11 WEEK LIVING THAT SUGAR-FREE LIFE
Annotations will appear as you listen
0:00
61:43
Term
third row middle seats
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Miranda Lambert is a famous country singer. Here, they’re just talking about a music video she’s in.
Brand
Ella Langley
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
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
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
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%
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
LIVE
Welcome to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.
And I was like watching it in the living room with Tyler
and I was like, should I cut bangs?
I was like, that kind of looks like me.
She got brown hair.
Like, do I cut bangs?
And Liz.
And you know, when you're kids sick, you're always like,
oh, I just wish I could take that sickness from you.
Yeah.
And then you do get the sickness and you're like,
oh, I kind of was just saying that.
Your mom time off starts now.
Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.
And Liz.
So, it turns out.
What's wrong with you guys this week?
Sorry, I'm muting myself to cough.
Yeah.
I think it turns out that if you spend like four days
in the hospital with your daughter with an infection
and then that leads you to get an infection in your eye
and then you're pregnant and your body's trying
to fight an infection in your eye
and then also grow a baby or immune system
kind of gets down and then you can also develop
like an upper respiratory infection
or like a cold or something.
I sample a respiratory infection.
That might be the same thing as a cold
but it feels more intense
because this feels more intense than a cold.
Like I needed to, I was like.
Like it's not the flu, but it's not just a common cold.
Oh God, it's not the flu.
But it was like 10 a.m. on Saturday.
I was like, hey, Maddie, I need to go take a nap.
Which like, that's a crazy thing to say to your husband
at 10 a.m.
In general, like I don't take naps anymore.
So anyway, I'm on like a day three,
which is so I'm actually feeling better,
but I don't sound very good.
So apologies.
This has got to be the end of it.
I miss my bachelor at trip, my childhood like best friend,
miss that the sky looks better though.
Yeah, it's better.
So yeah, so we're trending up.
And you know, you know, when your kids sick,
you're always like, oh, I just wish I could take
that sickness from you.
Yeah.
And then you do get the sickness and you're like, oh,
I was just just saying that.
You know, I don't know if I always feel that way.
I mean, of course, like if they're like really sick,
of course, but I'm sometimes like, no, you be sick
because I can take care of you.
If I get sick, then I can't take care of you.
Or anyone else for that matter.
Yeah, so I actually, like of course,
like I'll take the major stuff, but like a little like
fever, it's like, no, you keep that and I will nurse you back
to health like the mother I am.
But if I get it, then everyone's screwed.
I mean, everyone's screwed.
So anyway, how are you?
I mean, that's a rub it in, but I'm great.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So your hair is like so so it looks like you have a wig on.
I'm like, yeah, I'm so sick of complimenting you.
I know I got a new shampoo.
Your hair looks so silky.
What's the shampoo?
It's just like some target one.
I don't have to take a picture of it, but you know, I showered.
I just, I mean, yeah, I mean, I'm I haven't had sugar in 11 weeks.
That's crazy.
Which like, have I had a bite here and there?
Sure. Have I had two scoops of ice cream in New York?
Yes. But like, that's it.
I haven't had a Diet Coke.
I haven't had an iced honey latte.
I haven't had my own dessert.
I haven't had maple syrup.
I like, I haven't had anything.
That's crazy.
It is insane.
And it's actually a good segue to introduce what's going to be coming on
the second half of this episode, which is an interview with Wendy Speak.
I believe it's how she says her last name.
Yeah, it's Speak with an E on the end.
Speakey.
I'm sure we'll find out.
Anyway, with Wendy Speak, who is the author of the 40 Day Sugar Fast.
Is because I was just like, oh, this is such like a cool concept.
Like, I wish I could talk to her.
And then I said, what if I could invite her on my podcast?
Hey, Wendy, I'm telling you, you guys, start a podcast.
Because if you want to network, like, if you want to get, like, if you want to
like improve, like, if you're like a kind of a career woman and you want to
like get to the next level in your career, I feel like if you start a podcast,
then you can network with people who would never give you the time of day
because you're asking them to be on your podcast.
I know that. And you know what?
The reason you and Kate from Now Time Kitchen are even friends is
because she came on the podcast.
That like sparked your entire friendship.
So true. You don't have any other friends you make.
Yeah. But it's just like.
And especially people who aren't necessarily.
I'll use the word like influencers, people who have an audience.
Like, there are so many amazing business minds and and there's amazing
people who don't have an audience who have so much to share.
And I just think we need to get more people on the mic.
Oh, and I'm like so excited for Side Hustle Summer.
We might need to start that earlier before I like lather it up about Side
Hustle Summer. Have a baby because like those are
super interesting conversations to have.
Yeah. I mean, I have so many thoughts on like.
I want to get like an AI person on the podcast.
I'm very into AI right now.
It's kind of like something I'm really.
Trying to learn as much about as possible.
And just like what that means for like our industry in all industries
and like what kind of world our children are going to be growing up in.
And I'm just not going to be a person who's only going to be scared of things
because ultimately I'm not.
I'm not going to stop it.
And I just want to feel like I can best prepare my children
or at least help guide them in a way where they can be successful
in the world that they're going to be in.
Yeah. For sure.
Which is going to look different than my world.
And. Yeah.
I just want to be like really I want to stay as relevant in business
as possible for to help my kids out.
So anyway, sure.
Yeah. All to say.
That's what's on today's episode.
A fun, fun interview.
But before that, I.
What an American girl doll.
Oh, my gosh.
What are the odds that as soon as I get into it,
you release the 40th edition.
I know it's what are the odds?
Yeah. And then I was thinking I was talking to Sam
from Momma Knows Car Seats, who works on the car mom.
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,
you know that I've been known to pull out an American girl doll
from here and there to show how small some of these seats are.
That only an American girl doll can fit in like that was kind of my stick.
Yeah, it was a stick. Yeah, it was a thing.
But I don't know where that American girl doll is.
So it was giving business expense.
So which one did you get?
This had to be a big decision.
So it was. And it was a big decision.
And I was going to buy you one, too.
But then I they didn't have Elizabeth.
And I just like, then I didn't know what Elizabeth.
I don't really want to know what the obvious choice was.
And I do not think like I'm very I have someone to say about American girl dolls.
But they American girl says
you're not ready for one of their like doll dolls until you're eight.
On the website, it says eight and over.
So they have other dolls for like for like six year olds,
which is like what he's going to be now.
I think he's not a regular little advanced.
So I probably will maybe get her one for her birthday, which is in October.
But like had he and or had he and Libby and Sloan are not ready.
No, of course I'm like, you don't buy a doll like this
and to give to a child because they will not treat with respect.
I'm sure. Yeah.
So what do they mean?
Like you're not ready.
Like what are they expecting your play to be with it?
Just like tea parties and like brushing their hair.
And I think like dressing them and like your companion.
OK. OK. So anyway, which one did I get?
So I got one of the historical dolls.
I kind of I really I really sat and I really thought about it.
And I've always liked Kit because I think just I did not get Kit, though.
Uh-huh.
Do you not know who I got?
No.
I got Samantha.
Now, here's why one, because I call Sam every time I'm in the car.
So I thought there would be good.
I thought there'd be good synergy there.
And to Samantha has long, round hair.
She kind of looks like me.
OK.
She's like in a pretty dress.
I didn't want to deal with like Molly or Kristen's hair.
Like just I didn't want to deal with that.
Like the braids, like that seems too intense.
So I got Samantha.
What's her story?
I honestly don't know.
Oh, you just went for it.
I just went for it.
But she like the book is getting the book comes with them.
And I'm so excited for the book.
And I really want to buy all the American Girl Doll book.
So that's what I'm currently on this hunt for.
Because I don't know these dolls.
No, I think like I love the idea of these like historical girls.
To read to Hattie.
And I even think George will like them.
Like George likes history.
Yeah. So I'm excited to get the books.
Now, I have since joined a American Girl Doll fan Facebook group.
Because I just like I'm telling you,
I love to see people and learn from people in worlds.
I know nothing about like I'm not a collector.
These women are insane.
Someone will like post a garage sale doll.
They'll be like, who is this?
Is it valuable?
And the comments are like, oh, my gosh, like that's a Samantha white body.
Nineteen, nine, nineteen seventy two pleasant company edition.
Her eyes are silvered, but you can fix that by doing this.
I would pay around 300.
Like they're insane.
Oh, my gosh.
From a raggedy garage sale looking doll,
they could tell you was whether it was worth money.
Like it's just very interesting.
It's it's I find it very interesting.
So also just good to show good to know, like throw it up on a Facebook group
before you throw it at your garage sale because you might be sitting on gold.
Exactly.
So and you just and this just goes back to the Beanie Baby things.
Like everyone was saving the Beanie Baby sinking.
Those are going to be worth something.
They're not worth anything.
And like turns out like little tykes,
Fisher Price and American Girl are worth hundreds.
So I would like to hear from other moms who have done like a similar
like American Girl doll experience for child's birthday.
Like, is it better to get her the doll and then take it to the store
to do like the tea party thing?
Or is it better to like buy it, go to the store and pick out your doll?
I think that kind of stuff and then do a tea party.
I know, but I'm telling you,
Hattie has such decision fatigue.
Like she's my kid, like once she's like,
mom, I want to go to Target and spend my birthday money.
And I'm like, OK, let me carve out an hour and a half.
Yeah.
Because I just have to sit in the toy aisle because she cannot make a decision.
Yeah.
It's actually so sad.
Like sometimes we leave with nothing and George is like
George walks in and makes it like George needs to slow down his decision
making and Hattie needs to speed it up.
Yeah.
So I wonder if it would be too overwhelming if I was like, pick whatever one you want.
Yeah. OK, maybe just get a four of that.
Yeah. And maybe she like pick out.
I don't know what the American Girl Dossart looks like.
Maybe she like pick out an outfit or something.
Anyway, that's fine.
Less high stakes.
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.
Yeah, she's just like part of the car mom team now.
OK, it is confusing.
No, we have two Sam's though.
Well, we have a Samantha and we have Sam.
Well, you call Sam Samantha anyway.
Only when I'm trying to get a point across.
Not like she's in trouble, which is often.
You're often trying to get points across.
How about the fact that means Sam kind of discovered like.
No, that is a dramatic.
Is it dramatic to say fraud in the industry?
No, Kelly, that's crazy.
And I like one.
People don't know what we're talking about.
So can I explain it really fast?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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
because I feel like these are two good comparable cars.
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.
It must be the way like the seat, the second row seat is sloped.
She's like, that seems crazy to me.
And I'm like, no, that seems crazy to me because like this car
doesn't does not have a bigger row than the second row than the Pathfinder.
We were looking at, I mean, I've driven a Pathfinder.
I fit rear-facing car seats in the Pathfinder.
I was on, I was tight in the front row of the CX-90.
I did not like it.
I was like, this is not right.
So we're like, this is so bizarre.
And I was like, OK, let me go home and get my tape measure
because we were trying rear-facing car seats and like things were not fitting.
So I get my tape measure and I measure it out and I'm at like 30,
literally like 30 inches and I'm like, where are these extra nine inches coming up?
So then I go to the passenger seat and I move the passenger seat all the way up
and I got closer.
I think I got to like 37 inches and I'm like, well, that's still not 39.
And that's so stupid.
I had to move the seat all the way up.
So then I had to actually recline the seat all the way forward.
So like to get and I did get 39 inches when I did that.
But like, OK, one, no one is sitting there.
Not even like to the point where it is unsafe to sit like that.
Like if you showed.
I would imagine the owner's manual would say you can't sit like that.
Like, so it's not it's not possible.
And that's what they're saying is 39 inches.
So then we kind of went on down this like rabbit hole being like, OK,
so are all manufacturers just doing this?
And we found that's not the case.
Most of the manufacturers we have checked.
It's definitely further up than like how I would sit.
But we feel like a person could still sit there.
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.
But for the Mazda to say 39 inches,
only when the seat is pushed all the way forward.
When the passenger seat is pushed all the way forward,
basically touching the dash to get 39 inches.
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.
So the third row has no leg room either.
It is. And here's what I want to say.
Like, I don't know if I just like start campaigning for like
to get legislation changed.
I'm not sure the buzzwords yet. I'll work on it.
It should say up to 39 inches.
Yeah. Yeah.
They should all say that,
because I don't want to get into like a range even,
because I just think it should say up to this.
And I think that although it would not fix all the problems,
it would at least I would feel like it was more honest.
And I'm not coming up with 39 inches.
You can go on Mazda's website. That's what it says.
Yeah, it's crazy. It's giving line.
It's giving loophole.
And I think the problem is people are in the research phase
and they're like looking at second row leg room.
And then like they might be taking like they might take
the pathfinder off their list because they'd be like,
oh, the Mazda second row is bigger.
Let's go look at that one. And it's not.
It's not. It's not.
It's crazy.
I'm.
My mind is blown.
Floored by it.
And I've never really.
I think why why we're just kind of discovering this is
because I've never really paid attention to specs because.
Even if it's not like moving the seat up,
a lot of leg room has to do with the the the shape
in the size of the second row seat.
So I just never felt like it was all that worth comparing, to be honest.
Yeah.
But I never thought it would require you to literally lose
the passenger seat to equal the leg room that they're advertising.
I know.
I'm shocked. Crazy.
I'm shocked. Crazy.
Yeah, I don't really know what we do with that information,
except bring it now in our go tour bag.
We're going to have Samantha and a tape measure.
Maybe I tell them maybe I just need to get consumer reports on it.
That feels like something they should be tackling.
Yeah.
And I do like the Mazda, which very interesting about Mazda
is they're actually incredibly safe cars.
I think all of their SUVs are just top safety pick pluses
and consumer reports actually just named them their safest car brand,
which is kind of like insane.
So this is not to shade like all things Mazda CX-90.
And again, it's not just a Mazda problem.
A lot of these cars are falsely advertising
their amount of second row leg room,
but not to just like do some self promotion.
But like it's kind of giving like you just have to watch our tours.
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.
Yeah.
It's insane. It's insane.
Yeah.
Today's episode is brought to you by Kindred Brafley.
No one really prepares you for how much your body changes during pregnancy
or how much of your day will revolve around nursing or pumping postpartum.
All these changes just become part of your rhythm,
whether you're at home, back at work or somewhere in between.
And what you wear truly matters when something is thoughtfully designed,
soft, supportive and easy to move in.
It literally changes your day, changes your mental health, changes everything.
Finding pieces that make being a mom simpler and still
help me feel like myself has made such a difference.
And that's why I love Kindred Brafley.
Kindred Brafley makes intimates and apparel for maternity, postpartum
and breastfeeding, as well as baby essentials, all designed to make early
motherhood feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more supportive.
When I was postpartum, I wore the Kindred Brafley Sublime bra
because you could both nurse and pump in it.
And as I would go throughout my day, I would be nursing.
I would be pumping, just kind of dependent on where I was.
So I love the flexibility that I could wear one bra and it was just going
to work with me throughout my day.
Right now, Kindred Brafley is offering our listeners 20% off your first order
when you go to kindredbrafley.com slash carpool.
That is kindredbrafley.com slash carpool for 20% off your first order.
Make sure you use our links so they know we send you exclusions apply.
Today's episode is brought to you by Blue Land.
Did you know that plastic was designed to last forever?
Yet most of us use it just once and instead of disappearing, it just breaks
down into microplastics that accumulate in our homes, our water and our bodies.
Now, ditching all the plastic in my life is going to be a longer journey.
But right now I'm starting with my cleaning supplies and I'm choosing Blue Land.
Blue Land's goal is to make sustainable living simple and accessible for everyone.
They believe effective, high quality cleaning products shouldn't be rare.
They should be the standard so you can care for your home and environment
at the same time from surface cleaners and toilet tablets to dishwasher
and laundry detergents.
Blue Land's products are independently tested to perform as well as leading brands,
all while being free of dyes, parabens and harsh chemicals.
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
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.
But before we get to Wendy, just like one quick thing I want to talk about
before it's irrelevant.
I'm like normally do not give a rip about Coachella.
I'm like kind of into the performances this year.
Oh, I'm sorry, you brought this up.
I. I'm calling it couch, Chela.
I'm enjoying Coachella from my couch.
I would really never go.
Never go.
I'm loving seeing the outfits of the people.
I would never go because I would have to find an outfit.
That sounds so stressful.
No, I think it's like an anything goes.
And I would love to wear a head scarf and it makes sense.
Yes, sure.
I think like Sabrina Carpenter is just like so amazing.
I just like love everything that girl does.
She's not my favorite.
I love I love the theme that she's created for herself.
Like she just I think she's super talented.
I think she's cute.
I think she's fun to watch.
Yeah, she's not my favorite.
Why is your favorite?
Um, I think I actually don't like the vibe and aesthetic that much.
Oh, I think it's so cute.
See, I think it's like I think if she would just stopped at cute,
I've been fine.
I think she's trying to combine like cute and grown up a little too much for my taste.
OK, if that makes sense.
Whatever.
Yeah, sorry.
Sorry.
But you are conservative.
Justin.
Obsessed.
Yeah, but everyone's everyone's pissed at Justin now
because he's being paid five million dollars per performance.
And they're like, here's the thing.
I like Justin's performance.
I thought it was cool.
People are mad because like you see Sabrina's
Sabrina's whole thing.
And then Justin comes out with a laptop pulling up YouTube videos.
And Sabrina has like a whole full blown performance.
I'm sorry.
Here, I'll say two things about that.
One, right, wrong or indifferent, I want costumes and sets for women.
I think it's cringey when men do it.
Sorry.
Like, I don't need to I don't need to see Justin Bieber with outfit changes.
And like, I could say Justin Bieber is a dancer, though.
Like I could stand to see him do a little joke.
I totally disagree.
I loved I it was giving like you were in Justin Bieber's living room with him.
Like I'm obsessed with the concept.
I actually liked it.
And I think that people shouldn't be surprised after what they just saw him do.
Where did he roast recently?
Like perform where he's like literally in his underwear,
like the Grammys or something.
I don't remember where one of those shows is like he's very part down.
He's trying to just like show his natural talents.
Like I actually wasn't upset with it, but he's been he's making
$10 million off of these performances.
And so people are like, that's a lot of money.
And you're just going to like stand there and pull up YouTube.
So like I can kind of see that.
But also like he's been on hate.
It's like he's a hard guy to get.
Like if 10 million is his price, that's his price.
Like sorry, I don't know.
I would like to see the numbers and I don't know if you can ever see them.
But like I don't know.
I have seen people go to Coachella who like would never go to Coachella.
Like they're going for Justin Bieber.
They're not going for Sabrina Carpenter.
No, I totally I get that.
Like I don't think Sabrina Carpenter is the same.
I'm not saying that she's the same as Justin Bieber at all.
I'm saying I really enjoyed her.
I think she's I think she's very fun.
I think she's very talented.
And I always like love to see like what new take she has on her like little cutesy themes.
Yeah. So who else is it?
Is it I like Sabrina Carpenter, then you would hate Addison Rae.
Oh, yeah, I don't like Addison Rae at all.
She's just like so crazy.
I'm like I got up like she's kind of like here for like watching her from afar.
I don't know any of her songs, but she's just like kind of like crazy and chaotic.
And I kind of like it.
No, I don't like Addison Rae.
I'm I'm neutral about Sabrina Carpenter.
I love Justin Bieber, like obsessed.
My dream headliner for Coachella would be Post Malone.
Like I love Post Malone would like to go to a Post Malone concert one day in my life.
Like that's kind of and I'm not even a music or a concert person, but like I would go see him.
Another person I'm loving who's kind of who has me like
one bad day away from cutting bangs, to be honest with you.
Is Ella Langley is Ella Langley.
Yeah, I know she's so she's like so of the moment right now.
And she just had her music video come out.
She was in Texas and it was like star started.
She had the guy from Yellowstone.
She had JB Monney, the bull rider.
She had Miranda Lambert, like all this music video.
And I was like watching it in the living room with Tyler.
And I was like, should I cut bangs?
I was like, she kind of looks like me.
She got brown hair.
Like, do I cut bangs?
I don't know.
I just think that's a lot of work.
But I think you could maybe pull them off.
Maybe ask AI to put you with Ella Langley's hair.
I had bangs as a child.
OK, well, I think a lot of people did.
I'm not sure that translates.
I understand I have experience in the space.
Sure. Sure, sure, sure.
I don't know.
She's I'm telling you, her bangs are so cute.
I know she's she's really cute.
I like her. I like her a lot.
No, I'm loving her music.
She's like my favorite.
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.
I don't even know why I like one more than the other.
Maybe I just like Ella's music better.
Maybe she's done better collabs because like I love the maybe it's
because it's like, you know, I feel like now musicians like
have to create content, have to create music for social media.
Maybe Ella Langley's just done a good job of that.
Yeah, I don't know.
I like her too.
But like I couldn't name one Megan Moroney song.
I know what she looks like.
I know who she is.
But like I can name Ella Langley's catalog, I feel like.
And I'm not really seeking out either.
I'm not really seeking that out.
No, she's like popping up.
She's popping up all over my stuff.
I like watched one video too long and now it's all that I see.
That's not the worst.
Yeah, especially when it's over something that like you don't want.
No, I hate an overly sensitive algorithm.
Yeah, I know.
There is no more sensitive algorithm though than Facebook Marketplace.
Oh, for sure.
Never forget when I accidentally looked at a reborn doll for her first.
Let me clarify, especially like American Girl dolls.
I'm not on the reborn doll train.
And I looked at one because I'm like, is that a real baby?
And I looked at it for too long.
And then to this day, I still get the occasional reborn doll
on my Facebook Marketplace.
I know.
It's crazy.
Horrible.
It's crazy.
So sensitive.
Yeah, I know.
Okay, Cal.
Well, I feel like that was enough like banter.
We can get into our unless you have anything else you want to say about the
true news, but I do feel like we kind of spilled the hot tea already.
Well, I did screenshot a story to tell you.
Oh, it was about the Subaru Outback.
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.
You can find my tour.
I liked it because I didn't love the wagon look of the last Outback.
And I like wagons.
I don't know.
The Outback just like I thought didn't really do it for me,
but I recognized how people love that car.
Anyway, Outback sales, I think it tanked like 40% or something insane like that.
Crazy.
I know.
And it's like you think like nobody knows their audience better than Subaru.
I mean, there's like, I mean, it's kind of like their stereotype.
Yeah.
And they just didn't.
I wonder how to get away.
We'll do.
Oh my gosh.
Subaru Outback sales fall off a cliff last quarter.
That's what the headline says.
That's what the headline says.
That's tough.
Just to give you a little bit of reference.
Yeah.
I think the getaway will do okay.
You know.
Also, if you're curious to know about the getaway that tours now on YouTube or like
the Kelly's like little first look if you want to go see it because I was excited to see it.
I mean, it's good, right?
Like it's surprising.
You liked it a lot.
Yeah, I did like it a lot.
And you know, I mean, gas prices suck.
So I do people might get back to electric cars for a second.
Oh, you know what else I saw.
Industry knows I saw that Hyundai has their like fix for the power holding seats.
I saw this as well.
And I was getting ready to make a content about it.
I kind of want to get in person and see one.
But essentially it just so Hyundai's can do an over the air up.
It's over the air.
The update.
I don't know.
I don't know either.
I they were going to try to do an over the air update.
So we'll see.
But the fix is that like it's not going to you have to hold the button the whole time
while the seats laying flat, which is good.
And it's crazy because I've critiqued cars in that in the past and I take it back.
I take it back.
Same thing.
I've got the exact same thing.
I'm like so many times we've said on our tours like, oh, it's so annoying to have to hold it.
I like it when they just like go all the way down.
Wow.
Talk about taking back.
Talk about eating crow.
Like I'll eat it all day long.
I'll eat it all.
Yeah.
Salt and pepper it.
I mean, I'm fine.
Like I will.
Yeah.
Hyundai also has like a new recall out.
Like they had to recall like kind of.
And I'm going to do let me say one more thing before we turn to because I'm going to make
it real about this today.
But like if you're used car shopping, you have to be so careful about recalls because
I don't think people realize that cars can be sold with open recalls.
And even something like this stop sale, this Hyundai that we have going on,
you can't buy a 26 Hyundai at a Hyundai store.
But if a Toyota store randomly got one as a trade-in, they can sell it.
So to check recalls, don't you go to NHTSA?
So it should appear like on the Carfax or the auto check, which recalls are there.
But yes, you can also go to NHTSA.
And then like you have to be doubly careful because so there's a
Volkswagen Atlas recall.
And there is it's like on specific, it's on a specific model.
It's not a, I don't remember the year or I would give it to you,
but hopefully I'll remember it in my reel.
But anyway, you go to NHTSA, you type in it, it says Remedy available.
You're like, okay, great.
You call Volkswagen that parts out of stock.
Okay.
Yeah.
So recall should not be, here's what.
Recalls should not be a deal breaker depending on what the recall is.
Because I'm telling you, there are so many recalls and they are free for you to get fixed.
And most of them, most of them are not that big of a deal.
Some of them are very big deal.
So know the difference and know that it's the dealership is probably not going to fix it.
In my experience, I'd like to be wrong, but like, you know, kind of the,
kind of like the business model of a dealership is you just like try to turn and burn these cars
quickly. So like, you know, if they get a Ford X or, you know, we'll keep the Alice example.
If they get an Atlas trade-in, a Toyota store gets an Atlas trade-in,
they run it through their shop, they detail the car, they put it on the lot.
They may not take it to the Volkswagen dealership to get repaired to be sold.
Yeah.
So again, right wrong or indifferent, they don't do it.
That's probably never going to change.
So you need to know that.
You need to know that as the consumer.
Yeah.
Okay, that's your lesson for today, ladies.
All right. Well, let's get into our interview with Wendy.
And also, you guys, before we get into our interview, we just want to let you know that the
interview does contain a lot of talks of fasting, of, you know, not eating till a certain time of day.
And Elizabeth and I, I think are perfect examples of two people who are in very different life phases.
I am totally able physically and emotionally to take on this kind of,
this kind of fast.
This is why I did it, but someone like Elizabeth.
I'm pregnant.
I can't allow myself to get hungry if you're breastfeeding and you need extra calories.
Like now is not your time to fast.
And, um, and that's okay.
So like don't hear that as you should be doing this.
Like you have to do what's best for you in this time of your life.
And for some of you, you might hear this and be like, man, I'm convicted.
I want to try this.
This is the, this is the next step for me.
And some of you might hear this and be like, this feels so out of touch.
Like, how could you even talk about fasting or not eating for a certain amount of time?
We're in different phases of our life and both things are fine.
If it's not for you, you don't have to listen to it.
And I promise this, we are on our way out for me talking about my sugar fast on the podcast.
This is kind of, we wanted to get with it.
This is a good roundabout out.
It is. And we wanted to get her on during lent, but she actually have social media for lent.
So that's why this one's a little bit delayed.
So this is rounded it out.
We're moving on.
The micro hobby is micro hobby that's on the shelf, um, after this interview.
And it really is a fabulous interview.
So we hope you guys enjoy.
Wendy speak.
Welcome to the Carpool podcast.
Thank you.
I'm so excited to be with you guys.
Okay.
So I'm sure everyone knows cause I've done nothing but talk about it.
But I completed a 40, actually technically a 46 day sugar fast that I have continued on
because I have enjoyed so much and, and for some health issues and just the benefits.
And I'm going to, you know, I've talked about it at length, but I found your book,
I guess through, I saw another influencer posting about it.
I can't remember, but you have a book called the 40 day sugar fast.
And I liked this idea because I wanted to give up sugar for lent,
lent's technically 46 days, but Sundays don't count.
So it's like 40 days.
And I'm like, Oh, this could be a really great way to pair, you know, the fact that I wanted
to cut out sugar.
And I wanted to cut out sugar originally because I just wanted to do something really hard
for lent this year.
But I didn't really have the, I didn't really know how that was going to help my faith grow.
I was just like, this is going to be hard.
Let's do something hard.
I want to commit to it.
But your book does such an incredible job.
The fact that it's, so it's a daily devotional and the fact that every single day you can
find a different way to talk about this and to share it from a perspective is super impressive.
So why don't you just tell us a little bit about kind of why you started writing the book
or why you started doing sugar fast in general?
Yes, absolutely.
And I love that your moms and that you speak mostly to moms because it really started in
a conversation to moms.
I was, I was writing for a website for moms with other mom bloggers.
This was back in the blogging days and they were specifically moms struggling with anger,
like just reactive parenting.
And so we, our first book was actually called triggers,
exchanging parents, angry reactions for gentle biblical responses.
And similarly, it's just one short chapter a day and we dealt with one of those triggers
that are causing you to lose it with your kids.
And it was in the same Facebook group that one day I said, Hey, what would happen?
I mean, it wasn't me trying to be super spiritual.
Honestly, when it came out of my mouth, what would happen?
Or I guess out of my fingers because it was in a Facebook group.
What would happen if we sat down in sugar for 40 days?
Would we be calmer?
Would we be kinder?
Would we be more consistent with our kids?
Maybe even more Christlike.
And so I called it, let's do a 40 day sugar fast.
And I really wasn't even thinking of a spiritual fast.
And we were only a week into it.
And just the way we were talking was, okay, instead of turning to another sweet and latte,
instead of turning to a leftover brownie to get us through that three o'clock slump,
what if we are turning to the Lord and then it just became profoundly obvious to like the whole
group, oh, this is a fast.
You're setting down something that's ordinary to fuel you.
And you're turning instead to the one who says, Hey, come to me when you're weary and heavy laden.
Come to me when you're short tempered with your kids.
Come to me.
I'll give you what you need for life and godliness.
I'll give you what you need to get through your days.
I'll give you the rest you need and the supply that you need.
And that was about 12 years ago now.
And since the second year, it became a very focused, oh, this is a spiritual fast.
And we talk very little about sugar.
Instead, we talk more about what am I turning to to get me through my parenting days?
Well, that's where it started.
Now it's just my days.
And I really, I have more women that joined me who were my elder.
Like I get women in their 60s and 70s saying, my doctors told me I should kind of like what you
said, Kelly, you had some health things, but you also wanted to do it spiritually.
And yeah.
And so I've got women that come for the health.
And I'm like, yeah, do it for health, but let's pursue Jesus.
You know, it has been seriously so transformative for me.
And I think what I, so for, I mean, first of all, like just going back to the word of God
itself, like fasting is a very biblical practice.
And I think it's a practice that a lot of Christians and Elizabeth and I are Catholic
Catholic as well.
Don't, don't do all that often.
Like Elizabeth and I outside of like not doing meat on Fridays during Lent.
Like that was the only fasting I had truthfully ever done.
But what I really noticed about it is when you do, and I don't even like to use the word
deprive because that seems dramatic, but when you do cut things out or deprive yourself,
it's kind of like, then you kind of have this like built in reminder of that.
Like when you feel these, when you feel these struggles or these cravings,
you can fill it with something.
It's similar to like how people in the olden days used to like tie string on their finger
to like remember to do something.
Like I liked that when I started to crave something, I was like, okay,
like that's a built in like alarm that I need to, you know, reach for the word of God,
take a moment to like just, just it made me more aware of my entire, my days in my entire life.
Yeah. I totally agree. And there's even a quote in there that says that hunger pangs
are like church bells calling you to prayer.
Oh, obsessed.
Isn't that pretty?
That's not, those aren't my words.
Yeah.
I mean, I quote someone in it.
And I just, I love that because I've learned, I learned so much about fasting in the process
of fasting. And that's one encouragement to your listeners is you don't have to figure this out
before you do it.
Obviously, I wrote the book and I didn't figure it out until I was doing it.
And every, every year, every time that I do this fast, and I have a lot of people that
reach out to me and say, okay, I've done it with you every year for 12 years.
I've done it with you most of those times, but I also do it throughout the year.
And we're all still learning and really we're learning to want God more than we already do.
And so the spiritual disciplines, whether that's tithing or reading your Bible or praying or
serving or fasting, they really just, they're part of our sanctification.
They're part of our growing up.
What I've learned is that we fast to wet our appetite for something sweeter,
especially when we're talking about sugar.
But the same is true with social media.
We fast from social media sometimes just to reawaken our desire to connect with
and get social with God himself, right?
We've got all these people we like, but we've, the one we love takes a backseat.
And so we want to love him most.
So we practice these disciplines to stoke the fire of our affection.
And you can't really be having affection if you don't give him any attention.
And so setting down what it is that has your attention helps to stoke your affection and
your hunger and, I mean, all the metaphors we can mix them up.
Gosh, so when you realize how hard it is to like not look at social media,
I haven't given up sugar yet, but it's something I want to do when I'm not pregnant.
You're like, wow, I have a dependency on, on something that I shouldn't.
It's like probably very, very eye-opening.
It's, it's, it's probably a little freaky.
It's a little, it's a little, I wouldn't say I'm just a little sobering.
It's a little sobering when you're like, and even I wouldn't have described myself as like,
I don't know if I would describe myself as a sugar addict.
Like I wouldn't even say I had a sweet tooth, but I enjoyed sugar at least every day.
And yeah, I mean, I mean, you have so many, I dogeared a couple of pages in the book because
you have so many ways to then, and what I like about the book is you kind of,
you know, it is a very much a cold turkey start, which I think is good because you
kind of have to just detox your way into it.
And the first couple of days are the hardest.
You give great support, I think, in the early chapters of the book.
And then I like that when we get to like, what day did I, this is day 28.
You said, I asked those who are fasting with me to consider giving the money they were not
spending on sweets to a ministry.
And then I'm like, what another like layer of this sugar fast?
Because I love iced honey lattes.
They're my favorite, they were my favorite thing in the world.
And they were like 677 at my coffee shop.
And I was going four to five times a week and now I don't go anymore.
So I'm like, that makes it coffee shop has to close.
Unfortunately.
Yeah, you drinking right now.
So I'll be just donating it to the coffee shop so they stay open.
But I won't be getting one.
But I loved how you, how you build on that.
And then I think I don't remember.
Let me see if that's one of my very favorite days.
Sorry, I interrupted you.
No, you're fine.
That's one of my favorite days.
And because I host this every January in an online group,
and I mean, some years we have like 20,000 people that join.
We do big fundraisers for a specific ministry together.
And then I've actually traveled to Uganda to see what's happened with those fundraising efforts.
And so it's, we, we sat down sugar and God said, okay, I, I, I don't really want your sugar.
I want your life.
And so we have, we've gotten hungrier for him, the things of God,
the intimacy that's available to us.
So, you know, when we don't have a fork in one hand, a phone in the other,
and we're incessantly, you know, just shoving other things, consuming other things,
we start getting hungrier for him.
Yeah.
And then you also, I can't find the chapter off the top of my head,
but then you also kind of take it a level deeper.
And then you encourage, you know, making a shorter eating window or skipping meals even.
Like, you know, once you kind of need to, to challenge,
because there is a level of at least in my, at least in my experience,
I'm sure it's different for everyone.
I felt like after two weeks, it was almost too easy because I,
I wasn't craving the sugar anymore.
And I was kind of missing, and it sounds crazy to say that,
but I was kind of missing the, the struggle, I guess, you know.
So that's where I around week three, I started a more restrictive like diet
for some, for some health reasons, and for this to just, you know,
grow even deeper, I guess.
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
For the spiritual benefits, you want to feel hunger.
And that's why, I mean, most people don't do a sugar fast,
but I think in our culture, it's a, it's a good way to do it because we,
we turn to it so much to feel better, right, to fill our holes.
But we should feel that we're, that we're sacrificing something if we're doing it for
spiritual reasons. And I say that if you don't, if you get lazy, right,
if you're just phoning it in, right, it becomes more of a diet.
And you're resting on the laurels of what you learned spiritually the first two weeks.
That's so true.
I'm going to go whole 40 days.
Yes, I totally agree. And I've been very, like I don't, when I've been telling you about this,
I'm always thrilled to be like, I'm not doing it to lose weight.
I'm doing it, like my number one reason is I'm doing it for spiritual reasons.
I'm also doing it for the reasons of like the, the anger that I felt like I was having.
And I do think the food like wasn't making me,
wasn't making me like the woman that God wanted me, the woman or the mother that God wanted me to be.
But yeah, you're right. You've got to be careful.
For sure.
To not just see it as a diet. I also liked on day, what does this is near the end, day 39,
you haven't had a quote.
But Kelly, Kelly, I actually love it when people sign up to do it because they think it's a diet.
And so often I'll say, I'll get messy because you're people, I've tried everything,
but I'm willing to try your way. And I'm like, Oh, sister.
Yeah.
Like those are my favorite stories.
They're like, Jesus, I'm going back to my whole family.
Yeah, that's amazing.
That's amazing.
Today's episode is brought to you by Quince. If you're following me over on Instagram,
you know that I am decluttering my life and that includes my closet.
And I'm focusing more on quality over quantity.
And this is especially true in my closet, just building a wardrobe of pieces that are made well
versus tile and easy to reach for every day. That's why I keep coming back to Quince.
The fabrics feel elevated, the fits are thoughtful, and the pricing actually makes sense.
Quince makes beautiful everyday pieces using premium materials like 100% linen,
organic cotton and super soft denim with styles starting around $50.
Their spring pieces are lightweight, breathable and effortless.
The kinds of things you can throw on and instantly look put together.
Now that the weather is warming up, I'm very much looking forward to wearing the dresses
that I wore all last summer, which is the 100% organic cotton gauze smocked sleepless maxi dress.
wore them constantly. They were good for breastfeeding because you could just like
easily pull them down and they're loose and comfy and forgiving. So I am going to be able to
able to wear them during my pregnancy. So they are just the dresses that keep on dressing.
Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com slash carpool for free shipping and
365 day returns now available in Canada too. Go to qince.com slash carpool for free shipping
and 365 day returns quince.com slash carpool. Today's episode is brought to you by Alma.
A year from now, who do you hope you've become? Think about that for a second.
What version of yourself are you working toward? Do you notice your anxiety easing or feel more
comfortable in your own skin? Do you hope that your relationships feel more connected and the
weight of grief isn't as heavy? What if that thing that's been quietly sitting in the back of your
mind doesn't take up so much space anymore? The right therapist can help get you there and Alma
will help you find them. Alma offers access to a network of 20,000 therapists with a wide range
of specialties backgrounds and identities in 99% of them except insurance. You deserve to feel
like that future version of yourself in a year is closer than you think. Get started today at
helloalma.com slash carpool. That's helloalma.com slash carpool. C-A-R-P-O-O-L.
I like how you said because now that I've completed the sugar fats, I do kind of feel
like I'm like, okay, so what is life after this fast? I feel really good. I have more energy.
I don't want to go back to who I was. So I'm kind of trying to figure out what my
quote-unquote rules are. And I liked the quote where you said,
instead of setting aside a season to fast, choose seasons not to fast. I thought that was a really
interesting, I thought it was a really interesting perspective. Could you kind of like share more
about what you mean by that or what you would tell someone like me who's finished,
loved it and doesn't really know what to do now? Yes. Let me say I'm going to use the word
fasting here because we could talk about this as a health benefit. And then we can also talk
about it as the spiritual benefit. So as a diet, I would say, hey, how are you sleeping?
Are you physiologically able to be more stable with your kids? You've got energy to get through
your days? Consider that. Your sleep is better. Your emotions are better. Your relationships
are better. Your genes fit better. These are all things to consider. That's great.
And so you would say, okay, as a diet, I think I should probably keep this as how I eat.
I feel better. And I think that's a totally great way to go after this. However, if you're
thinking about, wow, that really intensified my spiritual hunger, then it could be as simple as
I've learned to not eat until 11 a.m. So I can use that or whatever it is. If you need food
because you don't have the energy to start your day with your family, I'm not talking about that.
I mean, choose something that's restrictive to say, I'm not going to open the pantry
until I've spent time in the word of God. And some people love having their frothy mocha in
the morning with their Bible. And so maybe that's part of what you do. But it could be,
I want to experience some hunger for the word. I'm going to do that. Then I'm going to make my
mocha and I'll have maybe I'll journal at that point. So what I've found is instead of
fasting from sugar and calling it fasting from sugar, I just, I want a lifestyle where I crave
things that are healthy, not just physically healthy, but spiritually healthy. And if I know
that I'm running to something sweet so that I don't have to feel my emotions when I'm struggling
with my kids, then I'm missing out on the comfort of God. I'm missing out on
just the practice of seeking him for the answers. Instead of going from sugar high to sugar high,
I start going to the most high and that's the lifestyle I want, not 40 days a year.
And so when I say that I fast from fasting, I say, oh, we're going on a trip, a family trip to
Florida. Oh, we're going to do this. Oh, this holiday. I love making my mother's lemon bars.
I love doing this and the kids, you know, decorate the cookies for this holiday.
And so in a way it's saying, and now we're going to do this, but I've gotten to the point and I'm
52 now. So I've got some years on you where I've just hit this, oh, but when I do that, I end up
feeling sick for like a week. Yeah. And I want to keep doing it every day. Like, oh, and now I want
another brownie and now I want another brownie and oh, we're out. I'm going to eat another dessert.
And so just always check in with yourself both spiritually and physically and say,
where am I today? Yeah, I think that's great advice.
Last question I have for you, which I'm curious just your take, because whenever you talk about,
whenever, when I would share about this, sometimes I kept going back to the Bible
verse from Matthew when it says, when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do. Your
father who sees you sees what is done in secret will reward you. And I'm just curious like your
take on, because I was very, I enjoyed sharing my journey, but I wasn't trying to do it to like
brag what I was doing, but I took comfort and I would hope, I mean, I think I inspired some
people to do it because I got a lot of messages being like, oh, thanks for telling me about this.
Like I did it, it's helped my life so much. So when is it like inspiring and when am I,
or when do people need to keep it to themselves in your opinion?
Yes, I think there are a couple of answers. First of all, there are so many times in the
scriptures where the people of Israel, the people of Judah fast and pray together. It's
a community experience. Catholic Church says, hey, together we're doing this during the season. So
first of all, just like you're not doing it wrong if you're doing it in community.
Okay, love that answer. And there usually is in community, someone leading, right?
And so it's okay to be that leader. One of the things that I do is I do some fast publicly and
I do some fasts privately when God directs my heart in that. And then I also, speaking of the
heart, God really does look at our heart. He really does know our motives there. And so
you are an influencer. That is the term that the world used, the secular world uses it.
But you're also a Catholic and you love the Lord and you want to encourage other women,
mothers, people to also prioritize their faith in this busy season. And this is one of the ways
that you were able to do it. I mean, it might have started more as a, okay, I want to do this
spiritually, but also health wise, you inspired others to actually set down something that was
less good for them and look to the one who's most good for us. And there may be times in the fast
where the Holy Spirit convicted you, Kelly, like, you know what, that lesson, let's keep that you
and me, let's flesh that out a little together. And so you just, you take it back, but I think
it is more about, Hey, I am a good person. I'm a good Christian. I'm a good Catholic because I
do this. And so you take it publicly. If you were to do that, I would say,
that's what the scriptures are talking about. Yeah, it's not inviting other people to discipline
with you. No, that's an excellent answer. And I love just even the examples you brought up how
there's, you can, you can do both like, and it's okay to do fast together with people,
with other women, with other mothers. And then, yeah, I also think, and I think moving forward,
I will take some things privately, especially as my fasts, I think kind of ebb and flow and
change a little bit because also, I don't want people to, because it's also just what works for
me. And I feel like I like the idea of the sugar because that's something that like everyone can
cut out without probably a lot of major health consequences, but more intense fast, like smaller
eating windows or different diets, those are going to be more on like what you can handle
and how you feel. And I could, I think I'll probably keep those more to myself.
But yes, that's what I found for myself as well. And then I, I, because I hear from people,
the spiritual benefits that when I don't want to make it public, I get convicted by the Lord.
Yeah, sorry. You're already seeking me. There's so many people out there that are not. And I want
to tell you, Kelly, when you shared the book, it resonated with your readers. I mean, sorry,
with your listeners, with your followers, whatever you want to call them, your people,
it resonated. And I have no doubt that people came to faith, grew in faith, and shared their
faith with others as a direct result. So like there was really, really deep fruit there.
Well, thank you. And so I'm, I'm so pleased. I mean, I think of you as a co-laborer in this,
not just someone who picked up a book and did it. So I mean, if this is something that you weren't
sure, was it okay if I did this or not? I really, I know that there was fruit there.
Thank you. Thank you. Liz, do you have anything else? You're just going to join us next month?
Yeah, next, next. Are you doing it in January? Next time. And then also,
I do, I do it in January. I'll do it in January. But people, people do it all throughout the year.
The sugar fast I do in January. And then I actually, I wrote two different follow up books.
One is the 40 day social media fast, which actually, so get this, 500,000 people have bought
the sugar fast. Wow. 50,000 people have bought the social media fast. What does that say?
They would rather give them sugar than social media.
Yeah. And I think it's because we're also still in the first generation of
being addicted to our screen. And we can't imagine life without it. So there's, I mean,
we could have a whole conversation. But the other follow up book is called the 40 day feast.
And it really is my favorite because the purpose of fasting is always feasting.
It's feasting on the presence of God, the sweetness of God, the word of God,
the fellowship with other Christians and not running to, like I said, you know,
the pantry or the freezer, you need that when it's the day fork in one hand,
phone in the other, and just consuming, consuming. And so let's feast on the word of God.
And it's just, it's been a joy to end up there. That's been the goal that I didn't know I had.
Wow. Could I give up social media for 40 days?
I saw this. I can't, I can't remember the exact quote, but it was so good. And it was
something along the lines of how like, I scroll through other people's lives instead of living in
my own. Yeah. And that like really, actually that like really stuck with me. It would be hard to
give up social media because it's our job. That's the struggle for, for us. But I remember Kelly
before I logged off is during length, I was off social media and I actually sent you a message
when I saw you sharing. I was like, Oh dude, I want to follow along. So, but I say to people,
well, that's why you were saying on those, what Instagram lives. Okay. I think I'm probably also
not going to do like sugar substitutes. I'm not going to do honey and syrup, right?
And so that's what I tell people to be, I don't give you a to eat or to not eat.
Like take the details to the Lord. And, and so this is back to you Liz
about the social media. It's the same thing. Sure. And so if there are people out there
that make their living being on social media or they feel like God's called them to do ministry
on social media or you have your kids activities like they play soccer and that's a Facebook group
and you need to hop on for this and the teacher sends out messages there. Well, then just figure
out what it is you need and what it is you don't need and then lay down what you don't need. So,
you're not doing the scrolling scrolling. It's like, do you really need to be on social media for four
hours? Yeah, totally. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I do. I do like that you give you. I think in the book
you give enough guidelines while still giving you, but by still letting people choose their own
adventure a bit. And again, I wanted to go really hard because I was really looking. I was like,
I want to be, I want to like, you know, go on my knees to the Lord. Like that's how
challenged I want to be. I was just craving that above anything. I wanted to really have some,
I wanted to be very, very hard and it was. And I, but I can't believe I'm not and I'm like,
not the kind of person like my sister can touch with this. I've never been like,
that disciplined of a person. I'm just not believe it or not. And this I was so disciplined. And
that is because of the Lord because I'm telling you, I'm not naturally like that.
Though there's, there's a little bit of that Catholic guilt that slips in there. You know,
it's like a diet you can, you can cheat on, you can't cheat on. You're really
trying to do it for God. You're like, all right, I can't cheat on this.
Cause like, I'll never have meat on Fridays. Like I, I like during Lin, like I don't do that.
And this felt like every day I couldn't have meat on Fridays. Like I,
I did feel that kind of weight with it where I got a diet. It's like, well, who's watching?
It's like, I don't know, with a sugar fast for the Lord.
Right. Right. I understand that.
So I struggle with that more on social media than with the sugar fast.
Sugar fast is like, Jesus, it's just you. And sometimes I do well on the social media fast.
Sometimes I'm like, Oh, wait a minute, bring it back. Wendy.
It's a little bit more of a gray area there.
So Wendy, before you go, we do a segment called ditch the drive through. So
where we would ask our guests to give us an easy dinner recipe to mix it up,
to get us out of our dinner rut. So after like, you know, a long day of social media fasting,
you got to get dinner on the table. What are you making?
Well, actually, it's when you're not social media fasting, that it's harder to get.
Oh, exactly.
And this is true.
It's like, Oh no, they're hungry and everything's in the freezer.
Yeah, you're right.
This is for like four dinners. Once a week minimum, because I have,
like my youngest is still in high school and he's a water polo player and you can't feed him
enough food. 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.
Usually I would do it whenever young on Mondays and take like the family sized pack,
clean it up if you want. If you're pulling it out of the freezer, that's okay if you're
whatever. And you put the whole pack of chicken breast. I also have started doing it with chicken
thighs, which makes them just fall apart tender. Oh my word. So good. 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.
And yeah, it's it. Yes. And so like I've been into making enchiladas. I've been in, I mean,
you, I use it for any, everything.
Chicken salad. It's anything.
That's a great chicken salad. I love so I need to get back on. I need to do that. And that's a good,
that's a great prep. I mean, that's just that's such an easy hands off prep that then can be
because that's how much time we really have. Like I really only want to spend about
like 30 minute meals. That's too long for me. Like I'm looking for like, I'm looking to combine
ingredients to get dinner together. So I need to, I need to do that. That's a great one. That's a
great one. And you can do the same with beef. When I do it with beef, I'll do something like I'll
put in either a chili or a taco seasoning with the beef broth. So, and then you've got it for
the week. And most of the time it's just, you know, a clump of good seasoned meat on top of
rice for my, for my big eaters. Perfect. And I would do then this, my salad and just put whatever
the meat was on top of that because I'm not a big rice spread pasta girl anymore. It's just
changed over the years. But the other one for ditching the drive through, and this is back to
you, Kelly, about our drinks and those, you know, what did you say? Six, seventy, four.
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. And now like I can't, I can't have a coffee that's not my protein
coffee and you don't need any other sweetener. But you put it in like a basically a blender
or a Vitamix. Yeah, it's, it's, I would turn it to show you on the video, but then it would pour
out. That's a coffee. Yeah. Yeah, you can do that in Vitamix. I don't know why I never thought,
I guess, I guess you do like soups and stuff. Yeah. Okay. Okay. That's a good one. That is a
yeah. Thank you so much. This has been so enlightening. We really appreciate you coming on
and yes, thank you sharing the story. I didn't read the book. I didn't know much about it. So
I'm sure a lot of our listeners like myself enjoyed the conversation. So thank you so much.
Yeah, thank you. Thank you both ladies. Thank you for listening to the carpool podcast with
Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed
riding with us, tell everybody you know there's room in the car for everyone.
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.
Original notes
Guess what happens when you're in and out of the hospital with your kids over a couple of weeks? You get sick. That's where Lizz at this week. Will she ever get a break? Kelly, on the other hand, is 11 weeks into her sugar-free journey and feeling great! So great that she broke down and bought an American Girl doll. However, it's totally a business expense!
Some quick industry news reveals the Mazda leg room lie that Kelly is investigating. They say that the second row has more room, but by her measurements that might not be entirely true. Did she just uncover a massive conspiracy? Plus, Subaru Outback sales are down and Hyundai has a fix for their power folding seats.
Before their interview this week, Kelly and Lizz NEED to chat about the Coachella weekend. Who did they love watching? What are their thoughts on Justin Bieber's controversial performance? This all leads to a very important conversation: Kelly wants Ella Langley bangs.
Then it's on to a conversation with Wendy Speake, author of "The 40-Day Sugar Fast". She talks about how her sugar-free lent journey led to a movement with thousands of people joining in each year. Plus, what she has learned during her sugar-free journey over the years and how you can get started on yours.
The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
The Car Mom LLC / tentwentytwo Projects
0:00
61:43