Marketing With Empathy

Marketing With Empathy® is the show for brands who want to win the hearts (and carts) of today’s busy families — and earn a trusted spot in their homes. In most households, moms still influence or control 85% of what ends up in the cart — making them a key voice to understand when marketing to families. Join host and 20+ year content strategist, Sarah Panus, as she shares ideas, stories, and strategies to grow your leads and sales. Top 5% of all podcasts and a proud member of the Marketing Podcast Network.

163. How Startup Potluck Reimagines Dinner for Moms – Shannon Amspacher

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 marketers can learn about building trust-based, empathy-driven products that solve real everyday pressures for moms.

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162. Faye Helps Moms Ask for Help Without Guilt

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, and communicates value in a way that feels empowering instead of pressure-filled. A must-listen for marketers who want to serve moms with empathy while driving real growth. 

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161. Mental Load of Moms & How Brands Can Help | Alyssa Wolff

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.

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160. PR Formula to Stop Being Invisible | Amy Bartko

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. 

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159. Women 45+ Aren’t Aging Out— They’re Powering Up | Sharon Macey

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 conversion, and earn decades-long loyalty. 

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158. Thought I Was Going Deaf. Turns Out, I’m Just Distracted.

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.

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157. Next Era Influencer Marketing: Co-Create With Moms – Monica Banks

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…

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156. Partytrick Makes Event Planning Effortless for Busy Moms & Brands – Virginia Frischkorn

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 marketer, founder, or curious parent, you’ll walk away with actionable insights for connecting with moms, making their lives easier, and earning their loyalty. Get ready to rethink your content strategy—and maybe plan your next get-together with this party planner in your pocket.

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155. Red vs. Blue Customers: Drive Growth with this Non-Political Approach

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 worldviews, not politics. Here’s a guide to what every marketing team should know about connecting meaningfully (and safely) with diverse audiences.

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154. The Emotional Side of Value-Based Marketing – Emily Lyman

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. 

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