Being A Good Human & Birth Vibes with Jen Hamilton

Summary

Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness
Episode: Being A Good Human & Birth Vibes with Jen Hamilton
Release Date: April 28, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This lively and candid episode of Laugh Lines features guest Jen Hamilton—labor and delivery nurse, author, and viral content creator—discussing her signature blend of humor, real-life birth wisdom, and her commitment to compassionate community care. The conversation, filled with vivid imagery and laugh-out-loud moments, navigates the realities of birth, authentic advocacy (in medicine and beyond), Jen’s community non-profit “Hot Mess Express,” and her viral story of an airline act of kindness. Listeners come away with both irreverent truth-telling about childbirth, and inspiration for living and aging well by “being a good human.”

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Realities of Birth Vibes

• Atmosphere and Empowerment in Birth

  • Jen explains her “Birth Vibes” philosophy (12:02):
    “You could have a birth that completely ticks off every single box on your birth plan, but still leave that experience feeling unheard, unseen, disrespected… So with birth vibes, you’re kind of creating this cocoon of safety so that no matter what happens... you can still leave that experience feeling communicated with, informed, empowered, and respected.”
  • The group commiserates on how planning for birth bumps up against the unpredictable, sharing personal stories of “wet pennies and onion rings” metaphors for postpartum body changes (16:12) and the shockingly little info given to new mothers.

• Breaking the Taboos and Telling the Truth

  • Jen’s colorful, direct language instills comfort and camaraderie, making listeners, especially new parents, feel less alone and less ashamed about their bodies’ realities.
    • “Every time I pulled my pants down immediately after birth, it smelled like I was smuggling wet pennies and onion rings in my cooter lips.” — Jen Hamilton (16:45)
    • On hair maintenance pre-birth: “I ended up looking like Joe Dirt. Business in the front, party in the back.” — Jen Hamilton (17:34)

2. Compassion in Practice: From Birthing Rooms to Community Initiatives

• Transforming Negative Into Positive

  • Jen’s viral “lemonade from lemons” moments (27:36), such as reading Bible verses on social media to encourage inclusivity, despite backlash.
  • Raising $125,000 for causes mentioned by Jesus in the Bible following controversy (28:08).

• Building ‘Hot Mess Express’: Direct Acts of Service

  • Originated from a simple Facebook post: a spontaneous group of local moms helping a postpartum, struggling mother by cleaning her house and stocking her fridge (35:08).
  • Hot Mess Express is now a national nonprofit with multiple chapters, fostering local community care outside of formal institutions.

3. Viral Kindness: The Ed Summers Airline Story

• Jen recounts the story of standing up for Ed Summers, a visually impaired man’s right to fly with his service dog during a stressful encounter with another passenger (28:18–34:21).
• Through kindness, a viral video, and community mobilization, funds were raised to train more service animals, and Ed has since started his own TikTok presence.
  • “A plane is a community. Once you get on there, we’re all in this together.” — Jen Hamilton (34:40)

4. Humor as Therapy: Swaddling Everything & Laughing at Life

• The group plays “Did Jen Swaddle It?”—a hilarious game reviewing all the unlikely things Jen has swaddled for her content, including: chickens, cats, local journalists, her husband, but not a goat or duck (44:23–46:14).
• Discussion of bodily function humor and the vulnerability of labor:
  • “I had a dad that had to leave [the delivery room] one time [because of an accident].” — Jen Hamilton (46:42)

5. Emotional Transparency & Advocacy

• Destigmatizing Women’s Experiences Across Life’s Stages

  • Jen’s book aims to help not only expectant mothers but all who experience the medical care system, serving as a guide to self-advocacy and compassion (24:56).

• Filling Your Own Cup Through Your Work

  • On finding personal fulfillment by helping others (38:21):
    “I love being at work. There is nothing more soul fulfilling than being with someone in that moment. But also, all my bestest buddies are there.”

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I acknowledge the weird. Like, I get that this is weird for you. It's not weird for me.” — Jen Hamilton (03:07, 19:19)
• “Your nurse is who’s there with you the most.” — Jen Hamilton (10:30)
• “Friends don’t let friends have blood clot dingleberries on their second set of lips.” — Jen Hamilton (17:09)
• “If you pass out, I have to check your cervix, and I wouldn’t even know where to look. So be scared of that.” — Jen Hamilton, using humor to keep dads vertical in the delivery room (47:07)
• “Deliveries are universally more successful when the mom is at ease.” — Angelina Jones Lee (51:01)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Birth Plan vs. Birth Reality (13:10–14:31): Kim’s NYC birth story; pain, surprises, and the realities of labor-nurse dynamics.
• Real Talk About Postpartum Bodies & Smells (16:12–17:17): Jen and Kim riff on “smuggling wet pennies” and “saggy biscuits.”
• Advocacy Beyond Birth (24:56–25:26): How Jen’s lessons are universal, not just for expectant moms.
• Building and Expanding Hot Mess Express (35:08–37:47): The journey from impromptu help to national nonprofit.
• Swaddling Game (44:23–46:17): The group’s rapid-fire, hilariously surreal swaddle trivia.
• Advice for Dads in Delivery Rooms (47:20–48:21): Handling nerves and emotional moments, keeping it real.

---

Tone & Style

The episode flows with the familiar comedic, candid, and empathetic tone that defines Kim and Penn, seamlessly integrating Jen’s trademark humor and authenticity. The blend of irreverence, vulnerability, and actionable wisdom makes the content accessible and comforting—particularly for those navigating parenthood and aging.

---

Recap – Top Takeaways (“Chips of Joy”)

Penn’s three favorite “Chips of Joy” (50:06–52:02):

1. No One Prepares You for How Birth Smells and Feels
   • Vivid, honest descriptions offer relief and solidarity for new parents.
2. Put Parents at Ease for Better Outcomes
   • Kind, empathetic care is the foundation of positive birth experiences.
3. Jen Unwinds by Delivering Babies
   • Helping people is genuinely her favorite way to recharge—an authentic testament to her character.

---

Final Thoughts

The Holdernesses and Jen Hamilton offer a masterclass in how humor, humanity, and showing up for each other—both in life’s rawest and most hilarious moments—make for healthier, happier lives. The episode is not just about birth, but about growing up, getting real, and being a good human at every stage.

For more on Jen Hamilton, Birth Vibes (out May), and Hot Mess Express, see Show Notes.

Transcript

[Grainger Announcer]

If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H VAC and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Kim Holderness]

As you all know, the youth mental health crisis is all over the news and we know social media is helping drive it.

[Pen Holderness]

Teens spend an average of 9 hours a day on screens outside of school. That's basically a full time job just scrolling mindlessly.

[Kim Holderness]

As full time social media content creators, we know that social media can be a beautiful place and it can also be incredibly harmful.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Okay, so here's the good news. There is a solution.

[Pen Holderness]

This company called Gab has solved the problem by doing something no one else is doing. Their approach is tech in steps.

[Kim Holderness]

Tech in Steps works by providing safer phones and watches for kids with no social media. Tailored to every age, offering the right device at the right time.

[Pen Holderness]

From GPS tracking enabled watches for younger kids to phones with parent enabled apps for tweens and teens, each device allows kids to grow their independence.

[Kim Holderness]

Bottom have to give your kid a device that was made for an adult. Get them Gab, which keeps them socially connected without social media.

[Pen Holderness]

Yeah, we can't recommend Gab enough and right now use our code to get the best deal on a kid's phone. That will make parenting easier and give you more peace of mind.

[Kim Holderness]

Visit gab.comholderness and use code holderness for an exclusive offer. That's gab G-A-B-B.com holderness guys, we're so

[Pen Holderness]

excited to tell you about our sponsor, Avocado Green Mattress.

[Kim Holderness]

Their certified organic mattresses are specifically designed to relieve pressure points, support your body the way it needs it, and help you actually get deep restorative sleep you've been missing.

[Pen Holderness]

Every mattress is made with thoughtfully sourced materials and built with real care so you get incredible sleep night after night.

[Kim Holderness]

I'm trying to make more intentional purchases, especially for things I use every day. Choosing an organic mattress or solid wood bed frame like Avocado City Bed. Timeless design, quality and sustainability into my bedroom.

[Pen Holderness]

When products are made with real certified organic materials, they don't just feel better, they can also provide better support, breathability and durability.

[Kim Holderness]

Choosing Avocado is one of the most sustainable choices you can make as they are made with natural, certified organic materials that are responsibly sourced and last longer, which means less waste.

[Pen Holderness]

Avocado products are made, not manufactured and thoughtfully crafted with real materials to deliver lasting comfort and support.

[Kim Holderness]

Go to avocadogreenmattress.com Holderness to check out their mattress and furniture sale. That's avocadogreenmattpress.com Holderness avocadogreenmattrush.com Holderness I acknowledge the weird.

[Jen Hamilton]

Like, I get that this is weird for you. It's not weird for me.

[Kim Holderness]

Every time I pulled my pants down immediately after birth, it smelled like I was smuggling wet pennies and onion rings in my cooter lips.

[Jen Hamilton]

I did say that. And Ben's face. It is true. Yeah. And nobody tells you that as we

[Pen Holderness]

get older every day.

[Jen Hamilton]

That's okay. Yeah, we're laughing.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

When we age, life is like a comedy stage. And that's why we got laugh lines.

[Kim Holderness]

Hey, everybody, I'm Kim Holderness.

[Pen Holderness]

And I'm Pen Holderness.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

You guys, it's laugh lines and we're gonna get to it really quick because we have one of our favorite guests of all time here.

[Kim Holderness]

If you are getting ready, if you're bracing yourselves for Maysember, you're safe here. You're welcome here.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yes, you are welcome.

[Kim Holderness]

You.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It is. Oh my gosh. It's just a few days away. It's the best time of the year.

[Pen Holderness]

And by best, I mean worst because

[Kim Holderness]

changed over the years for us.

[Pen Holderness]

Yeah, I, I guess just there's a

[Angelina Jones Lee]

little bit of like shell shock from the past. It is just that time of year where things are wrapping up and it feels like you have all of these Christmas style responsibilities that you have to fulfill and with no presence or value.

[Kim Holderness]

I would say May sember has changed a lot in that. I mean, we. Lola is coming home from college, which is so exciting. That's true. But that's going to be its own new unique thing that we'll have to as a family.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

We're going to disappear off the face of the earth for a week.

[Kim Holderness]

I know we're taking my 50th birthday trip very soon. That's my 50th birthday present. But friends, we have the most incredible human on the show today, Jen Hamilton. You may know her from social media, from her birth advice. She has a lot of chicken videos. She has chickens who live in her house or all the kind and generous things she creates and puts out. And we are just so excited to

[Angelina Jones Lee]

have her before we bring her on. As always, we start off with the laugh line. Call us up and you tell us

[Pen Holderness]

what's on your mind.

[Jen Hamilton]

Hi, Tim and Penn.

[Listener Caller]

I just want to thank you for your podcast and I enjoy the video of your podcast. I've been watching them while I nurse my daughter. I'm an old mom. I'm 40 and I just had my first and it's a little girl and I know I'm gonna blink and my sweet little two month old is gonna be going off to college and. Yeah, I just, I feel like you're my big brother and big sister because a lot of what you talk about I can resonate with. So just wanted to tell you, thank you so much. The laughter all the time and just enjoying this while I'm sitting here with my baby.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

That was lovely.

[Kim Holderness]

That's Penn's dad's impression.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

That was so nice.

[Kim Holderness]

That was so kind. And you're not an old mom. I think 40 is like, like a very acceptable time to have a baby. I think mothers are getting older.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It's getting more so I think medicine is helped. That's like one of the really good things about medicine.

[Kim Holderness]

I will say I did have my first daughter, my first daughter, my only daughter when I was 30 in. You're aware of that? I'm aware of. I had my daughter when I was 31 in New York City and you would have thought I was a child bride. They were like, what?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

So true.

[Kim Holderness]

You are pregnant. Being pregnant at age 30 in New York City, they're like, why would you

[Angelina Jones Lee]

not care about your career anymore?

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah, it was. It was crazy. So, 40, you're doing great and thanks for listening.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

I am guessing that that very sweet woman who sent us a note has probably heard of or consumed some content from our next guest because she is quite the phenomenon with the new moms.

[Kim Holderness]

Yes. Jen Hamilton is a labor and delivery nurse, author, podcast public speaker, and one of the most trusted voices on the Internet when it comes to compassion and just showing up for people in hard moments. Her new book, Birth Stories and Strategies for an Empowered Birth, helps parents prepare for birth, moving away from the rigid expectations and towards something more flexible and empowering.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah, we're big fans of Jen, not just for the work she does, but for the human that she is. She's built an entire community rooted in kindness and support. Through her nonprofit, Hot Mess Express, which she's going to tell us all about, and the other countless nonprofits and charities

[Pen Holderness]

that she helps, Jen turns compassion into action on a daily basis.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

She's been featured People magazine, the New

[Pen Holderness]

York Times today Newsweek, and now Laugh Lines.

[Kim Holderness]

Welcome to the show, Jen Hamilton.

[Jen Hamilton]

Thank you for having me.

[Kim Holderness]

Oh, my gosh. Live and in person.

[Jen Hamilton]

I know real life.

[Kim Holderness]

How do you explain you meet someone at a cocktail party? Because I'm sure you go to a ton of those. What. How do you say, explain what your job is?

[Jen Hamilton]

Great question. I still don't know how to say it, because I. I am a nurse, and I still work as a nurse. I've been working as a nurse, and I haven't cut my hours or anything, but this part of my life takes up the most time, so I just tell people, and I do social media, but it's kind of like an afterthought because I don't want people to. I don't know. I just feels weird when people, like, oh, like, yeah. And they get into it.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Well, here's the real question. How do you explain it to your dad? Because I. My dad, he passed away. Like, passed away, still not being able to understand how I make money doing this.

[Kim Holderness]

She's like, where? I can't see your program? Like, where's your program?

[Pen Holderness]

He calls it up your channel.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

He sounds like Foghorn, Lego.

[Pen Holderness]

Where. Where can I find your program?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It's not on any of the channels. I'm like, dad, you have to do a lot of stuff before, but. Yeah, and I met your dad. He's lovely, but how?

[Jen Hamilton]

Like, my dad's pretty savvy, and he gets it, you know, and he'll send me stuff that he thinks is funny, and he'll see stuff about me online and then send me stuff. So I think that when he went to an event with me where I was. I was at, like, at a nursing con. And if you're gonna put, like, one group of people who's gonna have the highest percentage of people to know who I am?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Nurses.

[Jen Hamilton]

So he went to an event with me, and there was, like, a line to meet me. I think that that was his moment. Like, oh, like, this is a job. This is the thing.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah. Okay. So was there a moment when you were like, wait, I'm not just a nurse. I'm The Internet's, like, support human. Like, when did. When did you realize, like, oh, this is actually a job I have to do as well?

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah. So I would have people change their prenatal care to be at the hospital where I am, which is kind of. Oh, it was kind of a little bit scary, too. Like, oh, like, please don't change your whole life around, like, the possibility of me taking care of you. But, yeah, I Mean, people would send me stories of like, you got me through. I watched all your videos. You got me through XYZ situation. And I mean, that was so sweet and so kind. So I'm very honored and grateful for the opportunity to have, you know, that kind of connection with people.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

We've been through it twice. Yeah, we've met labor.

[Pen Holderness]

And I shouldn't say we.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

I apologize.

[Pen Holderness]

But like, I've been in, I've been in the room while she went through it.

[Jen Hamilton]

Sure.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

And I will say that we loved many of the nurses that we ran into and they, they do most of the work.

[Jen Hamilton]

I think a lot of people don't realize that your doctor won't be there.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

For the, For a lot of it. They've got a lot of patients that they take care of or doctor or midwife.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Sure.

[Jen Hamilton]

So, yeah, it's your nurse who's there with you the most.

[Kim Holderness]

So you're. You started as an ER nurse, you moved to labor delivery. How did, what, how did you get started making videos? Like, why did you want to start making videos on the Internet?

[Jen Hamilton]

So I was on the Internet way too much. Just as a watcher. Right. I think all of us were and are. But my friend was like, hey, you should download Tick tock. And at first I was like, no. Like, I'm spending way too much time on the Internet as it is. I don't need another thing. And then the world shut down in the pandemic. I was like, TikTok, download. So I started watching and I was like, oh, this is like instant dopamine. This is amazing. And my very first video was me figuring out what the plus button was at the bottom of the screen. And yeah, then I just started making things that I thought were funny and a lot of it wasn't. Had. Didn't have anything to do with nursing. At first it was like mom stuff. And my very first viral. I'm putting that in quotes because I got 2000 views. 2000 was me painting a desk that I found in my dad's basement.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay.

[Jen Hamilton]

I was like. But then I started getting like, oh, like, oh, that's nice. Like, people like this thing that I made. Like, that's cool. Is that I just started posting more and then it just kind of blew up.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah, I mean, I don't want to go too far without mentioning your book because that's, you know, you've gotten to a point now where, um, it's 360 pages and it's your main philosophy about being, you know, a prenatal nurse. And it's around the vibes, right?

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Pen Holderness]

So tell us a little bit about

[Angelina Jones Lee]

that overall philosophy that you have.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Trying to. Trying to give people the best possible experience.

[Jen Hamilton]

So when people are pregnant, they. They crave information. They crave to be able to kind of imagine what the birth experience is going to be like. And a lot of people, rightfully so, will kind of decide ahead of time what they do and what they don't want to happen. But what I was noticing in the hospital and also watching people's birth stories online was that they were being traumatized. Not exactly by the what that happened, but the how it happened. You know, you could have a birth that completely ticks off every single box on your birth plan, but still leave that experience feeling unheard, unseen, disrespected, if you didn't have other elements of the birth that I think are very important, which I call the vibes. So with birth vibes, you're kind of. It's a birth plan, but it prepares you in a way that you're kind of creating this cocoon of safety so that no matter what happens, even if your birth goes completely off the rails in no other way that you thought it would be, you can still leave that experience feeling communicated with, informed, empowered, and respected.

[Kim Holderness]

I'm laughing because I'm laughing, too. Like my first baby. Like, my first. Like, my first. I had a birth plan. We had a playlist ready to go.

[Jen Hamilton]

Love it.

[Kim Holderness]

And we charts. We were so ready. I delivered. We were living in New York City at the time, and we did all the Lamaze classes, and they said, like, you cannot show up unless you're. They'll send you home if you're not 3cm dilated. Like, they have no room for you. Right. So I labored at home for too long.

[Jen Hamilton]

Oh, boy.

[Kim Holderness]

And so I roll in, and on one butt cheek. On one butt cheek. He is such a great advocate. I had a doula, but she's racing there. I mean, the whole thing.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Middle of the night.

[Kim Holderness]

Middle of the night. And there. Let me find out. Nice way to say this. Like, there's a lot of stuff coming out that's not just wet. It is a wet. It is a wet experience. And so they needed me to give, like, a urine sample or something. And. But I was like, dude, I think a baby's gonna come out if I do that. And it was a messy experience. And the nurses were like, oh, my God. Like, they were so annoying.

[Pen Holderness]

She's not exaggerating, the woman. So bad.

[Kim Holderness]

No, true.

[Pen Holderness]

Story.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

The woman was like, she. She's like, okay, I'll get you a urine sample. And as she walks out, she's like, this has just been the worst day.

[Pen Holderness]

The nurse said that and I understand, like, nurses have bad days, but she was like, whatever. They had this like pain chart. Do they still have this print, this pain chart that like prints. It was printing back then and it was a needle of like how much pain she's in. And it had gone. It couldn't get any higher.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It was just sitting in the highest.

[Kim Holderness]

Literally like four minutes later, I had a baby.

[Pen Holderness]

Well, no, no, because for about an hour they, they said that you were

[Angelina Jones Lee]

3cm dilated, which is bull crap.

[Pen Holderness]

And then it took about an hour and then they checked again and they

[Angelina Jones Lee]

were like, well, this isn't right. You're fully dilated. It was another doctor.

[Pen Holderness]

So I think they miss.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Diagnosed her dilation.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

So. And I know these people are doing the best they can, but there's no

[Jen Hamilton]

excuse for that kind of.

[Kim Holderness]

But they also did say, because then there's. There's a certain point in your journey in which your body just pushes. And I had, I was unmedicated and so I would. They're like, you have to wait for the doctor to get here. Don't push. And I was like, okay, your body's doing it already. Yeah. But then I will say, then I delivered my son here and I. It was like a hotel. I kept on saying, are you coming to the hotel? Like, it was like a concierge. So like down here everybody was like, it was the best experience. Like 10 out of 10 would be.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

You walked in back first.

[Kim Holderness]

I walked in back first for that epidural though. I was like, hit me hard. Okay. I will say your book Birth Vibes, which will be out in May, it's such a. An honest telling of the birth experience as opposed to the stuff I was reading. I was really. That is what happened to me was not what I was expecting. And like you said, I was craving the information. I was so prepared. I just need to just get your reaction to some of the things you've written in this story. Okay. For example, you write just after giving birth, your belly looked like a week old balloon and felt like, like biscuit straight out of the can.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

And it's exactly. I told everyone, it's like a saggy balloon. Yeah. A week old balloon and biscuit. And it felt like biscuits right out of the cake like that.

[Jen Hamilton]

Whenever you get them out, they're first popped and you just. That's what it feels like.

[Kim Holderness]

And it's. And it's not a great feeling.

[Jen Hamilton]

No. Because you're used to having like all this hot, firm, and then you just.

[Kim Holderness]

And then it's just like saggy biscuits.

[Jen Hamilton]

It felt crazy.

[Kim Holderness]

I thought my body was broken, but no, that's what it is. That's how it is. And then the next thing you wrote. Every time I pulled my pants down immediately after birth, it's smelled like I was smuggling wet pennies and onion rings in my cooter lips.

[Jen Hamilton]

I did say that and it's true. Yeah. And nobody tells you that the smells are unique and nobody.

[Kim Holderness]

And so I'm like, oh, my God, I'm broken. Like they left something in there. Like there's something.

[Jen Hamilton]

Why does it smell so. Irony. Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

And it's not a bad smell necessarily.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

So vivid and colorful.

[Jen Hamilton]

It's so colorful.

[Kim Holderness]

But if somebody had told me, like

[Jen Hamilton]

a wordsmith, you know?

[Kim Holderness]

And then the last one, I'll just. Friends don't let friends have blood clot dingleberries on their second set of lips. Like.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

I didn't know that that would be a thing.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah. Yeah. And if you got. If you got hairs down there, they. Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

And there's no need to get rid of the hairs down there.

[Pen Holderness]

No, no need.

[Kim Holderness]

No, no, no, no need. No, no.

[Jen Hamilton]

You don't got to do all that.

[Kim Holderness]

No. Don't have to, like, show up.

[Jen Hamilton]

No. I tried to, though, before with the.

[Kim Holderness]

How'd that work out for you?

[Jen Hamilton]

I ended up looking like Joe Dirt. Business in the front, party in the back, if you know what I mean.

[Pen Holderness]

Where does your silver tongue originate from?

[Jen Hamilton]

I don't know.

[Pen Holderness]

It's wonderful. No, it's fantastic. It is free flowing and it is

[Jen Hamilton]

out of my brain. I asked my husband to help me because, I mean, at one point you can't reach anymore.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

And I was like, will you help? You know, the situation that we have. And he's like, that is weird. I'm like, I know you're fine. And so I tried to do it myself and it looked like an old Chinese crusted dog.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It's another one.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah. Like the ones that have like sparse hair, just like really long hairs in some parts and then nothing in others, you know?

[Kim Holderness]

And did your nurses care?

[Jen Hamilton]

No. No. They didn't say anything about it. No.

[Pen Holderness]

That is so such good imagery.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

The Chinese hair crusted dog.

[Pen Holderness]

Do you like. Do these things just come?

[Jen Hamilton]

I love analogies.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

No, I love helping you see what I see in my brain by giving you the visual Picture.

[Kim Holderness]

And I think that was what I would. It would have benefited me because I left feeling some shame around, like, oh, my stomach's doing this weird thing, and this stuff is coming. I'm like, I had no idea. And what to expect when you're expecting. I'm sure that was. It was great, but did not warn me about any of that stuff.

[Jen Hamilton]

I had a patient a few days ago who. She farted, and she was apologizing, like, I'm so sorry. I said you could fart directly into my mouth and I would be okay with it. Like, I want people to feel comfort.

[Kim Holderness]

You wrote something awesome. Birth vibes. It's like, there's no shame or embarrassment that exists in that space. And I think that that is. Is that that's probably the most vulnerable a woman can be in that position. You're.

[Brooke Devard]

You're.

[Kim Holderness]

You're really at the mercy of the people around you.

[Jen Hamilton]

All your holes are out.

[Kim Holderness]

All your holes are out. And you really don't care. I mean, you don't care.

[Jen Hamilton]

I hope you don't care. You know what I'm saying? Like, I know that a lot of people do care about, and I want to make them as comfortable as possible.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

But how important? Like, have you seen, like, more success in births by simply putting parent, like, mothers at ease before the start of things?

[Jen Hamilton]

Oh, for sure. Like, it's very difficult, as it just in the human experience, to meet someone who then can put their fingers inside of you nearly immediately. That's. That's not normal.

[Kim Holderness]

Right.

[Jen Hamilton]

And so whenever I talk to people, you know, and I'm trying to explain to them, I'm here to be your advocate. I'm here to make sure that you feel as comfortable as possible. I acknowledge the weird. Like, I get that this is weird for you. It's not weird for me.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It destigmatizes it and normalizes it, and it takes away all of these probably, like, social expectations that you thought you were going to have when you went in there, which is like, just get through it and shut up and that

[Jen Hamilton]

we can have fun together. Like, we can. We can call out how weird this is, and we can. We can be weird together, and it's fine.

[Kim Holderness]

Does everybody poop and labor? More on this after these words. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.

[Pen Holderness]

You know, life is a journey, Kim. Some days feel good, others feel overwhelming. Whatever's keeping you up at night, I

[Angelina Jones Lee]

know for me, I feel like I have to figure it out all on my own.

[Kim Holderness]

But the truth is, no one has all the answers and no journey should be alone. Having someone with you to listen, to understand and to support you can make all the difference.

[Pen Holderness]

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it is the perfect opportunity to check in with yourself and understand where you are right now.

[Kim Holderness]

I know I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't have a support system and many people listening and cheering me on.

[Pen Holderness]

Speaking of that, with over 30,000 therapists, better help is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 6 million people globally.

[Kim Holderness]

Better Help therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the us plus they do

[Pen Holderness]

the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals.

[Kim Holderness]

You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy.

[Pen Holderness]

Sign up and get 10 off at

[Kim Holderness]

betterhelp.com Holderness that's BetterHelp H E-L-P.com Holderness okay, we've got an ad and it's about menopause. So I know what you're thinking. Time to take a little break. But hold on, let me help you figure out if this ad's actually for you.

[Pen Holderness]

If you've ever stood in front of the open fridge for a full minute and walked away with nothing because you forgot why you were there, you may want to stay for the rest of this.

[Kim Holderness]

If you've ever started a sentence, lost it completely mid thought and just said, never mind, this one's for you.

[Pen Holderness]

If you've kicked off the covers, pulled them back, kicked him off again three times before midnight. Definitely stay for the rest of this.

[Kim Holderness]

Because MIDI Health gets it. They're a virtual care clinic built specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause created by women for women.

[Pen Holderness]

And guess what? They are done with the whole just live with it school of medicine.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Done.

[Kim Holderness]

They offer real personalized treatment plans using FDA approved medications, hormonal and non hormonal. And they're available 24 7.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Oh, and they take insurance. That's big.

[Kim Holderness]

This is the care we should have been getting all along.

[Pen Holderness]

Book your virtual visit today@join MIDI.com that's join M I D I.com.

[Jen Hamilton]

At a certain point your baby kind of kinks off your your butthole a little bit. You know, like the baby's head kind of puts pressure. The baby's head can also put pressure on your butthole and push out whatever is there.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay, so you didn't the first. You did not the first time. The second time they were trying to be real Sweet about it. I'm like, it's fine, guys.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It was amazing. Is like, it. To your point? It was like I. I was north of the equator at this point. I was. I usually went south toward the end because I love. I love watching.

[Jen Hamilton]

It's amazing.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

But I heard this, like, okay, and all right, so we're.

[Kim Holderness]

And.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

And then, like, whatever the noise is. Because it was like a. It was like, okay, and.

[Pen Holderness]

All right.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Because it was like hitting the plastic, like.

[Kim Holderness]

Like the catch basin. I know exactly what that sound is. I will say so. So Penn did go south of the. He. He. He was like, in for the show. But I just have to. This is not a question. I'm just adding this in for the audience to know because he was there and saw my business doing all. I was there and I watched his vasectomy.

[Pen Holderness]

That's.

[Jen Hamilton]

That's even Stevens.

[Kim Holderness]

I love it. I love it. Like, it's a. You're real vulnerable. Yeah. Like, you're. You were all exposed and. Let's see. Let's get. We.

[Jen Hamilton]

Did you love it? Did you love all of it?

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah, I loved it. And I was like, that's it.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

She did not feel it was even.

[Kim Holderness]

I was like that. I'm like, wait a second. You're heavily medicated, right? I feel like with enough training, give me three days. I could probably do it. Like, it's. Yeah. It's fun.

[Pen Holderness]

It was.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

For me, it was like, more emotional.

[Kim Holderness]

Right.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Like, it was my. It was my sexual winter.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Or reproductive winter.

[Kim Holderness]

Sexual.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It was my reproductive winter. And.

[Jen Hamilton]

And end of an era.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah. Which we are totally fine.

[Kim Holderness]

I know. I think a lot of people in our audience are probably in our era. Like, there's definitely D. From my ovaries right now. But I still. I really enjoyed your book. I have. My niece is about to give birth. I'm so excited to give it to her. But when I was reading your book, I was really reminded that this sort of advocacy pretty. It transcends. It starts there, but as a woman in perimenopause, just advocating and having that relationship, it's not been perfect. And so I imagine that these lessons that you're talking about really transcend any kind of medical doctor experience.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah. I hope that people can read it who don't even have kids or don't want kids, you know, and still enjoy it, because I think that there's lessons of just, like, being a human together, you know, in. In the stuff that makes you human and kind of appreciating the differences that we have in each other and what makes us who we are and what, you know, the kinds of things that comfort us or trigger us. I think that it's. We're all so unique, but also there's this community that can be found in doing that kind of stuff together.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Great segue away from your book to just your, your content.

[Brooke Devard]

General.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

The book is about birth vibes. Your content has become about much more than that. Yeah. I think focusing on just having a good heart, being compassionate and being yourself. I think that the Internet and in particular social media wonderfully in the last decade or so have started to reward people for being that way. And you do it in such an authentic way.

[Jen Hamilton]

Well, thank you. That means a lot.

[Pen Holderness]

What's like your, what's the.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

What's your favorite thing you've ever put out there?

[Jen Hamilton]

Oh, favorite thing I've ever put out there, I think. And there probably could be people that don't agree with this, but I think it was whenever I sat down and read the Bible, and for those who don't know what I'm talking about, there was a. I was kind of calling attention to the dichotomy that there is between, like MAGA with the celebration of the dehumanization of. Of whole populations of people and what Jesus taught us to do. And because I grew up in a very evangelical Christian environment.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Went to Liberty, right?

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah, I went to Liberty University and I. I mean, I was made to take Bible courses and, and know what's in there. And so whenever I'm seeing people that taught me these things, celebrate things that I didn't feel like were congruent, I just sat down and I read the Bible. And that made people very, very, very angry. I got reported to the board of nursing a bunch of times. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But this year I got the American Nurses Association President's Award. So that kind of felt like they're okay with it.

[Kim Holderness]

They're okay with it. But I did see that on one of your videos, you were, you had to go to that award ceremony. Is that where you had to go with a security guard?

[Jen Hamilton]

Oh, I went to a. It was right after that happened and I had people that were like, threatening me. And so I went to a nursing conference and they got me a security guard. I didn't ask for it, but, like, I thought that they would have, like somebody from the conference just walking around with me. No, they got me a six foot three security guard.

[Kim Holderness]

That must have been fun.

[Jen Hamilton]

It was. It was awesome. It was. We had so much fun together. It got A little crazy. But through that I always. My sister was talking about this today that I try to turn negative experiences into positive ones, like lemons to lemonade kind of thing. So through that I decided to raise money for all the people in those verses that Jesus called us to care for. So like immigrants, the hungry, I mean like all the people who we're supposed to care for. I was like, let's raise money for them. Then ended up raising $125,000.

[Kim Holderness]

Something else just recently happened. Can you talk to us about Ed Summers? Yeah. And tell us the story of what happened. Start from the beginning if people haven't heard this story.

[Jen Hamilton]

So my sister and I flew to la. I was doing something out there with other like social media friends and we were flying back. We got on the plane, also got to fly first class because I found out Julie was going, was like making our ticket. She's like, do you know that you have like, have like a bunch of credits on here? Because I had canceled a flight last year and I had four days to use them. So we got to fly and stuff while.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah, you did.

[Jen Hamilton]

So we were getting on our flight from LAX to RDU back to Raleigh and we're getting on the plane, I'm getting settled and I start hearing like, absolutely not, absolutely not, this will not do. And my ears perk up because I'm always on the lookout like this. If I'm on a plane, what's going on, If I hear some commotion, what's going on?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Especially if someone's saying this will not do.

[Jen Hamilton]

Right.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

That's, that's a red flag.

[Jen Hamilton]

I need to know what's not, what's not. Is it not going to do for me? Like what do you mean? So I'm sitting in, I think it was 5A. So I'm like by the window. So there's me guy aisle and then in the aisle there's this family, it looked like a mom, a dad that who were like elderly and then like a middle aged daughter. And they were causing a fuss because they brought their dog on board and one of them was slotted to sit beside this man named Ed who is blind and has a service dog, a seeing eye dog. And they started like escalating things like this will not do, this will not do.

[Kim Holderness]

I mean, so that the dogs would have to be near each other.

[Jen Hamilton]

It was each other was the problem. But here's if you've got two true service dogs, they don't care.

[Kim Holderness]

They don't care.

[Jen Hamilton]

They do not care.

[Kim Holderness]

They're trained to not care about what else is around them.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Was the other one a service dog but not, like, an actual.

[Jen Hamilton]

Say for sure.

[Kim Holderness]

Sure.

[Jen Hamilton]

I will say that he looked very much like a regular schmegular. Right dog. They're. Not that they have to wear vests or anything, but this dog was wearing a, you know, leash.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

But you got to get him certified to be, like, helping with your anxiety or whatever.

[Jen Hamilton]

I know that there's no, like, reg. I know that there's no registry for it. And you can only ask someone two questions about their service dog. One, is this animal trained to perform a task? And what task is that animal trained to perform?

[Kim Holderness]

So.

[Jen Hamilton]

But the other dog, Train, to its credit, was chill. Like, there was no. The dog was not freak. It was the owners that were freaking out. But what caught my attention to realize what was happening was I heard Ed say, there's this thing called the Americans with Disabilities act that allows me to have my service animal. And I was like, are they giving this man trouble about his service animal? And then I put two and two together that they're. They have a dog. So then they started escalating it. They call the flight attendant over. The flight attendant says, I'm going to get the.

[Kim Holderness]

The.

[Jen Hamilton]

They called him a red coat. Delta red coat. And then he walks away. And I'm thinking, like, is the problem that they don't want to sit with it? Like, is that the. Is that the issue? And so I stand up and I say, I will sit with him. Like, what an honor to be able to. It's a puppy.

[Kim Holderness]

To sit next to a puppy.

[Jen Hamilton]

Right? Like, why would that be a problem? So they're like, would you really? Yes, absolutely. Like, don't act like I'm a martyr for picking a cooler seat, you know? So they sat behind us, and they continued to talk about how ridiculous it was that they. That they had been treated so unfairly and poorly. And I was like, what. What is happening?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Were you saying this in your head, or were you saying this with your mouth?

[Jen Hamilton]

I was saying it to Ed. Okay. I said, what is going on? I think it's in the video, too, that you can say. Hear me say, like, what is happening right now? Because it felt like the Twilight. The Twilight Zone. I felt like I was on. What's that abc. ABC show. What would you do with John Quinones? That's what it felt like.

[Kim Holderness]

Like, there's. You're being, like, kind of punk.

[Jen Hamilton]

Punked in. Like, what. What are you gonna do in this situation?

[Kim Holderness]

Right Thing.

[Jen Hamilton]

So I sit next to Ed. And we proceed to have the best flight ever. Like, I learned all about him. He is the head of accessibility at GitHub, which is a Microsoft company. And he's telling me all about the. The accessibility things that he's able to help create and promote. And, I mean, just the absolute rock star that he is in the accessibility world. And one of the moments that was really interesting to me was that, you know, he's got headphones in, and he takes his phone, which to me is completely black screen, and he's like, poop. I was like, how? I leaned over. I said, ed, you have to tell me what. How that works. And so he showed me. He made. He made his phone accessible to me by, like, turning on the screen to show me, like, what he was doing. But he knows, like, all these different prompts on his phone that you can do with different finger movements. And this man reads a book a day. Like, he. He has audio books that he listens to at 600 words a minute.

[Kim Holderness]

So he.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

That's pretty fast.

[Kim Holderness]

That's super fast.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

His other senses have come alive.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah, for sure.

[Kim Holderness]

I was.

[Jen Hamilton]

I was listening, like, because he. He took it out of his headphones for a second. It just sounds like. I'm like, how can you even understand that? But he's so smart. He's so nice. He's so. I mean, it's just incredible. So he and I are friends now. We've been texting since. Through making Limits to Lemonade. We're also raising money for the Seeing Eye to help train puppy dogs to be Seeing Eye dogs. So we made some merch that says, can I sit with you? Because that was one of the things that I said. And then it's an honor to sit with you. And then we had my sister made, like a. It's two plain seats with his doggy underneath.

[Kim Holderness]

And so. And from that video, it obviously goes wildly viral. Ed's now on TikTok. So many people, first of all, know about accessibility, the issues people face, but also, like, what's out there. And you're raising money. I mean, this is like what Jen Hamilton does.

[Jen Hamilton]

Oh, thanks.

[Kim Holderness]

That is so awesome.

[Jen Hamilton]

A plane is a community. Like, once you get on there, it's all, we're all in this together. Like, we need to be working together. Like, if there was ever a situation, you would need to be able to kind of problem solve together. So whenever I see entitlement, initially, I'm like, oh, my God, if we're an emergency, this is going to be terrible.

[Kim Holderness]

So tell us about Hot Mess Express.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah, back in 2021, there was. I'm in. Are you in mom groups on Facebook?

[Kim Holderness]

I used to be, but I had to exit.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah, it's a lot.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah, a lot.

[Jen Hamilton]

So in a mom's group, there was a mom who had asked for recommendations for like cleaning company. She said, I'm postpartum. I have postpartum depression. I can't. I cannot move forward and my house is so crazy. I just can't even. I don't even have the motivation to begin. Are there any cleaning companies that would help me? And please know that I really don't have the money for this. But I. I just have to. I have to figure something else out. So, you know, people were commenting saying, you know, oh, try this person, try this person. And I made a separate post and I was like, hold up, we are the village. Like, why can't we go and help her? And so I got in touch with the admin of the group and I said, would you ask. Because it was anonymous, I said, would you ask her if she would be willing to share her identity with us? Because I had so many people on that thread saying, I will go. Like you tell me when, where we'll be there. And so just a few days later, there was like 10 of us who showed up to her house and we did her dishes, her laundry, we went to Walmart and got her whole fridge stocked. We organized everything and just kind of gave her a house reset. And at the end I was like, that was. That was really awesome. That was really fun. And then everyone there was like, no, we got to do this again. Like, because it, it was, it was more than just like, oh, we helped somebody. That was nice. It was like we felt the sense of community that we hadn't felt either. So that was the very first Hot Mess Express mission. And since then it has turned into a national nonprofit with chapters all over the place. And I've had to step back from the day to day of it because my life is too crazy. But I have a friend, her name is Brit Tran and she is amazing. And so she's kind of taken it over as her baby. She works full time for, for the non profit and so just incredible the amount of people that we've been able to help.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

So that's its own kind of social media group that you obviously support. That's separate of. Of yours at this point.

[Kim Holderness]

But it was your birth, but it like you bit worth that until you burst it. You birthed it.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

You birthed it.

[Kim Holderness]

I Think it's really incredible that you're able to identify so quickly that person needs help. I'm just gonna help them. Whereas I think I. I, like, we donate and we go volunteer and blah, blah, blah. But I do. I. Sometimes I see the barrier of, like, oh, should we be insured? Should we, like, yeah, but really, no. She just needs. The woman needs her dishes cleaned. Like, let's not. Let's not make this too complicated.

[Jen Hamilton]

And every once in a while, it can come back. Back to bite you. I mean, those are really valid things that you think about, because, I mean, we did have to get insured because, you know, you're going into people's homes and you have to think about.

[Kim Holderness]

But daytoday, a woman needs help, a mom needs help. Let's just go. And I sometimes get bogged down with the details, and you've inspired me. Just going to walk into people's houses.

[Jen Hamilton]

There you go.

[Kim Holderness]

Jen Hamilton said I could come.

[Jen Hamilton]

This house looks a little crusty. Can I help you?

[Kim Holderness]

So you give a lot to your community. You donate a lot. It's so inspiring. All your content is so inspiring. What fills you up?

[Jen Hamilton]

Like, it's a great question. I. This is gonna sound so cheesy, but it's so true. I love being at work.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

That's your.

[Pen Holderness]

That's how you unwind.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Is delivering babies is that bad?

[Pen Holderness]

No, it's great. I'm like.

[Jen Hamilton]

For two reasons. Number one, there is nothing more soul fulfilling than being with someone in that moment. I just love that feeling. But also, all my bestest buddies are there, you know?

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

And so when I go to work, it's like my adult interaction for the week, too, you know, so, you know, doing this important work with people that I love, it's just amazing.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

So just to clarify, you're on a beach with, like, a Mai Tai.

[Jen Hamilton]

Okay. All right, well.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

And. And you're thinking, man, you know where I really wish I was.

[Kim Holderness]

If I could just deliver.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

If I could just be back in the delivery room. Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

Trust me, I like that a lot. Yeah, a lot.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Verizon Mom]

Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

Let's do even Stevens. If I could do, like, a weekend of each man, that'd be great.

[Kim Holderness]

So has there been some time. Has there been a moment? I mean, because you enjoy your job so much, which I love to hear. When you walked in and the patient was like, oh, my God, that's John Hamilton.

[Jen Hamilton]

Happens a lot.

[Kim Holderness]

Happens a lot.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah. I'd say at least three times a day because I walk into a lot of rooms because we're all Helping each other. So it's not just I'm walking to my patient's room. It's like I'm walking into 10 patients rooms and like three of them know who I am, which is crazy.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay. Birth vibes is coming out very soon. People can pre order all that stuff. Tell us what else about the book launch people should know.

[Jen Hamilton]

So I'll be doing a book tour, which is super fun. We'll be coming out with all the different places that I'll be.

[Kim Holderness]

I am chronically online. I am on tick tock.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yes.

[Kim Holderness]

My husband is not like. It's. It's. It's why he has mental health. I got you, Pen. Did you know that our friend Jen kind of came to fame? One of the things she did was a will it Swaddle sort of series.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

You told me about this. Like, I've learned, but I did not find it.

[Pen Holderness]

I'm not good at finding stuff.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It just.

[Jen Hamilton]

It was a long time ago.

[Kim Holderness]

It was a long. A long time ago.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

So. So I knew about it, but I've seen none of this content.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay, so, okay, so she has swaddled some things in her life.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Okay.

[Kim Holderness]

In a very hilarious way. Because as a nurse in the labor delivery, I bet your swaddles are like on toy.

[Jen Hamilton]

I think they're pretty good.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah, I think they're pretty good.

[Pen Holderness]

I was like, my swaddle was tight.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

I had a good Noah. My swaddles were on point.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay, so we're gonna play a little game called Did Jen swaddle it? Yeah. Okay.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Okay.

[Kim Holderness]

More on this after these words. When life gets busy, it can be easy for your health to take a back seat.

[Pen Holderness]

The hardest part of taking care of yourself isn't knowing what to do. It's the effort of keeping up with it all. AG1 takes that effort, effort off the table. One scoop eight ounces of water every morning. That's it.

[Kim Holderness]

AG1 is a daily health drink with a multivitamin, pre and probiotics, superfoods and antioxidants.

[Pen Holderness]

The next gen formula delivers 75 plus ingredients backed by four clinical trials clinically shown to support gut health, fill common nutrient gaps, and improve key nutrient levels within three months.

[Kim Holderness]

Late nights, long weekends, spontaneous plans, life happy happens. AG1 helps you keep one thing consistent. High quality nutritional support every single day, no matter where you start your morning.

[Pen Holderness]

AG1 is an easy fit into my daily routine and it's a huge boon to my energy levels, my immune defense and digestion.

[Kim Holderness]

AG1 has over 50,000 verified five star reviews and comes with a 90 day money back guarantee.

[Pen Holderness]

So visit drinkag1.com laughlines to get a free AG1 flavor sampler and a bottle of vitamin D3 plus K2 in your AG1 welcome kit when you first subscribe. It's a 72 value, you guys.

[Kim Holderness]

That's drinkag1.com laughlines drink ag1.com laughlines this

[Pen Holderness]

episode is brought to you by IQ Bar, our exclusive snack, hydration and coffee sponsor.

[Kim Holderness]

IQ Bar protein bars, IQ mixed hydration mixes and IQ Joe mushroom coffees are the delicious, low sugar brain and body fuel you need to win your day.

[Pen Holderness]

The Ultimate Sampler Pack is a great way to try all IQ Bar products and flavors. You get nine IQ Bars, eight IQ Mix Sticks and four IQ Joe Sticks.

[Kim Holderness]

All IQ Bar products are clean, labeled, certified and entirely free from gluten, dairy, soy, GMOs and artificial ingredients.

[Pen Holderness]

Plus, IQ mix is a zero sugar drink mix that hydrates with electrolytes, improves mood and boosts clarity.

[Kim Holderness]

With over 20,000 5 star reviews and counting, more people than ever are fueling their busy lifestyles with IQ Bar IQ

[Pen Holderness]

Bars Plant Protein Bars are the smarter snack choice with plenty of plant protein, tons of fiber and no added sugar. That's why I always keep one in the gym bag for a daily refuel after a tough workout.

[Kim Holderness]

And right now, IQ Bar is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQ Bar products, including the Ultimate Sampler Pack, plus free shipping.

[Pen Holderness]

So to get your 20 off, just text Holderness to 64,000. Text Holderness to 64,000.

[Kim Holderness]

That's Holderness to 64,000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. This episode is brought to you by Best Western Hotels and Resorts.

[Pen Holderness]

Okay, Kim, if I say spring break, what, what pops into your mind?

[Kim Holderness]

I'm not really sure I could say that this mic is hot.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Exactly.

[Pen Holderness]

But hey, what if we can redefine what spring break looks like for today's travelers?

[Kim Holderness]

More relaxed, more grown up.

[Pen Holderness]

Yeah, like we deserve a simple trip that is meaningful but doesn't require a ton of planning.

[Kim Holderness]

Well, you know I love not planning and I also love a nice getaway that's well earned.

[Pen Holderness]

Couldn't agree more. Spring break isn't what it used to be. It is better this spring.

[Kim Holderness]

Stay three nights and get a $50 Best Western gift card.

[Pen Holderness]

Life's a trip. Make the most of it at best Western.

[Kim Holderness]

Visit bestwestern.com for complete terms and conditions. Pen Did Jen swaddle a chicken?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

All right, I'm playing the player, not the game here because. Because you I could see you swaddling a chicken because you got some land.

[Jen Hamilton]

I do have some.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

You're from Asheboro. There's a lot of animals there.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yes. You swaddled a chicken.

[Kim Holderness]

Yes, I did.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Okay.

[Jen Hamilton]

Several, actually.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay. Penn. Did Jen swaddle a cat?

[Pen Holderness]

Hell, no. Like, okay, maybe you did.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

But, like, I would 80 times rather swaddle a chicken. I don't care if they peck me to death than try to swaddle a cat. I could see a cat completely losing their ish if you try to swaddle them. Did you swaddle a cat?

[Jen Hamilton]

A few of them.

[Pen Holderness]

Oh, my God. Really?

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay. Did Jen swaddle a college professor?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Feels like an absolutely yes to me.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yes, I did. I did. I swaddled local triad, North Carolina legend Bob Buckley works at Fox 8.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Okay.

[Jen Hamilton]

And he invited me to talk to his class. And he did not know that I was planning that. Yeah.

[Pen Holderness]

How large?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

This had to be a very large.

[Jen Hamilton]

It was like a queen sized mattress duvet sheet. Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

A goat.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

I mean, they're really leggy. You have to get all of their. You have to get all of their arms. But she's from Asheboro, so. Yes. No.

[Jen Hamilton]

No, I did not swaddle a goat.

[Kim Holderness]

Has Jen swaddled her husband?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yes.

[Pen Holderness]

No.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yes.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yes.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yes.

[Kim Holderness]

I mean, of course he's gonna.

[Jen Hamilton]

You got. You gotta. Gotta get it on that.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah, you gotta get in on that. A duck.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

No, ducks will bite the. Out of you if you. If, if you did, like, salute. But like, I got chased by a duck on a golf course one time. Yeah, like, they will, like, one guy said that it. A guy like a duck, like, bit his shin. So if you did without giving it any medication.

[Jen Hamilton]

Without giving it medication.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

I'm gonna say no.

[Jen Hamilton]

Correct.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Okay.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay. And the last one. A baby.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Did you swaddle a baby?

[Jen Hamilton]

Several.

[Kim Holderness]

Several hundreds.

[Pen Holderness]

So while we, like, while we're there,

[Angelina Jones Lee]

have you seen some, like, serious Vesuvius eruptions?

[Jen Hamilton]

Babies and mamas, you know what I'm saying? Everybody.

[Kim Holderness]

Everybody erupt. Everybody.

[Pen Holderness]

It's just a miracle.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

An amazing, beautiful.

[Jen Hamilton]

Even had dads, poops or pants.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Okay, let's. I know we're supposed to be wrapping up here, but I'd love more information on that.

[Jen Hamilton]

I don't know if it's whether. I mean, it could be from nervousness or whatever, but I had a dad that had to leave one time.

[Kim Holderness]

So. Dads. Maybe you pack a change of clothes, too.

[Jen Hamilton]

That's right. I know if you. If you got bubble gut, you know, if you got some Some issues. Just know that ahead of time.

[Kim Holderness]

Just know that ahead of time. You surely had to. Had dads pass out.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah. I mean, it doesn't happen that often because if I see, like, if I look at you and you look a little funny. Me.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

I'm putting him. But if he looks a little weird, if his. If his colors off or anything, I'm like.

[Kim Holderness]

Because I tell people about you, Right.

[Jen Hamilton]

If I. I tell them, if you pass out, I have to check your cervix, and I wouldn't even know where to look. So be scared of that. And it usually keeps them vertical, you know?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

Or at least brave enough to sit down and know that they don't want that. They don't want that smoke.

[Kim Holderness]

Because the men's cervix, it's kind of hard to find.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

As the only male within a long dist. Distance from anyone else, I just want to speak for men here and say that we are terrified.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

When we're in there, we are, like, stressed out and scared because the woman that we love is going through something that we could never even possibly imagine.

[Jen Hamilton]

Right.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

And then for any man who is thinking or considering whether, like, how close they should get to this or be a part of it is as close as you are comfortable. Because it is life changing. The amount of, A, respect and. And B, just, like, connection and love that you can feel when you see what this woman did for your family.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah. So true. And I will. I cry at dad's reactions more than I cry about other stuff, because it's like, they get it.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

They don't expect it.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Right.

[Jen Hamilton]

It's like, they're cool. They're cool. They're cool. They're not cool. And then they just lose it. And I just think that's so sweet.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah. Pen was super not cool, but it was very sweet. Sweet? It was sweet.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

How do you mean?

[Jen Hamilton]

No, no.

[Kim Holderness]

You were very emotional.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Oh, yeah.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Although, like, on the lead in, I had charts of, like, I charted the. I was unemployed, so I went to all the classes. I did all the stuff.

[Jen Hamilton]

That's great.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

And I, you know, I was very kind of like, okay, that's been five minutes for 45 seconds. We're trending down. Here's a graph. I think that we're getting close. And then when it happened, I was this blubbering.

[Kim Holderness]

I could talk to you forever, but you also have work to do, so.

[Jen Hamilton]

So do y'.

[Verizon Mom]

All.

[Kim Holderness]

I mean, thank you so much for taking the time. I'm so excited for your book. All the details of where to get it and how to follow Jen will be in our show Notes. Thank you. Bye, guys.

[Jen Hamilton]

Bye.

[Kim Holderness]

I love Jen Hamilton.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

You always hope that the people that you see on social media are the same in person. I definitely. I think she's just so authentic. I expected that.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

But, man, does she have some imagery.

[Kim Holderness]

It's a gift.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah.

[Pen Holderness]

What?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

I would call that a gift.

[Kim Holderness]

We do this part of the podcast. It was Pen's nuggets, and then it became a chocolate chip cookie because I was eating a lot of cookie cakes. Morsels of meaning. I don't know. What is the segment?

[Pen Holderness]

It says here, top three bits of Joy.

[Kim Holderness]

I love that.

[Pen Holderness]

Are we going with that?

[Kim Holderness]

How about this? Top three Chips of Joy.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Chips of Joy.

[Kim Holderness]

And then. Oh, Chips Ahoy sponsor.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

We're going directly for Chips Ahoy for this one.

[Kim Holderness]

Do you know what I used to do? Like, I was a big Chips Ahoy girl. I used to put them in the microwave for, like, seven seconds.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

All right, I love this idea. So we're gonna start just pre. Sponsoring these. So these are the. This is Penn's top three Chips Ahoy bits of Joy.

[Kim Holderness]

Not sponsored, but could be they're not paying for it.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah. Number one, I say this respectfully. I did not know this. I didn't notice it. I don't know how I would notice it, but, like, stuff smells different after giving birth.

[Kim Holderness]

There are things that leave your body that are unique to the birth experience. Yeah, that. And it's not a bad.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Sure. I mean, she used some vivid imagery.

[Jen Hamilton]

Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

Okay. But it is. There is a very specific odor to the things that have been. It's been cooking up there for a while, and now it needs to leave.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Of course.

[Kim Holderness]

And I love that she put that in there, because as I'm going through and I have, like, this saggy water balloon in front of me, and there's. Everything's happening. I. I felt like, well, crap. I didn't know this was going to happen. I felt embarrassed about it. Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

That was one thing I learned.

[Pen Holderness]

Second, and I love that she said this. And it makes perfect sense. She says deliveries are universally more successful

[Angelina Jones Lee]

when the mom is at ease.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah. I believe it.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

And I know that's not necessarily part of someone's job when they're doing it. I think that's a gift that Jen has that no one else. Probably no one else is better at.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah, obviously. But I would say that. That most nurses like, especially working in labor and delivery, like, they're. I think they take that job Very seriously. That part of the job.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

That part of the job. And they deserve to be applauded for that for sure. Because that is important.

[Pen Holderness]

And then third of all, I learned that Jen unwinds by delivering babies.

[Kim Holderness]

I love that. What's your favorite way to unwind? Bringing a human into the world.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Getting up at 4:00am and, and, and. And doing the graveyard shift. Like that's. It takes a special person to say that. She does like a.

[Pen Holderness]

My tie in a beach.

[Kim Holderness]

But let's not get it twisted. She does like to enjoy.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

Some relaxation. But. But isn't that. That's such a testament too, like her favorite thing to do is to like help people. So that just says a lot about the person she is.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah.

[Kim Holderness]

Birth vibes will be available wherever books are sold and we will put all that information plus all of Jen's fun profiles. If you're not following her on how to do that, that awesome.

[Pen Holderness]

Well, that wraps this up, I think.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Like, we always do the credits differently. I was like, maybe I try to do it like Jen.

[Kim Holderness]

Like analogies, imagery.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Yeah. Like how if Jen were to read the credits, I should have just asked her to do this. But she's gone now.

[Kim Holderness]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Onto her job.

[Kim Holderness]

Onto helping people.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

So here's our credits. Ready?

[Pen Holderness]

Laugh Lines is written and produced by Kim Holderness, who's just a golden swan with glitter.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Cross between that and.

[Pen Holderness]

And Angelina Jones Lee, she's a beautiful lady. And Anne Marie Tapke, who's just a.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

A redheaded fire rocket on steroids with.

[Pen Holderness]

With original music by Pen Holderness. He's an old man.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It is filmed, edited and live produced by Sam Allen, who is just a

[Pen Holderness]

sci fi reading supernova fed by Taco Bell and.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Wait, am I doing this?

[Jen Hamilton]

Okay?

[Angelina Jones Lee]

Am I being.

[Kim Holderness]

It's very aggressive. It's very aggressive.

[Angelina Jones Lee]

It's just. I'm sorry, Jen. Just like she's so good with her imagery. Anyway, it's hosted by acast, who's also. They're just an algorithm producing machine. As always, we love to hear from you. Please write to us at podcastheholdernessfamily.com or leave a voicemail at 323-364-3929 and we'll talk to you soon on the Laugh lines.

[Jen Hamilton]

Bye.

[Grainger Announcer]

If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock so your team team always gets the win. Call 1-800-granger. Visit granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Verizon Mom]

Hey honey, it's mom. Did you know if we switch to Verizon we can get four phones for $0 plus four lines for $25 a line? Call me back me again. That's just $100 a month for four lines on unlimited welcome plus four phones. No trade in needed. Call me. It's mom. America's best network Verizon. That's the one we're talking about.

[Pen Holderness]

I'll send you text America's best network based on RootMetrics best overall mobile network performance US second half 2025 four new lines and a limited welcome and autopay. See verizon.com for details.

[Jen Hamilton]

Acast Powers the World's Best Podcasts here's the show that we recommend

[Brooke Devard]

hello hello, it's Brooke Devard from Naked Beauty. Join me each week for unfiltered discussion about beauty trends, self care, journeys, wellness tips and the products we absolutely love and cannot get enough of. If you are a skincare obsessive and you spend 20 plus minutes on your skincare routine, this podcast is for you. Or if you're a newbie at the beginning of your skincare journey, you'll love this podcast as well. Because we go so much deeper than beauty, I talk to incredible and inspiring people from across industries about their relationship with beauty. You'll also hear from skincare experts. We break down lots of myths and in the beauty industry, if this sounds like your thing, search for Naked Beauty on your podcast app and listen along. I hope you'll join us.

[New Zealand Teaching Ad]

Imagine waking up to breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture and a welcoming community. New Zealand is calling. If you are a passionate early childhood, primary or secondary school teacher, New Zealand says come teach us. With up to 10,000 New Zealand dollars in relocation support port, now's the time to make your move. Find out more about moving to New Zealand to teach at Workforce Education Govt. Nz. Open to existing qualified primary, secondary and ECE teachers. Note that this grant is only dispersed after a teacher has arrived in New Zealand and meets the other accompanying criteria.