11 WEEK LIVING THAT SUGAR-FREE LIFE

Summary

The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Episode: 11 WEEK LIVING THAT SUGAR-FREE LIFE
Date: April 15, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Kelly and Lizz dive deep into Kelly’s experience living sugar-free for 11 weeks, leading into a substantial interview with Wendy Speak, author of The 40 Day Sugar Fast. The discussion blends the realities of modern motherhood, car reviews, pop culture musings, and a thoughtful exploration of fasting—not just for health, but for faith and personal growth. Throughout the episode, listeners get plenty of relatable humor, practical advice, and honest reflections on everything from car industry “frauds” to Coachella coverage and American Girl dolls.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Updates from Kelly & Lizz: Sickness, Haircare, and 11 Weeks Sugar-Free

Timestamps: 00:02–03:16

• Lizz shares her recent struggles: sick child, hospital stays, pregnancy, and catching a respiratory infection herself.
• Kelly is faring well—shiny hair (new Target shampoo!)—and feeling good after 11 weeks mostly sugar-free.
  • “I haven't had a Diet Coke. I haven't had an iced honey latte. I haven't had my own dessert… I haven't had anything.” – Kelly [03:01]

2. Starting a Podcast as a Networking Tool

Timestamps: 03:16–04:19

• Kelly recommends podcasts for networking and engaging with people you admire or want to work with.
  • “If you start a podcast, then you can network with people who would never give you the time of day because you’re asking them to be on your podcast.” – Kelly [03:46]

3. Micro Hobbies: American Girl Dolls & Car Community

Timestamps: 05:28–09:41

• Kelly buys a Samantha American Girl doll for car seat demos; discusses the passionate collector community.
  • “Someone will post a garage sale doll… ‘Who is this? Is it valuable?’ ... That's a Samantha White bodied 1990, Pleasant Company edition... I would pay around 300. Like they're insane.” – Kelly [09:10]
• Tips for moms: check Facebook groups before reselling dolls—could be worth hundreds.

4. Car Industry Talk: “Fraud” in Legroom Specs

Timestamps: 11:17–16:26

• Kelly and Sam discover misleading manufacturer claims: Mazda CX-90 advertises 39” second row legroom, but it’s only possible if the front seat is pushed impossibly forward.
  • “To get 39 inches... you have to move the seat all the way up and recline it fully forward. No one is sitting there—it’s unsafe.” – Kelly [12:16]
  • “It’s giving lying.” – Liz [14:26]
• Emphasizes the importance of real-life car reviews over raw specs.

5. Pop Culture Banter: “Couch-chella,” Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Bangs

Timestamps: 18:53–24:38

• Enjoying Coachella remotely (“Couch Cella”).
• Kelly is “obsessed” with Justin Bieber’s minimalist performance; neutral on Sabrina Carpenter, dislikes Addison Rae.
• Ella Langley’s hair leads Kelly to contemplate cutting bangs.

6. Algorithm Woes & Collector World

Timestamps: 24:41–25:06

• Discusses how a single click leads to a flood of related content (American Girl dolls, reborn dolls) in social feeds.

7. Car Industry News Roundup

Timestamps: 25:19–29:55

• Subaru Outback sales have dropped 40% after the model “lost its wagon” identity.
• Hyundai offers a software fix for power folding seat safety concerns—hosts admit prior critiques (holding button to fold) now seem misplaced after the recall.
  • “Talk about taking back… talk about eating crow. Like, I’ll eat it all day long.” – Liz [27:41]
• Caution for used car buyers: recalls may persist if not fixed before resale; always check NHTSA.

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The Main Theme: Sugar Fast for Faith and Health

Timestamps: 31:31–57:38

Interview with Wendy Speak, author, The 40 Day Sugar Fast

Wendy’s Background & Spiritual Rationale for Sugar Fasting

• The original sugar fast: started in a Facebook mom group, aimed at curbing anger and seeking gentler parenting responses.
  • “What would happen if we sat down sugar for 40 days? Would we be calmer? Kinder? Even more Christlike?” – Wendy [32:51]

Fasting as a Daily Spiritual Reminder

• Kelly reflects on how cravings and hunger act as “built in” reminders to turn to God.
  • “Like how people in the olden days used to tie string on their finger… when I craved something, it was a reminder I need to reach for the word of God.” – Kelly [36:40]
• Quote shared:
  • “Hunger pangs are like church bells calling you to prayer.” – Wendy [36:42]

Lessons and Practices from the Sugar Fast

• The practice is more about replacing, not simply removing; shifting focus from something sweet to something sweeter in faith.
  • “We fast to wet our appetite for something sweeter… We want to love Him most.” – Wendy [37:42]
• Encourages using “freed” money (not spent on sugar/coffee) for charity or ministry.
  • “I was going to [the coffee shop] four to five times a week. Now I don’t go anymore.” – Kelly [39:55]
• For many participants, the initial physical struggle yields to spiritual growth; boredom/ease after two weeks means it's time to add new challenges or go deeper.

Sugar Fast vs. Dieting

• Clear distinction: done for spiritual discipline, not primarily weight loss.
  • “I’m not doing it to lose weight. My number one reason is for spiritual reasons.” – Kelly [42:38]
• Wendy welcomes even those starting for “diet” reasons, as it often leads to deeper faith experiences.

Life After the Fast: Fasting as a Lifestyle

• Wendy suggests considering everyday life as “fasting” with selected feasting windows, instead of only fasting for a season.
  • “I want a lifestyle where I crave things that are healthy—not just physically healthy, but spiritually healthy.” – Wendy [45:36]
• Emphasizes evaluating both physical and spiritual well-being.

On Fasting Publicly vs. Privately

• Addresses biblical admonitions (“do not look somber as the hypocrites do…”).
• Fasting can be communal; inspiring others is worthwhile if done with humble motives.
  • “You inspired others to set down something less good for them and look to the one most good for us.” – Wendy [51:59]

Social Media Fast and Other Follow-Ups

• Wendy wrote The 40 Day Social Media Fast and The 40 Day Feast.
  • 500,000 have done the sugar fast, but only 50,000 tackled social media.
• “The purpose of fasting is always feasting… on the presence of God, the sweetness of God, the word of God.” – Wendy [54:21]

Practical Guidelines

• Flexibility is key: tailor strictness to current life needs (e.g., pregnancy, breastfeeding).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “I’m obsessed with the concept [of Justin Bieber’s Coachella performance].” – Kelly [21:06]
• “Hunger pangs are like church bells calling you to prayer.” – Wendy [36:42]
• “If you watch our tours… you get this information that you just can’t get from specs.” – Kelly [16:12]
• “You might be sitting on gold.” (on doll resale) – Kelly [09:41]
• “It’s giving lying.” (on misleading car specs) – Liz [14:26]
• “Sugar fast is like—Jesus, it’s just you.” – Wendy [57:21]

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Notable Timestamps

• 00:40 – Lizz describes her illness journey and missing her bachelorette trip.
• 03:00 – Kelly’s sugar-free streak explained.
• 05:28 – The side-hustle summer tease and pursuit of AI knowledge.
• 09:10 – The wild world of American Girl doll collectors.
• 12:16 – Car industry “fraud” in legroom measurements unraveled.
• 20:07 – Coachella performance debates: Sabrina Carpenter vs. Justin Bieber.
• 25:53 – Subaru Outback sales crash and car model identity shifts.
• 29:55 – Used car recall warning and how they can be resold with open recalls.
• 32:30 – Transition to the Wendy Speak interview and sugar fast concept.
• 36:42 – Profound quote on fasting: “Hunger pangs are like church bells…”
• 45:36 – Guidance on fasting as an ongoing practice.
• 51:59 – Public vs. private fasting, spiritual impact assessment.

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Ditch The Drive-Thru: Wendy’s Easy Dinner Recipes

Timestamps: 57:38–61:16

• Crock Pot Shredded Chicken: “Pack of chicken (thighs or breasts), cup of broth, heaping tsp each of salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder. Done. Use all week for enchiladas, chicken salad, over rice or salad.”
• Blender Protein Coffee: “Morning coffee, scoop of protein powder, blend on high—frothy, delicious, no sweetener needed.”

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers a unique combination of warm, authentic sisterly banter; practical car and mom-life advice; pop culture hot takes; and an accessible but deeply meaningful exploration of sugar fasting for spiritual growth. Wendy Speak’s compassionate, down-to-earth perspective shines, making fasting as much about soulful living as about what’s on your plate. For listeners curious or skeptical about fasting, or just in need of a relatable mom-to-mom chat with plenty of laughs, this episode delivers.

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Transcript

[Kelly]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly. And I was, like, watching in the living room with Tyler, and I was like, should I cut bangs? I was like, that kind of looks like me. She got brown hair. Like, do I cut bangs? And Liz.

[Liz]

And you know when your kid's sick, you're always like, oh, I just wish I could take that sickness from you.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And then you do get the sickness, and you're like, oh, I guess you're just.

[Kelly]

Just saying that your mom. Time off.

[Liz]

Start.

[Kelly]

Welcome back to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. So turns out, what's wrong with you guys this week?

[Liz]

Sorry, I'm muting myself to cough. Yeah, I think it turns out that if you spend, like, four days in the hospital with your daughter with an infection, and then that leads you to get an infection in your eye, and then you're pregnant and your body's trying to fight an infection in your eye and then also grow a baby, your immune system kind of gets down, and then you can also develop, like, an upper respiratory infection or like a cold or something. Something. I say I've been a respiratory infection. That might be the same thing as a cold, but it feels more intense because this feels more intense than a cold. Like, I needed to. I was like.

[Kelly]

Like, it's not the flu, but it's not just a common. Oh, God.

[Liz]

It's not the flu, but it was like 10am on Saturday. I was like, hey, Maddie, I need to go take a nap. Which, like, that's a crazy thing to say to your husband at 10:00am yeah. In general, like, I. I don't take naps anymore. So anyway, I'm on, like, a day three, which. So I'm actually feeling better, but I don't sound very good, so apologies. This has got to be the end of it. I missed my bachelorette trip. My childhood, like, best friend missed that. The sky looks better, though.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

Yeah, Sloan's better.

[Liz]

So.

[Kelly]

Yeah. So we're trending up.

[Liz]

And, you know. You know, when your kid's sick, you're always like, I just wish I could take that sickness from you.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And then you do get the sickness, and you're like, oh, I was just. Just saying that, you know, I don't

[Kelly]

know if I always feel that way. I mean, of course. Like, if they're, like, really sick. Of course. But I'm sometimes like, no, you be sick, because I can take care of you. If I get sick, then I can't

[Liz]

take care of you or anyone else for that matter.

[Kelly]

So I actually, like, of course Like, I'll take the major stuff, but, like, a little, like, fever. It's like, no, you keep that, and I will nurse you back to health like the mother I am. But if I get it, then everyone's screwed.

[Liz]

I mean, everyone's screwed. So, anyway, how are you?

[Kelly]

I mean, not to rub it in, but I'm great.

[Liz]

Yeah?

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

So your hair is, like, so silk. It looks like you have a wig on. I'm like, I'm. Yeah. I'm so sick of complimenting you.

[Kelly]

I know. I got a new shampoo.

[Liz]

Your hair looks so silky. What's the shampoo?

[Kelly]

It's just, like, some Target one. I don't know. I'll have to take a picture of it. But, you know, I showered. I just. I mean. Yeah, I mean, I'm. I haven't had sugar in 11 weeks.

[Liz]

That's crazy.

[Kelly]

Which, like, have I had a bite here and there? Sure. Have. I had two scoops of ice cream in New York. Yes. But, like, that's it. I haven't had a Diet Coke. I haven't had an iced honey latte. I haven't had my own dessert. I haven't had maple syrup. I, like. I haven't had anything.

[Liz]

That's crazy.

[Kelly]

It is insane. And it's actually a good segue to introduce what's going to be coming on the second half of this episode, which is an interview with Wendy Speak, I believe is how she says her last name. Yeah, it's Speak with an e on the end. Speaky. Unsure. We'll find out. Anyway, with Wendy Speak, who is the author of the 40 Day Sugar Fast, is Because I was just like, oh, this is such, like, a cool concept. Like, I wish I could talk to her. And then I said, what if I could invite her on my podcast? You said, hey, Wendy, I'm telling you guys, start a podcast, because if you want to network, like, if you want to get, like, if you want to, like, improve, like, if you're, like a kind of a career woman and you want to, like, get to the next level in your career, I feel like if you start a podcast, then you can network with people who would never give you the time of day because you're asking them to be on your podcast.

[Liz]

I know that. And you know what? The reason you and Kate from Nap Time Kitchen are even friends is because she came on the podcast that, like, sparked your entire friendship.

[Kelly]

So true. You'll never know the friends you make.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

But it's just like. And especially people who aren't necessarily. I'll use the word, like, influencers, people who have an audience. Like, there are so many amazing business minds and. And there's amazing people who don't have an audience who have so much to share. And I just feel we need to get more people on the mic.

[Liz]

Oh, and I'm, like, so excited for Side Hustle summer. We might need to start that earlier

[Kelly]

before I. I'm lathered up about side Hustle.

[Liz]

Have a baby. Because, like, those are super interesting conversations to have.

[Kelly]

Yeah. I mean, I have so many thoughts on, like, I want to get, like, an AI person on the podcast. I'm very into AI right now. It's kind of like something I'm really trying to learn as much about as possible and just, like, what that means for, like, our industry in all industries and, like, what kind of world our children are going to be growing up in. I'm just not going to be a person who's only going to be scared of things because ultimately I'm not. I'm not going to stop it. And I just want to feel like I can best prepare my children or at least help guide them in a way where they can be successful in the world that they're going to be in.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Which is going to look different than my world. And yeah, I just want to be like, really? I want to stay as relevant in business as possible for. To help my kids out. So, anyway, sure, yeah. All to say, that's what's on today's episode. Fun, fun interview. But before that, I bought an American Girl doll.

[Liz]

Oh, my gosh.

[Kelly]

What are the odds that as soon as I get into it, they re release the 40th edition.

[Liz]

I know, it's crazy.

[Kelly]

What are the odds?

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And then I was thinking, I was talking to Sam from Mama Knows Car Seats, who works on the car mom.

[Wendy Speak]

And.

[Kelly]

And she. We were talking about just. We were talking about third row middle seats and how they're a joke. And if you know me, if you've, like, are an active follower, you know that I've been known to pull out an American Girl doll from here and there to show how small some of

[Liz]

these seats are that only an American Girl doll can fit in.

[Kelly]

Like, that was kind of my stick.

[Liz]

Yeah, it was a stick. Yeah, it was a thing.

[Kelly]

But I don't know where that American Girl doll is. So it was giving business expense.

[Liz]

So which one did you get? This had to be a big decision.

[Kelly]

So it was. And it was a big decision. And I was going to buy you one, too, but then I they didn't have Elizabeth. And I just like, then I didn't

[Liz]

know what the obvious have Elizabeth. I don't really want it.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Then I just like, didn't know what the obvious next choice was. And I do not think, like, I'm very much about American Girl dolls, but they. American girl says you're not ready for one of their like doll dolls until you're eight. On the website it says eight and over. So they have other dolls for like, for like six year olds, which is like what Hattie's going to be now. I think Hat is not to brag, a little advanced. So I probably will maybe get her one for her birthday, which is in October. But like Hattie and. Or Hattie and Libby and Sloan are not ready. No, of course. I'm like, you don't buy a doll like this and to give to a child because they will not treat with respect.

[Liz]

Sure. Yeah. So what do they mean, like you're not ready? Like, what are they expecting your play to be with it? Just like tea parties and like brushing

[Kelly]

their hair and I think like dressing them and like, they're just your companion. Okay. Okay. So anyway, which one did I get? So I got one of the historical dolls. I kind of. I really, I really sat and I really thought about it and I've always liked Kit because I think just. I did not get Kit though.

[Liz]

Huh.

[Kelly]

Do you not know who I got?

[Liz]

No.

[Kelly]

I got Samantha. Now here's why. One, because I call Sam every time I'm in a car. So I thought there be good synergy. I thought there'd be good synergy there. And two, Samantha has long brown hair. She kind of looks like me.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

She's like in a pretty dress. I didn't want to deal with like Molly or Kristen's hair. Like, just. I didn't want to deal with that. Like the braids, like, that seemed too intense. So I got Samantha. I honestly don't know.

[Liz]

Oh, you just like went for it.

[Kelly]

I just went for it. But like, the book is getting. The book comes with them. And I'm so excited for the book and I really want to buy all the American Girl doll books. So that's what I'm currently on this hunt for because I don't need all these dolls. But I do think, like, I love the idea of these, like, historical girls to read to Hattie. And I even think George will like them. Like, George likes history.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So I'm excited to get the books. Now. I have since joined a American Girl doll fan Facebook Group.

[Wendy Speak]

Oh my gosh.

[Kelly]

Because I just like, I'm telling you, I love to see people and learn from people who. In worlds I know nothing about. Like, I'm not a collector. These women are insane. Someone will like post a garage sale doll. Like, who is this? Is it valuable? And the comments are like, oh my gosh. Like that's a Samantha White bodied 1990, 1972 Pleasant Company edition. Her eyes are silvered. But you can fix that by doing this. I would pay around 300. Like they're insane.

[Liz]

Oh my gosh.

[Kelly]

From a raggedy garage sale looking doll they could tell you was whether it was worth money. Like it's just very, it's, it's. I find it very interesting.

[Liz]

So also just good to show, good to know. Like throw it up on a Facebook group before you throw it at your garage sale. Cuz you might be sitting on gold.

[Kelly]

Exactly.

[Wendy Speak]

So.

[Liz]

And you just. And this just goes back to the Beanie Baby things. Like everyone was saving the Beanie Babies thinking those were going to be worth something. They're not worth anything. And, and like turns out like little tykes, Fisher Price and American Girl are worth hundreds.

[Kelly]

So I would like to hear from other moms who have done like a similar like American Girl doll experience for a child's birthday. Like, is it better to get her the doll and then take it to the store to do like the tea party thing or is it better to like buy it, go to the store and pick out your doll?

[Liz]

I think that kind of. And then do a tea party.

[Kelly]

I know. But I'm telling you, Hattie has such a decision fatigue.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Like she's my kid who like once she's like, mom, I want to go Target for my birthday money. And I'm like, okay, let me carve out an hour and a half.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Because I just have to sit in the toy aisle because she cannot make a decision. Yeah. It's actually so sad. Like some days we leave with nothing and George is like, George walks in and makes it. Like George needs to slow down his decision making and how he needs to speed it up.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So I wonder if it'd be too overwhelming if I was like, pick whatever. What do you want? Yeah.

[Liz]

Okay. Maybe just get it for then.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And maybe she can like pick out, I don't know what the American Girl looks like. Maybe she like pick out an outfit or something. Anyway, that's what I'm less, less high stakes. What are we going to do with Samantha? We're going to put her just like we're just carry her around and put her in the third row of seats.

[Kelly]

Yeah, she's just like part of the car mom team now. Okay.

[Liz]

It is confusing. Now we have two SAMs, though.

[Kelly]

Well, we have a Samantha and we have a Sam.

[Liz]

Well, you, you call Sam Samantha anyway.

[Kelly]

Only when I'm trying to get a point across, not like she's in trouble,

[Liz]

which is often how you're often trying to get points across.

[Kelly]

How about the fact that me and Sam kind of discovered like.

[Liz]

No, that is a dramatic.

[Kelly]

Is it dramatic to say fraud in the industry?

[Liz]

No, Kelly, that's crazy. And I like one, people don't know

[Kelly]

what we're talking about. So can I explain it really fast?

[Liz]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kelly]

So I was doing a Mazda CX90 Tour and Sam kind of like helps me prep for my tours ahead of time. And I was like, hey, Sam, compare this car to the Pathfinder and like, you know, have all the specs handy for me because I feel like these are two good comparable cars. So she pulled all that up and she was like, The Pathfinder has 35 inches a second. Low, low second row legroom. The Mazda CX90 is saying it has 39 inches. Sam's like, I don't know how they're coming up with 39 inches. It must be the way, like the seat, the second row seat is sloped. She's like, that seems crazy to me. And I'm like, no, that seems crazy to me because like, this car is, does not have a bigger row than the second row than the path.

[Liz]

No, we were looking at. I mean, I've driven a Pathfinder. I fit rear fees and car seats in the Pathfinder. I was un. I was tight in the front row of the CX90. I did not like it. I was like, this is not right.

[Kelly]

So we're like, this is so bizarre. And I was like, okay, let me go home and get my tape measure. Because we were trying rear facing car seats and like, things were not fitting. So I get my tape measure and I measure it out and I'm at like 30, like 30 inches. And I'm like, where are these extra nine inches coming up? So then I go to the passenger seat and I move the passenger seat all the way up and I got closer. I think I got to like 37 inches. And I'm like, well, that's still not 39. And that's so stupid. I had to move the seat all the way up. So then I had to actually recline the seat all the way forward. So like to get. And I did get 39 inches when I did that. But like, okay, one, no one is sitting there, not even like to the point where it is unsafe to sit like that. Like, if you showed, I would imagine the owner's manual would advise you would say, you can't sit like that. Like, so it's not, it's not possible. And that's what they're saying is 39 inches. So then we kind of went on down this like rabbit hole being like, okay, so are all manufacturers just doing this? And we found that's not the case. Most of the manufacturers we have checked, it's definitely further up than like how I would sit. But we feel like a person could still sit there. So it's still hard to like compare the specs for you because by the time you get your car seat in your height in there, like it's going to look different on everybody. But for the Mazda to say 39 inches only when the seat is pushed

[Sponsor/Announcer]

all the way forward, when the passenger

[Liz]

seat is pushed all the way forward,

[Kelly]

basically touching the dash to get 39 inches.

[Liz]

And then you can get 39 inches in the rear facing seat or in the second row seat.

[Kelly]

And that's with that second row seat pushed all the way back. So the third row has no leg room either. It is. And here's what, here's what I want to say. Like, I don't know if I just like start campaigning for like to get legislation changed. I'm not sure the buzzwords yet. I'll work on should say up to 39 inches. Yeah, yeah, they should all say that because I don't want to get into like a range even. Because I just think it should say up to this. And I think that although would not fix all the problems. It would at least I would feel like it was more honest. And I'm not coming up with this. Or 9 inches. You can go on Maz's website. That's what it says.

[Liz]

Yeah. It's crazy. It's giving lying.

[Kelly]

And I think the problem is people are in the research phase and they're like looking at second row leg room. And then like they might be taking like they might take the Pathfinder off their list because they'd be like, oh, the Mazda, second row is bigger, let's go look at that one. And it's not, it's not.

[Liz]

It's crazy.

[Kelly]

I'm absolutely floored by it. And I've never really. I think why, why we're just kind of discovering this is because I've never really paid attention to specs because even if it's not like moving the seat up, a lot of legroom has to do with the, the, the shape and the size of the second row seat. So I just never felt like it was all that worth comparing to be honest. Yeah. But I never thought it would require you to literally lose the passenger seat to equal the legroom that they're advertising.

[Liz]

I know. I'm shook crazy. I'm shook crazy.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I don't really know what we do with that information except bring it. Now in our go tour bag we're gonna have Samantha and a tape measure.

[Kelly]

Maybe I tell Clint. Maybe I just, I need to get Consumer Reports on it. That feels like something they should be tackling.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And I do like the Mazda. What's very interesting about Mazda is they're actually incredibly safe cars. I think all of their SUVs are IHS top safety pick pluses. And Consumer Reports actually just named them this safest car brand which is kind of like insane. So this is not to shade like all things Mazda CX90. And again, it's not just a Mazda problem. A lot of these cars are falsely advertising their amount of second row leg room. But not to just like do some self promotion but like it's kind of giving. Like you just have to watch our tours.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Like I genuinely don't know how else you get this information without seeing for yourself how a 6 foot tall driver and a car seat look next to each other.

[Liz]

Yeah, it's crazy. It's insane.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

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[Liz]

Wendy, just like, one quick thing I want to talk about before it's irrelevant. I'm like, normally, do not give a rip about Coachella. I'm like, kind of into the performances this year.

[Kelly]

Oh, I'm. So you brought this up. I. I'm calling it Couch Cella. I'm enjoying Coachella from my couch. I would literally never go.

[Liz]

Never.

[Kelly]

But I. I'm loving seeing the outfits of the people.

[Liz]

I would never go because I would have to find an outfit. That sounds so stressful.

[Kelly]

No, I think it's like in anything goes and I would love to wear a headscarf and it makes sense.

[Liz]

Yeah, sure. I think, like, Sabrina Carpenter is just like, so amazing. I just like love everything that girl does.

[Kelly]

She's not my favorite.

[Liz]

I love, I love the theme that she's created for herself. Like, she just, I think she's super talented. I think she's cute. I think she's fun to watch.

[Kelly]

Yeah, she's not my favorite. I think I actually don't like the vibe and aesthetic that much.

[Liz]

Oh, see, I think it's so cute.

[Kelly]

See, I think it's like. I think if she would just stop dick, it would have been fine. I think she's trying to combine, like, cute and grown up a little too much for my taste.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

If that makes sense.

[Liz]

Whatever.

[Kelly]

Yeah, sorry, Sorry. But conservative Justin obsessed.

[Liz]

Yeah, but everyone's. Everyone's pissed at Justin now because he's being paid $5 million per performance. And they're like, here's the thing. I like Justin's performance. I thought it was cool. People are mad because, like, you see Sabrina's. Sabrina's whole thing, and then Justin comes out with a laptop pulling up YouTube videos, and Sabrina has like a whole full blown.

[Kelly]

I'm sorry performance. I'm sorry. Here. I'll say two things about that. One, right, wrong or indifferent. I want costumes and sets for women. I think it's cringy when men do it. Sorry. Like, I don't need to. I don't need to see Justin Bieber with outfit changes.

[Liz]

And, like, I could see Justin Bieber's a dancer, though. Like, I could stand to see him do a little.

[Kelly]

No, I totally disagree. I loved. I. It was giving. Like, you were in Justin Bieber's living room with him. Like, I'm actually obsessed with the concept.

[Liz]

I actually liked it. And I think that people shouldn't be surprised after what they just saw him do. Where did he roast recently? Like, perform where he's like, literally in his underwear. Like the Grammys or something.

[Kelly]

I don't remember one of those shows.

[Liz]

Like, he's very par down. He's trying to just, like, show his natural talents. Like, I actually wasn't upset with it, but he's been. He's making $10 million off of these performances. And so people are like, that's a lot of money. And you're just gonna, like, stand there and pull up YouTube. So, like, I can kind of see that. But also, like, he's been on hiatus. Like, he's a hard guy to get. Like, if 10 million is his price, that's his price.

[Kelly]

Like, sorry, I would like to see the numbers. And I don't know if you can ever see them, but, like, I don't know. I have seen people go to Coachella who, like, would never go to Coachella. Like, they're going for Justin Bieber. They're not going for Sabrina Carpenter.

[Liz]

No, I, I totally. I. I get that. Like, I don't think Sabrina Carpenter is the same. I'm not saying that she's the same as Justin Bieber at all. I'm saying I really enjoyed her. I think she's. I think she's very fun. I think she's very talented. And I always, like, love to see, like, what new take she has on her, like, little cutesy themes. Yeah.

[Kelly]

So who else is it?

[Liz]

Well, if you look at it like Sabrina Carpenter, then you would hate Addison Rae.

[Kelly]

Oh, yeah, I don't like Addison Rae at all.

[Liz]

She's just, like, so crazy. I'm like, again, I'm like, she's kind of like, here for, like, watching her from afar. I don't know any other songs, but she's just like kind of like crazy and chaotic and I kind of like it.

[Kelly]

No, I don't like Addison Rae. I'm, again, I'm neutral about Sabrina Carpenter. Love Justin Bieber, like, obsessed. My dream headliner for Coachella would be Post Malone. Like, I love Post Malone. Would like to go to Post Malone concert one day in my life. Like, that's kind of. And I'm not even a music or a concert person, but, like, I would go see him. Another person I'm loving who's kind of, who has me, like, one bad day away from cutting bangs, to be honest

[Liz]

with you, is Ella Langley.

[Kelly]

Is Ella Langley.

[Liz]

Yeah, I know. She's so. She's like so of the moment right now.

[Kelly]

And she just had her music video come out. She was in Texas and it was like, star studded. She had the guy from Yellowstone. She had jb, Monty the bull rider. She had Miranda Lambert, like, on this music video. And I was like, watching in the living room with Tyler and I was like, should I cut bangs? I was like, that kind of looks like me. She got brown hair. Like, do I cut bangs?

[Liz]

I don't know. I just think that's a lot of work. But yeah, I think you maybe pull them off. Maybe ask AI to put you with Ella Langley's hair.

[Kelly]

I had bangs as a child.

[Liz]

Okay, well, I think a lot of people did. I'm not sure that translates. Understand.

[Kelly]

I have experience in the space.

[Liz]

Sure, sure, sure.

[Kelly]

I don't know. She's. I'm telling you, her bangs are so cute.

[Liz]

I know, she's. She's really cute. I like her. I like her a lot.

[Kelly]

No, I'm loving her music. She's like my favorite. Like, I've never gotten into, like, the. And this is a hot take. But, like, I've never really gotten into, like, the Megan Moronies of the world. But, like, I'm into Ella Langley. I don't even know why I like one more than the other. Maybe I just like Ella's music better. Maybe she's done better collabs because, like, I love the. Maybe it's because it's like, you know, I feel like now musicians, like, have to create content, have to create music for social media. Maybe just done a good job of that.

[Liz]

Yeah. I don't know. I like her too.

[Kelly]

But, like, I couldn't name one Megan Maroney song. I know what she looks like. I know who she is. But, like, I can name Llingley's catalog. I feel like. And I'm not really seeking out either. I'm not really seeking that out.

[Liz]

No, she's, like, popping up. She's popping up all over my stuff. Like, watched one video too long, and now it's all that I see.

[Kelly]

Isn't that the worst?

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Especially when it's over something that, like, you don't want.

[Kelly]

No, I hate an overly sensitive algorithm.

[Liz]

Yeah, I know.

[Kelly]

There is no more sensitive algorithm, though, than Facebook Marketplace. Never forget when I accidentally looked at a reborn doll. Let me clear this. Are like, American Girl dolls. I'm not on the reborn doll train. And I looked at one because I'm like, is that a real baby? And I looked at it for too long, and then to this day, I still get the occasional reborn doll on my Facebook Marketplace.

[Liz]

I know. It's crazy.

[Kelly]

Horrible.

[Liz]

It's crazy.

[Kelly]

So sensitive.

[Liz]

Yeah, I know. I know. Okay, Cal. Well, I feel like that was enough, like, banter. We can get into our. Unless you have anything else you want to say about industry news, but I do feel like we kind of spilled the hot tea already.

[Kelly]

Well, I did screenshot a story to tell you.

[Liz]

Oh.

[Kelly]

It was about the Subaru Outback. So remember how we reported that, like, the Subaru Outback kind of, like, took away the wagon and kind of just, like, made a different looking forester, essentially?

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And I toured the Outback. You can find my tour. I liked it because I didn't love the wagon look of the last Outback, and I like wagons. I don't know. The Outback just, like, I thought didn't really do it for me, but I recognized how much people loved that car. Anyway, Outback sales, I think it tanked, like, 40 or something like that.

[Liz]

Crazy.

[Wendy Speak]

I know.

[Kelly]

And it's like, you think, like, nobody Knows their audience better than Subaru. I mean, there's like. I mean, it's kind of like their stereotype.

[Liz]

Yeah. And they just didn't. I wonder how the getaway will do.

[Kelly]

Oh, my gosh. Subaru outback sales fall off a cliff last quarter.

[Liz]

That's what the headline says.

[Kelly]

That's when the headline says.

[Liz]

That's tough.

[Kelly]

Just to give you a little bit of reference. Yeah, I think the getaway will do okay. You know,

[Liz]

also, if you're curious to know about the getaway that tours now on YouTube or like, it's like little first look if you want to go see it. Because I was excited to see it.

[Kelly]

I mean, it's good, right? Like, it's surprising.

[Liz]

You liked it a lot.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I did like it a lot. And you know, I mean, gas prices suck. So I do think people might get back to electric cars for a second.

[Liz]

Oh, you know what else I saw? Industry knows. I saw that Hyundai has their, like, fix for the power folding.

[Kelly]

Yes. I saw this as well. And I was getting to make a content about it. I kind of want to get in person and see one, but essentially it just. So Hyundai can do an over the air up. It's over the air. The update.

[Liz]

I don't know.

[Kelly]

I don't know either. I. They were going to try to do an over the air update, so we'll see. But the fix is that, like, it. It's not going to. You have to hold the button the whole time while the seat's laying flat, which is good. And it's crazy because I've critiqued cars in that in the past. And I take it back. I take it back.

[Liz]

Same thing. I thought the exact same thing. I'm like, so many times we've said on our tours, like, oh, it's so annoying to have to hold it. I like it when they just like go all the way down. Wow. Talk about taking back. Talk about eating crow. Like, I'll eat it all day long.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I'll eat it all day. Yeah. Salt and pepper it. I mean, I'm fine. Like, I will.

[Liz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kelly]

Hyundai also has like a new recall out. Like, they had to recall life.

[Liz]

Like, kind of.

[Kelly]

And I'm gonna do. Let me say one more thing before we get turned to view because I'm gonna make a reel about this today. But like, if you're used car shopping, you have to be so careful about recalls because I don't think people realize that cars can be sold with open recalls and even something like this stop sale. This Hyundai that we have going on, you can't buy a 26 Hyundai at a Hyundai store, but if a Toyota store randomly got one as a trade in, they can sell it.

[Liz]

So to check recalls, don't you go to nhtsa?

[Kelly]

So it should appear like on the CARFAX or the auto check, which recalls are there. But yes, you can also go to NHTSA and then like, but you have to be doubly careful because. So there's a, there's a Volkswagen Atlas recall. And there is. It's like on specific, it's on a specific model. It's not a. I don't remember the year or I would give it to you, but hopefully I'll remember it in my reel. But anyway, you go to nitsa, you type in it, it says remedy available. You're like, okay, great. You call Volkswagen that parts out of stock.

[Liz]

Okay. Yeah.

[Kelly]

So recall should not be. Here's what. Recalls should not be a deal breaker depending on what the recall is. Because I'm telling you, there are so many recalls and they are free for you to get fixed. And most of them, most of them are not that big of a deal. Some of them are very big deal. So know the difference and know that it's the dealership, like, is probably not going to fix it. In my experience, I'd like to be wrong. But like, you know, kind of the, kind of like the, the business model of a dealership is you just like, try to turn and burn these cars quickly. So, like, you know, if they get a Ford or, you know, we'll keep the Alice example if they get an Atlas train, Toyota store gets an Atlas trade in, they run it through their shop, they detail the car, they put it on the lot. They may not take it to the Volkswagen dealership to get repaired to be sold.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So. And again, right, wrong or indifferent there, they don't do it. That's probably never going to change. So you just need to know that. You need to know that as the consumer.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Okay. That's your lesson for today, ladies.

[Liz]

All right, well, let's get into our interview with Wendy and also you guys,

[Kelly]

before we get into our interview, we just want to let you know that the interview does contain a lot of talks of fasting, of, you know, not eating until a certain time of day. And Elizabeth and I, I think, are perfect examples of two people who are in very different life phases. I am totally able physically and emotionally to take on this kind of, this kind of fast. This is why I did it. But someone like Elizabeth, I'M pregnant.

[Liz]

I can't allow myself to get hungry. If you're breastfeeding and you need extra calories, like, now is not your time to fast and that's okay. So, like, don't hear that as you should be doing this. Like, you have to do what's best for you in this time of your life. And for some of you, you might hear this and be like, man, I'm convicted. I want to try this. This is the next step for me. And some of you might hear this and be like, this feels so out of touch. Like, how could you even talk about fasting or not eating for a certain amount of time? We're in different phases of our life and both things are fine. If it's not for you, you don't have to listen to it.

[Kelly]

And I promise this, we, we are on our way out. For me, talking about my sugar fast on the podcast, this is kind of. We wanted to get Window. It is. And we wanted to get her on during Lent, but she actually social media for Lent, so that's why this one's a little bit delayed. So this is rounding it out. We're moving on. The micro hobby is micro hobby that's on the shelf after this interview. And it really is a fabulous interview. So we hope you guys enjoy Wendy Speak. Welcome to the carpool podcast.

[Wendy Speak]

Thank you. I'm so excited to be with you guys.

[Kelly]

Okay, so I'm sure everyone knows because I've done nothing but talk about it, but I completed a 40, actually technically a 46 day sugar fast that I have continued on because I have enjoyed so much and for some health issues and just the benefits. And I'm going to, you know, I've talked about it at length, but I found your book, I guess through I saw another influencer posting about it. I can't remember, but you have a book called the 40 Day Sugar Fast. And I liked this idea because I wanted to give up sugar for Lent. Lent's technically 46 days, but Sundays don't count. So it's like 40 days. And I'm like, oh, this could be a really great way to pair. You know, the fact that I wanted to cut out sugar and I wanted to cut out sugar originally because I just wanted to do something really hard for Lent this year. But I didn't really have the. I didn't really know how that was going to help my faith grow. I was just like, this is going to be hard. Let's do something hard. I want to commit to it.

[Wendy Speak]

But.

[Kelly]

But your book does such an incredible job. The fact that so it's a daily devotional and the fact that every single day you can find a different way to talk about this and to share a different perspective is super impressive. So why don't you just tell us a little bit about kind of why you started writing the book or why you started doing sugar fast in general.

[Wendy Speak]

Yes, absolutely. And I love that you're moms and that you speak mostly to moms, because it really started in a conversation to moms. I was writing for a website for moms with other mom bloggers. This was back in the blogging days. And they were specifically moms struggling with anger, like just reactive parenting. And so our first book was actually called Triggers Exchanging Parents Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses. And similarly, it was just one short chapter a day. And we dealt with, well, what are those triggers that are causing you to lose it with your kids? And it was in the same Facebook group that one day I said, hey, what would happen? I mean, it wasn't me trying to be super spiritual, honestly, when it came out of my mouth, what would happen? Or I guess out of my fingers because it was in a Facebook group, what would happen if we sat down sugar for 40 days? Would we be calmer? Would we be kinder? Would we be more consistent with our kids? Maybe even more Christlike? And so I called it, let's do a 40 day sugar fast. And I really wasn't even thinking of a spiritual fast. And we were only a week into it. And just the way we were talking was okay. Instead of turning to another sweetened latte, instead of turning to a leftover brownie to get us through that three o' clock slump, what if we are turning to the Lord? And then it just became profoundly obvious to like the whole group, oh, this is a fast. You're setting down something that's ordinary to fuel you. And you're turning instead to the one who says, hey, come to me when you're weary and heavy laden. Come to me when you're short tempered with your kids. Come to me. I'll give you what you need for life and godliness. I'll give you what you need to get through your days. I'll give you the rest you need and the supply that you need. And that was about 12 years ago now. And since the second year, it became a very focused, oh, this is a spiritual fast. And we talk very little about sugar. Instead, we talk more about what am I turning to to get me through my parenting days. Well, that's where it started. Now it's just my days. And I really, I have more women that join me who are my elder. Like, I get women in their 60s and 70s saying, My doctors told me I should kind of like what you said, Kelly. You know, you had some health things, but you also wanted to do it spiritually and. Yeah, and so I've got women that come for the health and I'm like, yeah, do it for health, but let's pursue Jesus.

[Kelly]

You know, it has been seriously so transformative for me. And I think what I so, I mean, first of all, like, just going back, like to the word of God itself, like, fasting is a very biblical practice. And I think it's a practice that a lot of Christians and Elizabeth and I are Catholic. Catholic as well. Don't, don't do all that often. Like Elizabeth and I, outside of like not doing meat on Fridays during Lent, like, that was the only fasting I had truthfully ever done. But what I really noticed about it is when you do, and I don't even like to use the word deprive because that seems dramatic, but when you do cut things out or deprive yourself, it's kind of like, then you kind of have this like, built in reminder of that. Like when you feel these, when you feel these struggles or these cravings, you can fill it with something. It's similar to like how people in the olden days used to like, tie string on their finger to like, remember to do something. Like, I liked that. When I started to crave something, I was like, okay, like, that's a built in, like, alarm that I need to, you know, reach for the word of God. Take a moment to like, it just, just, it made me more aware of my, my entire, my days and my entire life.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah, I totally agree.

[Kelly]

I.

[Wendy Speak]

And there's even a quote in there that says that hunger pangs are like church bells calling you to prayer.

[Kelly]

Oh, obsessed.

[Liz]

Beautiful.

[Wendy Speak]

Isn't that pretty? That's not. Those aren't my words. I quote someone in it. And I just, I love that because I've learned, I learned so much about fasting in the process of fasting. And that's one encouragement to your listeners is you don't have to figure this out before you do it. Obviously I wrote the book and I didn't figure it out until I was doing it. And every, every year, every time that I do this fast and I have a lot of people that reach out to me and say, okay, I've done it with you every year for 12 years. I've done it with you most of those times, but I also do it throughout the year. And we're all still learning and really we're learning to want God more than we already do. And so the spiritual disciplines, whether that's tithing or reading your Bible, or praying or serving or fasting, they really just, they're part of our sanctification, they're part of our growing up. And what I've learned is that we fast to wet our appetite for something sweeter. Yeah, Especially when we're talking about sugar. But the same is true with social media. We fast from social media sometimes just to reawaken our desire to connect with and get social with God himself. Right. We've got all these people we like, but we've. The one we love takes a back seat. Yeah, totally. We want to love him most.

[Kelly]

Totally.

[Wendy Speak]

So we practice these disciplines to stoke the fire of our affection. And you can't really be have an affection if you don't give him any attention. And so setting down what it is that has your attention helps to stoke your affection and your hunger. And I mean all the metaphors, we can mix them up.

[Liz]

So when you realize how hard it is too to like not look at social media. I haven't given up sugar yet, but it's something I want to do when I'm not pregnant. You're like, wow, I have a dependency on, on something that I shouldn't. It's like probably very, very eye opening. It's, it's, it's probably a little freaky

[Kelly]

sobering. It's a little sobering when you're like. And even I wouldn't have described myself as like, I don't know if I would describe myself as a sugar addict. Like, I wouldn't even say I had a sweet tooth, but I enjoyed sugar at least every day. And yeah, I mean, I mean you have so many. I dog eared a couple of pages in the book because you have so many ways to then. And what I like about the book is you kind of, you know, it is a very much a cold turkey start, which I think is good because you kind of have to just detox your way into it. And the first couple of days are the hardest. You give great support, I think in the early chapters of the book. And then I like that when we get to like, what day did I. This is day 28, you said, I asked those who are fasting with me to consider giving them money they were not spending on sweets to a ministry. And then I'M like, what, another, like, layer of this sugar fast? Because I love iced honey lattes. They're my favorite. They were my favorite thing in the world. And they were like 677 at my coffee shop. And I was going to four to five times a week. And now I don't go anymore. So I'm like. That makes.

[Liz]

The coffee shop has to close, unfortunately.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah. What are you drinking right now?

[Kelly]

So I'll be just donating it to the coffee shop so they stay open. I won't be getting one, but I loved how you. How you build on that. And then I think. I don't remember. Let me see if I can.

[Wendy Speak]

That's actually one of my very favorite days. Sorry, I interrupted you. No, you're right. It's one of my favorite days. And because I host this every January in an online group, and, I mean, some years we have, like, 20,000 people that join. We do big fundraisers for a specific ministry together. And then I've actually traveled to Uganda to see what's happened with those fundraising efforts. And so it's. We. We set down sugar, and God said, okay, I don't really want your sugar. I want your life. And so we have. We've gotten hungrier for him. The things of God, the intimacy that's available to us, you know, when we don't have a fork in one hand, a phone in the other, and we're incessantly, you know, just shoving other things, consuming other things, we start getting hungrier for him.

[Kelly]

Yeah. And then you also. I can't find the chapter off the top of my head. But then you also kind of take it a level deeper, and then you encourage, you know, making a shorter eating window or skipping meals. Even, like, you know, once you kind of need to. To challenge, because there is a level of it, at least in my. At least in my experience. I'm sure it's done for everyone. I felt like after two weeks, it was almost too easy because I wasn't craving the sugar anymore. And I was kind of missing. And it sounds crazy to say that, but I was kind of missing the. The struggle, I guess, you know. So that's where I. Around week three, I started a more restrictive, like, diet for some. For some health reasons, and for this to just, you know, grow even deeper, I guess.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. For the spiritual benefits, you want to feel hunger. And that's why, I mean, most people don't do a sugar fast. But I think in our culture, it's a. It's a Good way to do it because we. We turn to it so much to feel better. Right. To fill our holes. But we should feel that we're. That we're sacrificing something if we're doing it for spiritual reasons. And I say that if you don't, if you get lazy, right. If you're just phoning it in. Right. It becomes more of a diet, and you're resting on the laurels of what you learned spiritually. The first two weeks, I'm gonna go whole 40 days.

[Kelly]

Yes, I totally agree. And I've been very like, I don't. When I've been telling you about this, I'm always terrible. Like, I'm not doing it to lose weight. I'm doing it. Like, my number one reason is I'm doing it for spiritual reasons. I'm also doing it for the reasons of, like, the. The anger that I felt like I was having. And I do think the food, like, wasn't making me. Yeah. Wasn't making me like the woman that God wanted me. The woman or the mother that God wanted me to be. But, yeah, you're right. You've got to be careful for sure to not just see it as a diet. I also liked on day what this is near the end, day 39, you have had a quote.

[Wendy Speak]

But Kelly, Kelly, I actually love it when people sign up to do it because they think it's a diet. So often I'll say, I'll get messages from people. I've tried everything, but I'm willing to try your way. And I'm like, oh, sister.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Wendy Speak]

Like, those are my favorite stories.

[Kelly]

They're like, that's so true.

[Wendy Speak]

I'm going back. My whole family's meeting me.

[Kelly]

That's amazing. That's amazing that. Yeah.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

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[Kelly]

Quince.com Carpool I liked how you said, because I'm a. Because now that I've completed the sugar fast, I do kind of feel like I'm like, okay, so what is life after this fast? Like? I feel really good. I have more energy. I'm. I don't want to go back to who I was. So I'm kind of trying to figure out, like, you know, what my quote unquote rules are. And I liked the quote where you said, instead of setting aside a season to fast, choose seasons not to fast. I thought that was a really interesting. I thought that was a really interesting perspective. Could you kind of, like, share more about what you mean by that or what you would tell someone like me who's finished, loved it, and doesn't really know what to do now?

[Wendy Speak]

Yes, I. Let me say I'm going to use the word fasting here because we could talk about this as a health benefit, and then we can also talk about it as the spiritual benefit. So as a diet, I would say, hey, how are you sleeping? Are you, like, physiologically able to be more stable with your kids? You've got energy to get through your days. Consider that your sleep is better, your emotions are better, your relationships are better, your genes fit better. These are all things to consider. That's great. And so you would say, okay, as a diet, I think I should probably keep this as how I eat, right? I feel better. And I think that's a totally great way to go after this. However, if you're thinking about, wow, that really intensified my spiritual hunger, then it could be as simple as, I've learned to not eat until 11am So I can use that or whatever it is. I mean, if you need food because you don't have the energy to start your day with your family, I'm not talking about that. I mean, choose something that's restrictive to say, I. I'm not going to open the pantry until I've spent time in the word of God. And some people love having their frothy mocha in the morning with their Bible. And so maybe that's part of what you do. But it could be I want to experience some hunger for the Word. Yeah, I'm going to do that. Then I'm going to make my mocha, and I'll have. Maybe I'll journal at that point. So what I found is instead of fasting from sugar and calling it fasting from sugar, I just. I want an. I want a lifestyle where I crave things that are healthy. Not just physically healthy, but spiritually healthy. And if I know that I'm running to something sweet so that I don't have to feel my emotions when I'm struggling with my kids, well, then I'm missing out on the comfort of God. I'm missing out on just the practice of seeking him for the answers. Instead of going from sugar high to sugar high, I start going to the most high. And that's the lifestyle style I want. Not 40 days a year. And so when I say that I fast from fasting, I say, oh, we're going on a trip, a family trip to Florida. Oh, we're going to do this. Oh, this holiday. I love making my mother's lemon bars. I love doing this. And the kids, you know, decorate the cookies for this holiday. And so in a way, it's saying, and now we're going to do this. But I've gotten to the point, and I'm 52 now, so I've got some years on you where I've just hit this. Oh, but when I do that, I end up feeling sick for like a week.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Wendy Speak]

And. And I want to keep doing it every day, like, oh, and now I want another brownie. And now I want another brownie.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

And, oh, we're out.

[Wendy Speak]

I'm going to eat another dessert. And so just always check in with yourself, both spiritually and physically, and say, where am I today?

[Kelly]

Yeah, I think that's great advice. Last question I have for you, which I'm curious just your take, because whenever you talk about whenever. Well, I would share about this sometimes. I kept coming back to the Bible verse from Matthew when it says, when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do. Your father, who sees you, sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And I'm just curious, like, your take on. Because I was very. I enjoyed sharing my journey, but I wasn't trying to do it to, like, brag what I was doing. But I took comfort and I would hope. I mean, I think I inspired some people to do it because I got a lot of messages being like, oh, thanks for telling me about this. Like, I did it. It's helped my life so much. So when is it, like, inspiring and when am I, or when do people need to keep it to themselves, in your opinion?

[Wendy Speak]

Yes, I think there are a couple of answers. First of all, there are so many times in the scriptures where the people of Israel, the people of Judah fast and pray together. It's a community experience. Catholic church says, hey, together we're doing this during the season. So first of all, just like, you're not doing it wrong if you're doing it in community.

[Kelly]

Okay, love that answer.

[Wendy Speak]

And there usually is in community, someone leading. Right, right. And so it's okay to be that leader. One of the things that I do is I do some fast publicly and I do some fasts privately when, when God directs my heart in that. And then I also, speaking of the heart, God really does look at our heart. He really does know our motives there. And so you are an influencer. That is the term that the world use, the secular world uses it. But you're also a Catholic and you love the Lord and you want to encourage other women, mothers, people to also prioritize their faith in this busy season. And this is one of the ways that you were able to do it. I mean, it might have started more as a, okay, I want to do this spiritually, but also health wise. You inspired others to actually set down something that was less good for them and look to the one who's most good for us. And, and there may be times in the fast where the Holy Spirit convicted you, Kelly. Like, you know what, that lesson, let's keep that you and me, let's flesh that out a little together. Sure, sure. And so you just, you take it. But I think it is more about, hey, I am a good person, I'm a good Christian, I'm a good Catholic because I do this. And so you take it publicly. If you were to do that, I would say that's what the scriptures are talking about.

[Kelly]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Wendy Speak]

It's not inviting other people discipline with you.

[Kelly]

No, that's an excellent answer. And I, I love just, even the examples you brought up how there's there, you can, you can do both. Like, and it's okay to do fast together with people, with other women, with other mothers. And then, yeah, I also Think, and I think moving forward, I will take some things privately, especially as my fasts, I think kind of ebb and flow and change a little bit because also I don't want people to because it's also just what works for me. And I feel like I like the idea of the sugar because that's something that like everyone can cut out without probably a lot of major health consequences. But more intense fasts, like smaller eating windows or different diets, those are going to be more on like what you can handle and how you feel. And I think I'll probably keep those more to myself.

[Wendy Speak]

But yes, that's what I found for myself as well. And then because I hear from people the spiritual benefits that when I don't want to make it public, I get convicted by the Lord.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Wendy Speak]

So when you're already seeking me, there are so many people out there that are not. And I want to tell you, Kelly, when you shared the book, it resonated with your readers, I mean, sorry, with your listeners, with your followers, whatever you want to call them, your people. It resonated and I have no doubt that people came to faith, grew in faith, and shared their faith with others as a direct result. So like there was really, really deep fruit there. And so I'm so pleased. I mean, I think of you as a co laborer in this, not just someone who picked up a book and did it. So I mean, if this is something that you weren't sure was it okay if I did this or not? I really, I know that there was fruit there.

[Kelly]

Thank you. Thank you. Liz, do you have anything else? You're just going to join us next?

[Liz]

Yeah, next, next.

[Kelly]

Or you do it in January next time.

[Wendy Speak]

And then also I do, I do it in January.

[Liz]

Maybe I'll do it January.

[Wendy Speak]

But people, people do it all throughout the year. The sugar fast, I do in January. And then I actually, I wrote two different follow up books. One is the 40 Day Social Media Fast, which actually so get this, 500,000 people have bought the Sugar Fast. Wow. 50,000 people have bought the social media fast. What does that say?

[Kelly]

They would rather give up sugar than social media.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah. And I think it's because we're also still in the first generation of really being addicted to our screens and we can't imagine life without it. So there's, I mean we could have a whole conversation. But the other follow up book is called the 40 Day Feast and it really is my favorite because the purpose of fasting is always feasting. It's feasting on the presence of God, the sweetness of God, the word of God, the fellowship with other Christians and not running to. Like I said, you know, the pantry or the freezer, you need that win at the end of the day, fork in one hand, phone in the other, and just consuming, consuming. And so let's feast on the word of God. And it's just. It's been a joy to end up there. That's been the goal that I didn't know I had. Wow.

[Kelly]

Could I give up social media for 40 days?

[Liz]

I saw this. I can't. I can't remember the exact quote, but it was so good. And it was something along the lines of how, like, I scroll through other people's lives instead of living in my own.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And that, like, really. Actually that, like, really stuck with me. It would be hard to give up social media because it's hard. Our job.

[Wendy Speak]

Right.

[Kelly]

That's the struggle for.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

For us.

[Wendy Speak]

But, but, but I remember, Kelly, before I logged off is during Lent, I was off social media, and I actually sent you a message when I saw you sharing, I was like, oh, dude, I want. I want to follow along. But so. But I say to people, well, that's why you were saying on those. What Instagram lives. Okay. I think I'm probably also not gonna do, like, sugar substitutes, and I'm not gonna do honey and maple syrup. Right. And so that's what I tell people. I don't give you it to eat or to not eat. Like, take the details to the Lord. And. And so this is back to you, Liz, about the social media. It's the same thing.

[Liz]

Sure.

[Wendy Speak]

And so if there are people out there that make their living being on social media or they feel like God's called them to do ministry on social media, or you have your kids activities, like they play soccer and that's a Facebook group, and you need to hop on for this and the teacher sends out messages there. Well, then just figure out what it is you need and what it is you don't need and then lay down what you don't need. So you're not doing the. The real scrolling.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Wendy Speak]

It's like, do you really need to be on social media for four hours?

[Kelly]

Yeah, no, totally. That's. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I do. I do like that you give you. I think in the book, you give enough guidelines while still giving you. But by still letting people choose their own adventure a bit. And again, I wanted to go really hard because I was really looking. I was like, I want to be. I want to like, you know, Go

[Wendy Speak]

on my knees to the Lord.

[Kelly]

Like, that's how challenged I want to be. I was just craving that above anything. I wanted to really have some. I wanted to be very, very hard. And it was.

[Liz]

And I.

[Kelly]

But I can't believe, like, I'm not. And I'm, like, not the kind of person, like, my sister can test to this. I've never been, like, that disciplined of a person. I'm just not, believe it or not. And this I was so disciplined. And that is because of the Lord, because I'm telling you, I'm not naturally like that.

[Liz]

No, there's. There's a little bit of that Catholic guilt that's. That slips in there. You know, it's like a diet. You can cheat on. You can't cheat on your relationship. When you're doing it for God, you're like, all right, I can't cheat on

[Kelly]

this because, like, I'll never have meat on Fridays. Like, I, like during Lent. Like, I don't do that. And this felt like every day. I couldn't have meat on Fridays. Like, I did feel that kind of weight with it. Where I get a diet, it's like, well, who's watching? It's like, oh, no. With a sugar fast for the morning.

[Wendy Speak]

I understand that so well. I struggle with that more on social media than with the sugar fast. Sugar fast is like, Jesus, it's just you. And sometimes I do well on the social media fast. Sometimes I'm like, oh, wait a minute, bring it back, Wendy.

[Liz]

It's a little bit more of a gray area there.

[Kelly]

So, Wendy, before you go, we do a segment called Ditch the Drive through, so where we would ask our guests to give us an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get us out of our dinner rut. So after, like, you know, a long day of social media fasting, you gotta get dinner on the table. What are you making?

[Wendy Speak]

Well, actually, it's when you're not social media fasting that it's harder to get.

[Liz]

Exactly.

[Wendy Speak]

And there's the table. Like, oh, no, they're hungry, and everything's in the freezer.

[Kelly]

Yeah, you're right.

[Wendy Speak]

This is for, like, four dinners once a week minimum. Because I have, like, my youngest is still in high school, and he's a water polo player. And you can't feed him enough food so that he's the one I started doing this for is. It's a crock pot shredded chicken. And then I can do anything last minute, anything. Such a good call at the beginning of the week. Usually I would do it when they were young on Mondays and take like the family sized pack back, clean it up if you want. If you're pulling it out of the freezer, that's okay. If you're whatever. And you put the whole pack of chicken breasts. I also have started doing it with chicken thighs which makes them just fall apart. Tender. Oh my word. So good. And then it's just one cup of, of chicken broth, one heaping teaspoon salt, one heaping teaspoon pepper, one heaping teaspoon onion powder, one heaping teaspoon garlic powder. It's a blank flow and let it go. And yeah, it's. It. Yes. And so like I've been into making enchiladas. I've been in. I mean you, I use it for any everything.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Chicken salad, like three or four meals.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Yeah. That's a great chicken salad.

[Wendy Speak]

I love.

[Kelly]

So I need to get back on. I need to do that. And that's a good, that's a great prep. I mean that's just, that's such an easy hands off prep that then can be. Because that's how much time we really have. Like I really only want to spend about like 30 minute meals. That's too long for me. Like I'm looking for like I'm looking to combine ingredients to get dinner together. So I, I need to, I need to do that.

[Liz]

That's a great one. That's a great one.

[Wendy Speak]

And you can do the same with beef.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Wendy Speak]

When I do it with beef, I'll do something like I'll put in a, either a chili or a taco seasoning with the beef broth. So and then you've got it for the week and most of the time it's just you know, a clump of good seasoned meat on top of rice for my, for my big eaters.

[Liz]

Yeah, perfect.

[Wendy Speak]

And I, I would do then this, my salad and just put whatever the meat was on top of that. Cause I'm not a big rice bread pasta girl anymore. It's just changed over the years. But the other one for ditching the drive through. And this is back to you, Kelly, about our drinks and those, you know, what did you say? 674.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Iced honey latte.

[Wendy Speak]

Latte. I'll take my morning coffee. I'll take my morning coffee and I put it in the high powered Vitamix mixer with my scoop of protein powder and it is the frothiest goo, you know, just fabulous mocha and. And now like I can't, I can't have a coffee that's not my protein coffee, and you don't need any other sweetener, so.

[Kelly]

But you put it in, like a. Basically a blender or a Vitamix.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah, I mean, it's. It's. I. I would turn it to show you on the video, but then it would pour out.

[Kelly]

That's a coffee. Coffee.

[Wendy Speak]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

You can do that in a Vitamix.

[Liz]

I don't know why I never thought. I guess. I guess you can do, like, soups and stuff. Yeah. Okay. Okay.

[Kelly]

That's a good one.

[Liz]

That is a good one.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

Okay.

[Wendy Speak]

That'll get you to drive through the Starbucks. Drive through.

[Liz]

Yeah. Thank you so much. This has been so enlightening. We really appreciate you coming on, and yes, thank you sharing the story. I. Since I didn't read the book, I didn't know much about it, so I'm sure a lot of our listeners, like myself, enjoyed the conversation, so thank you so much.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Wendy Speak]

Thank you both, ladies.

[Kelly]

Thank you for listening to the Carpool Podcast with Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed riding with us, tell everybody you know there's room in the car for everyone.