Lizz is out sick today, so it's all Kelly for this episode of The Carpool podcast! She's getting ready to be the hostess with the mostess for her beauty themed rob your neighbor party this week. Hostess mode is in full effect with the holidays! Speaking of the holidays, Kelly has new notes to add for December including mistakes on the Christmas cards, basics for the kids, keeping ready-made food in the fridge and candy cane fishing.

Then, it's time for a history lesson. A Car Mom history lesson. You may be new to the Car Mom and thinking "How did this even start?" Kelly breaks down the whole story from starting the Instagram page to getting flown all over the country to talk to major car companies. She shares the high and the lows and offers great tips for anyone looking to become an influencer.

Today on the Carpool Podcast, Kelly and Lizz welcome Shannon Stokely, a young mom and Instagram influencer known for her relatable content on motherhood and cooking. Shannon shares her journey of becoming an influencer, the importance of community among moms, and practical tips for stretching ingredients and meal prepping. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating social media as a mom and offers easy dinner solutions for busy families, emphasizing the joy of cooking with creativity and resourcefulness.

Follow Shannon on Instagram @shannon_stokely

It's time for a Holly Jolly meter check! Are Kelly and Lizz in that Christmas spirit? Lizz has just started getting her decorations out and had an immediate realization about when the proper time is to put the decorations up. Kelly, on the other hand, is in full Christmas mode! Her gifts are bought and she's making a daily plan of what to do with the kids during the winter break. 

There are some major mindshifts happening with Kelly right now and it's about "blooming where you're planted" and "going deep not wide." What does she mean? It's a new theory she's exploring about cleaning the house and after hearing it you're going to want to change your mindset too! 

In Industry News, Consumer Reports have the best and worst car brands for 2026. Did your favorite make the cut? 

Then it's time to continue the Carpool Podcasts series of interviews on saving money at the grocery store. Today, Kelly and Lizz chat with Morgan of "Morgan Tayler at Home." She's a mom of almost four that started an Instagram page to help other families with a single income make that dollar stretch. She's got plenty of tangible takeaways including protein prep, things you can make from scratch and why you NEED to put a vacuum sealer on your Christmas list! 

To learn more about Morgan's meal plan visit morgantayler.com and follow her on Instagram @morgantaylerathome

It's December and the perfect time for an all-Christmas edition of The Carpool Podcast! Kelly is kicking it off by reviewing her notes from last Christmas. Then it's on to ideas to get you into the holiday spirit that are either free or super inexpensive. Festive Christmas pillow case anyone?!?! 

Next, it's time to make Christmas assumptions based on the car you drive. Which drivers are more likely to have their Christmas shopping already done? Who is most likely to have a real Christmas tree? They all make sense. 

Finally, it's a Christmas edition of Industry News with Chevy's newest commercial that will make you cry and holiday meal ideas in Ditch The Drive-Thru. 

Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Clean Simple Eats⁠⁠. Use code 'Carpool10' at checkout to get 10% off your order. ⁠⁠CleanSimpleEats.com

Kelly and Lizz are feeling good post-Thanksgiving, or is it the new lighting? Either way today's episode is FULL of content! First, prepare to be jealous as one of the moms has all her Christmas shopping done thanks to Black Friday sales. Then, Kelly and Lizz break down their notes from the family Thanksgiving. No harvest Caesar salad - bad. Mimosas - good! 

This week's advice questions starts off with the kindest words Kelly and Lizz have ever received. A mom of almost four is looking for advice on what to expect when #4 arrives and Kelly has some encouraging words for anyone getting ready to expand their family. 

Industry News is SPICY today with big stories in auto. First, there are ten EVs getting dropped for 2026 and Kelly has the full list. Then, Tesla has decided to add buttons to their cars navigation system. Finally, congress is looking at rolling back safety requirements in cars to help the price point. Should you be worried? 

Finally, if you're looking for some tangible takeaways to help keep your family organized and save some money, Kelly and Lizz have a GREAT guest on the show today! Natalie is a mom of five homeschooled kids that shares her home cooking and kitchen tips on Instagram. She shares how she manages everything from cleaning the kitchen, getting laundry done and her #1 tip: PREP YOUR PROTEINS! Plus, she has a Ditch the Drive-Thru pizza recipe that you're going to want to make your next go-to meal. 

It's a post-turkey day, recording before turkey day, Black Friday special episode! Lizz has a new gym and needs to get some pet peeves off her chest. Why all the grunting? Speaking of pet peeves, Kelly has some people in her DMs that are being haters over her Christmas plans and she is not having it. Don't expect her to just ignore those DMs! She will fight back!

With it being Black Friday, it's the perfect time for Last Three Transactions! Trying to figure out what to get your friends and family this year? Here are some GREAT ideas:

There's a new 'Dancing with the Stars' winner and it's time to break it all down. Do Kelly and Lizz agree with who took home the mirror ball?

There's some hot tea in Industry News this week! A female crash test dummy has FINALLY been created and another kind of dummy of the influencer kind is pulling apart a brand new Jeep!

FINALLY! After talking about her non-stop, Kelly and Lizz are joined on the podcast today by the one and only Merrick White! This is the woman who has changed the way both ladies think about style and what to wear on a daily basis. They discuss Merrick's point system, the items every woman should have in the closet and what you need to be buying this Black Friday.

Follow Merrick on Instagram @merricksart

KRIS-mas List:https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/3019284

Big things are on the horizon for the Car Mom as a website is in the works! Kelly and Lizz have been spending a lot of time getting ready for the launch and some amazing new features, including an official Car Mom rating system and viewer ratings. Just consider them ladies in tech right now!

At home, both families are getting ready for Thanksgiving. There will be one major change to the menu this year as Kelly can no longer have her favorite autumn caesar salad thanks to that pesky anchovy allergy. Will she find a suitable substitute?

It's all about car advice questions from the listeners this week. First, a mom needs advice on a new car after a crash left hers totaled. A second mom needs advice on the perfect car for her family after delaying getting an official "mom car."

Moving into Industry News, Motortrend has named the SUV of the year. Did they get it right? Then, Kelly and Lizz have a LOT to say about this week's "Dancing with the Star" elimination. They are HEATED!

Kelly is all business today in her business casual best and making mandated dress codes for Lizz. Will Lizz comply with orders? 

Deer hunting season has started and ended for the Stumpe household. Tyler got his buck on the first day out, which was exciting for Kelly to have her husband back home with the family to help out around the house. But then that excitement ended and Tyler was put to bed.

Meanwhile, Lizz spent the weekend in Indianapolis for the Marine Corp Ball. Matty is now in love with the city and is adopting the Colts as the team they will root for this season. But not everything was sunshine and roses as a bad Uber ride ended the evening early for Lizz. 

There is advice coming from everywhere this week. First, a sweet moment with George leads to a great lesson on helping your kids follow their dreams no matter what they are. The Detail Shop has some green linen pants that are going to change your fall wardrobe. Finally, in advice questions Kelly has your playbook for the perfect party with friends both old and new. If you're planning a "Favorite Things" party this is a MUST listen! 

In Industry News, Audi is trying to make a Land Rover rival. Will it work? Amazon is teaming with Ford to sell used cars. Why Kelly thinks this is the future of automotive sales! 

Finally in Ditch the Drive-Thru, if you're not making hot dogs in the crockpot or pulled pork nachos, what are you doing with your life? 

Have you ever heard Kelly talk about the Nissan Armada? There is a very specific reason why as she reveals today on the Carpool Podcast. Turns out, she is NOT a fan and there are many reasons why. 

Moving on the biggest topic of the episode, getting your house winterized and not in the way you are thinking. Kelly and Lizz are not talking about pipes or updating heating systems. Today they are talking about how to get your house ready to keep the kids busy for the cold winter months. Chances are you're going to spend many hours at home with the kids stuck inside. Are you prepared? Kelly and Lizz share the activities they are prepping to keep the whole family entertained.

A quick Industry News has all the details on the 2027 Kia Telluride redesign. What are Kelly and Lizz most looking forward to? Then it's on to a 'Dancing with the Stars' recap and all the predictions Lizz has made that have come true. Finally in Ditch the Drive-Thru, Lizz is obsessed with an enchilada sauce and Kelly is back on her BBQ chicken pizza grind.