Best of Both Worlds Podcast

By Laura Vanderkam and Sarah Hart-Unger

Business Careers Kids & Family

What's Best of Both Worlds Podcast about?

Love your career? Love your family? Best of Both Worlds is the show for you! Hosts Laura Vanderkam, author of I Know How She Does It and a mom of four, and Sarah Hart-Unger, a practicing physician and mom of two (soon to be three!) discuss work/life balance, career development, parenting, time management, productivity, and making time for fun. Tune in each week for strategies to help you thrive in all spheres of life.

4.6

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Fall Favorite Things: Trave...

09.26.2023

In this episode, Laura and Sarah discuss their favorite things right now -- what is really WORKING for them this fall! Laura opens with an overview of their recent family trip overseas (Norway!) and then each host takes turns sharing ...

Best of Both Worlds Podcast episodes:

09.26.2023 Fall Favorite Things: Travel, Beverages, Apps + More EP 321 In this episode, Laura and Sarah discuss their favorite things right now -- what is really WORKING for them this fall! Laura opens with an overview of their recent family trip overseas (Norway!) and then each host takes turns sharing ...
09.19.2023 Meal Planning + More with Allison Schaaf, Founder of PrepDish EP 320 Sarah and Laura share current meal planning challenges. Then, Sarah interviews Allison Schaaf, mother of 2, meal-planning expert, and founder of PrepDish. They chat about effective and efficient meal planning, Allison's favorite kitchen hacks, and how her business has evolved ...
09.12.2023 Favorite Time Management Tips! EP 319 Laura is a time management expert and Sarah definitely has strong feelings about planning tools and techniques. Today, they share their favorite time management tips -- everything from multitasking (or not) to the value of having adequate childcare! In the ...
09.05.2023 Lisa Doggett Shares a Physician's Perspective on Living with Chronic Illness EP 318 Sarah and Laura discuss some challenges related to seeking routine healthcare. Then, Sarah interviews Dr. Lisa Doggett -- a family physician with years of experienced caring for undeserved populations. When her youngest child was just 2, Lisa became ill with ...
08.29.2023 Annual Back to School Extravaganza! EP 317 Laura and Sarah love chatting about the back to school season, and this year is no exception! With kids ranging from preschool to 11th grade, topics run the gamut from school lunch to homework to daytime/nighttime routines and more. In ...
08.22.2023 Moving + Mailbag EP 316 In this episode, Sarah and Laura answer a listener question about the 'later stage' parts of moving - how long does it take to really feel like you are home in a new place? Then, they answer a variety of ...
08.15.2023 All About ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) with Sarah Johal and Lori Mihalich-Levin EP 315 An ERG is an Employee Resource Groups, often created at larger companies to help provide support for specific groups of employees, especially those traditionally underrepresented in the workplace. Experts Sarah Johal (Parents in Tech Alliance) and Lori Mihalich-Levin (of Working ...
08.08.2023 Feeling Done: Bringing Closure to Your Work Day (Or Not!) EP 314 Sarah and Laura open this episode chatting about recent longer family vacations they have taken, and then they delve into workday shutdown! This post was inspired by a recent blog post of Sarah's (https://theshubox.com/2023/07/feeling-done.html) - many readers commented they also ...
08.01.2023 Live Mailbag Fun! EP 313 In this episode recorded together, Sarah and Laura answer a variety of questions from Patreon + Instagram! Episode Sponsors: Pampers: Check out Pampers Cruisers 360 -- the best diaper for active babies! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07.25.2023 Family Cargo Biking Basics: Commuting, City Living and Fun with Sonja Ralston EP 312 In today's episode, Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of their own family biking habits. Then, attorney and DC-dweller Sonja Ralston joins Sarah to share her story of how their family got into cargo biking - a way to ...
07.18.2023 Unusual Hobbies and Enjoying Life with Cindy Everett, CFO and Mother of 2 EP 311 Cindy Everett has a big job (CFO) and little kids (3 + 5) -- but she still makes time for some fascinating and unusual hobbies, from architecture to WWE wrestling! She chats with Laura about family logistics, making time for ...
07.11.2023 Thinking of Having a Third Child? Things to Consider . . .EP 310 This topic is frequently requested, so Laura and Sarah are here today to discuss many aspects about having >2 children! They discuss cost, logistical issues, career considerations (spoiler: both believe you can have multiple kids AND a big/meaningful career!), and ...
07.04.2023 Mid-Year Check In! EP 309 In this mid-year check in episode (now a BOBW tradition!), Sarah and Laura review progress on their 2023 goals, from work to fitness to family and more. Both refer to the 2023 annual goals episode - if you're curious, you ...
06.27.2023 Thoughts on Our Own Screen Time (Screen + Tech Series, #3/3) EP 308 In this final installment of the BOBW Screen + Tech miniseries, Sarah and Laura discuss approaches to their own adult screen time. They discuss their favorite books on the topic, differing opinions on social media, and more. In the Q&A, ...
06.20.2023 Growing Up in Public with Devorah Heitner (Screen Series #2 of 3) EP 307 In the second installment of the BOBW screen + tech miniseries, Laura interviews Devorah Heitner, the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World ...
06.13.2023 Kids + Screen Time (Screen Series: Part 1 of 3) EP 306 In today's episode, Laura and Sarah discuss their different approaches to kids and tech. Sarah discusses their recent experiment with "screen free May" and Laura addresses the escalating complexities as kids get older. In the Q&A, a listener writes in ...
06.06.2023 Lateral Moves and Life Management with Megan Stepaniak EP 305 Megan Stepaniak is a long time BOBW listener and Patreon member, and she has worked in several management-level positions within large companies over the years. She put her hand up as a 'regular person' guest to chat work + life, ...
05.30.2023 Getting Outside with Amy Bushatz EP 304 Amy Bushatz is a journalist, military spouse, mother of 2, freelance writer, podcaster, AND she is currently director and executive editor of military.com! Amy is passionate about the power of spending time outside in nature, even if the weather isn't ...
05.23.2023 Spring Cleaning & Going Back to School with Lisa Woodruff EP 303 Lisa Woodruff is the CEO and founder of Organize 365, and she is known for her ideas and energy. She joins Sarah to discuss her latest adventures in pursuing a PhD at age 50 while continuing to run her successful ...
05.16.2023 2023 Summer Preview! Camp, Travel, Fun Lists & More EP 302 Laura and Sarah discuss all things SUMMER in this episode! They start with what they are looking forward to, and then move to discussing camp (full coverage vs spotty?), travel, summer fun, summer goal setting, favorite summer fashions + treats, ...
05.09.2023 Thinking Big with Sheena Iyengar, Business School Professor + Author EP 301 In this episode, Laura interviews Sheena Iyengar, a Columbia Business School professor and author. Sheena was is the daughter of Indian immigrants and started losing her sight at 9 years old, becoming completely blind by 16. She has built a ...
05.02.2023 Celebrating 300 with 100 Dreams, Podcasts Reflections, Updates + More! EP 300 Today's episode represents a podcast milestone - #300! Sarah and Laura talk about what has helped them get to this number, and their hopes for many more! They share some of their listener's favorites and then delve into a 100 ...
04.25.2023 Parties + Celebrations: Making Getting Together Fun (and not Stressful!) EP: 299 Today's episode is all about parties -- and ways to have fun with throwing them! Laura and Sarah discuss memorable parties of the past, and each share some recent party successes (those they have attended as well as thrown). They ...
04.18.2023 Life in Five Senses with Gretchen Rubin EP 298 Today Gretchen Rubin returns to our podcast to discuss her writing, her current life phase, and her new book, Life in Five Senses with Laura! This is a fun conversation about her book and much more. Episode Sponsors: Zocdoc: Visit ...
04.11.2023 Fitting In Adventures with Rachana Shah, Physician & Mother of 2 EP 297 In the intro, Sarah and Laura discuss some of their strategies for incorporating adventures (big + little) into otherwise full lives. Rachana is a physician and was also one of the featured subjects in the video for Tranquility By Tuesday! ...
04.04.2023 Ask Us Anything: From Backup Slots to Screen Time Woes + Beyond EP 296 This "ask us anything" episode was recorded in Florida while Sarah and Laura were together, and listeners did a great job providing a fun and interesting array of topics! These include: - How to handle a negative performance review - ...
03.28.2023 Advanced Parenting with Dr. Kelly Fradin: Parenting Children with Complex Health Needs EP 295 In this episode, Sarah and Laura open with a discussion of time spent on children's medical care even with largely healthy kids. However, they are aware this is minimal compared to the challenges parents of medically complex children face. Dr. ...
03.21.2023 Do You Still Need Childcare? Evolving Household Support as Kids Grow EP 294 This episode addresses a common dilemma - kids are in school full time, so is childcare really necessary? Laura and Sarah discuss options and some alternatives, plus a discussion of possible end points. In the Q&A, a listener writes in ...
03.14.2023 Transitions: Task Switching, Interruptions, and Time Between Other Things EP 293 In today's episode, Sarah and Laura tackle transitions. They discuss how some might vary in how they handle moving from one activity to the next, as well as how they feel about more fragmented time. They share some strategies to ...
03.07.2023 You Win Some, You Lose Some: Challenges in Kids' Sports, Activities, and Beyond EP 292 In today's episode, Sarah and Laura chat about kids' activities and some of the related parenting challenges. They discuss how they handle quitting, disappointment, competitiveness, and more. In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking about how Sarah stays informed ...
02.28.2023 Allowances: For Kids, Adults, and Beyond EP 291 In this episode, Sarah and Laura share their childhood allowance experiences and then delve into their own practices of giving (and receiving) allowances today. They discuss adult 'fun money' allowances, and the pros/cons of giving allowances to children. Finally, they ...
02.21.2023 Work, Life, Running + More with Chelsea Myers EP 290 Chelsea Myers is a statistician, mother of 3, and avid distance runner living in central FL. She is also a long time BOBW listener and Patreon member! After opening with a brief discussion between Laura + Sarah about current running ...
02.14.2023 Maximizing Efficiency in the Workplace with Nick Sonnenberg, Author of Come Up for Air EP 289 In this episode, Sarah and Laura celebrate ergonomically-improved recording setups, and then discuss current business book favorites. Then, Sarah interviews Nick Sonnenberg, an entrepreneur, writer, and founder/CEO of Leverage, an operational efficiency consultancy. They chat email, managing other workplace communications, ...
02.07.2023 When Things Don't Go As Planned (and Why You Should Plan Anyway!) EP 288 Sarah shares her recent 'not according to plan' experience with flu/COVID, and then Laura and Sarah discuss what happens when things don't unfold as they anticipated. Both make a case for planning anyway - though "plan tightly, then lightly" might ...
01.31.2023 Upgrade or Make Do? Plus, the Pebbles in our Shoes EP 287 In this episode, Sarah and Laura discuss the items in their lives they feel have been fully worth upgrading, and expand on certain areas that they feel have been just fine without any recent updates! Then, both identify some "pebbles ...
01.24.2023 Q1 Malibag Episode: Parenting Stages, Fitting in Fertility Treatments, Stroller Recs, Play Date Woes, Pumping, Screen Time and More! In the first mailbag ep of 2023, Laura and Sarah cover it all! Question topics include: Stroller recs Planning with partners Parenting stages Fitting in fertility treatments Screen time Whether to set goals you don't necessary want to do but ...
01.17.2023 Travel: Tips for Family Ski Trips, Going International, and More EP 285 In today's episode, Laura and Sarah discuss all things travel, from planning to some specific tips around family ski trips + international travel. Sarah shares details about her family's recent trip to Montana, while Laura discusses her winter break in ...
01.10.2023 Functional Cleaning & Organizing with Dana K. White EP 284 Sarah and Laura open with a discussion of the most cluttered trouble spots in their homes, and then Dana K. White -- author and host of the "A Slob Comes Clean" podcast -- joins Laura to discuss organizing and cleaning ...
01.03.2023 Book Clubs & Reading Fun with Anne Bogel EP 283 Sarah and Laura chat about their own book club experiences, and then Anne Bogel joins Laura to discuss all things Book Club! In the Q&A, a listener writes in about wondering how to think about goal setting during a year ...
12.27.2022 2023 Goals: Annual Goal Setting Fun! EP 282 In their traditional annual goals episode, Sarah and Laura discuss goals for the coming year in multiple categories: work, home, kids/family, self, fitness, "FUN", and habits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12.20.2022 Meghann Featherstun on Diving Deep into your Passions EP 281 Sarah and Laura open by talking about their current running habits, and then Meghann joins Sarah for a conversation about diving deep into one's passions -- whether they are career related or not. Meghann Featherstun is a sports dietician AND ...
12.13.2022 2022 Year in Review: Hits, Misses & Lessons Learned EP 280 In today's episode, Laura and Sarah recap 2022, following up on the goals they set and discussed on air in December 2021. They cover work, family, home, and personal, with attention to successes as well as pivots and unexpected twists. ...
12.06.2022 Saying NO to Non-Promotable Work with No Club Author Laurie Weingart EP 279 In this episode, Laura discusses a question she asks herself when deciding whether to say yes to a future opportunity. Then, Sarah interviews Laurie Weingart, professor at the Carnegie Mellon Business School and coauthor of The No Club: Putting a ...
11.29.2022 Collaborate, Connect, Collect: Advance Your Career with the 3 Cs EP 278 Laura and Sarah open by discussing some of their past career goals (including a tangent on scientific poster sessions!). Then, they introduce the 3 Cs - things yo might want to think about in setting future career goals. Collaborate with ...
11.22.2022 Giving Thanks: (Mostly) Little Things We Are Grateful for This Year EP 277 In this episode, Sarah and Laura chat about Thanksgiving favorites, and then share things -- mostly little things -- that they are grateful for this year in several categories, from tech to kid-related to consumable! In the Q&A, a listener ...
11.15.2022 Find More Joy and Peace in your Holiday Season with Jessica Eastman Stewart EP 276 In today's episode, Jessica Eastman Stewart of Joyfully Managed Family joins Sarah to about all holiday planning for joy and ease. From budget tactics to saying 'no', they chat about many facets of the holiday season in terms of how ...
11.08.2022 Let's Do LUNCH! EP 275 Today's episode is all about lunch! Sarah and Laura chat about how they use the time around the lunch hour, what they eat, and some aspirational ideas for lunches of the future! In the Q&A, they address current meal planning ...
11.01.2022 Fun with Numbers & Bedtime Math with Laura Overdeck. EP 274 Bedtime READING - got it covered. But where does math (and science) fit in? Laura and Sarah discuss how math shows up in their family lives. Then, inspired by a listener question, Laura interviews Laura Overdeck, author of the Bedtime ...
10.25.2022 Family Meetings + Mailbag Part 2: Home & Family EP 273 Sarah discusses some ideas, tips & tricks for running effective family meetings. Then, Sarah & Laura delve into mailbag part 2: questions about home + family! Topics discussed: * how do you stay close to relatives in different cities? * ...
10.18.2022 Mailbag: Career Edition EP 272 This is a mailbag (all Q&A) episode with the questions centering around work related issues!. Topics include: * were either Laura or Sarah interested in being a SAHM to young kids? * how to say no to career opportunities that ...

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