Quality Time Podcast

This season, host Laura Cady has had an incredible lineup of guests join her to talk all things early literacy. In our season finale, Laura takes a brief moment to reflect on these passionate early childhood professionals who shared simple strategies for integrating literacy into children's daily lives. We're looking forward to discussing themes of self-care into Season 5, where we'll focus on cel...

If you loved last week’s reset, you won’t want to miss another addition to your favorite self-care series! We’re continuing “Mindful Moments” this week with another 5-minute guided meditation led by Step Up to Quality Coach Specialist, Lynne Cook. Whether you have a few minutes to decompress after a long day or a brief window during your lunch break, this episode is the perfect tool to help you fi...

Back by popular demand, we are continuing our “Mindful Moments” series with a new guided meditation led by Step Up to Quality Coach Specialist, Lynne Cook. While the work we do is incredibly rewarding, we know it can also be taxing. This episode is designed as a sanctuary for those moments when you need to pause and breathe. We encourage you to save this episode and revisit it whenever you need a...

In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady sits down with Michelle Rupiper and Brenda Saxe, two experienced Step Up to Quality coaches and Literacy Early Learning Guidelines (ELG) trainers. With decades of combined experience, Michelle and Brenda discuss why we need to move beyond "quizzing" children and start having genuine conversations. They share practical advice on narrating daily routi...

Today, we’re talking about early literacy and family engagement — and how innovation and leadership can spark new ideas in early learning settings. In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady talks to Janelle Nissen, School Director at Educare Omaha at Indian Hill. Educare of Omaha is part of a national network dedicated to early childhood education, partnering with families and communities t...

This episode of Quality Time welcomes Dr. Amy Napoli, an Associate Professor and Early Childhood Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Technology is an unavoidable part of modern life and parenting - so how can we use it intentionally? In today's episode, Laura welcomes Suzie Fogarty, Community Outreach Coordinator and Education Facilitator at Smart Gen Society. With over 25 years of experience in the education ecosystem, Suzie gives insight on how language from a screen isn't processed in a child's brain the same way face-to-fac...

Is reading as important to a child’s health as excersise or nutrition? In this episode of Quality Time, host Laura Cady sits down with Dr. Karla Lester, a pediatrician and author, who believes the answer is a resounding "YES". Dr. Karla Lester views literacy as a vital health indicator, prescribing what she calls a "daily dose of reading books" to support a child's cognitive and social-emotional h...

Host Laura Cady sits down with Colleen Schmidt, Erica Temperly, and Sarah Voss to unpack two powerful tools that boost quality teaching — the Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) and the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). They explore how these tools work hand in hand: ERS builds the physical environment (think cozy reading nooks and easy-to-reach books), while CLASS focuses on intentional...

Today, we dive into early literacy with Nancy Novotny, Program Manager at the Omaha Public Library (OPL). Nancy reveals how OPL is supporting young children and childcare providers in Nebraska, sharing the five key practices from the American Library Association’s Every Child Ready to Read philosophy: reading, writing, talking, singing, and playing. Listen in to learn the practical, everyday detai...

Early childhood professional, Diana Svela, joins Laura to talk about the journey of providing high-quality care and the imperfections that come with it. Their conversation also explores the deeper dimensions of early literacy—how it extends beyond books into intentional interactions, meaningful conversations, and creating rich learning environments.

This week, Laura chats with Robert Patterson and Jason Albeno from Kids Can Community Center about what high-quality care looks like in action. From sparking a love of learning to letting kids choose their own books, they share how choice, curiosity, and creativity shape meaningful early learning experiences.

To kick off the Season 4 topic of literacy, Laura sits down with team members from the Nebraska Department of Education to explore how to give children the best possible start on their literacy journey. They dive into personal stories from toddler classrooms, the power of shared reading experiences, and how read-alouds and storytelling shape (and are shaped by) dramatic play. You’ll also hear abou...

Please give a warm welcome to Laura Cady! You may recognize Laura from our handoff episode with Colleen, but now she officially steps in as your new host. In this episode, Laura shares her journey—from studying and teaching abroad to her deep-rooted passion for service—and how these experiences shaped her career. Get to know what inspires her and why she’s excited to lead the conversations on this...

(Originally released April 23, 2025) We're excited to introduce our new Quality Time host, Laura Cady! Colleen passes the torch to Laura, who brings over 15 years of experience in the education field, with a focus on early literacy, dual language support and family engagement. She's worked in diverse settings, (including Colombia!), and brings a passion for international-mindedness to the table. J...

This week, we're excited to introduce our new Quality Time host, Laura Cady! Colleen passes the torch to Laura, who brings over 15 years of experience in the education field, with a focus on early literacy, dual language support and family engagement. She's worked in diverse settings, (including Colombia!), and brings a passion for international-mindedness to the table. Join us as Colleen and Laur...

To close out Season 3 of the podcast, we've invited Step Up to Quality Director, Lauri Cimino, for a conversation about the power of advocacy. Lauri shares what advocacy means to her while she and Colleen take a moment to celebrate the great work providers do for Nebraska's communities. Lauri leaves us with some final tips and tools from Step Up to Quality providers can use and share with their ow...

This week, Lynne guides us through a breathwork exercise while reflecting on the tapestry of life. She invites us to recognize the interconnected threads that bind us all together, reminding us that we are never truly alone, we are part of something greater than ourselves. Take a few moments to center yourself and embrace the power of connection.

In this Mindful Moment, our coaching specialist Lynne leads us through a guided meditation, visualizing the gentle glow of a candle. Take a few minutes to focus on the flickering warmth, the soft patterns of light, and the way the candle melts away stress and tension, bringing a sense of peace and relaxation to your day.

How can we, as advocates, shape policy? Jodi-Renee (JR) Girón, Grassroots and Advocacy Advisor at First Five Nebraska, shares how collective community voices can drive real change. She joins the podcast this week to remind us that advocacy is a long game and shares her own journey of persistence in unlocking a community's potential.

We’re joined by two special guests this week to chat about instilling a love of literacy during early childhood. Laura Cady and Olivia Alberts join the podcast this week to discuss strategies for making reading inclusive and meaningful for children in their early years. The key: don’t overcomplicate things. Listen at the link in our bio to hear more about bringing joy to early literacy.

Dr. Walter Gilliam, Executive Director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, joins the Quality Time podcast this week to discuss the often-overlooked care given to caregivers. Drawing from his extensive background in education and psychology, Walter explores how society values, or undervalues, the vital work of caregivers. He highlights the ripple effects this has on children, families, and ev...

Author and early childhood expert Rae Pica returns to discuss her newest book, Why Play? Rae explores the importance of play in early childhood education and how it directly supports children’s growth and learning. You’ll hear how play is at the heart of both advocacy and education, with Rae’s passion amplifying this season’s theme by emphasizing how these two elements work together to shape child...

This week, Sarah Meyer, Farm to School Specialist with the Nebraska Department of Education, joins us to discuss the Farm to Early Care and Education program. Sarah highlights how connecting young children to fresh, local foods fosters healthy habits, community support, and respect for our food and its journey. Tune in to explore how this program is shaping the future of Nebraska, and how to acces...

We're thrilled to welcome back one of our favorite guests, Carrie Gotschalk, Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone Coordinator and Licensed Mental Health Practitioner. She returns to the Quality Time Podcast to discuss the critical topic of trauma-informed care. Carrie examines how trauma impacts a child’s neural development and highlights the vital role of self-compassion for educators supporting ch...