CAR FEATURES NOT WORTH THE HYPE

Summary

Summary of "CAR FEATURES NOT WORTH THE HYPE" Episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Release Date: March 27, 2025

In the episode titled "CAR FEATURES NOT WORTH THE Hype," hosts Kelly Stumpe and Liz St. John delve into a variety of topics ranging from personal life updates to in-depth discussions about automotive features. This detailed summary captures the essence of their engaging conversation, highlighting key points, insights, and notable quotes.

---

1. Personal Life Updates and Home Renovations ([00:58] - [07:00])

The episode kicks off with Kelly and Liz sharing updates about their personal lives, particularly focusing on Kelly’s ongoing roof replacement project.

Kelly shares her frustration with choosing a new roof color:
"I just pulled up and it's about a fourth of the way done. And it's like a very light gray, though. So I'm kind of having a little bit of just like, did I make the right decision?"
[02:34]

Liz empathizes, noting the challenges of neighborhood dynamics:
"They have it all. If you have one in your area... it's an incredible."
[03:55]

The sisters discuss the complexities of living in established versus new construction neighborhoods, highlighting issues with Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and the increasing drama in online community groups.

Liz comments on neighborhood interactions:
"These new developments with HOAs and trustees and ring cameras are causing issues."
[05:58]

---

2. Car Comparisons and Features ([07:00] - [17:00])

Transitioning to their automotive expertise, Kelly and Liz compare different full-size SUVs, specifically the Suburban, Expedition, Tahoe, and Yukon.

Liz praises the aesthetic functionality of her Expedition:
"But you can't touch my Expedition bench seat. The functionality for four kids. You can't touch it."
[01:08]

They delve into the spaciousness and practicality of these vehicles, with Kelly expressing admiration for the Suburban’s larger trunk capacity:
"The Suburban trunk felt so much bigger."
[10:24]

Liz discusses the importance of certain features, leading to a broader conversation about which car features are genuinely beneficial versus those that may not warrant the investment.

---

3. Upcoming Events and Certifications ([12:00] - [17:00])

Kelly and Liz talk about their involvement in local events, particularly the Joint Baby Fair (JBF) Sale in St. Louis, a favorite annual event where parents can buy and sell baby products.

Liz enthuses about the event’s popularity and variety:
"It's like yard sale meets like once upon a child."
[12:38]

Kelly shares her excitement about her upcoming Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) certification:
"I'm getting my final CPST certification this week... checking real people's car seats."
[14:37]

They promote their participation in these events, encouraging listeners to join and support.

---

4. Content Consumption and Recommendations ([17:00] - [22:00])

The conversation shifts to their personal content consumption habits and podcast recommendations.

Liz recommends the Good Guys Podcast featuring Drake Bell:
"It's really like a full circle moment for someone who loved Drake and Josh and then saw that documentary and was like heartbroken for Drake."
[17:01]

Kelly shares her latest content projects, including her struggles with creating engaging social media reels, particularly for Nap Time Kitchen.

They also discuss the importance of mental health, with Kelly briefly mentioning the Rula therapy service advertisement included in the episode.

---

**5. Advice Segment: Recommended TV Shows for Coping with Separation ([19:59] - [22:00])

Responding to a listener’s question about TV show recommendations to cope with a spouse’s deployment, Kelly and Liz offer their insights.

Liz suggests:
"Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives, 100%."
[20:56]

Kelly adds her perspective on other shows:
"I couldn't get into Gilmore Girls. I thought it was too cheesy."
[21:07]

They discuss the merits and downsides of various "girly" shows, providing a balanced view to help listeners find comfort in their viewing choices.

---

6. Car Features Not Worth the Hype ([22:00] - [29:00])

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting car features that Kelly and Liz believe are overrated or unnecessary for the average driver.

Liz starts the conversation by referencing a viral post about unwanted car features:
"The common problem in my old neighborhood was the dog poop stations..."
[07:03]

They focus on specific features:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay:
  Kelly expresses frustration:
  "I just don't like it. Like, I'm a passenger princess a lot. I'm always getting places early and then I want to scroll my phone."
  [25:03]
  Liz concurs, adding:
  "Something that I don't think is worth the hype is wireless chargers."
  [24:48]

• Auto Hold and Massaging Seats:
  Kelly dismisses Auto Hold:
  "I never use it."
  [25:29]
  Liz appreciates it, highlighting differing preferences:
  "Love auto hold... Tyler hates it."
  [25:32]

• Kick-to-Open Tailgate and Remote Start:
  Both express skepticism and disappointment with these features due to their unreliability and lack of necessity.

• Sunroofs and Blind Spot Cameras:
  Liz values blind spot cameras:
  "I like a really good blind spot camera."
  [27:54]
  Kelly is less enthusiastic about sunroofs, citing personal disinterest:
  "I find myself closing it often."
  [27:21]

---

7. Ditch the Drive Thru and Food Bloggers ([29:00] - [35:00])

In the latter part of the episode, Kelly and Liz explore the concept of "Ditch the Drive Thru, Take Them a Meal March," an initiative encouraging people to prepare and deliver meals instead of using drive-thru services.

They recount their experiences with food bloggers and the various meal recipes shared:

Liz describes dishes shared by food bloggers:
"Carol Chambers makes beef basil bowls with coconut ginger rice."
[33:06]

Kelly humorously shares her failed attempt at creating a reel for the initiative:
"Everything was filmed in slow mo, but I was in a rush when I was doing it, so it's just not very good."
[30:19]

The hosts express admiration for food bloggers’ dedication and creativity, despite their own challenges in keeping up with such culinary projects.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Kelly on Roof Color Decision:
  "I just pulled up and it's about a fourth of the way done. And it's like a very light gray, though. So I'm kind of having a little bit of just like, did I make the right decision?"
  [02:34]

• Liz on HOA Issues:
  "These new developments with HOAs and trustees and ring cameras are causing issues."
  [05:58]

• Liz on Auto Hold Feature:
  "Love auto hold... Tyler hates it."
  [25:32]

• Kelly on Wireless Apple CarPlay:
  "I never have the right case. I can't do wireless charging. Like, it just. I like to plug in."
  [25:03]

• Liz on Food Bloggers:
  "I'm so inspired by food bloggers."
  [34:26]

---

Conclusion

In "CAR FEATURES NOT WORTH THE HYPE," Kelly and Liz blend personal anecdotes with their automotive expertise to provide listeners with relatable content and insightful critiques of modern car features. Their candid discussions encourage listeners to evaluate which features truly add value to their driving experience versus those that may be superfluous. The episode underscores the importance of prioritizing practicality and personal preference in car ownership, all while maintaining the lighthearted and supportive dynamic that define The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz.

Transcript

[Kelly]

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Mario's Bistro.

[Liz]

The special tonight is the beef carpaccio.

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[Podcast Host]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly.

[Liz]

If I wanted a big car and only had two kids. No, I probably would buy. I'd probably buy a GM car over the expedition.

[Kelly]

Yeah, it was.

[Liz]

But you can't touch my expedition bench seat. The functionality for four kids. You can't touch it.

[Podcast Host]

And Liz.

[Kelly]

It never has worked for me. No, it's never worked.

[Liz]

Okay, well, I can eat you.

[Kelly]

Okay. Okay. Why don't you teach me? It's gonna work for me. And I've googled it, but okay.

[Podcast Host]

Your mom time off. Start now.

[Liz]

Welcome back to the Carpool Podcast with.

[Kelly]

Kelly and Liz and the carpoolers and everyone. And my dogs and my roofers. Because I'm recording a podcast while my roof is getting replaced and my dogs aren't happy about it. But the show must go on.

[Liz]

I mean this in the nicest way possible. Like, your old roof was so ugly.

[Kelly]

No, for sure. Here's what happened. My house is 30 plus years old. My roof was 20 years old. Like, we couldn't even. When we bought this house, we couldn't even get insurance to cover our roof because it was in such bad shape. So we knew we had to get it replaced. Now, at some point during the past 30 years, my brick home was painted white brick. It was originally red brick. So at one time, I had a red roof and a red brick house, I suppose. And then someone painted the. The brick white, which is beautiful, but left the heinous red roof. It contrasted so poorly with the beautiful white brick.

[Liz]

Yeah, it just like, didn't go, I think changing into Like, a lighter gray is going to be such the vibe.

[Kelly]

I just pulled up and it's about a fourth of the way done. And it's like a very light gray, though. So I'm kind of having a little bit of just like, did I make the right decision?

[Liz]

Well. And don't you feel like roofs. It's like the whole point of a roof is not to notice it. You know what I mean? Except yours was, like, so ugly. That is all you noticed, huh? But I just think, like, think about someone's house, you know, and think about if you know what color their roofs. Their roof is.

[Kelly]

Like, I'm thinking about the neighbor. My best friend growing up. She was our neighbor. Stared at her house for 18 years. Can't think of what the color of the roof is, Right?

[Liz]

What color is their roof?

[Kelly]

What color is their roof?

[Liz]

That's just roofs.

[Kelly]

I know that's just roofs. But it's also crazy because the roofing guy came by and he's like, here are some samples. Which one you want? And I was like, I kind of like these two. And he put them against my house. He's like, which one? And I was like, can I have some time to think about it? And he's like, well, we gotta order the materials. It's like, how are you just supposed to know what color is gonna look? They gave you a tiny sample. And it's like, it is such a big part of your house, actually. And it's also expensive because again, this was not covered by insurance at all because it was in such bad condition when we bought the house.

[Liz]

When we. We had a hail storm, like, probably two years ago while we were still in our old house. And so we got new siding and new roof from a hail storm, like.

[Kelly]

Hey, oh, hey, oh.

[Liz]

And it was a really fun transition time for our neighborhood because at my old. My old house, it was very much like a, you know, just like your classic, like, new development neighborhood. But it was. Everything was 20 years old, so they didn't have, like, all the fun, like, siding colors, trending siding colors that we have now, like, blue. Like, you know how everyone's using that blue? Maybe that's just where we live. But, like, everyone's doing, like, a blue siding. So when this halo storm came through, people started to, like, do these, like, new trendy sighting colors, like a green or a blue or, like a dark gray that, like, worn around, like, everyone had a crash. Not just beige. We kept with the beige because we kept with the beige. And I think I literally chose the Exact same color roof. Because Tyler found someone who could start immediately. And they literally texted me, like, you have to decide because we're at the material store right now. Yeah, I don't think they care.

[Kelly]

No, they don't.

[Liz]

And maybe it's just not that big of a deal, you know, maybe it's.

[Kelly]

Not because I posted on my Instagram and everyone was like, just go with, like, black or, like, the darkest gray that's just, like, not noticeable. So I didn't do that. So hopefully I don't regret.

[Liz]

So glad you asked.

[Kelly]

But, yeah, I was more lucky hoping more people were going to validate me and less people validated me than I was hoping for. And I still went against their wishes. So whatever, we'll see. It will be on me. But you know what? Something about those, like, new construction neighborhoods. I was talking to someone the other day, and they used to live in a new construction neighborhood, as did I. And she was like, we had to move. Or part of the reason we moved was there was just, like, so much drama, like, in the Facebook groups and in the neighborhood. And I was like, there was so much drama in my new construction neighborhood and in the Facebook. Facebook groups. That was not why we moved. But is that just a thing? Maddie and I were talking about it, like, now we live in an established neighborhood with maybe some, like, older neighbors who maybe aren't on Facebook, but those, like, newer constructions that attract a lot of young families. The Facebook group is out of control.

[Liz]

No, it's a good question. Because, like, a 1960s neighborhood, like, built houses, no one's on Facebook. Everyone's just waving to their neighbors. These new developments with HOAs and trustees and ring cameras are causing issues. They're causing issues. I still belong to my old neighborhoods.

[Kelly]

So do I. I just like to keep up.

[Liz]

I like to keep up. And they're having major issues with the trustees. And then all of the neighbors got together, and it was called a residence meeting, and they didn't invite the trustees.

[Kelly]

That's so drama.

[Liz]

And the trustees are like, hey, if you. Why don't you guys just run? Like, we have an open trustees position. And, like, if you guys hate how we're doing it so bad, run. I was like, no, I just couldn't. It's just. People are crazy.

[Kelly]

It's. People are crazy. And actually, if you live in one of those neighborhoods that have those, like, a really dramatic Facebook group, will you send me the thread on Totally. Email to hello, the Karma official dot com. I think it'd be really interesting to read the common problem in my old neighborhood was the dog. The dog poop stations. Oh, my gosh. It was out of control.

[Liz]

Well, you know, everyone comes out at the 4th of July complaining about the fireworks.

[Kelly]

Everyone's fine. Complaining about the fireworks on the 4th of July as if they don't happen every single year. Anyway. I kind of miss it. It's too quiet over here. Well.

[Liz]

And, you know, now my only neighbor is the chicken and the cows.

[Kelly]

Yeah. So not much going on.

[Liz]

No. But I've. We honestly have more friends now, even though we don't have like quote unquote, next door neighbors in this area than we did in our old neighborhood where we could see like 100 houses.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

We just sound like a good pocket of people out here, though.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Liz]

I think it's kind of the vibe. But anyway, Elizabeth and I have such a slammed week, so in a way, this, I mean, and I'm really like, not one to complain, but just like so many opportunities coming to head this week, mainly with cars and events and filming things. So we just spent some time. My friend got a brand new Suburban 2025 Suburban, high country.

[Kelly]

Beautiful. Wow. Wow.

[Liz]

White on brown interior, I think is the best. I think I'm not ready to lock it and say it's my favorite color combination. White on brown.

[Kelly]

Yeah. I think dark brown. I think the neutrals, I think most. I think most people would agree.

[Liz]

Do you almost like it better than white on tan?

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Do you like tan? Yeah.

[Kelly]

No, I like the safety. Brown offers the safety of black without being black.

[Liz]

But don't you love like black on tan?

[Kelly]

Black on tan? No.

[Liz]

Black exterior, light interior.

[Kelly]

I don't. It's good. I like a lighter. I like interior outside of black. But I like brown more than. More than like a beige tan. But it was beautiful. Kelly, I really hate to say this to you. The infotainment and like the cockpit, it's like much better looking than the Expedition.

[Liz]

Oh, I totally agree with you.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And I. Sometimes people think I don't like the Suburban Yukon Tahoe and I actually love them. They just aren't as car seat friendly as an Expedition. Yeah, but if I wanted a big car and only had two kids. No, I probably would buy. I'd probably buy a GM car over the Expedition.

[Kelly]

Yeah, it was.

[Liz]

But you can't touch my Expedition bench seat. The functionality for four kids. You can't touch it. I would literally never, never do the serving with my current car seat setup ever. It wouldn't work. There's no lawmakers in the Third row, like, it just doesn't work for me. And I like to have booster seats with latch attachments. So that's, that doesn't work for me. Anyway though, super enjoyed it. Tours coming soon. I mean, it's great. And it was crazy how much bigger. So like when you think. And let's just like educate everyone for a second. So like the full size SUVs, right? That's the Expedition Tahoe, Yukon. Well, all of those have extended wheelbase versions. So in the Expeditions, the Max, in the Yukon it's called the Yukon xl. And in the Tahoe, in the Chevy Realm, it's called the Suburban. The Suburban, of course, is like, I think it's actually 15 inches longer than the Tahoe. The Suburban Trunk versus my Expedition Max trunk felt significant. The Suburban trunk felt so much bigger.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

What is it? I think it's like six more cubic feet or something. I mean, it was, it was, it felt substantial.

[Kelly]

It did, yeah. I agree.

[Liz]

So that was nice. That was nice to see.

[Kelly]

Wonderful wagon in it. And like, that wagon is so big, Kel.

[Liz]

I don't get it.

[Kelly]

I don't have a wagon and you were going to give me that one and I honestly don't think I want it. Like, I think I want a cheapo one from Amazon that folds up and is light.

[Liz]

I don't. And this, please, this is just me. Similarly to like, I know people love wagons. I could see how if I lived in a walkable area, I might like the wagon, but I would have to take the wagon everywhere I went. Like, I don't know. I struggle because my kids just aren't that big of stroller people. Like, I would never need outside of a double stroller because two of my kids would want to walk.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I just don't know. I don't know. I've never used a wagon. I just, like, I honestly need to be educated on wagons. So I would just love to hear from, I would love to hear from the, from the class. Like, what does everyone think about wagons?

[Liz]

What does everyone think about wagons in, in what capacity? And when are you using them?

[Kelly]

I want to know when you're using them. I want to know which one you have. And like, honestly, that one was so heavy and big that it, it feels like a deal breaker and I'm sure it wasn't cheap. It feels like a deal breaker for me. And I'm just wondering if maybe just a fold up Amazon one is the move. I don't know. I would be curious to know. It's a question.

[Liz]

I Know, I'm not sure either Liz.

[Kelly]

But I'm sure that will spark good discussion. So anyway guys.

[Liz]

Okay, so anyway, all to say is then but speaking of wagons tomorrow, which is Wednesday so unfortunately it will be passed by the time this podcast episode comes out tomorrow. Elizabeth and I, it's one of our favorite days of the year. We have one of our favorite events of the year and it is the JBF sale in St. Louis. Just stands for dust between friends and think yard sale meets like once upon a child.

[Kelly]

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So they get a bunch of people in St. Louis can donate. Not not sorry not donate. Can sell their baby products. So strollers, clothes, toys, books, shoes and anything at cribs. Anything baby related. You can come and you can there. It's a huge warehouse and they set it up and if you're one of the sellers, if someone buys it then you get you know a some of the money and it is like our favorite day of the year. It is our Olympics. It is so amazing and so much fun.

[Liz]

They, they have it all. If you have one in your area. Here's what, here's, here's my advice because we've been going to them for a while now and full transparency. We. They let they reach out to like some local influencers. So we go, they like, we go at like they sell like a 20 you have to pay to get in. But you they sell like a 10, a 15 to 20 ticket on Wednesday. Which is when we go which is when they invite the influencers too. And it's totally worth paying for that. Like, like my sister in law goes every single year to this and like she will buy that ticket because if you don't get in early, like you want to get in before it's too picked through.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And it's incredible. Yeah, I have found clip clop castles there before. Now the pricing, I'll also give this transparency. The pricing's a little all over the place because there's the option where the, the people selling can price their stuff or they can price for you. And like some days you'll pick up something and it's a dollar and then you'll pick up like a similar Item and it's $15.

[Kelly]

Like you'll pick up the same item. Like I was, I remember I was looking at mirrors for the back of the seat and literally one was $3 and one was 15 and it's just, it just. So yeah, you got you. It's. They're all over the place. But you gotta, gotta pick through it.

[Liz]

So we have JBF sale this week. So fun.

[Kelly]

And Easter's right around the corner and I am. I have my all day. I'm getting my final certif CPST certification this week, so I have an all day class in person at Cardinal Glennon. And then on Saturday I have to go work a car seat event and I'm like checking real people's car seats.

[Liz]

So fun. Do you want to share the event so people will come, like, see you?

[Kelly]

Oh, gosh. What's. What? It's. It's at the Chick Fil A and Creve Core.

[Liz]

Really?

[Kelly]

What time it is?

[Liz]

Should I cameo?

[Kelly]

Should you. Should I just like show up? Kel, what if we could. What if we could check together? That would be so cute. Anyway, I already.

[Liz]

I've already done all my required checks for the year though, so.

[Kelly]

But now we can do them together.

[Liz]

That's true.

[Kelly]

How fun. I'm so excited to have my CPS certification. I've learned so much and it feels good.

[Liz]

Yeah. Good. I'm so proud of you.

[Kelly]

Thanks. Today's episode is brought to you by Rula. Years ago, I was my most anxious and I considered therapy, but found the search for the right therapist so daunting that I never actually went through with it.

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[Kelly]

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[Kelly]

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[Kelly]

Today you deserve quality care from someone who cares. You don't wake up dreaming of McDonald's fries. You wake up dreaming of McDonald's hash browns. McDonald's breakfast comes first. Kel, we haven't done this segment in a while, but content were consuming. I have listened. Okay, so the second part comes out today. So I have or comes out on this day. So I haven't listened to it yet. But I don't listen to the Good guys podcast. But the Good Guys podcast is Ben Soffer, which is Claudia from the Toast Husband, and Josh Peck. They get Drake Bell on the podcast in the way that I like, who didn't love Drake and Josh growing up. But if you saw that documentary quiet on set, it's all about like Nickelodeon kids and sort of what they went through when they were on set and like, horrible, horrible, horrible, worst thing you can imagine. Story from Drake Bell essay. Terrible, terrible, terrible. And he talks about all of this on this Quiet on set documentary. And like, nobody knew about this ever. Like, it came out and it came out, I think, like last year or so. And so they have Drake on the podcast and him and Josh just kind of talk about what it was like filming and they kind of get into what Drake has gone through. And it's just. It's really like a full circle moment for someone who, like, loved Drake and Josh and then saw that documentary and was like heartbroken for Drake and anyone else who was affected. And now it's like you have Drake and Josh together. Talking about is a really good listen.

[Liz]

Okay, I have not listened. I also didn't see that documentary, but I was familiar with, like, the things that came out. And I'm gonna add it to my plate. I'm a little behind on my. I have a lot of podcasts on my plate right now.

[Kelly]

What are you consuming?

[Liz]

Well, you know, I have stopped. I know I've like, kind of made it my personality, but I've stopped using my phone after 7pm on. And so I've been watching a lot of like, I haven't been like, listening or like scrolling or anything, but I've been just watching a lot of like, comfort tv. Like I started watching the Kardashians again.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And nothing happens. Yeah, nothing happens. But I just find some comfort in it.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Or just like, you know, watching reruns of like, How I met your mother. Like, I don't know, I even watched. I watched the Megan docu, the with love Megan show.

[Kelly]

Did you watch it? Yeah, I haven't watched it.

[Liz]

Yeah, I watched that. So I'm just. Yeah, I'm not really consumed. I'm really, like, just kind of being alone with my own thoughts lately, to be honest.

[Kelly]

I do that a lot.

[Liz]

Totally.

[Kelly]

I think it's a good place to be sometimes. Actually, that reminds me, I did pull an advice question and kind of goes along with this topic. So if we could just answer it for Jen, she says hi. Kelly and Liz, longtime car mom, crew member, and loyal carpooler. My advice question is certainly not car related, but one I really trust y'all with. My husband just got deploy deployed and will be gone for seven months. We regularly watch TV at night together after the kids go to bed to unwind. And I can't slash, don't want to continue watching our shows without him. Totally. I'm looking for this opportunity to watch some girly shows that I haven't seen before. Could you give me some recommendations? I know you both recently watched In Love, Desperate Housewives. Anything else I should add to my list? I feel like there's a lot of iconic girly shows I haven't seen. Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries. Thanks for the help keeping me sane. Ladies. Love the pod. So I could go first of all, Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl and desperate housewives, 100%.

[Liz]

And after vampire Diaries, the originals, it's actually better. The originals is actually so. The originals, like the original vampires who created Vampire Diaries, it's actually better than Vampire Diaries. But you're older.

[Kelly]

You watch that after you watch vampires.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Vampire Diaries will get you a really long way. And honestly, I could not get into Girl Gilmore Girls. I thought it was too cheesy.

[Liz]

I think it's horrible. I. And I'm sorry. I think if you grew up with it, I could see how it could be like your comfort show. But to watch it with fresh adult eyes, it's so cheesy.

[Kelly]

I don't. I could not get into it. I've tried so many times because people love it. It's not for me.

[Liz]

I don't like the characters.

[Kelly]

I don't like the characters either.

[Liz]

I can even handle some cheese. But no, I don't. I think the characters are, like, really tough.

[Kelly]

Yeah. So it's not for me. I love New Girl. Honestly, me and Maddie both really like New Girl, so I wouldn't even say that's like a totally girly show. And you like that new show with. What's it called?

[Liz]

Something Point running so good.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I feel like that's a pretty solid list.

[Kelly]

That's. That will. Honestly, that'll get you through seven, but.

[Liz]

Emphasis on Desperate Housewives is the best show out of all of those shows, you think, what season are you on?

[Kelly]

I think three.

[Liz]

You are crawling Elizabeth Kelly.

[Kelly]

But I just, I'm trying to think about how iconic it was when I saw Vampire Diaries for the first time. Like, and Gossip Girl.

[Liz]

Like, yeah, but you were younger than that.

[Kelly]

Might be tough to watch now without, like, the Blake Lively of it all.

[Liz]

But I don't know, I think that. Yeah, I don't know. That is kind of hard. Like, iconic shows, I just can't wait to like, one day watch them with my teenage daughters. Some of them. Some of them we won't watch together.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I always think about that during COVID Maddie and I watched all of the Avengers, like, movies in order. And I just, I can't wait to re watch those with James when he's a teenager. They're so good. So.

[Liz]

All right. Anyway, I kind of had a post go viral recently, and it was a good. You know, like, sometimes, like, you make a post and it's like, why did that one go viral? And sometimes you're like, oh, that was niche. This will help this. This was a good one. Well, mine was about a car feature that I just don't think is worth the hype. And my answer was Apple CarPlay because wireless Apple. Sorry, totally. Wireless Apple CarPlay because I just don't like it. Like, I'm a passenger princess a lot. I'm always getting places early and then I want to scroll my phone. I just, I don't. Like, I'm not even that big of a Bluetooth girl. Like, I know that's crazy, but, like, I just don't like things to connect unless I want them to connect. So I just plug my phone in. Also, my phone's always dead. I use a loopy case. I can't do wireless charging. Like, it just. It is what it is. I like to plug in. But then it kind of got me thinking, like, and a lot of the comments were other features people just didn't like. And I think sometimes as a car reviewer or as someone who sees a lot of people car shopping, there's all these features out there that in my opinion, just are not worth the hype. And I'm not saying they're a deal breaker, but I think, you know, to the average person who is in like maybe a. A 5, 6, 7, 10 year old car coming to the, you know, coming back to the car market after several years curious in what some of these new features are, I think we should tell them the ones that, in our opinion, are not worth the hype.

[Kelly]

I agree. So I totally am with you on the wireless of it all, for all of the reasons that you have stated.

[Liz]

And apparently if you are about the wireless life, I've never tried it, but I have heard firsthand from people I trust amazing things about these wireless Apple CarPlay adapters you can buy on Amazon. I don't know. Oh, to me, I think. To me, I think wireless Apple CarPlay is glitchy enough. I can't imagine an Amazon device doing it better, but what do I know?

[Kelly]

Totally. Something that I don't think is worth the hype is wireless chargers. Because I'm with you, I never have the right case. I. In my experience, it doesn't charge fast enough charges.

[Liz]

I think wireless chargers are stupid.

[Kelly]

I think they're stupid, too.

[Liz]

I don't.

[Kelly]

Again, I'm always plugging in because I don't like wireless Apple CarPlay.

[Liz]

And even, like, there's also been times where it's like, oh, I don't have a charger. My phone's on 5%. It's like, okay, my car is a wireless charger, and every time I turn it falls off the charger. And then I, like, don't know when it's charging or not. I don't get the wireless charging at all. At all. That's a really good one.

[Kelly]

Something that I don't use that I know you love is I never use auto hold.

[Liz]

Oh, you're wrong for that.

[Kelly]

I never use it.

[Liz]

Love auto hold. Tyler hates it, though. Like, Tyler gets mad every time he gets in my car and I have auto hold on.

[Kelly]

Yeah, it doesn't do much for me.

[Liz]

A feature that I just don't think is worth it. Is massaging seats okay in the sense, like, if your car came with it, great. I wouldn't spend. If it's like a thousand dollars for the next package not worth it.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I agree. I can. I can certainly live without them.

[Liz]

Totally.

[Kelly]

Can't live without a heated seat.

[Liz]

Definitely not.

[Kelly]

So totally. I think, like, the features. If you're looking at a new car and like you said, there's so many new features out here. Which ones should I get? Heated seat. If you're in. If you're in the climate that would require a heated seat, ventilated seats are fine. They don't do much. Those don't do much for me either because they kind of make it feel like you've peed, which is a really weird sensation. If you know, you know, I like a ventilated seat. Does not do. It's not a Deal breaker for me.

[Liz]

Me neither. But I mean, either.

[Kelly]

Yeah, look, let's say tailgate. Can't live without.

[Liz]

Can't live without. Kick to open tailgate. Stupidest thing I've ever. Never, never used. It never works.

[Kelly]

Definitely don't need.

[Liz]

And like, when I used to, like, it's just. There's nothing more frustrating. Like, especially when I was selling cars and, like, it was like a newer feature that came out. Like, I would try to show customers, like. Or customers would try to do it over and over and over again. And, like, I'm on my hands and he's trying to figure out where the sensor is. He told him where to. It doesn't work.

[Kelly]

Never works.

[Liz]

It's not a good feature. Like, what do you need that for?

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

What's your take on sunroofs?

[Kelly]

You know what? I. You. I don't need it. I don't need it. I find myself closing it often. Don't. Maddie doesn't have one. I. I never open them. I don't care.

[Liz]

I think that's a deal breaker for me. I like the light. I would feel claustrophobic with that one. I think does.

[Kelly]

You would feel claustrophobic in an Expedition, which is like, the biggest car you can get, if it didn't have a sunroof.

[Liz]

No, no. Yeah, but I see your point. I do like one, though.

[Kelly]

I like a really. I like a really, really good blind spot camera.

[Liz]

Yeah, you're obsessed.

[Kelly]

Obsessed. I never trust myself.

[Liz]

Remote start.

[Kelly]

Yeah, that. That never seems to work for me.

[Liz]

Oh, I love. I love my remote Star. I don't use it a ton because I do park in the garage, but I like the option.

[Kelly]

I think, because I drive demo cars, that feature is not turned on until they have to do something. Because it never has worked for me. No, it's never worked.

[Liz]

Okay, well, I can teach you.

[Kelly]

Okay. Okay, you can teach me. It's never worked for me, and I've googled it, but.

[Liz]

Okay, you do it from the key.

[Kelly]

Kelly. I'm aware. I am aware. It doesn't work.

[Liz]

Okay, well, you're wrong for that. Okay? Because everything. Everything else is just like. You know, there's so. It's like, so funny because, like, there's so much tech in these cars. Here's what I don't like any sort of voice command pass.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Like, hey, BMW. Hey, Alexa. Hey, so and so. Hey, Ford. It's like by the time you load and get it wrong, I could have just done it.

[Kelly]

Totally.

[Liz]

Do you know what I mean?

[Kelly]

Totally.

[Liz]

Yeah. I don't really mess with any of those. Do you use in car navigation ever? Are you strictly using your phone or Apple? I know, because I want to be clear. Like, I do love Apple CarPlay and there's almost a level CarPlay where it's like, I don't even care what the infotainment system looks like because it's like I'm using my Apple CarPlay.

[Kelly]

I couldn't tell. I'm never looking at it. Doesn't matter. Totally, totally. I think those are like my big ones.

[Liz]

Like, yeah, yeah, those are all my big ones, too. Okay, before we get to ditch the drive through, did your loft order come in?

[Kelly]

No, it hasn't.

[Liz]

On the. We're all on the edge of our seats.

[Kelly]

I'm sorry. My roofers were on lunch during the first half of this podcast and they just started up again. So.

[Liz]

We'Re almost done. We're almost done.

[Kelly]

We can wrap up.

[Liz]

We can wrap up. Okay. So I don't know if you saw, but I recently found myself in the room with some very talented food bloggers.

[Kelly]

Oh, yes, I did see.

[Liz]

So you know, nap time kitchen.

[Kelly]

Oh, can I interject really quick on the nap time kitchen front? Because I vowed on the podcast that I would make a reel about Bring them a Meal march. And I brought my friend stuff because she had a baby and I filmed it all and then I went to edit it and I filmed everything in slow motion.

[Liz]

That's so embarrassing.

[Kelly]

So there won't be a reel, I fear. I'm sorry. The worst.

[Liz]

Can't you post it in slow mo? Can you speed up slow mo?

[Kelly]

It doesn't look as good. And I ironically, everything was filmed in slow mo, but I was in a rush when I was doing it, so it's just not very good across the board.

[Liz]

Well, what did you make her?

[Kelly]

Okay, here's what I brought her. Here's my thing. Because my. My friend is very like, she makes her own sourdough. She has a garden. I felt as though anything that I could bring her was not going to be good enough. So I took the nap time kitchen route of just not always trying to over complicate it. So I did. I even bring her. I actually did not make her anything, but I brought her a lot of stuff. I brought her a cute outfit for her son. I brought her some Girl Scout cookies because I had those. I brought her some element. I brought her. Oh, you know what I did give her? I gave her because she's such like a home, like a tradwife homestead. I gave her some of the pork from my deep freeze because I knew that her and her husband would appreciate some farm fresh pork obsessed. And I gave her some like binky clips.

[Liz]

Okay, so a smorgasbord.

[Kelly]

It was a smorgasbord of random stuff that I thought she could maybe. I probably threw some clean symbol eats in there. You know, some pr.

[Liz]

Of course. So anyway, naptime kitchen reaches out and she's like, hey, we're taking my meal march. Like we're doing this cute. Like real, like we're all doing it. Like you cover the camera and it goes to the next person. Like, are you interested? And I'm like, Kate, like what? Literally whatever you want.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And it's so interesting reflecting on this because like if I go through my text messages, she literally gives me like two options to be like, are you sure you want to do this? Like now? Like, you know, I know you have so much on your plate. Like this is your out if you don't want to do it. If you over committed. And I'm like, no. Like it's only fine. Like, why are you trying to like get me out of it? You know, we'll come to find out. She didn't give me the context that it was all these incredible like published food authors and some rinky dink car reviewer and you and me and we're all sharing our meals. I don't know who else I thought was in it. I thought it would be more like, I don't know, just like regular degulars.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And it was not Caro Chambers who has like the hottest cookbook right now. What to cook when you don't feel like cooking. Like she's starting it off.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And she's making.

[Kelly]

You were at the end of the reel. Which checks out.

[Liz]

Okay. So anyway, the dish, the drive thru is all of these. So go to Kate's recent post, but let me tell you these. Carol Chambers makes beef basil bowls with coconut ginger rice.

[Kelly]

Wow.

[Liz]

Incredible. Our bestie bites makes creamy crispy chicken taquitos with homemade avocado lime dip.

[Kelly]

Uh huh.

[Liz]

Okay. Home and kind makes the most delicious tangy Hawaiian chicken marinade and homemade coconut cookies.

[Kelly]

I make Be the Car mom made.

[Liz]

Pillsbury's chicken pot pie. And homemade or not homemade, store bought cupcakes. I literally shrug in the video. Like, what can I do? That's all I know.

[Kelly]

You know, someone is a has a cookbook when they're making a homemade dip. Totally. Like, wow.

[Liz]

So I just didn't find myself in the room with the foodies in the food community. Anyway, those are some excellent. I'm gonna. So you can comment recipe on our link. Get them. I'm actually very excited to try the Hawaiian chicken, Marin. I actually think all of them. I can make DFGF varieties version of them.

[Kelly]

Okay.

[Liz]

I'm pretty excited about it.

[Kelly]

Yeah, it sounds great.

[Liz]

Except for chicken popeye. That's gonna be a little.

[Kelly]

Except for the one. Yeah, that's funny.

[Liz]

So anyway, that's your. Ditch the drive thru. Take them a meal. March. Kelly in the room. Kelly in the car with a bunch of food bloggers.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Kelly in the car.

[Liz]

Food bloggers work so hard.

[Kelly]

I'm so inspired by food bloggers.

[Liz]

I'm so inspired by them.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I could never.

[Liz]

And just like, yeah, they're doing a really good job because I sometimes I would like to consider myself a decent cook.

[Kelly]

Oh, my God. They're opening my skylight. I didn't know it could open. Sorry. The roofers.

[Liz]

Oh, the roofers. Okay, well, we'll wrap this so you can, like, attend to that. Don't even know what I was gonna say. Couldn't have been that important.

[Kelly]

So, guys, thank you so much for listening to the carpool podcast and we will talk to you next time.

[Liz]

See ya.

[Podcast Host]

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