Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

Latest Episodes:

Awkward Phases & Wonder Years with Danica McKellar Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

Remember when we got terrible perms, passed notes in class, and had to survive our awkward teenage years without beauty filters? (I swear kids these days don't have awkward phases and it shows.) This week on the podcast, Penn and I talk about why our kids are craving our culture and we kick off a series we are calling "Gen X Check In" with someone who defined our childhoods. Our first guest? Danica McKellar! Yes, Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years joins us this week to talk about how she went from America's sweetheart to an actual mathematician. (Meanwhile, I was crying over 7th grade math.) She also opens up about her childhood crush, what it's really like filming Christmas movies in 100-degree heat, and a fun story from working with Dolly Parton.

Penn also celebrates his 52nd birthday with some very age-appropriate rocket ship balloons, we share photographic evidence of how awkward we once were, and we compare notes on what our second careers would be. (I am still amazed that Danica has two very successful and very different careers!) Who should we check in with next? Tell us! 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 Danica on Instagram

Get Our New Book

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

Laugh 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!

1:11 Penn's Birthday

7:14 The Joy of Gen X Culture

17:09 Gen X Check-In with Danica

21:08 Hollywood Childhood

25:02 Pivoting to Math

31:24 Danica's Life Now

38:14 Dolly Parton Memories

41:35 Our Second Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're In Bed & We've Got Stories Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

After 11 days across the country powered by gummy bears, Penn and I are back from our "Get It Done & Have Fun" book tour. (Don't worry Nashville, we will see you soon!) We had every intention of recording a normal podcast, but after so many days on the road we thought we'd take to the bed and bring you along for the shenanigans.

We have so many stories to share, including Penn's unfortunate underwear situation, how I turn into a powered-down robot, and how we may be more co-dependent than we realized after failing our airport divorce. We're also sharing some really special moments from visiting schools, teaching kids about ADHD, and meeting so many of you along the way.

We also learn how many "years old" we are in a Seventeen magazine style quiz along with Sam and Ann Marie (apparently saying "these used to be farms and fields" is a sign of aging) and we take some of your calls from the Laugh Line. We hope you enjoy this episode of pillow talk. Should we do it again? 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 Our New Book

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines...In Bed

3:42 Packing for Book Tour

8:12 Book Tour Priorities

21:44 Traveling With Your Spouse

30:49 Airport Divorce

33:08 How Many "Years Old" Are You?

44:32 Calls from the Laugh Line

Download Cash App today and make your money work for you. Click here to get started: cash.app #CashAppPartner

New Cash App customers can earn $10 if they use code FAMILY10 in their profile at signup and send $5 to a friend within 14 days. Terms apply.

Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card (https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement), Sutton debit flex card (https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-sutton), and Bancorp debit flex card (https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-bancorp). Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Parents and legal guardians can open a sponsored account for teens 13-17. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do Men Need Better Friends? with Richard Reeves Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Friends, this podcast has been months in the making. For years, Penn has come home from entire weekends with his guy friends with zero new information about their lives. His buddy's wife could be expecting a baby and Penn had no idea. ("Bryce's wife is pregnant?!") I have been concerned, but after our conversation with Richard Reeves, I’m realizing maybe I’ve been looking at male friendship all wrong.

Richard is the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. This week, he joins us to talk about why men connect shoulder-to-shoulder, how we need to think of their friendship differently than women, and why being curious is the most important thing we can practice with the boys in our lives. Our conversation quickly became about much more than just adult male friendship. We talk about the mentors our boys desperately need, including male coaches and teachers, and that while it takes a village to raise a child... “some of the village has to be men.” This conversation challenged some of my assumptions and reminded us that helping men and boys build stronger connections doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it starts with just sending the text.

Also Penn may or may not be trying to figure out how to become best friends with the men from The Golden Bachelorette. Honestly, I fully support that last one. 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.

Learn more about Richard's work:

https://maleeducators.org/

https://aibm.org/

Get Our New Book

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines!

2:57 Penn Reads A Text

11:15 Why Are Men Lonelier?

14:53 Sharing As Adult Men

26:02 Raising Young Boys

38:05 Male Mentorship

45:08 Suicide Prevention

57:15 Redistributing Fatherhood

1:04:32 Male Vulnerability In Media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trick Your ADHD Brain Into Getting Stuff Done Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Yay! Our new children’s book Get It Done & Have Fun! ADHD Hacks for Awesome Kids is out TODAY! This week to celebrate, Penn and I are sharing our favorite ways to trick ADHD brains into doing things they absolutely do not want to do. (And share your hilarious tips!)

Telling people with ADHD to “just try harder” doesn’t work. Sometimes you need to create fake urgency, turn your to-do list into a game, put your keys in the fridge, narrate your life out loud, or apparently tie yourself to the oven. (Please allow us to explain in the show.) Penn also shares strategies on writing a book when you have ADHD, reflects on how his late Mom should have been thanked, and I admit something deeply embarrassing. I also try to start multiple new businesses in the show. (Because those of us with ADHD would rather start a business venture than do laundry or pay bills...)

We hope this episode gives you a few tricks to try and see what works for your brain. And if you have an awesome kid with ADHD, check out our new book! 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 as promised, here is our "Get It Done" Playlist for ADHDers.

Get Our New Book

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines!

2:51 ADHD Brains Are Different

9:37 Kim's ADHD Academy

16:41 ADHD Hacks from YOU

36:49 Writing A Book With ADHD

46:15 Thanks Penn's Mom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We Need Creativity & Saxophone Solos with John Green Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever loved doing something and then forgot why you loved it in the first place? Same. This week, we’re talking with the incredibly thoughtful (and incredibly delightful) John Green about why we all need creativity in our lives and how to find our way back to the things that bring us joy.

John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who is returning to fiction for the first time in nine years with his new novel, Hollywood, Ending. Our conversation goes everywhere from why making art is part of being human to why it’s hard not to care about likes, views, and algorithms. We talk about the vulnerability of creating something, doing things simply because you love them, and how we both may want to live under a rock and salinger... yes, that is a verb now.

And because this is Laugh Lines, we also discuss the books Penn and John wrote when they were eight, why Penn reenacted a college basketball game with dolls on TV, and we make the case for bringing back saxophone solos. (Careless Whisper, anyone?) Please let us know what your weird dreams are in the comments so we can get them interpreted... and tell us your thoughts on Penn's Sunny voice. 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 Fun

Get the book, Hollywood, Ending

Learn more about Good Store

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines

4:55 Today's Guest is John Green

7:06 Return to Fiction

11:54 Hollywood, Ending

20:06 Partners In Health

29:10 Our College Experiences

32:55 Penn's Sports Reporting

37:11 Why Is Music Whisper-y

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American Idol, Empty Nests & Second Acts with Clay Aiken Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

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 watch our podcast on YouTube.

Listen to Clay Aiken's new album

Pre-order Get It Done & Have Fun

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines

6:51 Clay Aiken Is Here!

8:31 North Carolina Roots

21:20 Behind-the-Scenes of American Idol

36:03 What The Gen Zers Are Saying - Sponsored by Yahoo! Scout

40:20 Sexuality Obsession

49:00 Being A Dad

52:11 In The Studio

1:00:38 Rewind or Fast Forward

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rethinking Tech In Schools with Jared Cooney Horvath Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

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 Delusion

Pre-order Get It Done & Have Fun

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines

4:57 Schooled By Gen Z

12:28 Welcome, Jared Cooney Horvath

15:33 Too Much School Tech?

20:06 The Power of Handwriting

24:22 Change In Schools

28:55 The Use of AI

35:05 When To Use Tech

39:03 How To Make Change

42:01 How Teachers Feel

46:10 Deep Note Taking

53:!2 The Good News

57:10 Knowledge & Creativity

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remembering Penn's Mom: Grief, Laughter & Our "Death Wishes" Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

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 Donation

Our guide to Write Your Own “Death Wishes”

Pre-order Get It Done & Have Fun

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines

3:04 Complicated Feelings

11:21 Make A Death Wish

15:53 Our Death Wishes

28:22 Mary's Final Act

37:12 Men Supporting Men

41:42 Dropping Lola Off

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Our Neurodivergent Kids Need with Dr. Emily King Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

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 Learner

Pre-order Get It Done & Have Fun

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack

00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines!

4:56 Welcome, Dr. Emily King

7:40 Defining Neurodivergence

12:35 Uneven Development

14:08 Neurodivergent Translations

17:08 The School System

25:53 Gender Differences

32:23 Getting Diagnosed

42:30 Verbal Doesn't Work

48:36 Celebrating Wins

55:14 Surprise Instant Parody

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weird Jobs & Amazing Race Challenges Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

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 Fun

Visit Our Shop

Join Our Newsletter

Find us on Substack