The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz – Episode Summary
Episode: TALK TARIFF TO ME w/ JENNA FROM SmartHER NEWS
Release Date: April 10, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz, hosts Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John welcome Jenna Lee from SmartHER News to discuss the intricate world of tariffs and their impact on the automotive industry. Balancing personal anecdotes with in-depth analysis, the trio navigates through personal stories, current auto news, and insightful discussions aimed at keeping millennial moms informed without the overwhelm.
Personal Anecdotes and Birthday Stories
The episode kicks off with Kelly and Liz sharing personal reflections on recent birthdays and family traditions.
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Kelly (00:06): Opens with Liz expressing her struggles in balancing her roles as a mom and a nonpartisan news provider.
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Liz (00:40 – 03:59): Discusses her son's 35th birthday, reflecting on family traditions like the "birthday chair" where presents are displayed. She shares her hesitation to print and display old photos, revealing a shift in how she values memories.
"I felt like, even though it's not a kid's birthday, like, we need to celebrate this. Like it's a kid's birthday because it's fun for the party."
(03:14) -
Kelly (05:02 – 06:04): Talks about trying to respect her husband's simpler preferences, contrasting her own more elaborate birthday wishes.
"He's like, I don't care. I want something easy. I want pizza. And I'm like, there's got to be more to that."
(06:04)
Introduction of Guest Jenna
The hosts introduce their guest, Jenna Lee from SmartHER News, highlighting her role in providing quick, concise, and nonpartisan news tailored for busy moms.
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Liz (12:28 – 12:32):
"We're going to talk. I really wanted her to, like, come on and just kind of give us the skinny on tariffs."
(12:32) -
Jenna (15:10 – 16:19):
"We do a little bit of everything. Instagram, podcast, YouTube, website, newsletters. And her whole goal is quick, concise, nonpartisan news."
(15:30)
Interview: Understanding Tariffs
The core of the episode delves into tariffs, their definitions, purposes, and effects on the automotive industry, guided by Jenna's expertise.
Defining Tariffs
Jenna breaks down the concept of tariffs in an accessible manner.
"Tariff, just a really easy way to talk about it is it's a tax on imports. And whoever is paying the tariff is the person that wants that good inside the country."
(19:24)
Purpose and Goals of Tariffs
The discussion explores the administration's objectives behind imposing tariffs.
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Jenna (22:11 – 24:50):
"What is the president's goal with doing these tariffs?... building up manufacturing in the United States because the United States is going to become more attractive as a place to build... we're going to make more money through charging these tariffs that's going to help us with our debt."
(22:11) -
Liz (24:57):
"Is it a fair assumption to say we haven't totally gotten a clear answer on what the goal is?"
(24:57)- Jenna (24:57):
"Yes, yes, I would say that's absolutely a fair assumption."
(24:57)
- Jenna (24:57):
Impact on the Automotive Industry
Jenna explains how tariffs specifically affect car manufacturers and the broader auto market.
"Especially with the automobile industry, that's what makes this story particularly nuanced and difficult... it's not the makers of the parts that are paying the tariff. It's whoever needs those parts and it's bringing it into the country."
(21:47)
Business Strategies and Consumer Impact
The conversation shifts to how businesses and consumers are adapting to tariffs.
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Liz (28:28 – 32:47):
Discusses the uncertainty tariffs bring to car purchases and the used car market."Should I buy our cars going to get more expensive? What does this mean for the pre-owned market?"
(28:28) -
Jenna (32:12 – 33:50):
Emphasizes consumer influence on the global economy."You're actually very big in the global economy. The decisions that you're making... are disproportionately impacting the global economy."
(35:06)
Additional Personal Stories and Car Updates
Liz provides updates on her current vehicles, sharing experiences with different models and their functionalities.
- Liz (13:32 – 14:59):
"I'm gonna be a minivan mom... I like how my car seat setup's working. I like the bench, I like having the extra seat."
(14:27)
Interview Continuation: Other News Stories
The conversation broadens to include other intriguing news stories, maintaining a balance between lighthearted topics and serious discussions.
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Jenna (37:14 – 41:56):
Shares stories about astronauts stranded in space and President Obama's photobombing incident, illustrating the diversity of news covered by SmartHER News."There was a President Obama just walking by with his security, in the back of their family photo. Like, what are the chances? Like, it's so good."
(39:45)
Fun Segments: Ditch the Drive Thru Recipes
In a spontaneous segment, Jill introduces a fun cooking challenge, offering easy dinner recipes to help listeners break free from their usual meal routines.
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Liz (54:20 – 55:59):
Engages Jenna in sharing quick and healthy recipes, fostering a relatable and practical conclusion to the episode."We're turning chicken to pizza crust."
(55:59) -
Jenna (55:10 – 56:53):
Discusses her go-to ground turkey recipes and introduces a unique chicken crust pizza, promising to share the recipe with listeners."It's so easy because I just brown the turkey and you can make tacos... It's a good source of protein, and I don't feel like a bad mom."
(55:10)
Conclusion
The episode wraps up with heartfelt thanks to Jenna, encouraging listeners to connect with her on various platforms and reinforcing the podcast's mission to provide valuable, nonpartisan information.
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Liz (56:43 – 57:02):
"Hopefully everyone feels a little bit more informed. I know I do."
(57:02) -
Jenna (57:02):
Reminds listeners to subscribe and engage with the podcast community."Thank you for listening to the Carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode."
(57:02)
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Liz (03:14): "Even though it's not a kid's birthday, like, we need to celebrate this. Like it's a kid's birthday because it's fun for the party."
- Kelly (06:04): "He's like, I don't care. I want something easy. I want pizza. And I'm like, there's got to be more to that."
- Jenna (19:24): "Tariff is a tax on imports. And whoever is paying the tariff is the person that wants that good inside the country."
- Jenna (22:11): "Building up manufacturing in the United States... we're going to make more money through charging these tariffs that's going to help us with our debt."
- Jenna (35:06): "You're actually very big in the global economy. The decisions that you're making... are disproportionately impacting the global economy."
- Jenna (39:45): "President Obama just walking by with his security, in the back of their family photo. Like, what are the chances? Like, it's so good."
- Jenna (55:10): "It's so easy because I just brown the turkey and you can make tacos... It's a good source of protein, and I don't feel like a bad mom."
Key Takeaways
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Understanding Tariffs: Jenna demystifies tariffs, explaining them as taxes on imports and exploring their multifaceted goals, including economic recalibration and debt reduction.
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Impact on Automotive Industry: The discussion highlights how tariffs affect not just manufacturers but the entire supply chain, influencing both new and used car markets.
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Consumer Influence: Listeners are reminded of their significant role in the global economy through everyday purchasing decisions.
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Practical Advice: Liz advises against panic buying in the car market, emphasizing informed and measured decisions amidst economic uncertainties.
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Engaging Content: The episode balances serious economic discussions with personal stories and fun segments, maintaining an engaging and relatable atmosphere for listeners.
This detailed summary encapsulates the rich and engaging content of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz episode, providing insights and key points for those who haven't had the chance to listen.