Best of Both Worlds Podcast

Laura discusses some progress on her house renovation front (did you know what "muntins" are?) and Sarah reveals her much (MUCH) lower scale recent home improvement. Then, Redfin's Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather joins Sarah to discuss current trends related to home buying and moving, as well as her own setup for making work and life fit together in a major leadership position with two very youn...

Laura and Sarah admit they do not have all the answers to the immense challenging that is parenting a toddler. But what you will find in this episode is plenty of commiseration about how tough the toddler parenting years can be, as well as tips that have helped us both in the past (and present, in Laura's case!). In the Q&A, they answer a fun Q&A from a listener asking about things many pe...

Laura and Sarah intended for this episode to be about getting out of ruts, but first, came a debate -- are ruts even a bad thing? Where does routine cross over into "rut" territory, and can that vary? They discuss individual tolerances to repetition and then dive into ideas for getting out of ruts, should you find yourself in one! In the Q&A, they answer a listener question about being ~40 wit...

In this episode, Sarah and Laura open by discussing their own podcast listening habits, from playback speed to queue management. Then, Laura interviews Dr. Christine Koh from the lovely podcast Edit Your Life! They chat about minimalism, and if that works for people with varied interests, how to manage your space during a pandemic, and the importance of restorative care. Finally, Sarah and Laura a...

In this episode, Laura and Sarah discuss practices for both individuals and companies to promote wellness and engagement in the workplace. Sarah shares ideas from blog readers and her own experiences, and Laura adds what she has learned in her work and research so far. Then, both dissect their own levels of wellness (and Sarah delves into that of her husband!). In the Q&A, they share tips on a...

This episode starts with a discussion of summer 2021: are camp spreadsheets yet in effect? Laura and Sarah discuss the merits of keeping things simple (especially this year!). Then, Laura interviews former WSJ journalist Joann Lublin about what she has discovered studying the ways executive mothers navigate work and life. (Her new book on the topic -- Power Moms -- released earlier this month!). I...

This episode is all about . . . fun! One of Laura's goals for the year was to cultivate more fun in her life, so this episode is an exploration of exactly what we find fun and how one might go about having more of it! In the Q&A, they answer a listener question looking for work-from-home lunch inspiration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listen...

Sarah and Laura open up with a discussion of winter doldrums (or lack thereof), and strategies for getting through February, which can feel like a long month (even though it's not!). Then, Sarah interviews Marlise Pierre-Wright, a 3rd-year medical student at Northwestern University and mother to a 5-month-old. Marlise made the decision to start her family during medical school and wrote an excelle...

In this episode, Sarah and Laura talk about their current parenting stages, and then Sarah asks Laura all about issues pertaining to parenting tweens and teens, something Laura has been experiencing for the past few years. Topics discussed include getting one on one time, how involved to get with school work, current social life/screen time issues -- and more. In the Q&A, Laura answers a quest...

 In this first episode of the new year, Laura and Sarah ponder 2021 exercise ambitions. Then, Dr. Christina Shenvi, an emergency medicine physician who also coaches medical students and faculty on productivity, joins Laura to discuss both of their favorite topics: time management! Christina shares how she teaches people to think about their time, and how she maximizes her focus as a busy working m...

In the intro, Sarah and Laura talk a little about the entertainment they currently enjoy. Then, Laura interviews Kristen Meinzer, the co-host of Movie Therapy with Rafer & Kristen, and By the Book (with Jolenta Greenberg). They discuss how TV and movies are helping people get through the pandemic, and some good shows to check out now. They also talk about the self-help books Kristen loves (and...

It's another Q&A Mailbag episode! Topics are wide-ranging and fun, from travel tips (because someday we will travel again!), toy recommendations, postpartum fashion advice, postwork rituals, and conversation starters for your kids at dinner.  Show sponsor: Sweaty Betty - for Power Leggings and more! Get 20% off your purchase by visiting  http://sweatybetty.com/bestof  and use code "BESTOF" at...

SHU opens up about her family's experience with COVD-19 and subsequent quarantine. Everyone is currently doing okay as this airs, so her story has a hopeful ending! She shares their story, from getting test results to being on home lockdown over winter break (and beyond). In the Q&A, a listener writes in about home office space, and Laura and Sarah share ideas for finding private areas to work...

In the intro, Laura and Sarah talk about current weekend days with kids. Then guest Simone de Munoz joins Sarah to chat about balancing her own life and work as a nonprofit analyst who also wrote her debut novel coming out next spring! Her novel is a thriller novel called Manflu about a pandemic and a vaccine scientist -- and oddly enough it was started pre-COVID! She was able to finish it during...

It's an annual tradition - Laura and Sarah get together to review 2021 goals! Yes, this year may look different, but there are still lots of interesting things to pursue and think about. While it didn't come as easily as in years past, Laura and Sarah identified goals in the areas of work, family, personal, and relationships. If you're looking for ideas, hearing some of the goals in this episode m...

This year was like no other (understatement!) and so Laura and Sarah take some time to review the lessons learned under the circumstances. They discuss newfound habits, those new baby days, and much more. From red wine and dairy to puzzles and hikes, they delve deep into the things that made 2020 different and what they plan to carry on into the new year. In the Q&A, Laura addresses a listener...

In this episode, Sarah and Laura share their favorite childhood gifts, and then move on to some general tips around gift giving and gift shopping. Learn how Laura keeps her gifts organized with 5 kids to shop for, and how she makes extended family gift giving simple but still lovely. Sarah discusses the challenges of 8 nights of Hanukkah, plus contending with kid and parent birthdays around the ho...

Laura and Sarah open up this episode by talking about some big news -- Laura is moving (though not very far!). She discusses how they made their decision while Sarah shares her family's plans to remain renters indefinitely. Then, Laura welcomes guest Ahlia Kitwana, founder of Little Black Buddha, a new company that helps people through career transitions. Ahlia is also a mom of three and an engine...

The tables are turned, and now Sarah gets to ask Laura some of the same fun (yet revealing) questions, and also adds in some different ones! Laura reveals the inner core of her middle school self, some little known intel on the family pet, her most-eaten meals, her thoughts on the various stages of parenting, and also gets to allocate a theoretical $1M gift. There is an unexpected tangent into sci...

We decided it would be fun to share interviews with each other -- so you can hear some varied content, some of it light and fun and some of it more unexpected! In Part 1 of this series, Laura interviews SHU, and Sarah discusses many things, including what she was like in middle school, early career aspirations, what makes up her perfect vacation, and where she would distribute a (theoretical) $1M...

In this episode, attorney and mother of 3 Colleen Blanco shares her story about her experience with giving birth at 24 weeks and her subsequent NICU journey, including an emergency evacuation of the entire neonatal unit during Hurricane Sandy! She describes the challenges and celebrates the wins. Her story is powerful, and we hope it might help others going through anything similar. To stay slight...

Author Claire Tansey aims to make dinner more joyful and less complicated, and she joins Laura and Sarah to discuss ways to make that a reality, even when young kids & busy lifestyles may complicate the equation. In the intro, Sarah & Laura share the past week of meals their families have enjoyed, and the Q&A focuses on a listener whose parents do not support her dreams of building a m...

How long CAN you take hormones? Are perimenopausal mood swings a real thing, and what causes them? Is there any way to "skip" menopause? Are there any exciting new developments in contraception? Dr. Laura Erdman, a board-certified and actively practicing OBGYN answers these questions and many more in this very informative (but still fun!) episode. In the intro & QA, Sarah and Laura discuss mai...

In this episode, Laura and Sarah chat with their first dentist guest! Dr. Toni-Ann Mayembe is a dentist who also serves in the military reserves, and she also her own podcast as well! She is passionate about bringing more happiness into the lives of working mothers, and she has a strong interest in promoting rest and balance. She discusses her 5 top tips for preparing for the week ahead on Sundays...

It's an All Good Things episode. While no one would have wished for a pandemic, Sarah & Laura are finding that some things are settling out at this point in the new normal. Each came up with things going well right now -- from a 2 hour online meeting that was actually efficient and technical-glitch free, to fall leaves which are beautiful no matter what else is going on. In the Q&A, Laura...