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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LAST EPISODE

Upgrade or Make Do? Plus, t...

01.31.2023

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 ...

Best of Both Worlds Podcast episodes:

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 ...
10.11.2022 You Are A Good Parent with Carla Naumburg EP 271 Laura and Sarah open by discussing what makes each of them feel negative (and then positive!) feelings about their own parenting. Then, Sarah interviews Carla Naumburg PhD -- an author who has taken a deep look at how we can ...
10.04.2022 All About Tranquility By Tuesday EP 270 Today, Sarah and Laura discuss Tranquility by Tuesday, Laura's latest book which releases officially 10/11 and is available for preorder now (with some fun bonuses!). Sarah interviews Laura about how the idea grew into a book, what was involved in ...
09.27.2022 Kids, Teens, and SLEEP with Sleep Expert Lisa Lewis EP 269 Laura and Sarah open with a status report on sleep in their respective households. Then, Laura chats with sleep expert Lisa Lewis, author of The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, and How Parents and Schools Can Help ...
09.20.2022 Routines with Routine-Crafting Expert Ashley Brown EP 268 In this episode, Sarah and Laura open by sharing some recent routine wins, and then Ashley joins Sarah to chat all about routine building, troubleshooting, her pivot from nursing to owning her own business, and much much more. Ashley has ...
09.13.2022 Quiet Quitting, Beautiful Boundaries, and Fall Fun EP 267 In this episode, Laura and Sarah dissect the "quiet quitting" phenomenon and come up with alternative solutions -- perhaps beautiful boundaries or powerful prioritization would suit you better! Then, they delve into Fall Fun and what might be on their ...
09.06.2022 College: Applications, Choices & More with Laura Clarke, College Admissions Advisor. Ep 266 Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of their own college application journeys, remembering the word processor days of yore (!). Then, Laura Clarke joins host Laura for a fascinating discussion on the current state of college admissions, college selection, ...
08.30.2022 End-of-Summer Notes & Reflections EP 265 In this episode, Laura and Sarah do a summer postmortem of sorts: what worked, what didn't, and what will be good to keep in mind for future summer planning? Sarah also shares some big news in her work/career life. In ...
08.23.2022 Annual Back to School Bonanza! EP 264 In this episode, Laura and Sarah have their annual back to school chat! Laura has 5 kids in 4 schools, and Sarah has 3 kids in 1 school -- one can guess who has the more complex logistics! They discuss ...
08.16.2022 Elder Care Essentials with Expert Lauren Smith EP 263 This has been a much-requested topic - how do we support our family members who may be growing older and needing more help while still in the busy kid-years? Lauren Smith is a gerontologist and licensed nursing home administrator, currently ...
08.09.2022 Body Image: Thoughts and Discussion EP 262 * Trigger warning -- if you are sensitive to conversations about weight or body size, you may want to skip this episode ** In this episode, Sarah and Laura tackle a sensitive topic that is relevant to many women - ...
08.02.2022 Finding Home Wherever You Are with Melody Warnick EP 261 In this episode, Laura discusses here own thoughts about place and choosing where to live, and then interviews Melody Warnick, an expert on place attachment. They explore the power of place and the newfound flexibility many remote workers have found ...
07.26.2022 Summertime Chat with Author Mary Laura Philpott EP 260 Sarah and Laura open with an update on their summer reading lives. Then, Laura interviews listener-requested memoirist Mary Laura Philpott, author of Bomb Shelter and I Miss You When I Blink. In the Q&A, a listener with a 4 month ...
07.19.2022 Ask Me Anything (Sarah & Laura in PHL!) EP 259 In today's fun episode, Sarah and Laura are once again together in the same recording space -- this time Laura's home office, outside of Philadelphia! This episode is an on-the-cuff Ask Me Anything, with questions pulled from Laura's Instagram followers. ...
07.12.2022 Work, Life, and Parenting a Child with Complex Needs with Alyce Thompson EP 258 In the intro, Laura and Sarah discuss some recent (very minor) challenges. Then, Sarah and Alyce have a rich conversation about Alyce's experiences raising a daughter with Dravet Syndrome, a genetic form of epilepsy that carries additional complications and challenges. ...
07.05.2022 Mid-Year Goals: Check In & Triage! EP: 257 At the halfway point of 2022, Sarah and Laura chat about goals! Sarah discusses various ways of looking at our progress and the year thus far, and the two discuss their goals in several different categories: 1) done/successful 2) in ...
06.28.2022 Getting Expert Advice on Beauty & Style with Rebecca and Jenny from Style Space EP 256 Sarah & Laura open with a brief discussion of makeup and Sarah's experience with accessories styling, and then they are joined by Jenny Eversole and Rebecca Kirkwood. Jenny is the creator of Style Space (and longterm BOBW listener!) and Rebecca ...
06.21.2022 Finance, Babies & Beyond with Lisa Segner EP 255 In this episode, Laura and Sarah discuss their earlier life concepts of working motherhood - did they think about being 'working moms' when they were young? Then, Laura is joined by Lisa Segner, who has a great career in finance ...
06.14.2022 All About Anxiety with Maggie Sarachek of the Anxiety Sisters EP 254 In the intro, Laura and Sarah open with some thoughts on anxiety and their own experiences. Then, Sarah interviews Maggie Sarachek, one of the two original self-named Anxiety Sisters, and author of the Anxiety Sisters' Survival Guide. She is a ...
06.06.2022 Mid-life Awakenings, Aging Parents, Easy Meal Planning & More (A Mostly Mailbag Ep!) EP 253 In this episode, Sarah and Laura open with a discussion of mid-life awakenings (as opposed to the traditional mid-life crisis), and certain things Sarah feels she has gotten clarity on over the past few months upon reaching the (possibly?) wise ...
05.31.2022 Elementary-Aged Kids: Ups, Downs, Wonders & Challenges! EP 252 Laura and Sarah open this episode discussing some of rules from Laura's upcoming nonfiction release, Tranquility by Tuesday (out in October). Then, the episode is dedicated to the experiences (and sometimes challenges of) parenting 6-10 year olds. Sarah and Laura ...
05.24.2022 Work/Life Balance Revisited 4 Years Later with Rebecca Fike EP 251 Today's episode is a treat - Rebecca Fike (of LagLiv blog fame) who was a fantastic guest in 2018 returns to give an update on how life looks different now - exciting new job, bigger kids, a move, and more ...
05.17.2022 Preventing and Talking with Kids about Addiction with Jess Lahey EP 250 In they intro, Sarah and Laura discuss the mildly 'parasocial' relationship they enjoy with podcasters, Youtubers and bloggers. Then, Laura interviews author, teacher, and mother Jess Lahey on the topic of addiction, including how to best prevent the development of ...
05.10.2022 Household Hacks: Laundry, Dishes, Cleaning Up, and Beyond! EP 249 Even when you do embrace outsourcing - there's still plenty to do in most households! Sarah and Laura discuss (and sometimes debate :) ) their favorite household management hacks, routines, and tips. Areas discussed include laundry, dishes, picking up, errands, ...
05.03.2022 Having a Baby During Medical School: Lessons Learned with Lisa Green EP 248 In the intro, Sarah discussed with Laura the timing of her kids (none during med school). Then, Lisa joins Sarah for a fascinating (and at times very emotional) discussion of her experiences having her first child during medical school. She ...
04.26.2022 Weekends, Revisited! EP 247 In this episode, Laura and Sarah delve into weekends. They discuss how they plan their weekends, what elements feel 'essential' in each weekend, and balancing fun for each and every family member. In the Q&A, a listener writes in about ...
04.19.2022 Cheerfully Living With Less: Kristen from The Frugal Girl EP 246 In the intro, Sarah and Laura discuss some of their favorite blogs -- those that still write in an honest, real style and depict the high and low moments of parenthood. One joint favorite is The Frugal Girl, and writer ...
04.12.2022 Planning Your Summer EP 245 Summer 2022 is approaching (and faster than many of us may realize!). If your'e out of practice in summer planning, this episode will get you back on track. Laura and Sarah discuss planning childcare, camps, travel, and personal fun, too! ...
04.05.2022 Our Finite Lives with Oliver Burkeman of 4000 Weeks EP 244 Oliver Burkeman is a self-proclaimed self-help enthusiast, but also enjoys taking a look at some of the common advice from other angles. His recent work 4000 Weeks focuses on the finite nature of life, and how the fact that it ...
03.29.2022 "Saving Our Lives Right Now" -- Big and Little Things Keeping Us Sane EP 243 The concept of sharing what is "SMLRN" or "saving my life right now" has caught on, and for good reason - lots of great ideas, plus it can also be a powerful gratitude practice when things are tough. Laura and ...
03.22.2022 Retreats: An In-Person Conversation on Getting Away EP 242 Laura and Sarah recently took a podcasting/relaxation retreat together, and got to record together for the time in years! This episode is quite meta, as it's all about retreats -- why you might consider taking one, how to plan a ...
03.15.2022 Taking Risks and Having Fun with Molly Beck, Tech Entrepreneur + Mother of 2 EP 241 In the intro, Sarah and Laura discuss recent kids' birthday parties, from video game trucks to cold playgrounds. Then, Sarah interviews Molly Beck, podcast listener and tech entrepreneur. They chat about family logistics, her work story, division of labor in ...
03.08.2022 Handling Challenging Personalities at Work with Tessa West EP 240 In the intro, Sarah and Laura discuss their creative processes -- how do they come up with ideas, content, writing? Then, social psychology professor and author Tessa West joins Laura to chat about "Jerks at Work" -- her phrasing and ...
03.01.2022 The Disney-Sode EP 239 This episode is centered around all things Disney! Laura and Sarah open by discussion Disney memories from childhood and then move on to more recent trips. They share their some tips as well as their favorite and not-so-favorite things about ...
02.22.2022 Sports Parenting with Rebecca Smith EP 238 Laura and Sarah open this episode by discussing the sports their kids are currently engaged in. Then, Laura interviews Rebecca Smith, Director of Complete Performance Coaching and founder of the #PerformHappy community for sport parents. In the Q&A, Sarah and ...

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