes to beat the vision test (seriously!), and why collaboration is the best way to achieve your dreams. We also hear from an awesome 13-year-old listener who might just bring back a forgotten podcast segment. So buckle up Laugh Lines listeners, this one’s a real journey. We love to hear from you, leave us a message at 323-364-3929

This week on Laugh Lines, we let a very special guest take the mic. Our 15-year-old son, PC Holderness! (And y’all… he did not disappoint.) PC came ready to host games and answer questions from parents on the Laugh Line, all with his signature optimism and cowboy hat… obviously. From prank calls and dial-up internet to egg babies and snap streaks, we put our generations head-to-head to find out who had it harder, “Gen X or Gen Z?” We also take your hilarious voicemails and ask PC what Gen Z considers cringe: Is dancing with your hands in the air too much? What exactly does a 'pick me' mean? And is singing "Living On A Prayer" before the intro is over a crime? Big thanks to PC for joining us. He’s kind, thoughtful, and somehow manages to hype up Gen X moms while still defending his own generation’s challenges (hey, he knows who listens to these shows!) You do not want to miss this one—it’s proof that parenting a teenager can be fun, educational, and humbling all at the same time. We love to hear from you, leav

I love aging and also… I get botox. I love my laugh lines (obviously, we named our podcast after them) but I also want to age gracefully. I want to feel like the best version of myself as I get older and sometimes… that means I get a little help from someone with a laser and a medical degree. In this episode of Laugh Lines, we’re pulling back the curtain on cosmetic procedures with my very own dermatologist (and not a paid spokesperson!), the amazing Dr. Sue Ellen Cox. Too many people whisper about this stuff when it should be okay to talk about it!In the show, we discuss botox, lasers, fillers, necks, jowls, and even something called “pre-juvenation.” Dr. Cox is a legend in the field—like "clinical trials for the FDA" kind of legend. This episode is for anyone who's botox-curious, laser-curious, or simply wondering what all this stuff actually does. No gatekeeping here—we’re being honest about what we’ve tried and what questions to ask. Be sure to stay tuned for the Oxford comma justice and Gen Z slang

Need a good laugh? We got you. This week, we’re talking about the delightfully weird and wonderful things that are making us laugh right now—including squirrels, fart walks, and not caring anymore. (Shout out to Melani Sanders, the internet legend behind the We Do Not Care Club.) We chat with the hilarious Mairlyn Smith, who’s gone viral for pioneering the “fart walk” - a post-dinner stroll that’s good for your gut, your marriage, and yes, your feminism. We also bring on bird expert Dr. Lauryn Benedict to talk about leveling up our birder game, and if spicy birdseed causes squirrel indigestion. (Penn has concerns.)Plus, Penn shares what’s been cracking him up lately—from Japanese game shows to rants from our daughter about the NBA playoff format. (And yes, his love for Tom Cruise running is still going strong.) So if you’re craving a good laugh, a little midlife validation, or just need permission to stop caring about visible panty lines (or farting) this one’s for you.

We got an email recently looking for advice on how to navigate being married to someone with ADHD when you’re experiencing perimenopause. (It was actually hilariously titled “Perimenopause and ADHD Walk Into A Bar…” so stay tuned for a future video on that.) This week on Laugh Lines, we’re diving into the chaotic Venn diagram that is living with ADHD and perimenopause — including a full game show with our producer, Sam Allen. Spoiler alert: it’s full of brain fog, misplaced purses, hormone-fueled rage, and why I once forgot the word “pothole.” (Not as bad as Penn saying “fish horse” though.)Penn and I also share what it was like being guests on an Oprah, random advice from our listeners, a look into my dating past, and we debate whether the 4pm dance club should be our next business venture. (Grab your corrected Mahjong cards and meet us there!) But seriously, tell us in the comments if you’re in. Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our p

If your kid is about to launch into the real world and you are holding it together with to-do lists and spreadsheets, this episode is for you. This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I are joined by the always brilliant, always soothing, New York Times Bestselling author, Dr. Lisa Damour. She breaks down what it means to be ready to leave the nest, including must-have life skills, how parents can shift from a do-er to cheer-er (that’s a word, right?) and how to have hard talks about sex and drug use. Dr. Lisa also reminds me that it’s okay to cry when the to-do list is done. (Cue the tears.) We’re also reading some amazing real-world advice from YOU — our hilarious, heartfelt, incredibly wise listeners. You showed up big time in our inbox with tips like having a fracket, observing the syllabus, and “don’t be polite to men who creep you out.” (Penn turned that one into a jingle. You’re welcome.) We end the episode with discussing questionable first cars, Harry Buffalo, and my new favorite find for college move

You know those random, slightly unhinged opinions you have that make zero sense to other people, but you will defend them no matter what? This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I planting our flags on the silliest and most passionately defended opinions — also known as “the hill you’ll die on.” Mine? People who back into parking spaces in busy lots are selfish. (Yes, I said what I said.) We also hit the Laugh Line to hear all your hot takes — from the Oxford comma to pineapple on pizza to why pickles need to calm down.So whether your hill is about cereal being soup, walking protocol on sidewalks, or your refusal to accept the one-space-after-a-period rule (let my spaces live!), you are welcome here. Come for the unhinged opinions, stay for the community of people who forget they’re not doing voice-to-text when leaving a voicemail. And stay tuned to the end of the show when Penn reveals his Top 5 hills to determine which he’s most passionate about (and provides us a full-blown TED Talk on Top Gun in the process.)

There’s this phrase Penn and I say a lot when we’re overwhelmed making goofy internet videos—“It’s okay, we’re not saving lives.” But this week, we talk to a man who actually is saving lives and he needs us to help spread the word. Dr. David Fajgenbaum is the founder of Every Cure, a nonprofit that’s on a mission to do something that sounds impossible—use already-approved drugs to treat diseases they weren’t originally made for. Diagnosed with Castleman disease, Dr. David refused to accept that there was no cure. So, he saved his own life by repurposing existing medication and now he's on a mission to do the same for others.Using AI to search 75 million possible drug-disease combinations, they’re finding things to help with cancer and autism. They are all in clinical trials, but the results are promising. Because the medications are generic, there’s no big pharma marketing machine behind them. So they need our help to spread the word. Listen to the show where we hear more about Dr. David's story, his work, as

Penn and I have a daughter who is graduating high school and going to college in the fall. And I am doing totally fine, except the… chest pains… eye twitches… hair loss… (this is totally normal, right?) I process my emotions through preparation. I plot everything on the calendar and make all the Google Docs. Penn needs to process his emotions through, well… actually feeling them. He knows there’s a shift in our family dynamic coming and it’s making him sentimental. In this episode of Laugh Lines, we talk about the emotional rollercoaster of parenting a graduating high school senior and some fun distractions that are keeping us laughing. We discuss the chaos of senior sleepovers, why I want to give squirrels hemorrhoids, and we hear from fellow parents navigating this bittersweet season. Whether you’re a fellow Gen X parent or just listening to hear how I almost got impaled by a gnome, this episode may make you laugh, cry, or develop an eye twitch too. Thanks for being here ❤️ Want to leave us a message?

This week on Laugh Lines, Penn and I take a trip down memory lane with the most unhinged things Gen X did in the 90s. (Seriously… how are we even alive?) If you’ve ever gotten a late fee at Blockbuster or ridden in the back of a pickup truck without a seatbelt, this episode is for you. Welcome home. We heard from so many listeners who shared amazing stories: homecoming games with a live tiger from the zoo, going on cross-state road trips as teenagers, and even piling 20 college kids into the back of a U-Haul with a keg. (We survived but wow, we did some dumb stuff.)Despite the chaos, there’s so much we loved about growing up Gen X. Penn and I discuss our own unhinged memories, take your stories from the laugh line, and even talk about the stuff we should bring back. (Are we not letting kids be as independent now?) Also stay tuned for our special Gen Z 90s translations at the end! Have a story for us? Leave us a voicemail at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch

If you’ve been here a while, you know your friend Kim walks with anxiety on a daily basis. I often have thought “if I could sleep through the night, eat enough protein, and manage my anxiety and emotions, I’d be unstoppable.” And that’s because anxiety has often stopped me — from resting, from focusing, from showing up the way I want to. My brand of anxiety can be debilitating at times. So how can you begin to manage anxiety and emotions?This week we invited our new friend Ethan Kross on the podcast to help give us tips on just that. Ethan is a psychologist, neuroscientist, and director of the Emotion and Self-Control Lab at the University of Michigan. He’s also the author of Chatter and Shift, all about taking control of your emotions and the voice in your head. We discuss how distance your self-talk, mentally “time travel” and ways Penn deals with emotional flooding due to ADHD.Stick around until the end when we take a call from the Laugh Line on all-inclusive resorts, talk about borgs, and Penn’s favorite

I have always endorsed my experience with pelvic floor therapy after having kids. It was life-changing, and insurance covered it. (Score.) But what if I told you that pelvic floor therapy wasn’t just for women who have had babies? What if I told you pelvic floor therapy could be for men too?This week on the podcast, we talked to Dr. Danielle Owens, a physical therapist and CAPP-Pelvic certified specialist. While pelvic health is typically associated with women, Dr. Owens stresses that men also face pelvic floor dysfunctions and can benefit greatly from therapy. We discuss why pelvic floor therapy is important, and we both work our pelvic floor muscles live on-air. Also, listen if you want to never look at blueberry the same again. (Although very helpful!)We end the show discussing if we are too old for day trips, what a ‘darty’ is, and we take more of your calls on the laugh line. (Please vote if you think we should take a day trip to Paris!) What do you want to hear us talk about? Leave us a voicemail at 323

This week, Kim and I have a vulnerable discussion about my risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Three of my four grandparents, my late father, and my mother have all struggled with Alzheimer’s and dementia. As I have grown older, the fear of developing it has always been in the back of my mind. But I have something all of my family didn’t - new information on how to TRY to prevent it.We are honored to have Dr. Richard Isaacson join us and share his research as one of the leading voices in Alzheimer’s disease prevention. Dr. Richard Isaacson is Director of Research at The Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND) and Director of the Precision Prevention Program at Atria Health and Research Institute. His research explores how lifestyle interventions can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. We discuss everything from how Ozempic may help to what supplements not to take. I also try to keep things light with the "Top 5 Funniest Things About Alzheimer’s" at the end of the show (and Kim gives a #NotSponsored endorseme

As we age, items have shifted during flight. We're gaining weight in weird places, and Penn is convinced he has bread back. (More on that in the podcast.) But what if everything you thought you knew about metabolism was actually wrong? We sat down with Dr. Herman Pontzer, Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and Global Health at Duke University, to ask the age-old question: Can you actually boost your metabolism? The answer may surprise you! You can follow Dr. Herman Pontzer on Instagram at @hpontzer and get his latest book, Adaptable, here: https://amzn.to/42VizuJStick around until the end for "Are We Too Old For All-Inclusive Resorts?" and "Kim's #NotSponsored" endorsement for pelvic floor therapy. Also, what things are we too young for? We would love to hear what you think! Leave us a voicemail 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

Welcome to Laugh Lines! We are so excited to launch this new chapter of our podcast and have you along for the ride. This week, Penn and I break down our best advice for staying married for 20 years (we’re too young to be celebrating such a milestone, right?) We also take our first calls from the Laugh Line to hear your input, including some very interesting advice from Kim’s Mom. To end the show, we discuss if we are too old for theme parks and what the Gen Z phrase “throwing” means… bonus points if you use it in the sentence with your teen this week. We would love to hear what you think! Leave us a voicemail at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also watch our podcast on YouTube. Tune in next week as we talk about Bread Back and gaining weight in weird places.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,

For the last 7 years, The Holderness Family Podcast has been our most favorite thing we do. We love getting to talk to experts, having meaningful conversations between the two of us, and being a place where you can laugh. A lot has changed since we started the show, and we feel lucky that our audience is growing older with us. So in the spirit of that, we are re-launching our podcast. We are so excited to introduce you to Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness.The Laugh Lines podcast will be all about doing aging better and being able to laugh together about getting older. And it’s going to be available in video format on YouTube. You’ll still be able to listen to the show in all the usual places, but if you want to watch us - you can! Our first show will be next Tuesday, April 22nd. We hope you’ll join us! Listeners can leave a voicemail at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok

A year ago, our friend Charlie Berens asked Penn if he would open for him on his national stand-up tour. It was for a show in Durham, and Penn couldn't at the time. (I could tell he was almost relieved!) But when Charlie came back to NC this year and asked again, Penn said yes. To be clear, Penn has never tried stand-up comedy. And to my surprise, he was very nervous! This week we go along on Penn's journey into trying stand-up comedy, including how his performance went. We also bring on our friend and incredible speaker, Page Fehling, for some presentation tips that anyone can use. (You can find out more about Page here.) How did Penn do? Would you come to see us do a show? Let us know! Visit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow 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.