Creating Friendships That Matter with Jennifer Wallace

This week on Laugh Lines , Penn and I talk about something that sneaks up on a lot of us in midlife: friendship, purpose, and the quiet fear of wondering if we still matter the way we used to. We’re joined by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Wallace (straight from Oprah to Laugh Lines!) who explores why feeling seen, needed, and valued isn’t just nice... it’s essential to our well-being. The three of us dig into what “mattering” really means, why so many adults feel lonelier than they expected, and how friendships change when kids leave home, careers shift, and life gets a little more complicated. We've all been guilty of flaking on plans or feeling like if a kind gesture wasn't "perfect" we shouldn't do it. But the truth is, showing up messy and not canceling plans might be the most powerful relationship tools we have. Jennifer shares practical, doable ways to deepen friendships and how small moments of connection often mean more than big gestures. If you’ve ever missed someone you haven’t called, felt unsure of your place in this season of life, or wanted to be a better friend but didn’t know where to start, this conversation is for you. It’s a good reminder that connection doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. (And if you’re listening and wondering if you matter, you do.) We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com . You can also watch our podcast on YouTube . Learn more about Jennifer's book, Mattering Visit Our Shop Join Our Newsletter Find us on Substack

You can listen to Creating Friendships That Matter with Jennifer Wallace online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Creating Friendships That Matter with Jennifer Wallace is an episode from The Holderness Family Podcast by Kim Holderness.

This episode is 58:56 long.

This episode was published on Feb 10, 2026.

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