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PODCAST

The Everything ECE Podcast

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.

education

All Episodes

00:16:28

#263: How Do I Actually Feel Confident? | Dear Carla

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/10/06

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 over time. From doing things scared and paying attention to your own self-talk to collecting the “receipts” that remind you of what you’re capable of, this conversation is about learning to trust yourself,

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00:10:07

#262: Block Play Beyond Towers

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/10/02

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 come crashing down to considering what hands-on learning offers children in an increasingly digital world, this episode is an invitation to take another look at the block area in your early learning

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00:31:54

#261: Adults Need Play Too with Pat Rumbaugh

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/09/25

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 in Takoma Park, Maryland. That work grew into Let's Play America, a nonprofit that organizes free play events and helps other communities make room for people of all ages to play.Together, Carla and Pat

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00:12:40

#260: Supporting a Child with Selective Mutism? |...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/09/22

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 this episode, Carla draws on that experience, what she learned along the way, and what she wants Lime Green to consider as they begin building a relationship with this child.ASK CARLAHave a question? Ask

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00:29:27

#259: Building Self-Trust Through Journaling with...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/09/18

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,” how journaling can help us recognize patterns and make clearer decisions, and why the words we use with ourselves matter more than we may realize.Carla and Cheryl also talk about the very real overwhelm

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00:31:26

#258: How to Have a Great Circle Time with Saira...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/09/11

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 early learning program, but only when we’re clear about why we’re gathering in the first place.Carla and Saira talk about the difference between entertaining children and genuinely engaging them, why

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00:07:36

#257: Should We Still Use Food in Sensory Play? |...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/09/08

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 food, resources and respect that should still guide practice?In this Dear Carla episode, Carla responds to “Frustrated Foodie” and digs into food in sensory play, the rabbit hole of deciding which resources are

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00:25:18

#256: Say NO Less: Let the Environment Do the Work

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/09/04

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 environment, the expectations within it, and the rules they may be enforcing without ever stopping to ask why.Carla shares how changing her own classroom environment changed the way she showed up as an educator and

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00:46:53

#255: Playoneering: The Future of Education with...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/08/28

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 and education is built from children's natural curiosity, creativity and capacity to learn.They dig into playful rigour, the influence of Reggio-inspired practice, intrinsic motivation, and why

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00:35:27

#254: Building a Legacy with Heather Jackson

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/08/21

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 Actions of Play podcast, to talk about the experiences that have shaped her work and the legacy she has built along the way.They explore Heather’s journey through education, the ideas and people that have

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00:27:06

#253: Beyond the Diploma with Megan Wuerfel

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/08/14

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 professional learning, and the importance of documenting your journey long before you think you’ll need it.Megan also shares how The ECE Exchange connects early childhood programs with experienced coaches,

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00:35:34

#252: Building Connection Through Language with Cara...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/08/07

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 Everything ECE Podcast, Carla speaks with early language expert, educator and linguist Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed., about how educators can build stronger connections with children through language and

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00:33:04

#251: Understanding Process Art with Victoria Armstrong

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/07/31

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 professor, coordinator and early learning consultant. She also spent a significant part of her career pioneering a children’s art initiative that brought local artists into early learning and licensed child

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00:40:26

#250: The Conversations We Keep Avoiding with Jaime Mann

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/07/24

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 often label as “difficult.” Jaime offers a different way to think about these moments and explains how curiosity, self-awareness, and clear communication can help create healthier working

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00:31:05

#249: Letting Children Do the Heavy Lifting with...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/07/17

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 something to prevent, but something to teach through. Trevor shares simple, practical strategies that help educators support children's independence, strengthen communication, and build the social skills that

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00:10:45

#248: Curiosity Is a Professional Responsibility

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/07/10

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 more than 20 years in early childhood education, Carla reflects on what separates educators who continue to grow from those who become stuck in "the way we've always done it." She shares

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00:25:32

247: Understanding Schema Play with Heather Bernt-Santy

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/07/03

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 the learning, curiosity, and development taking place through play. From transporting and trajectory to enclosing and enveloping, these repeated patterns offer valuable insight into how children make sense of

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00:12:25

#246: Raising Thinkers: Building Critical Thinking in...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/06/26

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 educator language to productive struggle and reflective practice, this conversation will challenge you to look differently at the small interactions that happen every day. Because sometimes the most powerful

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00:46:16

#245: Human Skills in an AI-powered World with Chris...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/06/19

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 humans irreplaceable?Together, Carla and Chris dive into the human skills that will matter most in the years ahead, why emotional intelligence may become one of the most valuable professional assets we have,

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00:14:32

#244: The 5 Types of Self-Care | Why Educators Can't...

The Everything ECE Podcast ·

2026/06/12

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 hospital. Through honest reflection and practical insights, she explores why self-care is not a luxury for educators. It's a necessity.Carla breaks down the five essential types of self-careWhether

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272 results

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