Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

Episode Title: Making Friends, Marriage, & Maybe Aliens
Date: November 4, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Kim and Penn Holderness tackle the joys and challenges that come with aging, all while keeping their signature light-hearted and candid tone. The couple (joined by their producer Sam and occasional input from Ben) center conversations around making new friends in midlife, the realities of marriage through tough times, and wellness trends worth questioning. Sprinkled throughout are discussions of aliens, Gen Z slang, and pop culture, plus interactive listener Q&A through their “Laugh Line.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are Aliens About to Visit? (06:15–12:10)

• Comet or Spaceship?:
  • Penn explains the perihelion of the Atlas 3I comet, diving into science (“When any object gets to its closest point to the sun, there is an orbital correction that happens... If you are instead of a comet, an interstellar spacecraft... you will perform something called an Oberth maneuver.” —Penn, 07:50).
  • Internet speculation: Could it be a disguised alien craft?
• Kim advocates for alien overlords:
  • “We could hot take benefit from having some alien overlords at this point.” (10:00)
  • Both agree: humans are pretty scary; maybe aliens are an upgrade.
• Memorable Moment: Kim likens her potential approach to alien invasion to a famous Simpsons bit about “welcoming our new insect overlords,” emphasizing she’d rather not fight back (11:27, Simpsons clip).

2. The Whitney Houston TikTok Challenge (12:10–15:19)

• Pop Culture Fun: Kim and Penn try to perfectly sync a clap to the famously suspenseful drum beat in Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You"—a viral challenge testing music timing (“It’s so much longer than you think.” —Penn, 13:44).
• Nostalgia: Bodyguard shout-outs, with Kim highlighting its impact for Gen X.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Kim: “Can we just sit and listen to this song real quick? I mean, that's such a bop.” (14:41)

3. Making Friends in Your 40s (15:24–21:10)

• Listener Question: Jessica asks how to make friends as a new-in-town empty nester.
• Kim’s Advice:
  • Be intentional—say yes to invites and check out group activities (mahjong, dance class, pickleball).
  • Follow through—if you meet someone, call and follow up.
  • Schedule friend-time, even when tired.
  • “When you move to town and you don't have kids that are going to school... it is very hard, but at this age... we've had to be more intentional.” (16:58)
• Penn adds: Don’t be afraid to go alone—pick-up sports and group fitness classes are welcoming communities.
• Sam (Producer) insight: No one knows you—so you can try new things, be extroverted, or quietly bail.
• Penn’s tip: “Just because you meet someone doesn't mean you have to be friends with them... you can be picky at that point.” (21:04)

4. Midlife Weight Changes & Wellness (25:37–38:15)

• Listener Question: Are you gaining weight in midlife and how much exercise does it take to offset?
• Penn’s Reality: “I'm working out more than I used to... bread back still there.” (26:30)
• Kim’s Term: “Items have shifted during flight.” She details how losing even 7 pounds took a year and required strict calorie tracking—then “needed carbs for my soul” after her daughter left for college.
• General Conclusion: It’s a lot of work not to gain weight in your 40s/50s, and that’s ok.
• Notable Quote: “You don't have to gain weight in midlife. It's just a lot of freaking work to not.” —Kim (28:58)

Wellness Hacks & Toe Spacers (29:21–38:15)

• Penn’s Toe Spacer Journey:
  • Inspired by Dr. Richard Isaacson’s study on longevity (“The theory is that the toe spacers help increase circulation of the longest vein or artery in your body... which will keep you healthier.” —Penn, 31:12).
  • Penn’s podiatrist is skeptical, but he likes the post-removal feeling: “When I take them off, it’s like that feeling at 4 o’ clock when you take the ski boots off.” (31:16)
  • Kim: “I was hesitant and then you said Taylor Swift uses them, so…” (32:25)
• Kim considers EMDR and neurofeedback:
  • Looking for sleep and ADHD solutions; EMDR is therapist-recommended and WHO-approved, but neurofeedback is expensive and research is “mixed” (per Sam, 37:20).
• Audience Call-to-Action: They invite listeners to “de-influence” or endorse wellness trends.
• Highlight: Fun detour clarifying Dr. Scholl’s medical credentials, complete with Penn’s mock-formal apology (38:33).

5. Making Marriage Work (40:05–45:59)

• Listener Questions: How do you keep marital joy alive during tough times? Any marriage crises?
• Honest Answers:
  • “We don’t [keep joy alive during tough times].” (40:05)
  • They describe rough patches—particularly after their daughter left for college—and how they handled feeling distant or unloved.
  • Key insight: “I think you treat the people you love the most the worst.” —Kim (42:53)
  • Solution: Small connections—a daily hug or affirmation—can break the cycle. If all else fails? “Just start a podcast... Pretend podcast... Everyone else is doing it.” —Penn (44:35)
• Date Night Reality: Not in their season for date nights, and that’s okay. Time together at work isn’t necessarily “couple” time either.

6. “On the Road to 50”—Strength Goals & Gen X Motivation (48:53–54:08)

• Kim’s Turning 50 Challenge: Aims to do an unassisted pull-up; inspired by Gen X pop culture (Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2, the Presidential Fitness Award).
• Deep Dive: Why the pull-up matters: proving strength, self-reliance as she ages, and healing childhood gym trauma.
• Kim:
  • “If I fall over in the nursing home, I want to be able to stand up.” (50:16)
  • “I think it’s some Gen X lower-T trauma, never getting the Presidential Fitness Award.” (52:08)
• Penn's Note: If needed, Kim would probably succeed quickly—she’s that determined.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On aliens taking over:
  “We could hot take benefit from having some alien overlords at this point.”
  —Kim, 10:00

• Pop culture fun with “I Will Always Love You”:
  “It’s so much longer than you think.”
  —Penn, 13:44

• On making friends as an adult:
  “You have to say yes when invited...and then you have to schedule time to actually see people.”
  —Kim, 16:58–18:59

• Candid marriage realities:
  “I think you treat the people you love the most the worst.”
  —Kim, 42:53

• Aging and strength:
  “If I fall over in the nursing home, I want to be able to stand up.”
  —Kim, 50:16

• Humor in wellness:
  “If you put anything on a comment that says, you should try this… I will try it. Could be called bippity boppity flippity flop.”
  —Penn & Kim, 39:53

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Aliens & the Atlas 3I Comet: 06:15–12:10
• Whitney Houston TikTok Challenge: 12:10–15:19
• Making Friends in Your 40s: 15:24–21:10
• Listener Q&A – Weight & Wellness: 25:37–38:15
• Toe Spacers & Wellness Hacks: 29:21–38:15
• Marriage Q&A: 40:05–45:59
• Strength Goals & Pull-Up Challenge: 48:53–54:08

Tone & Style

The Holdenesses blend informative, relatable content with plenty of laughter and self-deprecation. Their candidness about struggles—whether with weight, wellness fads, or marriage—invites listeners into a safe, humorous conversation about the realities of aging, family, and finding joy.

For Listeners

Whether you’re seeking advice on making friends, wondering if aliens are around the corner, or laughing at attempts to nail a pop-culture TikTok challenge, this episode reminds you: aging is better (and funnier) together, and no one has it all figured out.

Have thoughts, questions, or want to share your own laugh lines? Write or call the show—they read and respond on air, and your oversharing is always safe here!