The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Episode: TALL GIRL TRAUMA
Date: October 22, 2025
Hosts: Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John

Episode Overview

This episode, titled “TALL GIRL TRAUMA,” dives into personal stories and witty banter around the challenges (and sometimes traumas) of growing up tall as women. Kelly and Lizz trade confessions, share memorable tall-girl anecdotes from their youth, and pivot to party recaps and practical mom hacks. The conversation remains light-hearted, real, and supportive, characteristic of their “sisters first, co-workers second” dynamic.

Key Discussion Points

1. Tall Girl Confessions & Childhood Trauma

Timestamps: 01:43–14:40

• Lizz opens up about feeling self-conscious growing up tall, contrasting the social fantasy of being petite and “effortlessly cute” like pop stars Sabrina Carpenter and Daniela from Dancing with the Stars.
  • Notable quote (07:24):
    Lizz: “People don’t realize this about me, but I don’t like being tall… If I could get a genie, I’d ask to be five-eight.”
• Kelly recounts being picked on for her height in elementary school, including a school incident where she was chosen to walk outside during a lightning storm "because lightning strikes the tallest" (11:01).
  • Notable quote (09:59):
    Kelly: “The one critique [the dean] had for me was that I was kind of… really tall and looming and intimidating. Like, what do you want me to do about that?”
• Both discuss the awkwardness of middle and high school events as tall girls—cotillion, partner dancing, and being “the giraffe” in the room.
  • Memorable moment (13:05):
    Kelly: “I grew seven inches in one year. Sounds impossible. Wasn’t.”

2. Embracing Height and Parenting Perspective

Timestamps: 14:09–14:40

• Lizz reflects on becoming the parent of tall daughters and the importance of modeling body confidence.
  • Notable exchange:
    Lizz: “I'm allowed to be self-conscious. We all have our things.”
    Kelly: “No, you’re not. You have to… you’re not allowed to. You're fine. You're beautiful.”
    (08:03–08:16)

3. Party Recaps & Skill-Sharing Ideas

Timestamps: 14:45–21:04

Kelly’s Sourdough Party Experience

• Details a sourdough-making party hosted by a friend, complete with live demonstrations, starter kits, and lots of socializing and skill-sharing.
  • Quote (16:04):
    Kelly: “She had every single step ready... She was keeping 18 starters alive for 10 days to give to us. It was such a labor of love.”
• Discussion about the value of skill-sharing parties and ideas for future gatherings (e.g., hair-braiding parties for moms and daughters).

Lizz’s Girls’ Fall Party & Kid Birthday Hacks

• Lizz recounts a fall-themed party with cocktails (caramel-rimmed sangria), crafts (pumpkin painting, Halloween coloring pages), and the social benefit of crafting while chatting.
• Shares her practical hacks from Hattie’s birthday party: Walmart cupcakes + Amazon toppers, face painter success, and the logistics of keeping party kids entertained.

4. Christmas Gift Giving—Keeping it Simple

Timestamps: 27:52–35:42

• Listener questions spark a debate on the best approach to holiday gifting with large families:
  • Advocating for “less is more”—focusing on grandparent and godparent gifts, or cousin Secret Santas to avoid clutter and overwhelm.
    • Lizz (30:39): “To me the worst part about it is how actually overwhelming it is for the child… you just don't need so much.”
  • Swapping toy overload for meaningful book exchanges among cousins.
• Kelly and Lizz also discuss buying gifts for their own kids, resisting overbuying, and spreading out surprises (e.g., secondhand toys on random days rather than all at Christmas).

5. Mom Hacks: Virtual Assistants & Delegation

Timestamps: 36:27–48:14

• Kelly shares her game-changing tip: using a virtual assistant (Matni) for both business and personal admin, from ordering birthday cupcakes to digitizing school photos.
  • Quote (39:01):
    Kelly: “As long as the cupcakes get there, then you win.”
• Emphasizes that outsourcing doesn’t make one any less of a “good mom.”
• Notes the accessibility and value of virtual assistants for working moms (“you'd be shocked how affordable and worth it a virtual assistant can be”).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On tall girl moments:
  Lizz: “And then I stand up, and they're like, she's a giraffe.” (04:23)
  Kelly: “My critique was I was too tall.” (10:20)
• On parenting tall kids:
  Lizz: “I will make them [her sons] seek the tall girl out. Say, you go ask the tall girl to dance right now.” (13:47)
• On organizing parties:
  Kelly: “It was inspiring and it was just a lot of fun.” (16:34)

Practical Mom Talk & Everyday Hacks

Party and Hosting Tips

• Skill-sharing gatherings are a hit: sourdough making, hair-braiding parties.
• For kids’ birthdays: use store-bought cupcakes and fun toppers (less mess, all the fun), bring in a professional face painter (ask if they have a blending sponge!).

Gift Giving

• Stick to a small number of thoughtful gifts; consider book exchanges or group Secret Santa among cousins to keep holidays special but not excessive.
• When kids get secondhand toy finds from Facebook Marketplace or resale shops—give them anytime, not just on holidays.

Delegation and Outsourcing

• Don’t hesitate to delegate admin tasks, party planning logistics, or even calendar management to a virtual assistant if possible.
• "Let go" of mom guilt about not enjoying (or being skilled at) every parenting/household task.

Fun Car/Automotive Updates

(Timestamps: 41:01–41:50, 48:26–50:26)

• Kelly announces the BMW vs. Mercedes GLS YouTube tour—sharing honest takes for the luxury family car shopper.
• Shares a “hit and run” story with the Honda Passport press car (“I just know the mean men on YouTube are going to say she was driving it, you know, women…”).

Dinner Recipe: Dish the Drive Thru (Crocktober)

Timestamps: 41:54–47:15

• The featured slow cooker recipe: Jamaican pork chops with rice (45:03)
• Discussion about dinner ruts and grocery shopping struggles—plus meal-prep hacks like packaging all meal ingredients together in the fridge.

Blake’s Besties: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness

Timestamps: 50:26–53:57

• Two listener submissions are read in honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
  • Jessica shares about multiple miscarriages and the gratitude/bittersweet joy of her “rainbow baby.”
  • Maggie commemorates two early losses, the twins that followed, and her practice of wearing a necklace with all her children’s initials—including “Shields” and “Psalms” for those lost.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “People don’t realize this about me. I don’t like being tall.” – Lizz (07:25)
• “The one critique she had for me was that I was… really tall and looming and intimidating.” – Kelly (09:59)
• “My critique was I was too tall.” – Kelly (10:20)
• “I grew seven inches in one year. Sounds impossible. Wasn’t.” – Kelly (13:05)
• “I'm allowed to be self-conscious. We all have our things.” – Lizz (08:04)
• “No, you're not. You have to… you're not allowed to. You're fine. You're beautiful.” – Kelly (08:11)
• “Let’s make them say that: ‘I want you to buy all my five kids each their own present.’” – Kelly (34:29)
• “As long as the cupcakes get there, then you win.” – Kelly (39:01)
• “I will make [my sons] seek the tall girl out.” – Lizz (13:47)

Final Thoughts

“Tall Girl Trauma” shines a light on the less-glamorous side of being statuesque, blending humor with genuine honesty and encouragement. As always, Kelly and Lizz’s mix of life hacks, sisterly support, and willingness to dig into both the practical and the emotional keeps their community coming back for more—from tall girl woes to innovative mom hacks and heartfelt listener stories.