What do baseball, parenting, and real life have in common?

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with Ken Davidoff, longtime Major League Baseball journalist and educator, and Dr. Harley A. Rotbart, nationally renowned pediatrician, parenting expert, and youth coach, to talk about their new book, 101 Lessons from the Dugout.

Together, they explore how lessons from baseball and softball translate into life skills young adults desperately need today — resilience, confidence, patience, empathy, and perspective — especially in a world shaped by social media pressure, comparison, burnout, and constant noise.

This conversation is for parents, coaches, educators, and anyone raising kids who feel overwhelmed, behind, or unsure of themselves.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why youth sports teach failure better than school or society
• How pressure and comparison impact kids’ mental health
• What parents get wrong about success — and what matters more
• How to help kids build confidence without tying worth to performance
• Why everyday moments matter more than trophies or stats
• How to teach kids to block out noise, labels, and criticism
• What empathy, teamwork, and presence really look like in real life

About the Guests

Ken Davidoff is a longtime Major League Baseball journalist, former president of the Baseball Writers Association of America, and an adjunct professor of journalism. He has covered professional sports for more than 30 years and now focuses on mentoring young adults through writing and education.

Dr. Harley A. Rotbart, also known as “Coach Harley,” is a nationally renowned pediatrician, parenting expert, speaker, and author. He has coached youth sports for decades and has written extensively on parenting, child development, and family life.

Resources & Links

• 📘 101 Lessons from the Dugout: What Baseball and Softball Can Teach Us About the Game of Life
  👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/9798765163009
• 🌐 Dr. Harley Rotbart: https://www.harleyrotbart.com
• 🌐 No Regrets Parenting: https://www.noregretsparenting.com
• 🐦 Ken Davidoff on X (Twitter): https://x.com/KenDavidoff
• 🎧 Follow The Running Wine Mom: https://www.instagram.com/therunningwinemom_

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with DJ Raphi (Raphael Nathan), a global kids DJ, performer, and content creator whose music and movement-based videos have reached millions of families worldwide.

DJ Raphi shares his powerful journey from Johannesburg to Jerusalem — and now to stages across the U.S. — including his 2026 U.S. Tour with an upcoming Philadelphia stop. Together, they explore how dance became his universal language, why creative play is essential for kids’ emotional health, and how becoming a father of twins changed the way he creates content for children.

This conversation goes beyond entertainment, touching on grief, resilience, parenting, mental health, bullying, and the behind-the-scenes reality of being a family-focused content creator. DJ Raphi opens up about loss, motivation, discipline, and why movement helps kids (and adults) release anxiety and reconnect with joy.

If you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver looking for meaningful screen-friendly content — or someone who believes play is a powerful emotional tool — this episode is for you.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• DJ Raphi’s journey from South Africa to Israel to global stages
• How dance and movement act as a universal language
• Why kids absorb joy and learning differently than adults
• The role of music and movement in kids’ emotional regulation
• Parenting twins while building a global brand
• Preparing physically and mentally for a live tour
• Grief, resilience, and honoring his mother’s legacy
• Misconceptions about being a content creator for kids
• Why creative play isn’t extra — it’s essential

Links & Resources:

• DJ Raphi Official Website: https://djraphi.com
• DJ Raphi Tour Dates (including Philadelphia): https://djraphi.com/tour
• DJ Raphi on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DJRaphi
• DJ Raphi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6n9tX2DJRaphi
• Follow Samantha: https://www.instagram.com/therunningwinemom_

There’s a moment in parenting-usually somewhere between your baby’s first roll and their first fearless climb, when you realize your home isn’t as safe as you thought.

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with Jessica D'Argenio Waller from Consumer Reports to break down what actually matters when it comes to babyproofing—without fear, guilt, or overwhelm.

Jessica shares behind-the-scenes insight from Consumer Reports’ newest testing on babyproofing products, including cabinet locks, safety gates, stove knob covers, and more. Together, they discuss how to think about safety room by room and age by age, why prevention matters more than reaction, and how parents can protect their kids without trying to bubble-wrap their lives.

This conversation is equal parts practical, reassuring, and empowering—and a must-listen for parents of babies and toddlers.

In this episode, we cover:

• When babyproofing should really begin (hint: earlier than crawling)
• The highest-risk rooms in your home for babies and toddlers
• What Consumer Reports testing revealed about common babyproofing products
• Low-cost, high-impact safety changes parents often overlook
• How to avoid the false sense of security that can come with babyproofing
• Why safety is about preparation—not perfection

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Consumer Reports Babyproofing Checklist:
  👉 https://www.consumerreports.org/babyproofing/babyproofing-checklist-baby-safety-guide-a3304634900/
• Explore Consumer Reports with my link:
  👉 www.CR.org/therunningwinemom
• Follow Jessica Dargenio Waller at Consumer Reports:
  👉 https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/jessica-dargenio-waller/

If this episode helped you feel more confident—or just a little less overwhelmed—share it with another parent who needs that reassurance.

In this powerful episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with journalist, filmmaker, and two-time breast cancer survivor Athena Jones for an honest conversation about early detection, self-advocacy, and the racial disparities Black women face in breast cancer outcomes.

Diagnosed twice before the age of 40, Athena shares how a baseline mammogram — offered years before standard screening guidelines — changed the course of her life. She opens up about navigating cancer while advancing her career, losing her mother, and learning to trust her body when something didn’t feel right.

Together, Samantha and Athena explore why breast cancer is often diagnosed younger in Black women, how systemic barriers impact early detection, and what “better” could look like in the future — including risk-based screening and emerging AI tools in healthcare.

This episode is a reminder to listen to your body, ask better questions, and never stop advocating for yourself.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why early detection is critical — especially for women under 40
• How a baseline mammogram helped catch cancer at Stage 0
• The emotional and mental toll of a second breast cancer diagnosis
• Why breast cancer outcomes are worse for Black women — and why
• Barriers to screening: insurance, guidelines, bias, and access
• What self-advocacy in healthcare really looks like
• How community and support can change treatment decisions
• What gives hope for the future of breast cancer care

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Athena Jones on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamathenajones
• Sisters’ Keepers Documentary (in production): https://www.sisterskeepersdoc.com
• Susan G. Komen Foundation: https://www.komen.org
• The Running Wine Mom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningwinemom

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, host Samantha Cieslinski sits down with author, media executive, and joy advocate Meaghan Murphy for a deeply honest and energizing conversation about motherhood, boundaries, mental health, and breast cancer prevention.

Meaghan shares her journey from anxiety and eating disorder recovery to becoming a leader in positive psychology and wellness. She opens up about her decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after discovering a genetic cancer risk, why being your own health advocate matters, and how small daily practices like gratitude, movement, and joy can truly rewire your brain.

Together, Samantha and Meaghan talk about parenting teens, menopause, redefining fitness, setting boundaries without guilt, and what it really means to live a “fully charged life” — even when things feel hard.

This episode is a must-listen for moms, women navigating health decisions, and anyone craving more joy, clarity, and intention in everyday life.

Topics Covered

• Living a “fully charged life” without toxic positivity
• Setting boundaries and protecting your time
• Motherhood, teens, and letting go
• Fitness through menopause and body changes
• Gratitude as a science-backed mental health tool
• Breast cancer genetics, prevention, and advocacy
• What it means to be a breast cancer previvor
• Choosing joy on purpose — even on hard days

Guest Links

• Website: https://meaghanbmurphy.com
• Book: Your Fully Charged Life – https://meaghanbmurphy.com/book/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meaghanbmurphy
• Substack: https://meaghanbmurphy.substack.com

Host Links

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningwinemom_

Today’s episode is brought to you by High Camp Flasks — beautifully designed, stainless-steel flasks made for people who love good wine and real life. Perfect for picnics, beach days, hikes, or that well-earned sip after a long day, High Camp keeps your wine cold, protected, and tasting the way it should. Elevated, durable, and made for moments worth savoring.

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In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, host Samantha Cieslinski sits down with Robyn Roth, breast radiologist, mom of three, and the creator of The Boobie Docs.

Robyn joins the show on the release day of her children’s book, Everyone Has Boobies!, a heartwarming and humorous story designed to help families talk openly about bodies, anatomy, and breast health—without fear or shame.

Together, Samantha and Robyn explore how early body normalization protects kids later in life, why humor is such a powerful educational tool, and how parents can confidently guide conversations around anatomy, autonomy, and health. Robyn also opens up about motherhood, postpartum depression, misinformation on social media, and what it really means to reclaim your spark after becoming a parent.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Why normalizing body parts early builds confidence and safety
• How humor helps break fear around breast health and cancer
• The personal story that inspired Everyone Has Boobies!
• How parents can talk to kids about anatomy without shame
• What most people misunderstand about breast cancer risk
• Navigating misinformation online as a medical professional
• Parenting, postpartum identity shifts, and rediscovering creativity

Resources & Links:

• 📘 Everyone Has Boobies! (Book): https://everyonehasboobies.com/
• 🌸 The Boobie Docs: https://theboobiedocs.com/
• 📸 Follow Robyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theboobiedocs
• 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to The Running Wine Mom

If this episode resonated, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it — especially someone raising kids in a body-aware world.

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In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with Melissa Urban, co-creator of the Whole30, to talk about far more than food rules. Together, they unpack why January resets work, how busy moms can simplify Whole30 without burnout, and why boundaries—around food, family, and expectations—are the real key to long-term wellness.

Melissa shares her powerful personal journey from addiction recovery to wellness leadership, explains how Whole30 is a personalized experiment (not a diet), and walks listeners through how food freedom actually works in real life. This conversation is for moms who want clarity, confidence, and self-trust—not punishment or perfection.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Whole30 works as a reset, not a diet
• How to simplify Whole30 for busy moms
• Why January 5th is the official Whole30 start date
• How boundaries support health, parenting, and mental wellness
• The difference between “surviving” Whole30 and transforming your relationship with food
• How to move from restriction to food freedom
• Why motivation isn’t required to build lasting habits
• How Whole30 supports confidence, self-trust, and emotional regulation

Notable Quotes

Resources & Links

• 🌿 Whole30 Official Site: https://whole30.com
• 📅 January Whole30 Start Date: January 5
• 🧠 Melissa Urban on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissau
• 🍽 Whole30-Approved Brands Mentioned:
  • Primal Kitchen: https://www.primalkitchen.com
  • Tessemae’s: https://www.tessemaes.com
• 🌯 Whole30 at Chipotle: https://www.chipotle.com/whole30

Connect with the Host

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningwinemom_
• Podcast: The Running Wine Mom

Today’s episode is brought to you by LushLife.ai, an AI-powered shopping assistant built specifically for parents.

LushLife.ai helps take the stress out of shopping by delivering trusted, ad-free, retailer-agnostic recommendations for baby and toddler essentials. Every product is vetted and curated with real parents in mind — no sponsored placements, no endless scrolling.

By handling the research, comparisons, and filtering for you, LushLife.ai saves hours of time and reduces mental load for busy families. Registered users can also save searches, create wishlists and baby registries, and track products as their family grows.

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In today’s episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with legendary New York Times sports columnist and bestselling author Harvey Araton to celebrate the release of his new middle-grade novel, The Goal of the Game. Together, they explore youth sports culture, burnout, identity, pressure, and the pure joy behind why kids—and adults—play.

Harvey shares personal stories from his decades covering the Olympics, Wimbledon, the NBA, and iconic athletes like Michael Jordan, while also reflecting on his own playing days, parenting, and how writing for middle-grade readers reshaped his creative process.

If you’re raising a young athlete, navigating the youth sports world, or remembering why you fell in love with a game—this episode will hit home.

What We Cover

• Why Harvey shifted from journalism to middle-grade fiction
• The real purpose of youth sports (and how far culture has drifted)
• Overtraining, pressure, and the staggering dropout rate in youth sports
• How elite athletes shaped his understanding of talent and identity
• The moment Harvey shared live, on deadline, with his son during Michael Jordan’s final championship
• How adults can reclaim “play” in everyday life
• What he hopes kids (and parents) take from The Goal of the Game

This Week’s Sponsor: El Tule Restaurant — Lambertville, NJ
Authentic Peruvian + Mexican cuisine with the best margaritas in Bucks County. Perfect for date night, girls night, or a post-sports-practice treat.
👉 https://eltulerestaurant.com/

Harvey’s New Book

📘 The Goal of the Game (Middle Grade Novel)
A story about soccer, friendship, pressure, and finding joy again.
👉 https://a.co/d/2hDk8zc

Where to Find Harvey Araton: harveyaraton.com

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, coach, or young athlete who might need the reminder: Play for the love of the game.
Follow Samantha on Instagram: @therunningwinemom_