Episodes

EP 163. What if the most overlooked opportunity in family marketing is sitting at the dinner table? In this episode, I talk with Shannon Amspacher, founder of startup Potluck, a new community-based meal swap app that helps families batch cook and share meals with people they already know and trust, like other parents from school, daycare, faith groups, or local communities. We explore the invisible mental load behind dinner, why traditional convenience solutions don’t go far enough, and what mar...

EP 162. Sarah Panus sits down with Liz Hernandez, Head of Marketing at Faye, to unpack how the brand is helping moms ask for help without guilt. Liz shares how Faye is reimagining personal assistance for families, what tasks busy moms are most eager to outsource, and the surprising mindset barriers that keep many from seeking support. You’ll also hear how Faye builds trust in a deeply personal category, sparks authentic word-of-mouth and organic influencer partnerships without massive budgets, a...

EP 161. What’s really weighing on moms today, and how can brands meaningfully support them instead of adding to the noise? In this episode, Sarah talks with Alyssa Wolff, founder of Unbusy and mom of five, about the invisible mental load moms carry, the emotional and practical pressures they’re juggling, and what marketers can overlook. We unpack why convenience and customization matter, what messaging actually resonates, and how brands can build deeper trust with women who are stretched thin. ...

EP 160. PR is more than press—it’s the visibility that builds credibility and drives sales. In this episode, Sarah Panus talks with Amy Bartko, founder of Chatterbox PR & Marketing, about her PR formula: gain visibility to earn credibility and achieve profitability. Amy shares insider tips for landing media, influencer, and celebrity coverage, plus practical steps brands can take to stop being invisible and start getting noticed. SHOWNOTES BLOG: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/bl...

EP 159. Women 45+ aren’t aging out—they’re powering up, and they move markets. In this episode, Sharon Macey (Mom to MORE®) shows how ditching clichés, using real representation, and messaging function, energy, and joy converts better with midlife decision-makers. We cover how to show up as a partner during reinvention moments (empty nest, caregiving, career pivots, menopause) and what to steal from brands like Dove, Athleta, and Eileen Fisher. Listen to sharpen your strategy, increase conversio...

EP 158. Ever feel like life is just too noisy to connect—at home or in your marketing? Host, Sarah Panus, shares a personal story that started with a hearing test and sparked powerful insights about distraction, parenting, and what it really takes to cut through the noise as a brand. Tune in for three actionable storytelling tips to help your marketing break through busy, distracted audiences and genuinely connect with today’s families; so your audience not only hears you but actually LISTENS. ...

EP 157. Connect with moms in a way that feels real—not forced. Monica Banks, founder of Mom Creators and Gugu Guru, explains the new playbook for influencer marketing. Discover why brands should think in terms of co-creation (not just paid posts), how to find the right mom creators, and the first steps to building your own mom ambassador community. SHOWNOTES BLOG: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/blog/monica-banks-mom-influencer-marketing-communities-episode-157/ NEED TO FIX YOUR...

EP 156. What do moms really need from brands? Spoiler: it's not just more inspiration—it's easier execution! In this episode, host Sarah Panus chats with Virginia Frischkorn, award-winning event planner and founder of Partytrick.com, about the changing needs of moms and how brands can actually help. Dive into real talk about supporting moms at every stage, building authentic brand collaborations, and turning everyday moments into memorable celebrations (without all the stress!). Whether you're a...

EP 155. In today’s increasingly polarized market, understanding your customer base can feel like navigating a minefield. Should brands pick a side, stay neutral, or simply avoid “controversial” topics altogether? On the latest episode of Marketing With Empathy®, I sat down with Chris Peterson—co-founder of LifeMind AI and author of Red and Blue Customers: How to Drive Growth and Manage Risk in Today’s Conservative and Liberal Markets—to discuss how marketers can unlock growth by understanding wo...

Why feelings drive sales. Most marketers focus on data—but people buy based on emotion. Guest Emily Lyman, the Founder & CEO of Branch & Bramble agency, breaks down value-based marketing, the 4 core human values, and how to tweak your messaging to connect and convert with more moms and other customer segments.

EP 153. Messaging fuzzy? Sales slow? Host, Sarah Panus walks through the mistake brands make when trying to fix their message, and how StoryBrand workshops may be just what you need to help you go from foggy to focused in about a week. SHOWNOTES: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/blog/fix-your-messaging-strategy-fast--storybrand-workshop-options-episode-153/ LEARN MORE ABOUT SARAH’S STORYBRAND WORKSHOPS: https://www.kindredspeak.com/storybrand SCHEDULE FREE 30-MIN. DISCOVERY CA...

EP 152. Erik Huberman, CEO of Hawke Media, shares how AI and smart benchmarking are transforming marketing—and what brands need to do to earn moms’ trust and get better results. Discover how Hawke AI uses real-time data to flag wins, spot gaps, and guide your next move. SHOWNOTES: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/blog/stop-guessing-start-benchmarking-your-marketing-with-hawke-ai-episode-152/ SCHEDULE FREE 30-MIN. DISCOVERY CALL WITH SARAH PANUS FOR HELP CREATING CONTENT PLANS TH...

EP 151. Millions of women are navigating perimenopause and menopause—but most brands are oblivious to what they’re going through. OBGYN, Dr. Cat Brown and marketing lead, Brooke Matthews, of ByWinona.com share what women really experience during these seasons and how marketers can better connect with them through empathy, education, and simplicity.

EP 150. Want to sell to mom entrepreneurs? First, you need to understand their juggle. In this episode, host Sarah Panus is joined by business owner and mom Jacqueline Green, of Behind the Design, to dive deep into the daily struggles, desires, and decision-making process of mompreneurs. Learn what they’re balancing, why they crave simplicity and realism, and how your brand can better serve, support, and sell to them. Packed with real-life insights and actionable takeaways, this conversation is a must-listen for marketers looking to connect authentically with mom entrepreneurs.

Moms care about more than parenting-specific brands. Host, Sarah Panus, reveals eight unexpected industries where moms drive purchasing decisions.

EP 148. Inside look at how Nickelodeon approached marketing to moms and kids; capturing hearts and minds. Moms drive purchases of family experiences. Rob Garay is back to share his experiences working with Nickelodeon Recreation, a sector responsible for overseeing Broadway shows, the Nickelodeon Cruise, Nickelodeon Hotel, and other initiatives beyond television production.

EP 147. What's the psychology behind marketing and what questions should we be asking ourselves when we're trying to reach more moms/women versus men? Rob Garay, author of the book Marketing Minds: A Look at Psychology and Marketing, joins Host, Sarah Panus to get Rob’s advice related to the words you use, amount of adjectives, colors and visuals. SHOW NOTES: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/blog/psychology-behind-marketing-to-women-rob-garay-part-1-episode-147/ SCHEDULE FREE 30-...

Local business spotlight: Paul Spring shares his secrets for repeatedly selling out more than 300 children’s events in North Carolina for his Birthday Party Rockstar and Rockstar Bubbles companies. From magic to foam; texting to google reviews; Facebook groups to local mommy blogs; referrals to repeat business – learn how Paul’s successfully selling to more moms.

EP 145. Moms are on the move all the time, so mobile marketing is important for your brand. Jennie Lewis of Airship, joins Sarah in this episode to talk about ways to improve brand apps and the mobile web experience. What to look for and ask for in the first 30 days + other factors like metrics and cross-channel integrations to consider to better serve your mom customers via their cell phones. SHOW NOTES: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/blog/mobile-marketing-to-moms-with-jennie-l...

EP 144. “What should we talk about this year?” To help answer this in your content marketing plans, Sarah Panus teaches you how to pick your brand’s 3 storytelling pillars – and shares her own new company pillars. LEARN: Why 3 is the magic number. What phase of the content planning process you pick these? How and where to use them to more easily build an annual content calendar that markets with more empathy. SHOW NOTES: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/blog/my-3-storytelling-pill...

EP 143. Award-winning visual storyteller and agency owner, Matt Cornelison of FUNGI Media, shares ways brands can engage moms with enriching video content marketing. Listen to hear about 3 brands doing this well, employees as influencers, the perfect recipe of convenience + enriching or entertaining content, humor moms appreciate, shared content libraries, and ways to repurpose content via videos. SHOW NOTES: https://www.podpage.com/marketing-with-empathy/blog/engage-moms-with-enriching-video-c...

EP 142. Moms decide what she and others around her eat. Guest, Lisa Mastela, MPH, RD is the CEO of Bumpin Blends, frozen smoothie cubes that caters to moms. Lisa launched the company during maternity leave from her garage & has grown it into a 7-figure business available online, in Costco and 3,000+ stores. Originally launched for pregnant women, Bumpin Blends has expanded to cater to moms and families everywhere. Lisa shares crucial insights including the delicate art of niching without alienat...

EP 141. Women make a majority of decisions in the home industry. There’s a lot of products and services sold in the home industry from interior designers to manufacturers and retailers. So what marketing and storytelling works best in the home industry? Home expert and agency owner, Ericka Saurit, walks us through her E3 Storytelling Framework. How to differentiate your products and services in a sea of sameness, so you can grow your brand with empathy. SHOW NOTES: https://www.podpage.com/marke...

SEO techniques to help your brand better reach and engage more mom customers. Guest, Lorianna Sprague is an SEO expert and founder and CEO of Upfront Mktg, and joins host, Sarah Panus, to share tips to think about in your brand’s SEO practices to better capture the attention of moms. Moms control a significant portion of household purchases, making them a critical audience for many brands. Tune in to explore how your brand can leverage SEO to reach these influential consumers, discussing strategies like keyword optimization, local SEO, importance of mobile with moms, and creating authentic, valuable content, so you can grow your brand with empathy.