ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, you’ll join a warm, insightful chat with Marie Young and Joanna Casey from Child Care Mystery Shop. They share how their family-run business helps child care centers boost enrollment and polish their customer experience through mystery shopping. You’ll hear practical tips on improving communication, online presence, and first impressions, plus a few stories from b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kate and Carrie sit down with Dr. Andrea Dickerson to chat about the real-life challenges of running childcare centers. They dive into why clear systems, workflows, and checklists are game-changers for staff retention and smooth operations. Andrea shares practical tips for spotting gaps and testing new processes.  You’ll walk away with actionable steps and a sense...

Send us Fan Mail You’re in for a treat with this episode of "Child Care Conversations"! Kate and Carrie sit down with Red Grammer, beloved children’s musician, to chat about how his uplifting songs—like those from his new album "Hooray for the World" help kids learn kindness, express themselves, and even burn off extra energy.  The conversation feels like old friends swapping s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll join Kate, Carrie, and their guest Julie Martinez , a passionate childcare center owner from Texas. Julie shares her inspiring journey from teen mom to thriving entrepreneur, opening centers in unique spaces like a church. The trio chats about building strong relationships, the ups and downs of shared spaces, and the magic of int...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie get real about the tough shift from classroom teacher to confident director. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or stuck micromanaging, you’re not alone! They share practical tips on letting go, delegating, and focusing on what truly matters—plus a few books and community recommendations to keep you inspired.  Think of it as a he...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll sit in on a warm, insightful chat with Jason Lody, CEO of Adventist Education. Jason shares his journey from police officer to early childhood leader, revealing how he grew his company to 26 preschools in just 11 months! He dishes on scaling up, hiring outside the box, and why incentivizing directors can boost enrollment. You’ll...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," you’ll hear Tamar Andrews share how her real-life struggles as a childcare director inspired her sons to create Playground, a user-friendly app that actually solves the headaches directors face every day.  Kate, Carrie, and Tamar chat like old friends about the wild multitasking directors do, the lack of training, and why be...

Send us Fan Mail You’re in for a treat with this episode! Kate and Carrie chat with Chelyn Butts from Texas, who shares her amazing journey from running a tiny child care center to leading a thriving program with 130 kids, all in a brand-new, gifted building!  Chelyn opens up about the magic of a family-like culture, the game-changing impact of mentors and coaches, and how smart marketing helped h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, you’ll sit in on a warm, insightful chat with Jessica and Katy — two resourceful early childhood leaders from Florida and Indiana. They share how partnering with Childcare Business Growth boosted their enrollment and community engagement (hello, TikTok videos! 📱).  The conversation dives into real challenges, like sudden subsidy cuts in Indiana, and how they’re s...

Send us Fan Mail You’re in for a treat with this episode of Childcare Conversations! Kate and Carrie sit down with Jeannette Ward from Texas Mutual Insurance and Christy Black from Primrose Central Texas to chat about their creative partnership bringing onsite childcare to Texas Mutual’s Austin HQ.  They share the ups and downs of launching the center, from employee retention to navigating regulat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about the real-life ups and downs of managing calendars, appointments, and communication in child care centers. They swap stories (including a scheduling mishap!), share practical tips for staying organized, and highlight how tools like automated reminders and AI assistants can save your sanity.  They also discuss m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Childcare Conversations, you’ll join Kate, Carrie and Shelby Adamson from Kitty Crafts Preschool for a warm, insightful chat about outdoor, play-based learning. Shelby shares how her nature-focused program helps kids thrive by spending lots of time outside, rain or shine!  They talk about blending phonics into play, supporting parents, and why letting kids be ki...

Send us Fan Mail You’re in for a treat with this episode! The hosts sit down with Lily Lugo, a powerhouse in early childhood education from South Texas. Lily shares her inspiring 30+ year journey, from work-study student to owning multiple centers and passing the torch to her son, Christian.  They chat about building a family legacy, letting go of micromanagement, and empowering the next generatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about what real authority looks like in early childhood leadership. They remind you that being a great leader isn’t about being bossy, it’s about being brave, sharing your expertise, and guiding others with confidence and compassion.  They offer practical tips for embracing your unique strengths, advocating for your...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll meet Cindy Lehnhoff , a true gem with 40+ years in childcare! Cindy shares her inspiring journey from part-time preschool teacher to VP of Operations, and dishes out practical tips on flexible staffing, creative scheduling, and why part-time roles can be a game-changer.  The chat also covers staff well-being, vacation policies, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, guest host Erica of the Directors Chair Podcast turns the tables on regular hosts (and cousins) Kate and Carrie, diving into their journey as early childhood education leaders and publishers. They share heartfelt stories about resilience, building their business, and empowering women in leadership.  You’ll hear about their “monkey manag...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about “loveys,” those cherished comfort items kids bring to childcare with Diane Goyette . They share heartfelt stories and practical tips on why these objects matter so much for emotional regulation and security. You’ll pick up resourceful ideas for managing loveys in your center, hear why every child’s attachment...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Hope King, founder of Black Tie Babysitting, to chat about creative ways childcare professionals can branch out beyond traditional centers. Hope shares her journey of providing event-based childcare at weddings and corporate gatherings, offering tips on partnerships, staff empowerment, and setting up safe, fun spaces for kids. It’s a warm, insight...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat about making confident decisions under pressure, something every childcare leader faces! They swap real stories (like Carrie’s wild tree-on-the-roof incident), tackle decision fatigue, and share clever tips for managing overflowing emails and communication chaos. You’ll pick up resourceful strategies for streamlining your tech tools, setting b...

Send us Fan Mail Wow, this episode was a real heart-to-heart! You’ll hear from Ms. Bianca and Ms. Trina of Tender Care in Milwaukee, who share their center’s inspiring 46-year journey from a small church ministry to a lifeline for local families. They open up about the tough realities of childcare funding, their creative “hustles” to keep doors open, and the power of advocacy, both big and small....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, you’ll feel like you’re sitting down with old friends as they coach Yulonda—and you—through the ins and outs of using podcasts and press releases to market your childcare program. The hosts share practical tips for getting started, from overcoming nerves to using AI tools (like ChatGPT) to turn podcast transcripts into blogs and social posts. You’ll learn how to a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, the hosts sit down with Trevor Newton, a passionate early childhood educator, to chat all about “big body play”—think wrestling, tumbling, and active movement in the classroom. They share real-world tips for empowering teachers as leaders, creating safe play spaces, and building staff buy-in (book club, anyone?).  Trevor and the team ge...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll meet Melissa McCall from North Carolina, who shares her journey blending play and literacy in early childhood education. Melissa opens up about her own daughter’s struggles with early reading skills during the pandemic and how that inspired her to champion play-based, research-backed learning.  You’ll pick up practical tips for t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and how you can support breastfeeding families in your center. They share smart, doable tips, like creating comfy breastfeeding spaces, hosting community groups, and connecting with local media and doctors. Plus, they talk about using themed awareness months to boost your...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, you’ll join a warm, insightful chat about the real challenges and creative solutions in early childhood education.   Noelle D’Intino shares her journey running a thriving center, renovating a church into a new facility, and building supportive networks for directors and teachers.  The group dives into smart staffing (think hiring from outside childcare!), the powe...