The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Episode: Major Confession and a New Micro-Hobby
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging and deeply personal episode, Kelly and Lizz invite listeners into a candid conversation about everyday life as millennial moms, the joys and challenges of decluttering, reconnecting with their faith, handling Lent confessions, and finding small delights through “micro-hobbies.” The episode is rich with relatable anecdotes, practical tips for simplifying home life, reflections on maternal mental health, and the latest auto industry news—plus their signature, lighthearted banter and memorable quotables. A major segment addresses a tragic news story involving a Hyundai Palisade recall, showcasing their commitment to consumer advocacy and safety awareness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Recording After-Hours & Life Update

• The episode is recorded at 8pm on a Sunday, which the hosts note is the least ideal time for them mentally, but perhaps necessary due to scheduling issues.
  • "If I looked at my week at a glance and was like, when's the worst time to record a podcast? I would choose 8pm on a Sunday." — Kelly (00:46)
• Kelly confesses to breaking her Lent commitment by eating sugar, specifically a donut from church, but clarifies technicalities of Lent rules (Sundays don't "count").
  • "I had a little too much coffee and I was like, I need something to eat. And there was only donuts there." — Kelly (02:33)

Dinner Party with Priests and Social Hosting

• Kelly describes hosting a unique dinner party won at a school fundraiser, where priests came over to cook a Lenten meal—discussion focuses on the joy of adult-only gatherings and meticulous hosting details.
  • "Our priests...so fun. Like, if you don't have a young priest at your parish, I am sorry, they are so fun." — Kelly (05:06)
  • Kelly’s appetizers: Greek board (hummus, spinach-artichoke dip, assorted veggies), mixed nuts, peanut butter pretzels, Cadbury eggs (couldn’t eat them due to Lent, but wanted them present).
  • "It was just like, truthfully, one of the first times I've been with adults in my house without kids." — Kelly (09:27)
  • "Tyler cleaned all day. Your house has literally never looked better than it did that night." — Liz (09:52, 09:57)

Reconnecting with Faith and Catholic Traditions

• Liz recounts going to confession with her husband for the first time in years, sharing honest feelings of being “rediscovered” in their faith.
  • Liz: "For me, it's been nine years since my last confession. For Maddie, it had been like 24 years..." (11:24)
  • Lighthearted comparison of penances: Liz was told to “do something nice for someone,” while her husband had to pray a full Rosary (12:15).

Maternal Mental Health & Perinatal Anxiety

• Lizz opens up about experiencing “sundown scaries” while pregnant—a wave of evening dread and anxiety not focused on baby-related fears but general, unexplained sadness.
  • "As soon as six or seven o'clock would hit, I would, like, start crying. I would feel unsafe. I would feel this sense of dread inside me." — Lizz (14:13)
  • She seeks solidarity from listeners and notes plans to discuss symptoms with her doctor (15:14-16:39).
  • Kelly affirms: "No, I've never experienced anything close to what you're describing in pregnancy. Postpartum? All the time." (16:05)

New Micro-Hobby: March Madness League

• Kelly enthusiastically shares her new “micro-hobby”—joining a huge, influencer-hosted March Madness bracket league (21:13). She involves her kids in picking teams, prints out the brackets, and enjoys the nostalgia of family traditions.
  • "It's bringing me back to football, you know...I want to get my highlighter out. We used to do these at...Dad used to make us all fill out brackets when we were kids." — Kelly (22:08)
• Discussion about the fantasy of owning a 3D printer for kids’ crafts enters as a sidebar; both hosts commiserate about the pain of home printers and small home victories when one works (24:26-26:44).

Base Model Luxury: The Joy of Reading Physical Books

• Kelly names returning to physical books as her “base model luxury,” especially carrying a book in her purse to read at opportune moments like doctor’s offices.
  • "It feels like guilt free me time...I feel better after I read it. It’s an amazing story." — Kelly (32:08)
  • The current book is The Girl with the Louding Voice; Kelly highly recommends it and frowns on "smut novels,” advocating for substantive reads (29:29 onward).
  • Notable banter about Kelly’s “book club” being just two or three people and her tendency to exaggerate for storytelling effect (27:37-28:27).
  • Physical books trump audiobooks for certain content—issue with audiobook narrator’s heavy accent is demonstrated (30:08-30:37).

Fast Lane Philosophy: Embracing “Less is More”

• Lizz’s new mindset: Her “flex” is not having more, but embracing much less and seeking simplicity—empty drawers, few possessions, clarity in home organization.

  • "I want you to open a drawer and be like, why is there nothing in this drawer?...I'm sick of stuff. I want to have so much less, and I'm so happy with having less." — Lizz (34:58-35:18)
  • Discussion on the hardest area to minimize (clothes) and the insight: If you have a hundred shirts but only wear three, you only have three shirts (37:10).

• Related insight: Avoiding multi-packs on Amazon; owning multiples of things you don’t need leads to more clutter (40:09-41:25).

• Philosophical tangent on toys: “Going deep” with repeat purchases of well-loved toys is sometimes better than “going wide” with new types; quality and flexibility (Legos, nuggets, rainbow cones) over novelty (41:39-45:40).

Industry News: Hyundai Palisade Recall and Tragedy

• A somber, in-depth discussion on a major Hyundai Palisade safety recall after a 2-year-old was killed due to a fault in the power folding seats.
  • Kelly shares her emotional reaction: "The lack of empathy from the auto industry to this family has been like, really sickening to me." (48:06)
  • She grapples with feelings of guilt as a car reviewer (did not notice or test the risky feature in her review), and resolves to raise awareness (48:24-49:32).
  • Technical detail: The seats may fail to detect when someone is present, not stopping appropriately—this has happened before per NHTSA reports (51:10).
  • "I just don't really know, like, how I get over it. Like, and even when it's fixed, like, I'm just really mad." — Kelly (55:10)
  • The conversation closes with practical advice: Test these features before buying, be kind to local dealers managing the recall, and watch for more models to be included (58:24-59:02).

Ditch the Drive-Thru: Easy Dinner Inspiration

• Both hosts share their current favorite, ultra-simple family dinners.
  • Liz offers “barbecue pulled pork nachos,” but admits her kids just wanted ground beef nachos—stress-free meal with no dishes by using foil and paper plates (60:22-61:59).
  • Kelly’s pick: A homemade Reuben sandwich (corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut, Thousand Island on rye), her annual St. Patrick’s Day staple (62:11).
  • Spirited discussion on how to use leftovers, minimize condiment waste, and get creative with what’s on hand (63:38-65:14).
  • "A good way to start a recipe is, like, what condiment do I have?" — Lizz (65:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Your house has literally never looked better than it did that night." — Liz (09:57)
• "As soon as six or seven o'clock would hit, I would, like, start crying...This is what we have to do right now." — Lizz (14:13)
• "I'm so excited to announce I have a new micro hobby." — Kelly (21:15)
• "Having a working printer as an adult...if my printer worked one time, I would be unstoppable." — Liz (25:48)
• "My flex is I want to have so much less than you...I want you to open a drawer and be like, why is there nothing in this drawer?" — Liz (34:58-35:18)
• "Physical books: it feels like guilt free me time...I'm showing myself love, to be honest with you." — Kelly (32:08-32:39)
• "The lack of empathy from the auto industry to this family has been like, really sickening to me." — Kelly (48:06)
• "I'm not going to blacklist Hyundai, like I can't do that and I don't think I need to do that." — Kelly (58:11)
• "A good way to start a recipe is, like, what condiment do I have?" — Liz (65:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:46 — Recording after-hours; why the episode is at a weird time
• 01:59 — Kelly’s “major confession” about eating sugar during Lent
• 04:11 — Dinner party recap, hosting tips, and fun with priests
• 11:03 — Liz and Maddie go to confession after years away
• 14:13 — Lizz discusses pregnancy anxiety/"sundown scaries"
• 21:15 — Kelly’s new micro-hobby: March Madness bracket league
• 27:37 — Book club “controversy” and the joy of exaggeration
• 29:29 — Book recommendation: The Girl with the Louding Voice
• 34:58 — Lizz’s “less is more” fast lane philosophy
• 41:39 — Thoughts on toys: “go deep” vs. “go wide”
• 48:06 — Hyundai Palisade recall and tragic safety discussion
• 60:16 — Ditch the Drive-Thru: Nachos and Reuben recipes
• 65:07 — Using condiments as inspiration for meal planning

Episode Tone & Language

• Warm, humorous, self-deprecating, and openly vulnerable
• Comfortable family banter and teasing—particularly about exaggeration and family habits
• Honest and emotional when discussing faith and tragedy, pivoting naturally from tears to laughter
• No-nonsense, direct tips for home organization, family life, and meal prep

For Listeners:

If you’re a mom needing solidarity, humor, and fresh perspectives on faith, family meals, decluttering, and everyday wins, this episode is a must-hear. Plus, it delivers a heartfelt call for product safety vigilance and serves as a reminder that the best “luxuries” are often the simplest things done with heart.