Podcast Summary: "TOYS TODAY JUST AREN'T THE SAME"

Podcast: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
Date: January 30, 2026
Hosts: Kelly Stumpe & Lizz St. John

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kelly and Lizz reminisce about childhood toys, reflect on the challenges and joys of motherhood, and share candid opinions about how kids' playthings and experiences have changed over the years. They mix heartfelt, often funny stories about their families with practical life updates, pop culture commentary, car buying advice for moms, and their hit feature, “Last Three Transactions.” Their classic sisterly banter delivers both laughs and moments of real emotion as they navigate motherhood, nostalgia, and work-life balance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nostalgia for Childhood and Toys

• The episode is framed around the sense that “toys today just aren’t the same,” with both hosts waxing nostalgic about toys and activities from their youth.
• Sledding Stories (02:25–05:49): Kelly describes an adventurous day sledding at the farm and jokingly recounts her failed attempt to stand on a sled being pulled by a UTV:

  "I have so much... what's the word? Gangly. I shouldn't have the confidence that I do on this sled that's moving behind us." – Kelly (03:12)

• The Joy is in the Prep (11:42–12:58): The hosts realize that, as kids, the fun was less about actually camping out or “surviving” in the backyard, and more about preparing for it.
• Hospital Gift Shop Trips (13:08–14:09): They recall walking to the neighboring hospital’s gift shop to buy candy, marveling at how even the simplest adventures were formative.

2. Contemporary Kids & Play

• Kelly shares her kids’ obsession with camping and YouTube “comfort creator” Outdoor Boys (06:07–07:54)—and how her husband, Tyler, is a mastermind at upcycling “one man's trash” into new adventures for their kids (08:14–09:34).
• Mini-Clubhouse Creation (08:14–11:08): Tyler buys an old water tank off Facebook Marketplace and builds a clubhouse for the kids, setting the stage for an attempted night of camping that lasts only 22 minutes.
• Changing Toy Tastes (29:05–31:25): Kelly laments that her son George is outgrowing his beloved toy animals, remarking on how quickly childhood phases pass.

3. Media & Parent-Child Viewing

• Watching ‘The Parent Trap’ with Hattie (17:20–19:08): Kelly experiences both nostalgia and surprise as her daughter watches the classic movie for the first time, leading to tricky questions about divorce and separated twins.

  "It is really screwed up, like, to separate twins. Like, oh, we just… each took a daughter. Like, it's actually super screwed up." – Lizz (19:08)

• Discussion of Age-Appropriate Content (16:14–17:25): Both criticize how graphic and violent contemporary TV shows have become, longing for more thoughtful storytelling.

4. Motherhood: The Joys and the Bittersweet

• Repeatedly, both hosts express the paradox of parenting young kids:

  "It is crazy how this is the most joyful time of my life and also just the absolute hardest." – Lizz (00:17, repeated sentiment at 31:45, 33:46)

• The sisters talk about how hard yet precious these years are, and how family memories tend to filter into highlight reels over time (32:27–33:46).

5. Practical Life: Last Three Transactions

• The popular recurring segment, “Last Three Transactions,” gives listeners a peek into recent purchases—with practical (and sometimes sentimental) commentary:
  • Lululemon Align Leggings (22:44–25:08): Lizz justifies her pricey leggings as "the sisterhood of the traveling leggings," praising their unmatched comfort and versatility.

    "They're incredible. They are literally the sisterhood of the traveling leggings. Because, like, they have fit me throughout. I have been five different sizes in the last three years, and they have fit. They have been with me through it all." – Lizz (24:20)

  • Amazon Table and Facebook Marketplace Adventures (25:12–28:02): Kelly chases "very specific dimensions" and shares her Facebook Marketplace saga.
  • LEGO Motors for George (28:18–29:25): Kelly talks about buying “LEGO motors,” reflecting on supporting her child’s interests even outside birthdays (“He’s got me all jacked up about it.” – Kelly, 30:19).
  • Vintage Fisher Price Toy Hunt (35:44–38:54): Kelly describes her search for vintage toys online and wonders whether her kids will care as much about them as she does.

6. Secondhand Toys and Kid Gear Real Talk

• Honest critiques of the used toy/kid gear market:

  "People have the absolute audacity to be listing [play kitchens] on Facebook Marketplace for 100. I'm like, look, I want to buy secondhand…but I don't want your all drawn up, sticker covered kitchen for a hundred dollars." – Lizz (39:24)

  • They debate the merits of plastic “retro” kitchens vs. trendy wood ones (40:59–41:08).

7. Listener Q&A: Car Buying for Growing Families

(44:00–54:23)

• Kelly and Lizz answer two listener car buying questions, emphasizing that family vehicle solutions are not one-size-fits-all and offering hands-on, nonjudgmental advice:
  1. When to upgrade from a Subaru Ascent with three growing kids (44:00–48:21):

     "The Ascent is a very small midsize SUV…there are also a lot of cars—Ascent to Expedition—that could be worth exploring for you, like the Chevy Traverse, Honda Pilot, Volkswagen Atlas." – Kelly (47:06)

  2. First family car for a couple expecting their first (with long-term plans for 3 kids and towing needs) (48:53–53:53):

     "Sometimes we all need to slow down and ask ourselves…do we have to go buy like a new car to keep for 10 years right now? … It’s not always the smartest choice." – Kelly (53:07)

8. Industry News and Pop Culture (54:23–61:15)

• SUV Teaser: Toyota is teasing a mysterious, more “blocky” SUV, likely a redesign for the Highlander (54:32–55:52).
• Chrysler Pacifica News: A test Pacifica was spotted stuck in the snow (55:52–56:06).
• NFL Tangent: Kelly becomes a Patriots supporter after discovering their quarterback and his wife are a “regular, wholesome” couple (56:32–59:11).

9. Ditch the Drive-Thru: Family-Friendly Recipes (61:15–67:40)

• Southwest Meatloaf – Listener submission:
  • Ground turkey or beef, crushed tortilla chips, salsa, cheddar, egg, milk, salt/pepper—baked and served with rice, beans, and toppings (62:00–63:40).
• Honey Baked Ham for All Occasions – Kelly advocates buying a holiday ham for everyday use, for its versatility in sandwiches, soups, and breakfasts (64:02–66:23).

  "I'm just saying, if you want to, like, ditch the… I'm buying a honey baked ham next time we go to the lake." – Kelly (65:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On kids and changing play phases:

  "I just can't believe I'm not walking around with animal scenes set up all over my house anymore. I'm sick. I'm a physical." – Kelly (31:45)

• On letting go of ideal parenting:

  "You do not need a full explanation that makes perfect sense... Just saying ‘that's just the way it is.’ Make the chart the bad guy. They just don't need full context in the way that we do." – Lizz (21:04)

• On play kitchens and secondhand toys:

  "Once you add stickers to toys… the value goes down." – Kelly (39:49)

• On the bittersweet passage of time:

  "It is crazy how this is the most joyful time of my life and also just the absolute hardest. And I know it can't be this way, but there's a part of me that wishes you could have both." – Lizz (31:45; also at 00:17)

• On vintage Polly Pockets:

  "The old ones. The new ones are, like, not right, though. There's just something that... I'm telling you." – Kelly (43:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Farm Sledding/Camping Story: 02:25–11:08
• Childhood Toy Memories/Hospital Gift Shop: 12:58–14:09
• Comfort Creators/Outdoor Boys: 06:07–07:54
• Parenting Paradoxes: 31:45–34:28
• Media Critique & ‘Parent Trap’ Viewing: 17:20–19:50
• Last Three Transactions: 22:30–38:54
• Listener Car Q&A: 44:00–54:23
• Industry News & Pop Culture: 54:23–61:15
• Ditch the Drive-Thru (Recipes): 61:15–67:40

Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is unscripted, honest, and frequently infused with humor—a blend of heartfelt confessions, sisterly ribbing, nostalgia, and hands-on advice. Kelly and Lizz create a welcoming, relatable space for moms and nostalgic millennials alike, emphasizing that there’s no one right way to do motherhood, car buying, or even dinner prep.

Summary

This episode is a love letter to both childhood and the chaos of modern motherhood, offering comfort, practical tips, and riotous laughter. Listeners will come away feeling both seen in their daily struggles and inspired to cherish even the messy moments—and maybe, just maybe, to look for a vintage toy or two on Marketplace.