PODCAST · education
The Everything ECE Podcast
by Carla Ward
The Everything ECE Podcast is for early childhood educators, preschool teachers, and childcare professionals who want to grow intentionally and take meaningful action. Host Carla Ward shares real-life insights, expert interviews, and practical strategies to support your work in childcare centres, preschools, and kindergartens. From play-based learning to leadership, each episode helps you stay inspired, confident, and connected to your purpose.
Episodes
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#267: The Power of Music for Language and Literacy with Ann Kay
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward welcomes Ann Kay, co-founder of the Rock 'n' Read Project, for a conversation about the connection between music, brain development and early literacy. Together, they explore why singing, rhythm and musical play matter so much in early...
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#266: Are Parent-Governed Boards Still Working in Childcare? | Dear Carla
In this Dear Carla episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla responds to Boarded Out in Early Learning, who asks whether parent-governed boards are still an effective model for childcare organizations, particularly larger and multi-site centres. Having spent most of her career working with...
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#265: What Families and Educators Need from Each Other with Vicki and Emily of The Educator’s Table
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Vicki Salazar and Emily Massey of The Educator's Table for an honest conversation about the relationship between families and early childhood educators. Vicki brings the perspectives of a child care centre owner and parent, while...
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#264: What Does a Pedagogical Leader Actually Do? with Jessica Karpathios
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Jessica Karpathios, founder of The Curious Educator Collective, to make pedagogical leadership feel less like an abstract title and more like the work that happens in a classroom. Jessica is a Registered Early Childhood Educator...
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#263: How Do I Actually Feel Confident? | Dear Carla
In this Dear Carla episode, an educator writes in about confidence, imposter syndrome and the pressure they feel to appear confident while leading their team. Carla challenges the idea that good leadership requires having all the answers and talks about what it actually takes to build confidence...
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#262: Block Play Beyond Towers
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores block play, provocations, three-dimensional learning, problem-solving, and what can happen when children are given more time and space to build, experiment and figure things out. From rethinking the way we respond when structures...
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#261: Adults Need Play Too with Pat Rumbaugh
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Pat Rumbaugh, better known as the Play Lady, for a conversation about why play belongs to adults as much as it does to children. Pat spent 30 years as a physical education teacher and coach before helping start a community play day...
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#260: Supporting a Child with Selective Mutism? | Dear Carla
This week’s Dear Carla question comes from Lime Green, an educator who will be working with a four-year-old with selective mutism. They’re looking for ideas and strategies to support the child, and the question takes Carla back more than 20 years to one of the first children she ever taught. In...
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#259: Building Self-Trust Through Journaling with Cheryl Sutherland
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Cheryl Sutherland, founder of PleaseNotes, for a conversation about journaling, self-trust, confidence, and learning to pay attention to what we actually need. Cheryl shares why she once considered herself a “journaling hater,”…
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#258: How to Have a Great Circle Time with Saira Remtulla
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with Saira Remtulla, Ontario Certified Teacher and founder of Connected Start, for a conversation about rethinking circle time in early learning. Circle time can be one of the most powerful opportunities for connection in an…
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#257: Should We Still Use Food in Sensory Play? | Dear Carla
After 34 years in the field, one educator has seen a lot of trends come and go, including the shift away from using food like rice, beans and pasta in sensory play. But with a growing understanding of sensory needs and regulation, is it time to reconsider? Or are there bigger questions about…
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#256: Say NO Less: Let the Environment Do the Work
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores what happens when “no,” “stop,” “don’t,” and “put that back” become the soundtrack of the day. Rather than immediately looking at the child when something isn’t working, she challenges educators to get curious about the…
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#255: Playoneering: The Future of Education with Hayley Peacock
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward is joined by Hayley Peacock, creator of Playoneering®️, for a conversation about play, curiosity and what the future of education could look like. Together, Carla and Hayley explore what happens when play doesn't end with the early years…
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#254: Building a Legacy with Heather Jackson
Heather Jackson has spent years in early childhood education asking questions, following curiosity, researching practice, and deeply respecting the thinking of children. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Heather, founder of The Sunflower School and host of the...
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#253: Beyond the Diploma with Megan Wuerfel
In this episode, Carla sits down with Megan Wuerfel, founder of The ECE Exchange, to explore the many ways educators can use their experience beyond the classroom. They discuss how to recognize your unique ECE “superpower,” why classroom experience matters when stepping into coaching or...
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#252: Building Connection Through Language with Cara Tyrrell
Children begin communicating from the moment they are born. Long before they have spoken words, they are using facial expressions, movements, gestures, sounds and behaviour to tell us what they need, what they understand and how they are experiencing the world around them. In this episode of The...
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#251: Understanding Process Art with Victoria Armstrong
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Victoria Armstrong, owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, for a thoughtful conversation about rethinking art in early learning. Victoria brings almost 20 years of experience as a classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college...
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#250: The Conversations We Keep Avoiding with Jaime Mann
Working closely with other people is an unavoidable part of early childhood education—but navigating differences, feedback, and workplace tension does not always come naturally. Leadership speaker and facilitator Jaime Mann joins Carla Ward for an honest conversation about the discussions people...
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#249: Letting Children Do the Heavy Lifting with Trevor Newton
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with early childhood educator, keynote speaker, and coach Trevor Newton for a conversation that will challenge the way you think about play, relationships, and children's social development. Together, they explore why conflict isn't...
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#248: Curiosity Is a Professional Responsibility
What if one of the most important responsibilities we have as educators isn't just teaching children, but continuing to learn ourselves? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla explores why curiosity is more than a personality trait. It's a professional responsibility. Drawing on…
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247: Understanding Schema Play with Heather Bernt-Santy
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with Heather Bernt-Santy, better known as That Early Childhood Nerd, to explore the fascinating world of schema play. Heather shares how recognizing schemas helps educators move beyond simply managing behaviour and instead see…
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#246: Raising Thinkers: Building Critical Thinking in Early Years
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla explores why critical thinking begins long before children enter elementary school and how everyday moments in our classrooms shape children's confidence as problem-solvers, question-askers, and curious learners. From open-ended play and…
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#245: Human Skills in an AI-powered World with Chris Danilo
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with award-winning speaker and trainer Chris Danilo to explore the skills that technology can't replace. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workplace, many educators are asking the same question: What makes…
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#244: The 5 Types of Self-Care | Why Educators Can't Afford to Ignore Their Well-Being
Self-care is often reduced to bubble baths, spa days, and treating yourself, but true self-care goes much deeper than that. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward shares a personal story about how years of ignoring her own well-being led to a panic attack that landed her in the...
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#243: Why Movement Comes Before Mindfulness with Lisa Danahy
#243: Why Movement Comes Before Mindfulness with Lisa Danahy In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with educator, author, yoga therapist, and founder of Create Calm, Lisa Danahy, to explore the powerful connection between movement, emotional regulation, and learning....
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#242: Who Raised You Musically? The Hidden Influence of Music on Childhood Development
What if the music we grow up around shapes more than just our memories? In this reflective solo episode, Carla Ward explores the powerful role music plays in childhood development, emotional regulation, identity formation, and the environments we create for children. From Linda Ronstadt and…
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#241: The Basics We Cannot Afford to Lose in ECE with Laurent Li
This week on The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Laurent Li, an educator working both on the frontline with children and in post-secondary education, preparing future ECEs entering the field. Together, they have an honest and reflective conversation about the growing gap between...
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#240: Using the 5 Ws and the H to Reflect and Respond
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward shares one of the most impactful reflective strategies she adopted in her career as an early childhood educator: using the 5 Ws and the H to better understand behaviour, play, emotions, environments, and classroom dynamics. Instead of...
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#239: Working with Wood in ECE with Pete Moorhouse
Working with Wood in ECE with Pete Moorhouse Woodworking in early childhood can feel like a big leap – for educators and for programs. In this episode, I sit down with early years creative consultant, researcher, and author Pete Moorhouse to explore what woodworking can actually look like in...
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#238: Embracing Scissors and Letting Go of Fear
Scissors. Such a simple tool… until it’s not. In this episode, we’re digging into the hesitation so many educators feel when it comes to offering scissors during free play. Is it about safety? Trust? Or something deeper? Because when scissors aren’t part of the environment, we might be holding...
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237: If Not You, Then Who? Taking Action in Education with Kisa Marx
What if the change we keep waiting for… is actually us? In this powerful and honest conversation, I’m joined again by the incredible Kisa Marx to talk about her new book We Are Who We’re Waiting For and the deeper truths behind it. Together, we explore what’s really holding education back, why...
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#236: 5 Ways to Find Your People in ECE
Feeling alone in your role as an early childhood educator… even when you’re surrounded by others? In this short episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward reflects on a powerful takeaway from The Everything ECE Summit: so many educators are craving connection with people who truly get it.…
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#235: Oral Storytelling in ECE with Danyah Miller
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Danyah Miller, an international award-winning storyteller and author of Seven Secrets of Spontaneous Storytelling, to explore the power of storytelling beyond the book. Together, they discuss: What oral storytelling is and how it...
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#234: From ‘Why Them?’ to ‘What About Me?’: Reclaiming Curiosity as an Educator
We often talk about curiosity in early childhood education. how we encourage it in children, how we observe it, and how we support it through play and learning. But what about educator curiosity? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, we explore the shift from focusing solely on…
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#233: What Toddlers Know We’ve Forgotten with Dr. Hasan Merali
We spend so much time thinking about how to guide, teach, and support young children… But what if we paused - and asked what they’re teaching us? In this episode, Carla sits down with Dr. Hasan Merali to explore a powerful shift in perspective: toddlers aren’t just developing humans… they might…
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#232: The 10-Second Pause: A Powerful Strategy in the Classroom
In early childhood education, it’s natural to want to step in right away to help children solve problems. But sometimes the most powerful thing an educator can do is pause. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores the idea of the 10-second pause - a simple practice that...
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#231: What Children’s Behaviour Is Really Telling Us with Gretchen Camp
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with early childhood developmental educator Gretchen Camp to explore what might really be behind the rise in challenging behaviours among young children. They discuss the importance of foundational social-emotional skills, why…
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#230: 5 Reasons Food and Screen Time Don’t Mix (And Why We Need to Protect the Table)
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward dives into an important conversation about screen use during mealtimes in early childhood programs. While screens may make mealtime feel calmer or more compliant, research shows they may interfere with children’s ability to self-regulate,...
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#229: Introverts, Extroverts & Big Feelings: The Power of Story in the Classroom with Christine Devane
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with children’s author and former teacher Christine Devane to explore how storytelling can support introverted learners, build self-advocacy skills, and help children process grief. Christine shares the inspiration behind her book...
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#228: Why It’s Ok to Let Children Struggle (And Why That Is Not the Same as Suffering)
When we talk about letting children struggle, it often makes people uncomfortable. And for good reason. No one wants children to suffer. But struggle and suffering are not the same thing. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward unpacks what productive struggle actually looks…
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#227: Classroom Environments That Support Independence, Regulation, and Learning with Jennifer Fernandez
How does your classroom environment shape children’s behaviour, independence, and learning? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Jennifer Fernandez, School Specialty’s Early Childhood Education Strategist for the U.S. and Canada, to explore why classroom…
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#226: Breaking the Praise Loop
Praise is so normalized in early childhood education that we rarely stop to question it. It feels supportive, encouraging, and positive. But over time, it can quietly teach children to look outside themselves for approval. In this episode, Carla Ward explores the difference between praise and...
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#225: How to Build a Community Classroom with Donna Skea
How to Build a Community Classroom with Donna Skea What makes children feel safe, connected, and ready to learn in early childhood programs? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Donna Skea (The Infinite Educator) to talk about building a community classroom where...
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#224: 3 Ways to Turn Family Communication Into Collaboration
Families aren’t our opposition; they’re our partners. In this episode, Carla Ward explores three actionable ways educators can turn everyday communication into true collaboration with families. From proactive communication loops to intentional language and making partnership visible, you’ll walk...
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#223: Building H.E.A.R.T.-Centered ECE Teams with Monica Rollins
Wellbeing consultant Monica Rollins, founder of Rooted Wellness Collective, joins Carla to explore what it really takes to move beyond burnout in Early Childhood Education. Together, they unpack the systemic roots of educator exhaustion and how to create H.E.A.R.T.-centered programs where…
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#222: Declaring Your Abundance in 2026
What does abundance really mean, and how can you call more of it into your life this year? In this inspiring episode, Carla explores how educators and entrepreneurs can shift from scarcity to abundance: in mindset, time, love, creativity, and yes, even money. You’ll learn practical ways to…
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#221# Addressing the Staffing Crisis in ECE with Paul Buckley
In this episode, Carla sits down with Paul Buckley, former preschool teacher and founder of Ratio Staffing, to explore what’s really happening behind staffing challenges in early childhood education. Paul shares how burnout, outdated systems, and unnecessary barriers are affecting educators and...
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#220 Celebrating Small Wins in ECE
In this episode, Carla explores what meaningful progress truly looks like in early childhood education: the subtle, powerful shifts that happen long before skills show up on the surface. From greeting a child at the door to acknowledging feelings with empathy, she breaks down how these small...
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#219: AI in Education with Thomas Thompson
AI isn’t here to replace educators; it’s here to support us. In this episode, Carla sits down with Thomas Thompson, co-founder and CEO of Eduaide.Ai, to explore how AI can help teachers and early childhood educators work smarter, not harder. From lesson planning and accommodations to game-based...
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#218: The Art of Transitions
Transitions get a bad reputation: rushed, chaotic, stressful. But they don’t have to be. In this episode, Carla explores a powerful mindset shift: transitions aren’t the thing before the next thing. They are learning. Carla breaks down how slowing down, pausing before stepping in, and leading…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Everything ECE Podcast is for early childhood educators, preschool teachers, and childcare professionals who want to grow intentionally and take meaningful action. Host Carla Ward shares real-life insights, expert interviews, and practical strategies to support your work in childcare centres, preschools, and kindergartens. From play-based learning to leadership, each episode helps you stay inspired, confident, and connected to your purpose.
HOSTED BY
Carla Ward
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Everything ECE Podcast have?
The Everything ECE Podcast currently has 274 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Everything ECE Podcast about?
The Everything ECE Podcast is for early childhood educators, preschool teachers, and childcare professionals who want to grow intentionally and take meaningful action. Host Carla Ward shares real-life insights, expert interviews, and practical strategies to support your work in childcare centres,...
How often does The Everything ECE Podcast release new episodes?
The Everything ECE Podcast publishes regularly with 274 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Everything ECE Podcast?
You can listen to The Everything ECE Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Everything ECE Podcast?
The Everything ECE Podcast is created and hosted by Carla Ward.
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