Episode Summary: "The Hill I'll Die On" | Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness

Release Date: June 17, 2025

In this episode of Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness, hosts Kim and Penn delve into the intriguing and often humorous concept of personal "hills you'll die on." Centered around the idea of passionately holding firm on certain opinions or pet peeves, the episode features lively discussions, insightful listener call-ins, and plenty of laughs. Below is a detailed breakdown of the episode's key segments, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps.

1. Introduction to "The Hill I'll Die On" Theme (03:05 - 05:20)

Kim and Penn introduce the episode's central theme—exploring the personal "hills" each host is willing to staunchly defend. They set the stage for an engaging conversation filled with anecdotes and listener interactions.

Kim: "I think that also Sunny knows when I'm in emotional need."

Penn: "This is Laugh Lines. And if you're joining us on our new video cast on YouTube, you can see the back of Sunny's head..."

2. Listener Call-In: Courtney on Voice-to-Text Habits (05:42 - 08:05)

Courtney from Nebraska shares her frustration with the overuse of voice-to-text features spilling into other areas like voicemail, sparking a relatable discussion about modern communication habits.

Courtney: "I was leaving a voicemail for a doctor's office, and I was saying my sentence... and then I said, period, and continued talking because that's what I do when I send long text messages."

Kim: "I think it's so disrespectful."

3. Defining "Hill I'll Die On" (07:02 - 08:10)

The hosts clarify the meaning behind the phrase "hill I'll die on," tracing its origin to the controversial Hamburger Hill battle during the Vietnam War. They emphasize that a personal hill represents a belief one is unwilling to compromise on.

Penn: "When we say it, it means that one thing you'll never change your mind about and about which you are the most passionate."

Kim: "I am willing to get canceled. These are my opinions, and you'll never change my mind."

4. Kim’s Hill: Backing into Parking Spots (08:39 - 13:31)

Kim passionately discusses her aversion to drivers who back into parking spots in crowded areas, labeling this behavior as selfish and disruptive.

Kim: "People who back into parking spots are selfish. They cannot use it anymore. And the cleanup is like a crime scene."

Penn: "This is my hill. I'm allowed to have this opinion."

Kim shares a personal story about a frustrating experience at Target, reinforcing her stance.

5. Listener Call-In: Julie on Safe Parking Practices (17:16 - 18:21)

Julie echoes Kim's sentiments, highlighting the importance of safety over convenience when parking in crowded lots.

Julie: "I back into a parking spot 95% of the time. It is so much easier when you have to get out."

Kim: "What are we running from? Like zombies?"

6. Listener Call-In: Nikki on Oxford Comma and Punctuation (18:33 - 21:15)

Nikki brings up the debate over the Oxford comma and the use of two spaces after a period, sparking a spirited exchange about grammatical preferences.

Kim: "If you don't have a high schooler who is writing papers right now or college essays, you may not know this. People have dropped the Oxford comma."

Nikki: "I do the one space. That's what we were taught when I was growing up."

Anne Marie, the producer, chimes in to defend the use of the Oxford comma, igniting further discussion.

7. Listener Call-In: Jennie on Shopping Carts (24:45 - 26:00)

Jennie expresses her frustration with individuals who neglect to return shopping carts, labeling them as inconsiderate.

Jennie: "People who don't return the shopping cart will leave it stranded in the middle of the parking lot..."

Kim: "In my road to 50, I have vowed to do acts of random kindness. I put people's carts away."

8. Listener Call-In: Shira on Cereal and Soups (26:04 - 27:55)

Shira humorously debates whether cereal qualifies as soup and touches on related food debates, such as the classification of hot dogs.

Shira: "Cereal is soup."

Kim: "I didn't know that there was another way. Our son puts milk in the bowl first..."

The conversation highlights playful disagreements over everyday topics.

9. Listener Call-In: Kelly on Pickles in Food (27:54 - 29:20)

Kelly passionately argues against putting pickles on various foods, believing they overpower natural flavors.

Kelly: "Pickles should not go on anything. Not even burgers."

Kim: "I love a pickle. I'll ask for extra pickles, but I get that."

The discussion showcases differing culinary preferences among the hosts and listeners.

10. Listener Call-In: Janine on Audiobooks vs. Reading (31:03 - 34:23)

Janine challenges the notion that listening to audiobooks is equivalent to reading, advocating for the traditional experience of reading.

Janine: "Audiobooks count as reading."

Anne Marie: "That's ableist... audiobooks count. It just counts."

The debate touches on accessibility and personal preferences in consuming literature.

11. Listener Call-In: Lauren on Rinsing Dishes (39:29 - 40:17)

Lauren contends that rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher is unnecessary and potentially inefficient.

Lauren: "Rinsing dishes before putting them into the dishwasher is wrong."

Anne Marie: "Dishwasher efficiency. Rinsing can actually interfere with the dishwasher sensors..."

The conversation humorously critiques modern dishwashing practices.

12. Listener Call-In: Joe on Realtors (40:03 - 40:57)

Joe raises his issue with the pronunciation of "realtor," expressing his strong preference for the correct enunciation.

Kim: "It's pronounced realtor, not real. Atter."

Joe: Expresses his frustration leading to a playful exchange between the hosts.

13. Penn’s Top Five Hills (40:57 - 48:21)

Penn shares his personal top five hills he'd die on, ranging from pronunciations like "nuclear" to broader cultural topics such as the authenticity of the national anthem.

Penn: "It's pronounced nuclear, not nuclear."

Kim: "Great hill you'll die on... Tom Cruise is a national treasure."

Penn's choices highlight his unique perspectives and set the stage for further discussions.

14. Discussion on the National Anthem vs. "America the Beautiful" (45:03 - 48:21)

The hosts debate the merits and challenges of the current national anthem, proposing "America the Beautiful" as a more accessible alternative.

Penn: "The national anthem is an octave plus seven semitones. It's like an octave plus a fifth, which is the average vocal range of an untrained singer."

Kim: "We are putting a picture of him up... So I would love people from Hawaii to chime in on this."

The segment includes performances of both songs, showcasing their differing emotional impacts and vocal demands.

15. Conclusion and Final Thoughts (48:37 - 50:44)

Kim and Penn wrap up the episode by reflecting on the various hills discussed, acknowledging the diverse opinions of their listeners, and teasing upcoming content.

Kim: "Thank you so much. I love this community that's been created in the comment section, in the voicemails."

Penn: "This has been so much fun... as always, we love to hear from you!"

Notable Quotes

• Kim Holderness (03:05): "I have to do some nice things. I do put people's carts away."

• Penn Holderness (07:30): "So when we say in our family, this is the hill I'll die on, it is a. I am willing to get canceled."

• Courtney (05:42): "I was leaving a voicemail... I want to include punctuation."

• Anne Marie Tapke (21:11): "The style guides can't agree on the Oxford comma, but the style guides have changed."

• Penn Holderness (43:15): "It's sky lacrosse... you get 10 points for a goal."

Key Insights and Conclusions

• Personal Boundaries: The episode emphasizes the importance of identifying and standing firm on personal beliefs and annoyances, fostering a sense of community through shared grievances.

• Generational Differences: Topics like the Oxford comma and communication habits highlight the evolving nature of language and etiquette across generations.

• Humor in Everyday Life: By addressing mundane issues with humor, Kim and Penn encourage listeners to find laughter in the everyday challenges of aging and parenthood.

• Listener Engagement: The numerous call-ins demonstrate the active and engaged listener base, showcasing diverse opinions and experiences that enrich the conversation.

• Balancing Views: Despite holding strong opinions, both hosts display openness to differing perspectives, promoting respectful discourse.

Conclusion: "The Hill I'll Die On" is a testament to the show's mission of aging gracefully and humorously. Through relatable topics and lively exchanges, Kim and Penn create an entertaining and thought-provoking episode that resonates with listeners navigating similar life stages.