Sept. 29, 2026

Making Local Businesses Seen with Danielle Gannon

Making Local Businesses Seen with Danielle Gannon

What makes people remember a local business? It’s not just a great product, a polished Instagram feed, or the perfect logo. It’s the story—and the person behind it. On this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with Danielle...

Spotify podcast player icon Spotify Spotify
RSS Feed
Spotify podcast player icon Spotify Spotify
RSS Feed

What makes people remember a local business?
It’s not just a great product, a polished Instagram feed, or the perfect logo. It’s the story—and the person behind it.
On this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with Danielle Gannon, the storyteller and entrepreneur behind Local Spotlight with Danielle and DG Media Relations, to talk about what it really takes to make a business—and the people behind it—feel seen.Danielle’s career didn’t follow a straight line. After spending more than a decade co-owning a natural food market, she discovered how much she loved meeting local business owners, visiting their spaces, and sharing their stories. When the world shut down in 2020, she took Local Spotlight on the road, highlighting businesses that needed visibility and community support. What began as a passion project eventually evolved into PR, marketing, branding, social media, event planning, and DG Media Relations. But this conversation goes far beyond marketing.
Samantha and Danielle talk about why relationships still matter in an increasingly digital world, and why Danielle believes face-to-face connection can create something that a perfectly curated online presence simply can’t replicate.
They also get into the pressure so many women and entrepreneurs put on themselves to do everything. Danielle shares why knowing your strengths—and paying someone else to handle the things outside those strengths—can be one of the smartest decisions you make in business and life. The same lesson applies to motherhood: sometimes outsourcing the groceries, cleaning, or another task is exactly what creates room for what matters most. And in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content? Danielle believes authenticity becomes even more valuable. She and Samantha discuss using AI as a tool without allowing efficiency to replace creativity, personality, and real human connection. Magic-episode-01 (4)In this episode:
  • How Local Spotlight with Danielle began
  • Danielle’s transition from business owner to media and PR entrepreneur
  • Why every local business has a story worth telling
  • The biggest storytelling mistake small business owners make
  • How to identify what makes your brand different
  • Why business owners shouldn’t try to do everything themselves
  • Motherhood, entrepreneurship, and learning to outsource
  • Why in-person connection still matters
  • Reinventing yourself and trusting your gut
  • Taking action before you feel completely ready
  • AI, authenticity, and the future of content
  • Preventing burnout when you’re always “on”
  • Why Danielle believes Bucks County is such a special place for entrepreneurs
  • Her advice for women afraid to pursue an idea
Danielle’s approach to storytelling comes down to something beautifully simple: people want to be heard and recognized. Every business has a unique story, and finding the right way to tell it can help attract the people it was meant to reach. And for the woman who has been sitting on an idea because she’s afraid to begin? Danielle’s message is to go for it. You won’t know where an idea can take you unless you’re willing to start.
Connect with Danielle:
Instagram: @localspotlightwithdanielle

Connect with Samantha:
Instagram: @therunningwinemom_

Subscribe to The Running Wine Mom wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with a woman, entrepreneur, or small business owner who needs a reminder that their story deserves to be seen.
WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.149 --> 00:00:04.769
When you get through it and you get to the

2
00:00:04.790 --> 00:00:07.969
other side and you look back, you're like, oh my gosh,

3
00:00:08.070 --> 00:00:10.380
I needed all that to happen because I wouldn't have

4
00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:13.279
had XYZ. I wouldn't have known these people. All of

5
00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:16.519
the things happen so beautifully when you look back, you

6
00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:17.179
can see it.

7
00:00:23.289 --> 00:00:25.570
Welcome back to the Running Wine Mom podcast. I'm your host,

8
00:00:25.589 --> 00:00:29.000
Samantha Slinsky, aka the Running Wine Mom. My guest today

9
00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:32.479
is a storyteller, a media powerhouse, and the vibrant force

10
00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:37.340
behind local spotlight and DG media relations, Danielle Gannon. Long

11
00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:41.700
before she was championing small businesses across Bucks County and

12
00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:44.590
producing massive local events, Danielle was a young girl dreaming

13
00:00:44.619 --> 00:00:47.189
of hosting her very own talk show. She spent over

14
00:00:47.250 --> 00:00:50.710
a decade co-owning a natural food market, learning human nature

15
00:00:50.750 --> 00:00:53.390
from behind the scenes in a grocery store, and And today,

16
00:00:53.509 --> 00:00:56.990
she helps local entrepreneurs step out from behind their desks,

17
00:00:57.229 --> 00:01:01.049
get in front of the camera, and make their stories seen. So, Danielle,

18
00:01:01.250 --> 00:01:03.079
I am so happy to have you here today. Thank

19
00:01:03.100 --> 00:01:03.799
you for joining us.

20
00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:05.760
Yes.

21
00:01:05.819 --> 00:01:06.159
Hi.

22
00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:08.340
I'm so happy to be here, Sam. Thank you.

23
00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:12.260
Yes. And we both have the Bucks County connection.

24
00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:15.129
I love featuring people from the area, and you are

25
00:01:15.189 --> 00:01:17.939
just such a great person to watch. as you've been

26
00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:21.319
growing your own personal brand and just, you know, I've

27
00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:23.340
been lucky enough to go to some of your wonderful

28
00:01:23.409 --> 00:01:25.909
events and just love what you're doing to the community,

29
00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:26.909
which is what it's all about.

30
00:01:28.049 --> 00:01:28.590
Thank you.

31
00:01:28.650 --> 00:01:28.989
Yes.

32
00:01:29.109 --> 00:01:32.370
I've loved being a part of, I've loved having you.

33
00:01:32.430 --> 00:01:34.819
I've loved getting to know you over the years and I,

34
00:01:35.469 --> 00:01:37.950
you've been awesome. I love when I invite you to

35
00:01:38.010 --> 00:01:40.629
events and you can come and we just have a

36
00:01:40.650 --> 00:01:43.030
great time and it's always so much fun. So thank

37
00:01:43.049 --> 00:01:44.049
you for always supporting.

38
00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:47.579
Of course. So before we get into everything you do,

39
00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.549
we start each episode with our wine, wine, and win

40
00:01:50.569 --> 00:01:53.530
of the week segment. This is where we share our

41
00:01:53.569 --> 00:01:56.329
favorite bottle of wine, then about something that's been bothering us,

42
00:01:56.409 --> 00:01:59.189
and celebrate our recent victory. So grab a glass, take

43
00:01:59.209 --> 00:02:03.299
a deep breath, and let's get started. Yeah, so Danielle,

44
00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:05.060
what is your drinking wine of the week?

45
00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:08.400
My drinking wine of the week this week, should I

46
00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:08.840
show you?

47
00:02:09.389 --> 00:02:10.150
Yeah.

48
00:02:10.650 --> 00:02:10.990
Okay.

49
00:02:11.129 --> 00:02:14.789
I am going with my absolute, one of my absolute

50
00:02:14.830 --> 00:02:20.719
favorites is Duckhorn. So I went and did a, Duckhorn

51
00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:23.680
is one of my favorites. It's like a special celebratory

52
00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:27.680
wine that I always enjoy. I love Cabernet and I

53
00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:31.289
just kind of, this summer I was into rosé with

54
00:02:31.310 --> 00:02:34.819
the summer and the hot weather. I liked something cooler.

55
00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:38.439
And now with it turning fall, I'm into the cabs.

56
00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:41.020
I'm back to my reds. And Duckhorn is always a

57
00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:42.750
favorite of mine. So Cabernet.

58
00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:45.909
Yes, I love it. And today is like the perfect

59
00:02:46.349 --> 00:02:49.669
fall day. And it's just like, we're ready for the red.

60
00:02:50.710 --> 00:02:52.270
I'm ready for the red. Yeah.

61
00:02:53.250 --> 00:02:55.330
So what is your complaint wine of the week?

62
00:02:55.870 --> 00:02:58.810
My complaint wine of the week. I think my complaint

63
00:02:58.930 --> 00:03:05.259
is communication. When I think about that, I don't, I

64
00:03:05.300 --> 00:03:08.590
have a problem when there isn't good communication. I'm like,

65
00:03:08.750 --> 00:03:12.189
I like to communicate my, my good things, my bad things,

66
00:03:12.250 --> 00:03:12.789
things that I'm.

67
00:03:12.729 --> 00:03:13.650
Having issues with.

68
00:03:14.009 --> 00:03:17.150
And when there is a breakdown in communication, there is

69
00:03:17.229 --> 00:03:21.340
just like everything kind of gets funky, you know, whether

70
00:03:21.349 --> 00:03:25.979
it's a personal relationship or professional relationship. And I feel

71
00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.120
like in some professional situations, I could use some better communication.

72
00:03:30.139 --> 00:03:31.979
So I'm going to save that for right now.

73
00:03:32.689 --> 00:03:36.969
Yeah, it's communication is key in any relationship. So and

74
00:03:36.990 --> 00:03:39.229
I feel like in a business it is it is

75
00:03:39.289 --> 00:03:42.599
so important just to be able to, you know, just

76
00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:45.319
get ourselves going, you know?

77
00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:45.419
Yeah.

78
00:03:46.569 --> 00:03:50.789
And get feedback and whether it's positive or negative or direction,

79
00:03:51.270 --> 00:03:54.060
you know, like when you're working with various different businesses,

80
00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:57.240
you have a way of doing things. And it really

81
00:03:57.300 --> 00:04:01.580
helps when the small business and your clients are good

82
00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:04.580
communicating back and forth with you. And it just helps

83
00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:07.000
the process to go a lot better. So that's something

84
00:04:07.030 --> 00:04:09.490
that's been like in my head this week is, you

85
00:04:09.530 --> 00:04:12.889
know what? Communication really makes or breaks things.

86
00:04:12.949 --> 00:04:15.909
Yeah. Yeah. So that's my, that's my whine.

87
00:04:17.389 --> 00:04:18.389
And how about your win?

88
00:04:18.629 --> 00:04:23.019
My win, I think, is just feeling like I'm moving

89
00:04:23.060 --> 00:04:26.300
into the fall in a really good direction. There's so

90
00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:29.560
many good things on the horizon as far as I

91
00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:32.439
have a lot of really great new clients that I

92
00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:34.379
have begun doing work with.

93
00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:39.269
Really great work. Really exciting things that are up ahead.

94
00:04:39.490 --> 00:04:44.050
And then more recent involvement with Philadelphia Style and Modern Luxury.

95
00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:47.120
I feel like that's been a really big win. It's

96
00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:51.300
been exciting to be featured in their publication as well

97
00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:54.360
as be a part of their events and meeting the people.

98
00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:57.279
All the different women that I've met through that within

99
00:04:57.339 --> 00:05:00.439
like just the last week has been incredible. So that's

100
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:02.699
been a really, really fun win this week for me.

101
00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:06.750
That was such a fun event on Thursday night, like

102
00:05:06.810 --> 00:05:07.970
everything that was featured.

103
00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:10.759
It was great. I was like feeling a little under

104
00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:11.220
the weather.

105
00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:13.569
So I didn't get to take advantage of all the

106
00:05:13.610 --> 00:05:15.610
wonderful food and drink that was there.

107
00:05:16.269 --> 00:05:19.110
But oh my goodness, what a party. It was great.

108
00:05:20.009 --> 00:05:21.970
I know there was so much to do and so

109
00:05:22.009 --> 00:05:24.490
many different little pockets throughout.

110
00:05:24.670 --> 00:05:26.939
And I'm like, oh my God, like I missed half

111
00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:27.240
of it.

112
00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:30.079
I really did. Like there was so much to do

113
00:05:30.139 --> 00:05:32.000
and see. And I missed, I didn't even see the

114
00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:33.199
whole casino segment.

115
00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:36.439
Well, we just like stumbled into it randomly.

116
00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.079
We were like, oh yeah, let's go like, look in

117
00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:42.100
and it was beautifully done it was really cool in

118
00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:45.180
there the games that were going on and no pressure

119
00:05:45.220 --> 00:05:48.019
of like actual casino games it was like fun money

120
00:05:48.050 --> 00:05:50.990
you know whatever it was they they did a really

121
00:05:51.009 --> 00:05:52.889
good job I loved everything I just had some of

122
00:05:52.910 --> 00:05:54.990
my Johnson's popcorn yesterday.

123
00:05:54.550 --> 00:05:59.569
Yeah that's so nostalgic right if you're from this area

124
00:05:59.610 --> 00:06:03.829
you know about Johnson's popcorn yeah Yeah, I thought they

125
00:06:03.850 --> 00:06:06.990
did a really neat, a really, really good job. It

126
00:06:07.029 --> 00:06:10.029
was a neat feature on Atlantic City and bringing them

127
00:06:10.269 --> 00:06:13.189
in in that way to showcase what they do and

128
00:06:13.250 --> 00:06:15.490
sponsored the event was to have that room.

129
00:06:15.589 --> 00:06:17.230
I thought they did a really good job with that.

130
00:06:17.769 --> 00:06:18.360
It was great.

131
00:06:18.509 --> 00:06:19.100
Really fun.

132
00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:21.379
All right, so this is going to kind of go

133
00:06:21.449 --> 00:06:23.540
right into our main topics.

134
00:06:23.579 --> 00:06:27.060
Why don't you tell us about yourself, your brand, your business?

135
00:06:27.550 --> 00:06:29.910
Give the listeners an idea of what you do and

136
00:06:29.949 --> 00:06:31.649
what your mission of your brand is.

137
00:06:31.889 --> 00:06:38.980
So I started Local Spotlight with Danielle probably about 20. Really,

138
00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:44.139
I started doing Local Spotlight 2017, 2018. And it was

139
00:06:44.220 --> 00:06:48.860
really connected to my other business. And it was me

140
00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:53.139
going out featuring different vendors, different small businesses whose products

141
00:06:53.189 --> 00:06:55.870
we carried. This is when I was involved with the

142
00:06:55.910 --> 00:06:59.490
grocery store. And it just lit a spark inside of me.

143
00:06:59.529 --> 00:07:01.129
And I was like, oh my God, I love doing this.

144
00:07:01.189 --> 00:07:03.610
I love going on site, seeing where things are made,

145
00:07:03.750 --> 00:07:06.870
meeting the people behind the products and interviewing them, having

146
00:07:06.889 --> 00:07:10.120
them tell their story. And I felt so aligned with that.

147
00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:12.300
I was like, this is, this feels right to me.

148
00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:15.800
You know, after going through, you know, college and then

149
00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:18.439
you graduate, you're still figuring out what you're going to do.

150
00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:21.810
You try a couple of different ventures. And then in

151
00:07:21.829 --> 00:07:24.370
my thirties, I was having my babies and that was

152
00:07:24.410 --> 00:07:26.949
a big part of my life. 30s and my focus

153
00:07:27.110 --> 00:07:30.089
alongside of the business. But then when I got to

154
00:07:30.129 --> 00:07:31.970
do that, it really lit a spark in me. So

155
00:07:32.009 --> 00:07:35.089
then fast forward to 2020, COVID happened. We all know

156
00:07:35.170 --> 00:07:37.750
everything kind of came to a screeching halt. Everybody was

157
00:07:37.810 --> 00:07:39.000
kind of like, what the heck are we going to

158
00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:41.579
do now? And at that point, I was like, I'm

159
00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:44.519
going to take local spotlight on the road and go

160
00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:50.209
spotlight various different local businesses that are trying to bring

161
00:07:50.269 --> 00:07:53.629
in people even despite what's going on across the world

162
00:07:53.829 --> 00:07:56.759
so i started spotlighting people i had no idea how

163
00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.060
it was going to monetize i just started the page

164
00:07:59.259 --> 00:08:02.199
i went out i started videoing doing video interviews on

165
00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:07.009
site and then that slowly evolved into various different people

166
00:08:07.050 --> 00:08:09.149
saying hey you know we really love what you're doing

167
00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:11.500
could you help us out with our business? We need

168
00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:14.779
more recognition. We need help with our social media. This, that,

169
00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:17.459
the other. Then the local newspaper reached out to me.

170
00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:20.759
So I started a column with them and started putting

171
00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:23.639
some of my features in there, which helped them and

172
00:08:23.660 --> 00:08:26.779
it helped me establish some more credibility with having a

173
00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:30.360
written publication and a column. And then from there, I

174
00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:34.070
just continued to help small businesses I leaned into it

175
00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:37.470
it always felt right and whenever something didn't feel right

176
00:08:37.529 --> 00:08:40.850
whether it was a client or a situation you know

177
00:08:41.409 --> 00:08:43.129
like an avenue I was like okay like I'm not

178
00:08:43.149 --> 00:08:44.610
going to do this this doesn't feel right I got

179
00:08:44.629 --> 00:08:47.490
to shift gears and I always just lead with heart

180
00:08:47.610 --> 00:08:50.690
and I know that when I do that it keeps

181
00:08:51.190 --> 00:08:54.809
pouring in and it always comes back so Through from

182
00:08:54.809 --> 00:09:00.129
2020 to 2026, it basically just was a constant evolution

183
00:09:00.169 --> 00:09:04.289
of Local Spotlight, which turned into me offering more services.

184
00:09:04.570 --> 00:09:09.330
And then now 2026 kind of relaunching as DG Media Relations,

185
00:09:09.570 --> 00:09:13.250
which is an encompassed kind of like an umbrella, which

186
00:09:13.429 --> 00:09:15.049
started with Local Spotlight, which is.

187
00:09:15.070 --> 00:09:16.009
Still a piece of it.

188
00:09:16.409 --> 00:09:21.889
But DG Media just encompasses like the other facets of marketing, PR,

189
00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:25.169
event planning, and And all of the different branding and

190
00:09:25.210 --> 00:09:27.090
things that I do to help small businesses.

191
00:09:27.110 --> 00:09:31.350
It's amazing. And you're helping so many out, which is

192
00:09:31.409 --> 00:09:32.149
really cool.

193
00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.980
You know, just as small businesses, I feel like I

194
00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:37.980
was just talking to a, you know, someone who is

195
00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:39.779
a business owner. They're like, oh my gosh, like the

196
00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:42.600
social media part is like so stressful. And this is

197
00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:45.830
so stressful. And it's like, you know, to have someone

198
00:09:45.850 --> 00:09:49.070
who kind of helps guide is so important.

199
00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:51.500
Yeah, it's like another set of hands.

200
00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:54.029
You know, it's like I can be as hands-on as

201
00:09:54.070 --> 00:09:58.309
someone needs or I can, you know, just run the

202
00:09:58.350 --> 00:10:00.440
back end pieces that they don't want to do. deal with,

203
00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:02.549
which is, you know, a lot of times like their

204
00:10:02.590 --> 00:10:05.990
website needs refreshing and they need a rebrand. I'm working

205
00:10:06.029 --> 00:10:09.320
with someone right now who is taking over. their family business.

206
00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.539
And it's been in place for decades where the father

207
00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:15.679
was running it a certain direction. And now the daughter's

208
00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:18.690
coming in. She's young. She wants a refresh. She wants

209
00:10:18.750 --> 00:10:20.990
to have her own identity with it. So it's a

210
00:10:21.009 --> 00:10:24.549
lot of fun. It's like cultivating that story so that

211
00:10:24.590 --> 00:10:26.919
it still carries through, but putting her touch on it.

212
00:10:27.049 --> 00:10:29.840
So that looks like, you know, a new logo, new colors,

213
00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:32.600
a new website. then a launch party to let the

214
00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:36.120
community know, and then in bringing her in to different

215
00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.759
events and connecting her with different people that are going

216
00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:40.549
to help to grow her client base.

217
00:10:41.669 --> 00:10:42.450
So awesome.

218
00:10:42.889 --> 00:10:45.250
Something that I loved reading on your website was that

219
00:10:45.289 --> 00:10:47.789
you kind of said as a young girl, you dreamed

220
00:10:47.830 --> 00:10:51.600
of having your own talk show, being on QVC or

221
00:10:51.629 --> 00:10:54.740
hosting a news desk. But what was the moment that

222
00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:58.039
you realized that your actual superpower wasn't just talking, but

223
00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.440
making other people feel seen?

224
00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:05.080
How that happened was just, you know, being, just being

225
00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:08.860
present in life and realizing that relationships are really at

226
00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:12.659
the core root of everything that we all do, but

227
00:11:12.769 --> 00:11:17.330
really where I am. and have been very consistent and successful.

228
00:11:17.549 --> 00:11:21.210
And that is just cultivating the relationships that I have,

229
00:11:21.409 --> 00:11:24.309
being there as best I can for everyone. And that

230
00:11:24.389 --> 00:11:26.870
is a friendship and a family level, but then that

231
00:11:26.909 --> 00:11:30.629
pours into a professional level. So realizing that people just

232
00:11:30.730 --> 00:11:34.929
want to be heard They want to be recognized and they,

233
00:11:35.210 --> 00:11:38.759
everybody has a story. And so whatever business it is

234
00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:42.240
that you have, whether it's a popcorn shop or, you know,

235
00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:45.799
you're a doctor with a practice, you have a story

236
00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:48.730
that is unique and different that will speak to your

237
00:11:48.809 --> 00:11:51.570
client base. And that will attract the people, the right

238
00:11:51.610 --> 00:11:53.250
people to you, you know?

239
00:11:53.370 --> 00:11:53.870
So. Yeah.

240
00:11:54.269 --> 00:11:58.409
Once I realized that just telling people's story in the

241
00:11:58.450 --> 00:12:01.149
way that I see it really brought people to them,

242
00:12:01.210 --> 00:12:03.960
that really helped me to cultivate a business around it.

243
00:12:05.149 --> 00:12:05.429
Yeah.

244
00:12:06.129 --> 00:12:09.740
And this might kind of fall under the same answer,

245
00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:13.100
I guess, but you were a business owner for a

246
00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:15.220
local natural food store.

247
00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:17.419
And so what did being behind the.

248
00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:21.200
Cash register teach you about human nature that maybe you

249
00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:24.539
broadcast journalism or a textbook could never give you?

250
00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:27.940
I think it's realizing that at the root of it,

251
00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:31.610
we're all very much the same and we're all looking

252
00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:35.570
for a lot of the same things. Wherever you were

253
00:12:35.649 --> 00:12:40.049
born and raised, whatever socioeconomic class you come from, whatever

254
00:12:40.169 --> 00:12:45.110
job and occupation you chose, we all want to feel accepted.

255
00:12:45.250 --> 00:12:47.629
We all want to feel loved and cared for and

256
00:12:48.950 --> 00:12:52.970
And through meeting so many different people in my travels

257
00:12:53.029 --> 00:12:56.389
throughout life and, you know, one being at the store

258
00:12:56.590 --> 00:13:00.750
is just recognizing that there's so many different people and

259
00:13:00.909 --> 00:13:04.230
everybody has their own story. And at the root of it,

260
00:13:04.350 --> 00:13:06.269
we all just want to be heard.

261
00:13:06.889 --> 00:13:07.149
Yeah.

262
00:13:07.350 --> 00:13:10.429
And so it is kind of a unique thing that

263
00:13:10.450 --> 00:13:13.350
you have because you were a small business owner, I

264
00:13:13.389 --> 00:13:15.230
guess would be, I don't think of that as small,

265
00:13:15.269 --> 00:13:16.750
but it is like a local business.

266
00:13:16.789 --> 00:13:16.950
Yeah.

267
00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:20.440
And now you get to interview these people who are

268
00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:24.580
in the shoes that you were at one point. And

269
00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:28.740
you know behind the scenes, unlike myself when I'm talking

270
00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.639
to a small business owner, you know that they have

271
00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:33.419
hidden burdens, late night financial.

272
00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:35.500
Stress, the self-doubt, the sacrifices.

273
00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:38.320
So when you sit across from an entrepreneur for a

274
00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:41.539
local spotlight interview, what is kind of the unsaid emotion

275
00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:44.519
you pick up on most from these local business owners?

276
00:13:46.250 --> 00:13:50.879
I think a lot of it is that nobody is

277
00:13:50.929 --> 00:13:55.419
good at everything. And it's identifying what are my strong

278
00:13:55.519 --> 00:14:00.460
suits as a business owner and then hiring people or

279
00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:03.879
funneling that other work out and not taking it all on.

280
00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:07.620
I think as a small business owner, you can see

281
00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:09.700
the pain in a lot of their eyes, kind of like, okay,

282
00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:13.759
I'm trying to make all the orders. I'm actually making them.

283
00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:16.870
I'm serving the customers. I then have to do the books.

284
00:14:17.009 --> 00:14:19.370
I have to do the finances, you know, all of

285
00:14:19.429 --> 00:14:22.289
these things to where they're failing at something or they

286
00:14:22.309 --> 00:14:25.580
don't feel like they're giving something their best shot. And,

287
00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:29.279
you know, what I realized for myself is that I

288
00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:31.600
know what my strong suits are and I know where

289
00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:36.539
I am totally falling short. And just recognizing that you

290
00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:40.240
have to put money towards those things. And a lot,

291
00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:44.259
like for me, it's like bookkeeping, accounting. That is something

292
00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:48.519
that is not my forte. And I don't, I don't,

293
00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:51.950
I don't enjoy it. I don't understand it. I want

294
00:14:52.070 --> 00:14:54.429
to be, I want to be far away from that.

295
00:14:54.450 --> 00:14:56.850
I want someone else to handle that part. I want

296
00:14:56.870 --> 00:14:59.669
to be doing the personal connections and the creative side

297
00:14:59.710 --> 00:14:59.919
of it.

298
00:15:00.269 --> 00:15:01.149
But that's okay.

299
00:15:01.210 --> 00:15:03.250
You know, not everybody can do everything. If you're a

300
00:15:03.269 --> 00:15:07.409
creative person, you're not a financial usually, you know? So

301
00:15:07.429 --> 00:15:10.389
it's kind of just recognizing what you're good at and

302
00:15:10.450 --> 00:15:13.649
then being okay with that and bringing somebody in to

303
00:15:13.669 --> 00:15:14.570
do the other pieces.

304
00:15:15.409 --> 00:15:15.669
Yeah.

305
00:15:15.769 --> 00:15:17.429
And I feel like that can be taken into so

306
00:15:17.470 --> 00:15:20.580
many parts of life, including motherhood, as you're saying all

307
00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:22.279
of this, because I see, you know, hear so many

308
00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:24.279
moms say, I can't do this.

309
00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:27.059
I can't do that. And that just put some money

310
00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:27.679
at some of.

311
00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.139
The problems, get a house cleaner if you can, or

312
00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:34.190
like order your groceries online or, you know, get a,

313
00:15:34.370 --> 00:15:38.330
get a mother's helper a couple of days, like something

314
00:15:38.809 --> 00:15:40.029
because we can't do it all.

315
00:15:40.289 --> 00:15:41.610
And we can't do it all.

316
00:15:42.049 --> 00:15:45.070
And we want to, women, women are like, we think

317
00:15:45.110 --> 00:15:47.500
we can and we want to, and we want everything

318
00:15:47.529 --> 00:15:48.700
to go a certain way.

319
00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.669
And so we're trying to do it all. We're trying

320
00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.159
to be the best mom ever.

321
00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:54.139
And we're trying to be business owners and we're trying

322
00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.379
to knock it out of the park. Like with, you know,

323
00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:58.950
we're trying to keep fit and do the latest trim

324
00:15:58.990 --> 00:16:02.110
with our skincare. And, you know, it's just like, oh

325
00:16:02.129 --> 00:16:05.250
my gosh, like something's going to fall short here. So yes,

326
00:16:05.269 --> 00:16:08.679
if it means having someone help you out with cleaning

327
00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:11.980
the house twice a month or ordering your groceries, like

328
00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:13.419
you said, so that you don't have to go to

329
00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:17.019
the store for, going to the store sometimes takes three

330
00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:20.679
hour round trip. You know, it's like getting there food shopping,

331
00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.600
putting everything in the cart, putting it all up on

332
00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:26.039
the register, bagging it, putting it away, doing the reverse

333
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:26.460
at home.

334
00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.639
It's like, it's a lot of work. It's a lot

335
00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:29.090
of time.

336
00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:32.710
So yeah, just finding those areas where you can really

337
00:16:32.769 --> 00:16:34.950
like alleviate some of that is huge.

338
00:16:35.289 --> 00:16:35.570
Right.

339
00:16:35.870 --> 00:16:38.110
And the thing that I love about Local Spotlight with

340
00:16:38.129 --> 00:16:42.539
Danielle is that it's, you know, it's built on relationships.

341
00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:46.179
And so in a culture that's constantly pushing digital convenience,

342
00:16:46.610 --> 00:16:50.460
How have you seen face-to-face community connection transform businesses?

343
00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:55.960
Oh my gosh. I, I love face-to-face. I still, I

344
00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.899
am so old school when it comes to all that.

345
00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.980
Like I love to be in front of people. A

346
00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.370
lot of times people will say, Hey, we can just

347
00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:05.450
meet on zoom or we can have a coffee.

348
00:17:05.490 --> 00:17:06.869
And I'm like, I'll meet you for a coffee.

349
00:17:07.089 --> 00:17:10.710
Um, because I, there's just such a better synergy, you know,

350
00:17:10.789 --> 00:17:12.990
when you can meet with someone in person, you can

351
00:17:13.029 --> 00:17:14.869
talk to them, you can get to know them. You can,

352
00:17:15.309 --> 00:17:18.210
You know, whatever's going on around you usually leads to

353
00:17:18.970 --> 00:17:22.700
laughter or some sort of camaraderie. It just breaks the

354
00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.200
ice down a little bit more. So I think that

355
00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:28.839
in-person is huge. Also, that leads into like the events

356
00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:32.859
and things like, you know, having your business is one thing,

357
00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.980
and if you have an online shop, that's one thing,

358
00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:38.200
but when you actually have a curated event where people

359
00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.710
are coming in, they're seeing you, they're feeling your energy,

360
00:17:41.769 --> 00:17:44.789
they're seeing the space, all the products or the services

361
00:17:44.829 --> 00:17:47.470
that you offer, it's a whole different ballgame, and then

362
00:17:47.509 --> 00:17:50.400
it connects you to them. You know, it's the connection

363
00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:53.700
that's missing in the digital world. And everybody can present

364
00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:56.890
however they want digitally, but it's seeing them in person

365
00:17:56.950 --> 00:18:00.529
and feeling the way they are and getting that feel

366
00:18:00.849 --> 00:18:01.990
for who your people are.

367
00:18:02.509 --> 00:18:05.809
Yeah, I agree. That's one thing COVID definitely taught.

368
00:18:05.829 --> 00:18:09.640
It's like, you know, the Zoom happy hours or like,

369
00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:12.759
I think I did like a Zoom pasta making class

370
00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:16.259
and I'm like, hey, this is cool, but it's not

371
00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:18.279
the same as like being there.

372
00:18:19.269 --> 00:18:21.109
Oh my God, COVID taught us that so much.

373
00:18:21.269 --> 00:18:23.750
Once we were finally like able to, like once everyone

374
00:18:23.769 --> 00:18:26.509
was comfortable all getting back out, I was like longing

375
00:18:26.549 --> 00:18:28.509
for that. I could not wait to get out and

376
00:18:28.549 --> 00:18:30.210
get moving and see people.

377
00:18:30.289 --> 00:18:31.890
It was, God, that was crazy.

378
00:18:31.910 --> 00:18:33.359
It truly was.

379
00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.759
That was crazy.

380
00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:41.069
So you made a big leap from co-owning your food

381
00:18:41.109 --> 00:18:44.849
market for over a decade into Danielle Gannon Media Relations

382
00:18:45.230 --> 00:18:48.230
and taking full ownership of your narrative. For anyone listening

383
00:18:48.289 --> 00:18:51.490
who maybe feels stuck in that past chapter of their life,

384
00:18:51.769 --> 00:18:54.930
what did that process of reinvention kind of teach you

385
00:18:54.970 --> 00:18:57.400
about the courage it takes to bet on yourself?

386
00:18:57.700 --> 00:19:00.859
One quote that I read when I was going through

387
00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:05.460
a lot years ago, I listen to Audible all the time.

388
00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:10.009
I have so many Audible books and people always ask me,

389
00:19:10.089 --> 00:19:12.630
can you share with me? I screenshot my whole entire

390
00:19:12.650 --> 00:19:15.009
list and I send it out and I'm like, read these.

391
00:19:15.390 --> 00:19:17.349
Friends will be going through certain things. They're like, what

392
00:19:17.390 --> 00:19:19.210
should I listen to? And I have a book for them.

393
00:19:20.349 --> 00:19:24.009
For me, there is this quote that I heard that

394
00:19:24.029 --> 00:19:27.210
was like, you know, you may not understand when you're

395
00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:30.259
moving forward, why things are happening the way they are.

396
00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:34.460
But when you look back, you will understand that everything

397
00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:38.359
happened exactly the way it was supposed to. And I

398
00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:42.430
feel that in my life. I look back and I

399
00:19:42.490 --> 00:19:45.549
can see how the hardest times and all of the

400
00:19:45.609 --> 00:19:47.130
grit and all of the things that you have to

401
00:19:47.170 --> 00:19:49.750
go through and bear are so hard when you're pushing

402
00:19:49.789 --> 00:19:51.059
through them and you don't understand.

403
00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:53.519
You're like, how could this happen? Or why is this happening? Or,

404
00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.039
you know, it's just so hard.

405
00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:57.099
But then when you get through it and you get

406
00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:59.599
to the other side and you look back. you're like,

407
00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:02.319
oh my gosh, like I needed all that to happen

408
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.779
because I wouldn't have had XYZ. I wouldn't have known

409
00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.160
these people. All of the things happen so beautifully when

410
00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:11.849
you look back, you can see it. So I would say,

411
00:20:12.109 --> 00:20:15.869
you know, if you're unsure, you're uncertain, you're making changes

412
00:20:16.329 --> 00:20:19.470
and you don't know why, you just keep pushing forward

413
00:20:19.589 --> 00:20:22.769
and leaning in the direction of what feels right. And like,

414
00:20:22.809 --> 00:20:25.349
we all have that inner gut check where you're like,

415
00:20:26.190 --> 00:20:29.930
something doesn't feel right about this. Something feels off about this,

416
00:20:30.009 --> 00:20:31.650
this person, this situation.

417
00:20:31.710 --> 00:20:35.190
I don't know why. But anytime I've gone against that feeling,

418
00:20:36.089 --> 00:20:37.750
it shows me. And I always say that. I'm like,

419
00:20:37.930 --> 00:20:39.390
why do I have to learn the hard way?

420
00:20:40.009 --> 00:20:43.890
But when you really lean in and let your heart

421
00:20:43.990 --> 00:20:46.880
and your gut guide you, you look back and see

422
00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:48.759
that everything happens the way it's supposed to.

423
00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:51.440
There's a reason you're being drawn in a certain way.

424
00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:53.299
I know. I love that.

425
00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:58.049
And Being drawn into PR, it's often misunderstood as just

426
00:20:58.089 --> 00:21:00.450
like getting your name in the paper or tossing out

427
00:21:00.490 --> 00:21:01.250
a press release.

428
00:21:01.630 --> 00:21:04.750
So let's set that record straight. What's the most dangerous.

429
00:21:04.390 --> 00:21:07.839
Mistake small business owners make when they kind of just

430
00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:11.440
try to tell their own story and, you know, without

431
00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:14.039
maybe some of the guidance that you can help provide them?

432
00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:18.460
You know, I think that it always helps to have

433
00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:22.140
somebody else give you a glimpse of you.

434
00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.900
Right? It helps for growth.

435
00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:30.859
It also helps for opportunity and also to feel good

436
00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:33.480
because people see the good in you.

437
00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:36.789
You are your own worst critic. So you see the

438
00:21:36.849 --> 00:21:39.789
things that you can't stand, that you need to change this, that.

439
00:21:40.250 --> 00:21:44.410
But if you ask a good friend or a family member,

440
00:21:45.049 --> 00:21:46.009
tell me something good.

441
00:21:46.210 --> 00:21:47.250
Tell me what I'm doing.

442
00:21:47.269 --> 00:21:50.539
And they'll tell you things that you would have never

443
00:21:51.509 --> 00:21:55.950
thought to say yourself about yourself. So in that same respect,

444
00:21:56.109 --> 00:21:58.690
I think with business, you know, when I come into

445
00:21:58.710 --> 00:22:02.150
a business, I do see things, I will say a

446
00:22:02.809 --> 00:22:05.349
lot of times through like, you know, a rose colored,

447
00:22:05.369 --> 00:22:09.339
rose colored glasses in a sense. I see the positive

448
00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:13.200
in every situation, in every person right off the bat.

449
00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:17.799
It takes that person or that situation to show me different.

450
00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.980
And then I have to really digest and believe it.

451
00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:23.049
But I think until then, you know, I see it

452
00:22:23.130 --> 00:22:26.230
in this beautiful way and opportunity. So for me to

453
00:22:26.289 --> 00:22:28.809
tell a story about a small business owner, if I

454
00:22:28.849 --> 00:22:30.509
meet with them for an hour and they kind of

455
00:22:30.529 --> 00:22:33.769
give me their backstory, I can really deliver a beautiful

456
00:22:33.809 --> 00:22:38.160
message and pull out what their slogan should be, who

457
00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:42.000
they should be captivating, what their audience should be, how

458
00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:45.559
they should be presenting themselves on screen and on film. Like,

459
00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:48.079
are they the type that if they're so funny and

460
00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:50.960
silly and all that, go with that. That's what's unique

461
00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:53.740
about you. Let's get that out there. Let's attract your people.

462
00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:56.380
So I think when you tell your own story, you

463
00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.240
miss a lot of it.

464
00:22:58.420 --> 00:23:01.759
And that is something I never realized until I started

465
00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:05.180
doing the podcast because sometimes in the introduction, I remember...

466
00:23:05.769 --> 00:23:08.890
one woman that I interviewed, she's like, who was, who

467
00:23:08.930 --> 00:23:11.019
was that that you were speaking of in the intro?

468
00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:14.859
And I'm like, that's you. Like that's you. And she's like,

469
00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:19.539
that is so like, that's, you know, such a self-esteem

470
00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:22.660
booster because she's like, I don't think of myself like that.

471
00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:26.220
I'm like, well, I do because you're amazing, you know?

472
00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.619
And I think you're right.

473
00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:30.400
We think of all the maybe failures that we are

474
00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:32.660
having and, you know, small businesses might be like, oh,

475
00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.630
we didn't have a great, you know, last couple of

476
00:23:34.690 --> 00:23:38.119
weeks or, This is broken. And then you can come in.

477
00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.720
And be like, no, this is what's right.

478
00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.579
Right, right.

479
00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:46.140
Yeah, like, yes, that's a side note. But let's talk

480
00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:48.779
about what's happening that's good and let's focus on that.

481
00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.680
And then more good comes, you know.

482
00:23:51.009 --> 00:23:53.329
So, you know, you push, like we just said, push

483
00:23:53.369 --> 00:23:55.690
those local owners to step out from behind their desk,

484
00:23:55.750 --> 00:23:58.190
get in front of the camera and to just be bold.

485
00:23:58.609 --> 00:24:01.109
But what's one area of your own life or business

486
00:24:01.130 --> 00:24:04.289
where you still have to kind of talk yourself past

487
00:24:04.349 --> 00:24:05.569
the fear and just take the leap?

488
00:24:05.769 --> 00:24:08.789
I think, well, I don't think, I know it's video

489
00:24:09.230 --> 00:24:13.430
for me. I started off doing video. That was what,

490
00:24:13.630 --> 00:24:16.930
that was the avenue that I started like way before

491
00:24:17.329 --> 00:24:21.430
video was so accessible. So I actually had like somebody

492
00:24:21.470 --> 00:24:24.450
that would come with me and video when I would

493
00:24:24.490 --> 00:24:26.559
interview local business owners. But then it was like a

494
00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:29.079
whole editing process and it was so much more cumbersome

495
00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.880
back then than it is today.

496
00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:33.279
And so like between.

497
00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:36.099
The video and the podcast, like those are both things

498
00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:38.759
that like I've wanted to do and get back into.

499
00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:42.250
But the piece of having to have somebody and then

500
00:24:42.289 --> 00:24:45.170
also like the financial piece of all of that for

501
00:24:45.329 --> 00:24:47.569
a long period of time kind of held me back.

502
00:24:47.769 --> 00:24:49.410
And I was like, oh, I don't know, you know,

503
00:24:49.470 --> 00:24:52.619
and like the editing was so difficult and everything. But

504
00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:55.480
moving forward and fast forward the last couple of years,

505
00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:58.740
things have just gotten so streamlined and there's no reason

506
00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:01.460
for me not to be doing that now. And so

507
00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:05.240
for me, I really have to bridge into that next leap.

508
00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:07.539
I just have to do it. And then I'll be

509
00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:09.480
so glad I did. Cause then I'll look back and

510
00:25:09.509 --> 00:25:12.049
be like, okay, I've been doing it for the last three,

511
00:25:12.109 --> 00:25:14.210
six months. You know, it's like anything you're like, oh,

512
00:25:14.269 --> 00:25:16.089
it's the hardest part is just doing it the first

513
00:25:16.130 --> 00:25:16.650
time again.

514
00:25:17.190 --> 00:25:19.650
It's so true. And I've said this multiple times about

515
00:25:19.670 --> 00:25:20.349
the podcast.

516
00:25:20.390 --> 00:25:22.700
Like I just, this is like the first thing in

517
00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:25.380
my life that I actually did not think about. Someone

518
00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:28.789
just told me what, like, yeah. things that I should

519
00:25:28.809 --> 00:25:32.049
buy basically. And then I just started interviewing my family

520
00:25:32.069 --> 00:25:33.950
and friends. And then all of a sudden I was like,

521
00:25:34.710 --> 00:25:36.730
now here I am, like almost four years later. And

522
00:25:37.230 --> 00:25:40.910
I think, you know, what if I waited another year,

523
00:25:41.029 --> 00:25:43.109
you know, I just got the idea and I ran

524
00:25:43.150 --> 00:25:43.509
with it.

525
00:25:43.589 --> 00:25:45.769
And if you fail, you fail. But if you don't,

526
00:25:46.109 --> 00:25:48.789
then you never know. Exactly.

527
00:25:49.910 --> 00:25:50.470
Exactly.

528
00:25:50.549 --> 00:25:53.930
You're doing amazing with it. I love how you did this.

529
00:25:54.130 --> 00:25:56.910
I love how you just decided this, you did it.

530
00:25:56.910 --> 00:25:57.890
First thing in my whole life.

531
00:25:58.009 --> 00:25:58.789
That's what you do.

532
00:25:58.789 --> 00:25:59.910
That I didn't overthink.

533
00:25:59.930 --> 00:26:02.529
I'm like, I don't know what I'm doing, but let's

534
00:26:02.569 --> 00:26:03.569
try it.

535
00:26:04.130 --> 00:26:06.730
Now it's like, okay, this is pretty cool.

536
00:26:07.089 --> 00:26:07.710
No.

537
00:26:08.490 --> 00:26:11.410
So in a world flooded with AI, with the automated

538
00:26:11.470 --> 00:26:15.519
posts and, you know, cheap content algorithms, how do you defend,

539
00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.799
you know, the old school boots on the ground, human

540
00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:19.480
connection against all the noise?

541
00:26:19.869 --> 00:26:25.740
It's the authenticity and the connection. It is because, I mean,

542
00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:31.000
we all are being somewhat forced into using AI in

543
00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:33.559
a lot of ways, right? And it definitely makes life

544
00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:36.740
a lot easier in so many respects. And in so

545
00:26:36.789 --> 00:26:41.109
many respects, it's amazing. It's unbelievable what it can do

546
00:26:41.269 --> 00:26:44.130
and the time it can save. But there's still that

547
00:26:44.250 --> 00:26:48.369
component that people are seeking and searching for. And I

548
00:26:48.430 --> 00:26:52.900
kind of relate it to like, say five years ago

549
00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:56.329
when Instagram and Snapchat and all of that were fairly

550
00:26:56.549 --> 00:26:58.829
on the newer side and there was all the filters

551
00:26:59.049 --> 00:27:02.390
and everybody was over filtering their photos and everybody saw

552
00:27:02.450 --> 00:27:05.490
all these perfect photos and it's for perfect images. And

553
00:27:05.529 --> 00:27:07.849
everyone just got so sick of that over time. And

554
00:27:07.869 --> 00:27:09.470
we're like, we just want to see real. We want

555
00:27:09.490 --> 00:27:10.970
to see what you really look like. We want to

556
00:27:10.990 --> 00:27:13.720
see what, you know, we want to see when you're

557
00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:16.259
out to eat and not everything is like perfect and everything.

558
00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:18.220
And so then that kind of became the trend where

559
00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:21.660
now everybody's posting more real photos. And I think that

560
00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:26.140
that's going to be the evolution with AI and with

561
00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:28.480
some of the digital is again, it's like, you know,

562
00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:31.160
I can tell when I get a real email that

563
00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:34.559
from someone I can tell when it's been edited through AI.

564
00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:38.730
And it is, again, it's easier and it takes more

565
00:27:38.970 --> 00:27:42.269
effort for you to sit there and write it out

566
00:27:42.329 --> 00:27:45.369
versus just throw some ideas and then have it drafted

567
00:27:45.410 --> 00:27:49.109
for you. So it's like taking the time to do

568
00:27:49.190 --> 00:27:51.190
it the old school way. But when you do, it

569
00:27:51.289 --> 00:27:54.829
feels so much better. The message is received so much better.

570
00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:59.799
And so I think that we just have to utilize

571
00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:03.339
it for what it's good at and for making it

572
00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:05.579
efficient for the things that it's going to help us

573
00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:08.960
better our life. But then like, you know, really just

574
00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:12.079
take a step back and like do things the old

575
00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:14.920
school way when it really matters because it goes a

576
00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.500
lot further.

577
00:28:16.150 --> 00:28:18.410
I feel like it's a great assistant for me.

578
00:28:18.490 --> 00:28:21.690
Like if I'm like giving ideas back and forth or like,

579
00:28:21.710 --> 00:28:25.490
you know, even this program, the AI like helps with

580
00:28:25.529 --> 00:28:27.630
it a lot, but it's like, I'm not just going

581
00:28:27.650 --> 00:28:30.650
to put it through the magic episode and then just.

582
00:28:30.549 --> 00:28:32.589
Put it out and be like, oh yeah, that's it.

583
00:28:32.650 --> 00:28:35.799
Like, I feel like the creativity part of all of

584
00:28:35.990 --> 00:28:38.519
it is so important for people to keep like, like

585
00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:41.700
writing the email or, you know, figuring out on, I

586
00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:44.099
don't know, Canva or Paint.

587
00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:47.519
Like, how do I remember Paint? Right.

588
00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:51.119
Well, that's the hard... Yeah, I know. That's feeding us.

589
00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:51.920
I know.

590
00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:54.180
That's the hard thing, too, is that, like, it's so

591
00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:58.049
easy now to make PDFs in AI, right?

592
00:28:58.069 --> 00:29:00.190
Because they're so time-consuming. But.

593
00:29:01.170 --> 00:29:03.890
And I am guilty of doing it sometimes because I'm like, oh,

594
00:29:03.910 --> 00:29:05.569
my God, I need this quick and I could just

595
00:29:05.589 --> 00:29:07.799
throw it in here. Otherwise, I'm in Canva for an

596
00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:10.799
hour and a half, two hours, right? But it looks.

597
00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:13.039
it looks, it's all starting to look the same.

598
00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:15.720
And I'm getting so sick of looking at everything, having

599
00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.329
the same font and the heart.

600
00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:21.690
Yes, I know. Oh my gosh, it's so true.

601
00:29:21.869 --> 00:29:25.670
So as entrepreneur, you know, a business owner, we know

602
00:29:25.750 --> 00:29:29.069
like we are on call 24 seven, but when that

603
00:29:29.109 --> 00:29:31.970
momentum stalls, when the calendar is packed, the burnout is

604
00:29:32.009 --> 00:29:35.009
knocking at the door, what's your non-negotiable rule to pull

605
00:29:35.049 --> 00:29:37.829
yourself out of a rut and back into execution mode?

606
00:29:38.130 --> 00:29:42.150
If I start to feel absolutely exhausted and overwhelmed or

607
00:29:42.289 --> 00:29:45.470
overworked or just like, oh my God, I just want

608
00:29:45.490 --> 00:29:46.950
to like close my eyes for five minutes.

609
00:29:46.990 --> 00:29:49.079
I'm so tired. You know, I do.

610
00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:52.839
I shut my laptop. I'll take a walk. I will

611
00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:55.539
close my eyes and set my alarm for 15 minutes

612
00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:58.960
just to rest. I mean, just 15 minutes refreshes me.

613
00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:05.660
It's it's not it's it's like changing the idea of

614
00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:08.079
feeling like we have to earn rest and we have

615
00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:11.990
to earn our our part in like relaxation and we

616
00:30:12.029 --> 00:30:15.650
have to prove, prove, prove. It's knowing that you are worthy.

617
00:30:15.670 --> 00:30:20.220
This is. is all the good is here. It is coming.

618
00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:23.269
You have great intentions. If you keep putting that forward,

619
00:30:23.430 --> 00:30:26.089
it's going to keep showing itself to you. And when

620
00:30:26.130 --> 00:30:28.049
you need a break, you're a human being. You're not

621
00:30:28.069 --> 00:30:31.390
a machine. You gotta, you gotta reset. You gotta pull away.

622
00:30:31.490 --> 00:30:34.950
You have to don't, don't burn out. Cause like creatively speaking,

623
00:30:35.009 --> 00:30:37.130
if you're burnt out, there's nothing flowing.

624
00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:41.859
There's nothing connecting. I'm like, all right, let's start over tomorrow.

625
00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:43.079
I can't think anymore.

626
00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:46.019
So it's knowing when you have to pull back and

627
00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:48.440
reset and then getting back to it.

628
00:30:49.369 --> 00:30:53.029
So important. So Bucks County is where we are. What

629
00:30:53.190 --> 00:30:53.650
do you.

630
00:30:53.569 --> 00:30:57.309
Think about this specific stretch of earth makes people here

631
00:30:57.349 --> 00:31:00.049
work so damn hard? Because I just feel like it's

632
00:31:00.109 --> 00:31:04.380
such a hard working females and males, you know, that

633
00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.710
are just doing it.

634
00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.019
What do you think it is about that?

635
00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:11.500
I think Bucks County is such a great, I love

636
00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:15.460
Bucks County. I love Bucks County so much. It absolutely

637
00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:17.980
has my heart. I obviously live here. I raised my

638
00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:21.039
family here, but it, I think because we are in

639
00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:24.900
between New York and Philadelphia, right? We have that drive,

640
00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:29.029
that East Coast mentality, go, go, go. We're all very

641
00:31:29.069 --> 00:31:33.440
hard workers. We also live in such a beautiful area

642
00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:38.700
with so much accessibility to so many great boroughs, towns, restaurants.

643
00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:41.079
You don't have to go to the city anymore to

644
00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:47.349
access amazing food, great shopping. So I think that this

645
00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:52.109
county has just completely been cultivated now into because we're

646
00:31:52.250 --> 00:31:54.549
on the map, you know, like this is a place

647
00:31:54.609 --> 00:31:57.829
where people that do have a lot of means and

648
00:31:57.869 --> 00:32:00.900
could be anywhere else in the country can are moving here.

649
00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:03.700
This is becoming like, whether it's their first or second homes,

650
00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:06.259
like people are moving here because we have the most

651
00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:11.170
beautiful countryside, the views, the homes, the open land, the farmland,

652
00:32:11.390 --> 00:32:13.869
all of the good food and drinks. And so I

653
00:32:13.930 --> 00:32:17.329
think that Bucks County just, a lot of people, if

654
00:32:17.369 --> 00:32:20.190
they're raised here, they may leave for a little bit.

655
00:32:20.509 --> 00:32:22.190
And I know so many that came back and I

656
00:32:22.210 --> 00:32:25.950
was one of them. I left here in early 2000s.

657
00:32:26.069 --> 00:32:28.630
I moved to the West Coast and within five years,

658
00:32:28.990 --> 00:32:31.930
I moved back and then I planted my seeds back here.

659
00:32:32.170 --> 00:32:34.509
I loved the West Coast. I thought it was awesome.

660
00:32:34.549 --> 00:32:36.089
I was so excited the first time I saw a

661
00:32:36.089 --> 00:32:38.609
palm tree. I thought, oh my God, this is so

662
00:32:38.650 --> 00:32:42.650
cool to live like this. But everything was brand new

663
00:32:43.029 --> 00:32:48.880
and there wasn't that historical, cultural aspect, the charm that

664
00:32:48.890 --> 00:32:52.000
we have here. So I think people that live here

665
00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:54.460
just love it. And we're so, we're so like, it's

666
00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:56.980
like Philly too, you know, with the Philadelphia, with all

667
00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:00.009
the Philly, it's that's Bucks County, you know, a suburb

668
00:33:00.049 --> 00:33:00.390
of that.

669
00:33:01.150 --> 00:33:03.349
I know. I always say to my husband, like, if

670
00:33:03.509 --> 00:33:05.990
I didn't live here, I would travel here. Like, these

671
00:33:06.009 --> 00:33:08.450
are towns that I would want to come visit.

672
00:33:08.529 --> 00:33:11.079
Like, I love that we live in these areas. There's

673
00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:13.000
just too many good places for us.

674
00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:17.299
And the food has really gotten great over the last, like,

675
00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.940
five to ten years, I feel like.

676
00:33:19.069 --> 00:33:19.950
So many good places.

677
00:33:20.089 --> 00:33:23.210
I know. I know. I know. I can hardly pick, like,

678
00:33:23.250 --> 00:33:23.890
my favorite.

679
00:33:24.190 --> 00:33:24.609
I know.

680
00:33:24.710 --> 00:33:25.390
There's so many.

681
00:33:26.789 --> 00:33:30.250
You've interviewed hundreds of people who or what was like

682
00:33:30.289 --> 00:33:34.230
the single, single hardest person or maybe interview to way

683
00:33:34.289 --> 00:33:35.690
to kind of get to open up.

684
00:33:35.829 --> 00:33:37.410
And how do you break through those walls?

685
00:33:37.509 --> 00:33:39.730
Maybe not the most single person, but like when you

686
00:33:40.230 --> 00:33:41.950
meet with someone who is like.

687
00:33:41.809 --> 00:33:44.269
Very yes, no.

688
00:33:45.130 --> 00:33:45.430
Yeah.

689
00:33:45.690 --> 00:33:47.150
How do you get past that?

690
00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:53.769
I think it's just, just through conversation, just like, treating

691
00:33:53.890 --> 00:33:57.069
it as if they were a friend of mine, because

692
00:33:57.150 --> 00:34:00.930
I honestly feel as if I treat everybody very much

693
00:34:01.009 --> 00:34:03.869
the same, where I really am interested in getting to

694
00:34:03.910 --> 00:34:07.150
know them and their story, who they are, what they love,

695
00:34:07.190 --> 00:34:09.579
what they don't, you know, because I really am interested

696
00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.300
in people.

697
00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:12.500
I love people. I love their stories.

698
00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:16.440
So I think it's just like letting them break down

699
00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.920
those walls where it's not so specific.

700
00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.320
They don't have to feel so.

701
00:34:21.489 --> 00:34:24.440
interviewed or that they have to have the perfect answers

702
00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:28.699
because the more authentic and the sillier and all that,

703
00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.639
the better, right?

704
00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:30.619
The better the interview.

705
00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:33.480
So it's just kind of like letting them know, like

706
00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:36.929
breaking down and just being human, being real with them myself,

707
00:34:37.090 --> 00:34:39.949
you know, like nobody's perfect.

708
00:34:40.130 --> 00:34:41.889
We're all human. We've all made mistakes.

709
00:34:41.949 --> 00:34:45.090
We all have a history, all the past, some things

710
00:34:45.130 --> 00:34:47.429
we're not so proud of. And You know, as time

711
00:34:47.469 --> 00:34:50.119
goes on and you exchange some stories, everyone's like, all right,

712
00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.679
I can let my shoulders down.

713
00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:51.940
Yeah.

714
00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:53.239
I know.

715
00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:56.760
So important. So let's do a quick round. So we're

716
00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:59.119
on the Running Wine Mom. Let's talk about fuel. If

717
00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:02.079
your personality were a wine, what kind would it be?

718
00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:04.909
Are we sipping a bold Napa Cab? Are we sipping a,

719
00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:08.309
you know, a chilled crisp Savvy Bee on the patio?

720
00:35:08.349 --> 00:35:09.949
What are we drinking? What are you?

721
00:35:11.150 --> 00:35:12.710
I'm going to go with Cab. I'm going to go

722
00:35:12.730 --> 00:35:14.789
with Cab. Yes. Totally.

723
00:35:14.989 --> 00:35:19.250
I think a full... Bold Cabernet. And I think that

724
00:35:19.269 --> 00:35:20.750
suits my personality as well.

725
00:35:21.150 --> 00:35:24.849
Yes. What's your favorite hidden gem and spot in Bucks County?

726
00:35:25.090 --> 00:35:27.730
Love, well, I love the Carver's Villain.

727
00:35:28.369 --> 00:35:32.389
That's a new, newer place that just reopened again, I'd say,

728
00:35:32.409 --> 00:35:35.289
within the last year. They did such a phenomenal job

729
00:35:35.369 --> 00:35:38.840
in the architecture of that building, preserving it. But then

730
00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:45.739
the decor is so, like, smoky, like... The colors are beautiful.

731
00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:49.920
The wallpaper is awesome. It's like deep plums and deep

732
00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.119
greens and animal print.

733
00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:54.960
And it's very pretty. It's very I love it. And

734
00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:56.960
the food's amazing. It's very romantic.

735
00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:59.780
I also love the Stockton Inn, which is right over

736
00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:03.380
the bridge. Yeah, that's like one of my all time favorites.

737
00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:07.960
And I'm super excited about Donatelli's opening up. or Donatella's

738
00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:11.420
or Donatelli's opening up where the old, in the Brook Hotel.

739
00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.539
Where the old Brook Hotel.

740
00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:12.760
Yeah.

741
00:36:12.840 --> 00:36:14.110
I didn't know that was the name of it. When

742
00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:15.699
you said it, I was like, oh, maybe that's it.

743
00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:15.860
Yeah.

744
00:36:15.909 --> 00:36:16.889
I'm excited for that.

745
00:36:17.530 --> 00:36:21.190
I'm excited too. I know they're set to open very soon.

746
00:36:21.289 --> 00:36:23.170
So I can't wait to see what that's like. Cause

747
00:36:23.190 --> 00:36:25.269
that's going to really give a lot of the places

748
00:36:25.349 --> 00:36:27.210
in Newtown some competition.

749
00:36:27.610 --> 00:36:28.349
Yeah. Yeah.

750
00:36:28.510 --> 00:36:28.909
I know.

751
00:36:28.929 --> 00:36:32.269
It was such a shame when that closed, but it's okay.

752
00:36:32.309 --> 00:36:34.190
We'll get something else. Yeah. Yeah.

753
00:36:34.250 --> 00:36:35.750
I think it's going to be a good turn.

754
00:36:36.170 --> 00:36:36.429
Yes.

755
00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:42.409
You've gotten your own primetime national talk show tomorrow. What's

756
00:36:42.449 --> 00:36:44.570
your dream first guest? They could be living or dead.

757
00:36:44.710 --> 00:36:46.869
And what's the first question you ask them?

758
00:36:47.070 --> 00:36:47.690
You know what?

759
00:36:47.769 --> 00:36:50.769
It's going to sound kind of cliche, but I honestly

760
00:36:50.829 --> 00:36:53.769
think I would interview Oprah Winfrey.

761
00:36:53.789 --> 00:36:54.469
Yeah.

762
00:36:54.489 --> 00:36:59.300
Because she always, she was someone that as a child

763
00:36:59.340 --> 00:37:01.940
I used to watch when she was on, you know,

764
00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:06.139
her show on Channel 6. And then I always admired

765
00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:10.039
her story because I felt like she went against all

766
00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:13.139
the odds, especially when she started out in the industry.

767
00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:17.639
And she had every strike against her to become successful.

768
00:37:17.820 --> 00:37:19.019
And she did it anyway.

769
00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:22.699
And she's become like the most, one of the most

770
00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:27.300
successful women ever from television and interviewing people. And then

771
00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:30.590
her philanthropic things that she's been able to do from that.

772
00:37:30.889 --> 00:37:33.739
And so great. I think it would absolutely be her.

773
00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:36.900
Yeah, I know. I agree with you.

774
00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:40.179
I feel like she would definitely be on the list

775
00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:41.420
of the interview.

776
00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:43.599
Oprah, if you're listening, come on the podcast. No, I'm

777
00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:43.920
just kidding.

778
00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:46.119
Yeah, exactly. Tag her.

779
00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:48.820
Yeah. Well, oh my goodness. You've given us so much

780
00:37:48.860 --> 00:37:50.059
wonderful information.

781
00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:52.929
But for the women listening right now, maybe they're in

782
00:37:52.949 --> 00:37:55.670
their car, they're drinking their coffee, they're sipping their wine

783
00:37:55.710 --> 00:37:58.389
after putting the kids to bed, thinking of a business idea,

784
00:37:58.429 --> 00:38:01.349
they're too scared to launch. What's one thing that you

785
00:38:01.409 --> 00:38:06.030
want them to carry into tomorrow about pursuing their dreams?

786
00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:08.039
I say go for it.

787
00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:12.320
Life is short. There's no promises of tomorrow. And if

788
00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:14.920
you don't do it, you'll never know what life would

789
00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:18.780
be like if you did. So you've got nothing to lose.

790
00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:23.099
Lean in, lead with your heart, and all good things

791
00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:23.559
will come.

792
00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:27.539
Well, I think that's the perfect spot to end it.

793
00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:31.170
Danielle, thank you so much for Bringing your heart, your energy,

794
00:38:31.289 --> 00:38:33.630
and your story to the show today. You've given us

795
00:38:34.210 --> 00:38:37.329
so much inspiration to, you know, take into our week.

796
00:38:37.349 --> 00:38:38.380
So thanks for coming on. Yes.

797
00:38:39.150 --> 00:38:40.030
Thank you, Sam.

798
00:38:40.090 --> 00:38:41.130
Cheers. Cheers.

799
00:38:41.210 --> 00:38:42.550
I know I have my water tonight.

800
00:38:42.570 --> 00:38:44.269
You have your Edvala.

801
00:38:44.690 --> 00:38:45.250
Yeah.

802
00:38:45.510 --> 00:38:47.349
So as always, thank you so much for joining us

803
00:38:47.409 --> 00:38:49.769
today on The Running Wine Mom. Don't forget to subscribe,

804
00:38:49.809 --> 00:38:51.889
leave a review, and share this episode with someone who

805
00:38:51.909 --> 00:38:54.030
needs to hear it. You can follow me on Instagram

806
00:38:54.150 --> 00:38:57.179
at TheRunningWineMom underscore. And Danielle, where can the listeners find you?

807
00:38:58.690 --> 00:39:01.960
At Local Spotlight with Danielle on Instagram.

808
00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:05.039
Perfect. And I will link that. Thank you so much

809
00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:08.880
for joining us today. Thank you, Sam. Yeah, thank you.

810
00:39:09.219 --> 00:39:11.030
Remember, you are strong, you are capable, and you are

811
00:39:11.090 --> 00:39:13.489
all amazing. Until next time, keep running, keep sipping, and

812
00:39:13.530 --> 00:39:15.030
keep embracing the joy of motherhood.

813
00:39:15.090 --> 00:39:18.210
Cheers. And I'll be back next Tuesday. Yay. Bye.