Best Chanie Wilschanski Podcasts (2025)

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247: Balancing Enrollment and Staff Retention in Childcare with Chanie Wilschanski 28:17

23d ago28:17

28:17

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," co-hosts Kate and Carrie chat with Chanie Wilschanski, CEO of Schools of Excellence. Chanie shares her expertise on managing childcare programs, especially during challenging times like the COVID pandemic. She introduces the "five gears" of childcare management: enrollment, staff retenti…

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Episode 250! Our Best Tips for Your Childcare Center 🌟 25:12

4h ago25:12

25:12

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat about turning ideas into actionable steps to improve childcare programs. They tackle common challenges like managing enrollment, understanding financial impacts, and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs). Key takeaways include: Understanding Enrollment Needs: Know why enrollment goals mat…

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235. You’ve Built the Systems. So Why Are You Still the Glue? 18:23

2h ago18:23

18:23

“You can delegate work, but you cannot delegate trust.” You’ve done everything right—checklists created, SOPs in place, team hired and trained. So why does it still feel like you’re the glue holding everything together? This episode is for the leader who has mastered structure but is still shouldering the soul of the school. We’re unpacking the hid…

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249: How Mentorship Can Elevate Your Childcare Program with Tafta Miller 27:45

6d ago27:45

27:45

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie sit down with Tafta Miller, who runs two childcare centers in Monroe, Louisiana. They dive into the importance of mentorship and coaching for new directors in the childcare industry. With her 30 years of experience, Tafta shares how having a mentor could have made her early days much smoother. She off…

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234. Faith, Leadership & Emotional Maturity: Navigating Life’s Hardest Seasons with Evelyn Knight 34:55

7d ago34:55

34:55

How do you keep leading when life knocks you down? Grief, loss, and hardship don’t pause for leadership responsibilities—and yet, as school owners and leaders, we’re expected to keep showing up, making decisions, and guiding our teams, even in the midst of personal pain. In this deeply moving and powerful episode, I sit down with Evelyn Knight—TEDx…

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248: Creating Safe and Engaging Playgrounds with Alisha Kriege 16:11

16d ago16:11

16:11

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat with Alisha about the vital role playgrounds play in childcare settings. They dive into the benefits of investing in high-quality playground equipment versus DIY options, emphasizing safety, longevity, and return on investment. Alisha shares tips on evaluating equipment, the importance of mainten…

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233. You’ve Built the Dream - So Why Does It Still Feel Heavy with Bri McCarty 38:04

16d ago38:04

38:04

You’ve checked the boxes. ✅ Built the center. ✅ Hired the team. ✅ Filled the classrooms ✅ Hit the revenue goals. On paper, everything looks like a dream. So why does it still feel… heavy? In today’s conversation, I sit down with school owner Bri McCarty for a powerful and honest look at the evolution of leadership—from proving and performing to lea…

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232. The Emotional Maturity Code: How Great Leaders Make Clear, Confident Decision 27:41

21d ago27:41

27:41

What if the biggest difference between stress and stability wasn’t strategy—but emotional maturity? In this powerful episode, we explore how emotionally mature leaders rise above chaos, drama, and second-guessing to lead with confidence and clarity. From gossip and manipulation to inconsistent behavior and reactive decisions, emotionally immature e…

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246: Become Prepared for the Unexpected: How to Create an Oh Sh*t Fund 31:25

28d ago31:25

31:25

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie dive into the nitty-gritty of financial planning for childcare providers. They chat about the importance of having a financial safety net, humorously dubbed the "oh sh*t fund" (OSF), to handle unexpected changes like those brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. They share prac…

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231. Drama-Free Schools Start With Design, Not Discipline 28:28

28d ago28:28

28:28

If drama keeps showing up in your school—it’s not a people problem, it’s a design problem. In this episode, Chanie unpacks how school leaders can move from managing chaos to designing a culture where drama simply can’t survive. Using real (anonymized) stories from our work with school leaders, Chanie breaks down five signs of drama-fueled leadershi…

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245: How to Integrate Play-Based Learning with STEM: a Conversation with Karly 28:34

1M ago28:34

28:34

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," hosts Kate and Carrie chat with Karly, an educator and director, about the magic of integrating STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) in early childhood education. Carly shares her excitement over new materials from "Play with a Purpose," like pretend f…

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230. Decoding Your School Culture 27:20

2M ago27:20

27:20

What if you had a Culture Decoder — a way to see exactly why your school feels stuck in constant chaos? Every day, you're bombarded with decisions, interruptions, and team confusion. It's not just exhausting — it's cultural. The truth is, your school culture runs on hidden systems. And when those systems are reactive and unclear, maintenance become…

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244: Is Your Childcare Software Helping or Hurting? Learn More with Sasha and Daniel of Playground 21:12

2M ago21:12

21:12

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," hosts Kate and Carrie chat with Daniel and Sasha about their innovative software, Playground, which aims to make life easier for childcare providers. Daniel shares touching stories about his family's childcare background, revealing the inspiration behind Playground. Sasha dives into the …

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229. The Strategic Growth Gear 27:58

2M ago27:58

27:58

The sixth and final episode in the 5 Gears series, today’s episode focuses on the Strategic Growth Gear. This episode looks a little different from others in the series because strategic growth is not just about building other systems or how to optimize other systems — it's about really understanding when and how to expand your impact. You’ll learn…

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243: Building Community Connections in Childcare with Jordan and Christy 19:23

2M ago19:23

19:23

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie chat with Christy Black and Jordan Owens, franchise owners of Primrose Preschool. They dive into the importance of community involvement and how it positively impacts both staff and families. Christy and Jordan share their experiences with community outreach, like volunte…

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228. The Parent Engagement Gear 25:01

2M ago25:01

25:01

Imagine if parents didn't just receive updates — they became your biggest champions. Let me tell you a story. For years, schools have been playing an exhausting game of "communicate and hope." Newsletters flying into inboxes. Random app notifications. Sporadic event invites. Parents scrolling, sighing, deleting. But what if there was a different wa…

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242: How Can We Balance Staff Accountability and Empathy in Childcare? 18:47

2M ago18:47

18:47

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie dive into the hot topic of staff accountability in childcare settings. They chat about the common concerns directors have regarding the work ethic of younger staff members. Carrie explores generational differences, emphasizing the importance of empathy in leadership. They stress the need for effective…

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227. The Staff Culture Gear 24:18

2M ago24:18

24:18

The fourth in the 5 Gears series, this episode dives deep into the Staff Culture Gear. Here’s a surprising truth about staff culture: It's not just about having great benefits or competitive pay. A comprehensive retention ecosystem goes beyond the basics. Using Schools of Excellence’s Retention Intelligence Framework, we examine how school leaders …

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226. Be This, Not Just Buy This: Identity Marketing for Schools with Veronica Romney 43:54

2M ago43:54

43:54

Why do some schools effortlessly attract families while others struggle — despite offering the same features, pricing, and programs? The secret isn’t more Facebook ads or another website refresh. It’s identity. In this game-changing episode of the Schools of Excellence podcast, I sit down with marketing expert Veronica Romney, author of Identity Ma…

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Bonus Episode: Together We Grow with Prerna and Laura 18:00

2M ago18:00

18:00

Send us a text In this bonus episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie chat with Prerna Richards, founder of "Together We Grow," and Laura Nelson, Director of Education for a multi-site program. They dive into the challenges of behavior management in childcare and how Prerna's training has transformed Laura's centers. Prerna introduces…

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241: Read our New Book! "I Got This! Leadership Blueprint" 12:34

2M ago12:34

12:34

Send us a text How many leadership books do you have that are written by women? In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie discuss the lack of representation of women in leadership literature, especially in childcare. 🎙️ They share their eye-opening experience at a conference where, despite a majority female audience, the recomm…

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225. The Financial Health Gear 25:37

2M ago25:37

25:37

Warren Buffett famously said: “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who has been swimming naked.” Right now, the financial tide is going out. And many school leaders are about to be exposed. MYTH: As long as your school is mostly full, you're financially healthy. Many school leaders believe that high enrollment equals financial success. When…

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240: Finding Joy as a Childcare Director With Heather White 25:19

2M ago25:19

25:19

Send us a text In this heartwarming episode, co-hosts Kate and Carrie sit down with Heather White, a seasoned director and franchisor in the childcare industry. Heather shares her journey, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and joy in her role. She discusses the innovative practices at her franchise, including advanced security measures and…

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224. The Enrollment Gear 19:13

3M ago19:13

19:13

When was the last time you looked at your enrollment numbers and thought, “This is fine?” Many school leaders mistake “not terrible” for “optimal” — and it's costing them more than they realize. One of our clients, Missy, thought her multi-location program was doing “fine” too. Her center wasn't full, but that was just the nature of that location .…

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239: Ready to Open Your Own Childcare Center! With Shannon Black with SCORE 20:33

3M ago20:33

20:33

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie chat with Shannon Black, Chair of the Austin SCORE chapter and a former Montessori school owner. Shannon shares her passion for supporting childcare entrepreneurs, especially women, and introduces an 11-part virtual series designed to help navigate the complexities of sta…

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223. The 5 Gears: Your School's Operating System 20:22

3M ago20:22

20:22

We know the feeling of trying to juggle everything at once and feeling overwhelmed when we aren’t able to. That’s why this episode introduces a Schools of Excellence proven framework that will revolutionize your school’s operating system. It’s called the 5 Gears, and it explores the idea that it’s impossible to work on everything at once. Today we’…

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238: Ditch the Dull: Playful Training: Ron Shuali 20:43

3M ago20:43

20:43

Send us a text Kate and Carrie chat with Ron Shuali, an expert in playful and engaging training methods for educators. Ron introduces the concept of "unprofessional development," which focuses on fun and interactive training rather than the usual dull sessions. They discuss the importance of shifting from "should" to "could" to manage expectations …

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222. Your Enrollment Advantage 1:16:22

3M ago1:16:22

1:16:22

This episode looks a little different. Chanie was recently joined by school leaders wanting to fill their programs without spending a dollar on marketing. During this exclusive roundtable replay, three education leaders will share: How one school enrolled 27 new students using only their enrollment system The calendar structure that helped another …

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237: Thriving Through Chaos: Gabrielle Wheeler's Journey 24:51

3M ago24:51

24:51

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat with Gabrielle Weller, a dedicated advocate for quality child care from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gabrielle shares her incredible journey of transforming a struggling child care center into a thriving, culturally inclusive program. She talks about the importance of high-quality early education, th…

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221. The 4 Silent Saboteurs of Enrollment: First Impressions, Trust, Confidence, and Follow-Through 22:03

3M ago22:03

22:03

. Mentioned in this episode: Profit & Growth Call Book your Profit & Growth Call today! Profit & Growth Call 5 Gears Diagnostic Take the 5 Gears Diagnostic quiz! 5 Gears DiagnosticBy Chanie Wilschanski

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220. Your Road Map to 25% Growth 11:34

3M ago11:34

11:34

Every school leader we talk to is feeling the same crushing pressure: Enrollment numbers are dropping Marketing costs are skyrocketing Parents are becoming more selective than ever Schools of Excellence has studied hundreds of schools who broke through the enrollment ceiling. They are not spending more money on marketing, a fancy website, or desper…

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219. Hedge Fund Parents: Why They're Rejecting Your Traditional School Model 12:04

3M ago12:04

12:04

Millennial and Gen Z parents are engaged in what feels like an academic arms race — treating their children's education like a life or death strategic operation — and for good reason. On average, these parents will spend a quarter of a million dollars on their child’s education, not to mention the emotional energy and strategic planning they dedica…

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236: Childcare Center Finances: Forecasting for Success 25:55

3M ago25:55

25:55

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie dive into the nitty-gritty of financial forecasting for childcare centers. They chat about the impact of public pre-k funding, stressing how it leaves a gap for infant and toddler care. Carrie shares her insights on flexible staffing and care options, suggesting part-time care to match family needs. T…

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218. The Enrollment Formula 19:08

3M ago19:08

19:08

We see how hard you’re working as you continue to lose money to free pre-k programs. We see you losing sleep over next month’s enrollment. We see you struggling to maintain your rates while spots remain empty. Now, we want you to pause and answer this question: What are you doing to drive enrollment? Unfortunately, most school leaders are prioritiz…

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217. The Daily Profit Plan: Your Hidden Enrollment Engine 1:07:16

4M ago1:07:16

1:07:16

This episode looks a little different. Chanie was recently joined by school leaders, just like yourself, who are ready to join the top schools that are growing enrollment by 25% without cutting rates or compromising quality. What you’ll learn in this workshop replay: Profit Messaging™: How to clearly communicate your center's unique value Profit Ca…

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235: Safety and Licensing best practices with Tracy Nardo 16:39

4M ago16:39

16:39

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie chat with Tracy Nardo, a seasoned expert with 36 years in early childhood education. Tracy dives into the importance of safety and licensing in childcare programs, sharing her knowledge on risk management and staff training. She emphasizes the need for comprehensive training from day one and explains …

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216. The 4 Profit Blindspots: Why Good Schools Struggle Financially 20:34

4M ago20:34

20:34

We know there’s a lot of hesitancy around financial conversations, but let’s overcome that discomfort to acknowledge this truth: enrollment and finances are two sides of the same coin. When we’re content with “fine but could be better” enrollment numbers, we are leaving money on the table. Let's say you have two open spots in your Pre-K classroom. …

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Bonus: Financial Resilience with government freeze 22:36

4M ago22:36

22:36

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie dive into the nitty-gritty of childcare funding in the U.S., especially with recent federal freezes. They chat about how federal government funds flow to states and childcare centers, and how disruptions can cause big headaches for providers. Carrie explains the importance of advocacy and community en…

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234: Empowering Diverse Voices in ECE with Kelly Ramsey 32:48

4M ago32:48

32:48

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations with Kate and Carrie," our hosts sit down with the incredible Kelly Ramsey, a true veteran in early childhood education. Kelly shares her inspiring journey, starting as an assistant teacher in 1984 and evolving into a leader and author. Her latest book, "Stories of Resistance," highlights …

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215. The Enrollment Autopsy: Why Your School is Bleeding Out 10:28

4M ago10:28

10:28

There is an educational extinction event happening right now. You're not just losing students. You are witnessing the systemic dismantling of traditional education. In the last three years alone, 37 % of private schools have seen enrollment drop by over 20%. And the numbers continue to worsen. But you don’t have to continue fighting just to survive…

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233: Competing with Public Pre-K & Thriving 23:08

4M ago23:08

23:08

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie discuss the financial strategies for managing infant and toddler classrooms amid rising competition from public pre-kindergarten programs and larger childcare franchises. They address a listener's concern about losing students to public pre-k programs. Kate emphasizes hig…

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214. The 3 Hidden Barriers to Enrollment 12:08

4M ago12:08

12:08

When we struggle with enrollment, we say things like: “Free pre-K is killing us.” “We lost our grant funding.” “Our city keeps changing the rules.” “The minimum wage keeps increasing. It's destroying our margins.” “Parents only care about price right now.” Schools of Excellence hears you, but we’re going to flip this narrative… These are not your r…

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232: Boosting Enrollment with Seceet Shopping: Chelsea Reue 28:51

4M ago28:51

28:51

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," co-hosts Kate and Carrie sit down with Chelsea Reue, a seasoned childcare professional, to dive into the fascinating world of "secret shopping" in childcare. Chelsea, who has owned and directed childcare programs, shares her experiences visiting centers undercover as a prospective parent…

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The Great School Enrollment Awakening 13:55

4M ago13:55

13:55

Whether you live in a bustling city or a quiet suburban area, the educational landscape is shifting. Schools can no longer depend on default systems or traditional approaches. Can you feel it? We’re in the midst of a Great School Enrollment Awakening. The old enrollment approach feels hollow and artificial. Parents are no longer looking for an inst…

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231: Enrollment Hacks: Practical Tips 18:52

5M ago18:52

18:52

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie share practical tips to help childcare centers boost inquiries and enrollments, especially at the start of the year. Kate emphasizes the importance of clear communication with staff and parents, keeping online profiles updated, and creating enticing offers. Carrie adds he…

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Happy New Year! 1:01

5M ago1:01

1:01

Send us a text 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 direct…

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Happy Holidays! 2:14

5M ago2:14

2:14

Send us a text 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 direct…

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212. 6 Core Money Leaks in Childcare 1:13:52

5M ago1:13:52

1:13:52

Chanie was recently joined by women multi-site owners for a CEO Power Hour to uncover the money leaks in their operations. You cannot listen to this without saving some money. We promise! In this episode you will learn: Space Optimization Gaps Payment System Leaks Schedule Efficiency Gaps Food Control Leaks Supply Management Gaps Administrative & T…

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230: Building or Remodeling with Daniel Turner 34:38

5M ago34:38

34:38

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie chat with architect Daniel Turner about sprucing up childcare facilities. They dive into the pros and cons of new builds versus remodels, how to pick the right architect and budgeting tips. Daniel shares insights on making spaces inviting and safe, emphasizing the importa…

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211. How Top Schools Will Win in 2025 23:16

5M ago23:16

23:16

High-achieving leaders understand how to align their goals and actions to drive meaningful progress in their centers. In this episode, Chanie shares why the schools that will win in 2025 challenge conventional wisdom and embrace discomfort. Chanie’s five powerful truths that will propel your leadership: More is the enemy of high performance Embrace…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Chanie Wilschanski Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen