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 programs.

With hundreds of episodes and voices from across the field, Childcare Conversations helps early childhood leaders ask better questions, find practical ideas and trusted resources, and make better decisions for their businesses, programs, teams, children, and families.

Real people. Practical ideas. Better decisions.

Podcasting since 2020 • 392 episodes

ChildCare Conversations

Latest Episodes

380: The Lease Negotiation Lessons That Saved a Childcare Business With Mary Hornbeck

What should every childcare owner know before signing a lease or starting a build-out? Kate Woodward Young talks with Mary Hornbeck, a Kansas City childcare operator who grew from one classroom to four locations, about childcare facility lea...

September 17, 2026 • 31:19

379: The 15-Second Pitch That Gets People to Remember You With Tiffany Mason

Networking isn’t just about collecting contacts; it’s about building real relationships that lead to trust, referrals, and opportunity. Kate Woodward Young and Tiffany Mason share practical strategies for networking, relationship buil...

September 15, 2026 • 30:37

378: The Hidden Cost of Not Investing in Your Best Teachers With Erica Saccoccio

What if your staffing problem isn’t a hiring problem; it’s a leadership and retention problem? Kate Woodward Young and Erica Saccoccio explore how childcare directors and owners can recognize hidden leaders, strengthen staff devel...

September 10, 2026 • 26:02

377: How One Childcare Operator Scaled to 21 Schools Without the Tech Chaos With Dr. Jason Lody

What does it really take to grow a childcare organization without losing the systems, staff support, and community connection that make it successful? Dr. Jason Lody shares how Aventus grew from zero to 21 schools across six states, and ...

September 08, 2026 • 32:16

376: The Onboarding Mistake that Makes New Childcare Staff Quit Fast with Marie Young

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 honest mother-daughter conversation about Gen Z staff retention, onboarding, leadership, communicatio...

September 03, 2026 • 34:59