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When Success Starts to Feel Like Survival with Chanie Wilschanski

What happens when being the person everyone depends on starts to cost you your health, relationships, and peace of mind? Chanie Wilschanski joins Kate Woodward Young to explore the hidden pressure behind leadership and why childcare owners, directors, and high-capacity leaders can feel like they’re carrying everything alone.

They discuss leadership burnout, emotional regulation, delegation, grief, isolation, and work-life balance, including why being labeled a “control freak” often misses the deeper issue. Chanie also shares the story behind her book, This Can't Be Normal: What to Do When Success Starts to Feel Like Survival, and the wake-up call that changed how she viewed chronic stress. If you’re a childcare leader, business owner, or caregiver who feels like everyone relies on you, this conversation will help you name the pressure and question what really needs to change.

Learn more about Chanie and her book here: https://thiscantbenormal.com/chapter-one

Check out this episode's sponsors: https://northstarschoolsupply.com/ and https://daycareaccountingpro.com/

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" 📖
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• Are you looking for director training in Texas? Check out our Texas Director Website for our training and additional resources!

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When It’s Time to Walk Away: Career Growth in Early Childhood Education

What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer supports your well-being? Bryanne Adler joins Kate Woodward Young to share her journey from floating teaching assistant to preschool owner and director, and why stepping away from her business became the healthiest choice.

They explore early childhood education careers, childcare leadership, classroom management, staff onboarding, professional growth, and burnout prevention. Brianne shares practical lessons on supporting teachers, identifying classroom challenges, and recognizing when it’s time for a new direction. Now pursuing her doctorate at Johns Hopkins, she offers a powerful reminder that changing paths isn’t failure; it can be the beginning of something better.

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!
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• 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!

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What the Procare Acquisition Means for Playground and Childcare Providers

What does the Procare acquisition mean for Playground and for the childcare providers who rely on its software? Sasha Reiss, co-founder of Playground, joins Kate Woodward Young to explain why the acquisition could accelerate innovation while keeping Playground’s mission and customer focus at the center.

They explore childcare management software, Procare, Playground, childcare technology, software integration, customer support, and product innovation. Sasha shares what providers can expect, how customer feedback shapes new features, and why transparency matters when choosing technology for your business. If you’re a childcare owner, director, or administrator looking to understand the changes and make smarter decisions about your childcare software, this episode is for you.

Check out this episode's sponsor: tryplayground.com/partnerships/childcareconversations

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!

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Why is retaining Gen Z employees in childcare about more than pay and scheduling? Kate Woodward Young and Marie Young explore Gen Z employee retention, childcare staff turnover, workplace culture, leadership, and communication to uncover what helps younger educators feel respected, supported, and motivated to stay.

They share practical strategies for handling difficult conversations, offering flexibility, preventing burnout, and using employees’ individual strengths to improve onboarding and engagement. If you’re a childcare owner, director, or early childhood leader looking to reduce staff turnover and build a stronger team, this episode offers a fresh perspective on creating a workplace where great people want to stay.

Check out this episode's sponsors: https://northstarschoolsupply.com/ and https://daycareaccountingpro.com/

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!

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What does it really take to renovate, build, or open a childcare center without costly surprises? Matt Hart joins Kate Woodward Young to share lessons from managing complex early-learning construction projects, including transforming a 32,000-square-foot former nursing unit into an early-learning center.

They explore childcare center construction, facility planning, renovations, licensing, building codes, fire safety, zoning, and construction budgeting. Matt explains why involving the right architect and general contractor early, and consulting local authorities before buying or leasing a property, can prevent expensive delays and unexpected costs. If you’re a childcare owner, director, or entrepreneur planning a new facility, renovation, or expansion, this episode offers practical advice to help you plan smarter and avoid costly mistakes.

Check out this episode's sponsor: https://northstarschoolsupply.com/

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!

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Could regulatory reform actually help childcare programs improve quality? Kate Woodward Young talks with Dr. Mary Harper about why reducing duplicative paperwork and outdated compliance processes could free up time and resources for what matters most: children, staffing, safety, and quality care.

They explore childcare regulation, licensing, regulatory reform, workforce development, technology, compliance, and early childhood education, including how real-time data systems and better business practices could replace inefficient paper-based processes. Mary also shares lessons from military child care and why quality funding should support long-term systems change. If you’re a childcare owner, director, policymaker, or early childhood advocate, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what meaningful regulatory reform could look like.

Mary's LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-harper-6b7a6010b/
TXAEYC LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-association-for-the-education-of-young-children/
TXAEYC webpage: https://texasaeyc.org/

We are giving away a free Leadership Day & Conference Bundle! All need to do is click on the link below and register.

https://na.eventscloud.com/website/96369/
We will do our drawing 24 hours after this podcast and newsletter go live!

Check out this episode's sponsor: https://northstarschoolsupply.com/

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!

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What does it take to grow a childcare business without losing the values and families at its heart? Kate Woodward Young talks with Kristen Denzer, CEO of Tierra Encantada, about building a bilingual, values-driven childcare brand from a personal need and creating a path toward nationwide growth.

They explore childcare business growth, bilingual education, franchising, leadership, multi-state expansion, brand standards, and community partnerships, including why strong systems and training need to come before franchising. Kristen also shares lessons on mentorship, networking, market differences, and developing the skills needed to take a childcare business to its next stage.

If you’re a childcare owner, entrepreneur, or aspiring franchise operator, this conversation offers practical insights for growing with purpose.

Learn more at: https://www.tierraencantada.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristendenzer/

Check out this episode's sponsor: https://northstarschoolsupply.com/

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!

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Is accreditation just another checklist—or can it actually help your early childhood program grow? Selena McNeely joins Kate Woodward Young to unpack what accreditation really means, why programs pursue it, and how to choose an accreditation path that fits your philosophy and goals.

They explore childcare accreditation, quality improvement, self-study, staff training, family communication, staff retention, and program systems, including what the self-study process can reveal about your strengths and opportunities for growth. Whether you lead a traditional, Montessori, or other nontraditional program, this conversation offers practical insight into using accreditation as a tool for building a stronger, more intentional early childhood program.

Check out this episode's sponsor: https://northstarschoolsupply.com/

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!