JUDGING THE INTERNET'S NEW MOM CARS

Summary

The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Episode: JUDGING THE INTERNET'S NEW MOM CARS
Date: January 23, 2026
Hosts: Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John

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Episode Overview

In this episode, sisters and car experts Kelly and Lizz dive into a candid and entertaining discussion about the latest trends in “mom cars” as seen on social media. Leveraging their expertise and signature millennial-mom humor, they judge, reflect, and snark—lightly and constructively—on viral videos and influencer car picks, especially focusing on whether car buying decisions seem researched or purely aspirational. Along the way, they offer real talk about car seat safety, family planning, the realities of work-from-home motherhood, consignment shopping, and a healthy dose of relatable sister banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Technical Troubles & The Realities of Podcasting

[00:38–02:26]

• Technical difficulties start the show, leading to musings on the DIY nature of their podcast compared to “fancy” podcasts with big budgets.
• Kelly: “It’s so easy to make money on TikTok, Instagram… Podcasters, we’re two professional podcasters scratching the green.” (02:07)
• Both admit they podcast as a passion, not a get-rich-quick scheme.

Real Mom Life: Fashion, Pregnancy, and Body Image

[02:39–09:29]

• Lizz expresses frustration over Kelly’s stylish pregnancy vs. Lizz’s maternity limitations, recalling postpartum body struggles and discovering the Loft store.
• Memorable anecdote: Kelly’s first postpartum shopping trip, with humor and empathy highlighted.
• Quote: “When you’re pregnant, you just know what you’re doing. Afterwards, it’s not a matter of the weight—it’s just like your body forever looks different after that.” — Kelly (06:41)

Carpool Sister Banter: Lunch Plans, Pho Adventures, and Shopping

[09:29–15:37]

• The sisters discuss an upcoming lunch with their mom, poking fun at how their mom schedules outings and the effort of driving over 50 minutes for pho.
• Shopping woes: Kelly suffers Amazon regret after a bad furniture purchase and vents about returning policy headaches, leading to insights about consignment vs. new buys.
• Small luxuries: Kelly now carries a purse tape measure and has opinions about straws in slim cans, sparking playful bickering.
• Memorable bickering exchange:
  Kelly: “Being a podcaster is talking about nothing in an entertaining way. If you can’t do that, let’s hang up the mics now.” (17:21)
  Lizz: “Groundbreaking.” (17:32)

Main Segment: Judging the Internet’s Mom Car Choices

[19:16–37:20]

Methodology & Approach

[19:16–20:28]

• Lizz introduces the concept: reacting to viral “come buy my new mom car” content, blending light-hearted commentary with professional opinion.
• Emphasis on not shaming individuals but using examples (with anonymity) for educational “snark.”

The Importance of Research in Car Shopping

[20:28–22:34]

• Kelly stresses: always test drive more than one car and forecast family growth before purchase.
• Quote: “I am so good at knowing what car people should buy... You will end up here where I’m telling you. But that’s fine, do it your way.” — Kelly (21:17)

Internet Car-Buying Examples: React and Verdicts

1. Mercedes → Chevy Suburban High Country (1 child) [23:23]

   • Lizz: Recaps viral video, notes criticism of “overconsumption.”
   • Kelly: “If she plans to keep this car for a long time, it’s better than buying a bigger Mercedes, feeling it’s not enough, and then upgrading again.” (25:04)
   • Verdict: Not a bad move if planning for multiple kids; a lease on a midsize might have offered flexibility.

2. Lexus GX 550 for Family of 3 [25:54]

   • Kelly: “That was a bad buy. You should have bought an Escalade... Your oldest is going to be incredibly squished back there... Or buy the Lexus TX.” (26:32)

3. Partnered Hyundai Palisade (3 under 3, 2026 model) [27:26]

   • Lizz: Car was provided as part of a partnership.
   • Kelly: “For a free car, I don’t think you’re putting your children in danger… But I would like Hyundai to notice us!” (27:59)

4. Nissan Armada Influencer Event [28:17]

   • Lizz: Rants about “ultimate mom car” claims from “lanyard” influencers.
   • Kelly: Urges influencers to use careful language given their influence on major purchasing decisions.
   • Kelly: “I would never promote a brand where your child’s life is at stake... But it’s not wrong for the brands to invite influencers, just be careful.” (29:53)

5. Volvo XC90 (3 young children, “safety rating sold me”) [32:18]

   • Kelly: “The third row doesn’t have tether anchors... The Volvo XC90 is incredibly safe, but it’s good at keeping the driver safe. The third row... not the same.” (33:00–33:55)
   • Advice: Only get the bench seat, best for two kids; always check car seat compatibility in detail.

Side Note: The Realities of Car Influencing

• Kelly admits to getting jealous when viral videos with questionable info do well.
• They announce the return of their personalized car consultation service:
  “We are bringing back consultations... They will fill up quick.” (37:21)

The Value of Real Productivity as a Mom

[38:34–41:50]

• Lizz reflects on redefining productivity from chores to child-rearing, after feeling “unproductive” when resting or tending to her son mid-day.
• Memorable moment:
  Lizz: “How sad is it that we don’t see feeding our kids, playing with our kids, reading our kids a book as productivity?” (39:00)
• Kelly: “That’s a bone-chilling statement. I’m going to work on that this week.” (41:30)

Industry News: ChatGPT Introduces Ads

[43:20–45:41]

• Kelly reports ChatGPT will soon serve ads, even for free users. The sisters discuss:
  • Kelly: “I just don’t mind a targeted ad. Show me what I want to see.” (45:54)

Ditch the Drive Through: Dinner Rut Realness

[46:12–51:39]

• Kelly and Lizz share easy dinner recipes and freezer clean-out tales.
• Kelly: Crockpot cube steak (“average”), cube steak frustrations, and plans for chicken pot pie and shredded beef tacos.
• Lizz: Baked chicken cutlets two ways—chicken parm and cut up over fried rice with gyozas and Japanese BBQ sauce.
• Both agree: “Not every dinner has to be amazing. Sometimes, it’s just dinner.” (41:48–48:48)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On influencer car buying:
  “That was a bad buy. You should have bought an Escalade.” — Kelly (26:32)
• On car seat safety:
  “There’s no tether anchor in the third row of the Volvo XC90… It’s not a matter of the weight—it’s just like your body forever looks different after that.” — Kelly (33:00, 06:41)
• On mom productivity:
  “Who told us that wasn’t productive?... The time you have with your kids is going somewhere.” — Kelly (40:45)
• On viral parenting videos:
  “I should probably watch them more… I do get a little jealous because sometimes those videos perform really well.” — Kelly (36:38–36:48)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Podcasting Realities: 00:38–02:26
• Pregnancy, Shopping, and Body Image: 02:39–09:29
• Lunch & Shopping Outing, Consignment Tips: 09:29–15:37
• Straws-in-a-Slim-Can Banter: 16:24–18:00
• Main Segment Intro—Judging Internet Mom Cars: 19:16–19:55
• Mercedes to Suburban Analysis: 23:23–25:38
• Lexus GX 550 Critique: 25:54–27:26
• Hyundai Palisade Partnership Reaction: 27:26–28:07
• Nissan Armada Influencer Event Discussion: 28:17–30:47
• Volvo XC90 & Safety Concerns: 32:18–36:10
• Redefining Productivity as a Mom: 38:34–41:50
• Industry News: ChatGPT Ads: 43:20–45:41
• Dinner Rut/Ditch the Drive Through: 46:12–51:39

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Closing Thought

This episode is a candid, witty exploration of the intersection of motherhood, car buying, influencer culture, and real-life productivity—all from the perspective of two sisters who know when to get serious and when to laugh at themselves (and each other). Whether you’re shopping for your next family car or just need a brain break, Kelly and Lizz’s honest takes and heartfelt moments will deliver.

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Transcript

[Kelly]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly. I thought it would be like, I'm like, take a beer, go to the garage. I'll watch the kids and like, tinker with your wrench. Like, I thought that sounded fun to.

[Elizabeth]

Him and Liz and you to just like, show up on the podcast looking like, really cute and snatched next to me is just kind of toxic.

[Kelly]

Your mom. Time off starts now. Welcome back to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. Hey, everyone. Happy Friday.

[Elizabeth]

Happy Friday.

[Kelly]

We're having some technical difficulties and like, it's like, I don't even know, like, the technology is just failing us today. Like, we're doing everything like we're supposed to by the books and our platform's just like, no, thanks.

[Elizabeth]

It's like contact support. And I'm like, what?

[Kelly]

It's like you. Contact support? What is?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

All of it.

[Kelly]

We're just the talent. It's so hard to be a two woman show on this podcast. Three women show. Because we have someone who edits our podcast, but we're just three women trying.

[Elizabeth]

To put together a podcast, trying to scrap together episodes. Two episodes a week.

[Kelly]

It's hard.

[Elizabeth]

It's crazy. Some podcasters literally will have like a legit set, like multiple people there, like, monitoring, like, making sure your audio sounds good. Meanwhile, we're like, well, they have to be bleeding cash.

[Kelly]

Let me tell you something. They have to be.

[Elizabeth]

Gotta be bleeding cash. I mean.

[Kelly]

But a lot of people don't do a podcast for the money. Not even saying we do it, but like, some people. Well, we kind of do. Some people only do a podcast to promote their other things.

[Elizabeth]

I would say in a lot of ways, we're not doing a podcast for the money. When you think about the money that is made off of the podcast. So I would say we would maybe fall into the camp. But I'm not trying to lose money on. On it, that's for sure.

[Kelly]

I'm just trying to be in the green.

[Elizabeth]

Just trying to be in the green. Don't care what that green is.

[Kelly]

It's. So anyway, it's just a very interesting thing about podcasts. Like, it's when it's where it's so easy to make money on Tick tock, Instagram. Like, there's a million ways to monetize those platforms. Literally, anyone can do it. Podcasters, we're two professional podcasters. Scratching the green.

[Elizabeth]

It's crazy. Yeah, no, it's. Yeah, whatever. Our problem's not yours. Something. Speaking of more of my problems, though, you're like, really pissing me Off.

[Kelly]

Totally. Sounds all right.

[Elizabeth]

So Kelly in January, not a challenge. She is not wearing, like, leggings or, like, sweatpants or whatever. She's only wearing something that can, like, button and zip.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

And I'm at the stage of my pregnancy where maternity clothes don't fit, but, like, my regular clothes are also, like, really uncomfortable. So I kind of exclusively need to wear, like, leggings and sweatpants and stuff. And you to just, like, show up on the podcast looking, like, really cute. And snatched next to me is just kind of toxic. And our first two pregnancy. My. My first two pregnancies, we were pregnant together, so I didn't have this problem. And I'm just curious how you sleep at night.

[Kelly]

Well, first things first. I looked like a train wreck on Monday's episode. Wednesday's episode, I was doing the Olsen tuck into a Detroit Lions hoodie. So, like.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, you say that, but you're like, I'm low key. Like, look effortlessly beautiful without makeup on.

[Kelly]

Well, that's the Botox, which is something that you can't participate in right now. I did just get retoxed, and it had been, like, seven months because after my allergic reaction, I just, like, had to chill on everything. So I am looking snatched in the forehead. I am up in my skincare routine. Yeah, I'm wearing pants with buttons.

[Elizabeth]

I mean, pregnancy is so crazy because I have to, like, scale down my. My skincare routine, so I can't, like, do any of the things that, like, make me, like, glow a little bit. No, you, like, face wash your moisturizer. It's so annoying.

[Kelly]

Well, and I'll just say, like, the. I have no sympathy at all. Like, I'm actually. I. I'm just letting you know that. Because if you recall, in 2019, when I got pregnant with George. What were you doing in 2019?

[Elizabeth]

I was living in Texas. I wasn't anywhere near you. I was giving you space.

[Kelly]

You came home for the holidays. And when I was pregnant with Hattie, what were you doing?

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, I was living.

[Kelly]

I had to go through two pregnancies by myself looking. Oh, cute. Until I wasn't. And the pregnancy, I mean, it's gonna be the postpartum where you're really gonna feel isolated from me, but you will get back there. And I just remember, like, I had to do two alone, and now you have to do this one alone. And, you know, I'll be like, no, you look cute. Sorry. Do you remember. Do you remember the day. The day, you know, what story I'm gonna tell? I. George was Born in May. And I was so. At the time, I was so unprepared for the fact that, like, aft. I guess I thought after I gave birth, my old clothes would fit. Like, I have no idea what I was thinking. First time parents. They're so cute. They're so cute.

[Elizabeth]

They're adorable. They're adorable.

[Kelly]

So I had, like, these, you know, pregnancy clothes. And then George was born, and I realized I had nothing to wear. Like, nothing. And I was like, oh, like, I guess I forgot about, like, postpartum clothes. So mom, trying to serve me in any way she could, went to Kohl's. Okay. She spent like 400 and was like, I just bought you a ton of stuff. Like, try some stuff on and then, like, we'll return whatever doesn't fit. Elizabeth came over to watch me try on these clothes. I was, what, like, probably two weeks postpartum, super fresh. And, you know, I. I'm not shy, so I was like, kind of, like getting. I was like, changing in front of her and the look on her face.

[Elizabeth]

Was like, so, no, none of the clothes look. No, none of the clothes were good. Like, I feel like you and I would have a hard time going to Kohl's on our best day and finding, like, a bunch of stuff that fits. Like pants, shorts. Like, the shorts were too short and they weren't. They weren't fitting in the right way. And I was just like, this is not working.

[Kelly]

And he was like.

[Elizabeth]

It was jarring for sure.

[Kelly]

You just saw my body in, like, in on. Not in just. In just a crazy way. And like, I had just always. I was. I really. I honestly had some body image issues after that, after going postpartum because, like, when you're pregnant, it's just like, you know what you're doing. And then afterwards, it's like, it's not a matter of the weight. It's just like your body forever looks different after that.

[Elizabeth]

Just the composition. Like, things are not where they used to be.

[Kelly]

That was a really hard summer for me. But that's. You know what. You know what that summer brought me? That's the summer I discovered the Loft, like, in a major way.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, it totally was. Yeah, I know.

[Kelly]

And like, thank you, Loft. Because one thing I love about the loft is I'm a size four at the loft. Ls like, that's the only place in the world. I'm a small size 4 at Loft. Thank you, Loft for, like, for your made up numbers that are not true.

[Elizabeth]

Huh.

[Kelly]

And, you know, the clothes are just a Little longer. A little bit more mature. Because I was still trying to get with my sisters, like shopping at Pacsun in Forever 21.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And then I finally discovered loft, and the second part of my life started. And you guys all gave me so much crap for my loft obsession. And now you're a loft shopper.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, I don't think. I think you have such. Again, we've talked about the. The crap. I'm using air quotes that I gave you for loft. And we revisited this, and we realized it was. Mom, I would never give you crap for shopping aloft. I actually do not care where you shop at all. I don't care where anyone shops. One of the things I don't care about that mom first, for some reason, was thought that the loft was too mature for you.

[Kelly]

She has precon. She had preconceived notions.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. So.

[Kelly]

So also say.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, so we're. We're going out to lunch today with mom, and, like, you look so cute. And, like, I'm. I am in my dress to the best I possibly can in the winter, and I have, like, a Spanx set on sweat set on. And I'm like, this is the best you're gonna get from me.

[Kelly]

Yeah. And that's fine, Elizabeth. And I'm happy. I one thing on me. I'm not gonna say a thing. Mom might to your face. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. It is a really tough. It's one of the hardest parts about the first trimester. It's like when your clothes just don't fit and you're not bumping yet. Yeah. And I think that is the good part about, like, your subsequent pregnancies because you start bumping a lot earlier. True. So you can just kind of, like, slide into the bump phase a little bit sooner. Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

But, like, all my maternity clothes are summer, so I'm, like, waiting for me to be able to wear a dress, and then I'm in, and then I'm set. But okay, whatever. This is not anyone else's problem except for my own.

[Kelly]

No, it's not. Anyways, aside from that. Yes, we are going to lunch with mom today, and our mom just, like, randomly asked us. She's like, I need to take you guys to this lunch spot. And we're like, okay. She's like, when are you free? Does Wednesday or Thursday work? Like, she's trying to get on the calendar. I thought it was, like, a casual thing to say in passing, like, oh, yeah, we'll let you know. Next time we're free. She's like, no, this week. When can you go? I'm like, what is hard to take you here? First of all, it's 53 minutes from my house. I just put it in my maps.

[Elizabeth]

Better be good.

[Kelly]

Woof.

[Elizabeth]

That's kind of par for the course for you though.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I know, but like 37, 42. Like I'm used to driving that far, but once there's a 50 in front of it, so. So I'm an hour away. Luckily I'm like so behind on my book on tape, so like I have to, I need to get an hour under that. Anyway, she's taking us to a fuh. That's pho place, which I've never had pho. I think it's kind of like ramen noodles.

[Elizabeth]

That's my understanding. I think a little bit more brothy, a little less noodly.

[Kelly]

And that's where we're going. She says we have to have pho.

[Elizabeth]

Well, I can't wait to have fun and fun. But before we do that, we are going to get an episode in today.

[Kelly]

Yeah, we are.

[Elizabeth]

I have actually, I have like actually prepared something for today's episode that I'm really excited about.

[Kelly]

Are we just getting right into that or do we want to?

[Elizabeth]

I mean, do you have something you wanna do? You have something. Oh, you know what? I watched another movie last night. Oh. I watched Regretting you, which was like a Colleen Hoover and then they made into a movie.

[Kelly]

Sure.

[Elizabeth]

You know, I realized that I am 31 when like the teenage romance I want absolutely nothing to do with, but there's a parents romance going on at the same time and I'm like skipping the scenes to get through the kids, to get through the teenagers. I can't watch it.

[Kelly]

So old. We're literally so old.

[Elizabeth]

Granted the adult, the, the, the grown up male leading man was Dave Franco. So.

[Kelly]

You know, I haven't thought about Dave Franco in forever. Normally he's.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

He.

[Elizabeth]

It was really nice to see him in such a different role. Normally he's in like such funny roles. But anyway, the movie was okay. It was a little bit insufferable. Again, the teenagers were like, made no sense. But it was on. What was it on Paramount, I think. Just trying to do anything I can to not watch Traders yet.

[Kelly]

I miss Dave Franco. What was he in?

[Elizabeth]

He was, he was in jump. 21 Jump Street.

[Kelly]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking of. Okay, well, so I'm not gonna add that I do still need to watch the people we meet on vacation and Traders came out yesterday. So I'm excited to have had watched that by the time you guys listen to this podcast. I am kind of in the doghouse with my husband right now because I bought a piece of furniture off Amazon, and it was the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my life.

[Elizabeth]

That's tough.

[Kelly]

And I made him put it together.

[Elizabeth]

That's tough.

[Kelly]

And he did not enjoy putting it together. I thought it would be like, I'm like, take a beer, go to the garage. I'll watch the kids, and, like, tinker with your wrench. Like, I thought that sounded fun to him.

[Elizabeth]

It's like Legos.

[Kelly]

It's like Legos. Like, excuse me. Like, I was making a wonderful chicken stir fry whilst watching the kids, and I gave you alone time. I mean, I'm sorry. If you can't have fun there, you just can't have fun. Anyway, he built it, and I was like. I looked at it, and he, like, could tell on my face I didn't like it. He's like, are you serious? I'm like, it's horrible.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, it's horrible.

[Kelly]

Yeah. And I feel so duped by Amazon because it was like, it's not the same color, and it. The pictures just weren't. It wasn't an accurate listing at all. So I have to get rid of it. I'm trying to, like, recoup my investment a little bit. Like, I tried to list it for, like, 100 bucks. I bought it for 130, which, I mean, it wasn't, like, a giant investment. And I thought I would be able to just use it as, like, a placeholder more, but, like, it's too ugly to even be used as a placeholder. Like, it sucks. It sucks. It's so warm, toned. Like, it's so much redder. And, like, my floors are so cool. My walls are so cool. And you know how my husband is. It's like, I had, like, one shot.

[Elizabeth]

At this, but now, now, now anytime you're like, well, I ordered something, he's gonna be like, well, this is gonna be like the Amazon. Like, now he has.

[Kelly]

I know. I hate that I gave him ammunition. Like, I'm sick to my stomach over it, so that's a bummer for me. So anyway, I need to sell it. I need to get out of my life asap. And I did think I found another one from, like, a designer on Instagram messaged me. She's like, get this one from Amazon. And it's so cute. And it comes in one piece.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, okay.

[Kelly]

So I think I'm gonna do it.

[Elizabeth]

Okay.

[Kelly]

Anyway, I tried to return it to Amazon because everyone's like, oh, return it. Like, sometimes they'll just like, credit you back and tell you to keep it. And I'm like, surely they're going to tell me that because what do they want me to do? Like, reassemble it back into this box.

[Elizabeth]

Right. Impossible.

[Kelly]

Yeah, they do.

[Elizabeth]

They say they do.

[Kelly]

They do. So I'm not doing that.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So I have to cut my losses. I have to figure out how to sell it. At this point, I'm gonna give it like a week at 100 bucks, and then I'm gonna, like, take it down to 50. I'm gonna take it down to 25. And it's like needing out of my life.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. Stinks. That's.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I know. I'm sad.

[Elizabeth]

Sorry.

[Kelly]

And some people were like, you should paint it. I'm like, are you kidding? It's like. Like, it's like Styrofoam. Like, it's so cheap. I'm not painting it.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. Oh, gosh. Did you look up reviews?

[Kelly]

Yeah, it had a 4.6 out of 5.

[Elizabeth]

But like, photo reviews.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

I don't get it.

[Kelly]

It looked better. It looked better than I was expecting. So super disappointing. And.

[Elizabeth]

And see, this is why I love shopping at consignment shops.

[Kelly]

I know, because you can see it.

[Elizabeth]

In person and it's already assembled.

[Kelly]

I just need, like, very specific dimensions in these spaces. So, like, that's why I'm just, like, going to shopping new because. And I have some. I have some marketplace stuff that I love, like my kitchen table, my kids bunk beds, my kids armoire. But like, in these very specific places, I'm just having trouble. But you know what else I did?

[Elizabeth]

What?

[Kelly]

This is a base model luxury. I am now the proud owner of a purse tape measurer.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, that was good.

[Kelly]

Yeah, that was a good investment. So now I have a tape measure in my purse.

[Elizabeth]

Okay, good.

[Kelly]

Just like a small little tape measure. And in my phone I have the walls that need places, the dimensions. So if I'm out and about, if I stumble into a consignment shop, it's. I'm ready to go.

[Elizabeth]

Okay, good. I've been thinking that I would really love. I would really love to hit a consignment shop soon. It's been so long since I've been.

[Kelly]

Well, maybe we can go after lunch today.

[Elizabeth]

We totally should.

[Kelly]

I don't know how long stuff takes to eat, but we can see if we have time.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

My other base model luxury that I have. And I know you're always like, you have the stupidest ones. Okay, I love a straw in a Slim can. Okay, so I'm drinking a clean, simple each energy and focus drink right now. Lava Tropic is the best flavor, and I could, like, be, like, slurping it, but instead, I'm a lady with a straw. I love a straw in a slim can.

[Elizabeth]

I'm going to love a straw in a Slim can. Okay, so add some straws to your purse.

[Kelly]

You're honestly. So now I have beef with you. Like, let me tell you how a podcast works, Elizabeth.

[Elizabeth]

Okay. Okay, Kelly, tell me.

[Kelly]

I say something. We have conversation about it.

[Elizabeth]

Kelly, I don't know what kind of conversation you want me to have about a straw in a slim can. How am I. What. What is the next thing that's supposed to say? Oh, that's interesting.

[Kelly]

Anyway, being a podcaster is talking about nothing in an entertaining way. I don't know how else to explain that to you. Like, if you can't do that, let's hang up the mics now.

[Elizabeth]

Kel, you're going to have to give me a little bit more to work with, babe. Straw to slim can. Groundbreaking.

[Kelly]

Okay, I literally had, like. I literally had outlined, like, five minutes for that conversation.

[Elizabeth]

Kelly, how. You know what? I actually don't like straws. I actually don't like straws and cans. I don't like the noise that the straw makes around the. The metal. So, like, that's. Again, that's what I have to say about it.

[Kelly]

Whatever. What's next?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

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[Elizabeth]

This thing that I actually prepared.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Okay.

[Elizabeth]

So I had posted on my Instagram how one of my favorite pieces of content to watch is come with me to buy my new mom car. And then I judge obviously their decision based on the very little I know about them. And also I'm like, I can tell of who, who did and who did not watch any car mom videos. Which not to just like totally toot our own horn, but if you are a family car shopping in 2026 and you don't stumble across one piece of car mom content, that would be pretty shocking.

[Kelly]

Yeah, that would be shocking.

[Elizabeth]

So it's just like do your research. And sometimes when I see these videos I'm like, these people didn't do any research. So anyway, I wanted to kind of like snark. Everyone in my DMs was like, I do this too. Would love a reaction video. And what, what I'm not gonna do is like stitch and like snark on someone who I think made up a horrible 75, 000 decision. Because that's not nice. But what I was thinking we could do is I could pull real examples and we could not give their names, but we can just kind of judge their decisions.

[Kelly]

I don't. These don't come across my desk that often. I also am very protective over like, I don't love to consume other car content because I find that it could like influence my style, my verbiage. So I don't watch a ton of them. And I will just preface this with saying like, I take the most problems with, with people who don't do their full diligence and who don't. I really think you have to look at multiple cars.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So like for you to just to, to make, to make the best decision. To make the best well informed decision. Because like if you just go and look at one car and buy it and then make a video about it, like what are you comparing it to? Like, did you so. And like one thing which I will to my own horn with this. Like, I am so good at knowing what car people should buy. I mean, I do this for a living. And it's so funny because two people on our team who work, who I talk to every day, have both been car shopping right now. And I literally told them in the beginning, like, here's what you should do. And like, one of them didn't listen. And I said, you know, it's fine. Like, we're like, we're fine. Like, we weren't. I wasn't being sassy, but I'm like, that's fine if you don't want to do that. Like, take the scenic route. But I promise you, you will end up here where I'm telling you. But, like, that's fine. Do it your way. She did it her way. She ended up right back where I was gonna tell her. Same thing just happened with Tyler's sister. Bought a car. I was like, look at it all. You are going to end up with this car. Exactly what happened.

[Elizabeth]

Well, and I think it's. I think it's important for people to go the own, their own route because it's a very expensive decision to make.100. And they have to feel good about it. So, yeah, I'll get DMs. It's like, should I get this car or this car? And it's like, okay, well, both of them are going to work for your situation. You have to go test drive them both. I'm not. I am not making that decision for you.

[Kelly]

And there is a level. So, like, another girl on our team was shopping for a Grand Highlander and she's like, do you think I would like the Palisade more than the Grand Highlander? And I'm like, I don't know. I like the Palisade more than the Grand Highlander, but I don't know which one you will like better. So I think you should look at both.

[Elizabeth]

But always go look at both.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Because once it's like, once I know that, that, that, that a car will fit your situation, like, then it's a matter of your preferences. And some families do have do get the luxury of preferences. Some of us don't. Some of us have five kids in car seats. You have to get this car, like the Volkswagen Atlas example of last time. It's like, okay, that's the only mid sized car that you can get. Sorry.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Kelly]

Next.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. Okay. Well, I just pulled a few. I just thought we could kind of like ingest talk about them and you can tell. Some of them I think are fine. Some of them are genuinely really bad. And I just Wore just talk about it. Okay, first one. The video starts off by her flipping off her Mercedes SUV and saying how she's going to go get her her perfect mom car.

[Kelly]

She did see this one and it is kind of crazy to flip off a luggage. I mean, that was okay, whatever.

[Elizabeth]

She has one child, maybe seven months old, and she gets a new Chevy Suburban high country. The caption was, looks like I need another baby. Comments were mixed. Comments were mostly bad. Well, they weren't mostly bad, but a lot of the top ones are bad. Upset. She flipped off her, like, nice SUV that, like, I'm sorry for one kid is totally fine. And a lot of people were like, this is over consumption. Like, you have one kid. Like, did you need a Chevy Suburban high country? Just kind of like frustrated with like, the influencer, like, luxury lifestyle.

[Kelly]

Well, did she say why she flipped off her Mercedes?

[Elizabeth]

She didn't. And I, and I that I kind of wish we had like, some more context for like, which were they pouring a lot of money into it? Was she just, you know. Right. No, she didn't give that context.

[Kelly]

So I will say we don't know, like, we don't know the year of the Mercedes. Like, it also could have been the car she had since high school and maybe it was a money pit. And I actually don't. So, like, I'm gonna live in the world where, like, let's say she had to get a new car. Like, let's say the Mercedes was causing a lot of issues and she's like, I need a new car. I. It sounds like she wants to have more kids. I am always talking about the importance of forecasting your family's growth. So I think, I think if, I think she made an okay decision. Like if she knows she wants to have more kids, if she plans to keep this car for a long time, it's better than, like, have buying another slightly bigger Mercedes and then having two kids and then not feeling like it's enough space and then getting a new car. Sure, it's over. I don't. I mean, you could say it's overkill now, but if you think about the forecasting, it might not be in three years. I mean, you know how many, you know, kids she's going to have.

[Elizabeth]

So, so true. Okay, so this one doesn't bother you?

[Kelly]

I mean, doesn't bother me. Like, if I was like, if. Let's, let's say that, like, she is unsure about how many kids she wants to have. She likes nice expensive cars. It sounds like I probably would have Been like let's go lease something for three years. Let's kind of see how many kids are going to end up having how quickly. Let's to kind of figure out like how, what, how big of a car you need and then you can like buy the Suburban. Like I probably would have advised her to go like lease something in the midsize market.

[Elizabeth]

Okay.

[Kelly]

First and then maybe take bite off the Mercedes. The Suburban.

[Elizabeth]

That's fine. I that one didn't bother me that much either. But it was just like the flipping off the Mercedes was kind of jarring.

[Kelly]

Well it's called a hook. It's called a hook.

[Elizabeth]

And it was. And it was a hook. And it got good engagement. Okay, next video Lexus GX 550.

[Kelly]

Oh no.

[Elizabeth]

Tell me they're empty nesters with captain's chairs.

[Kelly]

Only.

[Elizabeth]

So I wasn't sure. I didn't dig that deep on these people. She only has booster age kids but she does have at least three kids.

[Kelly]

Oh.

[Elizabeth]

And made a comment about how her oldest is so excited to ride in the back.

[Kelly]

I don't really like this game because I don't have really anything nice to say. That was a bad buy. That was a bad buy. You should have bought Alexa. You should have bought an Escalade.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And you will find that, I mean your oldest is going to be incredibly squished back there. You will have absolutely no trunk with the third row up. So what are you going to do? Try to lay down a portion of the third row and then put that child at extreme risk for like things projectiles next to it. I mean that's just about it's or you should have bought the Lexus tx. But I mean I get it. Like people, people like that the problem with the Lexus lineup is like the tx. I'm sorry, isn't the best looking car like the GX and the LX are so much better looking and it's so crazy because like why can't the TX should just look more. I wish it would look more like the Palisade. Like give us some more of like that boxy Range Rover esque vibes. There are so many more car better cars she could have bought. She could have bought a Landover Defender. That would have been a much better choice. The Escalade would have been a better choice. Or what was the other one? I said the tx. Yeah, that would not. I, I would not have advised that. I will say that.

[Elizabeth]

Okay. Okay. So this, this next one, she was a Hyundai partner but she got the 2026 Hyundai Palisade with captain's chairs. She has three under three.

[Kelly]

What year did she got the new palisade? 26. Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, 26.

[Kelly]

I mean, for a free car to work, like, I don't think you're putting your children in danger. If it was a free car. Was a free car.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

What's so crazy is, like, I mean, not that I would ever do it, but, like, I have never asked to be. I have never been asked to be a Hyundai partner. And I just wanted to point that out to people.

[Elizabeth]

It's so interesting.

[Kelly]

I would never do it ever. I'd never take money from a car manufacturer, like, to promote a car. I would never do that ever. But I would like it to come across my desk as, like, an offer I'll be on.

[Elizabeth]

You know, that's actually a great segue into this next one. And this is more just like a rant that I have, but I came across quite a few videos from when Nissan had a bunch of mom influencers come out on a first drive event to review the Nissan Armada now. And I will many.

[Kelly]

We did get invited to that. We did get invited, but we couldn't go.

[Elizabeth]

Okay. And the comments were, this is the ultimate mom car, how cars should have been designed. Getting in and out has never been easier. And just, like, making all of these, like, comments like, well, you literally have the Nissan Lanyard on, and it's like, clearly you don't get, like, you're not getting in a bunch of cars. And you're, like, making these blanket statements about how this is the ultimate mom car. And it just couldn't be further from the truth.

[Kelly]

And here's where I'll take umbrage with this because I could see how it would come off a little contradictory because, like, I'm also an influencer who gets paid to promote some brands. Like, I 100 do that. But I would never. And I mean, I'm not trying to sound so dramatic when I say this, but I would never promote a brand where I feel like your children, your child's life is at stake. And I'm not trying to say that's dramatic at all. And, like, the Nissan Armada is actually incredibly safe car, but, like, I would never try to influence a purchase that expensive. I would never do that. And that's where I just think it's kind of. And it's not even that, like, I don't think Nissan should invite influencers out there to, like, go on the events and, like, show the cars. I just think those influencers go and need to be really careful about their language.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Like, just take like, take a beat and think about like, okay, how influential am I? And is someone gonna go like, buy this $80,000, this 50, 60, 70, $80,000 car. It's real. It's really hairy. That's, that's all I'll say. It's really hairy. And I'm not really faulting the influencers or the brand for doing it. I just wouldn't, pow. I would just, would rather spend my time and attention and empowering the consumer to always be thinking about like, who you're getting your car and car seat content from.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. But it's also like on the facts of getting paid, like these first start events, they don't, you don't get paid. Like, it's just like a free trip.

[Kelly]

To like, we don't get paid. Right. We don't know.

[Elizabeth]

That's what I'm saying. It's like some of these, like they're at like we've been to these events, like, we've made the same content. And I'm like, like, she's not, she didn't get paid for it, you know, so I don't know.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I mean, you guys know, we just don't travel because like, I'm just not in it for the free trip. Like, I just don't need the free trip. I don't even want to leave. Like, if it's a car that I feel like I can't see quickly, I'll go on the first drive events. And I do also like to go to, like, try to. I genuinely and Elizabeth can attest to this. We also try to go to like make some real freaking change happen because like, you're talking to people who designed the car. So like, like when we went to the Kentucky area with Ford, we had some awkward dinners because I was like, why are you guys doing this?

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. But you got good answers.

[Kelly]

Yeah, we did get good answers. It was a good trip. Okay, hold on back to the Nissan Armada for just a quick second. It has come a long way. Like, it definitely is. Like, I am, I will say it's a lot more family friendly than it ever has been. And I do think, like, I mean, it was one of our finalists for the car of the year because there are people who want a big car who don't want to drive an Expedition or a Suburban. Like, they want something a little bit more different and unique. And I do think the Nissan Armada can kind of provide that. It's just not really I think the, the Achilles heel of that car is like, it doesn't have a great trunk and there's no extended wheelbase option.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

You know, and I just, it's hard to say why would, why would I ever buy that over the Toyota Sequoia? Because like those two cars are very comparable in terms of like size and styling. And I think the Sequoia, although maybe not quite as car seat friendly like if you're after older kids like the Sequoia over the armada. 10 times out of 10.

[Elizabeth]

Mm. Okay, I've got another kind of rough one. Two toddlers, one newborn Volvo XC90 with captain's chairs comment. The caption the safety rating sold me immediately. Very pot. Very positive comments in her comment section. Now let's talk about the problem with this one because people love the Volvo XC90.

[Kelly]

I love the Volvo XC90.

[Elizabeth]

For two kids.

[Kelly]

For two kids or for three across? If you, if you don't mind being a little squished because it is, it is good at three across.

[Elizabeth]

It.

[Kelly]

Well, three across is possible. It's not very wide, but it has several three across combinations that could work for her. Combination. We could have found a combination of car seats. The third row doesn't have tether anchors. People don't realize that. We talk about that all the time. There's no tether anchor in the third row of the Evolve XC90, which is bonkers to me because I agree the Volvo XC90 is incredibly safe. It's one of like, it has one of the best crash ratings out there. But let's talk about crash ratings. They're talking about how the driver performed. So it's really good at keeping the driver safe. The third row with your forward facing car. Toddler without a tether anchor. That's not the same correlation. That's not. I, I can't, I can't say that that is as safe as a Volkswagen Atlas with a tether anchor.

[Elizabeth]

So what you're saying is you, you have to have a tether anchor to install forward facing car seat. Yes. Correct. Yeah.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

So like. Yes, you can't.

[Kelly]

Unfortunately, her car seats unproperably installed. And what I would probably try to do if I was her is I would probably tell her to try to find a way to fit the, to fit the newborn in the third row, which is going to be incredibly difficult, and then have to move that second row seat all the way up to accommodate for the rear facing seat. I mean, that's just, that's.

[Elizabeth]

Well. And the third row Is it? The third row axis isn't very good.

[Kelly]

The third row access is not great. And the problem with the third row is the way that the seat belt is fixated on the pillar of the side of the car. It's very difficult to get a good booster fit back there. Like, I really do not like the third row of the Volvo XC90 at all. And I would 100% only get the bench seat. And I would probably only advise it for two kids if I'm being 100%, because there's just so many better cars that you could get for three kids. That's a really hard one because that, that one's not. There's nothing really objective about that. Like you. There's not a tether anchor. So I really hate to say that. And I'm not. I really don't want to make that mom feel bad. Like, I'm happy. I don't know who these people are, but I do want to put a psa. PSA out there. Like, it's not. You can't check your tether anchor positionings because we run into the same thing with the Sequoia. I brought that example up earlier. Well, pop quiz. Where is the tether anchor in the Sequoia? In the third row.

[Elizabeth]

Is it on the ceiling?

[Kelly]

It's in the middle seat only.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, it's in the middle seat. Okay.

[Kelly]

There's only one tether anchor in the third row and it's in the middle. So that means you can't put down a portion of the third row. Not that I advise that. And you have no visibility if you have a child back there and you can't put a forward facing seat on the sides. Disgusting.

[Elizabeth]

You know, you really forget that, like, oh, well, when you have rear facing, you're like, oh, well, just install with a seat belt. Like you can do a seatbelt install. It could always just do a seatbelt.

[Kelly]

Yes, exactly, exactly.

[Elizabeth]

And forward facing has to too. Are there any forward facing car seats that don't that allow you to just do a seat belt install?

[Kelly]

You know, the waters get a little murky there and I don't really want to. I, I don't feel comfortable speaking blanketly about.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, sure, sure. Just like in general, don't get the bulb C90 if you have three kids.

[Kelly]

In car seats and in general forecast your family's growth and like watch one of my tours. Because I was, I would, I've would have pointed that out.

[Elizabeth]

I know, I know.

[Kelly]

That was kind of fun, kind of sad, kind of fun, kind of sad.

[Elizabeth]

Kind of fun, kind of whatever. I can't believe those videos don't come across your Explorer.

[Kelly]

Well, they do. I'm telling you. I just don't always watch them.

[Elizabeth]

You're not curious? I guess you deal with it a.

[Kelly]

Lot, so maybe you honestly know. And then sometimes I get a little. If I be honest, and as I also get a little jealous and a little mad because, like, sometimes those videos perform really well.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, yeah.

[Kelly]

And then I'm like, okay. Like, yeah. Which it is so hard because I'm not trying to be like. Like, they shouldn't share about their life and their aspects of things. But no, and granted, like, I only.

[Elizabeth]

Pulled, like, the kind of questionable ones, like, anyone who, like, got a Ford Expedition or in a minivan or whatever. Like, I didn't. I didn't pull those, you know?

[Kelly]

Yeah, I do. Like, I. I should probably watch them more, though, because it is. I do. I guess I would like to see, like, what. What they highlight and what they liked, I guess. Could be a good learning experience.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

But anyway, speaking of car dropping, we are. I meant to hear this little housekeeping announcements. We are bringing back consultations, hopefully next week.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, good.

[Kelly]

They will fill up quick. And I'm excited to talk to you guys again. I've had just kind of had to take a break, mainly because of my health issues, but now I'm back to being healthy.

[Elizabeth]

You're thriving?

[Kelly]

Well, the Botox helped. Oh, except how about the fact that I went in to go get my facial on Wednesday or after we recorded our podcast? And she's like, did you get Botox? I'm like, yeah, I just got it on Friday. And she's like, well, then we can't do a facial. And I'm like, oh. She's like, I'll move all your Botox around. I'm like, oh, I don't want that.

[Elizabeth]

So could you imagine if she didn't ask you? Kelly?

[Kelly]

Well, she did her diligence. She's a professional.

[Elizabeth]

You would have been botched.

[Kelly]

I would have been so botched. So, anyway, I did get my brows tinted. I don't know if you noticed. No, I've never done that before. Yeah, I got my brows tinted, and then I got a massage, and I hated it. So that was fun. I had that feeling that you did where, like, it just didn't feel productive at all.

[Elizabeth]

I know.

[Kelly]

And it's not my version of relaxing. Like, I don't know.

[Elizabeth]

You know, that actually reminds me of a Vaseline philosophy that I've been Having. And that is the idea of productivity and how. I think I saw a reel or something. This wasn't my original thought, but, you know, when you become a parent, your productivity feels like it goes down a lot and you can't get anything done.

[Kelly]

Mm.

[Elizabeth]

And how sad is it that we don't see feeding our kids, playing with our kids, reading our kids a book, spending time with our kids as a productive thing to do.

[Kelly]

Wow.

[Elizabeth]

And so the other yesterday, that's, like.

[Kelly]

Really striking a nerve with me.

[Elizabeth]

Some might say it could be one of the most productive things you could do. So yesterday, I kind of hit a wall around, like, one o'.

[Kelly]

Clock.

[Elizabeth]

Like, I just. Just feeling, like, so exhausted, just, like, growing this baby. And I was literally, like, laying on the floor just like. And just, like, not feeling well. And at the same time, I heard James crying in his room because my nanny was trying to put him down for a nap, and it wasn't going well. And so I was like, look, I. I'm feeling not great right now. I'm. Let me go help put James down for a nap, because what I can't do mentally right now is sit in front of my computer and do more work. What I also can't do right now because I don't feel good is go fold laundry. So I'm gonna go lay in bed with my son so he can take a good nap, which, of course, he did. And then I was like, you know what? I'm also growing a baby right now, and, like, if I want to be able to be helpful to my family for the rest of the evening, I also need to rest. So I'm going to rest. And I just kind of, like, in another world, I think I would have seen, like, me literally laying down in James's bed in the middle of my work day as an lazy thing to do. And I was like, this is productive because my son is resting so he can have a good day. I'm resting so I can then go turn around and put dinner on the table and do everything for my family.

[Kelly]

Who told us that wasn't. Who told us that wasn't productive?

[Elizabeth]

I know.

[Kelly]

Why have I been brainwashed into thinking that's not productive?

[Elizabeth]

Why have you been brainwashed into thinking that's lazy?

[Kelly]

Wow. So I see how it's, like, a little bit more meaty than, like, straws in a slim can.

[Elizabeth]

Maybe we can have a conversation surrounding it. So, you know, the dishes aren't going anywhere. The laundry's not going anywhere. The work is not going anywhere. The Time you have with your kids is going somewhere, right? And the time that you have them at home to pour into them is not forever. So how can we be productive in that?

[Kelly]

That is a bone chilling statement. I'm going to really work on that this week. Just like being like, just. And I do it. I still do that, but I want to do that and see it as more productive. I think it's like my big goal for the week.

[Elizabeth]

And then when you rest your head at the end of the day, you're like, nothing done today. It's like, well, did you read your child a book? Did your child learn a new. Did you help your child develop a new skill? Like, what did you do with. Did you just play with them? Did you comfort them? Like, all of that is incredibly productive and incredibly important.

[Kelly]

Okay, so let's challenge ourselves. Not that I love it, not that I like to do a challenge, but like, let's. On next episode, like, let's bring some productive things we do with our kids this weekend.

[Elizabeth]

Okay.

[Kelly]

You know, sure.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Just like some mindset shifts. Well.

[Elizabeth]

And I don't even think it has to be, like, anything crazy. Like you said the other day, your niece is. Has a. Is incredible talker and she's younger than Fred and you know, her mom is what, a speech. Speech therapist.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Pathologist.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, pathologist. And so they have been reading to her since the day she was born. They've been doing things to her.

[Kelly]

It's like.

[Elizabeth]

So I'm not saying it has to be anything crazy, but like, just reading your kid a book. Yeah, that's. That actually helps incredibly. Yeah. Sitting there and saying, what noise does the cow make? Like, for Sloan, like, that's helping her. That's productive. And it seems on like, just like nothing.

[Kelly]

Chills, Chills. Okay. Anyway, we have two more segments on today's episode, and that is, I have one industry news story and then I have a. Ditch the drive through. What do you want first? We don't have to go in order, but we can if you want.

[Elizabeth]

Well, let's do industry news.

[Kelly]

Okay, so now it's time for industry news, where I spell the hot tea going on in the auto industry. And let me just tell you something. There's not a ton going on in the auto industry. Like, basically it's all just like, like, supercars are being made. Like, Dodge is making a race car. Like, Lamborghini's bringing in a hybrid. Like, literally could care less. But there's one story that's not really. It's not really auto related. Technically, but it also is okay. And did you know that ChatGPT, OpenAI is going to start running ads?

[Elizabeth]

No.

[Kelly]

Mm.

[Elizabeth]

What? What? How? In what capacity?

[Kelly]

Feels like this was kind of a long time coming. Okay, it says. This is from CNN. ChatGPT may soon serve up ads for products it thinks you'd like to buy. OpenAI announced on Friday that it will be testing ads in its free version for logged in adult users. It's rolling out an $8 per month Go subscription tier that includes some upgraded capabilities such as longer memory and creation opportunities. A lower price than its Plus Go subscribers will also get ads while Plus Pro and OpenAI's business customers won't. Sam Altman has previously expressed reservations about introducing ads to ChatGPT. But the move comes as OpenAI is urgently trying to figure out how to bring more revenue from its 800 million monthly users to help it afford its 1.4 trillion it has committed to spending on AI infrastructure over the next eight years. Altman said that in November the company expected to end 2025 with around 20 billion in annual revenue. So we don't really have a ton of like what it could look like yet. But it says like advertising could prove a lucrative strategy for OpenAI as using the information from people's conversions with ChatGPT could make it high, could make it for highly targeted ad. For example, if a user asked ChatGPT for help planning a trip, it could serve up ads for a hotel or entertainment in the area. I am okay with this.

[Elizabeth]

If it is labeled as this hotel is an ad, it will be.

[Kelly]

They says it will not affect the their. Their answers. It will be like what Google. It'll be like what Google does.

[Elizabeth]

Okay. Yeah, no, I'm okay with it. Yeah. I mean nothing's free anymore. Literally. Chat gbt, I mean is free. Which is crazy.

[Kelly]

Yeah. So. And I'm also just like I just don't mind a targeted ad. Like show me what I want to see. I mean you know me well. What do I want to see? What might I make my life easier but just interesting. Okay. And now it's time for ditch to the drive through. We sure an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get you out.

[Elizabeth]

Of y' all dinner rut and boy.

[Kelly]

Do I have one for you. Kind of. So I'm going through like a major freezer clean out and I'm just really trying to use up what we have. I mean I feel like a lot of us are like, you know, you come off the holidays and it's like I Have I bought so much, like, random ingredients for holiday stuff and like, I've got to get this stuff out of here. And I have had cube steaks in the back of my freezer for, for a year. And I was like, I have to use these cube steaks as it was getting depressing. Like, I would go in my deep freezer to find meat for the week and like, everything I picked up was a cube steak. And I'm like, it's finally time.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Like, I've used all the steaks, I've used all the roasts, I've used all. I've almost out of ground beef. It's like I only have cube steaks left. And I found a cooking in the Midwest who's one of my favorite food Instagram follows. And he did a cube steak crock pot recipe. And I'm like, okay, that sounds fun. Because the best way to cook cube steak is chicken fried steak. And I just simply don't have the headspace to be flouring and frying steak cutlets with four kids around me. Like, I can't be doing like, that's just. I'm not in my chicken fried steak era. I made it one time, but I like did it during the workday when the kids weren't home. Like, I just, I can't be doing it. So I put it in the crock pot. It was like a French onion cream of mushroom brown gravy recipe. I did make mashed potatoes with it and it was average.

[Elizabeth]

That stinks. And how was the chicken fried steak? Was the chicken fried steak amazing?

[Kelly]

Yeah, it was amazing.

[Elizabeth]

Okay. Cause like, if cube steak is just like, not.

[Kelly]

Was amazing. This recipe and this recipe, like, by all stretch, it was good. Like, I followed it to a T. It tasted like what you would expect. It was like a very salty French onion gravy smothered with these, like, chops. But the cube steak itself, I mean, I cooked it for six hours on high and it was still just a little tough. Like, it was hard to feed to Libby. I felt like, yeah, I mean, the kids ate it, but just still. So, I mean, did we use it up? Did my family eat it? Tyler liked it until I was like, oh, my mom used to make these all the time. Okay. So he, he liked, just didn't give me the same, like, high that I felt when, like, I made my family like the pork ramen bowls or like a chicken pot pie or like. Yeah, it didn't leave me with that.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

You know, the kids ate their supper to get their M M's.

[Elizabeth]

Okay, so sounds like this wasn't a very good ditch the drive through.

[Kelly]

Well, no, but if you have cube steaks, I'm saying, like, it was dinner. Not every dinner has to be amazing.

[Elizabeth]

Here's what I made last night. Just. I made chicken cutlets.

[Kelly]

Again, obsessed.

[Elizabeth]

And so maybe I need to just.

[Kelly]

Get my head out of my butt, because you're obviously sitting there frying food.

[Elizabeth]

I baked. I baked it.

[Kelly]

But you baked the chicken cutlets.

[Elizabeth]

Here's how you bake a chicken cutlet, though.

[Kelly]

Did they turn out good?

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, yeah. Turned out great. So what you can do is you can. If I'm not. If I'm feeling my. Like, myself, I'll sear it first, and then I will bake it. But I put them. I put it on a cookie sheet, and then I take my cookie, like, racks that I. When you have, like, hot cookies, drying rack, whatever. I put that on top of my cookie sheet so that way it cooks a little bit more evenly.

[Kelly]

Yeah, that's a good idea.

[Elizabeth]

Okay. But you can sear it for, like, two minutes first. But I just didn't want to dirty another thing, so I said, whatever. So you're right.

[Kelly]

Then searing it if you want to.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, yeah. And so what I did is I didn't even, like, top them with cheese. Like, I just made the cutlets, and then we had chicken parm the first night, and then the next night I just cut them up and served it. Kind of like you did the other night with your pork over fried rice. And I got, like, some of those, like, Trader Joe's gyozas.

[Kelly]

Oh, love. Yum.

[Elizabeth]

And then that Japanese barbecue sauce just really takes it over the top.

[Kelly]

That sucks.

[Elizabeth]

And. And it was just like, it felt so good to use the same thing but have two totally different flavor profiles.

[Kelly]

Sure, sure. Okay, maybe I need my chicken cutlets.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

In my freezer are chicken thighs. And I don't really like chicken thighs very much.

[Elizabeth]

I love chicken thighs.

[Kelly]

Not my favorite.

[Elizabeth]

You make Sam's chicken thighs, Kelly.

[Kelly]

I know, but, like, Tyler doesn't like them very much.

[Elizabeth]

What?

[Kelly]

You know, he doesn't like dark meat.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, he just doesn't like the texture of a chicken thigh.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, I prefer chicken thigh.

[Kelly]

Well, so I was thinking about putting them in a pot pie, because I feel like that kind of hides it a little bit.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Because that's the next thing I have to use up chicken thighs. And then I have a couple of, like, arm roasts from beefs that I have to use up. And we have no steak left. No hamburger.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So I'm going to. So tomorrow. So tonight, I'm gonna make a chicken pot pie. Tomorrow, I'm gonna do a chuck roast. It's not a chuck roast. It's like an arm roast. But I'm gonna season it, like, with Mexican, like, taco seasoning in rotel. And then I'm gonna try to do, like, a shredded beef taco moment.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So I think. Yeah. And then, you know, I have. I have, like, half a jar of salsa to use. I have some cheese to use. I have some tortillas that are getting a little hard. So, like, I think that'll be kind of, like, a good. I have some corn. I have some black beans. So I'm gonna try to do, like, a taco bar, but instead of ground beef, I'm gonna do these. The shredded beef, which I think will actually be good.

[Elizabeth]

I think it'll be better.

[Kelly]

I think that'll be the best dinner of the week.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. Okay. Well, with that, that's gonna be our episode, so. Yeah, I'm ready so much. I'm ready for some pho, too. Thank you so much for listening to the carpool podcast, and we'll talk to you next time you thank.

[Kelly]

Love you guys. Bye. 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.