We call out the broken childcare math, the lazy myths about greedy centers, and the way policy failure pushes women and caretakers out of the workforce. Then we go inside preschool life under immigration fear, answer tough listener questions, a...

We confront a big-brand preschool scandal, then widen the lens to expose how staffing, oversight, and culture create the conditions for harm—and how to fix them with real accountability, funding, and courage. Along the way we answer listener qu...

A water pitcher, a cleaning bottle, and a rushed routine turned snack time into a health scare—then a bland corporate statement tried to make it disappear. We pull back the curtain on how incidents like this happen in real programs: thin ratios...

Childcare isn’t expensive because anyone’s getting rich; it’s expensive because keeping tiny humans safe, fed, and learning costs real money. We open the books on rent, insurance, payroll, licensing, curriculum, food, and the constant stream of...

A shutdown stalls SNAP and shakes childcare, leaving families, teachers and programs scrambling for stability while kids lose consistency. We also confront bias against male ECE teachers, name red flags in constant staff reassignments, unpack r...

A daycare sends a Saturday-night email announcing it’s closed effective immediately, and by Monday morning parents, teachers, and an entire neighborhood are scrambling. We dig into what sudden closures reveal about the state of childcare: budge...

The day a state slices $225 million from childcare and 45 centers go dark, the ripple doesn’t stop at the classroom door—it hits every shift, every meeting, every bottom line. We dig into why asking local businesses to “chip in” can’t replace p...

Ever wonder what keeps educators up at night? Spoiler alert: it's rarely the children. In this refreshingly candid episode, we dive into the real challenges that make working in education both hilarious and maddening.From the three-year...

New Mexico has just achieved what many thought impossible – implementing truly universal, free child care for all residents regardless of income. Follow this podcast to stay updated on this groundbreaking initiative and share this episode with ...

The political weaponization of early childhood education takes center stage, as these children will take care of us when we get older. The stay-at-home mom is considering childcare employment for the wrong reasons, while the school administrato...

When four-year-old Lane smuggled home a mysterious sticker, the episode dives deep into the ethical boundaries being crossed in early childhood settings and why even challenging classroom behaviors never justify administering substances without...

Have you ever spent weeks interviewing candidates, finally found "the one," only to have them quit within 24 hours? How do you stand firm on your planned departure date when a director tries to guilt you into staying? Share your own workplace d...

Professional standards in educational environments matter, from dress codes to qualifications, as we explore how expectations shape children's experiences and learning environments. • Parent dress codes at schools spark debate abou...

A man received just one month in jail for allegedly holding down a four-year-old so another child could "retaliate" against them. From unproductive staff who waste valuable nap time scrolling on phones to the complicated dynamics when work...

Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to the field, this episode offers honest perspective on navigating workplace challenges with integrity. Follow the podcast to join this ongoing conversation about the realities of education work.

A troubling case from Georgia reveals how a daycare lost its license after staff administered Benadryl to toddlers without consent, raising serious questions about trust and safety in childcare settings. Meanwhile, nearly $6.8 billion in federa...

The alarming realities of unregulated childcare facilities operating with twice its maximum occupancy, this facility housed infants in a windowless basement alongside propane tanks, creating what authorities described as "nightmarish, hellish c...

A young girl was accidentally dropped off at the wrong preschool. What do you do? Shifting gears,  I share insights into how observing and coaching can be more impactful than immediate critiques or corrective actions. Finally, we tackle a ...

Can a simple bottle of wine transform the way we show appreciation to educators? Join me in this extended play episode as we explore the art of meaningful recognition, venturing beyond the standard pizza party. Whether you’re an educator o...

In this episode of Stumbling Through Work, we unravel an incident in Philadelphia where three daycare workers face charges after leaving a seven-month-old baby locked inside a closed facility. Shifting gears, we examine how the underlying cultu...

Can you imagine entrusting your child to a daycare, only to discover that the teacher is abusive? This episode kicks off with a jaw-dropping account from Florida, where a 20-year-old teacher shockingly admitted to kicking, slapping, and flippin...

This week on Stumbling Through Work, we confront the unsettling realities of child care center vandalism. Hear the details of a shocking incident that left a preschool in disarray, Switching gears from crisis management to proactiv...

Unchecked teacher behavior? We critique the responses of those involved and emphasize the importance of confronting problematic behavior head-on, ensuring a safe and nurturing space for young learners.Reflecting on the unchecked teacher...