ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie

Hosted by Carrie Casey and Kate Woodward Young

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Episodes

364

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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.

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60 recent

June 16, 202621 min

353: Want Happier Staff and Happier Parents? Here’s How Babysitting Connection Makes It Happen with Beth Heyer

Send us Fan MailIn 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 in Austin into a thriving membership-based agency that vets and matches sitters with families. For childcare directors, this is worth a listen; it could mean a flexible substitute staffing solution, an enrollment funnel, AND extra revenue. Beth also touches on empowering women to launch their own agencies. Her biggest takeaway? You simply can't please everyone. So stop trying!Learn more about Beth here!www.bethheyer.comwww.babysittingconnection.comwww.petsittingconnection.comThanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

June 11, 20261 hr 2 min

352: Pod Swap with The Early Years Exchange with Dr. Jason Lody: Leadership Stability and Capacity

Send us Fan MailIn 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 findings from a survey of 620 programs across 30 states. Spoiler alert - the results are concerning! Over half of programs feel they're one crisis away from closing, and accountability gaps are widespread. They also explore a cool new tool called Center IQ that helps directors make smarter financial decisions before problems arise. Really valuable stuff!Thanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

June 9, 202634 min

351: Do You Really Need a Playscape to Create an Amazing Outdoor Space? With Alisha

Send us Fan MailIn 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 tree stumps to creating "tiny towns" with donated playhouses, they share budget-friendly, creative ideas that work for real programs. Alisha brings her outdoor learning expertise, including how musical instruments support brain development. Whether you're starting from scratch or refreshing an existing space, this episode is packed with practical inspiration!Learn more and connect with Alisha here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-kriege-51bb9a4b/www.freenotesharmonypark.comwww.northstarschoolsupply.comThanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

June 4, 202627 min

350: The Most Impactful Keynotes in Early Childhood Conferences: Why They Matter

Send us Fan MailIn 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, with some conferences featuring multiple keynotes that blur into workshops. They also uncover a surprising stat: despite the ECE workforce being 98% female, most keynote speakers have historically been men! Their big takeaway? A great keynote should inspire, connect emotionally, and truly reflect the audience it serves.Thanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

June 2, 202626 min

349: Can Music Really Transform Early Childhood Learning and Behavior? With Debbie Clement

Send us Fan MailChild 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 kept secret" in early childhood education. With nearly 30 years of experience, Debbie shares why music isn't just fun; it's brain science! From behavior support to literacy and math connections, music is a powerful tool every director should know about. Fair warning: this conversation goes wonderfully off-script, and honestly? That's what makes it so good.Learn more about our guest here! Website: RainbowsWithinReach.com Email: debbie@rainbowswithinreach Phone: (614)309-5270Thanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

May 28, 202633 min

348: Feeling Overwhelmed? How Can Childcare Leaders Beat Decision Fatigue?

Send us Fan MailIn 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 introduces Center IQ, a decision intelligence tool built specifically for childcare leaders to help connect the dots between staffing, enrollment, and finances. The standout feature? A simulation tool that shows you the ripple effects of decisions before you make them. Less guesswork, more clarity — sounds like exactly what the field needs!Thanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

May 26, 202629 min

347: The Most Effective Mindset Shifts for Coaching Challenging Early Childhood Teams With Prerna Richards

Send us Fan MailIn 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, resistance to change, and team conflict. Prerna drops some real gems, including her "connection before correction" philosophy and the SBA strategy (Stop, Breathe, Anchor) for managing your own triggers. She also breaks down the difference between staff buy-in versus genuine belief, a game-changer! Plus, she shares details about her Behavior Coaching Academy. This one's worth a listen!Learn more and book her coaching session! https://community.togetherwegrow.online/a/2148260553/qEq9xL3EThanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

May 21, 202622 min

346: Are You Waiting Too Long to Make Tough Staffing Decisions?

Send us Fan MailIn 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 break down how holding onto disengaged staff can quietly drain your program — we're talking potentially $62K a year in lost tuition! They also tackle slow enrollment strategies and ineffective job ads. The bottom line? Making tough calls quickly is actually an act of kindness — for your team, your families, and even the person moving on.Thanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

May 19, 202625 min

345: The Best Marketing Strategies That Actually Fill Your Childcare Center with Pietro of BRIT Childcare

Send us Fan MailIn 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 right now, and introduces the Meta Pixel as a game-changer for targeting the right families. He also gets real about budgeting — think 5-8% of gross revenue for meaningful results. The big takeaway? Marketing isn't a cost, it's an investment with seriously impressive returns. Don't sleep on this one!Thanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

May 14, 202631 min

344: Are You Using Your Childcare Center’s Data to Its Full Potential?

Send us Fan MailIn 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 why knowing your data is actually empowering, not scary. You'll pick up practical tips on qualifying families, using consistent call scripts, nailing your follow-up game, and automating paperwork. They also touch on managing your online reputation. Bottom line? Your numbers are telling a story — it's time to listen!Thanks for Listening 🎧Want to learn more? Check out our book; "From Overwhelmed to I Got This: Guaranteed Success Route to Directing Your Childcare Center" 📖Join our Facebook Group for Childcare professionals!Join our Podcast Newsletter!Want to be a guest on our podcast? Go to our website to learn more.Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!