ONE PODCAST, TWO BIRTH STORIES

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
Episode: ONE PODCAST, TWO BIRTH STORIES
Release Date: October 10, 2024

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Episode Overview

In the premiere episode titled "ONE PODCAST, TWO BIRTH STORIES," hosts Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John delve into their personal birthing experiences, sharing candid insights and heartfelt reflections. As third-generation auto-industry experts and seasoned mothers, Kelly and Lizz offer a unique perspective on navigating childbirth, parenthood, and balancing professional lives. The episode seamlessly transitions between their birth narratives, discussions on current reality TV shows, hot industry news, and relatable daily struggles, all while maintaining their signature lighthearted and engaging tone.

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Liz’s Birth Story

Lizz begins by recounting her recent childbirth experience with their daughter, Liberty. She emphasizes the unexpected challenges she faced during an unmedicated birth, highlighting her lack of preparation across multiple dimensions.

Liz [01:26]: "One thing about me is I was not mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually prepared to have an unmedicated birth."

She describes the initial stages of labor, where she was admitted to the hospital at 4 centimeters dilation, feeling intense tightening without actual contractions. Despite her discomfort, medical staff advised her to return home, leading to a prolonged and taxing experience.

Liz [04:05]: "I was really uncomfortable. And at my 39-week appointment... it just felt very, very labor-y."

The story progresses as Liz discusses the complications arising from her baby's high head position, necessitating the use of Pitocin to aid the birth process. She reflects on the intense pain during pushing and the swift arrival of Liberty, contrasting it with her previous births.

Liz [07:30]: "I felt the doctor take her hand. Like, I felt everything. And it was very painful, but it was very quick."

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Kelly’s Birth Story

Kelly follows with her own birthing narrative, contrasting her smoother experience with Liz's challenges. She shares how acupuncture was intended to induce labor, resulting in a single, significant contraction that set the stage for a more manageable birth process.

Kelly [03:05]: "I can step in and step up. We're happy to be back."

Kelly highlights the efficiency of her delivery, describing how an epidural provided effective pain management, leading to a quicker and less traumatic recovery compared to her previous childbirths.

Kelly [09:31]: "I just felt the pressure. Call the doctors. It was so much quicker."

Her daughter, Sloan, arrived with a full head of hair, adding joy to her experience.

Kelly [10:35]: "She has a pixie cut, and she's precious, and we love her."

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Navigating Current Parenthood

Both sisters reflect on the transition to having a new baby amidst their existing families. They discuss the increased overwhelm and the challenges of managing time and attention between multiple children, emphasizing the unpredictability and demands of parenthood.

Liz [22:02]: "Libby's a hard baby. She's really challenging me."

Kelly [22:03]: "I'm much more overwhelmed this time around because there's no, like, lay in bed with coffee and rock your baby."

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Discussion on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

Kelly and Liz shift focus to the reality TV show "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," sharing their opinions and analyses of the characters and storylines. They appreciate the show's portrayal of young, influencer mothers, contrasting it with traditional reality shows that feature older participants.

Kelly [26:36]: "It's the best TV I've seen in years."

They discuss the authenticity of the drama, speculating on the cars driven by the show's participants and debating whether certain elements feel scripted or genuine.

Liz [31:11]: "No, I don't think it was very scripted."

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Industry News: Ford Expedition Redesign

The sisters delve into the latest auto industry news, focusing on the redesigned Ford Expedition. They provide an in-depth analysis of the vehicle's exterior and interior changes, discussing features such as the split tailgate, improved infotainment system, and enhanced storage solutions.

Kelly [43:30]: "They look a lot sleeker. It's just all around, like, one of the words I can describe it is it's more interesting."

Liz raises concerns about the infotainment system's piecemeal design and the practicality of the third-row seating configurations, questioning the safety and functionality enhancements.

Liz [45:14]: "The infotainment looks a little bit piecemealing to me."

They commend the split tailgate feature as a significant upgrade, likening it to luxury standards seen in brands like BMW.

Kelly [52:22]: "The split tailgate is a really fun ad. Happy to see it."

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Nescafe Gold Instant Espresso Craze

Liz shares her enthusiastic journey in discovering Nescafe Gold, an instant espresso that's taken her by storm. She narrates the challenges of locating the product amidst high demand, the supportive online communities, and her attempts to secure more through social media interactions.

Liz [38:21]: "I had, like, three people tell me to get this thing called Nescafe Gold."

Kelly empathizes with Liz's addiction to lattes and praises the simplicity and quality of Nescafe Gold as a home alternative.

Kelly [39:43]: "They have to have figured that out though."

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Drive-Thru Dilemma and Recipe Sharing

Transitioning to daily life struggles, Kelly discusses her frustration with the escalating costs and diminishing delights of drive-thru experiences. In response, Liz introduces a hearty and comforting recipe for roast beef French onion sliders, emphasizing the ease and satisfaction of preparing elevated meals at home.

Liz [53:49]: "They were roast beef French onion sliders... it was really, really excellent."

Kelly highlights the value of quality ingredients in transforming simple dishes into extraordinary meals.

Kelly [54:22]: "Sometimes it's just about getting going the extra mile and getting like the good ingredients and sometimes that can elevate."

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Conclusion

Kelly and Liz wrap up the episode by reflecting on the diverse topics covered, from personal childbirth experiences to industry insights and daily life hacks. They express gratitude to their listeners and outline their release schedule, promising more engaging content in the upcoming weeks.

Kelly [56:10]: "Thank you so much for listening to the Carpool podcast and we'll talk to you next week."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Liz: "One thing about me is I was not mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually prepared to have an unmedicated birth." [01:26]

• Kelly: "I've become so dependent on this podcast to just quite literally dump my thoughts and I am so excited to be back." [02:17]

• Liz: "Libby's a hard baby. She's really challenging me." [22:02]

• Kelly: "The split tailgate is a really fun ad. Happy to see it." [52:22]

• Liz: "They were roast beef French onion sliders... it was really, really excellent." [53:49]

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Key Takeaways

• Personal Resilience: Both Kelly and Liz demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability in their childbirth experiences, highlighting the unpredictability of labor and the emotional journey of motherhood.

• Balancing Parenthood and Professionalism: The duo navigates the complexities of managing new additions to their families while maintaining their professional expertise in the auto industry.

• Authentic Entertainment Analysis: Their candid discussion on reality TV showcases their ability to critique and appreciate media portrayals of modern family life and influencer culture.

• Industry Insight: Their detailed analysis of the Ford Expedition redesign underscores their deep understanding of automotive trends and consumer needs.

• Community Engagement: Liz's pursuit of Nescafe Gold exemplifies the power of online communities and social media in addressing product shortages and fostering shared interests.

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Listen to more episodes of "The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz" to join their ongoing conversations about life, cars, and everything in between!

Transcript

[Kelly]

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[Liz]

Want to shop Walmart Black Friday deals first. Walmart plus members get early access to our hottest deals. Join now and get 50% off a one year annual membership. Shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart plus see [e-mail].

[Kelly]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly.

[Liz]

Because one thing about me is I was not mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually prepared to have an unmedicated birth.

[Kelly]

And Liz. I had Maddie come home early from work so I could like feel all these contractions and like feel this uncomfortableness that like I was anticipating with the, with the acupuncture. I had one freaking contraction. Nothing. Your mom.

[Liz]

Time off starts now. Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with.

[Kelly]

Kelly and Liz and the girls.

[Liz]

And the girls.

[Kelly]

We got Sloan and Libby doing a little taste drive right now. They're both eating and we're recording a podcast because what else should we do while we're feeding a baby other than just like get on the mic and talk?

[Liz]

Well, it's very much like we were already on Facetime. So like, respectfully, get in front of your computer and get on the mic.

[Kelly]

I know, so sometimes we have conversations. I'm like, dang, we should have saved that for the pod. I don't think I. I've become so dependent on this podcast to just quite literally dump my thoughts and I am so excited to be back. We did say I was going to take October off, but I'm in such a Good postpartum place that I honestly need it.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

I need to be on the mic.

[Liz]

I don't think anyone's going to be mad that you're on the mic.

[Kelly]

Well, in respectful, you didn't really have any guests lined up yet.

[Liz]

I had talks of guest lines. I was in communication with guests.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Things were gonna. You were gonna figure it out.

[Liz]

Oh, oh, oh, yeah. I mean, and first of all, I did have a guest. I had Sunny from Capital One, which was kind of a big get. So respectfully. Okay.

[Kelly]

Yeah. You just didn't have any. You didn't have the remaining three for October lined up. But that's okay because I can step in.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

I can step in and step up. We're happy to be back. Today's episode, we're gonna give the birth stories.

[Liz]

Jam packed.

[Kelly]

Jam packed birth. Both birth stories. And we'll see where that takes us. And then, like, our dump is huge.

[Liz]

I think we can only each give two.

[Kelly]

I know. Because we have to space it out. There's so much I wanna talk to. So much I feel like has happened. Or we just let one thing. Yeah, let's just like let it ride and like, see where it takes us. Um, okay. Well, do you want to tell your birth story then?

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So it feels like so long ago. Well, it's been a month.

[Liz]

I know she's a month old today, which is fun. So here's. It was such an interesting birth this time around. Or I guess getting to the birthing was. Was interesting. So basically it was a Sunday. And I just think things happen on Sundays. You know what I mean? You're just ready for something to happen.

[Kelly]

Okay.

[Liz]

And I was really uncomfortable. And at my 39 week appointment. No, my 38 week appointment, I was at 4 centimeters. And she's like, go home. And I'm like, I got admitted to the hospital at 4 centimeters with George, like, usually to go back to my house, 45 minutes away from the hospital, like, is this what we're doing? And it just felt. And I felt. I just like felt very, very labor y. And I'm like going home. And then. So that was on Wednesday and it's Sunday and I'm still just feeling very labory, very uncomfortable. And I'm having a lot of tightening in my stomach, but not a lot of, like, low contractions.

[Kelly]

She was what you would call like a slow burn.

[Liz]

Total. She was like a. Yeah. It was like October, like, you know, it was on low.

[Kelly]

It was on low.

[Liz]

It was on low. But I started to feel very I got a lot of tightening around my stomach, and the tightening was very consistent, but it wasn't a contraction. It was more like tightening and then it would loosen. But it got hard to breathe through. Not even. Cause it was that painful. But I was just so out of breath. So my mom's like, kelly, just go in. Like you're being crazy. Like, just go in and just see where you're at. Like you'll just feel better. And just like, kind of forgot that that's a thing that you can just do.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And I was so. And I wasn't. I don't know. Something in my gut was like, I'm gonna go in. Because one thing about me is I was not mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually prepared to have an unmedicated birthday. Like, I was. I was very. And my sister in law asked me when. When she found out I was at a 4. She's like, are you mentally prepared? Like, if you get there and you're too late for an epidural? And I'm like, I'm absolutely not mentally prepared for that.

[Kelly]

No.

[Liz]

So I was like, at least let me go to mom and let me get to St. Louis. Mom and dad live literally next door to the hospital. I'll feel better. Not. Instead of being four minutes away with my three kids at home, you know?

[Kelly]

Yeah, right.

[Liz]

So I go in and they're like, oh, you're out of five. And I'm like, oh. So I'm. I am in labor. Cool. Like, I knew it.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

They're like, but they. They hooked up to the monitor. Like, but your contractions aren't very consistent, so there's nothing we can really do. I was like, okay, but I'm at a five like you, so I'm not. So they called my doctor and my doctor was like, tell her not to go home because she knows I live far away. She goes, just tell her to, like, hang out, go do some curb walking. And if you want, since she'll technically be 39 weeks tomorrow, we can start Pitocin at midnight tonight if she wants to come back in. Because I was again, like, so close. But I guess the problem with my contractions that I was having was since they were so high, they weren't like pushing her any lower into the birth canal. And they said that her head was very high. So I was very dilated, but her head was very high. Okay, so I go home, I go to mom and dad's house. We have spicy pasta. I do. I literally walked two miles. Like, it almost killed me. And didn't even put me into labor. Like, it was crazy. Luckily, Sydney was there to help. And then the next morning, I wake up, and my contract. My contractions stopped at night. The next morning, my contractions picked back up, and I was texting with my doctor, and I was like, I don't know. I just. I don't feel right. Like, my. I feel so close. Like, I felt like I was gonna. In all my other bursts, I've gone from 6 to 10 centimeters. Very, very fast. Like, under 40 minutes. So I was like, I'm just so worried my water's gonna break. It's gonna happen in, like, she's just going to come really fast.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

So my doctor's like, okay, go back in and get checked. I get back in the next morning, okay, now I'm at a six. And I'm like, you're not. I'm not going home. I am in. I understand it's a slow burn, but, like, I am in labor.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And the nurse was like, oh, you're at a six. Like, I bet we'll just break your water, and then we'll get going. Well, then the house doctor came in, and she's like, we can't break her water because this baby's head's too high. And, you know, now. And I. I feel like I'm kind of paraphrasing because I only kind of asked questions, but essentially, my understanding was, since her head was so high, it can be very dangerous to break, to break a water or for your water to break. And since I was so dilated, there was, like, some concern. My doctor was happy I was there. She goes, because if you're. If your water breaks with her head that high, like, it can be sketchy. Things can happen with the cord was basically what. What I learned.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

So they had to give me Pitocin to lower my contractions to start pushing her head further into the birth canal. And then we did that for a little bit. I got. Her head got a lot lower. I was at a seven. Her head was in a good spot. They broke my water. And the nurse was like, okay, obviously, I got my epidural smacked. I mean, have to have it. That's a musket for me. Musket. But the anesthesiologist did tell me. She's like, I'm gonna give you this epidural. But just know, like, if. If things move quickly, like, since you're so progressed, it might not be able to keep up. And I was like, okay, good. Good to know she's like, hit your little button. I can come back and give you more. I was like, okay, thanks, sister. So then the contractions. Like, my epidural did a pretty good job for my contractions. And then once they broke my water, the nurse was like, okay, rest for 30 minutes. I'll come back and check on you in 30 minutes. I literally had two contractions. Epidural couldn't feel a dang thing. I mean, I'm sorry. Epidural. Couldn't feel. Contractions felt very much. Yeah, I'm. I'm hitting the button for more, more, more. And then I'm like, call the doctor. I was like, she's there. I know she was there. I literally had, like, two or three, maybe four contractions. And then my doctor came, and I. I've never had a natural birth, so I don't know. But I have to imagine my epidural was not working, because it was. It was nothing like my other three as far as, like, felt everything, felt ring of fire, felt the head pop out, felt the shoulders pop.

[Kelly]

I just.

[Liz]

I felt the doctor take her hand. Like, I felt everything. And it was very painful, but it was very quick. And I do think there's something. The only good thing about it is I got to a point where I realized the only way out of this pain is with her.

[Kelly]

Through. Through it.

[Liz]

Through it. So I pushed and pushed, and she came out and, like, you know. Know, maybe, like, four or five pushes. Yeah, four or five rounds pushing. It was a little bit more pushing than I had to do with my other kids, I think.

[Kelly]

Really?

[Liz]

I was just, like, so taken back by the pain for a second. I was like, this does not feel right. This does not feel right. Like, where's my. Where's my epidural?

[Kelly]

Supposed to be working. Yeah, I doubt it. Was actually more pushing, and it just, like, felt like more pushing. Because you felt the pushing and you felt the pain.

[Liz]

Yeah, I was like, yeah. And so anyway, but then she came out, and they were like, she has so much hair. And I was like, they were trying to talk. I was like. And with Fred's birth, like, me and doctor. Me and my doctor were, like, talking about, like, the Costco meatloaf in between pushes, and this one was just so intense.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

But then she came out, and she was. And I. She was great. Has a ton of hair.

[Kelly]

Super cute.

[Liz]

Huge baby. 815. Biggest baby.

[Kelly]

Huge baby. Elizabeth Rose. Stumpy Elizabeth Rose.

[Liz]

Yep.

[Kelly]

Libby Rose. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Liz]

Liberty Mutual Insurance.

[Kelly]

That's what we call her. Yeah. And she's so cute. She is so cute.

[Liz]

No, she's like, a really cute baby.

[Kelly]

Sure. Hair is crazy. It looks like she has a wig on. She came out with a fresh pixie cut. She came out asking to see the manager.

[Liz]

No, 100%.

[Kelly]

She has got a pixie cut, and she's precious, and we love her.

[Liz]

Yeah. So that was my birth story. And then, you know, we had. I feel like I covered it pretty well on all of our, like, jaundice vibes.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

You know, that was. That was what it was.

[Kelly]

That will take it out of you. That will.

[Liz]

Just getting re. The jaundice was one thing. So there was something about getting readmitted and then getting readmitted to a pediatric floor instead of, like, the mother and baby floor, where then literally no one cares about you as the patient anymore, even though you just gave birth four days ago. Like, one of the most hard, like, one. Like, my biggest breakdown I had there was, I'm checked in. It's like, when we ended up staying almost, we ended up staying, like, two. I think we only stayed two nights, but it was, like, basically four full days because, like, we got checked in. We stayed at night. We didn't get discharged till, like, the fourth day right before bed. So it was a long time at the hospital, and I couldn't leave, and Tyler had to be home with the other kids, and, you know, mom and dad and everyone came and visited, but also, there was nothing to do. I couldn't even hold her. Like, it just sucked. I just had to be there to feed her. And I ran out of pads for. At one point.

[Kelly]

Oh.

[Liz]

And I'm thinking, okay. And again, this is not a mother and baby floor. So I was like, do you guys have any pads? And they were like, no. I had to use, like, a newborn diaper.

[Kelly]

Oh, my gosh, Kelly. I would have brought you pads.

[Liz]

It was right before. It was. I was waiting to hear about a last test result, and it was the test result. We gotta go home. Or, like, trust me, you would have been there.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

But it was honestly quite traumatic to be so fresh postpartum and then, like, get checked and obviously, like, I. I. You want all the care for your baby. But it was just. There was no one there for me anymore.

[Kelly]

No, it was weird because I. When I came to see you, they. I had to check in, which, like, normally a mother baby fl. You just, like, walk right in. They're like, excuse me. I'm like, on a pediatric floor. I'm like, oh, my gosh. Of course I have to like, check in. And they're like, what's your relationship to the patient? And I was like, she's my sister. And I'm like, oh, wait, no, I'm her aunt. Cuz, like, you weren't the patient. I know Libby was the patient.

[Liz]

And it was also. I mean, it was just. It there was obviously I was so emotional and, like, you're there for. I mean, we were there for something that was very treatable. Her jaundice was at, like, a really high level, especially for this, like, blood condition that all my kids have called being Coombs positive. It's. But, like, hindsight, it's not a big deal. Like, now that it's passed us, this is not something we'll ever have to deal with again. And then you're looking around, you know, you're seeing the other patients on the floors, and you're just like, yeah, hit with it. It was a very. It was a lot.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

But we did get through it.

[Kelly]

Yeah. And that's. It's just hard in the moment because you don't know how long you're going to be there. You're just waiting for test results. It's such a waiting game. Like, looking back, you're like, had I been mentally prepared for this, it would have been a totally different story. But of course, you can never mentally prepare yourself for something like that, so. Yay. Last one, Cal. You're done?

[Liz]

Yeah, I'm done. People who think I'm not done. You're being insane.

[Kelly]

Yeah. You're a big fan.

[Liz]

We're like, do we really think she's done? Absolutely. I'm done.

[Kelly]

She's done.

[Liz]

I'm done. I'm very. I'm happy. I'm done. I have plenty of nieces and nephews who will be coming down the pipeline that I can love on to get a baby fix.

[Kelly]

Absolutely. Speaking of, we have Ms. Sloane Pauline, and her birth was a dream birth. I mean, it was just amazing. And I feel as though I can say this, and I feel as though I deserve it at this point because James's birth was such a nightmare. I pushed for four freaking hours. I had a horrible recovery. Was bleeding past the six weeks that you're supposed to bleed. Like, it was really, really, really hard. This one was how. Let me just get into the story. So it was a Wednesday that I went in to get my 38 week checkup. Like, literally same as you, 4 centimeters, 70% effaced. I'm like, on one hand, I'm like, it's happening on the Other hand. I just saw you have the slowest burn of your life, so I'm like, maybe it's not happening. So I got acupuncture, which you got for the first time with George, and you said it put you into labor and you never got it again.

[Liz]

That's not true. I got it with Hattie, and it didn't put me into labor.

[Kelly]

Oh, okay. So I went in to get the acupuncture because they told me we can't promise labor, but we can promise contractions. And with James, I had. He was sunny side up, so I had back labor. So I felt like I never knew what a contraction felt like. So I knew I was going to be going into labor soon, and I have no idea what I was supposed to be feeling for, So I was excited to know what a contraction feels like. You were like, here's the thing. You're going to have contractions. It's going to be uncomfortable. You're going to need help with James. Like, I had it done at 3 o'clock. I had Maddie come home early from work so I could, like, feel all these contract and, like, feel this uncomfortableness that, like, I was anticipating with the. With the acupuncture. I had one freaking contraction.

[Liz]

Then nothing.

[Kelly]

Nothing after. But it was a big contraction. So next day is Thursday. I go furniture shopping with you. I'm curb walking. I'm. We go out to lunch. We have a whole day. I go on multiple walks to the point where I check my apple watch. And I had 10,000 steps that day. Now that's wild. It's wild. And so that night, we. I'm putting James to bed, and while I'm putting him to bed, I feel two contractions, 10 minutes apart. And I'm like, okay, I think that's gotta be a contraction. I go downstairs, I'm talking to Maddie. I'm like, I'm kind of trying to figure out what I'm feeling. I'm kind of trying to time them. And we were like, let's just lay down or let's watch a movie. Now, this is kind of the fun part about the story. So the name Sloan I got from the show Entourage. And leading up to her birth, Maddie and I were like, let's watch all eight seasons of Entourage. And we kept making this joke of, like, what's gonna come first, the end of Entourage or Sloane? So the end of Entourage came, and we watched all eight seasons, and she didn't come, but there was a movie, an Entourage movie. So we were like, let's Turn on the Entourage movie. Feel out these contractions. So I'm timing them. We're watching the movie, and I'm looking at the clock, and it's like 9:45, and James is asleep. And my contractions are like five to 10, seven minutes apart and very consistent. It's been going on for a couple of hours. And I'm like, I gotta get a hold of mom before she goes to bed. Bed. So call Mom. She comes over. I'm talking to her for like an hour, and then my contractions are like, oh, that was a two minute. That was two minutes apart. Oh, that was five minutes. Oh, that was another two minutes apart. We better go to the hospital. So Maddie and I load up. We get to the hospital around, like, 11:00.

[Liz]

Wait, you didn't finish the Entourage movie part.

[Kelly]

Okay, so we did finish the Entourage movie. And the movie ends. Spoiler alert. It came out in 2015, if you haven't seen it yet. The movie ends with the character Sloan giving birth to a baby girl, which is crazy, which is just funny. And so then we go to the hospital. They check me. I'm at a 5, 100% effaced. Contractions are coming. I'm breathing through them. And the triage nurse was like, do you want Trapidurl right now? I'm like, no, I think I'm good. We'll just wait it out. They take me up to the room. Not even up to the room yet. I'm walking up to the room with my L and D nurses, and I'm describing how I'm feeling. And she's like, we need to get you this epidural right now. Like, this baby is based on what you're saying, this baby is coming. I'm like, oh, okay, so get the epidural. Try and sleep a little bit. It is the middle of the night. They call my doctor around, like, 12:30, 1:00. Break my water. And the doctor that was there was like, let me. Let me know when you start to feel pressure. Like, call us in when you feel pressure. Because you're like, we broke your water. You're at a. I don't even know what I was at at this point. And I'm like, guys, I don't think I'm gonna feel anything. Like, this epidural is doing its job. Like, I don't think I'm gonna feel any pressure. And they're like, you're gonna feel the pressure. I felt the pressure. Call the nurses in. They call my doctor. She's 10 minutes away. I'm, like, holding back from pushing. Like, I am holding her in, and it was very uncomfortable. My doctor gets there. One round of contractions, head is out. Second round of contractions, rest. The baby's out. Bada bing, bada boom, bada bing, bada boom. 4am Baby's born. She's perfect. She's cute, no complications, and that's it.

[Liz]

Kind of boring.

[Kelly]

I feel like I needed it to be kind of boring. Like, again, like, James, like, I. James. I pushed for four hours. Her. I pushed for four minutes, maybe. It was so easy. And my recovery since has been so easy. I'm so thankful I didn't tear. And like, when you're sitting in the hospital room and they're bringing you, you know, your pain meds and all the stuff, they're like, what's your pain level? One to ten, James. I was like, eight. Like, I'm in so much pain. This. Zero. Zero.

[Liz]

I know. I'm so happy.

[Kelly]

Do you want any more pain medication? No, I'm good.

[Liz]

I'm so happy for you, and it's good to know. I think it's. I think it's. I remember when I was pregnant for the first time, I was always, like, craving to hear, like, positive birth stories because it's just so. I hate talking about birth stories when I'm pregnant because you just don't know what's on the other side of it. And they can all be so different. But.

[Kelly]

Yeah, well, no one really tell. No one seems to tell you the boring one, you know, in. In. In great detail. Everyone's like, listen to what I went through. And then that's the one you hear in great detail. So it was very easy. It's been a very easy recovery. And I'm just, like, so thankful that she's here and everything. She was so good to be on the other side of.

[Liz]

It feels really good. It feels good to not be pregnant. And. Yeah, I mean, postpartum is. You know what it is. I think we. We talked about this a little bit before. It's such a roll of the dice on who you're going to be. If you've had multiple kids, I feel like you can relate to that. And I would say I did not get lucky number seven this time around, you know, But I'm okay. Libby's a hard baby. She's really. She's really challenging me. The kids are. I talked about this on my Capital One episode. Libby's challenging. The kids are challenging. And it's. It's a. It's a level of overwhelm that I just have not experienced before.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

But I can do hard things.

[Kelly]

Yeah, that's. I would say that's. I agree. The, the transition from 0 to 1 while it's. You're learning everything and there's challenges. Like, bringing her home has been so much easier. However, I'm much more overwhelmed this time around because there's no, like, lay in bed with coffee and rock your baby. It's like, get up, you've got a new or you've got a toddler to go take care of. Like, there's no like, here. Maddie, I'm overwhelmed. You take her. I'm going to go take a break. We're playing.

[Liz]

A break is just having Libby. Yeah.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I know. Yeah. So that's. That's been like the biggest and hardest part that I'm experiencing. It's just like, wow, this feels. Not that I wasn't obvious. We weren't obviously parents with James, but like, having two kids, I'm like, oh, parenthood is hard. This is hard. Yeah.

[Liz]

Split attention.

[Kelly]

It's such a blessing. We love it and all the things. Today's episode is brought to you by Rocket Money. How closely do you track your bank statements and credit card history? Are you combing through every single charge on a regular basis or just assume everything's fine until you notice something. Something weird? Honestly, I don't have time to watch my accounts that closely, but now that I'm using Rocket Money, it does all that for me so I don't have to worry about it. If there's a big unexpected expenditure, I get notified immediately so I can check it out. Rocket Money is a personal finance app that finds and cancels your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps lower your bills so that you can grow your savings. I love how my dashboard shows me this month's spending compared to last month so I can clearly see my spending habits. Plus, they'll help me create a custom budget and keep my spending on track. Rocket Money has over 5 million users and has saved a total of 500 million in canceled subscriptions, saving members up to $740 a year when using all of the app's features. So stop wasting your money on things you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to Rocket Money.com Carpool. That's Rocket Money.com Carpool. Rocket Money.com Carpool and today's episode is brought to you by Clean Simple Eats. If you've been following Kelly and I for a while, you know that we are huge Clean Simple Eats fans. We love their pro protein powder because it's grass fed with no seed oils or artificial ingredients. It's third party tested, non GMO and gluten free. And the best part, each serving has 20 grams of protein and the protein powder is incredibly smooth and creamy. It doesn't have that chalky texture that you sometimes find in other protein powders. We know how hard it is to get the protein in that you need in a day and Clean Simple Eats is really helping us do that. I'm kind of loving the coconut cream pie right now. I added in with my fruit smoothie and it, it kind of creates like a feels like I'm on the beach. It feels like I'm drinking a pina colada. It's so delicious. So you can visit cleansimpleats.com and use code CARPOOL10 at checkout for 10% off your order. That's cleansimpleeats.com code CARPOOL10 for 10% off your order. The link is also in the show.

[Liz]

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[Kelly]

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[Liz]

Well, let's move on from that and let's get into some dumps because we just have so much to talk about. I feel like.

[Kelly]

No, we definitely do. I mean, I think we probably need to start with what is going to be the most relevant. And like, I don't want to wait another week to talk about this. And that is just like the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

[Liz]

It's the best TV I've seen in years.

[Kelly]

It's so good.

[Liz]

Okay, I have to share something with the carpoolers.

[Kelly]

What?

[Liz]

You know it.

[Kelly]

I know.

[Liz]

We all know Whitney, right? Okay, so way back in November of 2020. She DMs me when she, like, had, like, some tick tock followers. She had like 50, 000 on Instagram, I think. And she asked me to be on her podcast.

[Kelly]

I mean, how many did you even have at November 2020?

[Liz]

Not probably 12,000, I think. This was, like, big for me.

[Kelly]

No, this was huge.

[Liz]

This was huge. Ask me to be on her podcast.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Do you do it?

[Liz]

I did her podcast. I remember it. I don't even know what her podcast is called. If someone wants to scrub the Internet for it, I'd honestly love to hear it. I don't remember. You know how they always say, like, people won't remember what you did, but they'll remember how you made them feel. I don't remember feeling good about the podcast. Like, feeling like they weren't very prepared. It wasn't a very good interview. And maybe I don't think it was me. Could have been me. I was probably, I don't know, two months postpartum with Hattie. Like, what was I doing podcasts for? Well, I guess I'm doing a podcast right now, so it's just been in my blood.

[Kelly]

Yeah. But yes, it had to have been one of your first ones because you only hit 10,000 followers when Hattie was born in October of 2020. So I can't imagine you had even 20,000 followers.

[Liz]

I don't know.

[Kelly]

So you're probably a freshie.

[Liz]

So I was on her podcast well before all of the controversy. Anyway, I just wanted to get that off.

[Kelly]

Let's. Let's talk about it. Let's talk about the. The show.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

I love it. I think that I'm very curious to see where they're going to take it next. I love the drama. I think it's good drama. I don't like Whitney. I don't like Taylor, but I can appreciate Taylor more than I can appreciate Whitney.

[Liz]

I don't think Taylor's quite as diabolical.

[Kelly]

No, Taylor's like Duluth and crazy, but, like, she owns up to it. Like, Whitney is mean girl vibes and crazy and thinks that she's in the right, and that's what's crazy. That's. That's where the craziness comes in.

[Liz]

I also just felt like it. I. I just really. I think it was very fun to watch a reality show with people. You can. Let me clarify. I'm not saying I relate to them, but they're do.

[Kelly]

They're.

[Liz]

They have young kids. They're like younger women. They are influencers. Like, it's I'm. I'm relating to it.

[Kelly]

Oh, total. Totally. Yeah.

[Liz]

So it's fun. Like, I love. Don't be wrong. I love the Housewives, but they're all like, 50 plus. This is fun to see such young people, like, my peers.

[Kelly]

And, like, they live in nice. They live in nice homes, don't get me wrong. But, like, they're not. They're not crazy nice.

[Liz]

They don't.

[Kelly]

We. We did this thing where we tried to figure out all their cars. And we'll share that. I'll share that list in a second. They're not all driving luxury cars. They've got the Palisade. They've got the Atlas. Like, they're doing the things that we're doing. And I also appreciate a show that kind of, like, lifts the veil into the influencer space a little bit, because, I don't know. I mean, we know what it's like, but I just think it's. It's interesting to see and to see, like, controversies come out. Whitney's RSV video is jarring. And, like, that's one of, like, the influencer things that it's like, things you have to worry about being, posting. Absolutely. Things that will absolutely get you canceled and are crazy.

[Liz]

Yeah, that was really bad. But I don't know. Like, Demi's kind of amazing. Love her. I actually love Macy.

[Kelly]

I like Macy, too. Macy's also one of those people who just, like, you just can tell that she loves the drama and kind of likes to stir the pot, but she's not pretending like she does it. Like, I just can appreciate when people are just like. Even when they're in the wrong and even when they're being outrageous, like, they're owning it. And, like, that's why I like them.

[Liz]

A lot of people said that it felt scripted. I didn't get the script. I think the first episode felt scripted, but that was. If you, like, think about the timeline, that was so long before the rest of the episodes are filmed. Like, that was obviously a pilot episode, which I think felt more scripted. I didn't think. I don't think it was very scripted.

[Kelly]

I mean, they certainly, like, did things to add more drama, which every reality show does. Like that game, like, that truth game that they played. They didn't have to play that. They knew that that was going to create fights and cause drama and be good tv. So, like, they're definitely doing things to make it more drama filled, but that's why we're watching it.

[Liz]

And I also do want to say to any of Our Mormon listeners. I do. I do not think they represent the Mormon Church. Like, no, I am media literate enough to understand that the. That they do not represent all of it.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

But I liked it. I'm into it. I was the perfect, like, post leave show, too.

[Kelly]

Totally. I'm, like, on the edge of my seat.

[Liz]

Let's go through the cars they drive, though. We can't figure out all of them. I really just DM them all and be like, I mean, could probably DM Whitney. We've DMed in the past.

[Kelly]

I know. Well, Whitney, here's who we found out. Macy, Demi, Taylor, Michaela, and Layla. So Macy drives a Volkswagen Atlas.

[Liz]

I would have. I would have. I would have picked that.

[Kelly]

We saw it in the. We saw it in the show. This is how I was watching the show, and it's the episode where she talks with Dakota and she pulls up on a Volkswagen Atlas. And I got so excited immediately to see her Atlas. So she drives a Volkswagen Atlas. Demi drives a Volvo XC90. So to me, so to me, you know, she had to go, like, a little bit luxury, which, like, I think.

[Liz]

She has three kids. I don't know. She's confusing. I don't. We didn't get a ton of kid content, which I think is okay, because I don't think you're kidding.

[Kelly]

I think that's good. I don't think by design. Yeah, yeah.

[Liz]

Demi gives Volkswagen or Volvo XC90. I mean, they're extensions. I want all the extensions now.

[Kelly]

Okay. Some of them are good, and some of them are really bad extensions.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

I think you'd, like, curl your hair every day.

[Liz]

Yeah, I don't want to do that.

[Kelly]

Okay. Taylor drives a Kia Telluride.

[Liz]

Perfect. Could have also seen her in, like, a Jeep.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Grand Cherokee. L. Like, I could have seen that for her. I could see her being the kind of person who's like, I just can't give up my Wrangler, you know what I mean? For no reason. So I'm happy to see. She didn't. I'm happy to see.

[Kelly]

I was. I was kind of surprised to see such a practical approach by someone like Taylor, to be honest.

[Liz]

Couldn't you just see her being like, she bought, like, a Barbie pink Ford Bronco. Yeah. It's, like, gonna, like, message me like, how do I do three across, like.

[Kelly]

Yeah, no, exactly. So no. So she said that was a good choice. That was a good choice. Layla drives a Hyundai Palisade.

[Liz]

Yeah. Layla. She's so young.

[Kelly]

She's so young. I don't know if she needed, like. Needs that big of a car for only two kids, but. Good. I mean, that's obviously a great. Well, I guess you actually say the Hyundai Palisades. Great for only two kids. I don't know. I just could have seen her driving something a little bit more like luxury, I guess. But maybe, you know, but she's also. She's divorced, and, you know, maybe that's a more practical decision. I just feel like she's always coming out just, like, being like, the most, like, put together and fabulous, but. Okay, well, this is. And this is why. Because Michaela was a total. Was a total surprise for me. She drives a Rivian R1S.

[Liz]

Are you sure that's.

[Kelly]

Yes, I'm positive. Go to her. I'm gonna go on to her Instagram. I literally went on all their Instagrams and tried to figure out any. Any photos they had in a car. Here she is in the car. Her daughter's. Her. Her daughter's in the front seat. That's a Rivian.

[Liz]

How do you know it's a Rivian?

[Kelly]

Because when you see her daughter's head move, it says Rivian in the seat. That's. That's this. There's multiple of her in the car.

[Liz]

That's such.

[Kelly]

And I saw a story of her talking, and when she moved, they saw the Rivian logo on her seat or the Rivian word on her seat.

[Liz]

Yeah. That's such a hot take.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I thought so.

[Liz]

Yeah, you're right. It's Rivian R1S.

[Kelly]

Yep.

[Liz]

So surprising.

[Kelly]

So we don't know what Whitney drives. We don't know what. Who's the other girl? Jesse. And also, who's the girl with the controlling husband?

[Liz]

Jen.

[Kelly]

Jen.

[Liz]

Okay. I. I'm just going off of what. I think Jen's.

[Kelly]

Jen's husband. Well, no, because Jen's. I thought Jen's husband's family has a lot of money, but then he gambled it all away, didn't he? That was crazy.

[Liz]

That was. That was. That was insane. We.

[Kelly]

That was crazy. I can't go there.

[Liz]

Okay. I think that Jesse. I feel like Jesse is doing really well. Like, she's an influencer, and she has this hair business.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I know. I feel like she's doing well, too.

[Liz]

I think she probably drives. How many kids does she have?

[Kelly]

I have no idea. I think they all have between two and three.

[Liz]

I think they'll. Between. I'm gonna say if Jesse only has two. I'm gonna put her in the. I'm gonna put her in, like, a Lexus. Like, Alexis RX350.

[Kelly]

I was gonna say Lexus or BMW. I could see her having a BMW. I could see.

[Liz]

I think she has a luxury car. And I'm not saying it's brand spanking new, but I think she has a luxury car.

[Kelly]

Okay.

[Liz]

I think Whitney, to me, she's giving American. It's giving Ford Explorer or Chevy Traverse.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I'm just guessing.

[Kelly]

Yeah. She is pregnant with her third.

[Liz]

Wait, weren't they in a Tahoe when they were driving. They were in a big car when they were driving to their new house from Hawaii. You just don't know. It could be.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I don't know. I hadn't. That episode where I started trying to figure it out was, like, at the end. So I. Yeah, there were hints before.

[Liz]

And then Jen, you know, I could see her doing anything, really. I hope she has something amazing.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

That's what I hope for Jen.

[Kelly]

Yeah. I don't know what she has.

[Liz]

Whatever it is, I know that it's white, and, like, that's something I can rest my head on my pillow.

[Kelly]

I mean, I. I hate. Like, it's kind of crazy that there were no repeats. I could see her. Her having an atlas.

[Liz]

No, I think she. If she has anything, she has, like, a Telluride. Palisade. Yeah. I could see her having a Toyota, something of another.

[Kelly]

Oh, I can't see that.

[Liz]

No, no. Whatever it is, it's white. That's all I know.

[Kelly]

It's white with beige interior. And that's all you need to know.

[Liz]

And that's all you need to know. I can tell you her husband probably drives a truck for no reason. Yeah, he gives truck for no reason. Energy.

[Kelly]

Okay. He gives truck. That truck that she bought. Energy.

[Liz]

That was crazy. Okay, what are we doing next?

[Kelly]

Well, what else do you want to talk about? There's so many places to go. But we do still have. We do. We do have hot industry news still that we need to get to as well.

[Liz]

That's true. Okay. I just want to say one thing. I have accidentally found myself in the middle of a frenzy. I feel like I'm almost in a cult by accident.

[Kelly]

Oh, gosh.

[Liz]

So I. We all know I'm on the hunt to. I mean, I love an iced honey latte. I don't think that's a secret. I think everyone knows that by now.

[Kelly]

Mm.

[Liz]

They're getting more expensive, and then they're asking for tips. And it's just the experience of getting coffee gets less and less fun every time. I go, and I'm surely I can make this at home. Like, I need to figure this out. So I talked to my stories, and I had, like, three people, one of which is a friend, like, a very close personal friend, tell me to get this thing called Nescafe Gold. It's an instant espresso. Instant, like, dark iced coffee, like, instant powder. So you just put it in hot water and it, like, makes espresso? Yeah, it's, like, kind of a genius idea because you just start in that you don't have to, like, have this Breville that you have to clean every, you know, 30 days. I'm like, okay. So I'm like, I'm at Target. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna, like, try to find. I'm gonna, like, go see if I can get that coffee. So I walked down the coffee aisle, sure enough, oh, there it is. Nescafe Gold. Let me grab that. I post about all my stories, and people are like, oh, my gosh, where did you find it? You should have bought seven. Have you seen the Facebook groups about this? And I'm like, oh, my gosh, no. So I go on Facebook, I search Nescafe. There's Facebook groups, 25,000 plus, people who are all obsessed with this instant espresso powder. It's delicious. It's. It's incredible. I haven't. I. I haven't bought a latte out in six days, which, for an addict like myself, that's.

[Kelly]

And for someone who has to leave the house every day to take your kids, like, to school or daycare, like, that is crazy.

[Liz]

Who has opportunity to do it?

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Who loves a little sweet? Who loves a little treat in the afternoon? It's really, really excellent.

[Kelly]

So how are you making it with the iced honey?

[Liz]

I'm getting hot water, putting the powder in there, putting the honey in there, pouring it over ice, adding milk. Like, it's. It's. It's. It's easy, and it's really, really good. The powder now gone off the shelves. Can't find it. Elizabeth, you know, I live in, like, a smaller town. It's like, my Target's a little smaller. I went out to all of the targets in St. Louis to search by store. Couldn't find a single one. Can't find on Amazon. Can't Instacart. I said anywhere. Instacart. Find me the Nescafe Gold. Gone. I tagged Nescafe. And then here's where. Here's the added layer. I tagged Nescafe on my Instagram story.

[Kelly]

You're hoping to get a PR box.

[Liz]

Well, I'm just.

[Kelly]

I mean, yeah, you gotta use all your resources.

[Liz]

I throw it out. They're playing games with me. I throw it out. They're saying, oh, like, this is really good because it's delicious. I mean, it's. You have to find it. They start following me back on Instagram. I'm like, okay, well, yeah, here's my address. Thinking that's coming. They comment, we love to see it. Oh, do they follow me? Do they? We love to see it. Crickets. I said, yeah, it's so good.

[Kelly]

They can't get it. They know what they have.

[Liz]

I don't know. The other thing about me is I don't know how to ask for pr. I mean, that's just. I don't do that. Like, the amount of things that I just buy, Even, like, brands who I work with, Like, I just. I don't know. I'm just going to buy it. I feel so awkward. I don't want to put you guys out, like, so.

[Kelly]

Oh, I know, I know. I mean, I literally use my code, like, just so I can get stuff.

[Liz]

I don't. I don't like to ask for things. No, it's awkward.

[Kelly]

It's awkward. Yeah.

[Liz]

So I don't know how to ask for that, but to follow me on Instagram felt kind of bold of you.

[Kelly]

Mm. Yeah.

[Liz]

I don't know. But if you guys find, like, go find it. And now it's. Now it's the hunt. Now I'm excited. Something. And these people on these Facebook group, it's so they. They say, like, found Grand Rapids, Michigan, Target. I'm only gonna grab one, but. And because there's other flavors. So I have the gold, but there's a blonde that everyone says is better. Haven't even seen the blonde yet.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Wow. So were there. Were there multiple there when you went. Yeah, but I said full shelf.

[Liz]

I had no idea what it was. We need to figure.

[Kelly]

You need to figure out what day of the week it was because that must have been restock day, Elizabeth.

[Liz]

No, I think it's more. I think it's. I think it's more than that because I tried to order on Amazon. They can't. Amazon cancels my order. It's not good.

[Kelly]

Oh, my gosh.

[Liz]

It's not good. So if you find it, like, first of all, join the Facebook group. If you want to be part of something, just type in Nescafe lovers or whatever. Like, I'm obsessed. They share recipes. There was this tragic story of this girl who, like, lives in Alaska, who paid, like, so much to get it shipped to Alaska, and they're in glass bottles, and the glass bottles broke. Like, I. We were.

[Kelly]

I was like, where's the Gofundme?

[Liz]

Get this girl?

[Kelly]

Literally, Nescafe. That's so sad.

[Liz]

Anyway, I'll make one for you when you come. Actually, I won't, because I'm not going to share with you, but if I find another jar. If you find a jar, I'll make you one.

[Kelly]

Okay, I'll be on. I'll be on the hunt. Okay, Kel. Well, can we get into industry news? Because we have some very hot tea that has gone on in the auto industry. Kind of the hottest tea of the year.

[Liz]

Ford Expedition redesign. Let's just get it out of the. Let's just. Let's just say it.

[Kelly]

Ford Expedition redesign.

[Liz]

So we sent Sydney, and we got, like, obviously exclusive pictures. We got the press kit. I was really, really sad to miss it. I'm very. I'm very excited about it. I think it looks really, really good. Okay, let's start. So some of the main things that, like, they tried to hit, which I also noticed was as far as, like, the exterior redesign, they really wanted to differentiate it. Diff.

[Kelly]

Differentiate.

[Liz]

Yep. It from the. The F series pickup trucks, which I think was very needed for this lineup, because if you just look at the front end of an expedition and an F150, you're like. It's a spot. The difference. Like, they're so similar, and I think that was a smart move. So they look a lot sleeker.

[Kelly]

Much sleeker.

[Liz]

Much sleeker. I think it was a very. I think it looks less bussy. It's just. It's just. It's all. It's all around. Like, one of the words I can describe it is it's more interesting. Like, there's things to actually look at. You know what I mean?

[Kelly]

We've got the cool. We got the cool lights, like, the wraparound, like, these wraparound LEDs. It's a little bit rounded. It's a little bit softer, which I think is needed for such a big car, because I think when you try and go boxy on a big car, it's like it gives bus. And in a world where so many smaller cars are going boxy, I think it works. But I think when it's a giant car, like an Expedition, softening some of the edges is a nice touch. Yeah.

[Liz]

To me, I don't know why I'm getting this vibe, but I keep thinking it Kind of gives like really big Telluride, which I think the Telluride is a good looking car, at least for as far as the lines are concerned. Like the rounded box, like it's. It's just nice. They kept everything well. I mean the, the infotainment system looks. Looks fine. You know, I'm just. You know that song. That don't impress me much. That's just how I feel about this. I just. Okay.

[Kelly]

The.

[Liz]

All the screens, all the buttons. I don't know. I need to get in there and play with it also like, is it going to work? Ford? Like that's also like our other thing. Like let's not just throw things on there. That might not be more effective. But overall I think the infotainment is fine.

[Kelly]

The infotainment looks a little bit piecemealing to me. It's like one screens here, one screens there. They almost look like they. Based off the photos that Sydney sent, it looks like they literally overlap each other. And it's like I was kind of expecting something more all integrated like the now it's because that's kind of how the Navigator was. But I get the Navigator a luxury car. It just looks kind of like things are just placed.

[Liz]

Yeah, I think Piecemeal is a fair critique. And I, I don't know.

[Kelly]

And like, I don't like that the dash camera literally is like above the. Like it goes above the dash, above the. It's just. I don't know. I. I need to see it in person. But yeah, infotainment, I'm kind of confused on to be honest.

[Liz]

But then there's some fun things going on up here. A lot of really nice storage. And now it kind of took what the GM cars did. And we have the center console that can move back, that allows for some secret storage and can also make the center console closer to the second row. So like they can have some more like some better access to cup holders. So I think that was a fun like tech ad. I like that it does have. Now this is like a big. A big change. Is that now it has forward back cup holders instead of side to side cup holders. Do you have a preference just like in your life? No, I prefer side to side only because if you are the driver, which one do you get? So if. If it's stacked, which one does the driver. That feels confusing. That feels. Which one's mine? I don't know.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I know. You forget. Yeah, but it's fine. Let's talk about the third row situation.

[Liz]

So third row is where they're kind of making headlines, to be honest.

[Kelly]

First, this feels like the thing they're very excited and proud of.

[Liz]

First of all, split tailgate.

[Kelly]

Split tailgate. Awesome. Fun ad. Love it.

[Liz]

Fun ad. Then they're doing this kind of moronic thing where you can put down the middle seat. So it's also a. It's a. It's a true bench. No, it's. It's not a bench. A bench to me is a 40, 60 split. This is three separate seats in the third row, just like we find in the second row. So what they're very proud of, which. This is so crazy to me that, like, they're so proud of this. And I don't. I'm not saying I don't like it, but it's just. It's such a gray area in, like, the safety space is. You can put down the middle seat of the third row, middle seat of the second row. So you could, like, take skis with you. Like, that's what. Like that. That's what. They're very.

[Kelly]

Fishing poles, long pole. You can put it all the way through the car.

[Liz]

It just feels like that's not. It's giving projectile, which is fine. But I don't know if, like, that's what they would tell you to. I don't know if, like, that's what NHTSA would tell you to do. But then, like, Ford's having the press event, being, like, look, you can put the ski right through the car.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I don't know. But I think it's. What I like about it is I do think it allows for some flexibility to put down, like, certain seats or just maybe, like, one seat and then keep two seats. Now, the middle. The middle seat of the middle seat of the third row is very, very small. I think a big misconception that people have is that the benches are identical. They are not identical. The second row bench smacks. Can do anything you want it to do. The third row bench. The middle seat socks. Like, I have George and Hattie both in the third row. My current expedition. No one can sit in between them. Unless you're gonna, like, one cheek it, you know?

[Kelly]

Yeah. Yeah. So I don't. I don't know. It would be kind of cool if, like, that third row. That third row middle seat, like, came down and then, like, you could have, like, it had, like, cup holders or, like, something there to make, like, the second row a little bit more comfortable.

[Liz]

Totally.

[Kelly]

Just, like, something added. But, yeah, that's, like, the big thing that they're, like, really Trying to drive home. And maybe it's great for the off roading people. The people who are carrying skis often feels like they've probably got that figured out though.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

In their personal life. But.

[Liz]

And they did keep the car seat tilt, but it looks like the lever or the video that Sydney sent is now it's a button, but unclear if that's on all trim levels or just certain trim levels. They also added some fun stuff to the back seat, the driver and passenger back seat for the second row. So now you have charging and like iPad holders on the headrest. Again, I would tell you that I think a best practice would be to not put an iPad there because I don't. I mean, were those like crash tested at 80 miles an hour that they're not going to fly out? I don't know. Probably not.

[Kelly]

Right.

[Liz]

And these are just the things that are just such gray area. And I'm again, I'm not even saying I wouldn't do it. I just think it's so interesting when like you have, I love to see what the manufacturers try to highlight because like this is the journalist press event and they have iPads and a phone like barely secured to the back of these headrests and like they're like do this. Yeah. And I would like, I. That's where I like love to grab the owner's manual and then like read what the owner's manual says you're allowed or not allowed to do.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I also find it interesting because see, like this is like the investigative journalism I want to do because currently in the Expedition. Listen to this. Elizabeth, I haven't even told you this. Okay, Currently in the Expedition owner's manual it states you cannot drive with any of the seats folded down. So now can you? Because you're showing me how I can take skis. I'm not just going to park my car and put skis in it. Like the expectation is I drive with it. So does the owner's manual say you can drive with the seats folded? Because what that would really do is then I'd love to have the middle seat folded down in the second row and have faux captain's chairs.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

At all times. Because right now the Expedition owners, Manuel Taylor says you're not allowed to do that. So what's the vibes?

[Kelly]

Well, you know, the people who put on these events and the car do not read the owner's manual.

[Liz]

That's literally, I go to these events. I don't get invited back sometimes because I asked that question and they're like, I don't know. I'm on the PR team. And I'm like, well, where's the engineer?

[Kelly]

Yeah, get me into exactly. No, I think it looks great. I'm, like, so excited to see one in person. I. It was so needed for them to have a redesign. And overall there's nothing glaring that I'm like, I hate that. I mostly think I like all of it.

[Liz]

I mostly think I like all of it, too. And the other thing about the infotainment system is Ford's infotainment system isn't, like, amazing right now either. So I'm fine.

[Kelly]

We got rid of the iPad, which is great. Which is.

[Liz]

Which is a win. A win is a win.

[Kelly]

A win is a win. And they got rid of stuff we don't like. They added stuff that were like, okay, maybe, but they didn't get rid of anything that, like, makes the expedition. The functionality of it and, like, the reason that you love it for families. They didn't get rid of any of that. They kept the car seat tilt, they kept the. The great bench, they kept the ceiling bends. Like, they kept all of the things that you like, so.

[Liz]

And I think the split tailgate is.

[Kelly]

A really big w. The split tailgate is a really fun ad. Happy to see it. I think that adds such a level of luxury because I really feel like the split tailgate is a luxury feature. I think when I think split tailgate, I think BMW.

[Liz]

Totally. I have to try to find the owner's manual. I have to do this investigative journalism.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Well, maybe they'll release it. Maybe they can send it to you.

[Liz]

Sure.

[Kelly]

It's just a PDF.

[Liz]

Wild. Wild. That's kind of like our episode. I mean, there's so much more to.

[Kelly]

Get to, but yeah, I can't. I can say I've been ditching the drive thru. I can say I'm probably sick of chicken pot pie at this point. And I wish we would have mixed up our August a little bit more because between the poppy seed chicken and the chicken pot pie, it just feels like a lot of chicken coming at me. And there's something that I'm really excited about. But.

[Liz]

No, I agree with that statement. Yeah, I don't think we did a very. I think. I mean, I think it's fine. Hopefully I'm just like a different person at the end of the month and I'm more in the mood for it. I've been cooking. Oh, let's do a ditch to the drive thru, though. Is that what you said?

[Kelly]

Yeah, I was Gonna kind of like transition and ditch the drive through. But I don't know if you had one.

[Liz]

Oh, Liz, I've actually been having some inspiration in the cook in the kitchen lately. Okay, so now let's get the ditch to the drive thru. We give you an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get you.

[Kelly]

Out of your dinner rut.

[Liz]

Well, I think we've all heard about my cabbage soup, but I'll spare you, please.

[Kelly]

I'll go through the drive through.

[Liz]

My aunt brought me a really like hearty, like tasty, comforting meal that's just not your typical to bring to somebody. And it was these roast beef French onion sliders.

[Kelly]

Gosh, they look good.

[Liz]

You have no idea. Elizabeth. You truthfully had no idea. And she did everything right because she prepared them but she didn't bake them.

[Kelly]

So.

[Liz]

But what did she send? A stick of butter, pre portioned seasonings, pre portioned Worcestershire sauce and the au jus packet to make on the side. Like she sent all of it.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And it was so easy for me to pop in the oven, have fresh. This was. She got very rare roast beef. Cause you bake it so then like, you know, it gets cooked great cheese and she put like those crispy onions in the. It's a roast beef French lighter. I think I'm gonna make it for Hattie's birthday party for everybody.

[Kelly]

Sometimes it's just about getting going the extra mile and getting like the good ingredients and sometimes that can elevate. Think about a grilled cheese, you know? Yeah. You can make it with Kraft singles and white bread. What if you got some sourdough, some pears, a fig. A fig jam, like some good cheese.

[Liz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kelly]

And now it's. And now it's an elevated meal. And that just. Sometimes that's all it takes.

[Liz]

Sometimes that's all it takes. That's so well said. Yeah.

[Kelly]

Thank you.

[Liz]

So I think that would be a great dish to thrive through. I can share the recipe.

[Kelly]

Yeah, share the recipe. Because didn't she send you like a recipe card?

[Liz]

Yeah, she printed it off because she knew. Because she knew I was gonna be like, that's Mac snacks.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Because she knew that people were gonna want.

[Liz]

I mean it's just. It's good. It's good. And it's like a hot sandwich. I love. It's a nice hot meal. That's. This feels like the same effort of just making your family sandwiches for dinner. But it's hot. It was really, really excellent. So we had that.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I haven't really had anything fabulous lately, to be honest with you.

[Liz]

Well, I told her to make you those sliders.

[Kelly]

That would be such a blessing. Could really use those right now.

[Liz]

You could. Honestly, you. It's something that you could handle, though.

[Kelly]

Yeah, for sure.

[Liz]

You could make it.

[Kelly]

For sure.

[Liz]

All right.

[Kelly]

Okay. Go. Well, that's our episode. So, guys, we are going to be back next week finishing out October or next couple weeks? October, one episode a week. And then November, we're going to be back full swing. So thank you so much for listening to the carpool podcast and we'll talk to you next week.

[Liz]

See?

[Kelly]

Thank you for listening to the carpool.

[Liz]

Podcast with Kelly and Liz.

[Kelly]

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.

[Liz]

The car for everyone.