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11 WEEK LIVING THAT SUGAR-FREE LIFE

11 WEEK LIVING THAT SUGAR-FREE LIFE

The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz Apr 15, 2026 61 min
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About this episode

Kelly and Liz start with a personal health update—pregnancy and a family hospital stay led to infections and a rough respiratory stretch—then pivot to real-world car-seat/spec talk. They debate how manufacturers can advertise legroom that only exists when seats are moved into unrealistic positions, using the Mazda CX-90 as a prime example, and share recall-shopping advice. After banter about Coachella, music, and even American Girl dolls, the episode’s centerpiece is an interview with Wendy Speak, author of the 40 Day Sugar Fast, blending sugar-free fasting with spiritual discipline, community, and practical “what next” guidance.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

third row middle seats

"And she we were talking about just we were talking about third row middle seats and how they're a joke. And if you know me, if you've like are an active follower,"

That’s the seat in the very back row, in the middle. In many SUVs and minivans, the middle seat is smaller and can be less comfortable than the seats on the sides.

Term

third row of seats

"So what are we going to do with Samantha? We're going to put her just like where you carry around and put her in the third row of seats."

Some cars have extra seats in the back. The “third row” is the farthest back row, usually for kids or extra passengers.

Car

Mazda Cx90

"So I was doing a Mazda CX-90 tour and Sam kind of like helped me prep for my tours ahead of time. And I was like, hey, Sam, compare this car to the Pathfinder and like, you know, have all the specs handy for me"

The Mazda CX-90 is a family SUV with three rows of seats. They’re comparing how much space you get in the back seats, especially how much room your legs have.

Term

second row legroom

"So she pulled all that up and she was like, the Pathfinder has 35 inches, the second low, low, second row legroom. The Mazda CX-90 is saying it has 39 inches. Sam's like, I don't know how they're coming up with 39 inches."

Second-row legroom means how much room your legs have in the back seats. Even if two cars list similar numbers, the seats can be shaped differently so it can feel different in real life.

Car

Nissan Pathfinder

"We were looking at, I mean, I've driven a Pathfinder. I fit rear-facing car seats in the Pathfinder."

The Nissan Pathfinder is a family SUV with three rows. They’re talking about whether it has enough space for rear-facing car seats without the front seats being too cramped.

Concept

rear-facing car seats

"I fit rear-facing car seats in the Pathfinder. I was on, I mean, I was tight in the front row of the CX-90. I did not like it."

Rear-facing car seats are the kind where the baby or child faces the back of the car. They often need more room behind the front seats, so some vehicles feel cramped when you install them.

Concept

comparing the specs

"So it's still hard to like compare the specs for you, because by the time you get your car seat and your height in there, like it's going to look different on everybody."

They’re saying it’s tough to compare car measurements because the numbers depend on how the seats are set up. If the conditions aren’t the same, the comparison doesn’t really tell you what it’ll feel like for you.

Term

39 inches

"But for the Mazda to say 39 inches, only when the seat is pushed all the way forward... It should say up to 39 inches... because I don't want to get into like a range even, because I just think it should say up to this."

They’re using “39 inches” as a measurement for how much space you have. But it only happens when the seat is moved to a specific spot, so it’s not a fair comparison unless you know the setup.

Term

second row seat

"And then you can get 39 inches in the rear facing seat or in the second row seat. And that's with that second row seat pushed all the way back."

They’re talking about the middle row of seats. Where that seat is set (especially pushed all the way back) can greatly affect how much room you have in the rest of the car.

Term

rear facing seat

"And then you can get 39 inches in the rear facing seat or in the second row seat. And that's with that second row seat pushed all the way back."

A rear-facing car seat is the child seat that faces the back of the car. It takes up space, so it can change how much room adults have in front of it.

Company

Consumer Reports

"Maybe I tell them maybe I just need to get consumer reports on it. That feels like something they should be tackling."

Consumer Reports is an independent automotive publication known for testing vehicles and summarizing safety and reliability results. In this segment, it’s referenced as a source that should be able to verify real-world claims like how much usable rear leg room a vehicle provides.

Concept

advertising vs real-world measurements

"A lot of these cars are falsely advertising their amount of second row leg room... But like it's kind of giving like you just have to watch our tours."

This is the idea that manufacturer marketing claims (like second-row leg room) may not reflect what drivers experience after accounting for real seating positions and installed child seats. The hosts argue that you often need hands-on verification—tape measures, test fitting, and seeing it with real occupants.

Concept

car seat fit

"Yeah, like I genuinely don't know how else you get this information without seeing for yourself how a six foot tall driver and a car seat look next to each other."

Car seat fit refers to how a child restraint physically fits and functions alongside adult seating—clearance, seatback contact, and whether the front seats can still be used comfortably. The hosts emphasize that the only reliable way to know is to test with a real driver and the actual car seat installed.

Brand

Blue Land

"Today's episode is brought to you by Blue Land. Did you know that plastic was designed to last forever?"

Blue Land is a company that sells cleaning supplies. They’re saying their products are safer for the environment and still work well.

Concept

EPA Safer Choice Certified

"Plus, Blue Land is already used in over a million homes, including mine. Blue Land is a certified B Corp in Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free Certified. Their formulas are EPA Safer Choice Certified and many products"

EPA Safer Choice is a label from the U.S. government. It means the product uses ingredients that are generally considered safer than typical options.

Concept

Cradle to Cradle Gold Material Health Certificate

"Their formulas are EPA Safer Choice Certified and many products have also earned Cradle to Cradle Gold Material Health Certificate. Try for yourself and get 15% off your first order at Blue Land dot com slash carpool."

Cradle to Cradle is a sustainability certification. The “Gold” part is basically a stronger rating about how safe the materials are for people and the environment.

Brand

Miranda Lambert

"She had Miranda Lambert, like all this music video. And I was like watching it in the living room with Tyler."

Miranda Lambert is a famous country singer. Here, they’re just talking about a music video she’s in.

Brand

Ella Langley

"Maybe ask AI to put you with Ella Langley's hair. ... No, I'm loving her music. She's like my favorite."

Ella Langley is a country artist mentioned as someone the speaker is into. The context is music taste, not vehicle or driving-related content.

Brand

Megan Moroney

"Like I've never gotten into like the and this is a hot tank, but like I've never really gotten into like the Megan Moroney's of the world. But like I'm into Ella Langley."

Megan Moroney is a country singer. They’re saying they haven’t really listened to her music but they like someone else.

Car

Subaru Forester

"So remember how we reported that like the Subaru Outback kind of like took away the wagon and kind of just like made a different looking forester, essentially."

The Subaru Forester is another Subaru model—more of a crossover/SUV. They’re saying the Outback now looks more like the Forester, instead of keeping the older wagon vibe.

Concept

wagon styling

"So remember how we reported that like the Subaru Outback kind of like took away the wagon and kind of just like made a different looking forester, essentially. And I tore the Outback."

A “wagon” look usually means a car with a longer roof and a more traditional station-wagon shape. Here, they’re talking about how the Outback’s design moved away from that classic wagon look.

Concept

Outback sales tanked like 40%

"Anyway, Outback sales, I think it tanked like 40% or something insane like that. Crazy."

They’re saying the Outback sold a lot less—around 40%—compared to a previous period. The key detail is what time period they’re comparing against.

Brand

Hyundai

"Oh, you know what else I saw. Industry knows I saw that Hyundai has their like fix for the power holding seats."

Hyundai is a car brand. They’re talking about a software update that can change how a feature works in the car after you already bought it.

Term

over the air update

"essentially it just so Hyundai's can do an over the air up. It's over the air. The update."

An over-the-air update means the car gets a software update wirelessly. You don’t have to go to a shop just to install it.

Car

Volkswagen Atlas

"[1713.1s] And then like you have to be doubly careful because so there's a [1713.1s] Volkswagen Atlas recall. [1718.8s] It's not a, I don't remember the year..."

They’re talking about a recall on the Volkswagen Atlas. The point is that recalls don’t always apply to every year or every car—so you have to check the exact one you want to buy.

Concept

NHTSA remedy availability

"But anyway, you go to NHTSA, you type in it, it says Remedy available. You're like, okay, great."

NHTSA is the U.S. safety agency that tracks car recalls. If it says a “remedy” is available, that means there’s a fix you can get—usually at no charge.

Part

crock pot

"So that he's the one I started doing this for is it's a crock pot, shredded chicken. And then I can do anything last minute, anything, such a good beginning of the week."

A crock pot is a slow cooker. You put the ingredients in and let it cook for hours so the food gets tender with very little work.

Concept

slow cooking

"And then it's just one cup of chicken broth, one heaping teaspoon salt, one heaping teaspoon pepper, one heaping teaspoon onion powder, one heaping teaspoon garlic powder. It's low and let it go."

Slow cooking means cooking at a low temperature for a long time. It helps food get soft and flavorful without needing constant attention.

Company

Vitamix

"Yeah, ice, honey latte. I'll take my morning coffee. I'll take my morning coffee and I put it in the high powered Vitamix mixer with my scoop of protein powder and it is the frothyest, you know, just fabulous mocha."

Vitamix is a type of blender brand that’s really strong. People use it to mix things until they’re smooth and frothy, like the coffee drink they’re making here.

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