Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness
Episode: Parents Weekend & Getting Bursitis
Date: October 7, 2025
Episode Overview
In this spirited and relatable episode, Kim and Penn explore the realities and laughs of aging—everything from painful hips and “old lady injuries” to the emotional marathon of parents weekend after sending their daughter to college. The Holdernesses candidly share their evolving wellness journeys, strategies for feeling strong as they approach milestone birthdays, and their ongoing attempts to keep up with Gen Z slang ("6, 7"). They are joined by listener call-ins that are as hilarious as they are heartfelt, making this episode both therapeutic and truly laugh-worthy for anyone in midlife—with or without kids flying from (or circling) the nest.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Listener Voicemail: Reluctant Convert to Podcasts
- [06:38] Susie from Virginia, a self-proclaimed technophobe, shares how Kim and Penn's college drop-off episode converted her into their “number one podcast fan.”
- "I am now your number one podcast fan. I am binging all of them. You guys are amazing. I'm laughing, I'm crying, I'm taking notes on medical issues. I have been won over to the laugh lines podcast, but only the laugh lines podcast." — Susie, [07:14]
- Kim and Penn celebrate Susie’s honesty and the sense of community among listeners who “know exactly what they want and do not want.”
2. Kim’s “Road to 50”: Health and Bursitis
- Kim reveals she’s currently podcasting with ice packs stuffed in her leggings due to being diagnosed with bursitis after running three miles:
- “I have never—my hips for two weeks. So I've been diagnosed with bursitis. Is that not just the most old lady injury you've ever heard?” — Kim, [09:26]
- Penn reassures Kim: bursitis affects athletes, too, not just “old ladies.”
- Talk about how their bodies can handle more than they expect; inspiration from Dax Shepard’s fitness journey.
Kim’s Road to 50 Goals:
- Reading: 35 of 50 books before her 50th birthday ([11:28])
- Fitness: Aiming for an unassisted pull-up, using a ChatGPT-generated plan ([12:14])
- "Dear computer overlord, I would like to... Give me a six month, you know, weight training plan to be able to nail the unassisted pull up." — Kim, [12:21]
- Movement: Walking 10,000 steps/day (until bursitis struck)
- Discussion about the challenges and science of building strength later in life.
3. Alcohol and Coping
- Kim opens up about her evolving relationship with alcohol, especially during emotionally taxing times like her daughter going to college:
- “For me, I was like, drinking two glasses of wine every night...I just decided I needed to see if I could not. And I've stopped drinking.” — Kim, [24:02]
- Penn assures Kim she’s still “fun” and they discuss social dynamics of not drinking.
- Open, honest acknowledgement of how coping with big feelings (empty nest, change, stress) can manifest in adult habits—the slippery slope of drinking for self-medication.
4. Parents Weekend at College: Emotional Highs and Lows
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Kim and Penn describe their eager anticipation and poignant emotions seeing Lola for the first time post-drop off.
- "My soul was healed for two whole days because I had all of my people under one roof. It was the best." — Kim, [28:34]
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Humor about over-planning Parents Weekend travel logistics (“I went on Verbo... I booked it for move in and I booked it for parents weekend.” — Kim, [37:13])
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They reflect on how seeing their daughter surrounded by supportive friends lightened their worries:
- “She is loving the independence... I was just—it made my mommy heart so proud.” — Kim, [34:18]
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Importance of setting realistic expectations for the college transition and validating all feelings—not just happiness.
- "Gretchen Rubin...said, 'It's okay if they're not happy.' That doesn't like, if you're not happy and she's not happy, that's not a disaster." — Penn, [35:27]
Memorable Quote:
"The struggle is what makes you a person. And it's already really...she's loving the independence of solving her problems by herself." — Kim, [34:02-34:18]
5. The Social Dynamics of Parents Weekend
- Hosting Lola’s new friends and their parents at an Airbnb, including a “rager” that ended by 9pm ([39:46]).
- Cultural contrast between parents of sons and daughters at college gatherings.
- The difference between first-time and second-time (or last-time) parents—anticipating changes with their son, PC.
6. Gen Z Slang of the Week: “6, 7”
- Explaining the viral, nearly meaningless meme “6, 7” that’s infiltrated kids’ vocabulary ([48:25]).
- "There is literally no circumstance where a kid might not say 6, 7. So all of this to say, 6, 7 is just a reference to a meme...it just doesn't mean anything." — Mr. Lindsay, [49:02]
- Strategies for parents/teachers to intentionally “kill the vibe” of a meme by adopting kids’ lingo themselves.
7. Perimenopause Brain Farts and Word Mishaps
- Listeners share hilarious memory lapses (calling a tornado a “twirly wind,” clipboard as “that board with a clip on it,” scapegoat becomes “blame donkey”). Kim feels validated and less alone.
- “Marie said instead of saying, don't make me your scapegoat, I said, don't make me your blame donkey. I think I'm gonna use that.” — Kim, [52:43]
- Universality of midlife memory glitches, and the comedy in living through perimenopause.
8. Not Sponsored: Toe Spacers for Brain and Balance Health
- Penn’s latest wellness discovery: toe spacers aid balance and brain health as we age ([56:44]).
- “Wearing spacers helps to preserve proprioceptors...nerve endings in the brain responsible for our sense of balance and coordination.” — Penn, [58:49]
- Kim tries them after learning “Taylor Swift did it.”
- The lighthearted competition over Wikifeet ratings (Penn > Kim, much to Kim’s chagrin).
9. Three Piece Nuggets (Penn’s Takeaways)
- (1) Perimenopause and word loss is universal—and hilarious.
- (2) “6, 7” means nothing—join in to kill the cool factor.
- (3) Don’t wear ice packs directly for a full hour (15–20 mins max)!
- “Let me change my third nugget from ice packs can be worn for a podcast, but they shouldn’t be.” — Penn, [62:47]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Kim: “When you see your kid with their people, like, she's already found people... She's already stronger and more capable than she was six weeks ago.” [31:24]
- Penn: “Your genetic code is built to withstand more than you are giving your body right now. That's my motivation.” [14:06]
- Penn (on Kim’s journey): “You can do anything. Punched in... Great research. He took some information from Christmas Jammies there.” — after a listener lists Kim’s achievements [21:01]
- Listener Paula: “I thought it said gobble wrinkles... referring to double chins as we get older.” [54:45]
- Kim: “I see you. I don't remember you, but I see you.” [61:23]
Fun Segments and Community Interaction
- Listener Call-ins: Hilarious and emotional voicemails on podcast skepticism, kids leaving home, misheard lyric moments.
- Gen Z Slang Explainer: “6, 7” meme breakdown, with performer/interview from @mrphiliplindsay.
- Perimenopause Word Fails: Multiple listener submissions validating Kim’s “brain farts.”
- Not Sponsored: Toe spacers, appealing to both the brain and (randomly) Taylor Swift fandom.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro/Listener Susie: [06:38-08:35]
- Kim’s Wellness Update & Bursitis: [08:35-16:13]
- Alcohol, Coping, and Social Dynamics: [23:01-27:59]
- Parents Weekend & Family Emotions: [28:15-37:29]
- Gen Z Slang (“6, 7”): [48:25-50:55]
- Perimenopause Brain Farts: [51:59-54:45]
- Not Sponsored: Toe Spacers: [56:44-59:31]
- Three Piece Nuggets: [60:44-63:32]
The Spirit of the Episode
The Holdernesses’ blend of heartfelt vulnerability and quick wit makes this episode shine. From tearful parents to “blame donkey” gaffes, their banter encourages listeners not to take aging or change too seriously—and to always find the humor, even sitting on ice packs.
Summary for New Listeners:
If you’re getting older, miss your kid (or think you might), trying to be stronger, letting go of old habits, or just wondering what 6, 7 means, this episode will make you laugh, nod along, and maybe send a text to someone you love—about pull-ups, bursitis, or your favorite gobble wrinkles.