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Kelly
Welcome to the Carpool Podcast with Kelly.
Liz
So you're telling me that we can fit. We can have two sets of seats and an aisle on a school bus.
Kelly
Oh, I know.
Liz
And we can't do three across in, like, a BMW X7?
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Like, what's that about?
Kelly
And, Liz, how do Suntrups put cereal away? First of all, the bag is open in the most messed up way. We're not wrapping it. Your mom time off starts now.
Liz
Welcome back to the Carpool Podcast with Kelly and Liz. Elizabeth and I, for the first time in many moons, are recording together in person for what is also likely probably one of the last times we have.
Kelly
Gone so back and forth on how to record our podcast. And ultimately, it's easiest if we do it remotely because our time spent together is too valuable to be, you know, sitting and just talking for two hours.
Liz
Yes. When Elizabeth and I both moved, we went from being, like 12 minutes away to every bit of 39.
Kelly
Every bit of 39.
Liz
39, 40, 45 if you stop and get a coffee. Yeah. And it does just feel like our. Our time together needs to be spent filming. I feel like Elizabeth and I, like, we worked together, but we got in a really bad habit, mainly me of I just. Elizabeth there as my emotional support worker. Like, she just had to be there watching me do things or, like, helping me do things that I could do on my own.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
And we weren't being as efficient as possible.
Kelly
Right.
Liz
So, you know, the word of the year for 2025 is just, like, efficiency and, like, feeding the beast and just, like, running. Like, we just. We're not having babies this year, so we have to improve all of that.
Kelly
Energy that we normally take, you know, to build a baby, to really build and nourish a business.
Liz
So all to say is Elizabeth's gonna take all the podcast stuff to her home and work on setting up her studio.
Kelly
Yeah. And then I have ideas. I have ideas of how that way, if we have any in person guests, they can come to my house. So that being said, you can come to my house and record.
Liz
I can come to your house and Record. But we definitely want to have like really gorgeous looking studio. I'm gonna call them Foodios because like, they're fake studios.
Kelly
Like, I'm just total studio.
Liz
I just need a corner. I need a corner. But I think I want to do like a wallpaper.
Kelly
Here's what I'm. I agree. Because I think they should be the same.
Liz
I think they should be the same.
Kelly
Isn't that what the toast does? They don't record. They record remotely, but they set up their studio so they look like they're in the same room. Yes, that's what we need to do. So my plan, and you could do this too. Unless you want to put wallpaper up somewhere is let's get matching wallpaper. And then I'm just gonna get like a big thing of plywood and put it. That's my backdrop. I'm gonna put whatever our backdrop is on this plywood.
Liz
I'm probably just gonna do it like in this. I, I, I'm fine to do it in this like little studio that we have in my basement. Because this is a closet. A closet right now.
Kelly
Totally. I'm gonna use my guest bedroom. So I can't. I need a bit of a more temporary movable studio.
Liz
But I agree. We do like matching chairs, matching backdrops. And then we're gonna like. We're basically. I mean, the toasters does a good job of doing like remote. But make it look like they're in person. And we'll have our monitors off to the side so it'll look like I'm talking to you.
Kelly
Yes.
Liz
And it'll be misdirection. Misdirection. Name that movie.
Kelly
I don't know.
Liz
Monsters University are. The only movies I watch are children's movies. And you know what I was thinking about? There's not enough new children's movies that come out. And I want everyone to hear me out here. I like googled the other day, like, kids movies coming out in 25. Because I don't give a rip what adult movies are coming out. I don't have time to go watch one of those.
Kelly
No.
Liz
I want to know when I'm Getting a Zootopia 2. Finally. Turns out it's this year, which is very exciting. But like, I was googling kids movies that come out in 25. It's like four movies.
Kelly
Well, I think animated movies are actually.
Liz
Really hard to make when today is AI. I don't know.
Kelly
I think they're true. Adapt and overcome.
Liz
I'm just saying.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Zootopia 2, Snow White, live Action's coming out. Like, remember, like that's a blip. I thought that was canceled, to be honest.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Something called how would you pronounce E?
Kelly
L, I O. Elio. Elio.
Liz
Elio. Zootopia 2, Dogman, Bad Guys 2. Like those are the movies that are coming out. Oh, just like, doesn't seem like a lot.
Kelly
No, it doesn't seem like a lot. And just for the amount of times you have to re watch a movie, you know.
Liz
Yes. As a parent now, something that recently, if you need something on your kid content plate, may I suggest heading over to Netflix because they have OG Magic School Bus. I'm talking 1991 Magic School Bus on Netflix and they did a Magic School Bus spin off show like that came out I think this year or something. Both are excellent.
Kelly
Magic School Bus Slaps is very carpool adjacent, so.
Liz
Carpool adjacent. So ahead of its time. So George adjacent. Like there's a lizard. Like it's. We're obsessed. My kids are obsessed.
Kelly
What does Ms. Say? Seat belts, everyone. Is that what she says?
Liz
Yes. And what's so fun is our mother, every time we got in the car would use her Ms. Frizzle voice to say, seatbelts everyone.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Also, school buses don't even have seat belts, so.
Kelly
Yeah, what's. Wait, what's that about?
Liz
Only magic ones, I guess.
Kelly
I can't believe we just like allow that to happen.
Liz
Well, what I always think is so crazy, like, this is crazy. So you're telling me that we can fit. We can have two sets of seats and an aisle on a school bus.
Kelly
Oh, I know.
Liz
And we can't do three across in like a BMW X7.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Like, what's that about?
Kelly
And we're all driving on the same.
Liz
Lanes and we're all driving on the same. If someone was like, are you living in a simulation? And I'd be like, I don't know, like. Like that's one of the reasons why I think the world's not real. Because my mind doesn't compute that.
Kelly
No, I don't. I don't compute. I mean, sure, it takes up more of the lane, but it's still fitting comfortably in the lane. Like if you drive past a school bus on the highway, you're not like, think, then think then. Like, you're just driving right past it. Like you didn't even notice it.
Liz
No, exactly. So it's just like things that make you go.
Kelly
That's one of them for sure.
Liz
And it just feels like automakers should try a little harder because it's like the school bus is doing it and you can't even do three. You can't even give me three. Three sets of latch. So I'm just, like, saying I'm confused.
Kelly
No, I'm so confused. But that, you know, I don't know where you gonna get any answers on that one?
Liz
No, surely not. Well, anyway, Liz.
Kelly
Anyway, Cal, boy, do we have a show for you. Boy, do we. We are coming off of. We just had Fred's B day party. It's a very good time.
Liz
Thank you. So, you know, I got. Got my hosting notes out and I spoke earlier or on the last podcast. It's like, I. This is something that I just want to get better at now. Could I have ordered pizza?
Kelly
Of course.
Liz
I like to do this. I want to just improve this, and I want to be able to, like, host my family. Just. I don't want, like, it's whatever. I. I just want to get better at it. So here are my notes.
Kelly
1.
Liz
A chuck roast always hits. I did not have enough chuck roast. I got five pounds, which was not enough.
Kelly
Okay. How many people did you have?
Liz
20.
Kelly
You had 20 people. Okay.
Liz
But it's also kind of like, if you're gonna have a party, like, I would have liked to have leftovers. We didn't have leftovers. So I do feel. And Tyler did say, because my husband one thing about he's so feast or famine, Tyler is like, I didn't eat until after and I just finished it. So, like, I did feel. I did take peace in knowing that, like, everyone got what they wanted. And Tyler ate dead last and then he just finished the crock pot.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
So that did feel good. But should have had two chuck roast, like, or at least probably eight pounds. But the problem is only five foot in my crock pot, so that I'm double crock potting.
Kelly
Do you have two crock pots?
Liz
I do have two crock pots and they did cook down significantly. So then you could have added them to one.
Kelly
Okay, but.
Liz
So you have to have two crock pots going all day.
Kelly
No, that's the ZD hit. Ziti was good.
Liz
Only needed one, though.
Kelly
Yep.
Liz
Love a Caesar salad. A bag Caesar. Always a good idea. And then I did green beans. I did them on the stove to feel a little fancy.
Kelly
The green beans were good. You did have some chips in queso when we walked in, which I will say was so necessary were you not.
Liz
Who did that?
Kelly
Mom.
Liz
Mom. I would have had nothing, and people would have been mad.
Kelly
I know I needed something as soon As I walked in.
Liz
And you do, and you do.
Kelly
Like, you don't know how hungry people are going to be. They're coming for dinner and if you're not going to serve it for, you know, 30 minutes till they get there.
Liz
And chip salsa are such a cheap wow moment, though.
Kelly
No one's mad at it.
Liz
No one's mad.
Kelly
Some people might be mad at a veggie tray. Some people might be mad at a charcuterie board. No one's mad at chips and salsa.
Liz
Chips and salsa also aren't filling.
Kelly
Yeah, well, I can find a way.
Liz
Well, of course. But I'm saying, like, you know, you don't have too many apps and like, no one eats.
Kelly
You don't want. It's a light app. It's not a heavy app. A heavy app is toasted raviolis.
Liz
So, yeah, I won't have a party again without chips and sals.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Or at least I did have popcorn. Did you notice I had popcorn?
Kelly
I did notice. And honestly, even if I came in hungry and dipped in salsa wasn't there, I also probably wouldn't have eaten the popcorn. That wasn't a wild moment for me. Okay, now, it was a piece of your decor because it was in a red train. Tractor.
Liz
Tractor.
Kelly
So it looks nice, but it does nothing. Popcorn does nothing for me personally.
Liz
Interesting.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
So anyway, have tips and salsa. Some things that I really learned about myself in my hosting capabilities is I've got to invent in the. I have to inv. Invest in the right utensil holder. I don't have one.
Kelly
Me too. Me too.
Liz
I don't have one.
Kelly
Me neither. I need.
Liz
I have a Costco. I have like two. And I have. I have done very good of, like, I have paper products on hand because, you know, you go to Costco and like, you have to buy. So only chinatte plates. Like, this is a nice party.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Like, I'm only doing chinatte paper plates, obviously. Only doing clear plastic forks. But, like, I don't have. I don't have a caddy.
Kelly
A caddy. I know, I know.
Liz
So.
Kelly
Nor do I.
Liz
What is the caddy?
Kelly
Well, I think it's. I think it's like the picnic caddy. Like I'm imagining.
Liz
But, like, I don't want wicker. I don't want wicker.
Kelly
You don't want wicker? I think wicker is nice. I think wicker will clash with your drain up paper plates, but you draw the line at wicker.
Liz
What do I look up?
Kelly
Caddy, utensil, caddy.
Liz
I don't know if caddy's the word.
Kelly
No, caddy's definitely the word.
Liz
I mean, it just seems like wicker. Wicker has the market. Oh, here's a wood.
Kelly
Oh, okay. You could do wood.
Liz
Anyway, that's, like, on my hostess list. Like, I have to get.
Kelly
Yes.
Liz
I also like. Speaking of chips and salsa, I need a killer chips and salsa bowl. I don't have one. I'm, like, DIYing it with, like, a little dish and, like, a serving tray, which is fine, but I. I'm ready to invest in a wow moment. Chips and salsa bowl.
Kelly
Okay. What do you mean by a wow moment?
Liz
Like a blue and white.
Kelly
Oh, okay.
Liz
Let me look one up. You don't think.
Kelly
No, no, I agree. I just didn't know what you mean. Meant by wow moment.
Liz
I think it's so versatile. I. Oh, this one. Oh, this is the one I want. Okay, this is it.
Kelly
Let me see.
Liz
It's bamboo. It's stunning. It's stunning. It's from Pottery Barn. It's white with a bamboo rim.
Kelly
Oh, it's so cute.
Liz
I'm adding that to my Christmas list. Wow.
Kelly
Christmas is so far away.
Liz
Well, my birthday, then.
Kelly
Valentine's Day.
Liz
I'm just saying, if I had this, like, I'd have this the rest of my life.
Kelly
Totally.
Liz
It's beautiful, and people would, like, start to recognize it. And I could do it with strawber raisin, like a cream cheese dip. I could do it with veggies. I could do it with chips and salsa. Like, I need a wow moment. Chips and salsa bowl.
Kelly
Okay, I agree. And you know what? I think a chips and salsa bowl is something that's fun, that you can. You. The. The wow moment. I one time went thrifting with one of my girlfriends, and we came across this cowboy hat, chips and salsa bowl.
Liz
Wow.
Kelly
And she was like, I have to have it. And I'm like, I totally agree. And now every single time I go over to her house for a party and she has the cowboy hat, chips and salsable. It's like, that's the time where you can do something kitschy and, like, weird and, like, out there. Like a cowboy hat. Like, why not? Why not?
Liz
Literally, you don't want to go crazy with your caddy, but your chips and salsa.
Kelly
No, no, you have to have. You have to have a wicker caddy, but your chips and salsa. Make it a theme, make it fun, you know, do something out there. No one's going to be mad at it.
Liz
Yeah, I'm not going to commit to this a Bamboo one just yet. But hopefully now that I'm googling it, hopefully I'll start getting like some targeted ads for like a fun one for sure. My targeted ads have been top notch lately.
Kelly
Mine have been so good. And you know what? They haven't been like fake web like temu. Like they have been legitimate small businesses.
Liz
Agreed.
Kelly
I just bought from a new deodorant from Curie. Q U R I E. They were on Shark Tank. It's like a more natural deodorant and I'm so excited about it. I'm really loving it so far. And I have to talk about it because I think that we've. I've been kind of, you know, I think we're all kind of trying to like navigate this, like, what's toxic, what's not toxic lifestyle. And so I was getting the native deodorant and okay, this. I know this carpools. This podcast is safe space, guys. Like, I was smelling midday. Like midday I started to smell. And it's because I was using this like dove for so many years that like my body needed to like detox. Needs like weeks to detox to then be able to take this like non toxic, more natural route. Apparently that's what Google said. This Curie brand, they sell like a charcoal. They know that your body has to go through this detox moment. So they sell a charcoal mask for your armpits and it helps speed up the detox process.
Liz
So after your detox, will you not smell?
Kelly
Yeah. So then your body will have like gotten. You will have detoxed and gotten used to this more natural stuff.
Liz
So you bought a mask for your armpits and.
Kelly
But here's the thing. I was like, oh, I'm gonna buy a mask just for my armpits. Like, no way. It's just like a, like an activated charcoal mask. So you can also use it on your face.
Liz
I would like a natural aluminum deodorant.
Kelly
I see. You know, I don't know enough about it. I don't know enough about it.
Liz
I really can't seem. Now is glossier aluminum free?
Kelly
I have no idea.
Liz
The one that Sydney was upset.
Kelly
You know what? But I. And I loved the smell of that one, but I felt like I. That one didn't like work for me the full time.
Liz
See, feel like I'm just. My hormones are too up and down to judge. Am I stinky or am I just postpartum? Like, that's where I am.
Kelly
Well, and that's true. But I will say I've Used the armpit mask once and I've used the deodorant for like three days. And I smell good. I got the, the orange. The orange something flavor if you want to go check it out. Carrie, she was on Shark Tank.
Liz
Yeah. Anyway, I do agree it's like Facebook. Instagram ads have gone from being like clickbait to like, I'm with you. Like small businesses, like, let me tell you. And what you got to do is you got to click on them so then you get more of them.
Kelly
Have you seen the belt? Have you seen the adjustable belt?
Liz
No.
Kelly
I almost bought this one too. It's 40 bucks. You know how belts, you have to like, put them in the hole and then that's not always very comfortable or like you change sizes or like you bloat.
Liz
The belt with no holes.
Kelly
The belt with no holes. It's like a track almost. And it's cute. It comes in four colors. And like the girl who's wearing it was like so cute and looked cute in every style. Oh, yeah, I see this and I kind of want to order one.
Liz
It's about with no holes.
Kelly
About with no holes. Sorry. Those are my two ads.
Liz
Okay. Mine were. Mine are like jewelry based for some reason, but it's this Susan Shaw dot com.
Kelly
Never heard.
Liz
I don't know, it's kind of like old lady ish, but I kind of like it. But they just, you know, so one thing on me is, you know, I'm like a horse girl at heart. And like, look at this cute bangle.
Kelly
Oh, that is cute.
Liz
With a horse bed.
Kelly
It's giving Gucci.
Liz
It's giving Gucci. Susanshaw.com. i mean, it's kind of. It's a hundred dollar bangle. But, you know, for a special occasion. I'm not.
Kelly
It's not. It's not a thousand dollars.
Liz
I'm not in my bracelet era right now. I'm also kind of in my necklace era. Kind of not with kids. In winter, it's just like simply, I'm only wearing an earring.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
And I'm out the door.
Kelly
Yeah, same.
Liz
And I'm out the door. So anyway, yeah, Fred's party was a hit.
Kelly
Fred's party was.
Liz
I did make homemade lemonade. You know, it's citrus season. You forget that about the winter months.
Kelly
You do.
Liz
It's citrusy, though.
Kelly
I know.
Liz
I don't know why. I guess because they can grow them down in the warmer climates.
Kelly
Yeah. I don't know, maybe just when they harvest.
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Liz
Edu okay, now the name on everybody's lips is the word tariffs. Tariffs. I have read about it all weekend. I have called multiple people I know in a lot of sectors of the auto industry. I've been texting with people and.
Kelly
I.
Liz
I'm just trying to think about, like, you know, I mean, you, I mean, you can read on like, the education pieces about like, what exactly. It is like six ways to Sunday. I think, like the biggest question. And I'm also not going to get into, like, the, the politics of it all. I'm trying to think about, like, for my audience, families who are buying cars, like, what does this mean? And like, that's, like, that's what I want to focus on. So, you know, we're kind of, unfortunately, we're recording this on Monday and the tariffs are set to go out on.
Kelly
Tuesday, so a lot could happen through the rest of the day at the.
Liz
Time we're recording, at the time we're recording.
Kelly
So we'll probably know a lot more after this.
Liz
And so maybe next week's episodes, maybe we'll be able to, like, shed some more light light on it. But it's also like, I'm only going to follow it. I'm also only going to follow it so closely because I don't really think anyone. Here's what he also says. No one knows what's going to happen, so there's a lot of speculation on if they're actually going to go through how. And I mean, President Trump is doing these tariffs because he wants like the other countries to, to renegotiate terms on immigration and fentanyl. Like, that's like, that's. That, that's what he's saying.
Kelly
Yeah. So it's like, it's, at the end of the day, it's going to come down to like a negotiation. So just because Trump says one thing or Canada or Mexico say one thing that doesn't, everyone's just kind of trying to, like, play their hand right now.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
And some, someone's going to cave at some point.
Liz
Someone's going to cave. Someone could be bluffing. Like, it's just, it's a lot. But here's what I think. And so to back up, like what President Trump is saying is going to happen on Tuesday is there's going to be a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico and a 10 tariff on China. Tariff is like tax basically. Now while that's really hard for the auto industry is because so many cars get assembled and parts get built in Canada and in Mexico and like don't. And like, oh, this comment's driving me crazy. People like more reason to buy American. Oh no. Like all Fords get a get like most so many Fords get assembled in Mexico. So like an American made car. Like I'll never forget cars, which this is ironic. Cars.com did a great piece. They do it every year around the fourth of July. Like what's the most American made car who remembers what it was?
Kelly
I don't remember Tesla. Okay.
Liz
Because so like, because it's all like where the parts are coming from and like you know, they're getting parts from their engine from here and then it's getting assembled here. Like American made does not really. I don't even know what that means. Like it's a very hard thing to define.
Kelly
Yeah, I think a pro. Yeah.
Liz
I mean you know, you've got the big three, which is the Ford, GM and Stellantis which I guess like are American founded.
Kelly
Yeah, I don't, I don't know if like American made is such a good but like that's where you know, the main headquarters business is. Maybe it has something to do with like more of like business and taxes and less about like production.
Liz
Now a lot of the, it's so hard because I feel like as soon as like I speak about something, like something's gonna change or someone's gonna find something. So that's why like I'm not gonna get too into the nitty gritty details because like we're not like a breaking news automotive platform. Like that's just not what we do. But here's like what my message to my audience is going to be. Do not rush into a car purchase. Like I think there's a lot of hype on like what could happen and I don't think anyone should go try to buy a car to like beat the tariffs before car prices rise because the 25% tariffs, like they cannot, manufacturers cannot raise. The customer cannot raise new car prices by 25, they will out market. No one will buy them. And, and it will Collapse. So that's not sustainable. So either they'll, they will. Either the tariffs will get renegotiated, they will, I guess, brings more parts into the United States and then they don't have to pay the tariffs. They will just consume. They will, the manufacturers will make less money off of the cars. Like, and just like have to eat the cost. And have to eat the cost. Like, I really, my prediction is that, like, it is not. I don't wanna say this is all for show, but like, my feelers out in the auto industry is like, no one is that concerned. Like, I called my dad right before this and I'm like, dad, what's the, what's the story? And he's like, I don't really think anybody knows. He's like. But I'm just, I'm not that worried. I'm just gonna keep running business. Right? Yeah, I'm just gonna keep going in business as usual.
Kelly
So everyone's just trying to be the big dog right now. And everyone's just trying to be like, well, if you're doing this, then we're doing this. And if you're like, it's, it is just like, I just, I. Someone's gonna cave. It's not, it's. I just really don't see it going down that rabbit hole where everything is. All these prices, I mean, like, you know, these.
Liz
I mean, I'm looking at automotive news right now and it's like Trump tariffs could add $3,000 to U.S. car prices and cut deliveries by 1 million. Mexico part groups warn. I don't think it's going to get to that. That's all I'm saying. I'm not saying that that's not true. I just don't think. Now could I be wrong?
Kelly
Of course.
Liz
But either way, to sum it all up, to put a bow on it, like, let's just not rush into car purchases. Like, don't make a bad decision. Don't do something before you're ready. Just, everyone, let's just take a beat. Let's take a breather. Let's. Let's touch base next week.
Kelly
Perfect.
Liz
It's kind of my. It's kind of where I'm at. Okay. I have a different part of industry news because this is like. And this is where I'm also just telling you, like, I don't think it's that big of a deal because. Not. I'm sorry. I think it is a big deal. I think that nobody knows what's gonna happen because all these automotive outlets have like, One story about it and then everything else is business as usual.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
And like, you can look that, like they're thinking the wheels are gonna keep spinning.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
I mean, then there's also just. There's so much about, like. Well, I mean, we've already talked about, like the EVs and how like a lot of those, like, EV mandates have gotten reversed. And there was like, there was quotes from people high up in Chevy saying, yeah, you know, look, we've got a couple of other plans on, you know, we have some ideas on what we're going to do. And they just, they didn't seem, I don't know. No one knows. Like, there's, there's not a cut and dry clear answer on what's going to happen because it's not. Things are up for negotiation. We don't know how those negotiations are going to go. Anyway, I'm moving on. Next thing. Liz, you're going to love this story.
Kelly
What is it?
Liz
Nissan Xterra could make a comeback.
Kelly
Shut up.
Liz
I know.
Kelly
Shut up.
Liz
Nissan trademark filing hints. The 4x4 market is rife with competition, but the return of the Xterra could be a boon for the struggling automaker. So Nissan dad, my dad, so our dad owns a Nissan store. You know, Liz loves the Pathfinder. I'm actually driving a Nissan Armada this week as my press car. It's called coming up Nissan over here.
Kelly
It's a Nissan week.
Liz
And my dad always says, like, Nissan is like, they have no brand identity. Like, they just all over the place know who they want to be. Like, they used to have this like Nissan Titan diesel truck. Like, what was that all about? And then like the Nissan Leaf was actually like one of like the first electric cars to come out. And then they have this like off roading Pathfinder and now they have like the Nissan R, which is like this, like luxury. Like, they're all over the place. And what they need to do is focus on their freaking Pathfinder because the Pathfinder is their best.
Kelly
Pathfinder's a winner.
Liz
I do like the Rogue for what it is.
Kelly
Yeah, I like the Rogue, but the.
Liz
Pathfinder is the car. Yeah, we'll see about the new Armada. But the new Armada is still. It doesn't light a candle to like a Tahoe or an Expedition.
Kelly
Well, and that's, that's what's, that's what's tough at least for families. I mean, maybe it's for someone, but we'll have to see.
Liz
We'll see. Anyway, I think Nissan I like. So anyway, the Xterra, if you guys don't know, it was like this like really cool, like off roading. It was like. It was like their Bronco. Yeah, it's their forerunner. That's a better one. So anyway, after. This is from car and driver. After canceling the Xterra a decade ago, Nissan might be bringing the SUV back to North America. The company filed an application for the name XTERRA with the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office on December 23, 2024. The application was submitted the same day Nissan and Honda announced plans to merge to the third largest automaker in the world. Oh yeah, that story is still kind of. That was kind of a crazy story. Anyway, the Nissan hasn't sold the Xterra in North America since 2015. The company has been using the name in the Middle east since 2021 while the Exterra sold here from2020. Oh, that, that's. Sometimes these sentences just go nowhere. That's journalism for you. You know what I mean? Like they just say something that they don't. Okay.
Kelly
Anyway, so the Xterra could be coming back. I loved the Xterra.
Liz
I think it's a good idea.
Kelly
I actually, I think, I think getting rid of it was a bad idea.
Liz
I actually don't think, you know this, this headline said the 4x4 market is rife with competition. I actually think it's not.
Kelly
What do you mean?
Liz
Like a true off roading suv. So like, you know, we. So I don't consider that. I don't think that's what the Bronco actually is. I think the bronco wrangler, I mean they're kind of like that, but they're also kind of like a novelty car. But I do think the forerunner is a good option. Kind of like Honda passport vibes.
Kelly
Well, no, I do think that there's a lot of competition because I think everyone is trying to make a off roading model of everything. They're just like, who's doing it well is the question. And who's like actually like the Toyota.
Liz
Land Cruiser, The Lexus gx? Yeah, I guess you're kind of right.
Kelly
That is so funny because I was watching desperate housewives the other day and I'm literally still on season two. But there was, you know, when Lynette tries to figure out if what's her son. What's Brie's son's name?
Liz
Andrew.
Kelly
If Andrew is lying and about her and just he just wants a car so she brings home a brand new car for him to like see if he Likes it or whatever. It was a Nissan Xterra. And that's. And that is hot tea going on the auto industry.
Liz
Are you loving Desperate Housewives?
Kelly
Yeah, I am.
Liz
Who's your favorite character? Rank the housewives.
Kelly
Okay, I like Bri. Then I would probably say Lynette and then Gabby and then Susan. Gabby. So shallow. Sometimes she really bothers me.
Liz
I know.
Kelly
Susan is annoying.
Liz
Yeah. Gabby. It's like, you think it's like, yeah, she's that. But at the end of the day, she's. She's. She's got a good heart. And then you're like, does she?
Kelly
Does she.
Liz
Do you know what I mean?
Kelly
That's. And that's. That's how I feel about. Edie is like. Edie is like, oh, that's just so Edie. And, like, she does, like, annoying things, but I love her for it. Like, when. When Gabby doesn't want anything. Like, you're just honestly, a brat.
Liz
Yeah. Edie's story turns out crazy.
Kelly
Really?
Liz
I'm not gonna tell you. It's like a crazy spoiler.
Kelly
Okay, don't tell me a thing. I think I'm just now starting season three.
Liz
It is such. It's the best. I'm like, I'm so depressed.
Kelly
After finishing the hole in your heart, after finishing, like, a really good show. And you just. Do you just, like, love seeing me, like, experiencing it for the first time?
Liz
Yeah, I wish you would, like, caught. And, like.
Kelly
Yeah, I can only watch, like, a half an episode a day. Turn around before bed, so it's really a crawl.
Liz
Mine was a crawl. Yeah, but it wasn't. I'm telling you, I would. I binged it. Like, I would stay up till midnight some nights watching it. Oh, Liz. But, Liz, there's storylines where it's like, I simply have to have this wrapped up today.
Kelly
Oh, see, you know what? I can turn anything off, really. Ask my husband. He is like. He's the type of, like, if we start, like, Moana, and I'm like, all right, turn the TV off. It's time for bed. Or whatever. And I take J. Like, James falls asleep. Whatever. Maddie has to finish Moana. He has seen all.
Liz
And I'm like, babe, respectfully, though, that's kind of crazy.
Kelly
I was like, babe, we will see all of these movies through their entirety at some point. If he starts a book and James says, no, I want a new book. Maddie has to finish that book. I'm like, perfect. Like, okay, here's a. Here's an example. Maddie's reading a Clifford book. James says, oh, I want Mom. Me and mom are gonna go off. He's like, well, we're still sitting in the same room. Maddie keeps reading Clifford. And I'm like, maddie, you need to stop reading that. Cause I've heard that story so many times. And if there's any opportunity for me to not take this content into my brain, like, please stop reading. He has.
Liz
I feel like he needs to look inward on that.
Kelly
I can turn anything off at any time and go to bed.
Liz
That feels crazy to me.
Kelly
We're so opposite on that.
Liz
What is. And let me be clear. What is the word one thing? I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna throw around the word, like, oh, ocd. Like, if you don't actually have ocd, but what is the word for, like, if you have a weird thing you have to do? Like a cork or, like, a quirk?
Kelly
Yeah, maybe a quirk.
Liz
My weirdest quirk. This is one that me and my. This is genetic for me because me and mom both struggle with this.
Kelly
Oh, you guys are so annoying with this.
Liz
If I'm making anything, let's. Here's the example. The other day, I was making that. This pasta for my kids. It was just, like, butter noodles, cut up sausage, and frozen peas. Okay. I threw away probably 25 frozen peas because I determined that I could not. It was enough. Like, I dumped out almost the whole bag and kept, like, it had to be 25. 25 peas in there, and I could not let myself put them in there because I'm like, no, it's enough peas.
Kelly
She's like, I'm gonna overdo it. Mom does the same thing. They always have, like, not enough to save. So then you just throw it away.
Liz
I'm not proud of it. Like, I'm actually saying, like, if I'm making a quesadilla, and it's like, I will keep, like, just the. A little bit of cheese in the bottom because, like, it's enough cheese, and I can't bring myself to just add it to just, like, use up what I have. It is so bizarre.
Kelly
Thank goodness you got pigs.
Liz
Thank goodness.
Kelly
To help with some of this waste.
Liz
What's your. Do you have, like, a weird one?
Kelly
Gosh, I'm sure I do.
Liz
I would love to know. Like, I would actually love to know what people's, like, weird quirks are, because everyone has one. You know what Tyler's is? He has to count his ice cubes in his coffee every morning.
Kelly
I recently found this out. That is crazy.
Liz
Teller has to put, like, 22 ice cubes in his Yeti every morning, and it goes clink, clink, clink, clink, clink.
Kelly
Yes.
Liz
And I can't talk to him while he's doing it. Okay, well, you know, I.
Kelly
22 seconds.
Liz
There's a lot of moving parts. Like, someone needs shoes. Someone has syrup in their hair. It's like.
Kelly
And he's counting ice cubes.
Liz
It's bizarre.
Kelly
You know what? You know what mine is? Is I never put lids or jars on all the way.
Liz
Okay. I think that's also genetic because, like, I like. If you, like. You know how, like, bags come with a resale. Resaleable thing.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Couldn't beat you. Couldn't be me.
Kelly
Oh, I'm, like, ripping through the reasonable thing. I just. I just think I. I just think I move so quickly that it's, like, to appropriately like, oh, this is where it's genetic. Because how do Suntrups put cereal away? First of all, the bag is open in the most messed up way. We're not wrapping it. We're not chip clipping it. It's open. Oh, it's gonna get stale.
Liz
Okay, well, we had five kids. Nothing got.
Kelly
Nothing got stale. You think a cereal box lasts more than two days? You're lucky. So Maddie will, like, take the cereal out, and they'll be like, cereal in the bottom of the box. He's like, why didn't you wrap it up? Like, oh, and I have to make cereal. And he put it away. I'm like, oh, my gosh, this is gonna take forever for me to get this unwrap cereal. So anyway, I just don't. I don't put jars back on things. Really bothers him.
Liz
Yeah. No. And that's just us. And that's how we love our lives.
Kelly
And that's just us being us.
Liz
So anyway, this is a great episode.
Kelly
Are you ready for ditch the drive thru where we give you an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get you out of your dinner rut?
Liz
Yep.
Kelly
Speaking of quesadillas. Okay. The other day, I was getting sick, and my mom was like, do you just want me to come bring you guys some dinner? And I was like, please, bring me dinner. So she did. She brought us ravioli and Caesar salad and made it for me and then cleaned up and put.
Liz
And she's such a saint.
Kelly
She's such a saint. Laid in bed. She also had the foresight to bring me ingredients for another meal and, like, a quick, easy lunch because I hadn't gone to the grocery store because I was sick and that lunch was a quesadilla. And I know what you're thinking. We all make quesadillas. Guys, we've all been making quesadillas. So wrong. Because there is a easy way to make quesadillas, and there's a right way to make quesadillas. And actually, it's also very easy.
Liz
It's.
Kelly
It's all about your. And we've talked with this. Take a simple thing and make it better with the quality ingredients. Here's what she got me. She got me car balance tortillas, which are great. Car balance tortillas are excellent. I also really like the siete almond flower ones.
Liz
The car bounds are fluffy as heck, though.
Kelly
They're very fluffy.
Liz
They're so good. Okay, Sorry.
Kelly
Okay. Then she also got me like, a pre mixed, like, or a pre cut up onion pepper container.
Liz
Okay.
Kelly
Chihuahua cheese.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
Chihuahua.
Liz
That's interesting.
Kelly
So what I did was I threw some peppers and onions in a pan and got those a little bit hot. Then I put my tortilla on the pan, put my peppers and onions on top of it, and then did a bunch of chihuahua cheese and, you know, made a quesadilla. The way the chihuahua cheese elevated, it's. It's not just like, oh, get the Mexican, you know, shredded cheese. No, the chihuahua cheese melts better. It tastes better if you're an onion and pepper person. Like, the onion and peppers on it elevated my quesadilla. It was insane. And then I went to Trader Joe's and got the guaca salsa, which is a great thing.
Liz
I've been tr. I have had my eyes set on the guaca salsa.
Kelly
The guaca salsa is excellent, and it was amazing.
Liz
Okay.
Kelly
Quesadilla.
Liz
Yeah. I'd like to back up for a second. First of all, excellent idea.
Kelly
Add chicken.
Liz
Add chicken. Add whatever you got.
Kelly
Add whatever you got. But. But add chihuahua cheese first and foremost.
Liz
I also think that would be such a good. So such a good and easy thing to bring to somebody.
Kelly
It was. And that's why it was great, because it was, like, three ingredients. She brought me the tortilla. She brought me the.
Liz
But you could even, like, if you wanted to do the most, like, new. Because I think, like, where people miss the boat with bringing things for new moms sometimes is. It's like, dinner's kind of helpful, but I always felt like with dinner, like, normally. I'm speaking so generically right now, but, like, normally, like, dinner was never hard for me because, like, then Tyler was home, and, like, I could like, come up something for dinner. But it was like on the days when I was like, home alone with toddlers at lunch where I was just like, what is this?
Kelly
What am I making?
Liz
This is when I need help.
Bumble Ad Voice
Help.
Liz
And I just think you could bring, like, still bring them a dinner, because I do think that's. I'm not saying that's not helpful, but just add the extra 12 bucks worth of ingredients. Get tortillas, Chihuahua cheese, cut up peppers, guaca salsa.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
What a gift.
Kelly
What a gift.
Liz
What a gift.
Kelly
What a gift. So thank you, mom.
Liz
She's so amazing.
Kelly
She's so amazing.
Liz
And that's our episode.
Kelly
Kind of like, kind of jam packed.
Liz
Kind of jam packed. Kind of. Do we have a show for you. Like, I like Major teen, the honor industry.
Kelly
Like dogs about my armpit mask. So talked about your armpit. We had it all. Talk about an episode that has it all. So guys, with that, that's tariffs.
Liz
I'm trying to think of three T's tariffs.
Kelly
I don't know.
Liz
Nope, it didn't.
Kelly
Didn't come to us. So thank you so much for, you know, the Carvel podcast, and we'll talk to you.
Liz
Except thank you for listening to the.
Kelly
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.
Podcast Summary: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
Episode: NO ONE'S MAD AT CHIPS AND SALSA
Release Date: February 4, 2025
In this engaging episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz, hosts Kelly Stumpe and Liz St. John delve into a variety of topics ranging from podcast logistics and family hosting tips to significant updates in the auto industry. The conversation is punctuated with personal anecdotes, insightful discussions, and playful banter that encapsulate their dynamic as sisters, business partners, and friends.
The episode kicks off with Kelly and Liz discussing the logistics of recording their podcast. They reveal that this episode is one of the few times they are recording together in person, highlighting the challenges of balancing their personal and professional lives.
They plan to enhance their recording setups by creating matching backdrops and consider strategies to make remote recordings appear as if they are in the same room, inspired by other successful podcasts.
Kelly and Liz transition to discussing the scarcity of new children's movies slated for 2025, expressing both excitement and disappointment.
The conversation underscores their roles as parents and their interest in providing quality entertainment for their kids, as well as their acknowledgment of the challenges faced by the animation industry in the age of AI.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Liz sharing her recent experience hosting a birthday party for her child, Fred. She provides detailed insights and lessons learned from this endeavor.
They discuss the importance of having reliable and universally liked appetizers and praise the idea of investing in aesthetically pleasing servingware to create a "wow moment." Liz expresses enthusiasm for a bamboo chips and salsa bowl from Pottery Barn, describing it as “stunning” ([12:19]).
The hosts shift focus to a pressing issue in the auto industry: the impending tariffs announced by President Trump.
They discuss the potential impact of these tariffs, including a possible 25% tax on cars from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on those from China. Liz cautions her listeners against rushing into car purchases amidst the uncertainty, advising, “Do not rush into a car purchase. Don’t make a bad decision” ([23:05]).
Despite acknowledging the severity of the situation, both hosts express skepticism about the tariffs' long-term feasibility, predicting that manufacturers will either renegotiate or absorb the costs without significantly raising consumer prices.
The conversation takes an exciting turn as Liz shares news about the potential comeback of the Nissan Xterra.
They discuss the competitive landscape of the 4x4 market and Nissan's strategic positioning. Liz emphasizes Nissan's lack of brand identity due to its diverse product lineup but believes the Xterra could strengthen their presence in the off-roading segment.
Kelly and Liz open up about their personal quirks, providing a humorous and relatable segment for listeners.
These confessions lead to a lighthearted exchange about household habits and the generational quirks inherited from their mothers. They encourage listeners to embrace their unique habits, recognizing that everyone has their own set of "weird quirks."
The duo concludes the episode with a practical and appetizing segment on making the perfect quesadilla, inspired by Kelly's mother.
They emphasize the importance of thoughtful and quality ingredients in transforming easy meals, providing listeners with actionable tips to diversify their dinner routines and avoid the monotony of takeout.
Notable Quotes:
This episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz masterfully intertwines personal stories with industry insights, providing listeners with both entertainment and valuable information. Whether discussing the logistics of podcasting, offering hosting advice, or analyzing the complexities of auto tariffs, Kelly and Liz maintain a conversational tone that is both informative and inviting. Their ability to blend humor with substantive content makes this episode a standout addition to their series.