Podcast Summary: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Episode Title: Finding the Perfect Book Tour Outfit w/ Kate from Naptime Kitchen
Release Date: September 18, 2025
Guests: Kelly Stumpe (Host), Kate (Naptime Kitchen) (Guest Co-host)

Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode, Kelly is joined by Kate from Naptime Kitchen for a sisterly and business-bestie takeover of the podcast. With Lizz away, the two dive into life as busy moms and entrepreneurs, focus on the excitement (and exhaustion) of launching Kate's debut book, share candid insights on personal style and book tour outfits, and laugh through relatable mom-life money talk and shopping segments. With plenty of real-life advice and lighthearted debates on candles and fall decor, this episode is a cozy catch-up for listeners seeking inspiration, relatability, and a dose of millennial mom wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life As a New York Times Bestselling Author

(01:54–03:51)

• Kelly is amazed at Kate's availability and success as a debut author, noting how Kate keeps the process “fun and fresh.”

• Kate explains how, despite her bestselling status, daily mom routines remain unchanged.

• Quote (03:04):
  “You become a bestselling author and then you still like wake up and make your children's lunches and just clean your house and do your laundry and all the things.” — Kate

• Kate is soaking up the excitement, likening it to having a first baby:
  “It’s just never going to be this exciting again.” —Kate (03:16)

2. Book Details and Genre Labels

(04:47–06:26)

• The book isn’t easily categorized: Not strictly autobiography, self-help, or religious, though published through a Christian house.
• Kate recognizes her book’s content is universal:
  “I think that these struggles that I have are, like, universal to other people, no matter what you believe.” — Kate (05:31)
• The book is available in libraries, to Kate’s delight.

3. Book Tour Adventures

(06:28–07:39)

• Kate is on a 10-stop book tour, balancing events and family by bringing kids along and spacing out travel.
• Sweet moments like Kate’s kids helping with book signings highlight the tour’s family focus.

4. Fashion Talk: Book Tour Outfits & Rent the Runway

(07:39–10:57)

• Kate’s book tour fashion is getting buzz. She hasn’t hired a stylist but leans on family help with tough choices—mainly shoes!

• Trying Rent the Runway for the first time and loving it, especially designer outfits she’d never buy to keep.
  “You get the dopamine hit of getting to wear something really fun...then you return it.” — Kate (09:51)

• Discussion on the challenges of curating outfits, especially with trending jeans/shoes combos and dressing kids.

5. The Shoe Struggle & Changing Trends

(11:32–14:26)

• Kelly and Kate commiserate about the current chaos in women's shoe fashion and the complications of pairing different jeans with shoes.

• Nostalgia for the simplicity of skinny jeans and riding boots:
  “Now I have certain shoes that can only go with certain cuts of jeans and vice versa… it's exhausting.” — Kelly (13:24)

• Geographic differences: Kate embraces winter Mary Janes in Charleston; Kelly struggles with Midwest winters.

6. Segment: Last Three Transactions

(14:27–33:08)

Recent Purchases:

• Apple Watch:
  Kate’s felt lost without hers—she’s excited for its return:
  “I feel like an astronaut that is untethered from the spaceship and is just floating.” — Kate (15:00)
• Parchment Papers:
  Kelly swears by pre-cut sheets for convenience; both agree it’s worth the small extra cost.
• Birthday Planning:
  Kate shares a heartfelt story of letting her daughter define her own celebration, which turned out to be blissfully simple (ice cream sundaes, movie, neighborhood friends).
• Facebook Marketplace Finds:
  Kelly scored quality, nearly-new Bowdoin leggings and a tunic for her daughter, highlighting the joys and pitfalls of Marketplace algorithms.
• Bakery Quiche:
  Kate advocates buying quality bakery quiche as a reliable, “elevated, delightful lunch” for busy weeks.

7. Segment: Is Our Base Model Luxury?

(33:14–41:54)

• Kelly’s Picks:

  • Seasonal Tea Towels: Easy fall refresh for the kitchen—a wedding gift that keeps the seasons festive.
  • Fall Candles: Embracing cozy scents despite backlash over candle “toxicity”—
    “If candles are what takes me out, like, that's what takes me out.” — Kelly (36:21)

• Kate’s Picks:

  • Floral Bed Sheets: From Rifle Paper Co. x The Company Store—she loves the “instant mood boost” a colorful sheet brings to her bedroom. “If you were to, like, in two years be like, whoa, totally over that phase… you didn’t wallpaper your bedroom—it’s bed sheets.” — Kate (40:01)
  • Pillowcase Traditions: Inspired by her mother-in-law, Kelly shares the fun of letting kids pick playful pillowcases.

8. Auto-Industry News & Future Tech

(41:54–49:19)

• AI Can’t Design Cars (Yet):
  Kelly vents about the proliferation of AI-generated (and often misleading) car content online. Both are more annoyed than frightened by current AI capabilities.
  • “I really thought it was going to be more scary… it's just annoying.” — Kelly (43:01)
• AI as a Tool:
  Both discuss ChatGPT and the mixed reliability of AI assistants, with Kate sharing a recent time zone mix-up.
• Flying Cars & Air Taxis:
  Hyundai's evtol project paused, sparking debate on whether mass-market flying cars (or teleportation) will ever arrive.
  • “Do we have… the tech for navigation in the air? That’s the part that I'm like, how are we going to navigate this?” — Kate (47:27)
  • Kelly jokes: “If they don't like scented candles, I can't imagine what they'd say about teleporting.” (47:54)
• Autonomous Vehicles:
  Kelly describes her hopes for cars that can self-navigate and “come back home,” possibly reducing family fleet sizes.

9. Dish the Drive-Thru: Quick Dinner Recipes

(49:32–53:07)

• Kelly’s Pick:
  • Tuna Melt Bagel Sandwich: Tuna with mayo, dijon, and pickle juice on a bagel with pepper jack cheese, crisped in the air fryer.
• Kate’s Pick:
  • Elevated Grilled Cheese: Make classic for the kids, but upgrade for yourself—different breads, fancy cheese, apples, or fig preserves.
  • “I love a meal that’s on a spectrum… you can do the most, you can do the least.” — Kelly (51:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If candles are what takes me out, like, that’s what takes me out.” — Kelly (36:21)
• “You become a best selling author and then you still… clean your house and do your laundry and all the things.” — Kate (02:27)
• “I feel like an astronaut that is untethered from the spaceship and is just floating.” — Kate (15:00)
• “Now I have certain shoes that can only go with certain cuts of jeans and vice versa… it’s exhausting.” — Kelly (13:24)
• “If you were to, like, in two years… totally over that phase… you didn’t wallpaper your bedroom—it’s bed sheets.” — Kate (40:01)

Timestamps

• 01:54: Author life after hitting the bestseller list
• 04:47: Book genre debate and universal appeal
• 06:28: Book tour highlights and family balance
• 07:39: Book tour outfits, Rent the Runway, and the shoe dilemma
• 11:32: Changing pants and shoe styles—fashion frustrations
• 14:27: “Last Three Transactions” segment—personal shopping stories
• 33:14: “Is Our Base Model Luxury?”—seasonal touches and home upgrades
• 41:54: Quick auto-industry news: AI, Facebook, and flying cars
• 49:32: “Dish the Drive-Thru” segment—easy dinner upgrades

Episode Tone

Friendly, witty, relatable, and honest. Kelly and Kate offer practical mom-life advice with frequent side-tangents, mutual encouragement, and plenty of laughs on modern motherhood, style, food, and future tech.

For listeners who missed the episode:
This is a quintessential Carpool episode—casual yet insightful, full of the kind of tips, laughs, and “that’s so me” moments that made the show a hit. From book launches and family birthday wisdom to hot takes on fashion headaches and fall home refresh ideas, the episode delivers community and comfort for busy moms and multitaskers.