Best of Both Worlds Podcast

In today’s episode, Laura and Sarah open by discussing BLP Live (coming up this week + both are excited). Then, they delve into a discussion of personal policies - the idea that you could make rules for yourself to avoid decision fatigue and ensure you are sticking to what works (similar to Kendra Adachi’s Decide Once rule!). Each share various and sundry personal policies in multiple areas of life! Then, in the Q&A, a listener (maybe an introverted one?) shares her dilemma around forced social time at afterschool pickup.

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In today's episode, Laura and Sarah take a deep dive into how they handle time off, and then provide a detailed account of current practices around daily planning. They also chat about time estimating abilities!

In the Q&A, a listener writes in about handling toddler/baby day care illnesses over the long winters.

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In today's episode, Laura and Sarah open with a discussion of their own favorite healthy habits -- the actions or routines they think make the most difference in daily well-being. Then, Laura interviews Pamela Brown, CNN anchor and investigative correspondent on her work focused on women's health. She shares her findings as well as how they've been applied ot her own career and family journey.

In the Q&A, a listener inquires: how do you handle weekends derailed by bad weather (ie, a sports tournament is no longer happening and suddenly you have 2 empty days on your hands?)

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In today's episode, Sarah and Laura talk about all things calendar related, from planners of the past to the way they display calendars both in the home and in their personal systems. They tackle longer-range calendaring, weekly logistics, and daily practices.

In the Q&A, they address a common question: what are favorite planners for kids?

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In today's episode, Sarah and Laura open by discussing their go-to sources for parenting advice, and then Sarah is joined by certified behavioral analyst and autism expert Stephenie Mueller for a discussion of effective behavioral tactics (for all kids!) and navigating a new autism spectrum diagnosis. Stephanie is informed by her years of experience working with kids with different needs and challenges as well as her personal experience parenting 4 children.

In the Q&A, Laura and Sarah answer a question about selecting age-appropriate content - how do decide which media is 'okay' for each child at their current age and stage?

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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 https://www.patreon.com/bestofbothworldspod!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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 https://optimisticmusings.com/!

Additional resources from Elisabeth:
Her website/blog: https://optimisticmusings.com/
Patreon Community: https://www.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?

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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 https://kellynolan.com/ or @_kellynolan_ on IG

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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?

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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!

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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!)

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