Best of Both Worlds Podcast

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 Thriving Adults -- out on the same day as this episode's initial release. Audrey is also a camp co-director and mother of 5. In the Q&A, we answer a physician's question...

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 about the differences in weekend experience with and without a toddler and each share updated ingredients for an ideal weekend. In the Q&A, Laura addresses a listene...

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, the part-time glass ceiling, differences between Europe (and between European countries) in terms of maternity leave and childcare policies, and more!  Our Q&am...

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 much is too much, and how we handle it when kids want to abruptly quit something.  In the Q&A, we answer a listener question about pregnancy - did w...

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 1!  We delve into daycare, date night babysitters, the au pair option and managing nanny care.  In the Q&A, we address a listener's question about her...

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 question about dealing with unexpected days of lost work - specifically the attitude side of things, rather than the logistics! Learn more about...

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 on social media, and self-care vs treats. In the Q&A, we address a tough listener question about whether our podcast advice applies to those without t...

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 to be Sarah's husband! Join us as he discusses how he and Sarah met, the challenges of balancing work life with 3 kids, and what he considers his own personal 'midlife crisis' (don'...

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 find out what Laura is thinking about doing next. In the Q&A, we address a listener who has the (great) problem of two enticing job offers - which to cho...

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 some great family travel hacks as well as pro tips on top Canadian destinations for families. In the Q&A, we tackle a great question from a mother of a one-year-old who plays well...

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 we lament always forgetting the socks at bouncy house places! In the Q&A, we answer a listener's query about starting a side hustle as a new m...

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 take on what 80% of independent consultants charge per hour! Sarah & Laura also give some general life updates, talk about reading, and address...

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 (inspired by the minutes I'll be losing on my commute!). In our Q&A, we discuss a listener's dilemma -- should she keep her job even if the commute is about to double? Learn more...

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 in advance we tend to set things, up, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 raising her daughter while continuing to achieve in both work and her creative endeavors.  To open up, we also revisit "superficial things".  Our question is a g...

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 dealing with in-laws, and everything in between! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

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 areas, and we talk about the highlights of what she's learned as a post-leave-mentor, from common pitfalls to pumping adventures. Sarah shares her post-pumping thoughts (hint: her...

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 Q&A, we discuss a reader's question on pregnancy, baby, and parenting books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

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 she could have taken more? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 2018 highlights, from personal to professional to family!  We spend some extra time on our favorite books of the year and our biggest achievements of 2018.  In the Q&...

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 held together with dental floss . . .  In the Q&A, we address making the most of family travel when loved ones are separated in far-flung regions. Learn more about your...

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 mother by choice). Laura and Sarah also discuss holiday prep, and Sarah celebrates being DONE with pumping (she's excited!), and our Q&A listener question tackles the holidays and w...

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 of this is about finding focus and avoiding overload and distraction!).  In the Q&A, they talk fitness with a listener who wanted tips on fitting workouts into an alr...

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, 5, and 7), she has a number of strategies that help keep her work and home life fitting together well.  And as a maternity leave veteran x 4, she helps answer a listener question about maternity leave -...

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 true challenge, and resilience.  Laura and Sarah also talk about Thanksgiving and gratitude, and in the Q&A, a listener asks about how a planner migh...