The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz — "SHOUT OUT HOLY WEEK" (April 1, 2026)
Podcast Summary

Overview

On this episode, Kelly and Lizz return from an eventful week—especially for Lizz, who details her daughter's unexpected hospitalization. The sisters dive into lessons learned from a medical crisis, contemplate the challenges and wins of motherhood, and share smart household hacks, all wrapped in their signature candid, lighthearted style. The show also covers drama from a botched Barbie-themed event, auto industry news (with a Stellantis controversy), and practical car organization tips, before finishing up with seasonal dinner ideas.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lizz’s Medical Scare with Sloan

[00:37 – 09:38]

• Lizz recounts the ER and hospital stay after her daughter, Sloan, developed an infected salivary gland.
  • "There is something that now I will always check for." (Lizz, 01:17)
  • Describes progression: fever, doctor visit for suspected ear infection, prescribed a non-amoxicillin antibiotic.
  • Pediatrician failed to check Sloan's lymph nodes—something Lizz now considers essential.
• Lesson Learned: Always check for swollen lymph nodes (especially if a high fever is present without other symptoms).
• Hospital Experience: IV antibiotics worked, surgery avoided; emphasizes how horrific hospital stays are for both parent and child.
  • "There's just nothing worse than seeing your kid in the freaking hospital." (Lizz, 09:39)
• Reflection on pediatrician challenges and the difficulty in accessing thorough, attentive care.

2. The Sisterly Dynamic

[10:30 – 11:12]

• Kelly talks about feeling helpless and wanting to support Lizz, but feeling constrained by her own parenting responsibilities.
  • "I hated that... I can't be the sister I know you need sometimes because, like, I have to be a mother." (Kelly, 10:54)

3. Reflections on Motherhood’s Seasons

[11:23 – 12:41]

• The sisters note how all parents eventually reach a stage where life becomes easier as kids become more independent.
  • "You can't compare your start to someone else's middle." (Kelly, 11:33)
  • "We will all end up in the same spot... it's just how long do you want to take to get there?" (Kelly, 12:03)

4. Finding a Good Pediatrician is Tough

[15:15 – 18:01]

• Lizz urges listeners to review their child’s doctor online to help other parents, noting the lack of sufficient, meaningful reviews.
  • "We owe it to all the parents out there to go write reviews on our pediatricians right now—good or bad." (Lizz, 15:33)

5. Joys of Adult Trampoline Time

[21:11 – 24:54]

• Kelly sings the praises of daily trampoline jumping: lymphatic health, core strength, joint-friendliness, and huge mood boosts.
  • "10 minutes of jumping on trampoline equals 30 minutes of running." (Kelly, 22:16)
• Lizz: "It's fun, and it does surprisingly wear you out." (23:44)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On being resourceful with mismatched socks and play clothes
  • "What is second life for a mismatched sock? Like, it’s one of the best you can ask for." (Kelly, 40:32)
• On turning old pants into shorts
  • "The knee has, like, is worn, so cut them off at the knees. Now you have shorts." (Kelly, 45:06)
• On Barbie Dream Fest disaster
  • Kelly: "It is the saddest looking event I've ever seen in my life." (26:30)
  • Lizz: "It's like a safe car accident. It's like no one actually got hurt, but it is going up in flames." (29:14)
• On the Stellantis Parking Scandal
  • Kelly reports that Stellantis employees risk parking tickets (and boots!) for not driving company-brand cars.
  • "It's really loser behavior." (Kelly, 49:32)
  • Lizz calls for an apology: "They need to cut that out, like immediately, and issue an apology." (49:23)
• On reviewing pediatricians and cars
  • "It's a civic duty... these are important things we should use our voices for." (Kelly, 16:36)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |--------------|----------------------------------------------| | 00:37 | Lizz’s ER/Hospital Story | | 08:38 | Reflection on Pediatricians | | 11:23 | Motherhood: Getting Through the Tough Stage | | 15:15 | Reviewing Pediatricians & Online Reviews | | 21:11 | Trampoline Health Benefits / Adult Play | | 25:37 | Barbie Dream Fest Drama | | 39:55 | Mismatched Socks & Car Organization | | 45:06 | Repurposing Kids’ Clothing | | 45:54 | Drive-Through Dinner (Easy Recipes) | | 47:28 | Auto Industry News: Stellantis, Subaru, etc. |

Extra: Playroom Organization Tips

[34:08 – 38:12]

• Lizz shares playroom decluttering tips from a listener.
  • Use clear bins so kids can find toys and play independently.
  • Favor open-ended toys over battery-operated ones.
  • Seasonal (spring/summer/fall/winter) toy and book rotation is suggested as an approachable starting point.
  • "I think that's where I'm going to start... feels approachable and I can dip my toes in the water." (Lizz, 38:12)

Auto Industry News

[45:54 – 51:14]

• Subaru is teasing new SUVs—announcement coming at the New York Auto Show.
• Stellantis drama (see above).
• Kelly reports hitting 50,000 TikTok followers and discusses monetization quirks.

Drive Through: Quick Dinner Ideas

[53:44 – 56:57]

• Lizz: grilled chicken marinated in Italian dressing, watermelon, and salted tomato slices.
• Kelly: cabbage and pork soup; steak salad with leftover steak, hardboiled eggs, and veggies.

Tone & Style Notes

• Conversational, unfiltered, witty sister banter.
• Strong focus on practicality, community, and learning from everyday chaos.
• Mix of humor, vulnerability, and genuine advice.

Listen If…

• You’re a parent seeking solidarity and practical hacks.
• You love car culture and auto-industry updates with a family-first angle.
• You want a funny, honest perspective on motherhood and life’s curveballs.

Notable Quotes at a Glance:

• “There is something that now I will always check for.” (Lizz, 01:17)
• “You can’t compare your start to someone else’s middle.” (Kelly, 11:33)
• “What is second life for a mismatched sock? One of the best you can ask for.” (Kelly, 40:32)
• “It’s really loser behavior.” (Kelly, 49:32)
• “We owe it to all the parents out there to go write reviews on our pediatricians right now—good or bad.” (Lizz, 15:33)

This episode is a must for anyone in the thick of parenting, in need of a laugh, or who loves behind-the-scenes car world scoops and sisterly honesty.