Best of Both Worlds Podcast

Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, is a book enthusiast and expert in reading habits. In this engaging discussion, Traci shares strategies for balancing reading with a busy life, especially as a parent of twins. She offers insights on curating personalized reading lists and the importance of overcoming reading slumps. The conversation also touches on fostering a love for reading in children and practical tips for carving out uninterrupted reading time amidst family commitments.

Discover creative winter activities, from skiing to cultural outings, that can bring joy to the chilly months. Learn about a time tracking challenge designed to enhance self-awareness and productivity. The hosts share delightful stories from their winter adventures, including a memorable sleigh ride dinner. With a focus on balancing work, family, and personal time, they address the importance of planning for summer activities and encourage listeners to reflect on their time management practices. Embrace the season with mindfulness and fun!

Get ready for a goal-setting extravaganza! Two working parents reveal their ambitious plans for 2025 across personal growth, creative projects, and family connections. From completing a book and writing sonnets to improving fitness and reading classic literature, they explore the significance of self-reflection and flexibility in goal-making. They also discuss the joy of fostering musicality in their kids and highlight their intentions to create memorable family experiences, emphasizing the importance of reviewing goals regularly.

In a reflective look back at 2024, Sarah and Laura share their ups and downs, highlighting memorable achievements and challenges. They evaluate their goal-setting successes, from running and budgeting to creative pursuits like music. The duo explores the importance of personal growth and meaningful relationships while pondering household management strategies. They also express gratitude for their listeners and discuss building a supportive community, all while setting the stage for ambitious goals in 2025.

In this episode, Oneika Raymond, an Emmy-award-winning journalist and travel expert, shares her insights on globetrotting with kids. She discusses the transformative power of family travel and offers practical tips for choosing kid-friendly destinations. Oneika reflects on her adventures in Japan and Namibia, illustrating how travel fosters cultural understanding. From planning flights around nap times to engaging kids with fun activities, she provides valuable strategies for parents on the go, proving that family adventures can be both enriching and enjoyable.

Laura and Sarah dive into their favorite life hacks, from philosophical musings about the beauty of repetition to practical tips like keyboard shortcuts. They tackle the balance of work and family, sharing personal stories and strategies. Plus, listeners get eco-friendly holiday tips, including reusing gift wrap. A thoughtful Q&A addresses engaging activities for tweens and teens, emphasizing the importance of quality family time and the joys of shared meals. Discover simple changes that can enhance your daily routines!

Shira Gill, an organizing expert and author of LifeStyled, shares her insights on living intentionally and decluttering. She introduces her 'edit then elevate' philosophy, emphasizing the importance of cataloguing belongings before organizing. Shira provides practical tips for tackling large projects and highlights how minimalism can enhance family life. The conversation also touches on maintaining organization in family settings and offers strategies for decluttering while balancing personal freedom and communal order.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah discuss all things holiday planning, including the idea of going in to plan your holiday season with a 'blank slate' mindset - choosing things to do NOT just based on what you've done before, but because at least someone enjoys them! Laura notes that tradition itself does have value, so likely the things you've done over and over will carry more weight, but nothing necessarily needs to feel 'required'.They discuss various ideas and their own decisions about this year's holiday season in categories: hosting, cooking fancy meals, cards, gifts, parties, decor, and more!In terms of planning next year, Sarah shares two fun options if you'd like a guided planning experience: Detailed 4 hr sessions (with workbook) in Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2025 (https://theshubox.com/courses) OR 1 hour visioning/planning 2025 session that will definitely get you started at the BOBW Patreon: (http://patreon.com/bestofbothworldspod)In the Q&A, Sarah and Laura note which gifts they would choose for themselves :)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover practical tips to lighten your mental load and embrace simplicity. Learn how writing things down, automation, and encouraging independence can reduce overwhelm. Strategies for managing family schedules and prioritizing self-care are highlighted. Tune into the Q&A segment for insights into balancing high-paying jobs with flexibility, a challenging yet fascinating topic. Dive into the world of mental clarity and family dynamics while enjoying relatable anecdotes and expert advice.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of what they wishes parents could be less stressed about (or fixated on, as the case may be!). Then, Sarah interviews Gabrielle Blair, longtime (18 yrs!) blogger at Design Mom and coauthor of The Kids Are All Right, along with her husband. Gabrielle feels strongly that current parents worry too much about some of the wrong things, and offers her valuable perspective as a mom of 6.In the Q&A, a listener writes in about kids' activities - is it true that one has to develop soccer talents as a toddler to play in high school? Do the hosts wish they had pushed their kids more in younger childhood?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.