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
347 episodes
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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20:31
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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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17:20
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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 ...
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25:13
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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17:56
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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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21:50
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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...
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34:03
330: Are Personal Phones in Childcare Classrooms a Hidden Danger?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie dive into the real risks of staff using personal phones in childcare settings. They share eye-opening stats about explicit content on devices and discuss why strict no-phone policies a...
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21:48
329: The Best Tips for Planning a Stress-Free Preschool Graduation Ceremony With Allie Guinn
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you’ll join Kate, Carrie, and guest Allie Guinn as they chat about all things preschool graduation. They share smart tips for planning meaningful celebrations, from picking the perfect timing (spring ...
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26:31
328: The Best Marketing Partnership Ideas for Childcare Centers!
In this episode of "Childcare Conversations," Kate and Carriechat about a clever way to market your childcare center, by creating a neighborhood guidebook from a child’s perspective! They share how partnering with local realtors and businesses ...
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17:03
327: How Can Boost Help Teachers in Financial Crisis? Podcasthon 2026 Episode
In this heartwarming episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat with Meredith Douglas from Boost, a nonprofit helping preschool teachers through tough times, think surprise car repairs or medical bills. Meredith shares how Boost s...
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24:06
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326: Ditch the Decorative Bookshelf: How to Use Leadership Books for Real Growth!
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, your favorite duo gets real about leadership books. You know, the ones piling up on your nightstand. They chat about using books as tools, not just decor, and share tips for matching your reading styl...
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20:28
325: The Importance of Social-Emotional Development in Early Education With Sharon Burnett
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you’ll join a warm chat with curriculum expert Sharon Burnett. Sharon shares her journey from kindergarten teacher to founder of Frog Street and creator of the “Foundations” program, which blends musi...
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25:58
324: The Greatest Benefits of Collaboration Between Home-Based and Licensed Child Care!
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you’ll feel like you’re sitting down with two friends over coffee as they unpack the role of home-based childcare in our communities. They chat about the differences between regulated and unregulated ...
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23:47
323: How Can Mentorship Transform Your Journey in Early Childhood Education? With Meghan Cornwell
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you’ll meet Meghan Cornwell, whose journey from theatre and entertainment marketing to early childhood education is anything but typical! Meghan opens up about the ups and downs of finding mentorship—...
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27:11
322: The Greatest Communication Pitfalls Between Childcare Owners and Directors
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie dive into the everyday communication hurdles between child care center owners and directors. Through relatable role-plays and real talk, they unpack why owners and directors sometimes ...
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26:24
321: Navigating Childcare Differences: A Chat with Fiona Webb on Best Practices
In this episode, Carrie and Kate sit down with Fiona Webb, a UK childcare owner, for a warm, globe-trotting chat. They swap stories about Fiona’s journey from the army to early years education, compare UK and US childcare quirks, and dream up a...
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22:49
320: How Can Childcare Centers Thrive Without Financial Bailouts?
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you’ll feel like you’re sitting down with two wise friends over coffee. Kate and Carrie get real about the financial ups and downs of running a childcare center, think about unexpected repairs, snow d...
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23:55
319: How Can Daily Leadership Check-Ins Transform Your Multi-Site Childcare Program? With Chris Mabasa
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat with Chris Mabasa, an experienced area director in childcare. Chris shares how his team keeps communication strong and leadership unified across four rapidly growing sites. Think ...
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20:56
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318: Unlocking the Secrets to Engaging and Effective Childcare Training
In this episode of Childcare Conversations with Kate and Carrie, the hosts chat about making professional development in childcare truly meaningful. They share tips on moving beyond “check-the-box” trainings, like using book clubs, setting pers...
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20:33
317: How Does Your Classroom Environment Shape Young Minds? With Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez
In this episode of Childcare Conversations with Kate and Carrie, you’ll hear a down-to-earth chat with a professor from Texas Woman’s University about how classroom environments shape little ones’ learning and behavior. They swap stories ...
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26:07
316: The Best Strategies to Combat Burnout in Childcare Leadership!
In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat about the wild ride that is January and February for childcare directors. They share real talk about feeling overwhelmed, juggling too many hats, and how simple systems (like “tiger time” and body doubling)...
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24:19
315: The Best Branding Strategies to Boost Your Childcare Enrollment with Ruth Ann Rose!
You’re going to love this episode! Kate and Carrie sit down with marketing pro Ruth Ann Rose to chat about how childcare centers can boost enrollment with smart, consistent branding. They swap stories about marketing mishaps (including a cringe...
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23:03
314: Is Childcare in Crisis? Understanding the Urgent Challenges Facing Providers Today
In this episode of Childcare Conversations with Kate and Carrie, it’s just Carrie at the mic, diving deep into the tough realities facing childcare in the U.S. She unpacks legal battles over subsidy freezes in five states, Head Start’s fight fo...
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36:10
313: How Can Childcare Providers Unlock Hidden Funding Opportunities? With Logan Holley
In this episode of Childcare Conversations, Kate and Carrie sit down with the ever-resourceful Logan (aka “Logan the Leprechaun”) to chat about creative ways to fund your child care program. They share tips on using data you already collect, cr...
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29:26
312: How Can We Transform Families into Co-Pilots in Early Childhood Education? With Erica of Childcare Directors Chair
In this episode, Kate and Carrie get interviewed in an episode of The Child Care Director’s Chair. Erica Saccoccio sits down with them to chat about building real, lasting partnerships between schools and families. They share smart, down-to-ear...
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24:46