ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie
Kate and Carrie have over 62 years in the childcare business industry and bring that background to their conversations. Having worked with over 5000 childcare programs across the country in the last 30 years together they are a fun and powerful team - ready to help you tackle your problems with practical solutions.
Episodes
366 episodes
354: Struggling to Find and Keep Great Early Childhood Staff? Here’s What You Need to Know with Crystal Johnston
This episode of Childcare Conversations is such a good one! Kate and Carrie sit down with Crystal Johnston, founder of Hire Up Recruiting, to talk all things staffing in early childhood education. Crystal shares her wild journey from economics ...
353: Want Happier Staff and Happier Parents? Here’s How Babysitting Connection Makes It Happen with Beth Heyer
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat with Beth Heyer, founder of Babysitting Connection — and honestly, it's such a fun conversation! Beth shares how she turned her own struggle to find reliable babysitters ...
352: Pod Swap with The Early Years Exchange with Dr. Jason Lody: Leadership Stability and Capacity
In this episode, Kate Woodward Young and Jason Lody have a really eye-opening conversation about leadership stability in early childhood education. Kate shares her impressive journey from family home provider to business coach, then dives into ...
351: Do You Really Need a Playscape to Create an Amazing Outdoor Space? With Alisha
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 the big question: do you really need an expensive playscape? Spoiler: probably not! From repurposing ...
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350: The Most Impactful Keynotes in Early Childhood Conferences: Why They Matter
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Carrie and Kate dive into a really fascinating topic: the role of keynote speakers at early childhood education conferences. They chat about how the term "keynote" has gotten a bit watered down lately...
349: Can Music Really Transform Early Childhood Learning and Behavior? With Debbie Clement
Child Care Conversations: Music, Joy & Early Childhood MagicGet ready to smile! In this episode, Carrie and Kate sit down with the absolutely delightful Debbie Clement — musicologist, author, illustrator, and self-described "best k...
348: Feeling Overwhelmed? How Can Childcare Leaders Beat Decision Fatigue?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate gets real about something so many childcare leaders feel but rarely name — decision fatigue. It's not just the busyness, it's the endless stream of high-stakes decisions that wear you down. Kate ...
347: The Most Effective Mindset Shifts for Coaching Challenging Early Childhood Teams With Prerna Richards
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, the hosts sit down with the wonderful Prerna Richards to talk about something every childcare leader faces: coaching staff through tough mindsets and tricky behaviors. Think victim mentality, resistan...
346: Are You Waiting Too Long to Make Tough Staffing Decisions?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie get real about the hidden costs of delayed decision-making in childcare leadership. Using everything from melted Easter ice cream to "emotional support underwear" as metaphors, they br...
345: The Best Marketing Strategies That Actually Fill Your Childcare Center with Pietro of BRIT Childcare
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, the hosts chat with Pietro from BRIT AI about smart marketing strategies for childcare centers. Pietro breaks down why Meta ads (Facebook & Instagram) are often a better investment than Google Ads...
344: Are You Using Your Childcare Center’s Data to Its Full Potential?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie get real about something many childcare leaders avoid — the numbers! They walk you through how to track your enrollment funnel, from first inquiry all the way to a signed contract, and...
343: What’s It Like Growing Up Literally Inside a Childcare Center? With Jonathan Pearce
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you'll meet Jonathan Pearce - a Louisiana childcare leader who literally grew up in childcare (his mom built a center next to her dance studio!). Jonathan shares his fascinating journey from engineeri...
Bonus Episode: The Greatest Lessons on Leadership and Connection from “Devil Wears Prada 2”
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 childhood leaders. They dig into how technology can never replace the human heart in childcare, and wh...
342: Are You Making Too Many Reactive Decisions in Your Childcare Leadership?
Ever feel like you're constantly putting out fires instead of running your program? Carrie and Kate get real about the hidden costs of reactive decision-making in childcare leadership. From losing staff and families to making impulsive purchase...
341: The Greatest Secrets from a Former State Licensing Consultant With Ronnae Williams
In this episode of ChildCare Conversations, the hosts Kate and Carrie sit down with Ronnae Williams, aka the "State Lady," a former licensing consultant for Georgia. Ronnae shares her journey from Pre-K teacher to licensing rep and drops some s...
340: How Is Whitney McCrory Fighting Oklahoma’s Childcare Crisis?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you'll meet Whitney McCrory, a true childcare legacy carrier from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her mom launched the business back in 1982, and Whitney took the reins in 2018, running three nationally accredited f...
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339: The Most Innovative Childcare Funding Strategy You Haven’t Heard About Yet With Barbara Tedrow
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you'll meet Barbara Tedrow from New Mexico, a childcare owner turned powerhouse advocate. Barbara shares how New Mexico built a truly universal childcare system, funded by an oil and gas trust fund th...
338: How Can You Successfully Finance Your Childcare Center? With Dr. Mia Young
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 public school principal to childcare entrepreneur! Dr. Young breaks down the real financial journey of...
337: Struggling with Staff Retention? Here’s What Every Childcare Director Needs to Know!
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 evolved without much business training built in, leaving many directors figuring out staff management on ...
336: Is Staff Appreciation Week Really Enough to Keep Your Childcare Team Happy?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie tackle why Staff Appreciation Week alone isn't enough to retain your childcare team. They share practical, budget-friendly ideas for showing appreciation year-round — think personalize...
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335: Walk, Notice, Appreciate: The Secret to a Happy Childcare Team
In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie dive into making staff appreciation a daily leadership habit. Inspired by the concept of "management by walking around," Carrie shares how doing quick, intentional classroom walk-thro...
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334: The Best Ways to Celebrate Your Childcare Team!
In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat about the real-life ups and downs of showing appreciation to childcare staff, without breaking the bank. They swap clever, heartfelt ideas like handwritten notes, photo keepsakes, and simple thank-yous for ...
333: How Can Early Childhood Leaders Shift Their Focus from Problems to Positives?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about a leadership habit every early childhood director should try: focusing on the positives! They explain why our brains naturally spot problems first, but how shifting to notic...
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332: How Can Childcare Directors Show Genuine Appreciation to Their Staff? You're Probably Doing it Wrong
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about how childcare directors can truly show appreciation for their staff, without falling into the trap of generic gifts or pizza parties. They share practical tips on understand...
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331: How Can Childcare Centers Boost Enrollment and Communication Effectively? With Jared Hall
In this episode, you’ll join Kate and Carrie as they chat with Jared Hall, CEO and Founder of IntelliKid Systems, a software platform built for childcare centers. Jared shares stories from his family’s decades in the industry and dives into how...
