Is your micro-hobby listening to the podcast? Lizz is looking for a new one and really wants to stick to it this time. She's looking into spider plants and paint by numbers. Which one will she embrace? Kelly has plenty of micro-hobbies and right now she is concentrating on the family Christmas photo tradition.  After a little Kelly and Lizz chat, it's time to get into a fascinating chat with Jessica Jermakian from the IIHS. They recently released their list of cars perfect for the first-time driver in your family. She'll talk about what to look for in a teenager's first car, key safety features and how to prepare your kids to hit the road. Plus, Jessica shares a unique Ditch the Drive-Thru that has us inspired!

It feels like it’s been forever since it was just Kelly and Lizz and they have SO much to talk about… and not talk about. While Lizz has been solo parenting for two weeks (an experience that has changed her as a person), Kelly has been prepping for her birthday. Did you know that making the perfect potato salad could cause a lot of stress and discussion? A lot of tangible takeaways here from Kelly’s potato salad trauma. In the end it all turned out to be the perfect evening, including some lovely gifts from her family. This leads right into a tangible takeaway from Lizz on how to start the perfect gift tradition.  The potato salad stress might have been a bit exaggerated by a MASSIVE interview for the Car Mom. Kelly and Lizz traveled to Detroit to chat with GM CEO Mary Barra. They gave a little preview of the interview as well as talked about the friends they did not make in the car seat lab.  Another massive milestone happened in the Stumpe household as George headed off to school for the very first time. Kelly is so ready to be in her “mom of school kids” era and already planning her truck-or-treat decorations. Speaking of family time, Kelly is ready to introduce her kids to “Shark Boy and Lava Girl” in hopes that they will want to dress as them for Halloween. Is “Spy Kids” next? Both movies go perfect with a Ditch the Drive-Thru favorite: pulled pork bbq nachos!

This week on the Carpool Podcast it's half solo pod with Lizz and half interview with both ladies! First, Lizz discusses the use of ChatGPT in parenting, sharing practical ways it can assist with tasks like creating packing lists, bedtime stories, daily schedules, meal planning, and rainy day activities. She emphasizes the tool's ability to learn and tailor responses based on user input, making it a valuable resource for busy parents. Then, Side Hustle Summer continues as Kelly and Lizz speak with KL Shaw, founder of The Salary Bump, who offers insights into career transitions, networking, and salary negotiations. KL highlights the importance of knowing one's worth and preparing effectively for interviews, while also discussing the value of networking in job hunting.  Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Clean Simple Eats⁠⁠. Use code 'Carpool20' at checkout to get 20% off your order and free shipping. ⁠⁠CleanSimpleEats.com

It's a big ol' update episode with just Kelly and Lizz today! First, the renovation at Lizz's house is moving right along. You could basically call her a general contractor, but please don't for legal reasons. But that isn't the only big news in the St. John household as Lizz is about to join the minivan mom family. What car is she driving now? Speaking of new cars, Kelly is starting to get the new car itch. She's been in her current ride for over 18 months, a record for her. What should she pick up next?  Since they are on the topic of cars and car seats, there is some DRAMA in the car seat community and Kelly needs to get some things off her chest. A new Evenflo car seat has a lot of people talking. Is it just a cash grab? It opens up a lot of talk about car seat safety tests and why the public doesn't get more information on the results.  Kelly is on her hostess grind and shares tips on how to become the perfect hostess. This leads Kelly and Lizz to talk about their upcoming Thawgust and they need your help! Got a recipe to submit? They want to hear it!  It's been a while and there is so much to break down in Industry News. First, there is no stopping Waymo as they are set to invade Dallas shortly with plans to expand further in the next year. Mary Kay is still giving their biggest associates cars and it's about to go all electric. A woman got revenge after her car got repossessed in the most sneaky way. Finally, one of Britney Spears' cars is about to go up for auction and might snatch a pretty penny.  Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Clean Simple Eats⁠⁠. Use code 'Carpool20' at checkout to get 20% off your order and free shipping. ⁠⁠CleanSimpleEats.com

Kelly may have found an online scam she never knew existed and it all started with Ranger Rick! What she thought was a contest to get George to be a junior ranger, turned into spending way too much money to buy votes. Maybe Kelly and Lizz should do a junior car reviewer contest, but make it 100% legit?  Meanwhile, Lizz is seeing memes everywhere reminding her to enjoy all these moments when the kids are little because one day she is going to miss it. But will she really? No better person to ask than Kris! Oh and speaking of the kids being little, if you have little ones in the St. Louis area the next Just Between Friends sale is coming up and Kelly and Lizz have all the details.  Then, it's time to get into the meat of this week's episode with another Side Hustle Summer! Today Kelly chats with Olivia, a.k.a. The Marketplace Mom. If you've ever been nervous about posting items for sale on Facebook Marketplace, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Olivia talks about how she started listing things to sell and how it turned into an excellent side hustle. She'll reveal her listing tips, how to deal with the "Is this still available?" question, what to sell and what to buy on Facebook Marketplace. Plus, she reveals a super easy Ditch the Drive-Thru that will satisfy the entire family.

The unofficial third host of the Carpool Podcast is BACK - Kate from Naptime Kitchen! She's got a new book coming out that is about to be your "How To Guide" for all things being an adult. It's called "I Just Wish I Had A Bigger Kitchen: And Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy" and she took us through the journey of the book came to be and talked a little bit about the special audio interviews you get when you pre-order the book, including one with our very own Kelly!  Since Prime Day has come and gone, Lizz thought this is the perfect time to do a brand new round of Last Two Transactions. First off, is our special guest Kate who finally jumped on the weighted vest train and is loving it. Lizz's life has been changed thanks to the sonic retainer cleaner she finally purchased. Finally, Kelly is the crafting queen thanks to all the craft supplies she had to buy over the last couple of weeks. Plus, Kelly's amazing Facebook Marketplace finds.  Since we have Kate, we must get her latest favorite Ditch The Drive-Thru meals. Right now, she is all about the versatility of a frozen meatball and told Kelly and Lizz some of her favorite ways to use them. Then she shared her frozen enchilada recipe that might be the first entry into Thawgust for 2025!  For all things Naptime Kitchen and pre-order Kate's new book, head to naptimekitchen.com

This week on the Carpool Podcast, Kelly and Lizz are talking to one of their favorite influencers Sam, known as Smaller Sam PCOS, who shares her remarkable weight loss journey and the challenges she faced along the way. Sam, who has lost 255 pounds, discusses her creative fast food hacks and recipes that are lower in calories and higher in protein, making them accessible for everyone. Her story is one of resilience, driven by the need to be healthy for her children amidst personal and family struggles, including her daughter's medical needs and her husband's battle with addiction. Sam's content is celebrated for its authenticity and relatability, offering practical advice for sustainable eating habits. The episode delves into her background with PCOS, her approach to food with her children, and her viral recipes. Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Clean Simple Eats⁠⁠. Use code 'Carpool10' at checkout to get 10% off your order. ⁠⁠CleanSimpleEats.com

After a holiday weekend, Kelly and Lizz are back for another Side Hustle Summer. Lizz is broadcasting from home, Kelly from her local library It's a whole thing. But the good news is she is perfecting her fish fry and working to become the perfect hostess. Oh, and Tyler built a deck proving once again that the To Do lists work!  Moving on to this week's Side Hustle Summer entries, it's all about the parties! First, they'll talk to moms Maddy and Kendall that turned creating balloon arches for their kid's parties into Balloon Vibes CLT. They share how they got started and advice for anyone looking to get into the balloon business. Then, it's all about the animals with Pony Tails Parties. Suzanne shares how providing ponies for kid parties turned into a thriving petting zoo.

That's right, you're getting two episodes of The Carpool this week and today's episode is a very special car buying edition of the podcast! The episode features an in-depth discussion on the current car market, including the impact of tariffs on new car prices and the resulting effects on the used car market. Special guest Zach, CEO of Car Edge, provides insights into the importance of understanding vehicle financing, the benefits of leasing electric vehicles, and the challenges of navigating the car buying process. Additionally, the episode introduces Car Edge's tool for accessing original window stickers, aiding consumers in making informed decisions about vehicle features and pricing.

Side Hustle Summer is BACK and Kelly and Lizz have two great side hustles to inspire you this week. First, it's time to catch up and see what's the latest in the Stumpe and St. John Households. Kelly is on a vacation with the family at the lake that wasn't originally planned, but seemed like a great idea while the pool is getting installed at their home. While there, she is mastering the art of using the fryer. Will a smoker be next? Meanwhile, Lizz is officially out of her home while it gets renovated and it's in a total state of disarray. There's no turning back now!  Then it's time for Side Hustle Summer with two moms that found a way to make money and work with their family's schedule. First, they talk to Kim who started working as an Amazon Flex delivery driver as a way to work while taking care of her adult son with autism. She breaks down exactly how it works and what kind of money she makes. Not all heroes wear capes and our Amazon delivery drivers are definitely heroes!  Next, it's time to bring on Alexis who is the Car Mom's resident cotton candy maven! She started her cotton candy business while pregnant and had her first big event at the Car Mom Auto Show. Now, she is working private events and making enough money to buy a car. She talks to Kelly and Lizz about where she came up with the idea and how she's grown her business in the last couple of years.