The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz – "NOT IN OUR PARIS AUTO SHOW ERA" (October 15, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this candid and lively episode, sisters Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John, third-generation auto-industry experts, bring their trademark blend of millennial mom relatability, car chat, and everyday life musings. They recap recent events (from a dramatic new haircut to attending an influencer’s launch party), discuss toy clutter and toy rotation strategies, and dive into the latest in the auto industry—including a serious Toyota recall and surprising electric vehicle sales rankings. The episode concludes with a deeply moving segment for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, sharing stories from listeners and a powerful perspective from a labor and delivery nurse. As always, listeners get a "Ditch the Drive-Thru" meal idea and an honest take on all things mom-life, cars, and sisterhood.

Key Discussion Points and Segments

1. Life Updates and Weekend Recap

• Kelly's Hair Transformation (00:58–03:01)

  • Kelly cut her hair into a lob (long bob) and discusses the anxiety and reality of styling it post-salon.
  • "It's always scary showering after they've, like, done the perfect blowout." – Kelly (01:09)
  • Lizz suggests she could go even shorter.
  • Both chat about the "bob girl fall" trend and how their hair preferences play out as busy moms.

• Hat Fashion and Influencer Event (05:09–06:28)

  • Kelly shows off a hat received at Merrick’s Art Anthropologie launch party, lauding the vibe and accessory bar.
  • Lizz raves about butternut squash ravioli at the event.

• Reality of Family Meals and Expectations (06:58–08:49)

  • Both vent about partners with simple eating habits and the desire for someone in the house to “give a rip” when they make an effort in the kitchen.
  • Memorable quote:
    • "I wish someone in this house would give a rip that I browned the butter and, like, you know, julienned the basil and, like, did things like that. Just, like, want someone to care." – Lizz (08:26)

• Seasonal Vibe Struggles (09:31–11:47)

  • Complaints about hot weather ruining fall mood; lamenting that seasons are out of sync.
  • Kelly suggests moving Christmas if the weather never cooperates—an idea Lizz quickly tempers.

2. Home Organization and Toy Management

• Toy Purge and Organization Tactics (14:06–17:21)

  • With colder months approaching, Kelly embarks on a massive toy cleanout to prep for more indoor playdates.
  • Her strategy: Three bins—donate, move to grandparents/farm/outside, and storage (toy purgatory for rotation).
  • Importance of keeping toy sets together (e.g., Fisher Price, Paw Patrol, play food).

• Toy Rotation Wisdom (17:21–19:08)

  • They discuss what toys with multiple pieces are actually worth the hassle. Melissa & Doug ice cream set and Paw Patrol playsets get high praise, while sets like the pancake or sandwich set are deemed not worth the chaos.
  • "The Paw Patrol tower ... I will keep those for my grandchildren. Those toys, I think they're so fun." – Lizz (19:53)

3. Podcast Milestones and Road Trip Plans

• Travel Plans and Conference Prep (23:19–24:40)

  • Kelly and Lizz plan to drive (not fly) to the Women Lead Change Conference in Des Moines, relishing the road trip over the stressful St. Louis airport.
  • Nerves and excitement as they prep to speak to their largest audience yet (1,000 people), highlighted by pressure over being the first podcasters at the conference.

• Proud Chart Climbers (25:45–28:24)

  • The Carpool podcast is now #3 in the "Leisure" category and #2 in Automotive on Apple Podcasts.
  • "We're the number two automotive podcast, and we're a couple of moms talking about toy rotation." – Kelly (28:24)

4. Industry News

• Toyota Sienna Recall—Serious Safety Alert (28:45–33:38)

  • 2025 Sienna minivans are recalled for potentially unsafe second-row seat rails—owners are instructed not to use the second row until repairs are made, with no remedy available until December.
  • "If you have this recall, you need to stop letting anyone ride in the second row ... that's not okay." – Kelly (31:34)
  • Frustration over how poorly automakers notify consumers compared to retail giants like Amazon.

• Paris Auto Show (and Dreaming of Attending) (35:08–35:58)

  • Paris hosts its own auto show with big names like Tesla, BMW, Ford, Kia.
  • Fantasizing about deducting a Paris business trip—“It’s giving business and travel.” – Lizz (35:46)

• Tech Improvements: AI Translation (36:00–37:15)

  • Recent Apple updates allow real-time language translation with AirPods—lowering travel anxiety for non-French speakers.
  • "My biggest anxiety about traveling to a different country is like, that I can't speak the language." – Kelly (36:57)

• Top 10 Best-Selling EVs of 2025 (so far!) (37:15–39:24)

  • Surprising sales domination by Tesla (Models 3 and Y), with the Cybertruck outselling the Chevy Blazer.
  • Noted: Honda Prologue gets praise for family-friendliness, and homemade tracks are better than buying big playsets.

• EVs, Fire Hazards, and Social Media PSA (39:24–41:18)

  • Lizz shares a cautionary tale: A plug-in toy dirt bike caused an influencer's house to burn down, reminding listeners to be careful with electric gadgets.

5. Ditch the Drive-Thru: Freezer Breakfast Burritos (41:21–45:26)

• Make-Ahead Breakfast Solution
  • Inspired by doordash cravings and leftover steak, Lizz creates freezer burritos: steak, peppers, onions, eggs, burrito-sized tortillas—wrapped in foil/parchment and frozen for quick, convenient breakfasts.
  • Tips: Let fillings cool before wrapping to avoid sogginess, and experiment with thawing/heating methods.
  • "I quite literally ditched the drive through on this one." – Lizz (44:36)
  • Encourages repurposing leftovers for easy, budget-friendly meals.

6. Blake's Besties: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness (45:28–54:44)

• Listener Stories of Loss and Remembrance
  • Stories shared from Alicia (loss of baby Teddy at 28 weeks), Ashley (loss of Wyatt, born sleeping at 23 weeks), and a deeply compassionate note from Carly, a labor and delivery (L&D) nurse, who reminds grieving parents: "We remember your babies, the photos we took, the baths we gave, the baptisms and name blessings ... We love you, we support you, we pray for you and it's an honorable lifetime to care for your family during this time." – Carly (51:24)
  • Both hosts reflect on the pain of lost plans and milestones, as well as the power and necessity of saying babies’ names to acknowledge their presence and significance.
  • Kelly encourages listeners not to be afraid of saying something supportive, even if they aren't sure of the perfect words.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's always scary showering after they've, like, done the perfect blowout.” – Kelly (01:09)
• "I wish someone in this house would give a rip that I browned the butter..." – Lizz (08:26)
• “We're bobbing. We're broaching.” – Both, joking about fall haircut trends (02:38)
• “I want to be able to pick up my entire basement worth of toys in 10 minutes.” – Kelly (15:01)
• "We're the number two automotive podcast, and we're a couple of moms talking about toy rotation." – Kelly (28:24)
• "If you have this recall, you need to stop letting anyone ride in the second row ... that's not okay." – Kelly (31:34)
• “My biggest anxiety about traveling to a different country is like, that I can't speak the language.” – Kelly (36:57)
• "We love you, we support you, we pray for you and it's an honorable lifetime to care for your family during this time." – Carly, L&D nurse (51:24)
• “I now do this with a lot of people, I've never met a mom who doesn't like that I say the baby's name.” – Kelly (53:47)
• “Too many people are buying cyber trucks, Lizbeth’s making breakfast burritos, and the Melissa and Doug ice cream thing is worth it.” – Kelly's tongue-in-cheek summary (54:29)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|-------------------| | Haircut chat & the lob trend | 00:58–03:01 | | Hats & influencer event | 05:09–06:28 | | Family meal frustrations | 06:58–08:49 | | Seasonal moods & Christmas debate | 09:31–11:47 | | Toy organization strategies | 14:06–17:21 | | Worthwhile (vs. not) toys | 17:21–19:08 | | Road trip & conference nerves | 23:19–24:40 | | Podcast ranking excitement | 25:45–28:24 | | Industry news: | | | - Toyota Sienna recall | 28:45–33:38 | | - Paris Auto Show/AI translation | 35:08–37:15 | | - 2025 EV sales rankings | 37:15–39:24 | | - Plug-in toy fire hazard PSA | 39:24–41:18 | | Ditch the Drive-Thru (freezer burritos)| 41:21–45:26 | | Blake's Besties: Stories of loss | 45:28–54:44 | | Episode wrap-up | 54:44–End |

Tone, Style & Takeaways

• The hosts’ banter is warm, real, peppered with sisterly ribbing, and never takes itself too seriously.
• Their approach to heavy topics (like infant loss) is respectful, honest, and open-hearted, always wanting to support their community.
• The blend of auto industry news, lifestyle tips, mom-struggles, and moments of gravity makes the show approachable and resonant for a wide mom audience, with real information and emotions.

Bottom Line:
This episode is the Carpool at its best: a mash-up of relatable parenting, car world insights, big feelings, and small wins. Whether you're here for recalls or reminders to use a bigger tortilla, you'll leave feeling like you just rode shotgun with two smart, funny sisters who are learning along with you.