THE OFFICE IS TOO OBVIOUS

Summary

The Carpool Podcast: "THE OFFICE IS TOO OBVIOUS"

Hosted by Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John
Episode Date: September 11, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Carpool brings classic Kelly and Lizz banter as the sisters discuss surviving the "second summer" in Missouri, embrace fall plans (while holding back on décor), brainstorm apple-themed cocktails for hot September days, and play their signature "model lineup" game—this time featuring their top comfort TV shows. Alongside lighthearted TV talk, they offer thoughtful, practical advice for moms navigating car-buying timelines and returning to work, and close with auto-industry news and a cozy dinner idea.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Midwest "False Fall" and Decorating Dilemma

• Missouri is in "second summer" with hot fall weather, frustrating fall décor plans.
• Kelly is holding off on fall decorating:
  "I am Mark. Safe from putting up my fall decorations. I'm waiting till October." [01:07]
• Lizz and Kelly express the temptation of fall crafts, football garlands, but joke about budget restrictions and creative ‘loopholes’ with online purchases.

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The September Apple Vibe

• The hosts lament the neglect of apples for fall flavor, emphasizing September is for apple, October is for pumpkin.
• Kelly raves about Olipop’s apple crisp soda and wonders why apple juice cocktails aren’t more common:
  "Why as adults have we stopped drinking apple juice? It's delicious. Why aren't there apple juice cocktails?" [04:48]
• Discussion leads to appletinis and hot cider vs. spiked hot chocolate, with playful disagreement between the sisters.

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Lizz’s Housing Situation & Surviving the 'In-Between'

• Lizz shares her ongoing struggle of not being in her own house:
  "I am drowning in survival mode of living not in my own space. And it's been almost three months, and I'm sick of it." [07:23]
• Kelly sympathizes, suggesting patience and finding small joys:
  "It's a good time to practice your patience, you know? Fall's not tomorrow." [08:01]

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Excitement for “Dancing with the Stars”

• Both are unusually excited about this season due to influencer participation and social media buzz.
• Kelly: "You need the influencers because they're the ones getting the views. They're the ones resurrecting this show." [09:36]
• They plan to do recaps and speculate who may win, noting the blend of dancing skill and fan base is crucial.

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Comfort TV Show “Model Lineup” [12:00-22:56]

Game Structure: Each picks four “comfort” TV shows they watch and rewatch.

Kelly’s Picks

1. Gossip Girl
2. Friends
3. How I Met Your Mother
4. Desperate Housewives

Lizz’s Picks

1. New Girl
2. Modern Family
3. Parks and Recreation
4. Grey’s Anatomy

Discussion Highlights:

• Kelly attempts to defend Gossip Girl as a repeat-watch, Lizz counters with “New Girl” as funnier and more re-watchable.
• Both strongly diss “Gilmore Girls” as overhyped:
  • Lizz: "I found them infuriating." [16:33]
  • Kelly: "It's objectively not a good show." [15:53]
• Honorable mentions include “The Office” (declared “too obvious” to pick), and “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” which Lizz is currently loving.
• Memorable moment:
  Kelly: "If you haven't watched Desperate Housewives, I'm envious of you because you get to experience it for the first time." [19:47]

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Car Advice Segment [23:30–28:04]

Question 1: How Long Can We Keep This Car?

• Listener has a 2017 Ford Explorer, wants to maximize its use with two young kids, future plans for more children.
• Kelly’s advice:
  • 2017 Explorer isn’t three-across friendly; third row use reduces trunk space.
  • Consider future family size: buy long-term car when family needs are clearer.
  • Suggests saving a "car payment" as a down payment fund in advance, establishing a financial goal and timeline.
  • "You could keep it as long as you want... but I would allow yourself enough time to get the car you want." [26:36]

Question 2: Tips for Mom Guilt When Returning to Work

• Listener in a male-dominated, childless workplace, feeling guilt about sending baby to daycare.
• Kelly:
  • “You have to learn to be comfortable with guilt.” [29:02]
  • Practical ways to cope:
    • Give yourself permission to feel guilt; it’s inevitable no matter your choice
    • Small gestures for your child (favorite snacks, special pajamas) alleviate guilt
    • Talk to your kids about your work, even at young ages
    • Reframe expectations—modern family life isn’t like the past, and that’s okay
    • “God put each one of us on Earth for this time for a reason. He designed you to be a mom in 2025, and he designed your children to be children in 2025.” [32:30]
  • Lizz: Traditions can start any time; every family phase is different.

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Auto Industry News [35:25-38:26]

• Edmunds Report: 1 in 4 vehicle trade-ins in Q2 2025 had negative equity ("upside down" loans); average negative equity ~$6,700.
• Kelly explains the financial risks of rolling over negative equity and cautions listeners:
  • "You’ve got to check...how much your car is worth and are you in the green?" [38:22]
  • Emphasizes importance of knowing your car loan status even if not planning to trade-in.

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Ditch the Drive-Thru: Ham and Bean Soup ("Soup-tember") [38:31–40:06]

• Kelly recommends ham and bean soup with cornbread for an easy, protein-packed meal.
• Homemade tips: go all-out with ham hocks and homemade broth, or simplify with diced ham and chicken stock.
  • "It's like everything about it is delicious. Look up a recipe." [39:08]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I am in my banner era. I would say, first of all, update from last episode: we're not Powerball winners, so I need to kind of reel in the banner budget for this year." – Kelly [02:37]
• "October is so pumpkin. Apple is so September." – Kelly [03:54]
• "I want to accumulate an apple vibe in a warmer climate. I want an iced apple cocktail." – Kelly [06:18]
• "The Office is too obvious." – Lizz [22:24]
• "If you haven't watched Desperate Housewives, I'm envious of you." – Kelly [19:47]
• "You have to learn to be comfortable with guilt...Welcome, now you're a mom, we always feel guilty." – Kelly [29:09]
• "God put each one of us on Earth for this time for a reason." – Kelly [32:30]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:38 – Missouri “second summer” & fall decorating chat
• 03:54 – Apple vs. pumpkin flavors and Olipop recommendation
• 06:28 – Iced apple cocktail brainstorm, Lizz’s housing struggles
• 09:07 – Dancing with the Stars discussion (why influencers matter)
• 12:00 – “Model Lineup” comfort TV show game
• 23:30 – Car advice: when to upgrade if planning a bigger family
• 28:40 – Mom guilt, working motherhood Q&A
• 35:25 – Auto news: upside-down car loans explained
• 38:31 – "Ditch the Drive Thru": ham and bean soup recipe

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Episode Takeaways

• Moms can (and should) enjoy brain breaks, comfort media, and find their own fall joy—even during hot September.
• There’s no “one right way” to decorate, parent, or plan for your family’s next car.
• Accepting mom guilt as part of the journey is essential.
• Know where you stand financially when it comes to car loans; negative equity is common and risky.
• Soup season is calling—try ham and bean soup to mix up your routine!

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For more relatable mom chat, practical advice, and upbeat car culture, subscribe to The Carpool Podcast with Kelly & Lizz!

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly. Here's what I want, but, like, the thing with September is, like, September is still hot. So, like, how do I accumulate an apple vibe in a warmer climate? I want an iced apple cocktail.

[B]

And Liz. But to be like, oh, I'm so obsessed with coffee. Like, I need coffee. And I'd be like, I always need coffee. Like, it's so. It's pick me. It's like, come on, girl. Like, have another personality trait.

[A]

Your mom time off starts now. Welcome back to the Carvel podcast with Kelly and Liz. And, boy, do we have a show for you.

[B]

Do we ever.

[A]

So we are here in Missouri, AKA Missouri. We're experiencing what us Midwesterners call false fall or second summer. We had false fall.

[B]

We had false fall. And now we're in second summer.

[A]

And now we're in second summer, which. Here's the thing. I've now been a Midwesterner for 32 years of my life, so I. I was ready for this. I was expecting this.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We had a delightfully long false fall, and now it's over. And now it's back up to 89. And one thing. I am Mark. Safe from putting up my fall decorations. I'm waiting till October.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And again, not to bring up football season. Like, again, I promise I'm done. But, like, it's so fun to have that to, like, distract me from wanting to go, like, fall decor crazy.

[B]

Did you see the. The football platter from Target that is in my. My dream Mackenzie Childs pattern.

[A]

Of course I saw it, Elizabeth. It's $9. Tell me you bought one. And you bought one for me, too.

[B]

But no, I. I didn't yet know football platter, but I'm not in my football era, but maybe I just need to be.

[A]

Well, you got to be prepared.

[B]

I know.

[A]

I also saw that people. Someone sent me a dm. They went to Michael's. I need to get to a craft store is what I need to do. Yeah, you know what I mean? Like, I need to get to a craft store. A proper. Not the craft section of Target. A proper craft store. Sure.

[B]

I think we can always benefit from a craft store, but what do you need from there?

[A]

They just had. They made their own football garland. They, like, found footballs, and then they strung them.

[B]

No, I mean this with a lot of love and respect. Are you sure you want to make one?

[A]

No.

[B]

That feels like something you hire.

[A]

No, you're not listening. It's like a kit.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

Okay. It's a kit.

[B]

Oh, it's A kit. I think you can handle a kit.

[A]

I think I can handle a kit.

[B]

Yeah. But is that the cutest football banner out there? I know. You're in your banner era.

[A]

I am in my banner era. I would say I need to. I would say, first of all, update from last episode. We're not Powerball winners, so I need to kind of reel in the banner budget for this year. Yeah.

[B]

You know what I'm saying? Yeah, totally. Like, that's not bad. The banner budget has been blown.

[A]

It's been blown for the year.

[B]

Did Tyler go through your expenses last month and be like, this is how much you spent on banners alone?

[A]

Well, they kind of had elusive names.

[B]

Yeah, for sure.

[A]

Like, Etsy's. Etsy. I was like, oh, it's clothes for the kids.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. He has no idea.

[A]

No. Yeah. And I also just think, like, PayPal has been, like, really good for, like, people because it's just like, it's a PayPal transaction. Like, that's just how it, like, you know?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Anyway, loopholes here nor there, but I have just, like, refrained from setting up from fall. I started following, and I don't know the name. Like, I don't know the person's name because I don't want to follow them because it doesn't. The content kind of pisses me off. But this girl is on TikTok and she's giving, like, week by week tasks to have the ultimate fall. And she's like, here's everything you're gonna do the week of September 6th through the 11th to maximize, like, your pre fall experience.

[B]

What? She's like.

[A]

And here's the thing, it's making me mad because, like, I can't. I can't relate to you. Like, I don't know, like, congrats, like, you're 22. Like, of course you can, like, do all of these things. I would like to see, like, a mom approach on it, but I think we're all just, like, doing things a little differently.

[B]

Well, also, I mean, who has the time to write out a. A week by a week?

[A]

Well, that's why she's like, I'm doing it for you. She's like, okay, I'm a. Which I don't really know what that means. She's like, I'm a Virgo. I'm an eldest daughter, and I love fall. Like, those are her credentials. It's like, okay.

[B]

Well, sounds like. Okay, sounds great.

[A]

Anyway, things I am enjoying, though, about pre fall is again, it's like, let's not forget about the apple of September. Like, October is so pumpkin. Apple is so September. And you know who's really served us? Olipop, because they have an apple crisp soda. Have you tried it?

[B]

No, I have not.

[A]

It's delicious. It's basically apple juice, but in an adult way. Why, as adults, have we stopped drinking apple juice? It's delicious. Why aren't there apple juice cocktails? There's cranberry juice cocktails. There's grapefruit juice cocktails. Where are the apple juice cocktails?

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

It's just interesting. Where's the apple martini?

[B]

Apple. It's appletini, but.

[A]

And where is it?

[B]

No one's ordering it. I don't know. You only ever see it in movies. I've actually never. I don't think I've ever seen it on a menu. But isn't that the green one?

[A]

Well, apple juice is orangish, so I don't know.

[B]

Appletini is green. An apple martini is a cocktail containing vodka and one or more of apple juice, apple cider, apple liqueur, or apple brandy. They're lime green apple juice cocktails.

[A]

Okay, so they are around. This girl says it's my favorite cocktail ever.

[B]

Well, you know what I like to make is heat up.

[A]

This looks delicious.

[B]

Heat up some apple cider on the stove and add fireball or something like that to it. That's a great fall drink.

[A]

I don't. So I don't now. I don't do a hot apple cider. It's not for me.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

I don't do. And I don't do it boozy either. Now a spiked hot chocolate. You've caught my attention.

[B]

No.

[A]

Doesn't do it for you. You're wrong for that.

[B]

Well, I think you're wrong for not liking the spike double cider. And I don't. Maybe we're both right and both wrong in our own ways.

[A]

Here's what I want. But, like, the thing with September is, like, September is still hot. So, like, how do I accumulate an apple vibe in a warmer climate? I want an iced apple cocktail.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Something to. Something I plan on maybe doing this week. I think also the kids would love if I bought apple juice. Like, it's something for the kids, something for me.

[B]

Mm, totally.

[A]

Maybe I'll try to do that. But anyway, so excited for.

[B]

Fall. Dude, I want to be excited. I want to get excited for decorating. I just cannot see a lot. Like, I cannot see me moving back into my house. I know it's going to happen, but still, so much has to be done. We're kind of in this waiting period that I'm like, I assume like, yeah, Halloween, I'll be at my house. But I cannot even fathom that. I can't picture being back here. I am not to just like go totally like bare my entire life. But I am drowning in not being at my house. Like, I am drowning in survival mode of living not in my own space. And it's been three months, almost three months, and I'm sick of it. And I want to be in my house and I want to be thinking about appletinis, and I want to be thinking about decorating and I want to be tempted to put a decoration up, but I'm not even tempted. I walk by the Target section, the Halloween, the. The fall section. I'm not even tempted because where am I going to put it? My house is in shambles. I'm living in my parents basement.

[A]

Well, I'm not.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

You're not okay. I feel like an appletini could fix that.

[B]

Maybe. And maybe. Maybe I'm just an appletini away from like being okay because like it's. I don't really drink anymore. Maybe that's the problem.

[A]

Well, and the thing is though, it's just like, I think all like transitional months. It's just. They just. You just have to. It's a good time to practice your patience, you know? Like, fall's not tomorrow. It actually doesn't start till the 22nd of September. So like, take a beat, enjoy. Like. And believe it or not, we are gonna wish these days back. We are gonna wish these days back come February.

[B]

Yeah, but then I'll be ready to wish him back. It's all the cycle. It is the cycle of life, of living in the mid west.

[A]

Well, anyway.

[B]

Anyway. You know what I am excited about?

[A]

What?

[B]

Dancing with the stars.

[A]

Edge of my seat.

[B]

Grayson. Okay, so listen. I'm living on home. I'm living with Grayson, and Grayson and I are gonna watch together. Not to make you jealous, Kelly, but I'm so excited to have something to look forward to. I love a competition. I. I can't dance and I can't fully appreciate the art of dance, but I'm so excited to. I love watching dance videos. I love it.

[A]

So first of all, I think we're all watching Dancing with the Stars this year.

[B]

I think we all are. Yeah.

[A]

And here's what Dances with the Stars like the way I don't think you could get me to watch the Voice, American Idol, any of those show masked singer. I Don't think you could pay me money to watch those shows. I am sat for Dancing with the Stars. I'm with you. I like the razzle, first of all, the razzle dazzle, the costumes, the sets, it's all amazing. The storytelling and they do a great job. It's like you need the influencers because they're the ones getting the views. They're the ones making the content. They're the one resurrecting this show.

[B]

They are the ones resurrecting the show. And I remember last season, I did not watch it in the formal sense, but because there were people that I liked, like that Alona girl, the rugby player. After, after I knew the show came out, I would then go and YouTube everyone's dances and I didn't even know of anyone, but I was just excited because she was posting about it on social media and now the Mormon wives are posting about it and Erwin Robert Irwin is posting about it. And I am just so excited about it. And this will be my first season ever watching Dancing with the Stars and I can't wait. And honestly, everyone should just watch it. Who's listening to this podcast? Because I'm. I think we should do recaps. Like, I think we should talk about it.

[A]

I think we should totally do recaps. Might be a little hard, though, because I think it comes out on Tuesdays and we record on Mondays, so.

[B]

Okay, that's gonna be difficult. Yeah, for sure.

[A]

It's giving irrelevance, but we'll try. Maybe we can. Maybe we can work around that prediction, though. Who do you think's going to win?

[B]

Well, Whitney is a dancer. And she is not only a dancer, she is entertaining to watch. She's got the. I don't know what it is. She's got the face, she's got the moves. Like, I enjoy. I don't really. I enjoy watching her dance. I enjoy her tiktoks where she. Or her reels or whatever where she dances. I like watching her dance. I'm of course polling for Robert Irwin because he's just sweetheart. Well.

[A]

And Bindi won.

[B]

And Bindi won her season.

[A]

And Bindi won her season. And see, what's interesting about it is it's the combination of being a good dancer and you have to have a fan base because the fans vote.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I don't know, I feel like maybe I'll be able to say after the first go round, yeah, we need.

[B]

To see how everyone's going to do.

[A]

But, yeah, I can't.

[B]

And there's some people who I don't know. And I'm excited to get to know them. I'm excited to get to know Zac Efron's brother.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

So.

[A]

Well, speaking of TV shows, we thought we would do a model lineup because if we are going into fall, which, you know, for some 22 year olds on TikTok, that means, like, being able. Having the time to, like, watch tv, watch comfort shows. For us moms, we who get to watch shows approximately 15 minutes a night every night. We thought we would do our favorite comfort shows, though.

[B]

Yes. The model lineup is where Kelly and I both pick four things in the category and then you can vote who had the better lineup or we'll just discuss who who had the better set of four, who had the better lineup.

[A]

So. And we can't repeat. So, like, we're going to go popcorn style.

[B]

Can't repeat.

[A]

Boom, boom, boom.

[B]

Comfort shows you can watch again and all the seasons.

[A]

Okay. I'm feeling, like, so good about mine, and I think we're not gonna have as much crossover as you think. Okay. And I'm gonna start off so strong with Gossip Girl.

[B]

Okay. Okay.

[A]

Gossip Girl is such a comfort show, such a repeater.

[B]

I only watched Gossip Girl once. I tried restarting it and I couldn't make it through the first season. I don't know. It kind of fell off.

[A]

Really. See that you're. That you're wrong for that. That's not. That's. That's. That's not the more common take. The common take is that it's a show you watch over and over again.

[B]

Okay, well, a show that I think people actually watch over and over again because it actually never gets old is New Girl. You can watch New Girl and relapse at things that you didn't even pick up on on the first time. New Girl is a flawless show. Can't be touched. The characters are amazing. I mean, it's probably my favorite show.

[A]

It is such a good show. It's flawless. Hysterical. What's it on right now? Honestly, like, you might win with that one. I forgot about. I honestly forgot about that show. I'm so happy you reminded me. Okay. So many directions. Do you go, I'm gonna throw friends out there. I like friends. I need. I wish I put it back on Netflix so I could watch it more. I didn't watch Friends until college for the first time because, remember, we were only allowed to watch Disney Channel until we were so. But it's such a good show.

[B]

You see, that's another one that I watched once and I never rewatched. I never rewatched it.

[A]

Did you. Have you tried?

[B]

I guess I haven't tried, but I didn't love. I was not obsessed with the first time through.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I think there are funnier shows out there, and I think that Friends was, like, very. Friends was, like, very controversial for its time, wasn't it? Was. Yeah, it was. I'm not sure it definitely was for the time that it came out, but I just think, like, in comparison to what else is out there, I just think that there are funnier things. I think there's more interesting storylines. I'm just. I'm not a Friends person and that's. That might be very controversial for me to say. Wow, okay. Another show that I think the characters are Unlike any other 10 out of 10. Can't be touched. Also just makes you die laughing. Is Modern Family. That is such a good show.

[A]

Why are you doing so good at this? I forgot about that show.

[B]

Modern Family is one of my favorite shows. It is so good. What I like about Modern, there's so many characters with so many storylines going on.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Modern Family. Elizabeth, you're kicking my butt at this point. Here's what's. Here's what we're not going to say is Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls. It's not a good show. It's objectively not. It's objectively not a good show. And I think if you watched it as a 14 year old in the 90s or in the early 2000, I don't even know when it came out. If you were, like, watched it the first time through, I could see how you find comfort in it. But, like, if you. If you ever wonder what you're missing, the answer is you're missing nothing. It's the most frustrating show. It's not. Here's the problem. It's not funny. And it's too slow to be anything else. Like, if you're gonna be slow, at least be funny. Nothing happens.

[B]

Yeah. And I. I can't. I. I have only watched a few episodes because I couldn't get into it, but I found. Is her name Lorelei?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I found her so frustrating. And again, maybe at the time it was like very new. But to be like, oh, I'm so obsessed with coffee. Like, I need coffee in it. I'd be like, I always need coffee. Like, it's so. It's pick me. It's like, come on, girl. Like, have another personality trait. And again, I am. You can slander me. I deserve to be slandered for that because I've only watched a few episodes, but I found them infuriating.

[A]

I have given it the college try with. When I was postpartum with Libby, I was giving it the college try, and I was just really try. I was. And I was. I was looking for something just easy to throw on. Nothing happens. All the characters are infuriating. It's just like. And, like, Laura, like, doesn't have relationship with her parents. With her parents, and it's just like, everything. I think her parents are actually pretty awesome. Sorry.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Like, I'm actually on.

[A]

Sorry. I'm on Team Parent. Like, I actually think they. I think that Lorelai makes horrible decisions, and she should listen to her parents because they seem. They're obviously pretty well off.

[B]

Yeah, they've got it figured out. Okay, so that's not what you're gonna say, but what are you going to say?

[A]

Well, I feel like I'm not gonna win because I'm not as popular, but I'm gonna stay true to myself.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And How I Met yout Mother.

[B]

Yeah, I think you're gonna say that.

[A]

One of my favorite shows. But I agree with you. It's not. I could see how. How I Met yout Mother is like Gilmore Girls to some people. I think it's funnier to start. It does have the worst ending in television history. It's possibly worse than Game of Thrones. And that's saying a lot. That's saying a lot. But it's a fun journey to go on. I like the characters. I like Neil Patrick Harris. Is that his name? I think he's funny.

[B]

No, the characters are good. There are some infuriating aspects of the characters. But, yeah, I think High Met yout Mother is a great show. Okay. A show that I love. I think it's so funny. The comforters are the funny ones for me. I like to revisit and be like, oh, I didn't pick up on that the first time. I'm going to go Parks and Rec. That is such a good one, too.

[A]

I thought you were going to say the Office.

[B]

No, and Office is on my list. And I have rewatched the Office multiple times. It's just been so long since I've rewatched it that that feels like such the obvious answer. So I'm trying to think of something.

[A]

You just gave three.

[B]

I'm.

[A]

I'm going to restart. I don't think I've ever rewatched Parks and Reckless.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. You were in for a treat.

[A]

Parks and Rec. I love the workplace, love the characters you're so good at. I'm like so mad that I'm doing so poorly. You're not.

[B]

They're just different.

[A]

Well, I'm gonna do one.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Can I say my last one?

[B]

Huh?

[A]

And like any chance I get to talk about this show and I have not had the privilege yet of re watching it. I'm waiting for time. You know what I'm gonna say? Yeah, I'm waiting. I'm waiting for time to pass. And like, I'm not trying to wish my life away except for this one aspect. I would love to wish five years away so then I could sit down.

[B]

And rewatch the show Desperate Housewives.

[A]

And that is Desperate Housewives. It is the best show on television. It's the best show on television. It's the best show ever written. And it's cinematic. Complete genius. First of all, the characters are amazing. It's drama, it's funny. It's rich women, which is like my favorite genre. Like when a rich woman. Not even rich, some of them are rich.

[B]

It's suburb. It's just kind of suburbia.

[A]

It's so suburbia, but it's so juicy. There's every single thing in a show I love about it. And like, if you haven't watched it, I like if you haven't watched these other shows, like, I'm excited for you. If you haven't watched esper Housewives, I'm envious of you. I'm envious of you because you get to experience it for the first time.

[B]

So I still haven't finished it.

[A]

That's insane.

[B]

And let me tell you why. I was loving it. Loving it. I'm on probably season six or seven. There's eight seasons. And then just moving back to my parents house. I don't have a TV in the room that I'm staying in, so I used to watch it before bed, after I would lay in bed. And I don't do that anymore. But everyone's been talking about the summer I turned pretty and.

[A]

Yeah, did you start it?

[B]

So I had watched season one and two. I'm a Summer I Turned Pretty fan, but I haven't started season three. So I turned it on one day when I was like nap trapped. And now I'm finding myself looking for opportunities to watch tv. So when I'm rocking kids for sleep, I have it on my phone. Like, that is cinematic genius. The Summer I turned pretty is so good. It's so good that it has me like putting Desperate Housewives on pause.

[A]

I've never seen it.

[B]

Did you watch it?

[A]

I've never watched it.

[B]

Kelly, now I'm envious of you. It is so good. I have watched it.

[A]

You need to watch it. I might. I might. I'm okay with waiting till it's just done, though, you know?

[B]

Yeah. And I would recommend that because I have, like, one more season or I have one more episode left. And then you're caught up. Then I'm caught up. So I'll be back to Housewives. But anyway, that's not gonna be my comfort show. My last one is. I'm taking a different route. I've gone. I've gone humor the entire way. I'm gonna go drama series, and that's gonna be Grey's Anatomy.

[A]

Yeah, I've never seen that either.

[B]

Excellent. You have a lot of shows you could watch, Kelly.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Grey's Anatomy is excellent. There's twists, there's turns, there's drama.

[A]

Love.

[B]

Like a medical drama. There's love. Excellent. So Kelly's model lineup for comfort shows is Gossip Girl, Friends, How I Met yout Mother, and Desperate Housewives. And mine is New Girl, Modern Family, Parks and Rec, and Grey's Anatomy.

[A]

So it's kind of. You kind of beat me, I think.

[B]

But that's different. They're different. I prefer mine over yours, but that's. That's just me. I. I think we should. I think we should vote on the carpool Instagram. So I'll put up a poll.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I'm trying to think, like, if I want to swap out the Office for one of my other shows since, like, you didn't claim it, but I think I'm just gonna lock in.

[B]

Lock in.

[A]

Friends and How I Met your Mother just are very similar in their vibe.

[B]

Well, the Office was. Is too obvious. Okay, Totally. So the Office is too obvious.

[A]

And I think I have overwatched it too many times. Rewatched it too many times. I am. I think my biggest takeaway this is. I'm going to rewatch Parks and Rec. And I think everyone listening's biggest takeaway from this is if you have not starred Desperate Housewives. It needs to be done today. Here's the thing about it. You'll get hooked from the first episode. The first episode hooks you.

[B]

Yeah, it's very good.

[A]

But the summer.

[B]

But the summer turned pretty, though.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

It's so good. Watch it anyway. That was a fun game. Okay. Moving right along to a segment we have not done in so long because we just have not been on our Regular schedule. We have some advice questions so if you want to get your own advice you can write into hello, the carmomofficial.com.

[A]

And it can be car related. It can be like you know, things to pass on to your children related like whatever you need.

[B]

Like a family drama. If you want to like spill the tea. Like we're happy to weigh in.

[A]

Whatever you need from us.

[B]

Whatever you need from us. Okay. How long can we keep this car? Hey Kelly and Liz, I feel like this question aligns a lot with what you've been talking about with delaying new slash used car purchases. I have a 17 Ford Explorer with a bench 128000 miles. It's paid off and we have two kids. Two year old rear rear facing and a six month old still in an infancy. They are both tall. We'll probably grow out of it to put he'll grow to the infant seat by eight months. My husband is complaining about the space and that we that we need a new vehicle. As much as I would love an expedition, I do want to maximize this vehicle as much as possible and love not having a car payment. We're not planning to be pregnant for a few years but would love to add at least a couple more kids in the next six to seven years. Realistically, how long do you think we can start this vehicle until kid 3 longer. Would love your insight. Our current car seats in my vehicles are the Graco Slim Fit 3LX and a Nuna Pipa Light RX infancy.

[A]

How old is the oldest?

[B]

Two. But he's a tall two year old so he'll be.

[A]

So it's two a baby and they're gonna have another baby eventually.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So. So interesting. A 17 Ford Explorer historically is not very three across friendly. They got a lot better when they redid it. I think in 2020 they got a lot better. So I do think that's going to be a little difficult. So I but I think I would. So then you know, you could talk about like using the third row but I feel like then you're gonna lose the trunk space. So I mean there's so many ways that you could like skin this cat. Oh, that's a horrible saying.

[B]

Yeah, I hate that.

[A]

What's a better saying?

[B]

Break this down.

[A]

I don't think but skin the cat means like different ways you could do it. Like what's a better way to say skin the cat. Oh my gosh.

[B]

Skin the cat alternative.

[A]

But haven't you heard that or is that one of those sayings you've never.

[B]

Heard all roads lead to Rome. There are different ways to slice a cake.

[A]

There are different. Thank you, Elizabeth. So anyway, there's a lot of different ways to slice this cake. Not having a car, it's awesome. I would say you could probably stretch it. I think the other thing, like you kind of do it whenever because if your husband's feeling tight and like, you know you're going to want to have a third. Like there's something to be said about like, okay, so you kind of have a good idea of what your family's gonna look like. You've already got the two, you're gonna have the three. Like you, it's not a bad idea to maybe like buy your long term car now because you know what your family's gonna look like. Like, I feel like a level of that advice I give to people who maybe don't exactly know what their family's going to look like. But also you don't have a car payment. So I also understand like, you know, you could take the money you'd be spending on a car payment and put it towards a down payment. And so I would probably give you the advice, like, as your friend, is, you know, figure out what you want. Like, you know, like let's say, you know, you know, you want an expedition. I think this will be a good way for you to do it. Okay, I want an expedition. Let's say that's going to be whatever it's going to be $65,000. You're like, I would like to feel, I would like my payment to be around X. So I want to save up this down payment to be able to do that. And you just kind of set that. I think that will give you a better timeline. And then you could just start saying, okay, I'm just going to start taking that. What I would be on a car payment. I'm going to save it for the down payment of the expedition and then know that like you'll have, you know, you'll have your Ford Explorer trade in plus the down payments. Like let's say you want to get to $15,000 with trade in plus down payment. I just think that would kind of give you a goal to work towards. But I mean, the answer is you could keep it till as long as you want. I mean, it could technically fit three kids. It could for sure fit three kids. It could fit four kids. So it's just more a matter of like when you want to do it. I would allow yourself enough time to get the car that you want. So I wouldn't delay the purchase so much where you know, if it's, if it's truly on its last leg and then you're gonna have to be at the mercy of whatever's available and not the actual expedition that you want. So I would give yourself like at least a six month buffer on when you want to get out of it. But I think giving yourself like a monetary goal would make you, would, would feel like you're working towards something, like you're taking that first step, might give you some more contentment with your current car because you're like, well, we're saving the money to get the down payment.

[B]

Yeah. I think that's like also might kind of get you used to when you do have a payment again on your.

[A]

Car, here's what a car payment, here's what a car payment feels like. And maybe you'll be like, wow, that feels not fun. I'm going to keep it.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Or I'm going to pivot or I'm going to buy a lower priced car. I think that would be a really good exercise. I think this is really solid advice.

[B]

I think it's a good place to start.

[A]

Okay, that was really good.

[B]

That was really good. Okay, let's see if you can do it again on this one. Back to work advice, first time mom. Hey, Kelly and Liz. I've been a carpool listener for a few years and loving the pod as a first time mom to our sweet girl. I go back to work Labor Day and would love advice. I don't love my job, but with our current financial situation, I need to work. I work in a male dominated industry and no one on my team has children. My job is flexible, fully remote and I'll have my daughter in daycare starting in November. Any tips you have for mom guilt, especially with a job you don't love and work family balance, I would truly appreciate.

[A]

Well, first of all, you know how I feel about mom guilt. Yeah, there's a lot of ways to slice a cake. There's a lot of ways to feel. There's a lot of ways to feel guilty as a mom. And I don't think that guilt should ever be one of your deciding factors when making a change or even in how you feel. Because you have to learn to be comfortable with guilt. Because if you quit your job, pull your daughter from daycare, you will feel guilty. Yeah, if you keep your daughter in daycare, you'll feel guilty. If you find a job that you love and then send your daughter to daycare you'll feel guilty. So, like, get used to the guilt that just like, that's welcome. Now you're a mom, we always feel guilty. Super fine.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Super fun.

[B]

Stinks. Yeah.

[A]

But I do feel like no matter what the reason you're feeling guilty, I do think there's things that you can do to kind of have some mindset shifts to just make the guilt to leave room for the guilt. And I think those are going to look different for a lot of people. And I think that, like, the way I've always handled mom guilt and like, to some people, it may seem like a band aid or may seem silly, but it's always helped me. And ultimately, I think what helps, anything that helps is fine. And what I mean by that is it's like when I'm feeling guilty. If I'm feeling guilty from working, of course, I can give you the basic answer of make time. Make special one on one time. Put your phone on. Sure you do that. I also find it helpful to buy something for my kid or I find it helpful to talk to my kids about my work. So I say buy something for my kid. Not that, like, I spoil my kids with toys, but, like, there's something that makes me feel better as a mom. And it's not even toys necessarily, but, like, you know, me and Tyler make these sacrifices. Me and Tyler work, so we buy organic blueberries, or I buy, like the nice jammies, or I pick them up something at the dollar store on my way home. And again, I'm not saying, like, that's.

[B]

Is it the right thing to do? I don't know. Is it a tangible takeaway that sometimes alleviates mom guilt? Yeah. Is it a band aid?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, it's all of those things. And that's fine. I also find it very helpful. I know your daughter is young, but I find it very helpful to talk to my kids about my work and about what I'm doing. And I think it in a way, prepares them for what's to come. And I treat my job very seriously. I've also kind of had to recently refer to my job as I have a boss, even though I'm technically my own boss. Because it's just been easier for my kids to conceptualize. So I'd be like, sorry, my boss called. I have to work today. And it helps. I know that sounds crazy, but, like, it helps my kids understand it because they were like, why do we have to go? Like, why do I have to go to school today? Or why are you on your phone right now it's like, well, I'm working right now. I have to work right now. But I was able to pick you up from school today. But now I have to work. So that. And things do get easier with time, for sure. I mean, I definitely think the hardest kids to leave are babies because, yeah, it sucks to leave a baby because there, in a way, there is no benefit outside of, like, that's what it costs to be a mom these days, unfortunately, when you have older kids and, like, they're getting, like, the social aspect, the educational aspect, like, the fun aspect. Like, my kids have way more fun in daycare than they would at home with me. Like, I'm just not as. I'm just not as creative in that aspect. So it does get. It does get easier.

[B]

I do find babies are actually sometimes easier. Like, I think that. That, like, 1 year old to 18 month old is, like, kind of the hardest to leave.

[A]

I disagree. I think a baby's the hardest to leave.

[B]

Oh, right. I'm like, I feel like anyone can give him a bottle and put him down for a nap, and they don't really notice. Well, I mean, I'm sure that they notice, but they don't. You know, maybe mine was just so. James was just so hard to leave.

[A]

I also just think we need to. I don't know why. I think, as a society, this is so profound. This is. Take notes, Elizabeth.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I don't know why as a society, we, like, hang on to these, like, previous versions of parenthood and motherhood so much. And, like, I'll give you the really granular example of, like, sitting down as a family to eat dinner every night. Why, like, that probably, like, that was what popularized, like, the 1950s, 1960s, like, where they were, like. I just don't think, like, that's the pinnacle of, like, your family being close. And we, like, put these, like, weird. We're, like, holding on to, like, these generations and these things that worked in one period of time that don't work now. Life is different now. And I feel like instead of feeling like a failure because we're not doing that, like, we were created like, God put us. God put each one of us on Earth for this time for a reason. Like, he designed you to be a mom in 2025, and he designed your children to be children in 2025. So, like, I take a lot of comfort in that, too. Like, yeah, we don't sit down and eat because that's not our reality right now, but it has not nothing to do with our family's. Closeness. Like I just think sometimes we put these like weird like well if I could do that it'd feel better.

[B]

Would it?

[A]

Like I mean, because that's just not the way the world works. Like now kids do parents work, kids do after school activities. Like people eat when they're hungry. Like I don't know.

[B]

I also think with like that example too, I think that there will be a phase in your family's life where you and your kids all sit down at 6:30 and have a dinner together. Your kids are just going to be older. It doesn't make sense right now. Yeah, and it's kind of like the tradition thing. Like oh, if you didn't do something on their first birthday, you can't ever start a tradition on their fifth birthday. Like you can start doing things differently at any point in every phase of your life and your motherhood is going to look different and you just don't have to feel so like pressured to get it all right. This, at this exact phase. Like you have to do what works for you right now. And that's kind of not what the question is about. And I totally feel you on the mom guilt like sucks, it's a terror, it's a bad feeling. But you just have to like recognize the feeling and know that it is, that it is normal. And like you are sacrificing and you are doing something for your family because you have to. And at the end of the day sometimes we just have to do things don't want to do because it's the right thing to do for our family. And so to answer the advice question, best of luck, you've got this. You can do hard things. You can do things that you never thought you could do or never want to do because you are strong and you can do it and you will get through it and it's going to be hard. And I cried a lot when I dropped my kids off at daycare and that's normal too. So same anyway.

[A]

Okay, well, you ready for industry news?

[B]

Let's get into industry news where we share the hot tea going on in the auto industry.

[A]

Well this is kind of a fitting story for if we think about our last advice question about trading in a car. Now your car's paid off, but guess what? A lot of people's aren't. In fact, According to Edmunds, one in four trade ins had negative equity in Q2 of 2025. Wow. The average amount owed on an upside down auto loans remains historically high at 6700. Edmunds analyst report says so TLDR, if you owe more than your car than it's worth, that's called being upside down or underwater. It's not where you want to be. The problem with these cars is they're depreciating assets. The other problem with these cars is that these auto lenders are doing anything and everything to lower your payment. When you have a low payment on an expensive car, you pay off very little of the car, which means you get out of equity very easily. So for example, if you go and you buy a brand new car and they say, hey, we'll defer your payment for 90 days and you can finance this thing for 84 months and you don't have to put anything down. All you're doing is setting yourself up for failure to be upside down just because you have a lower payment. And it's not always a bad idea. It's truthfully not always a bad idea. Because if it is a low APR rate and you know you're going to keep this car for forever and you have gap insurance, sure. But you have to be really honest with yourself that all of those things are true. Because if you're not 1000% sure, this could be like your 10 year car. Like if surprise twins would throw a wrench and everything, then you could be in a bad position like this where now you owe more on your car than it's worth. And it's very hard to get out of loans like this. And in some cases it's impossible because basically like if you, and here's why it's impossible because this confuses people. So like if you owe $5,000 more than your car is worth and you go to try to buy a new car, well, the $5,000, you have to pay the $5,000. So what they can do, what they can try to do is take that $5,000 and add it to your new car loan. So like let's say you're looking at a $30,000 car. Well, you're going to add the $5,000 of negative equity on and now you're financing $35,000. Right. But the problem is depending on the car, depending on the bank, sometimes they're going to be like, well that car's not worth $35,000. Like we're not going to do that. That. So I mean, $5,000 isn't a ton of money. So like you'd probably be okay. But if you had like $10,000 out of equity, even if it's 0% finance, it doesn't even matter, you're still in a bad spot because you can't. It's called loan to value rate. Like you can't finance Invisible, invisible worth. Like it's worth what it's worth.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you know, new cars, they can kind of fudge the numbers a little bit because new cars have rebates and like you know, they could say oh yeah, well you know, we'll add, we'll own 110 of the value. But also say is you've got to check. I think it's important for everyone to know where they're at on their car loan. Whether you're interested in trading that or not, how much you own your car, how much your car is worth and are you in the green? And that's my advice for today.

[B]

Okay. I love it. Is that all your industry news?

[A]

That is all my industry news.

[B]

Okay, that's fine. Let's move on to ditch the drive thru where we give you an easy dinner set recipe to mix it up to get you out of your dinner rut.

[A]

And boy do I have one. Oh well, it's soup. Timber.

[B]

It's soup. Timber.

[A]

And one of my favorite soups is ham and bean soup with cornbread. With cornbread on the side. Ham and bean soup is so delicious. Have you ever had it?

[B]

I don't think so. So something. It sounds good. I think I would like it.

[A]

Yeah, my mother in law makes it for me and then like I've started making it and it is, it's so like it gives potato soup but it's not as heavy. It's very protein based. It's like. Okay, it just, it's like everything about it is delicious. Look up a recipe. I can, I can find the one that I like. It's a 10 out of 10 situation.

[B]

How hard is it to make?

[A]

Well it depends how it's. See with soups it's how much you want to try because like sometimes like when my mother in law makes it it she gets like ham hocks and like she like makes her own broth with it. Sometimes I just keep up so obviously.

[B]

I'm not gonna do that.

[A]

Yeah. So sometimes you just like can't queue up some ham and add some chicken stock and see if that juice.

[B]

Okay. Okay. I have ham.

[A]

Yeah, no, it's a good thing to do with ham.

[B]

I have a lot of ham. Do you want some Kelly or do you have some.

[A]

I'm pretty ham heavy. Okay, so why don't you make some soup?

[B]

Yeah, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll try. Try my hand at soup. Timber.

[A]

And that's my dish. The drive.

[B]

Okay, well, thank you guys so much for listening to the Carpool Podcast, and we will talk to you next time.

[A]

See ya. Thank you for listening to the Carpool Podcast with Kelly and Liz. 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 the car for everyone.