Best of Both Worlds Podcast

Today is a fun but also thought-provoking episode -- Sarah and Laura chose "would you rather?" questions to pose to each other, and both the questions and answers provide a lot of interesting fodder for thought and reflection!Would YOU choose to be more attractive or more intelligent (and what did the hosts pick)?Would you rather work the job you have now for a year at double pay, or take a year off with regular pay?. . . and many others.In the Q&A, a listener writes in asking for a "permission slip" to outsource cleaning even though her current hourly rate is less than that of a service.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the intro, Sarah and Laura discuss memories of college applications. There may or may not have been typewriters involved! Then, Laura welcomes Alice Chen, BrightStory founder and top college admissions counselor to chat about all things college admissions, from building a narrative that makes sense to viewing the process as an opportunity for teens to learn valuable life skills. In the Q&A, Laura and Sarah answer a listener question about paying for college.Find more from Alice and BrightStory here: http://www.brightstory.info/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy birthday to the podcast! Laura and Sarah share their memories from the very beginnings of BOBW, and then reminisce and discuss favorite episodes from the past. They share their biggest surprises, favorite guest eps, favorite conversation eps, and then Laura ends with a piece on the "why" behind the podcast -- illustrating how women can love their jobs AND their families, and truly enjoy doing both.In the Q&A, a listener writes in with job dilemma - choose the one with more flexibility or the one that sounds more enticing overall?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah discuss the challenges of long weekends home with young kids! These longs stretches of unstructured time can be really challenging when kids are young (babies / toddlers / preschoolers) and so Laura and Sarah share practical strategies to improve your little-kid weekend outlook.In the Q&A, a listener asks: Having a 3rd kid! Do I need a minivan?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura and Sarah celebrate back-to-school season with a discussion of all things school-related! They share their own kids' school stages and transitions, and Laura shares a little bit about what it is like to have a college senior (and driving teen with parking permit!). They discuss lunches, back to school shopping, activities, and more. In the Q&A, they discuss the question of when to (and when not to) plan around kids' activities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda Jefferson, a digital decluttering expert and creator of a simple brain dumping method, dives into the importance of managing digital clutter for better productivity. She introduces her FOCUS method—Finish It, Outsource It, Cut It, Uncomplicate It, Scooch It—which simplifies organization. The discussion also touches on emotional challenges tied to digital clutter and offers practical tools for managing everything from emails to photos. Additionally, Amanda provides insights into supporting children with learning disabilities, emphasizing nurturing their unique strengths.

In this engaging discussion, Sarah shares her newfound flexibility in scheduling clinical days, while Laura offers her expert strategies for designing an effective work week. They explore the challenges and benefits of part-time and hybrid work schedules, emphasizing the importance of intentionality in crafting a personalized rhythm. The Ideal Week exercise is highlighted as a practical tool for aligning theory with reality. They also address a listener's question about investing in a second home, weighing the lifestyle choices involved.

In this episode, Laura and Sarah discuss the importance of rest and leisure time, as well as the idea of trading off parenting duties. They touch on challenges faced by single parents and the resistance some partners may have. The hosts also explore different forms of rest and strategies for ensuring balance in personal relationships, emphasizing the importance of both partners getting the rest they need. Additionally, they investigate a mysterious disappearance in a California mountain town, adding twists to the unresolved case.

In today's episode, Laura and Sarah chat live, answering listener questions about a variety of topics! Topics include:- all about the podcast itself (the time it takes, division of labor, etc)- advice for returning to work part time- dream travel destinations- thoughts about future child care arrangements- ways to address loaded questions at work after mat leave return- where do all the episode / blog post / writing ideas come from!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Sarah interviews Amy Laski of the Difference Lab., and they discuss the idea of intentional subtraction -- removing things rather than just shuffling priorities or succumbing to "cram-it-all-in syndrome". Sarah and Laura discuss their own thoughts on this concept, and then Amy joins Sarah to provide her in-depth perspective on this idea and how it can be applied in both personal and business settings. She also shares her career path and her current day-in-the-life with 3 tweens/teens at home.In the Q&A, Laura and Sarah address a listener question on kid 1:1 days. Does it need to be a full day, or do other variations work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.