Best of Both Worlds Podcast

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah take on a concept Laura heard about recently known as "easy child privilege" -- the phenomenon where parents might experience an unearned advantage with kids who are naturally compliant, neurotypical, healthy, or easy to sooth, and then attribute these features to superior parenting. They discuss how this might apply in various realms from eating to sleep to academic milestones. In the Q&A, a listener asks about backup layers of child care -- how did the hosts build their "babysitter bench"? Mentioned in the episode: Laura & Sarah's Patreon! A fun and supportive environment with threads 3-4x/week and monthly meetups. Check it out at patreon.com/bestofbothworldspod! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah discuss their own current situations with respect to parental health and independence, and then board-certified geriatrician Dr. Anita Chandra joins Sarah to discuss the challenges of living in the 'sandwich generation' -- a scenario where you have both older and younger relatives or relations that require help or caregiving. An important topic that impacts so many! Find more from Dr. Anita Chandra at www.anitachandramd.com or her IG, @itsdoctoranita. She also co-hosts The Millennial Sandwich (@themillennialsandwich), a podcast about the generation raising kids while watching their parents get older. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Sarah and Laura (hanging out together in Philadelphia) share some life updates and then focus on the positive with a list of current favorites. Some are fall themed, and some are just of the moment! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First a disclaimer: everyone's idea of frugality is relative! And many people have real struggles making ends meet from day to day. This episode unfortunately doesn't solve this issue, but instead provides interesting perspective on ways one might choose to spend strategically, saving money without any real sacrifice on your part. Ideas include grocery store shopping vs restaurants, the joy of cheap hobbies, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah chat about all things meal planning! They open with takes on recent food trends (protein + fiber, anyone?) and then move to a detailed discussion of their current meal planning practices, struggles, and victories. They cover shopping, non-dinner meals, school lunches and more. In the Q&A, a listener asks for tips getting tiny humans (think toddlers and below!) out the door. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Sarah and Laura share their thoughts on whether they'd ever be up for long-haul travel with kids, and share memories of longer trips in the past. Then, Elisabeth Frost joins Sarah to provide her fascinating perspective on a months-long European adventure she recently completed with her 2 school-aged children, including an entire semester out of 'regular' school and visiting over 10 countries! Find more from Elisabeth at optimisticmusings.com! Additional resources from Elisabeth: Her website/blog: optimisticmusings.com Patreon Community: patreon.com/LighthouseKeeper Planning summary post we chatted about during the podcast episode: https://optimisticmusings.com/how-to-plan-a-europe-trip/ And this category link contains all the travel posts from the full 110 days in Europe (87 and counting)! https://optimisticmusings.com/category/travel/euro-adventure/ In the Q&A, a listener wonders about how to set household policies on swearing. What do Laura and Sarah do? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it possible that there have been NINE previous back to school episodes? 2017's version may have featured preschoolers (and multiple children not yet born!) -- back to school has definitely been a journey, and the adventure looks different every time! This year, Laura and Sarah have kids ranging from 1st grade to college sophomore. They share notes on re-entry, from anticipated morning schedules to trepidations about new levels. In the Q&A, a listener asks for tips on NOT forgetting about things you'd like to think about in the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the intro, Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of resilience. Then, psychotherapist and resilience expert Amy Morin joins Laura to share all about the top things (13 in her book!) that mentally strong people DON'T do. In the Q&A, a listener asks for ideas to support a friend going through an especially tough time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah chat about their own feelings around Mom Guilt (should it even . . . BE a thing?) and then Sarah interviews psychologist Dr. Jennifer Reid on the topic. Dr. Reid is a clinical psychologist with expertise in the areas of guilt and shame, and her book, Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life from Unreasonable Expectations, is out now. In the Q&A, a listener wonders exactly WHEN the moment in parenting occurs when you can sleep until you feel like waking up? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Sarah and Laura chat all things decluttering! Sarah has made home decluttering a goal for many years running, and has learned a lot from a slew of different methods but has struggled to implement these techniques in her home. This year, though, she added some support. She shares her progress and Laura discusses her own prior adventures in organization. They also discuss the merits of various techniques, from Kon-Mari to extreme minimalism and more! In the Q&A, a listener wonders: what's in their everyday bags? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of 15 minute meals, and then Laura interviews Jordyn Koveleski Gorman, a speech language pathologist and founder of Eat Play Say, a resource for parents of babies and toddlers and a treasure trove of practical advice for working mothers. In the Q&A, a listener asks for details on Laura and Sarah's skincare routines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Nolan is a time management expert known for her Bright Method of calendar and life management. Sarah and Laura talk about their own current tactics, and then Kelly joins Sarah to chat all about her methods. Find out more from Kelly at kellynolan.com or @_kellynolan_ on IG See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode is a two topic combo! First up is a discussion of getting out the door, followed by the host's thoughts on getting the most out of time in the car (both spend plenty of time driving!). Then, they discuss hosting, and hope to empower listeners to just Host the Thing, from a causal book club hang to a big dinner fete. In the Q&A, a listener asks thoughts on rewarding kids for good behavior - is it a bribe? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the traditional mid-year review! Sarah and Laura revisit their 2026 goals, and share progress as well as any revisions, since both believe it's certainly okay to leave a goal behind if it's a purposeful choice! Categories included personal (hobbies + beyond), relationships, work, family/home, and fun. In the Q&A a listener wonders whether Laura and Sarah listen to their own episodes! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode opens with Sarah and Laura discussing frozen treats (yum!) and then Sarah interviews Sarah Jedd about all things academic summer. Sarah Jedd is a rhetoric professor with 5 kids (ages 5-college!) who also has an old-school blog called harrytimes.com. In the Q&A, a listener wonders how to get the family to agree on a movie. (Or not!) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of Father's Day, including past memories and current plans. Then, they delve into summer reading, from juicy new releases to non-fiction on trilobites. Book Sarah mentions: The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking for tips on helping kids manage summer work - how to prevent overwhelm without having to nag? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah share some of their favorite tactics for productivity, from avoiding distractions to strategic multitasking. Then, they discuss their current use cases for AI. Was this episode, in fact, AI-drafted or generated? (NO!) In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking for tips for implementing TOAD time - Laura's acronym for Time Outside After Dinner! How do you beat the inertia especially when kids are young? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, Sarah and Laura open by discussing where they think they are in the reproductive phases, and then Sarah interviews Dr. Gillian Goddard, endocrinologist and author of The Hormone Loop — about all things perimenopause in addition to other hormonal issues! Finally, the hosts answer a listener question about music lesson practice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the annual Summer Planning episode! Sarah and Laura open with a decluttering discussion/progress report, and then discuss all things related to the upcoming season, from summer fun lists, to kid-related plans to summer pain points and travel and beyond. In the Q&A, a listener writes in with advice on putting in a pool! Do Sarah and Laura think it will be worth it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah share their progress with date nights this year. Sarah wanted to go more regularly, and Laura had some fun adventurous ideas. Then, both hosts share 5 of their favorite Obscure Facts! Sarah's skew towards health and human biology, whereas Laura may have snuck in some Paleolithic trivia plus some facts that center around time! Finally, a listener writes in asking for advice: she's in a stressful tech job and pregnant with #2. Would it make sense to take a ~2 year break at this juncture, or are the tradeoffs going to be too great? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of their own movement patterns - do they track steps? Then author and NPR podcast host Manoush Zomorodi joins Sarah for a fascinating discussion of how incorporating small movement breaks into the day can have an outsized impact on health and well-being. Her new book is called Body Electric (she’s Laura’s book twin, with the same release date) and is out wherever books are sold! In the Q&A, a listener asks for tips on staying helathy while traveling frequently for work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura and Sarah open today's show with some updates on how they have spent their time lately (lots of travel!) and then Sarah interviews Laura all about her new book, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance, out TODAY! They chat hot topics from the book, from golden hours to "dreaming big and planning small". And THEN Sarah gives Laura a pop quiz: can she match quotes from her books to the right volume?! In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking for advice as an aspiring course creator. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's intro, Laura discussed how she's been fascinated for a long time by families who manage to have both parents work full time while also managing homeschool. Then, Anandi Raman Creath joins her to chat about how she did just that when her kids were in the elementary years (even before COVID made it a more common thing!). In the Q&A, a listener wonders how to handle it when one child needs more attention at a given time (in her case, related to a medical diagnosis). How do you balance the increased needs while ensuring siblings feel well cared for, too? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes we tell ourselves stories about our time that are not backed by actual data. In today's episode, Laura delves into several of these, with some interesting ways to combat common time-centered myths -- from the idea that working parents never see their children to current rates of sleep deprivation. In the Q&A, a listener who has just hired a nanny wonders whether to transition out of day care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Sarah and Laura discuss going out to eat -- in multiple contexts! They discuss their favorite most memorable restaurant meals, and some of the most memorable for opposite reasons (think: kid tantrums under the table within minutes of sitting down). They provide tips and ideas for enjoying family meals with more selective eaters, and insight into the exact age when eating out with kids tends to become downright enjoyable. In the Q&A, a listener writes in looking for sleep strategies - do Laura or Sarah have any tips around how to fall (or stay) asleep? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Christine Tulley is professor of rhetoric and writing and founder and director of the Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing Program at the University of Findlay, and she has a special interest in understanding how women in academics-- especially those with kids -- spend their time. She and Laura get into the data in this interview, and then Sarah and Laura answer a listener question around dealing with the (sometimes inevitable!) need to cancel plans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's reflective episode, Laura and Sarah record live from their South FL recording retreat once again, sharing notes (victories, works in progress, etc) from Quarter (or Quintile) 1. Then, inspired by Sarah's unearthing of her own personal 1990s memorabilia, the two of them discuss how things have changed (or not!) over the past 30 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin McGoff has built a career around helping people (especially women!) learn the secret language of work -- the ways to give yourself the best shot of moving in the career direction you desire with the right choice of words, actions, and body language. Sarah and Laura open by discussing their own specialized work languages - medicine and writing - and then Sarah interviews Erin, focusing on ways to have tough but effective conversations around things like asking for more flexibility, improved compensation, or even gracefully leaving a role. In the Q&A, a listeners asks for details around virtual assistants. Erin McGoff's book is called The Secret Language of Work and is out now wherever books are sold. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah discuss the concept of whimsy and how small touches of it might be applied to make life more fun. Then, they share a variety of spring delights -- from changes in the natural world to the rhythms of the school calendar. In the Q&A segment, a listener wonders how to approach things with a child who is hesitant or uninterested in almost any activity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Sarah and Laura chat non-fiction reading, and then interviews Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, a philosopher, writer, and expert on what it means to matter, and why humans instinctually feel pulled to feel like they matter - even to themselves! They talk mattering projects from parenting and relationships to the pursuit of excellence. Rebecca's book is called The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us And Divides Us, and she has a substack called The Mattering Map. In the Q&A, a listener wonders how Sarah is doing about a year after her heart episode and diagnosis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah share their insights on cultivating and maintaining friendships -- even during the busy parenting years! Tactics include multitasking friend dates, accepting the "Friendriarch" role, finding activities to do together WITH kids, and more. Then, towards the end of the episode, Kathleen Paley, a friend of both Laura and Sarah joins in to share her thoughts! You can find more from Kathleen at her podcast called The Reframe (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-reframe/id1755909152)! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrea Canning has a lot going on! In addition to her role as a Dateline NBC correspondent, she's a mother of 6, Marine Corps wife, and host of the Dateline True Crime weekly podcast. She shares her career and family building journey with Laura in this episode. Sarah and Laura open chatting about short family visits and answer a Q&A about bday celebration ideas for teens and tweens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February doldrums can be real -- or maybe you struggle with mood swings at other times. In this episode, Laura and Sarah share lots of ideas to help you get out of a funk, from focusing on your golden hours to treats, as well as a list of 5-minute uplifters. Episode Note: The strategies in this episode certainly would not be enough on their own for anyone going through a real depressive episode or mental health crisis, and there is no replacement for professional help when there is a need! In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking whether to believe people telling her she'll feel very different about work post-baby. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's Valentine's Day-inspired episode, Sarah and Laura share their current traditions for celebrating this February holiday, and then they chat about the early days of their relationships, as well as the ways they've celebrated love over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, Sarah and Laura open by sharing about their favorite and least favorite (and least favorite) things about the little kids years vs bigger kids years! Then, Sarah interviews Corinne Hammonds, CEO of a NYC charity and mother of 2 — one senior, and one college student all about how life has changed over her past decade of working motherhood. In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking for advice — she is currently driving 4 hours daily in her commute to work and looking for advice on how to move forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episodes, Laura and Sarah discuss their own life updates -- Sarah is working one day a week at a different office, and Laura just got back from her big family trip to the Galapagos Islands -- she shares what her favorite moments were in addition to the biggest challenges. Following this, they delve into a discussion of various life skills -- from cooking to laundry to understanding finances -- how did THEY learn them, and how have they been teaching their kids? Finally, a listener writes in to ask about sleep needs and bedtime - how do the hosts manage this currently? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, both hosts share thoughts on Laura's recent Vanderhakcs post on her favorite habits to embrace for the new years, and add a twist -- the very best habits to AVOID! in the Q&A, a listener wonders about skiing as an adult - how hard is it to learn? Can one still have fun on a family ski vacation if they did not grow up skiing? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi made her name in reality television. More than a decade later she's still filming while building a business that includes multiple locations of The Snooki Shop, the Messy Mawma wine brand, and maybe pickles in 2026! She talks career reinvention, working motherhood, and laundry. In the intro, Laura and Sarah discuss their favorite Jersey shore towns. In the Q&A, a listener wonders about handling breaks when kids attend schools with different schedules. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah open up with some discussion of ringing in the 2026 New Year, and then Lauren Kurakto, an Episcopal Priest, joins Laura for a fascinating discussion about how she leads a meaningful and fun life while thriving in a career that is (by definition!) variable, unconventional, and often demanding. In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking for Laura and Sarah's take on aptitude tests and categories, from the chronotype to Myers-Briggs to the Enneagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the annual goals episode! Sarah and Laura share what they hope to accomplish and achieve in 2026, in the following categories: Personal, Relationships, Family/Home, Work, and Fun! In the Q&A, a listener wonders about the hosts' feelings on streaks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's traditional 'end of year review' episode, Laura and Sarah chat about all aspects of 2025! From highlights (there were many) to lowlights (definitely some of those too), they reflect back and discuss their progress on goals set one year prior in multiple domains. For the Q&A, a listener ponders how to steer extended family away from large or "million plastic pieces" types of gifts for kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah introduce their Patreon curriculum for 2026, and then Sarah shares all about her new book, out TODAY!!! -- Best Laid Plans, a Simple System for Planning A Life That You Love. Learn about the book's origin story and what Sarah feels it adds to the productivity canon! In the Q&A, a listener asks for ideas on how to track her reading. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah discuss all things holiday! First, Laura reminder listeners of Sarah's book, coming out next week as this airs (12/16) -- for preorder bonuses, check out theshubox.com/preorders! Then, they delve into several aspects of the holiday season, from Holiday Fun lists to gifting strategies to dealing with looooong winter breaks and beyond. In the Q&A, a listener asks Laura and Sarah for tips on how to get SOME daylight exposure during the work days of winter (particularly for those in an office setting where it might be a little trickier to leave). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Sarah and Laura reflect on their own paths to motherhood, and then Dr. Rebecca Thompson joins Laura to share about her own complicated journey. Please note: this episode contains discussion of fertility issues and loss, so please skip this one if this kind of content is not for you. In the Q&A, Laura and Sarah answer a listener question on how a book goes from idea to finished copy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah share upcoming Thanksgiving plans and then discuss the various way they love to dream about the future, from 100 Dreams lists to Long Term Visioning and beyond. Then, they recap BLP Live -- their 3rd annual planning conference held live in South Friday. They share highlights from the experience and provide lots of suggestions for listeners interested in creating a similar experien See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.