Shows / ChildCare Conversations
ChildCare Conversations
Childcare Conversations was founded by cousins Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., PCC, and Carrie Casey, MBA, to create practical, honest conversations about the real business and leadership challenges facing early childhood professionals.
Today, the podcast is hosted by Kate Woodward Young and features childcare owners, directors, experts, and industry leaders talking about leadership, staffing, enrollment, finances, systems, growth, and the everyday decisions behind stronger early childhood…
Episodes
ChildCare Conversations392: You Are Not Addicted to Control, You Are Afraid of Collapse with Chanie Wilschanski
Send us Fan Mail When Success Starts to Feel Like Survival with Chanie Wilschanski What happens when being the person everyone depends on starts to cost you…
ChildCare Conversations391: Why leaving your preschool was the healthiest decision you could make with Bryanne Adler
Send us Fan Mail When It’s Time to Walk Away: Career Growth in Early Childhood Education What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer…
ChildCare ConversationsBonus Episode! What Playground’s founder say really changes after the Procare deal with Sasha Reiss
Send us Fan Mail What the Procare Acquisition Means for Playground and Childcare Providers What does the Procare acquisition mean for Playground and for the…
ChildCare Conversations390: Why Gen Z Staff Leave — And How to Keep Them with Marie Young
Send us Fan Mail Why is retaining Gen Z employees in childcare about more than pay and scheduling? Kate Woodward Young and Marie Young explore Gen Z employee…
ChildCare Conversations389: Why Your First Hire for a Childcare Project Should Be an Architect with Matt Hart
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to renovate, build, or open a childcare center without costly surprises? Matt Hart joins Kate Woodward Young to share…
ChildCare Conversations388: How better systems could free childcare budgets for what matters with Mary Harper
Send us Fan Mail Could regulatory reform actually help childcare programs improve quality? Kate Woodward Young talks with Dr. Mary Harper about why reducing…
ChildCare Conversations387: How One Founder Turned a Personal Need Into 21 Childcare Locations with Kristen Denzer
Send us Fan Mail What does it take to grow a childcare business without losing the values and families at its heart? Kate Woodward Young talks with Kristen…
ChildCare Conversations386: The Biggest Accreditation Mistake With Selena
Send us Fan Mail Is accreditation just another checklist—or can it actually help your early childhood program grow? Selena McNeely joins Kate Woodward Young to…
ChildCare Conversations385: 7 Reasons Music Belongs in Early Childhood, Not Just Art Class with Alisha Kriege
Send us Fan Mail What if your playground could become a music classroom—without requiring a music specialist? Alisha Kriege of Freenotes Harmony Park joins…
ChildCare Conversations384: What Most Preschool Owners Miss When Choosing a Franchise Model With Amber Stravlo
Send us Fan Mail What happens when you find a preschool franchise that actually fits your educational philosophy and business goals? Amber Stravlo shares how…
ChildCare Conversations383: The Hidden Grief Behind Divorce, Empty Nesting, and Job Changes With Vicki Hagadorn
Send us Fan Mail What if the stress and overwhelm you’re carrying isn’t just stress but unresolved grief? Grief recovery specialist Vicki Hagadorn joins Kate…
ChildCare Conversations382: Why Co-Regulation Works Better Than Self-Care Buzzwords With Cameile Henry
Send us Fan Mail What does co-regulation really look like when a classroom is chaotic, and everyone is overwhelmed? Kate Woodward Young talks with Camille from…
ChildCare Conversations381: The 12-Month Process Behind Turning a Childcare School Into a Franchise With Krisana Puccio
Send us Fan Mail What if your next growth move isn’t another childcare location—but a whole new business model? Krisana Puccio shares how Pineapple School grew…
ChildCare Conversations380: The Lease Negotiation Lessons That Saved a Childcare Business With Mary Hornbeck
Send us Fan Mail What should every childcare owner know before signing a lease or starting a build-out? Kate Woodward Young talks with Mary Hornbeck, a Kansas…
ChildCare Conversations379: The 15-Second Pitch That Gets People to Remember You With Tiffany Mason
Send us Fan Mail Networking isn’t just about collecting contacts; it’s about building real relationships that lead to trust, referrals, and opportunity. Kate…
ChildCare Conversations378: The Hidden Cost of Not Investing in Your Best Teachers With Erica Saccoccio
Send us Fan Mail What if your staffing problem isn’t a hiring problem; it’s a leadership and retention problem? Kate Woodward Young and Erica Saccoccio explore…
ChildCare Conversations377: How One Childcare Operator Scaled to 21 Schools Without the Tech Chaos With Dr. Jason Lody
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to grow a childcare organization without losing the systems, staff support, and community connection that make it…
ChildCare Conversations376: The Onboarding Mistake that Makes New Childcare Staff Quit Fast with Marie Young
Send us Fan Mail Why does Gen Z leave childcare, and what can leaders do differently to make them want to stay? Kate Woodward Young and Marie Young share an…
ChildCare Conversations375: 3 Questions That Reveal What a Child Really Needs With Stephanie Corley
Send us Fan Mail What if we stopped waiting for a diagnosis before supporting a child who needs help? Stephanie Corley joins Kate Woodward Young to explore…
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374: Why Childcare Directors Need Training Before They Can Lead a Center
Send us Fan Mail Great teachers don’t automatically become great directors. But too often, they’re promoted into leadership and expected to figure it out on…
ChildCare Conversations373: 5 Ways Early Educators Can Lead With Confidence and Clarity with Jessica Van Hoose
Send us Fan Mail What does it take to go from early childhood educator to CEO? Jessica Van Hoose, CEO of The Nest Schools, joins Kate to talk about early…
ChildCare Conversations372: You Can’t Have a Yes Without a Why With Carla Ward
Send us Fan Mail What if the behavior you’re trying to manage isn’t really a child problem—but an environment problem? Kate Woodward Young sits down with Carla…
ChildCare Conversations371: Finding Your Fire in Early Childhood Education with LaTroya of The Preschool Posse
Send us Fan Mail What happens when the passion that brought you into early childhood education starts to feel like burnout? Kate Woodward Young sits down with…
ChildCare Conversations370: Game-Changers for Managing Staff Training and Compliance in Childcare with Cindy Morgan
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Cindy Morgan tackle something every childcare director needs but few actually have…
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369: Are You Really Preparing Your Early Childhood Staff or Just Checking Boxes?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate Woodward Young drops some serious truth bombs about why handing a new hire a handbook and…
ChildCare Conversations368: The Greatest Career Moves for Longtime Early Childhood Leaders With Erica Saccoccio
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Erica sit down for a really inspiring chat about what's next when you've spent decades in…
ChildCare Conversations367: What’s the Real Problem Holding Your Childcare Center Back? With Danielle Credeur
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, you'll meet Danielle, who has spent nearly 35 years in early childhood education, and her story of how she got there is…
ChildCare Conversations366: The Greatest Secrets to Managing Change and Growing Your Childcare Center with Confidence with Cindy Morgan
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate sits down with Cindy Morgan from One Place Childcare to dig into a topic every early…
ChildCare Conversations365: How Can Women Lead Boldly Without Apology in Early Childhood Education? With Amy Cowan
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate chats with Amy Cowan, CEO of Ivy Brook Academy, about her incredible journey from public…
ChildCare Conversations364: The Surprising Truth About Vendor Hall Swag, Discounts, and Building Genuine Relationships with Alisha Kriege
Send us Fan Mail Get ready for conference season! In this episode, Kate and Alisha break down how to make the most of vendor halls at early childhood education…
ChildCare Conversations363: The Secret to Recruiting College Students and Spouses Who Turn Into Lifelong Educators with Jennifer Clements
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate talks to Jennifer Clements, who shares her journey from growing up in her mom's home daycare…
ChildCare Conversations362: The Hidden Financial Impact of Quality Ratings Nobody Tells You About with Coach Rae
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate sits down with Coach Rae — an early childhood education specialist and consultant — to bust…
ChildCare Conversations361: Why Childcare Owners Need Formal Management Training — Or Risk Burnout With Laura Biederman
Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secret to rapid growth in early childhood education—without burning out your team or drowning in disjointed systems. Laura…
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360: The Most Crucial Ingredient for Quality Childcare Staffing Revealed
Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what lifeguarding has to do with running a child care program? Turns out — a lot! In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate…
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359: From Sticky Notes to Streamlined Success: Revolutionize Childcare Enrollment with Tech! With Robert Rodriguez
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, we chat with Robert Rodriguez, co-owner of Texas Christian Preschool in Brownsville, Texas. Robert…
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358: The Greatest Wellness Secrets Every Family Childcare Provider Needs to Know With Annette Eberhart
Send us Fan Mail This episode of Childcare Conversations is such a good one! Kate sits down with Annette Eberhart, a 19-year family childcare veteran from…
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357: Are You Choosing the Right School Supplies to Boost Your Early Childhood Program? With Tom Melhorn
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate sits down with Tom Melhorn, president of North Star School Supply, for a really refreshing…
ChildCare Conversations356: How Can Early Childhood Education and Performing Arts Build Confidence in Kids? With Vineeta Bhandari
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you'll meet Vineeta; her story is truly something special! What started as a mom's response to her…
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355: The Greatest Tool for Building Parent Trust in Early Childhood Education with Jamie Selig
Send us Fan Mail Parent Engagement Gets a Tech Upgrade! This episode of Childcare Conversations is one you'll want to share with every director you know. Kate…
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354: Struggling to Find and Keep Great Early Childhood Staff? Here’s What You Need to Know with Crystal Johnston
Send us Fan Mail This episode of Childcare Conversations is such a good one! Kate and Carrie sit down with Crystal Johnston, founder of Hire Up Recruiting, to…
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353: Want Happier Staff and Happier Parents? Here’s How Babysitting Connection Makes It Happen with Beth Heyer
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat with Beth Heyer, founder of Babysitting Connection — and honestly, it's such…
- ChildCare Conversations
352: Pod Swap with The Early Years Exchange with Dr. Jason Lody: Leadership Stability and Capacity
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kate Woodward Young and Jason Lody have a really eye-opening conversation about leadership stability in early childhood…
ChildCare Conversations351: Do You Really Need a Playscape to Create an Amazing Outdoor Space? With Alisha
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kate, Carrie, and guest expert Alisha Kriege dig into the world of outdoor play spaces, and it's such a good one! They tackle…
- ChildCare Conversations
350: The Most Impactful Keynotes in Early Childhood Conferences: Why They Matter
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Carrie and Kate dive into a really fascinating topic: the role of keynote speakers at early…
ChildCare Conversations349: Can Music Really Transform Early Childhood Learning and Behavior? With Debbie Clement
Send us Fan Mail Child Care Conversations: Music, Joy & Early Childhood Magic Get ready to smile! In this episode, Carrie and Kate sit down with the absolutely…
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348: Feeling Overwhelmed? How Can Childcare Leaders Beat Decision Fatigue?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate Woodward Young gets real about something so many childcare leaders feel but rarely name —…
- ChildCare Conversations
347: The Most Effective Mindset Shifts for Coaching Challenging Early Childhood Teams With Prerna Richards
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, the hosts sit down with the wonderful Prerna Richards to talk about something every childcare…
- ChildCare Conversations
346: Are You Waiting Too Long to Make Tough Staffing Decisions?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie get real about the hidden costs of delayed decision-making in childcare…
- ChildCare Conversations
345: The Best Marketing Strategies That Actually Fill Your Childcare Center with Pietro of BRIT Childcare
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, the hosts chat with Pietro from BRIT AI about smart marketing strategies for childcare centers…
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344: Are You Using Your Childcare Center’s Data to Its Full Potential?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie get real about something many childcare leaders avoid — the numbers! They walk you…
ChildCare Conversations343: What’s It Like Growing Up Literally Inside a Childcare Center? With Jonathan Pearce
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you'll meet Jonathan Pearce - a Louisiana childcare leader who literally grew up in childcare (his…
- ChildCare Conversations
Bonus Episode: The Greatest Lessons on Leadership and Connection from “Devil Wears Prada 2”
Send us Fan Mail In this fun bonus episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Marie chat about the new Devil Wears Prada 2 movie and what it means for early…
- ChildCare Conversations
342: Are You Making Too Many Reactive Decisions in Your Childcare Leadership?
Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you're constantly putting out fires instead of running your program? Carrie and Kate get real about the hidden costs of…
ChildCare Conversations341: The Greatest Secrets from a Former State Licensing Consultant With Ronnae Williams
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of ChildCare Conversations, the hosts Kate and Carrie sit down with Ronnae Williams, aka the "State Lady," a former licensing…
ChildCare Conversations340: How Is Whitney McCrory Fighting Oklahoma’s Childcare Crisis?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you'll meet Whitney McCrory, a true childcare legacy carrier from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her mom…
ChildCare Conversations339: The Most Innovative Childcare Funding Strategy You Haven’t Heard About Yet With Barbara Tedrow
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you'll meet Barbara Tedrow from New Mexico, a childcare owner turned powerhouse advocate. Barbara…
ChildCare Conversations338: How Can You Successfully Finance Your Childcare Center? With Dr. Mia Young
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversation, Kate and Carrie sit down with the amazing Dr. Mia Young, a 27-year education veteran who went from…
- ChildCare Conversations
337: Struggling with Staff Retention? Here’s What Every Childcare Director Needs to Know!
Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why staff retention feels so hard in childcare? Kate and Carrie get real about it in this episode! They dig into how childcare…
ChildCare Conversations336: Is Staff Appreciation Week Really Enough to Keep Your Childcare Team Happy?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie tackle why Staff Appreciation Week alone isn't enough to retain your childcare…
ChildCare Conversations335: Walk, Notice, Appreciate: The Secret to a Happy Childcare Team
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie dive into making staff appreciation a daily leadership habit. Inspired by the…