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.

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LAST EPISODE

Executive Coach Helen Dayen...

08.13.2019

Sarah discusses the challenge of finding alternative childcare. Sarah and Laura welcome guest Helen Dayen, a finance professional who has pivoted into executive coaching. In Q&A, a listener writes in asking on ways to handle transitions during the workday. Episode ...

Best of Both Worlds Podcast episodes:

08.13.2019 Executive Coach Helen Dayen Interview. Ep 106 Sarah discusses the challenge of finding alternative childcare. Sarah and Laura welcome guest Helen Dayen, a finance professional who has pivoted into executive coaching. In Q&A, a listener writes in asking on ways to handle transitions during the workday. Episode ...
08.06.2019 Fitting in Health (plus a family vacation postmortem!) Ep 105 Sarah covers the family's summer trip. Laura and Sarah explore ways to fit in health, exercise, sleep, healthy eating, and mental health. In the Q&A, a listener question on ramping up her career. Sponsors: Door Dash - an online food ...
07.30.2019 Julie Morganstern on Organizing and Time to Parent. Ep 104 In this episode, Laura and Sarah are thrilled to welcome organizing and time management expert Julie Morganstern! She delves into organizing time vs space, and then we discuss all things parenting. In this special edition Q&A, we pose listener questions ...
07.23.2019 The Au Pair Perspective: Voices from the agency and an actual au pair! Ep 103 Laura and Sarah review their own childcare arrangements and the delve into one option that listeners have asked about for quite some time - au pairs! In the Q&A, we address a listener eager to revamp her planning methods for ...
07.16.2019 Midsummer Report: Our Goals and Routines. Ep 102 Laura and Sarah take a deep dive into their summer goals with a mid-summer check-in. Then, both hosts discuss routines -- those that work, those that don't, and those that they want to spend more time thinking about. In the ...
07.09.2019 Fran Hauser: The Myth of the Nice Girl. Ep 101 Laura and Sarah open by chatting about summer and debating whether they consider themselves 'nice'. Our guest, Fran Hauser, is a successful media executive and is now succeeding as a startup investor and author. Today's episode sponsor is LOLA, a ...
07.02.2019 From zero to 4 kids in under a year: an adoptive journey with clinical pharmacist Andrea Walter. Ep 100 Laura and Sarah celebrate turning 100. Then, guest Andrea Walter joins in to tell her family's fascinating story of adoptive parenting. We also get a classic Day In the Life from this clinical pharmacist. In Q&A, we answer a question ...
06.25.2019 Kids at Different Ages & Stages. Ep 99 The challenges of big kids vs little ones & In the Q&A, a listener question about adding a third kid to the family? Episode Sponsors: Better Help, a convenient online counseling resource. Best of Both Worlds Podcast listeners get 10% ...
06.18.2019 Frugal Parenting Tips & Tricks. Ep 98 We bring you a multitude of FRUGAL parenting tips and a listener question about MOM GUILT. Sponsored by: Better Help, an online counseling resource. Get help at your own pace and on your own time. Better Health offers licensed professional ...
06.11.2019 Data-driven parenting (that might even make your life easier!) with Prof. Emily Oster. Ep 97 Laura and Sarah discuss their latest favorite podcasts and are then joined by Emily Oster, a Ph.D. in economics and a professor at Brown University. She is the author of recent release Crib Sheets: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More ...
06.04.2019 Superficial Things Part Deux. Ep 96 Back by popular demand, Laura and Sarah revisit... well, many superficial things! From diet and fitness to (ahem) cosmetic enhancements, we discuss our favorites and go off on a few tangents. In the Q&A, we answer a question submitted by ...
05.28.2019 Finding Your Crew (or Cru!) with Tiffany Dufu. Ep 95 Tiffany Dufu is the author of Drop the Ball, a book about eliminating excess and focusing on what matters so that women, in particular, can pursue their biggest dreams. She has since created and is now leading her own business ...
05.21.2019 Lean In or Leaning Out: Thoughts on a recent Facebook rant that went viral. Ep 94 In this episode, Laura & Sarah share their thoughts on the recent viral facebook rant from a working mother with 3 kids, in which she ended with "I don't know about you, but I'm ready to lean OUT." There may ...
05.14.2019 Our unofficial mother's day episode with Double Shift podcast host Katherine Goldstein. Ep 93 This episode features Katherine Goldstein, host of The Double Shift, a podcast about the lives of mothers. Learn about how she got into the podcasting business, and how we all feel like there continue to be gaps (and opportunities) in ...
05.07.2019 All About Camp with Author Audrey Monke. Ep 92 This episode is all about camp! Laura and Sarah chat about their camp experiences and plans for their children. Guest Audrey Monke is the author of the book Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets For Raising Kids Who Will Become ...
04.30.2019 Weekends Revisited. Ep 91 In this episode, we recap our spring breaks - Sarah gives the lowdown on their Disney Cruise - Laura reveals their destination chosen a mere 10 days before vacation! Then, the conversation moves to WEEKENDS -- Sarah and Laura talk ...
04.23.2019 Leadership and Motherhood in the European Union: an interview with Sharon Van Herel Today's episode features a guest all the way in the Netherlands! Sharon Van Herel is a Dutch insurance executive and has made a somewhat unusual choice for their region to stay full time after having children. She talks about leadership, ...
04.16.2019 Children's Activities. Ep 89 In this episode, Laura and Sarah talk all about children's activities. Ballet, robotics, karate, wrestling, swim - these are just a few options in the wide world of extracurriculars available for kids these days! We delve into questions like how ...
04.09.2019 Childcare Tips, Tricks, and Hacks. Ep 88 Today's episode is a crowd-sourced round up of childcare tips, tricks, and hacks! Our readers & listeners contributed their best tips and submitted them via blogs, emails, and Instagram. There were so many great ones, this may be just part ...
04.02.2019 Goals Update. Ep 87 It's another goal-focused episode! Laura and Sarah go through their 2019 goals and how things are going - Q1 specifically. In our usual fashion, we address goals in categories: work, relationship/family, and personal. In the Q&A, we answer a listener ...
03.26.2019 Self Care. Ep 86 In this episode, Laura & Sarah delve into the mysterious topic of SELF-CARE. First, we discuss -- what is it? Is it something specific, fixed, or more relative? Then, we get into our favorite self-care rituals and themes, self-care martyrdom ...
03.19.2019 Our First Male Guest. Ep 85 In this special episode, we interview our first male guest. Josh Unger is a vascular surgeon with 3 young children ages 1 to almost 7. He is very passionate about work, his family life, and our podcast. He also happens ...
03.12.2019 Juliet's School of Possibilities. Ep 84 In this special book-focused episode, Laura and Sarah chat about Laura's new release - Juliet's School fo Possibilities, a fable on time management, which is out TODAY! We get into the genesis of this idea, explore the (juicy) characters, and ...
03.05.2019 Travel. Ep 83 Travel is the topic of today's episode as we get closer to spring break for many of you! Laura and Sarah share upcoming travel plans and then chat with Jody Robbins, a family travel expert based on Canada. She shares ...
02.26.2019 Life Management Systems. Ep 82 Life Management Systems - From swapping out work/kid bags to bedtime routines, Laura and Sarah chat about the systems that are currently working for their families. Hot topics also include laundry, homework, date nights, and morning routines. Join us as ...
02.19.2019 Consulting with Amy Rasdal of Billable with Baby. Ep 81 In this episode, Laura and Sarah interview Amy Rasdal, an independent consultant who also runs Billable with Baby, where she helps other women set up their own successful consulting practices. She also gives some very practical advice -- including her ...
02.12.2019 Moving. Ep 80 Sarah has just moved -- blog, home, schools, and all! So, the two of us talk about the challenges and logistics around moving, from packing to integrating at a new school. We also talk about using tiny slices of time ...
02.05.2019 Vacations with Kids. Ep 79 Gearing up for spring break (or even summer)? In this episode, Laura and Sarah get into traveling with kids, and particularly the planning aspects. We chat about how much energy we like to expend on vacations with kids, how far ...
01.29.2019 Katie Forrest. Ep 78 In today's episode, Laura and Sarah chat with Katie Forrest, UK criminal defense attorney, and mother to a 10-year-old girl with special needs. She also writes novels on the side! We learned how she handles the challenges that come with ...
01.22.2019 Mailbag Part Deux. Ep 77 Welcome to our second mailbag Q&A episode! For this fun and spontaneous episode (recorded together from Philadelphia!), Laura and Sarah asked listeners (via Instagram) for some spur-of-the-moment questions - and provided honest, off-the-cuff answers. Topics range from enneagram types to ...
01.15.2019 A Mindful Return to Work after Baby with attorney and entrepreneur Lori Mihalich-Levin. Ep 76 Lori is an attorney, mother of 2, and runs a side business coaching women on creating a mindful return to work after maternity leave. Lori dishes about her daily life in DC with her involvement in all of these important ...
01.08.2019 Organizing in 2019 with Lisa Woodruff from Organize365. Ep 75 In this episode, Laura and Sarah take on the question of what it actually means to be organized, and Lisa joins us in the interview segment with popular tips and tricks from her own organizing programs and podcast. In the ...
01.01.2019 Designing 2019. Ep 74 Laura and Sarah dive into 2019 with this episode on 2019 goals for each quarter (or quintile, in SHU's case). In the Q&A, we answer a listener question on maternity leave: what is the right length, and does Sarah wish ...
12.25.2018 2018 in review! Happy holidays and we hope this light and shorter episode helps to get some of you through long-haul holiday travel to some fun destinations! Sarah and Laura are excited about winter weather (well - Sarah is!) and enjoy going through ...
12.18.2018 Our Money Stories. Ep 72 In this episode, Laura and Sarah dip a toe into somewhat controversial waters and talk about money: making it, spending it, and their history and feelings about it. Find out whose kids get allowances and who is using a handbag ...
12.11.2018 Mel Johnson. Ep 71 Guest Mel Johnson joins Sarah and Laura all the way from the UK to talk about single motherhood by choice. She gives us insight into the process, her decision making, and what it's like to parent as an SMBC (single ...
12.04.2018 Work hacks (and happy birthday Laura!) This episode will release on a milestone birthday for Laura (listen to find out which one!). Join Laura and Sarah as they trade their favorite strategies for getting work done with efficiency and a minimum of angst (hint: so much ...
11.27.2018 Achieving success in law while building big family. Ep 69 Kathleen Burns is a partner at a large law firm -- and she achieved this status while having 4 children in the span of 6 years! While Kathleen is truly in the thick of it (her children are 1.5, 3, ...
11.20.2018 Living with Illness. Ep 68 Emily Garnett is an attorney and mother of a 3-year-old who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in November of 2017. We had an inspiring, moving, and educational conversation with her about illness, uncertainty, logistics in the face of a ...
11.13.2018 Gemma Hartley. Ep 67 In this thought-provoking episode, we pick apart the concept of emotional labor with Gemma Hartley, whose Harper·s Bazaar article Women Aren·t Nags · We·re Just Fed Up went viral last year. Gemma is releasing a book on the subject the ...
11.06.2018 Plannerpalooza Part 2. Ep 66 Welcome to this year·s Plannerpalooza! Last year, Sarah took a deep dive into her own planning techniques and the system she·s honed for herself over the years. This year, she delves into 10 fantastic paper planner options! There is something ...
10.30.2018 Kimmery Martin. Ep 65 In this episode, Sarah and Laura chat with Kimmery Martin, emergency medicine physician AND author of the delicious, popular, and medically-inspired novel, The Queen of Hearts. We learn about how her career has taken unexpected turns, her advice to other ...
10.23.2018 Mailbag. Ep 64 In this special MAILBAG episode, Laura & Sarah chat about Halloween and then address some great listener questions. We get into kid room-sharing, dealing with the unpredictable nature of parenting as a type A personality, fresh starts at work, and ...
10.16.2018 Dr. Stacey Simon PhD, a scientist who researches sleep. Ep 63 Our guest this week is Dr. Stacey Simon Ph.D., a scientist who researches sleep - a fascinating and incredibly important subject! She delves into sleep training basics, sleep needs over the age spectrum, and variations in sleep from child to ...
10.09.2018 Meagan Francis... a self-described "entrepreneur, conversationalist, and mother of invention". Ep 62 Meagan Francis is a self-described "entrepreneur, conversationalist, and mother of invention." She hosts the popular Mom Hour podcast, and now runs her own podcast network as well! She is also a mother of 5 and has recently gone through a ...
10.02.2018 List of 100 Dreams. Ep 61 Laura came up with the concept of creating a list of 100 dreams in one of her earlier books, 168 Hours, and both Laura and Sarah have a great time revisiting some vintage lists and sharing what is on their ...
09.25.2018 Anne Johnson Landry. Ep 60 Running for office is an intense experience - and so is having an 18-month old! Anne Johnson Landry chats with us about it is possible to do both, sharing her experience of hitting the campaign trail during those toddler days. ...
09.18.2018 Thriving as a working mother with author Jessica Turner. Ep 59 Jessica Turner is known for her gorgeous crafting and her popular blog in addition to writing two books and sustaining a full-time job! She's also a mother of two, and she shares a glimpse of her multi-faceted life with us ...
09.11.2018 Mistakes, regrets, and uncertainty. Ep 58 In this reflective episode, we discuss mistakes and missteps we have made over the years, both big and small. We wonder what life would have been life had we chosen differently, from career choices to website hosting platforms! We also ...
09.04.2018 Exercise, motherhood, and more with Another Mother Runner's Sarah Bowen Shea. Ep 57 A very special crossover episode, featuring Sarah Bowen Shea from Another Mother Runner! Laura and I are longtime fans of Sarah's writing and podcast, and as we are both mothers -- and runners -- we were thrilled when one of ...

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