Leading Inspired Learning

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Mary Hewitt, MPEd (ECE), RECE, BEd, BA (Psychology), to explore the question: what if one small pivot could redefine your entire career? Mary shares the 'missing piece' of the Well-Being puzzle and moves beyond the surface-level talk of educator, child, and family wellness to explore a deep, life-altering shift that changes everything. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for July 2026. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Strive’s Resource Centre Specialists, Liz Gannon and Lena Haider, to discuss using food in sensory play. They reflect on our Food for Thought professional learning session, things they’ve learned about using food and natural materials in sensory play for child care, and share tips for creating sustainable practices that may or may not include food. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Nicole Van Beers, WILD CHILD Program Lead at Childreach, to talk all about getting outside this summer, summer day camp programming, and the unique ways WILD CHILD melds the two! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for June 2026. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Erika Murray, RECE, to share her perspective on how professional learning can be meaningfully supported in early childhood settings. They explore the role of leadership in ensuring professional learning truly counts through aligned systems, including intentional planning, protected time, and fair compensation. This episode invites leaders to reflect on how thoughtful leadership practices can remove barriers, honour educators’ professionalism, embed learning into the culture of their organization, and how authentic investment supports educator growth, retention, and quality practice. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Jessie Collins and Vanessa Eastmure from the London Children's Museum to reflect on what it means to create a museum built for children, by children. They share how children and their caregivers were consulted throughout the museum design process and how children’s feedback continues to shape exhibits, programs, and learning experiences today. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for May 2026. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Sara Hassan to discuss Sara’s master's thesis, which examines how stress affects power dynamics between OCTs and RECEs in kindergarten classrooms and how this impacts collaboration between educators. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Carolyn Little, Program Manager from All Kids Belong (AKB). They myth-bust some common misconceptions about AKB’s role, explore how Special Needs Resourcing works, and discuss the true value of relationship-building among community partners, educators, and families. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Michelle Marks, a home childcare provider based in London. They discuss the misconceptions around home childcare, its unique challenges, and Michelle’s journey to finding her home in home childcare. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for April 2026. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Lena Haider, Strive Resource Centre Specialist, and Nyiel Nhial, Strive Community Animator, to explore their experiences learning English as a second language. Alongside this, they discuss how they're navigating teaching multiple languages to their children, and ways educators can support children who are multilingual or whose primary language isn't English. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Stevie Bees, a nonbinary/trans-masc activist and community member, to discuss their journey, their new book "What is a Safe Space?", and how educators can create safe spaces through authentic interactions with children and families. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy! This episode was re-uploaded to include an additional clip from Stevie and Ally.

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for March 2026. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Lindsay Lapaquette, Workplace Communications Expert, to explore how ECEC leaders and educators can authentically approach uncomfortable conversations to build trust with one another and the families they work with. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Mike Masse, aka Mindful Mike, to discuss how educators can bring mindfulness into their practice in subtle ways that have a big impact. These tools will help you show up, be your best self during stressful moments, and stay present! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for February 2026. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Monica Maddison, the face behind Bloom Behaviour, to discuss ways educators can reframe the idea of “challenging behaviour” with both neurotypical and neurodivergent children, and offer tools for intentionally responding to expected versus unexpected behaviours. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Dr. Jean Clinton and Ana Valle Rivera for a heart-to-heart conversation, reflecting on empathy for ourselves, one another, and the children in our care. This conversation was a follow-up and built on our Heart of Understanding morning keynote presentation. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for January 2026. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, the whole Strive Team comes together to reflect on 2025 and share what we’re excited about going into 2026! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, and Kayla, Strive Professional Learning Lead, reflect on past System-Wide Professional Learning Days and share behind-the-scenes insights into how they are planned. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for December 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Charity Paolini to discuss mental health and well-being. They dive into how we all have mental health (even children), how educators can support their own mental health, how we can begin having conversations with children about mental health, and ways to shift your words and actions to support children’s well-being. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Sarah Meka, Behaviour Analyst, to get to the bottom of the behaviours educators may experience with the children in their care, and offer a reminder about the human underneath the “behaviours”. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for November 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Anne Martin to discuss ways educators can bring a trauma-informed approach into their practice and support children from a place of empathy. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this special bonus episode to celebrate Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, we invited our community to submit stories of appreciation - for one another, for the children in their care, for the moments they felt appreciated, and more! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, and Kayla, Strive Professional Learning Lead, dive into the notion that not every professional learning opportunity is made for every professional (and that's okay!). Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Andera, Strive Marketing & Communications Specialist, hosts Kale Cabrera of Beyond the Bell to dive into some more of the common misconceptions about school age education and do a final round (for now!) of myth-busting! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for October 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Avery Lomax and Jazmine George, Strive's Interns from this summer, to reflect on their learning over the past few months and discuss what's next for them! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Andera, Strive Marketing & Communications Specialist, hosts Kale Cabrera of Beyond the Bell to dive into some more of the common misconceptions about school age education and do some myth-busting! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for September 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Mary Mitches, Kelly Patterson, and Emily Purdon from Fanshawe College! Get an inside look at how Fanshawe supports Early Years field placements, from student preparation to mentor expectations. They clarify key logistics, debunk common myths, and highlight the role of OER and inclusive practices. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Andera, Strive Marketing & Communications Specialist, hosts Kale Cabrera of Beyond the Bell to dive into some of the common misconceptions about school age education and do some myth-busting! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she invites you to join us in our August 2025 professional learning pause, with a little look ahead to Fall 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts special guest Marcia Nicole of Ispyr to Educate to discuss DEI and Marcia's lived experiences as a Black Educator! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Kayla, Strive Professional Learning Lead, hosts Caitlin Villeneuve and Eaman Fahmy of Hush&Hum Consulting, to examine the Brave Spaces Framework! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy! Learn more about Caitlin and Eaman's work at www.hushhumconsulting.ca/ or contact them at [email protected]. Some additional resources to expand your learning: AWARE-LA Communication Guidelines for Brave Space: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/581e9e06ff7c509a5ca2fe32/t/5bdcf0a621c67c036629bc27/1541206182883/04+AWARE-LA+Brave+Space+Guidelines+and+History_.pdf Anatomy of an Apology (Rania Writes): https://centreforfacdev.ca/pdf/anatomy-of-an-apology.pdf Hush&Hum Consulting

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines the upcoming professional learning events for July 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, and Kayla (KP!), Strive Community Animator, explore our Communities of Practice: how they can help you connect, engage, and grow as an educator! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Kayla, Strive Professional Learning Lead, hosts Caitlin Villeneuve and Eaman Fahmy of Hush&Hum Consulting, to explore ways educators and leaders can move beyond a checklist approach to DEIB! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy! Learn more about Caitlin and Eaman's work at www.hushhumconsulting.ca/ or contact them at [email protected]. Some resources to expand your learning: Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad (also available through Strive’s Professional Resource Centre!); Hush&Hum Consulting

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines the upcoming professional learning events for June 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Cara Caudle, MEd, BASc, RECE, to reflect on creative professional learning and how reflective practices encourage well-being! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Tandy Morton, WILD CHILD Playgroup Facilitator, Childreach, and Nadine Reeves, Program Manager, Childreach to explore outdoor play through every season! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

In this minisode, join Andera, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Strive, as she outlines upcoming professional learning events for May 2025. Check out all of our current events: striveswo.ca/our-events/

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, and Kayla, Strive Professional Learning Lead dive into the impact of professional learning and capacity building! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Chris Blain from the City of London to explore what CWELCC (commonly known as the $10-A-Day Initiative) even is! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

Welcome to Leading Inspired Learning: A Strive Podcast! In this episode, Ally, Strive Manager, hosts Sheri Spriggs to dive into Strive’s history! Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy! Want to learn even more about our journey towards inspired learning? Read more at www.striveswo.ca/blog-posts/history-of-strive