The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
Episode: BAD BUNNY AND NEW BUNNIES
Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Kelly Stumpe & Lizz St. John
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Kelly and Lizz dive into their signature blend of relatable mom banter, beauty and home tips, and their unique take on the latest auto industry news. Topics this week range from resurrecting confidence with at-home beauty routines to coping with the chaos of country living, discussing Super Bowl halftime show choices, and navigating “tattling” as parents. The show also features the launch of their seasonal food segments—Crocktober and November Beef—with a recipe recap and a lighthearted roast of unpopular car design trends. As always, listeners are invited to join in on parenting and pop culture debates.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Beauty "Detail Shop" Segment: Swapping Out of the "Ugly Era"
- Kelly introduces a new recurring segment, the "Detail Shop," inspired by auto detailing but focused on beauty and lifestyle upgrades.
- Naming Woes: Both hosts banter over how ChatGPT failed to come up with segment names that weren’t “so cheugy” or “worse than the last" (01:16).
- Decision: The Detail Shop will only feature tried-and-true swaps they've actually used for weeks.
Highlights:
- Babe Lash Eyelash Serum (Lizz, 04:33)
- “Talk about the long game...It takes, honestly, eight weeks, but then your lashes...I’m fluttering away.” (05:03)
- Not everyone can use it (eye irritation for Kelly), but Lizz is devoted: “Take away anything, leave my Babe Lash.” (05:32)
- IGK Good Behavior Protein Smoothing Spray (Lizz, 06:18)
- Makes hair feel like leaving the salon, especially paired with blow-drying: “It makes your hair feel like the salon...it’s the IGK spray.” (07:02)
- Lizz’s time hacks: blow drying her hair in the kitchen while her toddler eats breakfast (07:33).
- Tarte BB Blur Tinted Moisturizer & Brush (Kelly, 08:14)
- Kelly’s pro tip: buy on QVC for better deals with brush included—"Beauty bundles are so good!" (09:00)
- “Always check other BC stuff is like, so like miss...but the beauty product bundles are so good.” (09:25)
2. Hosting and Mom-Life Chaos
- Kelly recounts being hosted for her nephew’s baptism, learning clever hosting tips (10:25).
- Hot dogs and chili: “She killed it. But what I want to compliment her on the most...” (11:09)
- Kettle corn in cups and glass bottle sodas for kids add a cute and practical party touch.
- Pro tip: Grazing-table snacks don’t have to be complicated to be memorable.
3. Parenting Dilemma: Tattling vs. Telling the Truth
- The hosts genuinely grapple with when to teach kids to report vs. mind their own business:
- “Teaching your kids not to be a tattle, but also teaching your kids to tell the truth. Wow. Really, really interesting balance there.” (13:19)
- Lizz’s rule: Only tell if someone gets hurt (14:28).
- Kelly isn’t sure—should siblings report to her? Leaves the question open to listeners as a “group project.” (15:01)
4. Super Bowl Performer Announcement: Bad Bunny
- Mixed reactions to Bad Bunny as the newly announced Super Bowl halftime act.
- Kelly: “Does nothing for me.” (15:24)
- Lizz mixes up Bad Bunny and J. Balvin (“Are those people different?” 15:54) but holds out hope for a fun show.
- Discussion on needing headline performers with widely-known hits; longing for pop or country stars like Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, or Post Malone (18:08).
- “I’m very curious in the Carpool Facebook group, like, I want to hear people’s thought on if that makes them excited or not...” (18:48)
5. Life on “Stumpe Farms”: New (and Lost) Bunnies
- Lizz introduces her family’s newest pets (19:20):
- One bunny, Buster, has already died— and the kids are sadly accustomed:
“Our kids are kind of used to—it was George’s bunny because George has had a lot of lizards and frogs and snakes die...” (20:21) - The realities of country living—wildlife in the basement, animal losses, and the normalization of it for their kids.
- “When you live in the country, like—you have wolf spiders and ring snakes in your basement. I just get to the point where I vacuum them up, like they’re just...dead in our basement all the time.” (20:34)
- One bunny, Buster, has already died— and the kids are sadly accustomed:
6. Segment News: "November Beef" and "Crocktober"
- Excitement over episode segments:
- November Beef: A listener-suggested “no ban beef” month—Kelly proclaims “ChatGPT could never come up with this.” (24:16)
- Crocktober: Crockpot recipes all October; first recipe: chicken and dumplings (25:04).
- Recipe rundown (26:22): chicken, cream soup, veggies, refrigerated biscuits—very freezer-friendly and great for families.
- Real-time cooking tips: “It’s an active crockpot recipe, this is a Sunday afternoon one.” (27:04)
- All recipes and notes will be posted in their Facebook group and via email.
7. Auto Industry News: Car Design Trends that "Need to Die"
- Lizz presents an Edmonds article, and both critique design trends:
- Overly Minimalistic, Screen-Dominated Cabins
- “They're girl-bossing too close to the sun...It’s just too much.” (29:19)
- “I want to feel the luxury...not just computer screen.” (30:23)
- Light Bars and Illuminated Grills
- Both are underwhelmed: “Feels like a cop-out...get more creative, don’t just throw a light bar on.” (31:35)
- Piano Black Trim
- Hated for fingerprints: “Shows every smudge and smear...so bad.” (32:18)
- Glass Roofs That Don't Open or Have Sunshades
- Complaints about impracticality, especially in luxury cars.
- Cars with No Sunglass Holders
- “I get we removed CD players. But everyone still uses sunglasses and needs a place to put them!” (34:17)
- Overly Minimalistic, Screen-Dominated Cabins
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Beauty Segment Naming:
- Lizz: "At its core, [ChatGPT's] so cheugy, so chewy." (01:33)
- On Country Life:
- Kelly: “When you live in the country, like—you have wolf spiders and ring snakes in your basement...I just get to the point where I vacuum them up, like they’re just dead in our basement all the time.” (20:34)
- On Hosting Parties:
- Lizz: “She had an app out when people were there and it was kettle corn, but she had this cute little trough that it was in...” (12:11)
- On Bad Bunny Super Bowl News:
- Kelly: “Does nothing for me.” (15:24)
- Lizz: “Are those people different?” (15:54)
- On Car Design Trends:
- Lizz: “They’re girl-bossing too close to the sun...” (29:19)
- Lizz: “I want to feel the luxury instead of...just feeling like, computer screen, computer screen, computer screen.” (30:23)
- On Crocktober Recipes:
- Kelly: “This is a home run. And this is the one that’s going to get your kids to eat veggies. It’s chicken pot pie.” (35:57)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Beauty "Detail Shop" Segment – 01:16 to 10:10
- Hosting & Party Tips – 10:24 to 12:59
- Parenting Dilemma on Tattling – 13:16 to 15:08
- Super Bowl Halftime Performer Debate – 15:08 to 19:07
- Introducing New Bunnies at Home – 19:18 to 21:07
- Segment Discussion: November Beef & Crocktober – 23:44 to 28:55
- Industry News: Car Design Trends – 28:59 to 35:08
- Wrap-Up & Listener Action Items – 35:33 to end
Listener Action Items / Calls to Engage
- Try the Babe Lash serum if looking for a beauty boost (“could change your life!” 35:33).
- Join the parenting discussion: How do you handle tattling vs. truth-telling with kids? (15:01)
- Chime in with opinions on Bad Bunny as Super Bowl performer—agree or disagree with the hosts (18:48).
- Tag @thecarmom in your Crocktober chicken and dumplings creations.
- For recipe details and community fun, sign up for their newsletter or join the Facebook group.
The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz once again balances laughter, realness, and practical insight—whether you're searching for beauty upgrades or commiserating over parenting, parties, or car features, this episode has a seat for everyone in the minivan.