ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie

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

November 13, 2025 28 mins

Send us a text

In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll sit in on a warm chat with Hannah, the head of Early Childhood Investigations (ECI) webinars. She shares how ECI brings top-notch, research-backed training straight to educators—no matter where they are. You’ll hear about their interactive webinars, tips for navigating state requirements, and how ECI is making professional development more accessible. 

The h...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about the big challenge of losing kids to universal pre-k programs. They share smart tips for keeping families in your center, like building strong relationships from day one, highlighting your small class sizes, and showing off your team’s expertise with little ones. 

They also talk about understanding what local public pre-k offers, and how t...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Carrie and Kate share the real-life staffing struggles they’ve heard from directors across the country, think hiring headaches, covering for absent teachers, and the never-ending HR puzzles. They chat about why managing a childcare team is so unique (and why there’s no one-size-fits-all training), plus offer practical tips for onboarding, accommodating staff nee...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

You’re in for a treat with this episode of Child Care Conversations! Kate and Carrie sit down with Judy Prine, President-Elect of SECA, for a warm, insightful chat about the Southern Early Childhood Association. Judy shares SECA’s rich history, the perks of membership (think: newsletters, book reviews, and lively Zoom meetups), and gives the scoop on upcoming conferences—boots and line dancing included! 

If y...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll meet Rachel Supalla, a seasoned early childhood leader who grew from preschool teacher to managing 11 childcare centers! She shares her journey, the ups and downs of scaling a business, and how “playful leadership” keeps her team connected, even across states and during COVID-19. Rachel also dives into choosing the right management software and her collaborative appr...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

In this episode, Kate and Carrie cozy up to chat about the real challenges of leading a childcare center, especially when directors have way too many direct reports. They share smart strategies for building a leadership team, like dividing roles by shift or specialty, and stress the magic number of 5–7 direct reports for sanity’s sake.  

You’ll pick up tips on using part-time or virtual help, rewarding leader...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 behind the scenes! 

If you’re curious ab...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 of encouragement, like chatting with f...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 stories, full of practical tip...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 intentional communication. 

If yo...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 heart-to-heart with friends who...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 also get practical advice on navigatin...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 better tools (and maybe even running for ...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 her enroll 56 new children in ...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 supporting families through cr...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 regulations and even expanding acces...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 meeting families and staff whe...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 kids leads to happier learners....

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 generation. If you’ve ever wondered how to grace...

Mark as Played

Send us a text

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 program, and finding your le...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Ruthie's Table 4

    For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.