

Best of Both Worlds Podcast
iHeartPodcasts
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 five, and Sarah Hart-Unger, a practicing physician and mom of 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 16, 2021 • 38min
2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Welcome to the annual (or near-annual?) gift guide episode! Laura and Sarah spend some time discussing different gifting strategies, and then move on to some specific kid-friendly suggestion.Unlike your average gift guide, this isn't just a list of hot toys and gadgets, but more around ways to be intentional about your gifting. They also encourage you to think about what you'd like to gift . . .YOURSELF, with one suggestion being the Gift of Space.In the Q&A, a reader writes in asking about which tasks would be reasonable to ask a full-time child care provider to perform while kids are in school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 9, 2021 • 36min
Consider Making a 5 Year Travel Plan!
In this episode, Sarah shares the concept of a 5 year travel plan - something she put together on a whim, but is happy she did!Of course, we all know that nothing is set in stone -- especially after the last couple of years -- but it's fun to dream, and there are some things you might do to prepare for trip that is still quite far away.Then, Sarah and Laura share their own (potential, optimistic) 5 year family travel plans and then move onto travel tips, including some trips from our listeners! In the Q&A, a listener writes in looking for moving tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 2, 2021 • 35min
Layered Childcare: Because Things (Always) Happen
In this episode, Laura and Sarah discuss strategies for "layering" different kinds of childcare, dispelling the common notion that choosing nanny vs daycare is an either/or decision. They play childcare matchmakers, thinking up theoretical best-fit coverage for different kinds of families.Then, in the Q&A a listener writes in with a thought provoking question about gray hair! Does going au naturale after many years of dye pose a threat to one's career? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 26, 2021 • 36min
Lazy Genius Principles with Kendra Adachi
In this episode, Laura and Sarah discuss what they feel they are "lazy geniuses" about, and then the self-appointed Lazy Genius Kendra Adachi herself joins Laura for a fun discussion filled with tips about how to focus on what matters to you (and how NOT to dwell on what doesn't)!In the Q&A, a listener writes in about feeling exhausted overwhelmed while pursuing medical training with two young children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 19, 2021 • 32min
Nurturing Your Relationship During the Busy Years
Busy, or just full -- you can decide. But either way, it can be challenging to fit in quality time with a partner while in the thick of your parenting years. Laura and Sarah discuss the strategies they have used to keep their relationships strong, as both have been married for >15 years and hope to grow old with their respective partners!They talk pain points, date nights, and more. In the Q&A, they address a listener question about how to cope (and what, if anything, to do) when her equal parenting values do not match those of her friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 12, 2021 • 38min
Get Cozy & Enjoy Your Fall
This episode is all about enjoying the energy of fall. Laura and Sarah discuss pumpkin things, boots, fall fun lists and ways to embrace the cozy vibes of the fall season. They also discuss Q4 and how the last 3 months of the year can be a great time to take stock, fit in remaining goals, and start scaffolding for a great next year.In the Q&A, Laura and Sarah answer a listener question and share opposing processes for dealing with piles of kindergarten art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 5, 2021 • 58min
Fall Reading + Childhood Literacy Episode with Dr. Lakeisha Johnson
In this episode, Sarah and Laura discuss their own fall reading and share recs for adult and kids' titles. Then, Dr. Lakeisha Johnson, a speech language pathologist and communication science professor joins Sarah to discuss promoting literacy and love for reading in all children, from pre-birth to adolescence.She also shares her advice for curating a diverse children's bookshelf, from seasonal titles to those currently underpresented in the children's literature space. Find out even more at Maya's Book Nook, her site dedicated to promoting language and literacy skills through diverse children's literature: mayasbooknook.com.Finally, in the Q&A, Laura and Sarah address an interesting listener question from overseas about navigating a third (long) maternity leave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 28, 2021 • 32min
A Day In The Life
In this episode, Laura and Sarah review a full "day in the live", while acknowledging there are no "typical" days! Sarah also notes that Day in the Life reports also often sound much smoother than real life. In the Q&A, a listener writes in about feeling down and missing the 'normal' social activities of times past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 21, 2021 • 38min
Playing the Career Long Game with Dorie Clark
In this episode, Sarah and Laura discuss their own life/career breakthrough moments, and then bestselling author and career expert Dorie Clark joins Laura for a fascinating discussion on playing the career "long game", and how staying consistent yet open to trying different opportunities can eventually lead to great things over time. In the Q&A, a listener calls in about coping with the difficulty of working through her first trimester while she is feeling far less than her best. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 14, 2021 • 38min
Q&A Mailbag, Part 2!
Today's episode features Part 2 of your questions, answered! Topics in this episode include advice for first time parents, thoughts on transition from 1 to 2 (also 3 to 4) kids, red-shirting kindergarteners, sickday routines, tracking caregiver hours, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


