Can wine teach us something about parenting—and about life?

This week on The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with author, former Hollywood publicist, and Moët Hennessy executive Danielle Frank to discuss career pivots, resilience, luxury branding, and why humor might be one of the greatest parenting tools of all.

Although Danielle isn't a parent herself, her bestselling book, A Wine Lover's Guide to Parenting, offers a refreshingly funny and surprisingly insightful perspective on raising kind, resilient children. Drawing from years in the wine industry and her experience as the beloved "Aunt Danielle," she explores how wine terminology can become memorable lessons for parenting—and for life.

The conversation also dives into Danielle's remarkable career journey from Miramax to Moët Hennessy, leaving behind a toxic work environment, embracing life's unexpected pivots, and learning that success isn't about perfection—it's about finding alignment.

Whether you're a wine lover, a parent, or simply someone navigating change, this episode is filled with humor, wisdom, and practical life lessons you'll want to savor.

In This Episode

🍷 Danielle's favorite wine from a recent trip to Spain

🎬 What Hollywood taught her about storytelling

🍾 The surprising similarities between luxury brands and parenting

❤️ Why leaving the "wrong" relationship changed her life

📖 The inspiration behind A Wine Lover's Guide to Parenting

💼 Transitioning from Miramax to a 22-year career in wine

🥂 Working behind the scenes at Moët Hennessy

✨ Why pivots often lead us where we're meant to be

😂 The hilarious parenting lessons hidden inside wine terminology

🍇 Why humor can help parents survive the hardest days

Memorable Quotes

Mentioned in This Episode

• A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting
• Moët Hennessy
• Miramax
• Bacardi

Connect with Danielle Frank

• Website: https://daniellefrankauthor.com
• Instagram: @createthegreatstory
• Book: A Wine Lover's Guide to Parenting

Connect with Samantha

🌐 Website: The Running Wine Mom

📸 Instagram: @therunningwinemom_

🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday

If You Loved This Episode...

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another parent (or wine lover!) who could use a reminder that life doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful.

Cheers! 🍷

From Filmmaker to Honest Mum: How Vicki Broadbent Built a Global Brand While Raising Three Kids

What happens when an award-winning filmmaker becomes one of the world's first parenting bloggers?

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with Vicki Broadbent, creator of Honest Mum, author of The Working Mom (formerly Mumboss in the UK), television personality, and advocate for maternal rights.

Vicki shares her journey from directing films and television to becoming one of the UK's original digital creators. Together, they discuss the realities of motherhood, imposter syndrome, birth trauma, work-life balance, content creation, and why women need to stop waiting for permission to pursue their dreams.

Vicki also opens up about raising three children with a large age gap, recovering from a serious back injury, navigating confidence after motherhood, and writing her newest children's book, Greek Myths: Folktales and Legends.

Whether you're a parent, entrepreneur, creator, or simply someone trying to juggle life's many roles, this conversation is packed with wisdom, honesty, and encouragement.

In This Episode

• How motherhood changed Vicki's career trajectory
• Why going from zero to one child was the hardest transition
• Recovering from a severe back injury while parenting three children
• The truth about imposter syndrome and confidence
• Why Vicki dislikes the term "mompreneur"
• Growing Honest Mum into a globally recognized brand
• Building a career during the early days of blogging
• The importance of therapy, healing, and self-care
• Content creation tips directly from Meta's Creator Program
• Social media growth strategies that actually work
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• The inspiration behind Greek Myths: Folktales and Legends
• The myth of Persephone and why it resonates with mothers
• Raising confident children while pursuing ambitious goals
• Advice for moms who feel overwhelmed and behind

Memorable Quotes

Connect with Vicki Broadbent

Honest Mum

Honest Mum

Instagram

Instagram @honestmum

Book: Greek Myths, Folktales & Legends

Greek Myths, Folktales & Legends

Connect with The Running Wine Mom

Website

The Running Wine Mom

Instagram

Instagram @therunningwinemom_

Kids Skincare, Sunscreen & the Truth About Sephora Routines with Dr. Angela Casey

Skincare has become a full-blown trend among kids and tweens, but how much of it is actually helping—and how much could be causing harm?

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with dermatologist, skin cancer surgeon, and Bright Girl founder Dr. Angela Casey to separate fact from fiction when it comes to youth skincare. From the rise of "Sephora Kids" to sunscreen myths, acne struggles, and building healthy habits that last a lifetime, this conversation is packed with practical advice every parent needs to hear.

Dr. Casey shares insights from her work as Head of Dermatologic Surgery at OhioHealth, her role on the Forbes Health Advisory Board, and her mission to help families simplify skincare while protecting long-term skin health.

Whether you're raising toddlers, tweens, or teens, you'll walk away knowing exactly what products matter, what ingredients to avoid, and why sunscreen remains the most important skincare product of all.

In This Episode

✔️ Why kids don't need complicated skincare routines

✔️ The truth about retinol, acids, and viral Sephora trends

✔️ What parents should know about skin cancer prevention

✔️ How skincare habits compare to brushing your teeth

✔️ The biggest skincare mistakes parents are making

✔️ Why sunscreen is still the gold standard

✔️ How social media is influencing children's self-image

✔️ What healthy skincare should look like at every age

✔️ The inspiration behind Bright Girl

✔️ The role of prevention in lifelong skin health

Memorable Quotes

Resources & Links

• Bright Girl Skincare
• OhioHealth – Dr. Angela Casey
• Forbes Health Advisory Board Profile
• The Running Wine Mom Website

Connect

Follow Samantha on Instagram:

@TheRunningWineMom_

Follow Bright Girl:

@BrightGirlBeauty

From Mom Hack to Shark Tank: Beth Benike's Journey with Busy Baby

What happens when a frustrated mom decides there has to be a better way?

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with entrepreneur, veteran, and Busy Baby founder Beth Benike. What started as a simple solution to keep toys off the restaurant floor turned into a patented product line, a successful business, and an appearance on Shark Tank.

Beth shares the real story behind Busy Baby, from inventing her first prototype while pumping during her commute to building a nationally recognized brand while raising young children. She also opens up about serving in the military, navigating entrepreneurship, balancing motherhood, and why helping moms find a little more peace in their day continues to drive her mission.

Whether you're a parent looking for practical solutions, a mom with a business idea, or someone who loves hearing stories of resilience and innovation, this conversation is packed with inspiration and actionable insights.

In This Episode

🍷 How a chaotic lunch with toddlers inspired the Busy Baby Mat

🍷 The surprising prototype made from a breast pump flange and silicone caulk

🍷 How military service prepared Beth for entrepreneurship

🍷 The challenges of launching a product from scratch

🍷 What really happens behind the scenes on Shark Tank

🍷 Why Beth turned down a Shark Tank deal

🍷 Lessons on motherhood, balance, and family time

🍷 The impact of the SMI Foundation and supporting military families

🍷 Why small moments of ease matter so much for moms

About Beth Benike

Beth Benike is the founder and CEO of Busy Baby, creator of the patented Busy Baby Mat and a growing line of products designed to keep baby essentials within reach and off the floor. A U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and mother, Beth has built a business focused on making everyday life easier for families while mentoring other women entrepreneurs and supporting military families through the SMI Foundation.

Resources & Links

Busy Baby

Busy Baby Official Website

Shop Busy Baby Products

Busy Baby Mats & Accessories

Learn More About Beth

About Beth Benike

Shark Tank Feature

Busy Baby on Shark Tank

SMI Foundation

SMI Foundation Board Profile

Follow Samantha

The Running Wine Mom Website

What if the secret to fewer power struggles, better behavior, and a stronger connection with your child isn't another parenting hack—but play?

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with licensed therapist, registered play therapist, professor, podcast host, and author Dr. Kim Van Dusen to discuss her new book, Parenting Through Play. Together, they unpack why play is one of the most overlooked parenting tools, how it helps children communicate emotions, and practical ways parents can use playful strategies to navigate tantrums, sibling conflicts, picky eating, transitions, and everyday family stress.

Dr. Kim shares the science behind play therapy, the inspiration behind becoming The Parentologist, and why connection—not punishment—is often the missing piece when parents feel stuck. She also offers simple play-based techniques that can be implemented immediately, even by busy, exhausted parents.

Whether you're raising toddlers, navigating the tween years, or supporting a neurodivergent child, this conversation is packed with practical tools that can help bring more peace and connection into your home.

In This Episode:

• Why play is a child's primary language
• The difference between connection-based parenting and permissive parenting
• How playful parenting reduces power struggles and tantrums
• Strategies for picky eaters and difficult transitions
• The "Do-Over Method" for correcting behavior without shame
• How play supports children with ADHD, autism, and sensory differences
• Practical ways to strengthen parent-child connection in under five minutes
• Why discipline works better when it's built on trust and attachment
• Behind-the-scenes of writing Parenting Through Play
• Lessons from nearly 20 years as a child therapist and play therapist

Connect with Dr. Kim Van Dusen

Website: The Parentologist

Instagram: @theparentologist

Podcast: The Parentologist Podcast

Book: Parenting Through Play

This week on The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with New York Times bestselling author Annabel Monaghan for an honest conversation about motherhood, caregiving, burnout, love, and the invisible mental load women carry every single day.

Annabel shares the inspiration behind her newest novel, Dolly All the Time — a story about a single mom juggling work, family, financial stress, and caregiving while slowly learning how to stop carrying everything alone. Samantha and Annabel dive into the “curse of capability,” why moms struggle to ask for help, and how women often become the emotional managers of their entire families.

They also talk about:

• Why romance shouldn’t magically fix a woman’s life
• Fake dating, family pressure, and financial stress in fiction
• The emotional reality of caregiving
• Raising capable kids instead of over-functioning for them
• The mental load moms carry every day
• Why women relate so deeply to Dolly’s story
• The famous “pants” mantra from the book
• Writing chemistry and emotional intimacy
• Rhode Island as the perfect summer-book setting

If you’ve ever felt like the default parent, the family planner, the emergency contact, or the one holding everything together — this episode will hit home.

Follow Annabel

• Website: annabelmonaghan.com
• Instagram: @annabelmonaghan

Follow Samantha

• Instagram: @therunningwinemom_

Books Mentioned

• Dolly All the Time
• Nora Goes Off Script
• Summer Romance

What actually is homeopathy — and why are so many parents curious about it right now?

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with homeopath and educator Marcus Fernandez to talk about natural healing, parenting instincts, nervous system overload, and how families can feel more confident navigating everyday illnesses.

Marcus is the founder of the Center for Homeopathic Education and creator of Homeopathy at Home, a program designed to help families use homeopathy in practical, everyday life.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• What homeopathy actually is
• The biggest misconceptions surrounding it
• How stress impacts healing
• Why parents panic during illness
• The connection between resilience and health
• Three remedies Marcus believes every household should keep on hand
• Why moms should trust their instincts more

Marcus also shares his personal journey from aspiring rock musician to becoming one of the leading educators in homeopathy.

Whether you’re fully immersed in holistic wellness or simply curious about alternative approaches, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation about parenting, healing, and slowing down enough to ask better questions.

Resources & Links

• Marcus Fernandez Official Website
• Center for Homeopathic Education
• Homeopathy at Home Book & Resources
• Free Home Prescriber Course

Connect with Samantha

• Instagram: @therunningwinemom_

What actually happens to returned baby gear?

Most parents assume it goes right back on the shelf. But according to Ben Norment, founder and CEO of Stork Exchange, that’s usually not the case.

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with Ben to talk about the hidden world of open-box baby gear, how major brands handle returns, and why recommerce is becoming one of the smartest ways for families to save money without sacrificing quality or safety.

Ben shares how Stork Exchange partners directly with baby gear brands to inspect, grade, and recirculate premium open-box and overstock products — keeping thousands of pounds of perfectly usable gear out of landfills while helping parents access high-end products at lower prices.

The conversation also dives into parenting identity shifts, the mental load of baby gear, building systems that actually work for families, and the emotional reality of raising three kids under five while running a fast-growing company.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What happens to returned strollers, bassinets, and car seats
• The difference between open-box, overstock, and secondhand baby gear
• How Stork Exchange inspects and grades products for safety
• Why baby gear waste is a massive hidden problem
• How recommerce is helping families save money
• The emotional side of parenting and “gear overwhelm”
• Why parents should stop shopping after 9 p.m.
• The reality of raising three kids under five
• The parenting products Ben regrets buying
• The products he would buy again immediately
• Why community and sharing resources may be the future of parenting

Connect with Ben & Stork Exchange

• Website: Stork Exchange
• How It Works: Stork Exchange How It Works
• Instagram: @stork.exchange

Follow Samantha & The Running Wine Mom

• Instagram: The Running Wine Mom Instagram