

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

10 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 42min
Life Updates + Life Skills (for kids!) Ep 443
They trade life updates about new work rhythms and a multigenerational family trip to the Galapagos with wildlife and travel hacks. They then dive into practical life skills for kids like cooking, laundry, finances, pill swallowing, and medical autonomy. A listener question sparks a chat on children's sleep routines and how to balance enforcement with independence.

Jan 20, 2026 • 35min
Tiny Habits to Embrace and Avoid in 2026 EP 442
They compare nearly effortless habits to adopt and surprising habits to avoid for a better year. Ideas include library stops, morning water rituals, planning weekends midweek, and batching email to reclaim focus. Practical tips on downsizing treats, scheduling movement, and decluttering regularly keep life simpler. They also answer whether adults can learn to ski and still enjoy family ski trips.

Jan 13, 2026 • 33min
Real Talk with Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi: Career Pivots, Entrepreneurship, and Working Motherhood Ep 441
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.

Jan 6, 2026 • 36min
Thriving with Unconventional Work Week Rhythms: Lauren Kuratko, Episcopal Priest EP440
Lauren Karatko, an Episcopal priest and mother of three, shares her unique journey of leading a parish while embracing family life. She discusses her unconventional work rhythms, balancing evening meetings with split-shift parenting. Lauren opens up about the importance of time management, revealing insights from her time log and how it led to delegating tasks. Additionally, she shares her personal spiritual practices and festive family traditions, highlighting how they help maintain connection and joy amidst her busy schedule.

Dec 30, 2025 • 36min
2026 Goals Extravaganza EP 439
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.

Dec 23, 2025 • 39min
Annual Year In Review: 2025 Edition! Hits, Misses, and Works-in-Progress EP 438
Reflecting on 2025, the hosts share personal highlights and lowlights, including travel adventures, health journeys, and family milestones. They discuss Sarah’s medical crisis and Laura’s health catch-up, emphasizing the theme of 'finite.' The duo revisits their yearly goals, from book launches to personal projects, while also addressing listener concerns about gifting practices. The conversation is a mix of heartfelt moments and practical advice, with a sprinkle of humor and joy as they gear up for 2026.

Dec 16, 2025 • 34min
2026 Patreon Curriculum + Launching Sarah's Book, Best Laid Plans! EP 437
Laura and Sarah unveil their exciting Patreon curriculum for 2026, diving into themed meetups and a book club focused on Sarah's new release, Best Laid Plans. Sarah shares her journey to writing the book and how teaching shaped her approach. They discuss the importance of tracking reading and the concept of planning privilege, especially in family dynamics. Listeners are encouraged to support the book launch, with insights on making planning both visible and valued in daily life.

Dec 9, 2025 • 35min
Get Festive: Holiday Planning & Fun, 2025 Edition EP 436
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.

Dec 2, 2025 • 37min
One Journey to Motherhood with Rebecca Thompson EP 435
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.

8 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 35min
Dreaming Big: Lessons from BLP Live EP 434
Join Laura and Sarah as they share their Thanksgiving plans and dive into the art of dreaming big. They discuss creating 100 Dreams lists and long-term visioning. Highlights from their recent planning retreat include icebreakers, personal revelations, and community bonding. They offer tips for hosting your own DIY retreat and emphasize the importance of realistic goal-setting. Plus, discover how to rework old dreams lists into fresh ideas and tune into their personal highlights and community news!


