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_

In this powerful episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with bestselling author, speaker, and personal development coach Andrea Owen for a deeply honest conversation about identity, motherhood, shame, sobriety, and what it truly means to live like you give a damn.

Andrea opens up about the moment she stopped living on autopilot, the bold moves that changed her life, how to navigate the inner critic, and why so many moms lose themselves in the survival mode of everyday parenting. Together, Samantha and Andrea explore relatable stories, hard truths, and the surprising beauty of choosing yourself—even when it feels impossible.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, disconnected from your joy, burnt out, or quietly questioning your relationship with alcohol… this episode is a gentle but direct invitation to come home to yourself.

⭐ WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE

• The moment Andrea realized she was done living on autopilot
• Why “knowing better” is different than “doing differently” (and how moms can bridge that gap)
• The boldest and hardest move from her book Live Like You Give a Damn
• How shame and self-sabotage show up uniquely in motherhood
• Relatable mom stories that reveal deeper emotional patterns
• How to quiet the inner critic during chaotic mom moments
• Why so many moms can’t identify their joy anymore—and how to rediscover it
• The culture of wine-mom humor vs. the reality of sober curiosity
• Andrea’s candid take on sobriety in motherhood
• How moms can model assertiveness, boundaries, and “making noise” for their kids
• The small daily shifts that create massive personal change
• The one thing Andrea hopes every listener will take from this episode

⭐ LINKS & RESOURCES

Learn more about Andrea Owen:
🔗 Website — https://andreaowen.com/
🔗 Books — https://andreaowen.com/books/
🔗 Live Like You Give a Damn — https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781649633668/livelikeyougiveadamn/
🔗 How to Stop Feeling Like Sht* — https://andreaowen.com/htsfyls/
🔗 52 Ways to Live a Kickass Life — https://andreaowen.com/books/
🔗 Speaking & Events — https://www.a-speakers.com/speakers/andrea-owen/
🔗 Habits Course — https://andreaowen.com/habits-course/

Connect with Samantha:
🔗 Instagram — https://instagram.com/therunningwinemom
🔗 TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@therunningwinemom
🔗 Newsletter —https://substack.com/@therunningwinemom
🔗 Podcast Website — www.therunningwinemom.com

⭐ QUOTABLE MOMENTS

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who might need a reminder that she’s allowed to take up space, set boundaries, and rediscover her joy.
And don’t forget to follow the show and leave a review — it helps more moms find conversations like this one.

In this jam-packed, practical, and surprisingly fun episode, Samantha sits down with functional nutritionist and inflammation specialist Christa Biegler for a deep—yet totally doable—conversation on staying healthy through the chaos of the holiday season.

Christa breaks down how stress really impacts the immune system, why digestion and cortisol can tank this time of year, and the small five-minutes-or-less habits that actually make a difference.

They dive into mouth taping, immunoglobulins, circadian rhythm disruption, seasonal foods, digestion hacks, electrolyte balance, PCOS inflammation links, and the realities of parenting in high-stress seasons.

By the end, you’ll walk away with realistic strategies, grounded science, and permission to simplify your health goals during the busiest time of year.

🔗 Links Mentioned in the Episode

Christa Biegler
• Website: https://www.christabiegler.com
• About Christa: https://www.christabiegler.com/about
• Book – The Eczema Relief Diet & Cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085DKC7Y6
• Podcast – The Less Stressed Life: https://www.lessstressedlife.com

Brands, Tools & Resources Discussed
• Ladder Fitness App: https://www.joinladder.com
• Davidson’s Organics Tea (Christmas Tea): https://www.davidsonstea.com
• Good Earth “Sweet & Spicy” Tea: https://www.goodearth.com
• Immunoglobulin supplement info (ImmunoLin®): https://www.enteranutritionals.com/immunolin
• Full-spectrum light therapy lamps: search “10,000 lux light” on Amazon
• Dead Sea / Epsom salts for recovery
• Mouth taping (first-aid/transport tape): typical medical-grade tapes on Amazon or pharmacy
• Electrolytes (high sodium + potassium options): LMNT, Redmond Re-Lyte, etc.

🧠 What We Cover (Timestamps)

Highlights include:

• Stress + immune function during the holidays
• Immunoglobulins and why support matters in cold/flu season
• Mouth taping for deeper sleep (and why it works)
• Supporting digestion when eating differently during the holidays
• Bitters, fennel, enzymes & after-dinner tea
• Cortisol spikes, exercise timing & helpful hacks
• The role of light exposure on hormone balance
• Reducing blue light + red light mode on your phone
• Eating seasonally for microbiome diversity
• Parenting overwhelm, reactivity, and energy drains
• Five-minute practices to regulate your nervous system
• Seasonal rhythms + giving yourself permission to rest

Piggy Paint Nail Polish
1924 Wine