Get ready for some hard hitting journalism on today’s episode as Kelly and Lizz interview Jessica Jermakian from IIHS — absolutely iconic. 

→ Hey mama, are you listening in from your Mercedes GLS? Then it’s your time to show up, show out, and shine in the Carpool podcast reviews!

Erm is taking the place of ugh, but Kelly is skeptical. Is Lizz just grunting into the mic or is this a real millennial word of the day? 

Jessica Jermakian has spent 13 years at IIHS and she’s ready to answer the tough questions like: Why doesn't the Ford Expedition get crash tested? What’s the deal with ‘female’ crash test dummies? And HOW much does a crash dummy cost? (Lizz is shook!) 

Kelly picks Jessica’s brain to give parents a bit of safety reassurance, Jessica has hope for improvements like pretensioners and load limiters in rear seat belts, and large SUV testing is on its way. You’ll also find out what Jessica is driving and how she’d start a new car search. You can check out the IIHS website and YouTube channel for a library of crash tests and vehicle safety ratings. 

Looking for a way to preserve your family’s memories, fun moments, and special stories? Qeepsake has got you covered. They send you daily prompts with questions so you never miss a memory in the making. Qeepsake is the easiest way for parents to capture and preserve memories about their little ones. Forget scrapbooking — Qeepsake makes nostalgia simple, easy, and mess-free. 

→ Get 20% off your Qeepsake annual subscription with the code CARPOOL at www.qeepsake.com/carpool 

Ditch the drive-through today brings you another delicious Crock-tober recipe.
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork from Dance Around the Kitchen can be made into sliders, nachos, quesadillas, or loaded sweet potatoes. Join Kelly and Lizz this week so you can rate the Crock-tober recipes during the end-of-month great eight!

→ To share your ditch the drive-through recipe with us, call (959) CAR-POOL and leave us a message!

Blake’s besties today honors baby Casey Paige, Christina’s baby V, Jordan’s baby Kip Gerard, and baby little shrimp!

→ Do you have a story to share about your little one who was gone too soon? Send Kelly and Lizz your pregnancy memories at hello@thecarmomofficial.com 


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JESSICA JERMAKIAN FROM IIHS ANSWERS THE TOUGH QUESTIONS

Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John are third generation auto-industry experts and best known for reviewing cars from the millennial mom point of view on Instagram and YouTube. As a work from home mom of three, Kelly found herself craving a brain-break and some adult conversation so she convinced her sister Lizz to create a podcast to do just that. Join Kelly and Lizz for a dose of entertaining and lighthearted conversation, games, and auto-industry news while they navigate life as business partners, best friends, and sisters.
Your Mom Time Off starts ... now.

Kids & Family

Automotive

Games & Hobbies

Parenting

Leisure

Kid-free travel? Yes please! Kelly is headed to a wedding, trying on tangents, and sending all the Carpool moms well-washed car wishes this month. 

Kelly and Lizz want Sydney and Grayson to think they're cool, but today's millennial word 'brick' might not be the way to do it. If you're trying to impress the younger crowd, though, just whip this one out anytime you need to indicate that something is freezing cold. 

Kelly's crew is turning into a birthday dinner family—four kid birthdays are just too much. Both gals had a fabulous Mother's Day. Kelly's was simple and sweet and Lizz had brunch with mom, her favorite. 

Coffee in bed with a little whip cream on top is just the base model luxury that Kelly and Lizz need. In fact, it might just replace the Nespresso machine. 

The grass grows where you water it. Kelly's applying this fast lane philosophy by growing grass in one little area of her life. Goodwill drop offs, returns that 'make you money', and getting your nails done are just a few little grass growers you could add to your week. 

Pots and pans you don't have to put away? Yes, please. With Caraway's beautiful cookware you can just leave them out and enjoy the aesthetic. Caraway's products are made without any toxic materials like PFAS, PTFEs, POH, or other hard to pronounce chemicals. Over 65,000 people have given Caraway kitchenware five stars. Now it's time to try it for yourself. 

→ Visit carawayhome.com/carpool or use the code CARPOOL at checkout to get 10% off your next purchase for a limited time.

Do you know what auto-payments are going out every month? What about how much you spent on groceries last month? With Rocket Money you can keep tabs on all of your expenses and save accordingly. Cancel unused and unwanted subscriptions, keep your spending on track, and put money right back in your pocket with one simple app. Rocket Money has over 5 million users and has helped save its members an average of $720 a year with over 500 million in canceled subscriptions. So stop wasting money on things you don't use. 

→ Download the Rocket Money app at rocketmoney.com/carpool  

Kelly gives a nod to the Playdate Pod for their segments sayings that don't exist and country songs that don't exist which inspired today's segment mom cars that don't exist. But…did Kelly and Lizz get the same assignment? Lizz offers up solid ideas like the Chevy Energizer and Ford XL while Kelly leverages an interesting theme with the Volkswagen IUD three-row, the Hyundai Placenta, and the Honda Uterus

A Carpool family is moving from a Honda Odyssey to a new Chevy Traverse. They're wondering what they are going to miss most. Kelly says the floor space will be a sore spot, but the tech might make up for it. Another listener asks how Kelly and Lizz would deal with a mother-in-law who is just too much. They're just as mortified as she is and encourage her to keep setting boundaries. Kelly's long-game solution? Be the mother-in-law you want to see in the world!

→ Write in your advice questions! Send Kelly and Lizz an email to get your question featured on the show at hello@thecarmomofficial.com 

In industry news the Chevy Malibu is on its way out, Ford is losing their Edge in 2025, and Elon Musk claims the car manufacturer still intends to spend 500 million to expand the supercharger network. 

This week's May-rinade is here for today's ditch the drive-through. Head on over to The Car Mom blog for the sweet and spicy Sriracha salmon recipe you'll want to serve up with fresh asparagus or a cucumber salad.

→ To share your ditch the drive-through recipe with us, call (959) CAR-POOL and leave us a message!


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MOM CARS THAT DON'T EXIST (BUT SHOULD)

Are you a part of the best mom group on the internet? The Car Mom Crew facebook group is so good Lizz wants advice incognito and important episode corrections are coming in from the comment section.

→ We're just two months away from The Car Mom Auto Show! Grab your VIP tickets before they sell out!

IF you're talking without saying much you might be guilty of yapping, which is today's millennial word of the day. 

Kelly is ready to rant, Naptime Kitchen is diving into a meal-prep filled may, and the gals are here for the car coolers that make life a little easier in today's driveway dumps. Lizz is habit stacking with Bridgerton as her new cardio show and Kelly is adjusting her grocery shopping routines. To wrap up the dumps, Kelly reminisces about The Game of Thrones finale that threw her into labor and Lizz wonders why everything is working for her. 

In fast lane philosophies, Kelly shares a few inspiring quotes from an IG comment thread including, "Worrying is worshiping the problem," and, "Every rejection is a redirection." Lizz doesn't have time for philosophy lately, but she has found a few minutes to start Lady Tan's Circle of Women on audible.


In industry news, Kelly brings a field report from her consultations with car-shopping families. She encourages families to consider the longevity of three row vehicles for families with two or three kids. A mindset shift might be just what you need if you're in the market, too. Lizz teases a future blog about the Pathfinder vs Telluride.

Do you know what auto-payments are going out every month? What about how much you spent on groceries last month? With Rocket Money you can keep tabs on all of your expenses and save accordingly. Cancel unused and unwanted subscriptions, keep your spending on track, and put money right back in your pocket with one simple app. Rocket Money has over 5 million users and has helped save its members an average of $720 a year with over 500 million in canceled subscriptions. So stop wasting money on things you don't use. 

→ Download the Rocket Money app at rocketmoney.com/carpool  

Don't sleep on little potatoes, grab a bag and get ready to ditch the drive-through. This week Kelly roasted potatoes, with rosemary, salt, and pepper. Added Kielbasa sausage, green beans, and asparagus, and then topped with a sauce after baking. A few of Kelly and Lizz's favorite sauces you might want to try too are: Sriracha mayo, chipotle mayo, dijon-lemon-pepper mayo, pesto mayo, roasted garlic aioli, caramelized onion dip, and Trader Joe's chili oil. 

→ To share your ditch the drive-through recipe with us, call (959) CAR-POOL and leave us a message!

→ Write in your advice questions! Send Kelly and Lizz an email to get your question featured on the show at hello@thecarmomofficial.com 


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Join The Car Mom Crew Facebook Group!
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HOW GAME OF THRONES PUT KELLY INTO LABOR

Happy Mother's Day to all the Carpool moms who are in the trenches of mothering! Lizz is getting ready for her first mother's day with James in her arms and Kelly just wants to cook a big family meal in peace. 

Sydney came through with today's millennial word of the day on a recent phone call with Lizz. Faded has a new meaning and Gen Z is using it to mean 'skipped' as in 'she faded Mother's Day.' A bonus Gen Z fashion update: linen pants are the sweatpants of summer. Kelly and Lizz are getting theirs from Athleta.

Lizz doesn't mind if you want to call her Joanna Gaines. She's tackled a few home renovation projects that have got her inspired. Moving a toilet paper holder turned into a much bigger project and she's impressed Tyler's mom with her nail gun skills. Her advice? Start with your kids' bathroom and be creative!

George's animal game of the day is Kelly asking how many of these animal species are left in the world: giraffes, blue macaw parrots, gorillas, polar bears, sheep, and blue whales. Lizz is not a fan of guessing the answers. Kelly also shares fun animal facts about the smartest animals in the world.

On today's advice segment a listener offers her expert insights on meal train etiquette and sharing your link in text. Another asks if it's possible to make travel with the third row down safe. Kelly shares the risks of after-market nets and products and what to prioritize when it comes to inside-of-the-car safety. And last, a sweet sister-in-law wonders if sister-talk extends to sister-in-laws.

→ Write in your advice questions! Send Kelly and Lizz an email to get your question featured on the show at hello@thecarmomofficial.com 

Should you put a wet towel on your supercharger handle to make charging faster? The jury is out on this industry news story. Kelly adds some tips that might help make EV batteries last longer. Kelly and Lizz both share thoughts on the cyber truck—which wasn't as awful as they thought it would be—and then tackle a few controversial stories about Tesla's robot-taxis and Rivian's cash-burning quarters. 

Chicken tandoor is today's ditch the drive-through and May-rinaide. Kelly discovered this delicious recipe playing cookbook roulette. Get the full recipe for this 30 minute to 24 hour chicken thigh marinade on The Car Mom website. 

→ To share your ditch the drive-through recipe with us, call (959) CAR-POOL and leave us a message!


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LIZZ IS JOANNA GAINES

Why not be the fun mom? On this episode of the Carpool Kelly and Lizz are elevating their maternity and motherhood journeys. Listen in to hear their baby-veggie sagas, home updates, and more.

For today's millennial word of the day Lizz has an update on the water bottle debate straight from the mouth of a qualified Gen Z mom. She and Kelly will be holding on to their Stanleys for life. 

What's with the mystery toy trend? Kelly and Lizz don't get the appeal. Also on today's driveway dumps, Kelly's looking forward to driving her new Traverse while she prepares for the home addition to add bedrooms to the new house.

Lizz's last three transactions kick off with an ear scope for checking the family—date night anyone? She's also ordered new old navy maternity workout dresses and a solar-powered charger so she's ready for power outages. Kelly ordered a twenty foot parachute with eighteen handles, a new floor cleaning solution, and got her own maternity haul from Spanx.

A listener asks how she should prep, find the proper color combo, and go through the process of a spray tan. Kelly and Lizz—spray tan devotees—have all the advice to offer. Kelly even goes so far as to say that a bad spray tan is better than being pale. Another advice question focuses on compact SUV options for a dad commuting to work. Kelly recommends the Toyota Rav4 and Prius, Honda CRV, Subaru Forester or Outback. And last on the advice train, Kelly and Lizz share their heated opinions on how to handle toddler conflicts with another parent and friend. 

→ Write in your advice questions! Send Kelly and Lizz an email to get your question featured on the show at hello@thecarmomofficial.com 

In industry news a dealership was found to be not at fault for injuries caused by an 80-year-old customer who crashed during a test drive. And making headlines that can't be Googled, Kelly's hyped for the new Car Mom blog: Cars With Bench Seating In Highest Trim Levels.

This week's ditch the drive-through comes from Quebec. Try this Pâté Chinois, a twist on shepherd's pie. Brown one pound dish of ground beef in a skillet. Drain the beef and if you're feeling fancy, add some garlic and onion or worcestershire. Put the beef at the bottom of a casserole dish and add a can of cream corn right on top. Then add your mashed potatoes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the mashed potatoes start to get golden.

→ To share your ditch the drive-through recipe with us, call (959) CAR-POOL and leave us a message!


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Join The Car Mom Crew Facebook Group!
Follow Kelly on IG
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ARE WE A FOOD PODCAST?

To celebrate Lizz's first day with no nausea, this episode kicks off with some tasty inspiration for an at-home bar night with your air fryer and nachos for a crowd. 

Today's millennial word of the day is 'Rizzler' with variations of Rizzley Bear, The Rizzard of Oz, Rizz God. This fun twist on the slang word 'rizz' indicates someone with a lot of romantic charisma—despite how Kelly would like it to be used.

Kelly is loving farm life, getting ready for animals, and making her list of car-inspired pig names. Lizz wants to start composting, even if she fails at first. The Carpool Facebook group showed up with their feedback on the Mrs. debate. The gals couldn't have more feelings about being called 'James's mom.' And to wrap up driveway dumps, Kelly killed it this weekend with her freezer Ziti—she's committed to the craft of freezer meals for life.

Pots and pans you don't have to put away? Yes, please. With Caraway's beautiful cookware you can just leave them out and enjoy the aesthetic. Caraway's products are made without any toxic materials like PFAS, PTFEs, POH, or other hard to pronounce chemicals. Over 65,000 people have given Caraway kitchenware five stars. Now it's time to try it for yourself. 

→ Visit carawayhome.com/carpool or use the code CARPOOL at checkout to get 10% off your next purchase for a limited time.

On today's taste drive Kelly and Lizz try the lemon-lime Poppi. It's not their favorite, but if you're in the mood for watered down yellow gatorade with a dash of fizz, it may just be yours.

Toyota announces a record breaking year with sales of 11.1 million vehicles—the most ever sold by a car brand in one year. Also in industry news, some small SUVs now show worrying results in an updated crash test. The Equinox, Mazda CX five, Mitsubishi, Outlander and Volkswagen Taos all scored poor ratings in this updated test and only one passed. Another safety issue has prompted NITSA to open up a preliminary probe into Ford's hand free driving tech after two crashes.

Kelly shares her mother-in-law's poppy seed creamy chicken casserole for today's ditch the drive-through. Combine your chicken, chicken Rice-a-Roni, seasoning blend, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup in a casserole pan. Top it with Ritz crackers and butter and bake until bubbly.

→ To share your ditch the drive-through recipe with us, call (959) CAR-POOL and leave us a message!

→ Write in your advice questions! Send Kelly and Lizz an email to get your question featured on the show at hello@thecarmomofficial.com 


Follow the Carpool Podcast on IG
Follow the Carpool Podcast on YouTube
Join The Car Mom Crew Facebook Group!
Follow Kelly on IG
Follow Lizz on IG
Follow the Truck Dad on IG
Visit thecarmomofficial.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JESSICA JERMAKIAN FROM IIHS ANSWERS THE TOUGH QUESTIONS

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