Podcast Summary: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Episode: FITNESS IN THE THICK OF IT w/ MADELINE MOVES
Release Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Kelly Stumpe & Lizz St. John
Guest: Madeline Moves (Fitness Influencer, Moves App Founder)

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid episode, Kelly and Lizz dive into their lives as work-from-home moms, touch on recent events (including the Chicago Auto Show and Super Bowl), and spotlight guest fitness influencer, Madeline Moves. The trio discusses the realities of maintaining fitness during motherhood, especially in the “thick of it” with young kids. Madeline shares her personal journey, philosophy on approachable workouts, and practical tips for mothers—plus a tasty, high-protein family recipe.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recent Life Updates & Events (00:02–23:36)

• Kelly’s Chicago Auto Show Recap
  • Kelly attended the Chicago Auto Show, highlighting Britax's historic car seat booth. She stresses the potential for more car seat brands to join auto shows, discussing the importance of hands-on experiences for parents.
  • "Britax was making history by being the first car seat manufacturer to ever unveil a car seat at an auto show, which—it’s giving, are you kidding?” – Kelly (03:46)
• The Car Mom Auto Show Impact
  • Their own auto show is gaining excitement among manufacturers and fans.
• Super Bowl Reflections
  • Both found the football game underwhelming, but raved about the halftime show’s production and dance sequences.
  • Discussion about the fun of seeing celebrities (e.g., Jessica Alba) in the crowd and the importance of family-friendly choreography and moments.
  • “It was like a music video…The bushes are people! It’s insane.” – Kelly (09:31)
• American Holiday Food Identity
  • The hosts lament the lack of strong traditions for holidays like New Year's Eve and Fat Tuesday, suggesting “gooey butter cake” as the ideal sweet for Mardi Gras.
  • “The new Fat Tuesday food is gooey butter cake. That’s a St. Louis specialty.” – Kelly (22:43)

2. Low-Lift Luxuries & Mom Hacks (16:13–23:36)

• Simple, Everyday Upgrades
  • Lizz shares “low lift luxuries”: keeping muffins on a cake stand, storing paper towels and baby wipes on the dining room table, making mealtime messes easier.
  • Kelly plans to give up sugar for Lent, inspired by the book The 40 Day Sugar Fast—emphasizing the mental element of sugar cravings for moms.

3. Transparent Discussion: Family Business & Salary (26:24–30:21)

• How Lizz Gets Paid
  • The sisters clarify that The Car Mom LLC is wholly owned by Kelly. Lizz is paid a percentage of all revenue, regardless of how directly she works on each project—a decision made early to protect their sisterly bond.
  • “If money ever becomes an issue with us… I am stepping away from The Car Mom. Nothing is worth losing mine and Kelly’s relationship.” – Lizz (27:09)
  • Tyler (Kelly’s husband) manages finances to ensure fairness and boundary integrity.

4. Interview: Madeline Moves on Fitness & Motherhood (30:44–1:00:30)

Madeline’s Background & Rise (31:00–39:05)

• Family Overview
  • Mom of three under four years old: “Three birthdays in three weeks!” (31:39)
  • “Our third was a complete surprise. I got pregnant at four months postpartum.” – Madeline (31:56)
• Vehicle
  • Drives a Lexus (GX or LX; configuration challenges with three kids).
• Fitness Journey
  • College athlete (soccer), studied exercise physiology.
  • Taught K-8 PE, coached, then burned out from marathon running.
  • Switched focus to strength training, realized improved recovery, attitude, and overall wellness.
  • Started sharing her journey online: blog, Instagram, PDF guides, then the Moves app.
  • Built a customer-focused team with help from her husband for tech and business sides.

Fitness for Moms: Philosophies & Program Design (40:48–44:57)

• Adapting to Motherhood
  • Her app and content shifted after becoming a mom—now prioritizing realistic, accessible routines for busy women.
  • Didn’t release prenatal/postpartum programs until living the experience herself.
  • “I recognize the constraints of being a busy mom, and I don’t think you fully can until you are one.” – Madeline (41:03)
• Moves App Highlights
  • Personalized progressions, at-home/simple equipment options, short effective workouts, alternatives for every move to encourage consistency and success.

Practical Advice: Staying Active with Young Kids (44:57–48:01)

• Flexibility Over Perfection
  • Wakes up early when possible, sometimes brings kids into workouts (“If he needed to be held while I did some lunges, whatever.”).
  • Recommends finding “windows of possibility”: driveway, park push-ups, impromptu treadmill sessions during nap overlaps.
  • "Getting out of the mindset that if you miss that perfect window of your day, it just can no longer happen.” – Madeline (46:28)
• Letting Go of Old Expectations
  • Hosts discuss making peace with how workouts differ in different seasons of motherhood.

Encouragement, Modifications, & Mindset (48:01–51:43)

• Non-Scale Victories & Progressions
  • Emphasizes choosing modifications over skipping exercises.
  • “So much power is in modifying versus skipping, scaling something versus skipping it…If you see the path to get there…that is going to keep you showing up.” – Madeline (50:01)
• Reducing Excuses
  • The app contains “hotel moves” and quick workouts for travel or tight schedules, focusing on minimizing barriers for users.

5. Ditch The Drive-Thru: Madeline’s Lasagna Soup Recipe (53:43–56:08)

• Recipe Spotlight: Lasagna Soup
  • Crowd-pleasing, high in protein (uses ground beef and cottage cheese), easily made thicker for kids.
  • “It only gets better the next two or three days…like all the goodness and comfort of lasagna, but so much easier.” – Madeline (53:43)
• Dinner/Meal Prep Hacks
  • Pre-prepped proteins (home-cooked or store-bought) save time and sanity.
  • Outsourcing (e.g., buying rotisserie chicken or ordering pulled pork from a BBQ joint) can be a worthy and necessary investment during survival mode seasons.

6. Making Family Mealtime Better (56:48–57:43)

• Little Changes, Big Impact
  • Madeline makes mealtimes less stressful by:
    • Cooking meals that can simmer while the family plays outside
    • Using visual charts for kids to get involved and try new foods

7. Closing Thoughts—Realism, Encouragement, and Community

• Madeline and the hosts validate the grit it takes to parent and pursue self-care publicly, noting the façade of perfection on social media.
  • “No mom that you look at is feeling like she’s crushing it in all the areas 100%." – Madeline (58:16)
• Community, vulnerability, and “Internet aunties” are as important as the practical fitness strategies.
  • "It’s just fun to know, like, the girl on the app is, like, the same girl making lasagna soup." – Kelly (59:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The bushes are people!” – Kelly on the Super Bowl halftime show (09:31)
• “If money ever becomes an issue…nothing is worth losing mine and Kelly’s relationship.” – Lizz (27:09)
• “We’ve really customized the journey to support women at different phases of life, at different fitness levels.” – Madeline (34:48)
• “I recognize the constraints of being a busy mom and I don’t think you fully can until you are one.” – Madeline (41:03)
• “Getting out of the mindset that if you miss that perfect window of your day, it just can no longer happen.” – Madeline (46:28)
• “No mom that you look at is feeling like she’s crushing it in all the areas 100%." – Madeline (58:16)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Chicago Auto Show Recap: 02:04–05:25
• Super Bowl Chat: 07:27–15:22
• Low-Lift Luxuries: 16:13–19:27
• Family Business Money Talk: 26:24–30:21
• Interview - Madeline Moves: 30:44–1:00:30
• Madeline’s Fitness Journey: 31:00–39:05
• Fitness Philosophy & App Design: 40:48–44:57
• Motherhood & Finding Time: 44:57–48:01
• Recipe (Lasagna Soup): 53:43–56:08

Where to Find More

• Madeline Moves:

  • Instagram: @madeline_moves
  • App: “Moves App” (available on App Store/Google Play)
  • Exclusive Offer: Use code “carpool” for first month free on Moves App

• The Carpool Podcast:

  • Instagram: @thecarmom, @thecarpoolpodcast

Summary

This episode is a refreshing, deeply relatable look at the joys, struggles, and creative hacks of being a mom who values fitness, business, and family—without sugarcoating the tough moments. Madeline Moves offers concrete tools and mindset shifts for mothers wanting realistic workouts, healthy routines, and mealtime wins. The camaraderie and honesty between host sisters and Madeline creates a sense of community and inspiration that’s both practical and heartfelt.

If you’re a mom (or not!) seeking tips for fitting fitness into a jam-packed, kid-driven life, this episode is full of encouragement, laughs, and actionable advice.