Everything Early Childhood

Leadership isn’t a marathon you have to crawl through — but too often, we wait until the health scare, the burnout, or the breakdown before we pause. This week on the Everything Early Childhood podcast, I’m sharing Lesson #2 from my upcoming book The Resilient Leader — the brutal truth about why so many leaders wait until it hurts to take care of themselves, and how we can shift that story. Inside...

10 Leadership Tips from 10 Years: Tip 1 The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything As Platinum Education turns 10, I’m reflecting on the lessons learnt along the way. And the first one is a biggie: letting go of control. Because here’s the truth — 👉 When you do everything, your staff do nothing. 👉 Control feels safe, but it’s actually the most dangerous trap. 👉 You’re not a real leader until...

Why We Rebranded – The Honest Story Behind the Shift and how to know if its time for you too! After nine years, countless services transformed, and a business that’s evolved far beyond where it started, Platinum Education Group has stepped into a whole new chapter. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the real story behind our rebrand the moments that led to it, the challenges along th...

In this deeply personal and unfiltered episode, Leeza invites you behind the curtain of leadership and business—into a raw season of emotional overwhelm, physical exhaustion, and personal growth. Instead of waiting until she’s “through it,” she speaks from the middle of the mess, sharing what it’s like to lead while navigating pain, trauma, and deep internal shifts. This episode is a vulnerable re...

What’s Your Wobbly Chair? — The Small Discomforts We Learn to Live With (Until They Break Us) Host: Leeza Browne | Platinum Education Group Podcast: Everything Early Childhood In this reflective solo episode, Leeza shares a simple but powerful story about a wobbly chair — a metaphor for the things we tolerate in leadership and life until they finally fall apart. You’ll explore why early childhood...

Child Protection Can’t Wait: What Every Educator Must Know Now with Holly-ann Martin, Founder of Safe4Kids For over 30 years, Holly-ann Martin has been a fearless voice for child protection in Australia. Starting her work back in the 1980s when all she had were magazines and honesty. Holly has witnessed firsthand how the risks to children have evolved. What was once simpler has now become more com...

In this episode of Everything Early Childhood, Leeza is joined by Dr. Trevor Carlson, paediatric physiotherapist and founder of Therapy Kids, to explore the foundational stages of infant and toddler movement, from tummy time to crawling, standing, and those incredible first steps. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or carer, Trevor shares practical, down-to-earth guidance to support every child’s...

In this heart-centered episode of Everything Early Childhood, Leeza sits down with Vicki Scheafer, founder of Little Wise One, to explore how mindfulness and movement can transform early childhood spaces. Vicki shares her journey from teaching Kinder Dance in her local community to creating affirmation cards, guided journals, and her latest book, A Mindful Child, supporting educators and families...

In this heartfelt solo episode, Leeza answers a powerful question submitted by one of our listeners: "How do you deal with the emotional rollercoaster of leadership in early childhood?" Let’s face it—leading in early childhood education isn’t just about policies, procedures, or planning cycles. It’s about people. And that means navigating daily emotional highs and lows that no leadership course ca...

In this episode, Leeza breaks down what every child care owner needs to know before June 30 — from the Worker Retention Payment and upcoming wage increases, to how to financially prepare your service for the year ahead. You’ll get: Clarity on the WRP deadlines and what to action now A real talk on what this funding really means for your business An EOFY checklist to get your finances sorted Tips t...

In this episode of Everything Early Childhood, Leeza Browne is joined by educator and author Stefanie Hohl, creator of ABC See, Hear, Do. A phonics program that integrates movement and play to help children learn to read. Designed for early learning professionals and parents, this episode explores how multi-sensory, movement-based approaches can better support young learners especially those who d...

Five years ago, I stood in a hotel room, teary-eyed, heart racing, with a phone in my hand and finally shared the story I’d never said out loud. The truth behind why I do what I do. That moment, recorded in raw emotion after a breakthrough at a business event, changed everything. It was the first time I let myself be seen and truly shared my why. Until now, that video stayed hidden. But today, I’m...

Is It Time to Sell? How to Know, Prepare, and Let Go with Grace Synopsis: In this heartfelt solo episode, Leeza Browne, founder of Platinum Education Group and trusted advisor to child care owners across Australia, opens up about one of the most difficult and emotional decisions in business: knowing when it’s time to sell your child care service. If you’ve found yourself whispering “Maybe I should...

🌿 NEW EPISODE – For the Ones Who Are Holding It All Together (Even When It Feels Like It’s Falling Apart) If you’ve ever sat in your car before a shift, taken a deep breath, and thought, *“I don’t know if I can do this today”… this one’s for you. 💔 This week on the Everything Early Childhood Podcast, we’re saying the things no one wants to admit out loud — the thoughts, doubts, and silent strugg...

Feeling constantly exhausted, emotionally drained, or like rest just isn’t doing the job anymore? You’re not alone—and it doesn’t have to be this way. In this powerful episode of Everything Early Childhood, Leeza is joined by Phil Wolffe, Workplace Wellbeing Specialist and Founder of Kinex Health, to unpack what’s really going on in our early childhood workplaces when it comes to stress, burnout,...

In this honest and unscripted mini episode, recorded mid-safari during a much-needed break, Leeza opens up about the internal struggle many leaders face: the guilt of resting. She shares personal stories from her leadership journey, the burnout she faced when she gave too much of herself, and the powerful mindset shifts that have helped her redefine consistency, success, and boundaries. If you’re...

Why Bother Aiming for Exceeding? In this powerful follow-up episode, Leeza Browne opens up the conversation around striving for Exceeding in early childhood services—and why giving up on high standards comes at a cost we can’t afford. You’ll hear real feedback from the community, honest reflections about where educators and leaders are really at, and practical strategies for getting your team on b...

In this powerful episode, host Leeza Browne from Platinum Ed is joined by the incredible Kerra-Lee Wescombe, Director of Connect. Ed, to explore the critical role of trauma-informed practice in early childhood education. With over 10 years of experience across therapeutic care, consulting, and professional development, Kerra-Lee shares why connection—not control—is key to supporting children’s dev...

The Four Corners episode Betrayal of Trust – Child Care in Crisis has once again put early childhood education under the microscope. While it revealed serious failures that demand accountability, it also painted an incomplete and fear-driven picture of our sector. In this powerful and solution-focused episode, I address: ✅ What the Four Corners episode got right—and what was missing. ✅ The publi...

In this episode we explore the powerful analogy of "emptying the sandpit" and how it applies to setting up strong systems and structures in your service. Just like refreshing the sandpit create a clean foundation for play, resetting expectations, re-inducting staff and reinforcing key knowledge helps teams start fresh and aligned. we'll cover: - why assuming everyone knows nothing (even seasoned e...

🎙 Everything Early Childhood Podcast – Featuring Ray Everest 🚀 Deep Dive into Early Childhood Business, Success & Advocacy In this powerful episode, I sit down with Ray Everest, co-founder of Future Focus in New Zealand, for an eye-opening conversation on the future of early childhood education. Ray brings a unique perspective with his background as a high school teacher, principal, and early...

Jake’s departure marks a turning point, and this episode captures the highs, lows, and everything in between in his Journey at Platinum Education. Tune in for an unfiltered discussion about the spirit of authenticity, the lessons learned, and how child care leaders can embrace change with grace and growth.

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the core of educational leadership in early childhood education. We unpack the essential role of the educational leader within early childhood services, exploring how to simplify educational practices and the learning cycle for greater impact. Facing challenges like overcomplicated systems and lack of support? Discover practical strategies to create simp...

In this episode of Everything Early Childhood, we’re thrilled to welcome Amber Jayne, early childhood education expert, founder of The Loving Start Learning Centres, and creator of The Loving Start Way Community. Amber takes us through her incredible journey from a child care business owner to a global advocate for nurturing, empowering, and elevating early childhood services. She shares the highs...

In this podcast episode, we chat with Hayes Greenfield, author of Creative Sound Play for Young Learners, about the powerful role sound can play in early childhood education. Hayes shares practical ways to use creative sound play during transitions, enhancing classroom communities, social-emotional learning, and executive function skills. We also explore inspiring stories of how sound breaks down...